by J. A. Saare
Bane didn't react, his expression completely blank, which meant her reaction and words disturbed him. He didn't clam up when insults didn't hurt him. He gave that shit right back, daring others to come at him, and did so with a smile on his face. He didn't bow down to anyone or anything.
For whatever reason, he cared about what she thought.
Over here, bitch.
"No harm to those I care for, and I care for him," I reminded her of the terms, wondering what the fuck her problem was, discovering I could be equally as bloodthirsty if pushed far enough. "That was part of the bargain."
Her head snapped around, and she stared at me with open disgust. "You willingly protect one of his kind?" She shifted her shoulders forward, getting as close as she could to Bane, nailing him with a hateful glare. "He's filth upon filth and never should have been created. He's a stain on life and a freak of nature. I wouldn't have agreed to the terms if I knew you consorted with demons. I don't make bargains with those who shelter the damned."
"He's not a demon, and he's not a freak." He wasn't remotely similar. "And he's not damned. He chose the other side." Aware of his part in things, I made sure she got wise. "You should be thanking him. He's the one who found your body. You'd be cursed with the poor excuse of mine if he hadn't helped me fulfill our bargain."
She tapped the edge of the blade against the invisible wall, revealing she had to think about what I'd said. Her mismatched gaze took everything in, and she finally stepped back. "If you say so, Rhiannon Murphy. Since you care for this one and I must honor the agreement, I swear no harm to will come him." She rounded on me, meeting my gaze. "I've waited long enough to taste freedom. Undo your binding and release me."
I didn't dare remind her of her other promises. "First, you need to do something." I lifted the amulet, making sure she got a good look at the stone. "This has to be destroyed."
"Destroyed? Are you mad?" Apparently, she didn't want to demolish the charm she'd created. Suggesting she do so pissed her off. "That isn't part of the bargain. Your request will never happen."
"Thanks to you, Lucifer can influence me with the charm." Her memories came back to me, causing my skin to crawl. She'd put me inside her body and made me endure things no one should. "I know why you were pissed at me, and I don't blame you, but being inside your body when Lucifer did things to you was punishment enough. I refuse to take your place in Hell." My own temper stoked, and I imagined planting a fist into her beautiful face. "If you want me to break the circle, you will do this. You will destroy this thing."
"Nonsense," she said, like the very idea offended her. Her demeanor changed, turning her into the fake savior I'd bargained with. "Don't fear what you don't understand. I need only remove the part of him that resides within it." She held out her hand. "Give it to me."
I wasn't sure that was a good idea.
My gaze darted to Bane, hoping he'd have some wisdom, but he kept his attention on Marigold. None of the vampires with me would know the best course of action, and neither would Goose.
It wasn't an easy decision.
If I gave the amulet to her, she could break the circle and do as she pleased. If I didn't and kept the talisman with me, I'd have to endure visits to Hell in the future. While I wasn't afraid of Lucifer—since I finally understood how he liked to play his games—I didn't want to pass out while I was in the middle of a fight or something dangerous.
That kind of thing would get me killed.
"I want it gone." There was no way she was getting out unless she made that very thing happen. "Do this, and I'll set you free. You can go your own way."
"You do not give me orders." Fury dripped from the response, revealing I was nothing more than a means to an end. "You will take what I offer or the bargain reverses yet again. If I escaped Hell, I can exit this place."
She wasn't backing down, and neither was I.
Things had changed. I needed to be on top of my game. I couldn't do that with the albatross that was Lucifer dangling around my neck. His presence was a threat to those I wanted to watch over. I couldn't take care of my family if I lost my shit when they needed me most. I'd be a constant liability, becoming a pet they had to feed, brush, and keep chained up for her own good.
They had enough shit to worry about.
I collected my thoughts, trying to find a way forward.
"Give it to her, child." The deep voice came from the side of the house, drawing everyone's attention, and we all pivoted around.
