by Tamsin Baker
A table. The lump of a body, in the middle of the room.
I stepped up next to her and ran my hands over her softness. I had to take her in my hands, my arms. I had to make sure she was okay. I could hear her, but I needed to feel her heart beating. I needed to be sure her voice wasn’t some kind of wicked trick.
“You need to get out of here, Gabriel,” she croaked. I pushed her hair from her face blindly. I tried to push her hair back from her face. I could feel cool sweat on her skin and wished I could reassure her that it would be okay. But the truth of the matter was, I didn’t know. “Quickly. It’s a trap.” She sounded as though she hadn’t had water in a long time.
Anger burned through me, but I had to temper it.
Not now.
“Not without you.” Never. Ever.
She moved and I heard something clink. Suddenly, I realized what was happening with her. She was tied down. Bound by metal cuffs.
I gritted my teeth, muffling a growl.
“Are you all right?” I asked, though I knew it to be a ridiculous question. I was surprised I managed to get that much out. I wanted to rip her shackles and take her out of this castle, take her somewhere safe where no one could get to her ever again.
“Sort of,” she replied with her characteristically dry sense of humor. I didn’t understand how she was able to do that in such a dire circumstance. Most humans would complain – and for good reason. She was more concerned about me and making sure I was safe.
Suddenly the whole room lit up with light from an orange flame.
Holy shit.
“Run, Gabriel. Run!” Kadie screamed, and that’s when I properly saw her. The Demons lit up the room like a summer’s day and I could see every detail of my magical Witch.
Her stomach was impossibly swollen and large. Her arms still bled from puncture wounds. I realized she wasn’t just shackled, but she was nailed to the table, as though they assumed there was a chance she might be able to escape if only one method of entrapment was employed. Her face was bruised and burned.
This time, I did not hold back my growl. It turned into something a wolf might howl at the moon, but much more ferocious.
Stabbing pain hit my gut as I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat as I screamed. This was all my fault. I should have been here for her. Damn the other Targets. There were more Fallen angels that could have protected them. Kadie was my Target, and I had failed her.
Why had I been called away from her when she’d still needed me?
“What have they done to you?” I grabbed hold of the clamps that held her down and used all my strength to open the metal bonds. I pulled and cried out as I wrenched at the metal. They fought against me, but as I put all of my strength into the challenge, they finally clanged open and broke apart. I threw them to the ground in disgust.
“This will hurt, little Witch,” I told her, indicating the stakes that had been placed in her palms.
She nodded and looked away, like she didn’t want to watch. I couldn’t blame her.
I worked quickly. I didn’t want to prolong the inevitable. My little Witch tried to keep her scream to herself but she could not. As I slid the first nail out, she let out a scream and then another as I did it to the second one. I needed to get her to a physician quickly. I could not risk her bleeding out. I could not risk this stress harming her – our – baby.
She sat up with my help, grabbing at her huge belly. Trickles of blood dropped down her palm and stained her shirt. She did not seem to notice. “Go. Quickly,” she urged me, still trying to save me, beautiful woman that she was. Inside and out.
Leave you here to die? Never.
She turned her body, slowly throwing her legs over the table. She winced. I was certain everything in her was screaming in pain. Still, she tried to mask it with indifference, but her glassy eyes gave her away. As much as I appreciated her strength, I wished she knew she didn’t have to be strong for me.
I took my sword from its sheath and turned to my opponents. I was surprised they allowed me to remove those shackles and stakes. I wondered if they were biding their time, if they were letting us do this because they knew we would not escape from here. A dozen Demons surrounded us, glowingly red and fiery bright. They were waiting for me to attack. I could feel my body lifting and changing, the warrior inside of me transforming for the fight.
My heart thumped harder and faster, a fate I hadn’t known existed for me, opening up like the beginning of a waterfall.
“I am Gabriel, Defender of Heaven and Earth, and you... cannot have her!” I bellowed, my fingers tightening on my sword.
