by Maya Daniels
“Leviathan!” My voice gets lost in the light, as if the damn thing is soaking it up.
Shit! There is no way he will hear me.
Wracking my brain on what else to do, I scream in pain when one of the angels opens a gash in my thigh. That hurts like a bitch. Tears burn my eyes, and I can feel my thigh throbbing while my pants get soaked with my blood. The angels get into a frenzy like piranhas at the sight of me bleeding. Oh God, this is bad. This is really, really bad. Like the stupidest idea I’ve ever head. Worse than going to Hell.
The dragon roars again, and to my shock, he stops trying to shake me off. Did he see it’s me? Please God let him see it’s me so we can get the hell out of here. Fire bursts from Leviathan’s jaws, roasting all the angels close to me. It gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, we are not screwed. He turns his massive head to the side and his large eye zeros in on me. His vertical pupil expands and retracts as he keeps watching me. Since he can’t hear me, I release the hold with one hand and start pointing at the edge of the barrier like a crazy woman. There is nothing else I can think of to do.
Luckily for me, Leviathan moves closer to the edge. We hover there for long moments while he fights off the new group of angels that got close enough to slash at him. My mouth goes dry when I get a closer look at them. There is no expression on their faces, not even the inhuman one I saw on Raphael when I pulled him out. Their eyes are empty, and all of them are fighting like one person. It’s the closest explanation I can come up with. One person that has multiplied and all the copies are moving in sync with the original.
Leviathan dips again for a few feet, and I jolt, yelping as I tighten my hold. I lose sight of the angels, but my mind is swirling with possibilities. Can it be that simple? Like if we find the one that they are all mimicking, all of this will stop? Because it doesn’t look like we will be able to get out of here. Every time Leviathan nears the edge of the light trap, they swarm us more. No, getting out is not an option.
We need a plan B.
“Where is Waldo.” I chuckle crazily under my breath.
If this idea is a bust, we are as good as dead, I think. But I can’t think of anything else, and it’s not like I can have a chat with the dragon. He is busy keeping the angels away from us, and even if I scream, he won’t hear me. I abandon the idea of getting through the barrier and start looking at the angels.
They come in groups, but the longer I watch them, the more I notice that they move only on one side at a time. I have no idea what that means, but I’ll take it. Straining my eyes, I try to see beyond the group attacking us now. There is the second group just floating there behind them, waiting. When Leviathan sends fire at the attackers, they bolt back, then the second group comes at him. A peculiar thing happens. One from the second group joins the first instead of coming at us with his buddies. Thinking I imagined it out of desperation to survive, I keep watching. Three times they switch places, and three times the one I’ve been watching switches groups and never attacks.
That’s the motherfucker I’m going to stab.
Still dumbfounded that I was actually right, I start slapping Leviathan on his scales to get his attention. When he locks his eye on me, I point frantically at that one angel I’ve been eyeing. Praying that he sees what I see, I hold my breath when he starts turning. All I need is to get close enough so I can slice at him. Sliding my hand at the small of my back, I grab hold of my dagger. My wounded thigh has gone numb, I can barely feel that leg, but whatever. If I’m wrong about this one angel, both of us are going to die here anyway.
No matter how many times Leviathan tries to get close to that one, the others force him to move back. Like they are protecting him. It only firms my belief that if we get rid of that one, we might survive this. When a long time has passed, and we get close but not close enough, I throw caution to the wind. The moment Leviathan nears that one angel, I push off his neck and throw myself at him.
We both freeze, staring at each other wide-eyed, me shocked that I actually jumped that far to grab hold of him and I’m assuming he is in shock that he got busted. Anger darkens his features, and his face flickers, changing into the too beautiful face of a jinn, but I didn’t risk my life to let this jerk kill me now. Still staring at his face, I pull back my arm, and as hard as I can, I shove the dagger in his chest. His mouth opens in shock, and a triumphant smile splits my face.
“Playtime motherfucker.” I grin at him.
The light disappears with a pop, and a loud sound rushes to my ears. Roars, fights, curses, and the pissed off roar of a dragon reach my ears. I forget all about it when the jinn goes limp and puffs out of existence like he was never there. I plummet to the ground with a shout.
