Alukah

by Leslie Swartz

  “Mommy!” Sinclair screeched.

  Valerie looked out the kitchen window and saw the old lady beating her husband with a stick. “The fuck?” she muttered.

  With Malik on the ground, the wind knocked out of him, Valerie hurried to get her sword from the top of the hall closet, running out to the yard as the witch approached Sinclair.

  “Bitch, you best get the fuck off my property!”

  “The mother,” the woman bemoaned. She ran at her, bringing the cane down hard against Valerie’s blade. They sparred, exchanging blows, neither wavering for a second. Sinclair sprang up, trying to make a break for it.

  “Uh, uh, pretty,” the witch crooned, bringing her hand up, causing the sand to rise and swirl around her in a tornado of filth.

  “Oh, it’s like that? Okay, I see you.” Valerie cracked her neck, the sword erupting in flame. The witch stepped back, her shock quickly dissolving as her desperation forced her to continue. She slammed her cane into the sword again, but after a few strikes, the wood charred and ignited. She dropped it and curled her fingers toward the ground, lifting a large chunk of earth up, breaking it free from the rest. But, before she could raise it high enough to threaten the angel, Malik leaped up, snatched the sword from his wife’s hands, and drove it deep into the old croan’s chest. Her clothes caught flame and she screamed, her whole body going up in a plume of embers and ash. The ground returned and the sand fell, freeing Sinclair.

  “Daddy!” she yelped, running into her father’s arms as he knelt down, hugging her tight.

  “Are you okay?” he fretted.

  She nodded, a wide smile spreading across her face.

  “I love you so much,” he told her, fighting back tears. “I love you so so much.”

  She giggled. “I know.”

  Allydia stood in the rubble of what used to be her club. Oliver sat on the sidewalk, head in hands, as Hartley updated the Queen.

  “The delegation from Norway was en route when the attacks occurred, so they’re safe. They landed just after sunset. Governors from the Philippines and Nepal are also secure. I sent them to a hotel on Madison and Fiftieth. Phindi and her group are in Alexandria and the Governor of Paris has barricaded himself in his chalet and refuses to leave. Everyone else is,” She took a beat, placing her hand over her heart.

  “And the rebels?” Allydia asked.

  “Dead.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. The ones that didn’t die in the attacks were dealt with by my humans. I left none alive, I assure you.”

  “How many of us are left?”

  She choked back her tears. “Twenty-nine, including us.”

  “Total?”

  She nodded. “Their attacks were coordinated, Your Majesty. Small groups of traitors infiltrated every one of our homes and businesses simultaneously. They all but wiped us out.” She brushed away the tears she could no longer fight.

  Allydia appeared cold, even as her heart sank. “Transfer ten million dollars from my personal accounts to each survivor, including yourself. Contact the insurance company. Rebuild the club as you see fit. Make it a sanctuary for our people. Keep them safe.”

  She looked puzzled. “Forgive me, my Queen, but this sounds like goodbye.”

  “What did I promise you after you stayed with me the night that Wyatt broke my heart?”

  “You said you’d never abandon me,” she said, her lip quivering.

  “And I never will. So, this is not goodbye. Do you trust me?”

  “Of course, my Queen.”

  “Good. I will see you again, have no doubt.” She cupped her face in her hands. “Until that time, stay strong, have faith in your capabilities, and be happy.”

  She nodded, stifling more tears.

  “Good to see you alive, Oliver.”

  He stood and bowed his head. “And you, Your Majesty.”

  “I trust your casino is insured.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “Perhaps I’ll visit it once you’ve made any necessary repairs.”

  “I would be honored, Your Majesty.”

  “I have some business to attend to,” she said, turning to go. “Take care of each other.”

  Chapter 26

  Navid sat at Allydia’s dining table, still drowsy and starving. Gabriel opened the takeout containers of steak, mashed potatoes, haricot verts, and yeast rolls, and handed him a plastic knife and fork. She took a bite of bread and picked up her own fork, casting him an annoyed glare. “You’re staring.”