Don’t give up on me, beautiful.
I did not turn to look at her as I stepped towards the Demons. Part of me wanted to get one last look at her, one last chance to say goodbye. But I did not. I needed to ensure her safety and I could not risk taking my eyes off these beasts.
I faced off against them and as they rushed me I could feel Kadie at my back, her white light streaming from her goodness. I wanted to scream at her to run. I wanted her to get help. Perhaps her magic was helping her heal. Regardless, I did not like her risking our child to save me. I was apt to do what I could, but everything would be in vain if I failed and she fell into their clutches once more.
I swung my sword as they ran at us, taking the head off one, slicing the arm off another. My shoulder burned as one touched me and I spun to take him out.
Kadie fell to the ground with a cry and I encircled her. My wings extended and folded backwards, attempting to surround her— a dangerous situation for us both as I would only be able to move in a circle around her. My body was repairable. My wings were not.
I swung and danced around her, taking out every Demon that came at us, unable to move far as I stayed to protect my woman and our child.
My hoodie was on fire, the heat burning at my neck and making sweat sting my eyes. I brushed it with my hands to put out the flames. A Demon slammed into my ribs and knocked me sideways, exposing Kadie from beneath me and causing pain to ricochet up my body.
Oh, fuck.
I grunted and fell. I was not expecting that amount of pain.
Kadie blasted them with her powers, the white glory giving me enough time to put out my flames, wrench off the hoodie and stand up. I could not deny that her presence, her magic, probably saved me from grave injury. As much as I wanted her to run to safety, I appreciated the risk she was willing to take to ensure I was all right.
My ribs were broken, my skin was burned, and there was still about eight of them. We needed to get out of here, and fast. With Kadie’s own injuries, I did not think we would be able to take the rest of them out. I did not know if more were coming. I did not want to risk anything to find out.
But the only way out seemed to be the way we came in. I grabbed Kadie and hauled her to her feet, her legs wobbling uncertainly beneath her cumbersome body. She seemed fragile in that moment. I had never seen her appear that way before. I wanted nothing more than to cradle her against me, to feel her relax, but I knew we needed to leave as quickly as possible if we were going to survive. And as much as I ached to reassure her, survival had to be our first priority.
We need to get out, I explained to her, hoping the voice that floated in her head was gentle. Run for the door to your left. I’ll be right behind you.
She nodded and turned, holding out her arms and staggering towards the exit. She blew white light at the Demons in our way and I sliced at them with all my might. I suppressed a grunt. The strain the movement left on my ribcage was enough to shake me. I had been injured before, but not to this extent. I did not think I had ever had this much to lose before.
Kadie made a hole in their defenses and kept going, staggering and moaning as she moved. She didn’t give up. And she didn’t stop. Tears clogged my throat, making speech impossible.
Keep going. Encouraging her was the only thing I could think to do. There were no other options. I could not let her give into the pain I was certain she
was feeling.
I turned around and faced them, ignoring my own pain and injuries tugging at my soul. Both mine and Kadie’s. The sensation of impending death was overwhelming, like a giant storm cloud rolling in and enfolding me with no chance of escape.
Three Demons rushed me at once and I thrust forward with my sword. I swung fast, dealt with the one in front of me, the other two diving for my wings like impossibly huge flames. They clung to the blackened feathers and made me scream out in pain. I could feel the sizzle against the softness. I knew my time had come. I did not think I would make it out of this one.
But Kadie could.
Keep going.
Daylight shone into the room as Kadie flung the door open.
“Gabriel!” she screamed, looking back at me.
She was safe. In the daylight. She still needed to get outside, but the Demons wouldn’t be able to leave this room, I was certain.
Go, little Witch. Go!
All my strength left me as I swung around in a huge circle, turning the two Demons who clung to me into dust. I fell to my knees, the pain of my burning wings so intense I could barely breathe.