“Shit!”
I get snatched in the air by Eric. I’m not at all surprised because I somehow know he will catch me. He always does, even when my feet are on the ground. He won’t look at me, anger still simmering under his skin, but that’s okay. We are all alive, and there is one less jinn around here. That’s a good night in my book nowadays. Looking over his shoulder, I watch the flash in the sky. The light trap might be gone, along with the jinn, but the portal to Heaven is still gaping open like a beacon in the night. Will demons be able to go through it? Watching Eric’s angry face from the corner of my eye, I’m not sure if I should ask. Pick your battles wisely, Hel, I tell myself, sighing.
“We are hard to miss in the air, guys.” I still feel uneasy from the whole thing so I can’t stay quiet. “We should go the rest of the way on foot, so we don’t bring trouble there straight away. I know I can use a little break.”
I haven’t even finished talking when Eric descends. As soon as my feet touch the ground, he removes his arms from me and walks ahead of us. My heart hurts, and a lump forms in my throat. Blinking fast, I’m hoping the tears won't spill down my cheeks. I know I hurt him, so I shouldn’t feel sorry for myself. I deserve him giving me the cold shoulder. A large hand on my shoulder pulls me out of my miserable thoughts. I expected Raphael or even Beelzebub. It’s none of those two.
“Thank you.” Leviathan looks uncomfortable, glaring instead of looking at me like I saved his life.
I did. But that’s not important.
“Now, we are even.” Smiling slightly at him, Eric’s stomping falters ahead of us. “And you can’t hold a grudge because I sliced your nose. That was an accident anyway. You know I have a kneejerk reflex.”
“I have noticed.” His thick lips twitch, and his glare deepens because, God forbid, he smiles at me or anything.
“Yes, Helena.” Raphael’s voice makes me look at the Archangel. “Thank you for saving all of us. I don’t know how the others reacted, but all I wanted while I was trapped in there was blood. I was fighting the urge with everything in me, but it would’ve eventually won. You have my eternal gratitude.”
“Don’t thank me.” Shuffling uncomfortably, I try my best not to look at Eric. “You guys should thank Colt.” The man in question almost trips over his own feet, gaping at me in shock. “What?” Chuckling at his expression, I poke at the rip on my pants. Raphael healed it as soon as Eric caught me, so now only a tear in the fabric is a reminder of what happened up there. “If I didn’t see you flying out of the light barrier, I never would’ve thought of pulling you guys out.”
“Yeah, that was luck on my side.” Colt looks like he swallowed a hot potato. I guess he is not used to praise. “One fucker got tangled with me while another kicked me in the chest. I think the contact with it allowed me to get out.” He shrugs a shoulder.
“Whatever it was, I don’t ever want to feel like that again.” Raphael shudders, and the others grunt in agreement.
I feel bad for Raphael. The poor Archangel never asked for any of it, but his kindness to save my life and protect me got him tangled in all this mess. He tries not to show it, but I can see shadows in his yellow eyes when he thinks no one is watching him. I can’t change my fate, can’t change who my parents are. Still, out of everyone, I wish I can
change things for him. I know deep in my heart he is a gentle soul, and it kills me that he is in the middle of my disaster of a life.
We continue in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I keep glancing at Eric. He is withdrawn, his body stiff as a board. I’m surprised he doesn’t break in half. Hurt and anger shroud him like a cloak, and I see shadows merging and emerging from his body with a mind of their own. I need to talk to him if he lets me, but not with everyone around. I’m going to corner him when we get to the safe house, hopefully without getting into another trap or fight by then.
When we near the building, Eric gets tenser, if that’s possible. I mean, I’m not really happy I’m going back here, but obviously, neither is he. He inches closer to me, I’m sure not intentionally on his part. But I say nothing, soaking up his nearness and the heat coming from his skin when our arms brush against each other.
“This is the safe house?” he growls incredulously.
“It was the only place that we can erect wards strong enough to keep everything out.” Raphael shrugs unapologetically.
