Awaken (Divine Hunter Series)

by L. J. Sealey

  He was free.

  Michael heard a distant voice, deep and throaty, calling out. “Stop him!” Then before he knew it, he was moving towards the guards that had Evo. He didn’t feel his legs move, nor did he feel he had control over any part of his own body. It was almost like he’d willed himself to go and save his friend and his body was somehow taking him there.

  Floating. . . Was he floating?

  He was still surrounded by the strange haze as he advanced on the guards who were now stood in front of his friend, crouched and ready for attack. Michael watched as their eyes change to crimson and immediately felt an invisible force pushing at him, but whatever the guards were trying to do had no effect. He pushed through the invisible shield and felt it weaken, watching the stunned expressions on the skeletal features that stood before him.

  He heard a roar behind him then felt pressure at his back. He slowly turned his head to see that Varesh had hurled a fireball at him, but as he watched it approach, it was like time had suddenly slowed down. Before it reached him, Michael inhaled deeply and curved his back until he was hunched over−like somehow he knew how to stop it. The fireball hissed as the flames dissipated on impact.

  Michael looked up again to see the guards repeating their earlier reprisal still with little effect.

  “Evo!” he heard himself shout through all the commotion before expelling more of the strange energy from his body which sent the two guards flying through the air. Michael just about registered Evo’s shocked expression before he grabbed him and they both began to run.

  Another fireball headed towards them and Michael pushed Evo in front of him to shield him from the onslaught as two more followed. He knew Varesh wasn’t going to let them leave but he wasn’t about to go down without a fight; even though he wasn’t sure where his fight was coming from. Michael threw Evo to the ground in front of him and crouched over, protecting him as the three balls of fire hit his back one after the other with little effect.

  “Are you ok?” He was still covering Evo who seemed a little perplexed as to what was going on.

  “I will be when we get out of here.”

  Michael pulled Evo to his feet and they continued to run. They headed towards a narrow opening in the cliff face on the other side of the ledge. Michael glanced back and was surprised to see that they weren’t being followed. The fact that Varesh hadn’t ordered his guards to follow and had just let them run was unsettling. None the less, they continued towards the opening.

  Michael ushered Evo through the narrow gap first not wanting to take any chances. If they were being followed then Michael would be the one to fight not his friend. As soon as Evo was through, Michael followed without hesitation.

  When they were out of the way of the immediate threat Evo stopped to catch his breath and grabbed Michael’s arm as he went to pass him. “Wait. . . Woah. Just stop for a minute ok?” he panted.

  “Not a good idea. We need to keep moving.”

  The tunnel they were in was dark but short enough so that light shone through from the other side illuminating Evo’s face. He had the oddest look.

  “I don’t know what went down with you and those demons before my ass woke up. But what the hell was that?”

  Michael feigned innocence. “What?”

  “Never mind ‘what?’. . . What just happened to you back there? How the hell did you manage to fight off four huge demons without even touching them, then go and save our asses from an onslaught of hellfire, all without a hair out of place? And who was the tasty broad?”

  Michael chose to ignore the last question. He could just imagine Evo’s reaction when he told him he’d dated a shapeshifter, even if it was without him knowing it. He sighed and leaned against the stone wall facing Evo. The sound of dripping water was all that occupied the small space as Michael tried to come up with an answer, but only one thing had entered his mind from the moment the strange power had taken over his body.

  “I’m one of them aren’t I?”

  He heard Evo’s breath catch. “Demon?”

  “Yes. It’s the only explanation.” The only one he could find anyway. He’d suspected it for a while; ever since the first night he’d met Evo, when his eyes had changed. Since then he’d felt the change but just put it down to him getting used to his body. Then there was what happened in Lacy’s house when they discovered she’d been taken. He’d felt so much power rushing through him back then and it unnerved him.

  But why was he so surprised? After all, he’d escaped Hell. Wasn’t it obvious what he was?

  Evo surprised him by gripping onto his shoulders hard. “You’re not a fucking demon. There’s no way.” His friend burned him with a look that said “I won’t let that be true.”

  He couldn’t blame him for feeling that way. “How could I not be, Evo? There’s no other way to explain what’s happening to me. I had no control over that back there. It’s just like rage consumed me and took over my body. Like I was just telling myself what I wanted to happen and then it happened without any effort.

  “It’s not the first time I’ve thought about this. For the last few months I’ve felt like I was getting stronger. Fighting these creatures has been getting easier. And now, after what just happened out there, I feel stronger than ever.”

  “But, what about your eyes? Why do yours glow white when theirs are blood red? Surely they would be the same.”

  Michael shook his head. He had no idea.

  Both men were quiet for a moment until Evo dropped his hands from Michael’s shoulders and said, “Well, demon or not, I think that was pretty fucking awesome what you did out there.” He smiled at him reassuringly.

  Michael appreciated it. It didn’t make him feel any happier about the situation but knowing that his friend was trying to make him feel better, he had to smile back. All be it a small one.

  “Come on,” Michael said. “We have to find some place safe so we can get out of here.”

  They headed for the tunnel’s exit. And as Michael walked on ahead he tried his best to ignore Evo’s next sentence.