  “Sorry, I just can’t believe I’m on a date with an angel.”

  “Not a date.”

  “No, I know, but, you know what I mean.”

  “I’m just here until Dia gets back to make sure you don’t get kidnapped or eaten.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I’m freakin’ out, right? How am I supposed to behave around you?”

  “Dude, just eat.”

  “Should I call you ‘Messenger’ like Allydia does? Or would you prefer the full ‘Messenger of God’?”

  “My name’s Gabriel.”

  “Right, but--”

  “Bro, it would be way less annoying for me if you’d just treat me like a normal person.”

  “All right, but I don’t know if I can.”

  “Give it a shot.”

  “I’ll do my best.” He took a bite of potatoes and glanced around the room. “Why does she even have a table?”

  “Appearances.”

  “Right.”

  “Your dad’s in Edinburgh, by the way.”

  He coughed up a bit of bread. “What?”

  “He’s a curator at the national museum there. After college, he took a trip to Scotland and fell in love with it. He’s been there ever since.”

  “How…”

  “I know things.”

  “Ah.”

  “I’m telling you this because you have a deep-seated desire for family. I’m not saying you shouldn’t spend time with Dia. She loves you like a son. I’m just saying, she’s not the only game in town.”

  “You’re sayin’ I’ve got a dad in the UK, not eight hours from where I live?”

  She took a sip of soda. “Mm-hmm.”

  “And, you know this because of your angel powers or whatever?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “Nah, you’re good.”

  “What’s he like?”

  “Uh, tall, swarthy, fifty. Smart. Still kind of a man-whore, never settled down. Plays the violin. Still drinks a lot of wine.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  She shrugged, taking a bite of potatoes.

  He cut into his steak, unable to take his eyes off her.

  “Dude, stop staring.”

  “Right, sorry.” He lowered his head and took a bite, his gaze still fixed on her.

  “Dude!”

  Navid is safe now. Meet me at your apartment, Allydia texted to Gabriel as she stood outside the door. She knocked, ready to swallow her pride.

  “Allydia Cain, as I live and breathe,” Lucifer greeted, stepping aside to let her in.

  “Where’s the boy?”

  “Asleep, I’m afraid. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “No.” She sat at the island. “I was hoping to make amends.”

  He sat across from her. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. Young William isn’t the type to hold grudges, unlike your father. Did you know he murdered the woman I was seeing recently because of what happened between us in Akrotiri?”

  “No, I didn’t. My condolences.”

  “And, mine to you on the loss of your father.”

  “Unnecessary, but thank you.”

  “I did have a bit of fun torturing him before Wrath did him in. I would apologize, but you know better than anyone how badly he deserved it.”

  “I do. I almost hurt him myself after he told Wyatt to leave me. How is he?”

  “Pensive.”

 
; “Hmm.”

  “So, you found your descendant all right, I assume?”

  “Yes. Judas was the one behind the rebellion and his kidnapping.”

  He laughed. “Judas Iscariot?”

  She nodded.

  “Oh, that’s hilarious.”

  “Speaking of things being hilarious, Gabriel told me about your run-in with the Nephilim.”

  “I was sleeping. He caught me off guard.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “What’s going on?” Will said, shuffling to the kitchen.

  “Will, good of you to join us,” Lucifer said.

  “I’m just getting a snack.” He pulled a box of cereal from the pantry and took a mixing bowl from the cabinet.

  “Sit for a moment. Your girlfriend’s Queen would like a word. If you’ll both excuse me, I’m off to bed.” He headed down the hall, leaving the two alone. Will sat, pouring the contents of the box into the bowl.

  “What’s up?”

  She crossed her legs and cleared her throat. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I shouldn’t have frightened you and locking Michelle in a cage was perhaps a little rash.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. I know you’re just doing it because you want to get back with my dad. It’s okay. I’m not mad.”