A giant of a man stepped out of the shadows, each stride enormous. He covered a shit ton of ground, keeping a steady pace. His dark clothing brought attention to his radiant features. His shoulder-length blond hair caught the light when he entered our view, each strand luminous and vibrant. His blue eyes shone like stars in the sky. He was well over six and a half feet tall, built like a tank, with shoulders broader than a barn door.
Gabriel prepared to move, seeing him as a threat.
"Don't. Everything's fine, man," Bane said, ripping his focus from the fallen angel, looking at Gabriel. Their gazes met, held, and Bane informed him, "That's my pops." Bane exhaled loudly, spread his feet shoulder-width apart, and went back to watching Marigold. "He wanted to make sure she didn't pull any shit when she made it back. That's how Luci got hold of her ass in the first place. She doesn't know when to let things go."
I studied Bane's father and saw the resemblance. He didn't have a scar on his face, and he didn't have the asshole visage, but they had similar coloring and facial features. Their eyes were a dead-on match.
"Herald," Marigold's tone changed, becoming frosty.
Herald's reply was equally cold, "Vesta."
"This is your ill-begotten son? Your spawn from a demon whore?"
Herald didn't flinch, his level stare almost empty. "Do as the girl says, or you're not going anywhere."
Her irises started glowing, including the brown one. "Is that so?"
Before I could panic, Bane's father took charge.
He strode forward with a blank expression.
"Oh yes. That's very much so. I've been given orders from upstairs," he said quietly and lifted his head like danger lurked in the sky. He met her eyes again, holding her gaze. His entire face changed in his anger, his voice becoming harsh. "You brought pain upon yourself and tarnished all of us. You were forewarned but didn't listen. I'm not the only one fed up with your antics. He is as well."
She slammed the edge of her blade against the barrier keeping her confined. "You don't control me."
His arm shot out, fingers curving as he whispered, "Judgment."
A dark sword that consisted of white, purple, and black appeared in his hand, creating multicolored flames that flowed from the blade and seeped into his skin. He didn't look away, keeping his weapon at his side, glaring at her with cold blue eyes that took on an unnatural sheen. He fisted the hilt and rotated his wrist, swinging the blade in a circle.
He took another step to get closer to her.
"Proceed at your own peril, Marigold. You no longer have a place here, and your options are limited. Do as you've been told, depart in peace, or I'll send you back to Him. If He'll have you. You are no longer one of His chosen and have no place among us. "
The glow in her eyes vanished.
The warning also had another meaning.
Something else I didn't understand.
The sword in her grasp withered, faded, and vanished as quickly as it had heeded her call. She lowered her hand. "The amulet doesn't have to be destroyed. I will remove the piece of him I placed inside. He will have no influence once his presence is gone." Her gaze darted to me. She appeared docile, but I saw the distaste in her eyes. She viewed me as an enemy she had bound herself to because she had no other choice. Herald's interference increased her intense dislike of me. "Is that acceptable?"
It seemed illogical to save the amulet . "Can't you just get rid of it?"
"The charm contains part of her radiance," Herald informed me before she co
uld, talking like she was the vilest creature in creation, his focus remaining on her alone. "Once it's destroyed, she'll suffer permanent weakness." He waved his free hand in my direction, obviously wanting to be done with it all. "If you want to end your bargain, give it to her. Follow the terms of the arrangement."
I didn't know him, so I didn't trust him.
I did, however, trust his son.
This is the craziest fucking shit.
I went to the edge of the circle, braced myself in case she snatched me up and pulled me into the area with her, and slowly handed the amulet over. Her hand shot out, and she took the talisman from me. She handled the stone like something precious, trapping the radiant jewel securely in her fingers. She brought it to her mouth, breathed on the amulet, and whispered so low I couldn't make out words. The black center jolted, moving from the center, becoming liquid. The darkness bled from the stone, covering the amber in what looked like tar. She used her other hand to wipe the residue away and offered it back to me.