  “Now, about that female. . . ”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  “I can’t sit here like this anymore. I have to be doing something.”

  Lacy was feeling far too anxious to be sitting watching the TV. After getting the super to fix Michael’s apartment door she’d sat and analysed the items spread out on the coffee table. Some of which made her stomach tense. Then she’d figured she’d see if there was anything to watch so she could at least try and take her mind off of Michael.

  It hadn’t worked.

  She couldn’t stop her imagination from working overtime as she thought about what both men could be going through right now as she sat and watched trash TV. It wasn’t right.

  Alethia had spent most of her time in Michael’s room in a telepathic conversation with her father and other family members in an attempt to sway them to help but it didn’t seem to be working.

  The door to the bedroom opened and Alethia walked out shaking her head with a sorrowful look towards Lacy. “They refuse,” she growled out of frustration. She explained how her father had told her that they weren’t about to get involved in a war they weren’t a part of for the sake of two people, one of which was already dead, who had chosen their own path by entering Hell in the first place. Oh, and that Alethia was to stay put. “My father is a stubborn bastard. I’m sorry.”

  The disappointment hit Lacy hard but she knew the deity had tried her hardest. If the gods weren’t willing to help even when one of their own was asking then things were worse than she’d initially thought.

  Lacy started pacing around the room. She stopped at the small window and stared out at the students wandering around the university grounds below with books and files tucked under their arms, completely oblivious to what was happening all around them. She let out an exasperated sigh. “I can’t do this. . . stay cooped up in this apartment waiting. I’m concerned for Evo, of course I am, but what if it�
�s Michael that uses the ring? I don’t want either of them getting trapped but Michael. . . ” She swallowed the lump that had cut off her words. She wanted to scream; to shout to anyone who could hear.

  Alethia walked up to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. “We’ll find another way. I don’t want anything to happen to them either. Michael is a kind soul and, for your sake, I want to see him return unharmed. Evo. . . Well, I’m kinda fond of the idiot. He reminds me of someone. . . ”

  Alethia’s face lit up like she’d just remembered the answer for the million dollar question. She began to rush around the apartment, quickly gathering up her things. She put her coat on and passed Lacy hers. “Come on, I know someone who could help us.”

  Lacy didn’t hesitate. She shoved her arms in her coat and had her purse over her shoulder before she’d even finished putting it on properly. “You do? Who?”

  “A last resort.” she said, her brow furrowed so much that she looked like she could’ve been in pain. “But it won’t be easy.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know he’ll be hostile towards me. We kind of fell out years ago.” Alethia placed her hands on Lacy’s elbows indicating what form of transport they would use. Lacy did the same to her.

  “Who is he?”

  Alethia grinned. “My ex-husband.”

  After shifting through the air, which Lacy was now beginning to get a little used to even though it was still weird, the gray mist dispersed from around them to reveal their surroundings. They were standing on a cobbled street in front of a Georgian looking town house that was nestled in the middle of a row of similar looking buildings. Lacy looked around to see that they were in a wide street lit by ornate, black street lamps, that looked like it was in the middle of. . . London?

  “Are we in London?” she quickly asked Alethia who simply said, “Yes.” As if it was no big deal. All Lacy could do was gawp at the deity with mouth wide open. It was one thing to shift a few miles away to the other side of town but to end up on the other side of the Atlantic in just a couple of minutes was completely mind boggling.

  “Close your mouth.” Alethia smirked. Lacy snapped it shut just as the deity knocked on the front door.

  The house had three stories and five bays, and was in pale red brick with a white stone surround around the black panelled door. It was kept well and the size and location of the building suggested that whoever lived inside certainly wasn’t short of money.

  Alethia knocked again and before she’d removed her hand the door swung open; behind it stood a classically handsome looking man. His dark wavy hair was pushed back from a pale face with a chiselled jaw and prominent cheek bones. He was dressed in a white towelling robe and his feet were bare. Lacy couldn’t help but stare at the man’s deep hazel eyes that were now pinned widely on Alethia as if the guy had seen a ghost. All of a sudden the door slammed shut leaving the two women staring at the brass knocker.

  Alethia huffed. “I told you. . . hostile.”

  She knocked again, harder this time. “Jaret! Open the door.” And then again, and again until. . .

  It swung open again just enough for a head to appear from behind it. “Go! Leave you crazy woman,” the man snapped in a strong cockney accent. As he was about to repeat the assault on his own front door, Alethia put her hands up and pushed back to prevent him from shutting them both out again.

  “Wait! Jaret please. I haven’t come to cause any trouble.”

  “Then you won’t mind leaving just the same will yer.” He pushed harder on the door but Alethia, who was surprisingly strong and had now wedged her foot in the way, wasn’t letting up.

  “Jeez! I just need to talk,” she said calmly.

  Jaret, seeming to admit defeat, pulled back from the door, opened it wide and walked inside without another word.

  Lacy looked at Alethia who tipped her head suggesting that she follow her inside.