  “You’re not?”

  He folded his hands and looked her in the eyes. “My dad never makes himself a priority. He gave up everything to make sure I grew up safe, including you. He worked a job that bored him in a place far away from everyone he cared about. He was lonely and miserable, but he didn’t care because I was okay. He has more than earned the right to be with someone that makes him happy. I don’t know if you’re the best person for him, but I see how you look at him. Even when you were pissed off, it was clear how much you love him. I would be a crap son if I stood in the way of his happiness.”

  Her eyes softened. It was like she was looking at him for the first time. “You’re a good son, Will. Your father obviously raised you well.”

  “Yes, he did. Oh, milk! Duh.” He got up and went to the fridge just as Gabriel walked in.

  “Dia,” she said.

  “I need to speak with you.”

  “Go ahead,” Will said, pouring the milk and putting it back. “I’m gonna take this to my room. I’ll probably pass back out as soon as I finish it.”

  “Night,” Gabriel called after him as he left.

  “Goodnight!” he called back as he closed the bedroom door behind him.

  “Well?” Allydia asked.

  “You’re crazy.”

  “And?”

  “And, it’s a big ask.”

  “Can she do it?”

  “I don’t know. It’s never been done.”

  “Messenger,”

  “I understand. But, Jesus, Dia, are you sure?”

  “I’ve fulfilled my commitment to your Father, yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, what do you care?”

  “I care,” Gabriel defended. “I consider us friends. Plus, my brother would never forgive me if--”

  “Everything I do is for your brother. You can see into my past. You know my heart. Have I ever cared about anyone more than him?”

  She softened her expression. “No.”

  “So, you will call your witch. Ask her to free me of this burden. Undo what has been done.”

  “All right. If that’s what you want.”

  “You know that it is.”

  “Fine.” She took her phone from her pocket and dialed Wendy’s number.

  “Can you do it?” Gabriel asked.

  Wendy went to the desk and opened the drawer, waving her hand over the cat’s eye necklace, removing its warding so she could access it. “Yeah, I can do it. I’ll be right over.” She ended the call and shoved the phone in her pocket before picking up a letter opener and jamming it into the tip of her finger, squeezing a few drops of blood onto the amulet. She took a deep breath and blew it out her mouth, not looking forward to the pain that would come with what she was about to do. The truth was, she’d put it off for too long already. Gabriel’s friend needing help was the push she needed to get it over with. She braced herself against the wall. “Here goes nothin’.” She took another breath and squeezed the necklace tight in her fist. “Solvo.”

  The cat’s eye cracked open, spilling brilliant blue light from its center, filling the room with shimmering radiance. She tried to cover her eyes, but her arms were yanked down by the force of the magic. It spun around her, lifting her from the floor and turning her around as it blew through, forcing its way in. She cried out as her temperature rose, her skin flushing and her eyes glowing like bioluminescent algae. Her heartbeat was like a drum roll in her ears as she was pulled away from the wall and bent backward as much as her spine would allow as the last of the sparkling incandescence worked its way in through her open mouth as she screamed.

  She dropped to the floor, the room going dark and the blue of her eyes returning to their normal shade. As her temperature went down and her heart rate settled, she caught her breath, never being so happy for something to be over in her life.

  Chapter 27

  Wendy lit the black candle with a red interior and placed it on the floor above Allydia’s head as she lay in Gabriel’s living room.

  “Last chance to change your mind,” Gabriel said from the ottoman.

  “You sure?” Wendy asked.

  Allydia nodded, folding her hands over her diaphragm and closing her eyes. “Proceed.”

  “All right then.” She rubbed her hands together and held them over the vampire’s chest, taking deep breaths as she prepared.

  Yo, B, you should get over here, Gabriel thought to her brother.

  Everything okay? he replied.

  Dia’s having Wendy do a spell on her. It’s risky. She could die.

  What? Stop her!

