Heaven

by Belinda McBride

  “I’d like that. Very much.” Rion rested his chin on top of her head. He lifted her easily into his arms and carried her to the front door. They stood at the threshold, looking out to the fairy tale landscape that was the cradle of his rebirth. Rion closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, letting chill air flow into his lungs.

  “It’s so green,” she said.

  “It’s the fog and mists. You watch… The sun will shine, and without warning, clouds will drift over and the rain will come. And then the sun returns.”

  “I suppose that’s a small sacrifice for the beauty of the place.” Before them the fields fell away endlessly, green as emeralds in the sun.

  “What are those lavender patches?”

  “Bluebells. They grow wild here.” He saw cattle grazing in a pasture across the valley. A single narrow roadway looked like a ribbon unspooling in the distance.

  Noemi rested her head on his shoulder. “They’ll come, you know. There were demons on the ground in Edinburgh.”

  “I know. Rex and I have never before stood our ground. We’ve decided it’s now time to fight back. The best place to do it is right here at home.”

  Slowly, he let her down, steadying her till she was on her feet.

  “Rex left the charm up on the property. We’re still hidden from humans.”

  “But the demons will scent us here. Are you ready?” Her dark gaze bored into his.

  “Now that you’re with us, we are.” He clasped her hand and squeezed it. “You told us Michael seems to have targeted Patrick. Why now? And to what end?”

  She stepped off the low porch, wincing as her bare feet touched rough gravel. “My brother is one of the few who hold the key to traveling between places. Other dark angels seem to have that skill as well. They guard the secret with their very lives. Michael… I’m not sure how he learned to travel, but he must have because he’s moving freely here on Earth. I can only guess Patrick knows something Michael doesn’t want shared.”

  Chills ran down Rion’s skin. There were no memories to support the feeling, but anger and fear trickled through him at the mention of Michael’s crimes. How had the high angel learned the trick of traveling from Heaven to Earth? Rion couldn’t help wonder how much blood had been spilled for that knowledge.

  He was distracted from his grim thoughts as Noemi tentatively spread her wings, moving them about. He’d forgotten she’d be unaccustomed to them.

  “Would you like to learn to fly?” She wouldn’t need to learn, not really. The instinct was deep in her memory, she simply needed encouragement. “We can fly up to Rex.”

  “Naked?”

  He grinned in answer.

  “Oh, right, this is Rex we’re talking about.” She rolled her eyes. “And don’t pretend you won’t enjoy the show.”

  “Oh, I will.” He noticed she was staring openly at his nude body as well. His delighted laughter echoed from the hills.

  For the next few moments, Rion helped her learn the currents of the wind and how to tap into the slipstream. When she was ready, he crouched slightly, springing off his toes. While she concentrated, he hovered, not yet willing to tell her that it was as much magic as aerodynamics. She’d figure that out eventually.

  After a false start, Noemi was laughing triumphantly, gliding down the slope to the sheep pasture he’d landed in so many years ago. Side by side they banked, turning up toward the hills and mountains that sheltered Rex’s forest. He smiled as she gasped in appreciation.

  While the mountains weren’t as young and raw as those in the Americas, there was a sense of age and power about them. The forest was truly ancient. Instead of being choked with underbrush, the trees were widely spaced and the forest floor was golden with filtered sun. Down below a red fox slipped under the shelter of the trees and birds burst into song.

  “He’ll know we’re coming.” Rion reached out to clasp her hand. “If he challenges you to a race among the trees, don’t do it.” He grinned, remembering the first time he and Rex had raced through the woods in the Other Place.

  “Of course, there are worse things than losing a race with Rex.”

  “Someday you’ll tell me that story.” She smiled, then followed his example as he angled up higher, above the trees. Because of their wingspans, Rion and Noemi had to be careful in the forest. Rex’s more compact, leathery wings carried him easily among the trees and bushes.

  “Look.” Rion pointed to where Rex reclined on the broad branch of a great oak tree. The sun cast a warm glow on his face. Rion knew he was awake, though his eyes were closed. The wind played in his loose, dark curls and his tail swayed lazily under the branch of the tree.