  They walked down a long hallway with a high ceiling edged with decorative mouldings. There were paintings hung on the walls which looked old and expensive: different scenes of valleys and landscapes. At the end of the hallway they turned into a spacious modern kitchen that was bright with pale lemon colored units and dark, granite work tops and lots of stainless steel. Jaret was stood at the counter pouring hot water from the kettle into a mug and stirring it intently−a cigarette hanging from his mouth.

  “It’s not a friendly hour to be callin’ on someone,” he mumbled. Of course, Lacy thought, there was a five hour time difference which meant it would be around one thirty in the morning. “So, talk then.”

  Alethia flicked her eyes at Lacy then back to Jaret who had finished making his coffee and had now turned to face her with cup in hand.

  “I need your help,” she muttered quietly and looked down at the floor. From what Lacy knew of her, the goddess was no introvert so it was strange to witness.

  “I’m sorry. What was tha’?”

  Alethia raised her head, looked Jaret in the eye, and spoke with more resolve this time. “I. . . We need your help.”

  Jaret laughed so hard he spilled some of his coffee down the front of his crisp, clean robe. “Shit!” He stuck his cigarette in a nearby ashtray, grabbed a towel and began to scrub the material.

  “It’s not funny.” Alethia looked aggravated.

  “I disagree,” he said and resumed drinking his coffee.

  It was clear to Lacy that the exchange that was taking place may take a while, but never the less; she was actually a little amused by what was happening.

  “I seem to recall you owe me one.” Alethia said to her ex-husband who was now stubbing out his cigarette. He looked up at her, his dark eyebrows drawn into a deep frown.

  “Oh, no. You aint pullin’ that one on me. You lost that privilege when you burned down me last gaff.”

  “Your last ga. . . house was our house, remember.” Alethia corrected.

  “Still din’t give you the right to burn it daan.” He crossed his arms in front of him and leaned against the counter waiting for Alethia’s response.

  “Look, I know you’re upset−”

  “Upset?” Jaret interrupted. “Upset is when my ‘orse falls at the final fence. . . YOU burned down me ‘ome.”

  She let out a sharp, exasperated exhale. “Look. Can we please not get into this right now?” she asked through almost gritted teeth as she threw a look towards Lacy as if to say “Not in front of present company.”

  Jaret also looked at Lacy and his mouth set in a line. “Who is this anyway? And what’ya doin’ in London?”

  Lacy gave him an uncertain smile.

  “This is Lacy Holloway. She’s a friend of mine and the main−and only−reason I’m here.”

  “Pleased to meet yer. Sorry about the. . . ” He waved his hand between him and Alethia.

  “It’s ok.” Lacy replied. As she watched the two of them across the room she wondered how long they’d been married. Jaret was definitely a looker so she could see why he’d grabbed Alethia’s attention. She also wondered what had happened that was so bad to make Alethia burn his house down and made a mental note not to piss her off.

  “Can I get yer some tea? Coffee?” Jaret offered with a hint of a smile. Lacy was sure she saw a slight dimple in his chin.

  “No, Thanks.”

  “Alethia?” The smile had definitely gone when he asked her.

  “Coffee, thanks.” She pulled out a chair from the glass dining table at the end of the room. “Can we sit?”

  “Go ‘head,” he said over his shoulder as he began filling up the kettle.

  After they’d all sat down and fresh coffee was on the table, Alethia began to explain the situation to Jaret who, for some reason, seemed to have perked up at the mention of Hell. She explained that if either Michael or Evo used her father’s ring they would be trapped in a place that no one would be able to get to. She wasn’t even sure where the demons went that got captured by the ring, only that they never returned.

 
They never returned?

  All of a sudden, after the new information that Alethia had casually dropped into their conversation, Lacy felt the air in the room become thicker and she found she was struggling to breathe. She knew it was the beginning of one of her infamous panic attacks and didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of the two sat at the table so she made an excuse to use the bathroom. Jaret explained where the one downstairs was. She made it there and managed to lock herself in just in time.

  She put the toilet seat down and closed the lid. As soon as she sat down, she bent forward, placing her head between her knees. She tried to usher away the thoughts that she’d so vividly conjured up in her mind of Michael trapped in a dark pit surrounded by feral demons who’d been trapped there for centuries.

  The thoughts only added to the light headedness she was now experiencing due to over breathing. She tried to slow her breaths down, remembering how Michael had helped her, and after what only felt like a couple of minutes there was a soft knock at the door.

  “Lacy. Is everything ok in there?” Alethia’s muted voice sounded through the door.

  Lacy was still a little shaky but the worst had passed. She stood and looked at herself in the mirror; smoothed down her hair and made sure she looked ok before unlocking the door.

  “Well, you look fine. I thought we lost you for a minute though, like you’d sneaked out the back door or something.”

  Lacy found that odd. “I just needed to pee.”

  “For nearly an hour?”

  “What?” No. That couldn’t be right.

  Alethia smiled at her. “Look, I know that talking about this whole situation is hard for you. You don’t have to explain.”

  She actually couldn’t even if she tried.

  “I’m glad though. Jaret and I had a much needed talk while you were gone and thankfully things seem to be ok.” She cocked an eyebrow. “For now anyway.”