I didn't understand, thinking she'd take her necklace back. "What are you doing?"
"Per our terms, it remains with you."
"I don't want it." And I didn't. Not anymore.
The amulet, for all its glory, had caused massive damage.
"You will take it, and you will take it now." She thrust the talisman at me, hitting her knuckles on the barrier. She didn't pull back, staying right where she was. Her eyes flipped to Herald and back to me. "I am not free until this part of our bargain is resolved. She has to take it." Her eyes formed to slits, and she addressed me hatefully, studying me like I'd captured her instead of freeing her, "You specifically asked for this. I didn't tell you to. You set the terms, and I'm obligated to give this back." Loathing and resentment distorted the brilliance of her face, taking her from a creature of light, turning her into something I ran from in my nightmares. She was disgusting and horrific at the moment, becoming something I'd never imagined. "If you refuse, I must insist you strike another agreement."
Hell fucking no.
I never wanted to bargain with a fallen angel or demon again.
I glanced at Gabriel, who didn't like the way things were going anymore than I did. He used his ability as best he could, trying to read Marigold and Herald. He got glimpses but not complete thoughts, finding he'd been blocked by a barrier he couldn't break. He shared what he found, but the insight didn't help.
Both of us were conflicted and uncertain.
When he finally nodded, I extended my hand to take it back.
Marigold seemed relieved, eager to place the amulet into my keeping and get the fuck out. The amber was completely clear, like a perfect diamond, and the leather cord had become an intricate silver chain. I wondered if she'd changed the necklace to spite me as vampires couldn't touch silver without harming themselves. The minute the polished stone hit my palm, I felt the power the diamond emitted. The magic was different, not at all what it used to be. I didn't sense the welcome sensations that came from the jewel, informing me the charm enjoyed the light and dark I gave it.
Of course the amulet wouldn't feel the same way now.
The darkness came from Lucifer.
"We are done here. The bargain has been fulfilled. I will abide by the terms we agreed upon. Set me free."
There were no thank you or warm words. We weren't riding into the sunset or enjoying a happily ever after. She wasn't who I thought she was. Despite her demeanor when we'd struck bargains, she'd never cared about me.
This was all business.
Then I understood why Goose had warned me about fallen angels.
Like vampires and half-demons, not all were created equal. This fallen soul did have evil within her, just like he said she would. She might steer clear of the family and me, but she'd kill anyone or anything that got in her way. As I looked at her, meeting eyes that now matched mine, I decided to stay the hell away from her. Once she was gone, I hope she stayed that way.
"What's the verdict?" I didn't dare look away from her, speaking to Herald.
"She won't break the terms of your bargain." Bane's father didn't sound angry any longer. When I glanced at him, I noted his weapon remained at his side. He might not be mad, but he'd end her in an instant. "You may turn her loose."
Breaking the circle wasn't difficult, requiring a simple thought and action it make to happen. I swept my foot over the blood and sand. As soon as I did, I moved to get closer to Gabriel, wishing I'd brought along Sucker and armed myself. He pushed me behind him, placing himself between me and the fallen angel. We all watched her closely, waiting to see what she'd do. She decided to turn toward the grassy area behind her, which led to the back of the property. There was a tall iron fence, but I didn't think she'd have a problem scaling it.
"Temperance," she yelled like a battle cry.
The sword appeared in her hand, glowing brightly in the night, casting light in the dark around her. She held the weapon at her side, standing completely still, looking over her shoulder like she was daring us to come after her. When we didn't move, she started walking. She strolled over the pristine grass at a leisurely pace. Her hips swayed with each step, her hair becoming brighter, her skin nearly glowing. Then she took off, running as fast as any vampire or half-demon I'd ever encountered, and vanished in seconds.
I turned my head, wanting to see what Herald would do.
No one was there.
He, too, was gone.