But it did not matter. Just knowing Kadie would survive, our unborn child would survive, was enough to ensure that I could die fighting. The pain I felt did not inhibit me, it inspired me. I knew with absolute certainty I would see my death today – and that was okay. It was a strange feeling – the same one I got when I first stepped inside the castle.
I would use it to my advantage.
I could hear Kadie’s voice in the distance, screaming at me, my burning flesh reminding me I was still alive.
I couldn’t give up now, though I wanted to.
I roared as I staggered to my feet and started swinging once again, hacking away at any Demons that dared get in my way. My sword, my trusted friend, had not let me down through any of my darkest times, and it continued to stay with me now. I backed up as fast as I could and made it to the door as the remaining solitary fiery creature let loose an evil howl in anger.
I wanted to laugh. Could Demons sense impending demise? Did it give them hope, as it gave me?
I thrust forward with my sword, stabbing one last Demon before I raced out into the daylight, the best defense against these evil spirits.
I collapsed against the stone wall, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
I was alive.
The daylight pricked at my eyelids and it took me a brief moment to adjust to the sun. But I tilted my face up towards it, like a sunflower. The Supreme Creator had not forsaken us. We were both alive.
But we could not stay here.
“We... need to go,” I told Kadie, trying not to cringe as I raised my gaze and witnessed the state she was in. They’d really made a mess of her beautiful face, and I hoped to God Tabitha could help her.
She nodded, leaning back on her hands, stretching out her back. She was so pale I barely recognized the physical form of the woman I’d known only a week ago.
But she was my Kadie. There was no mistaking her heart, nor the strength that beat behind it. I wanted to cling to her, to tell her – to tell myself, really – that it was okay now.
I could not bring myself to do that. I did not know if it was okay. The only person who would know of such a thing was Tabitha. We needed to get to Tabitha, and quickly.
I carefully picked her up into my arms and ran as fast as my injured body could carry me, along the corridor, then I turned through the door that took us into the bright sunlight.
I blinked rapidly as the daylight bathed our faces. I stepped over the bodies of the guards I’d knocked out, and placed her down on her feet. I couldn’t stop the groan that sounded through my throat as the pain burned down my arms.
“Can you fly?” she asked, her worried gaze running over my injured form.
I extended my singed wings and intense pain pulsed down my shoulders and around my ribs. More than half the feathers were burnt off, but I could fly. Or we’d die trying.
“I don’t know until I try.”
Her eyes went wide at my words and I couldn’t hide the slight smile that tugged at my lips.
Noticing my grin, she quipped, “If I weren’t so tired, I’d kill you.”
“Yeah, yeah, get in line little witch.” I tried to laugh as I gathered her battered body up into my arms once again and concentrated on the weight of her against me. Her warmth gave me strength.
I clenched my jaw, gripped her tight and pulled all my willpower to me and used it to lift us off the ground.
Pain shot through my back and along my wings. “Arghhh...” I couldn’t stop a strangled scream from leaving my mouth as I lifted into the air. My grip on Kadie tightened, afraid I might drop her because it was too much for me to bear. I could not let her go, no matter what state I was in. She needed me. And I was not going to let her down.
I pushed forward. Each flap of my wings was like a stab and I was certain I would never catch the gentle breeze. It was too soft, too delicate, just like the woman here in my arms. But I did not falter. It took time and I grunted through clenched teeth, but I continued to push.
I kept flapping and got us higher, above the barriers of the castle and towards the clouds. Once there, I eased into my flight. It was much less difficult knowing the danger had decreased, if only slightly.
She clung to me, tightly. I glanced down at her mangled face. I could see she was trying to be strong, as she usually was. The thought that she was still my Kadie despite all of this made my heart swell with pride. I wish I had her strength. I knew, in that moment, I did not. But she did. I continued to focus on my woman, on how proud I was simply to be in the same space she was. My eyes dropped further down to the child growing inside of her.