  “Hello, you two.” His smile was lopsided, and as always, took Rion’s breath away. He looked whimsical, slightly comical and a little bit sinister. Until they’d tangled with the demons in San Francisco, Rion hadn’t realized what a formidable fighter the ghillie dubh could be. He wore the same baggy pants tucked into high, soft boots he’d worn so long ago. His shirt was loose, sun-bleached linen. His green vest blended into the sun-dappled foliage.

  The old tree was massive—it was truly a monarch of the forest. There was room enough for all of them, so Rion lit on a broad branch and steadied Noemi as she gingerly landed on the tree. They settled in and sat quietly, feeling the wind sigh around their bodies. Finally, Rex stretched and smiled.

  “We’re all home. The forest has welcomed you.”

  Noemi leaned forward, her arms crossed over her knees. “What would have happened if the forest didn’t want us here?”

  “Well, I suppose I’d have a bit more privacy than I care for.” He smiled at her, and reached out his hand. She stood and clasped it, then yelped as Rex suddenly lifted her to his branch.

  “What did you just do?”

  “Rex can raise and lower his own weight. Sometimes he can do the same to others, if he has skin to skin contact.” Rion watched as Rex settled her between his legs. Though they all wanted to bask in the gentle morning, he could see a darker purpose behind Rex’s smiling eyes.

  “The wards on the property have been tested repeatedly.”

  “Then it’s time for us to make plans.” Noemi laid her head back against Rex’s chest. “I felt them in Edinburgh, when I first…popped in… Or whatever it was that happened.”

  That brought a smile to Rex’s face.

  “Did you see them? Recognize them?”

  “It was Kelet and his minions. I’m very familiar with his energy. Even without the amulet, I could feel him.” She fingered the honey-colored ivory around her neck. “I have no weapons. All my knives are back at home. Same with my passport, money and everything else I should have to be here legally.”

  “Well, we can deal with the practicalities later. Right now, you need to learn a few more things about your new form. Have you been able to call forth your weapons yet?”

  She shook her head slowly. When Rion stood, suddenly brandishing a brilliant white sword, she gasped in surprise.

  “He just learned that trick a few weeks ago.” Rex grinned proudly.

  “I’ve seen Patrick’s sword. It never occurred to me that I might be able to call one myself.” Noemi examined the sword, deciding it was light and energy, rather than steel. She flexed her hand and was rewarded with a momentary gleam of golden red light.

  Rion grinned ruefully, willing his sword away. “I’ve been here well over a century and just figured it out. You’re ahead of the learning curve.” He watched as she frowned, focused, and produced weak glimmer of light in the palm of her hand. He glanced at Rex. She didn’t have time to practice, either she had it or she didn’t. He’d dig through the household knives for her.

  “You guys know not to touch Kelet? He moves from body to body through touch. I know he’s been searching for a non-human host for a long time now.” She waved an imaginary sword and sighed in discouragement. “I don’t know if Michael will come. It seems a bit risky, and he was never one to risk himself.”

  “You r
emember him?” Rex leaned past her shoulder, looking at her face.

  “Anahita certainly did. Once we merged, it all came back.” She gave up her efforts and settled back in Rex’s arms. From there, she studied Rion’s face.

  “He hated Kokabiel—Rion. Michael had ambition but little talent of any sort. He hated Kokabiel’s voice. It chafed him that you were well loved by so many. You never had the ambition to be a leader, but our people tended to look to you for guidance anyway. We were ruled by a council of elders, and Kokabiel was selected to fill a spot instead of Michael. I suspect he began to plot your downfall at that time.”

  Rion felt bewildered. This was someone else’s story, not his. But he watched her and he listened.

  “We’d just married. Azrael originally introduced us. I could never believe that my grim and gloomy brother had a friend as bright as you.” She smiled at the memories. “Not long after, Azrael was sent to Earth. The dark angels are the only ones who can make the journey without Falling. His task was to track down rogues who’d survived the Fall and continued to behave as criminals. Not long after he left, evidence came forward that Kokabiel was plotting the death of another council member. Michael acted quickly and had you convicted. When you spoke in your own defense, many were swayed. That’s when he silenced you.”