There is nothing any of us can say to that, so we keep moving. I’m happy to see that my sidekick is not still frozen at the front of the broken door. I wasn’t aware that it was sitting like a boulder on my chest until just now when I finally take a full breath. Poor Trowe had quite a hard time ever since I found him.
We stop at the bottom of the steps, unable to move up. Well, none of them can. I tested it, and there is nothing stopping me from going up to the door. Keeping my mouth shut, I wait along with them until Maddison shows up, partially hidden in the darkness of the hallway inside. Her eyes jump from one to the next before finally landing on me. She lingered on Eric for longer than the other three, but I’m the target of her scrutiny more than anyone else.
I can guess why.
“I’m not a jinn if that’s what you are worried about.” The smile I try to give her falls flat, so I give up on it.
“Right.” Looking down her nose at me, her musical voice is like a warm hug. “It’ll take more than that to convince me.” She comes closer to the door, stopping right before the threshold.
Raphael and Eric open their mouths at the same time, but I lift a hand, stopping their words. None of them will convince her of anything. And I like to believe Maddison knows me better than I know her. Because I fell for a copy of her that the jinn showed us. Hopefully, she wasn’t and will never be that unfortunate.
“The wards are stopping everything from entering your safe house, right?” Keeping my gaze on hers, I wait until she nods reluctantly. There is wariness in her eyes, but I can tell she will go for my throat if I’m not telling the truth. How the hell did we get tricked by her doppelganger is beyond me now that I’m looking at her. “Even jinn?” I need her to confirm it before I do anything.
“Yes.” Her eyes narrow slightly on her perfect face.
Steeling my spine, I take the first step. I can hear Raphael suck in a startled breath behind me. Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t move, so I take another, and another. When I reach the top, and we are almost face to face, her shoulders drop and she breathes deeply.
“Thank goodness!”
“I can’t believe we fell for it.” Looking from Raphael to Eric, I voice the thoughts running through my head.
Even in this half-broken building, Maddison looks as prim and proper as ever. There is not a hair out of a place where the red curls fall over her shoulders. The air around her is like the first time I saw her. I have to lock my knees or I’ll bend down and curtsy in her presence.
“None of us suspected jinn.” Eric shrugs, still avoiding my gaze. “At the time, I was more focused on finding you than I was worried if she is acting like her old self.”
We are following Maddison through the hallways, her footsteps much lighter than my tired stomping in the tiled floors. My whole body feels like one big bruise, and I want to collapse in a heap on the floor. The fact that I don’t want to show weakness in front of Eric, mainly to prevent him from saying I told you so, is the only reason I’m still standing.
As I’ve said a few times, we are both stubborn.
“So, who else is here?” My question makes Maddison look back at me.
“Two of your hunter friends are here.” She gives me her back again. “Imagine my surprise when they just came out of nowhere, speaking to me like we were old friends.” Shaking her head, curls bouncing, her soft chuckle makes me smile despite my tiredness. “I thought I must have taken the wrong portal on my way back.”
“Where were you anyway?” I thought everyone the jinn impersonated was held captive. Then I remember looking at myself through the broken windows of Eric’s apartment and I shiver slightly.
“I went to speak to my mother.” Eric snarls something, but Maddison shuts him up with a wave of her hand. “Keep your growls for your mate, Eric. I have no time for it. I saw my mother because I knew something was coming. I just didn’t expect it to start while I was looking for advice.”
“And did you?” When she turns her head and lifts a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me, I clear my throat. “Get advice, I mean.”
We stop moving, and she is fully facing me now. The men stay mostly quiet, and I’m grateful. I have a splitting headache, and too much talking will make it worse. Maddison searches my face before her gaze flicks from me to Eric, who is standing a few feet away from me. A barely noticeable line forms between her eyebrows for a second, but thankfully she doesn’t say anything about it.
“There is a time for talking.” She grabs the handle of the door where we gathered around. “I think what all of you need is food and rest first.”
My stomach releases a thunderous and embarrassing sound as if punctuating her words. My face heats up, and I avoid looking at all of them. When was the last time I ate? I can’t remember, and that’s very bad right there. Eric’s gloomy aura thickens more, if that is possible. Maddison reaches for me, removing my fingers from my mouth. I was subconsciously chewing on my thumbnail, so I smile sheepishly at her.