My child.
The love I held for both of them push away the pain that tormented my mind.
I did not understand this sudden and unexpected love for something I did not plan nor did not think was possible. I supposed it did not matter about what I thought I knew. Things changed. Feelings changed.
The size of her belly confused me, and scared me, but I was hoping that Tabitha would have answers. She usually did.
Chapter 8.
We flew over the castle and I kept going, following an instinct that would take me Tabitha. It was slow to come by – my flight – but as long as we were making some kind of progress, I did not mind the extra time. Kadie felt good and solid in my arms, her face pressed against my chest.
I didn’t want Kadie to know just how difficult this was becoming for me.
I continued to push further.
Black spots swam in front of my eyes and I wanted to scream from the pain that pushed through every cell of my being. I collapsed outside a small house in Brooklyn. Not where I expected to be. I did not realize I had traveled so far. Focusing on Kadie, on my child, ensured that the time passed. Even though I could feel the pain, the person in my arms compelled me further. I wonder if her magic was at play here. I would not be surprised if it were – Kadie always had more than a few tricks up her sleeve. Nevertheless, we’d found my Agent. Why she changed houses so often, I’d never know. It was annoying, but as long as I was able to find her, that was all that mattered.
Kadie stood up from where we’d both dropped on the ground and banged on the door. I tried to push myself up to stand with her, but I was overtaken by a strong, gripping pain, and faltered. “We need help,” she cried and the door flew open.
“Tabitha,” I croaked out from where I was.
Thank you, God. We made it.
And there she was. All five feet nothing of her.
“The... Angel Agent?” Kadie asked, breathless and leaning against the door frame as though she couldn’t stand. Her hands went to the small of her back, arching up her torso and stretching out her muscles. Blood crusted on her hands from where she had been staked to the table, but it looked as though the injury had clotted.
She would be okay.
“Yes,” Tabitha re
sponded with a brusque nod. “Come inside, Kadie. I’ll help Gabriel.”
Tabitha came over to me and lifted me up like I weighed nothing. She tucked her shoulder under my arm, and with a strength I hadn’t known she possessed, she practically carried me inside, into a room with two hospital beds.
She lay me down on one of them. I leaned back. Black, dancing birds clouded my vision. I shook my head, hard. Damn exhaustion.
I wanted to give into the darkness, to allow sleep to overcome me, but I also wanted to ensure Kadie was getting help as well.
“I thought you two were going to need care when you escaped so I moved into the human realm and stocked up on supplies,” she explained, as my eyes slid shut and I relaxed into the cool sheets.
This was so much better than the castle’s black room with the Demons. Even Tabitha’s voice was like a balm on my injuries.
I knew this was temporary. I knew that there would be a time when we weren’t safe. But at least I could finally relax. At least I wasn’t constantly looking over my shoulder for now. At least Kadie was just as safe as I was, and I was with her to make sure she stayed safe.
“Kadie, lie here,” Tabitha instructed. Her voice little room for argument. I heard her pat the bed near mine. “You need some fluids.”
Tabitha continued to move about and I forced my eyes to open a slit. I trusted Tabitha completely with Kadie, but I still wanted to know what was going on. I watched as my Angel Agent put a drip into Kadie’s forearm like an expert, and then washed her face with a cloth. Kadie leaned into the touch, needing the cool water to soak her injuries, to purify her being.
My beautiful, darling Witch was an utter mess.
Kadie opened her eyes and locked them with mine. She gave me a gentle smile as though she could read my mind. And I remembered, that she could.
“It’s okay,” she assured me, her voice still rough. “You should see the other guy,” Once again, her hands strayed to her stomach. It could have only been a week, perhaps two, since we last consummated our relationship, and yet, she cradled her stomach with such tenderness and affection that it reminded me of how other humans who were forced to wait nine months until the birth of their child touched their bellies. Such a strong bond in such a short amount of time. It was a miracle.