  Around them the forest had gone silent, almost as if the trees and animals were listening. Rion swallowed, feeling the familiar rasp as his damaged throat worked. He felt…numb. Noemi continued her story.

  “I was accused of nothing, but earlier I had refused his advances. He had me thrown into the portal simply to torture you. I Fell, landing in another time and place than you did. For all those years before I went to the ice, I remembered you, Kokabiel. I remembered and I grieved for you every day.”

  They both knew the rest of the story. Rion rubbed a hand over his face, wondering if this entire nightmare was finally coming to an end. He looked up to see Rex staring at him. Noemi lay back in Rion’s arms, her eyes cast skyward, watching the clouds. The sky was low here, and the clouds seemed close enough to touch. It seemed forever they sat there, silent in their shared pain.

  “I hope Michael comes.” Rex’s voice was soft. “I hope he comes with the demons, because, for the first time ever, I’m curious to know if an angel can die.”

  Chapter Eight

  Rex stood up straight, examining the knife he’d been whetting to a deadly edge. “They’ve crossed the wards.”

  Like Noemi, he’d have to rely on mundane weapons—at least until they were able to identify which of the demons was Kelet. He and Rion had been lucky in San Francisco. The demon that had ridden Cynthia could have taken either of them. Already Noemi was in the center of the living space, testing the balance of the knife he’d prepared for her.

  Rion sat quietly, watching from the open shutter of a window. The breeze made the loose hair around his face flutter a bit. “They’re coming up from the road. I imagine others will approach from another direction.”

  Rex wasn’t certain how they’d managed to cross the wards. That was a problem to file away for later. Now, though, they had a fight to prepare for.

  He stretched then crossed to the door, looking out into the brilliant light of the early afternoon. The demons wouldn’t be particularly fond of fighting in daylight, but they were striking now. Kelet must be in a hurry.

  “Try to keep your back to the sun. The light will dazzle their eyes.” Noemi joined Rex at the door. Looking out, he finally understood how they’d crossed onto the property. The ginger barn cat prowled up the hill with several humans staggering behind him. It had probably left the safety of the perimeter and been grabbed by Kelet. Rex blinked and squinted. To his surprise, a bright light descended from the sky.

  “Michael.” Noemi spit out his name with supreme contempt.

  “He always enjoyed playing the angel to the hilt.” The new voice spoke with a soft Irish lilt.

  “Patrick?” Rex lifted a brow in surprise. The dark angel had simply manifested in the room behind them.

  “Azrael.” Noemi turned to face her brother. He stood unmoving even as she stepped close, wrapping her arms around his body. It took a moment, but his arms came up and he stiffly embraced his sister. It was a good attempt for the first time out.

  “How’d you know to come?” She didn’t step away, clearly reluctant to break contact.

  “Patrick always seems to know where he should be.” Rion reached out, tentatively clasping his arm. Again, the dark angel accepted the gesture with stiff acceptance. Rex wondered how long it had been since he’d been touched or loved. He supposed that being the Angel of Death wasn’t particularly conducive toward friendship.

  “I am not familiar with Kelet or his spawn, but Michael is an accomplished swordsman. His first target will be you, Kokabiel.” Rion nodded. “Understand, he might not strike at you directly. He might target Anahita, knowing her death will cause you horrific pain.”

  “He’ll be in for a surprise then, won’t he?” Noemi’s smile was fierce.

  Patrick stepped away from his sister, staring at her soberly. “He’ll be prepared for the succubus.”

  Noemi casually tossed a knife in the air. That was followed by a second, and she deftly caught them by the handles. He stared at her for a long moment then nodded in approval.

  “Can you manifest your spirit weapon?”

  “Not yet.” She returned one knife to a sheath at her hip, the other went into a wrist holder she’d improvised.