  Can’t. She begged to have it done.

  I’m coming.

  “Revorsio esse verus hominem,” Wendy said. “Revorsio esse verus hominem.” She repeated the phrase for several minutes as Allydia’s body started to tremble.

  “Is she okay?” Gabriel asked.

  Wendy ignored her, continuing to chant. Allydia shook, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.

  “Wendy is she okay?!”

  Wyatt burst in the door, racing to kneel next to the vampire opposite Wendy. “What are you doing to her?!” She kept chanting, her eyes twinkling like stars in shades of electric blue. Wyatt held Allydia’s hand and touched her forehead. “She’s burning up!” From underneath her skirt, a slow-moving puddle of blood emerged. “What the hell is happening?!”

  “It’s how she died,” Gabriel told him, dropping to her knees next to him. “Uterine atony after childbirth.” She placed a hand over her abdomen to heal it, but Wendy smacked it away. “Did she just--”

  “REVORSIO ESSE VERUS HOMINEM!” Wendy fell back as the candle blew itself out and Allydia stopped moving. The witch caught her breath as she moved out of the way. “It’s done.”

  Gabriel rushed around to take Wendy’s spot across from her brother, put one hand over Allydia’s abdomen, and the other on her head. Her skin glowed as her veins became visible. The angel looked pained as her hands began to shake. “This is taking too long.” Her eyes met Wyatt’s and he could see the worry in them as his heart beat out of his chest.

  He squeezed Allydia’s hand and brought it to his lips as a tear slid down his cheek. “Come back. Please, come back.” Finally, a shallow breath escaped Allydia’s throat, then another and another, each one deeper than the last. Gabriel backed away, lowering her head in relief as her friend’s skin began to brighten, color returning to her face with more vibrancy than before. Wyatt breathed a sigh of relief and kissed her hand again.

  “It worked?” Gabriel asked.

  “Yep,” Wendy said, standing up. “I need some water.” She went to the kitchen and got a bottle from the fridge.

  “What did she do?” Wy
att asked.

  “She removed Lilith’s spell. Put her back the way she was.”

  “You’re kidding. You mean she’s…”

  “Human. A hundred percent regular-ass person. Hella dangerous. For a while there, I didn’t think I’d be able to fix her.” She got up and stomped to the kitchen. “You and I need to have a discussion about boundaries.”

  “You can’t interrupt me mid-spell,” Wendy defended.

  “I wasn’t interrupting, I was just trying to--”

  “She had to be all the way back exactly as she was right before the original spell was done or it wouldn’t have worked. You have to trust me on these things.”

  She sat on a stool and crossed her legs. “I’m working on it.”

  “Mm,” Allydia moaned as she opened her eyes. “Wyatt,” She reached up and touched his chin. “You’re here.”

  He smiled through his tears, awash in emotion. “Yeah, I’m here. Why did you do this? You could have died.”

  “A risk worth taking.”

  “Why?”

  “Forever without you would have been a pain worse than death. Besides, you need me.”

  “You didn’t have to do this.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  He wiped his face and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I love you.”

  “And, I love you,” She ran her fingertips over his lips. “More than anyone is ever going to.”

  He bent down and kissed her, cradling her face in his hands.

  “Aw, that’s sweet,” Wendy commented.

  Gabriel sighed. “Yeah, they’re pretty cute when they’re not dying or making me nauseous with their sex memories.”

  She laughed.

  “Hey, were your eyes glowing earlier?”

  “Probably.”

  “Freaky.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Is that common for you?”

  “New development.”

  “Pretty impressive stuff you did tonight.”

  “I learned another trick while you were gone,” Wendy teased.

  “Really? Did you get a new spellbook?”

  “No, I watched porn.”

  Gabriel laughed. “Well, we shouldn’t let that education go to waste.” They scampered off to Gabriel’s bedroom, leaving Wyatt and Allydia alone to bask in the warmth of their reunion.