“I will get someone to bring food, you can go see your friends in the meantime.” Her blue gaze softens for a second before she pushes the door open for us and walks away.
I haven’t taken a full step inside when a ball of energy slams into my legs and only Eric stops me from falling on my ass. He holds my hips while Narsi climbs up my body, and I can’t stop the snort. The Trowe really is something.
“Mistress…” He keeps hissing, holding onto me with arms and legs like a monkey.
“Careful, you’ll hurt her.” Eric snarls from behind me, and warmth blossoms in my chest. Maybe I didn’t screw up as bad as I feared.
“Calm down Narsi, I’m fine.” Petting his head awkwardly, I finally look past him in the room.
George and Cass are watching me warily, their eyes bugging out of their skulls. My heart skips a beat when I see two of my old team, but I stop myself from saying anything. Why are they watching me like they’ve never seen me before? Is it because of Narsi? I know for a fact I haven’t grown horns since the last time they saw me. A groan escapes me at the thought of horns. Looking over my shoulder only confirms it.
Eric is glaring daggers at everyone in the room and there are many gathered here that I’ve never met. His wings are tucked into his back but still visible over his shoulders. They stick out, crowding the hallway behind us. Two sets of horns are sticking proudly on top of my mate’s head. To my team members, this might look like a demon is holding me hostage. The creepy, eyeless Trowe is not helping the matters much, either.
Taking a deep breath, I smile tightly at the hunters. “Hey, guys. Good to see you.”
“Are you okay?” George lifts up, slowly keeping an eye on Eric. “You got back safe.”
“So, it was really you at Sanctuary when the gate opened?” I try to take a step closer, but Eric and Narsi will have none of that.
“Yeah.” Leaning his back on the wall behind him, George still looks poised, as if re
ady to fight. “That was definitely some trip, I’ll say that much. We barely got away with our heads on our shoulders.” He jerks his chin at Cass. She nods enthusiastically, confirming his words.
“The others?” Just thinking about Hector and Amanda clogs up my throat and I have to swallow thickly. Eric’s hands tighten on my hips, and I sag against him.
“We have no idea.” Dropping his tough act, George rubs his face. He looks like he’s aged ten years since the last time I saw him. “This is so fucked up.”
“You can say that again,” Colt chirps before shouldering his way into the room. “All of you can stand as much as you want, but I need to fucking sit down. I’ll watch my brother and the hunter play the dominance game from the floor.” He plops next to Cass, giving her a wink. She shrinks away from him, even though he has no horns on his head.
“What are you talking about?” I frown at him, already angry that he is scaring my friend.
“The hunter can feel the mark my brother left on you, but his human brain can’t process it for what it is. So, he is puffing up his chest like a peacock.” Colt points at George, grinning like an ass. “My brother, on the other hand, is still pissed off at you, but just like a dog with a bone, he makes sure the hunter knows not to pee on his territory.” He stabs a finger at Eric. “It’s rather fun to watch. I just can’t stand anymore. So, I took a front row seat.”
My mouth hangs open, and Colt laughs in my face. Cass, my quiet and sweet friend, snorts ungracefully, slapping a hand over her mouth as her eyes go wider. Eric grumbles something about ripping Colt’s wings off to teach him a lesson, and the other three roar a burst of laughter from the hallway. None of it shocks me as much as my sidekick.
“Leave Shadow alone!” Narsi hisses at Colt, baring his teeth, and if Eric weren’t holding me, I would’ve dropped on the floor.
The food that they bring us gets devoured in less than five minutes. It makes me think back to how many times I’ve actually eaten since all this started. The more my powers settle in my body, the less hungry I feel. I haven’t thought about food at all. Raphael was healing me while Michael, or the jinn pretending to be the Archangel, kept me in this very building. Then Eric said he was feeding me his energy when I went nuclear in Hell and lost a few days because of it. The more time passes, the less I have a need for it. It’s a very unsettling thought on top of everything else, so I push it away.