Epilogue
I stood outside an office I'd visited more than once, having a bout of déjà vu.
I hadn't been to The Razor in months, but a ton of memories surfaced when I'd stepped into the place and taken a good look around. Coming back to Paine's club had been difficult for numerous reasons. The place reminded me of the past and the future, of a man turned vampire I'd loved and lost, and remembering how things were between us created guilt about things I could never remedy or change.
I'd made promises to Paine in both times, and I hadn't delivered.
Even if he forgave me, I'd failed him.
The truth of that made me feel awful about myself.
Footsteps coming up the stairs gained my attention.
The last vampire we were expecting had finally arrived. I didn't need an introduction. Joseph strode up the stairs with Sonja. She'd wrapped her hand around his arm, keeping him close as she lowered her head. They didn't meet my gaze, not that I expected them to. Joseph had almost gotten Gabriel killed. I'd told him if he tried something again, I'd take his head. As Joseph's familiar, Sonja didn't appreciate my threat.
She'd done the things I'd asked her to because I hadn't given her a choice in the matter. I'd never told her what she'd done in the future when the world had gone to shit, and I didn't think I ever would. The girl peddled in things I wanted to avoid. She stayed away from me whenever possible, and I figured it was likely the best thing for both of us. We were polar opposites. Besides, I didn't want to spend my free time with a woman who dyed her hair every color on the spectrum, painted her nails bubblegum pink, and summoned demons on the side.
They bobbed their heads in acknowledgment and entered the office. It was a tight fit. The room was too small to allow everyone to get comfortable. They went to the small sliver of space that remained and waited for the meeting to start. I made sure everyone was clear of the door before I closed it. I placed one hand on the gun tucked under my arm and shifted my feet, trying to decide where to put myself until Gabriel had finished. Going downstairs was an option, but I'd be stuck in that area after they wrapped things up.
I didn't anticipate a problem since we'd planned ahead.
Unlike the family leaders—who were only allowed to bring one guest—the Master of New York had taken liberties since he could. He made sure Peter and Adrian stood on either side of him.
That was the only reason I agreed to remain outside and watch the door.
I heard Gabriel's voice as he addressed them, aware he was laying down the ground rules he expect
ed them to follow, which were just the beginning. Much like family meetings, he was providing a courtesy. They might not like the things he said, but they had to listen and follow along. Some things would annoy them, but I didn't think he was asking for too much. Necromancers should have the right to accept families of their choosing, just as vampires should make formal requests to add to their ranks. To maintain control, he had to accept who was coming and going.
Granting permission in certain matters let him stay on top of things.
The soft leather bag draped over my shoulder twitched, and I rested my free hand over the satchel. Lavinia didn't like being cooped up. I wondered if I should have left her at home. I was trying to do what Bane instructed, keeping her close, trying to get to know her. Since Gabriel wanted to keep her a secret, I couldn't bring her out during meetings. I also couldn't work with her when the family was around. They didn't say anything, but the tension in their faces was impossible to miss. I was aware of the way their gazes darted in her direction when she was in my hand.
A part of me wished I hadn't lost my apartment.
If I still had my own place, I could try to sort things out without spooking someone. Plus, it would be nice to get away from everyone. I enjoyed quiet time of my own, and it was impossible to get that in a house full of vampires. Not to mention the last week had been stressful, forcing me to take care of things during the day. Since the family couldn't wander around in the sun, I had to instruct the contractors Gabriel had hired to repair the front door. They'd finished the work and things had seemed peaceful. For that reason, when they'd left, I attempted to bond with my orb-shaped friend. Each time I did so, the family had retreated to their rooms. They were aware of how much I cared about them, but they didn't like magic.
I assumed it was a vampire thing.
"Settle down," I whispered, patting the bag.
Raised voices inside the office gained my attention. I pivoted, ready to pull the door open when a firm order froze me in place. "Stay where you are, Rhiannon."