  “You were very proficient with it before.” He gave a small smile. “I doubt it would be an issue if you’d had a bit more time to practice.”

  Noemi winked at him and returned to the door. “Kelet is in the cat. Watch him carefully. He’ll abandon that form for one of the humans. Rex, you need to be particularly careful, since your tail tends to have a mind of its own.”

  Rex nodded and stepped outside. He’d sensed at least a half-dozen demons crossing over the broken wards. As they converged on the property, Michael joined them, resplendent in rich white robes. His huge wings gleamed with light and his sword looked like an elegant extension of his arm.

  “Remember, intent is everything with an angelic weapon. If you strike to destroy the demon, their human host can be spared. Michael will not take such care with you, Kokabiel.”

  It was doubtful whether Michael was interested in sparing any of them. Perhaps Kelet would have fought to take one of their bodies, but as his plans had unraveled, the traveler would follow Michael’s lead.

  The three of them stepped outside, and walked calmly to the forest where the demons waited. They milled and fretted, their frail human bodies barely able to contain the evil within. They milled around the corrupt angel like beasts to their master. Michael broke from the group and approached them.

  “Azrael. Have you betrayed me as well?” The angel’s voice was hauntingly beautiful. It ached with sadness and disappointment. For a moment, Rex was ready to lay down his weapon and beg forgiveness. Tears burned in his eyes. How could Rion and Noemi have turned away from such beauty? He stepped forward and a hand restrained him.

  “He’s using his voice to compel you.” Rion squeezed Rex’s arm, and a smile that was bright and full of love was on his face. “Look at him and see the truth.” Though Rion’s voice was ruined, it still held the essence of knowledge and truth, and when Rex turned back to the high angel, Michael was no longer so beautiful.

  Corruption had burned holes in his aura. Greed and hatred roiled around him in vile, muddy waves. Rex swallowed hard, shocked by the core of evil running through Michael’s outwardly pristine visage. His earlier confidence began to erode. How did one kill such evil? Was it even possible?

  “Ghillie dubh, you’ve neglected your forest for so long that it withers and dies.”

  He felt the stab of the forest’s death right to his very core. Trees groaned and the animals fled. Rex staggered under the weight of the forest’s pain.

  Rion’s hand gripped
his. Illusion, Rex. He doesn’t have that sort of power.”

  In spite of Rion’s words, the press of death and decay bore him to his knees. As soon as he was down, the cat leaped at him, and the humans huddled at the feet of the high angel sprang into action, bearing down on their little group with devious accuracy.

  Kelet had chosen well this time. The men and women he’d taken were young and skilled, neatly evading strikes only to counterattack as the angels went on the offense. Before the cat connected with him, Rex sprang into the air, safely out of reach of sharp claws that would bring about his defeat.

  The cat shrieked its anger, leaping to the nearest human, transferring into his body. Once abandoned, the frightened creature was gone like a streak of fire, taking shelter in the old barn. Rex hovered, waiting for his head to clear and evaluating the action on the ground. Not so far away, Michael had taken to the air, obviously doing the same thing. He was distracted, a burning sword in his hand, paying no attention at all to the ghillie dubh at his back.

  Rex grinned.

  The angel was poised to attack Noemi, and Rex struck.

  He landed on the angel’s back, lashing with his tail, gouging at Michael’s wings with the knife in his hand. Michael screamed in fury, twisting and wrestling, doing his best to throw the Sidhe from his body. Blood sprayed through the air, yet the angel was immortal… Powerful. He spread his massive wings, lifting them both higher into the sky.

  Rex stuck to the angel like a jockey on the back of a powerful racehorse. Michael twisted, dropped, and the knife fell away, leaving Rex’s hands free. He buried his fingers deep into the angel’s flowing hair, and his tail wrapped around the smooth column of Michael’s throat in a death grip.

  The angel flew higher, and Rex lightened his weight. As they surged upward, he sent that power into the angel as well, and as the angel became weightless, they continued to rise, higher than the Sidhe had ever been. The fields of his farm grew small and distant, and he could no longer see his lovers as they fought for their lives.