Into The Divine

by Danielle James

  “Yes, I’m Phoenix. You guys never told her about me?” he asked.

  “We mentioned it,” Rebel said, tossing a duffel bag at Phoenix. “But hearing about it and seeing it are two different things all together. Now, if you don’t mind, put some fucking clothes on.”

  Phoenix chuckled and opened the bag. In no time he was dressed in a pair of well faded blue jeans and a t-shirt with slits cut in the back for his wings. It was good timing too, because Jade chose that moment to come back outside.

  “Uncle Phoenix!” she yelled and jumped into his arms. He hugged her tight and swung her around before setting her back on the ground.

  “Hey little lady, look at you!” he said. “Getting big.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “What? I can’t just stop by?” he grinned at her.

  “Well sure, but I heard you say to Leigh that she called you. I was wondering why. We could use your help, that’s for sure.”

  Phoenix glanced to Angel for permission to speak freely. Angel nodded and Phoenix continued. “I heard Leigh calling to me. I heard her call my blood.”

  “We did a spell asking for lost family to help us,” Jade told him. “But you aren’t really family.”

  Phoenix plastered a wounded look on his face. “Good to know how you really feel,” he said.

  Jade rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean! I don’t understand why you heard the call.”

  Phoenix thought for a moment. “I think I read somewhere that dragons were the descendants of the Phoenix. I have never met another, but that’s not to say they aren’t there. Or at least, there used to be more of my kind. Maybe the myths are true.”

  “We called for blood of our blood and love of our hearts,” Frankie told him. “Guess that means you too.”

  “I had a hell of a time explaining to Kelly why I had to drop everything and just leave. She was unsure of me just taking off into the unknown. Even though I am very hard to kill, she still worries.”

  “And she always will,” Brea told him. “I know. I worry about these guys every single day.”

  “Maybe I could get a sample of your blood and run it against Leigh’s,” Jacque mentioned. “We could see if there is any DNA similarities.”

  “You mean see if I’m related to him?” Leigh asked.

  “Exactly,” Jacque said.

  “Sure thing,” Phoenix answered. “I think I might like to know.”

  “I am sorry for biting your head off,” Leigh said, slightly ashamed of herself and her actions. Only slightly though.

  Phoenix laughed and then looked up into the sky and rolled his eyes. “Well, we have more company coming. Leigh, please don’t kill him.”

  Leigh huffed. “I said I was sorry,” she grumbled. “Who is it this time?”

  Phoenix smiled. “My son.”

  As if on cue, a fireball appeared in the sky. It slowed over the house and dropped lightly to the ground. A young man stood in front of them, folding his wings behind his back. His hair was dark like Phoenix and he had the same eyes. His hair was shorter though. He had the look and build of a fifteen year old boy. One with wings that caught fire.

  “Everyone, this is my son, Michael. Who is going right back home,” Phoenix grumbled.

  “Nice of you to wait for me, Dad,” the boy snarked. “Hey I’m Mike,” he said.

  Brea walked right up to him and hugged him. “I’ve seen pictures of you,” she said, “But I had no idea you were so handsome.”

  Mike blushed but didn’t argue. Phoenix had married into the Boston clan several years earlier and he and his wife gave birth to the second phoenix on earth. Kelly was human then, but her family changed her to accommodate Phoenix’s immortality. Brea noticed how much he looked like his father, but he had a boyish grin and a light personality that was all his own.

  “I told you to stay at home,” Phoenix reminded his son. “Let’s not make a scene here.”

  “Hey I didn’t want to come. I heard the call too though, you know. Mom sent me.”

  Phoenix turned to fully look at his son. “Why would she do that? You know how protective your mother can be.”

  “She said, and I quote, ‘They are in danger. They are our family and they have children. Bring those babies here where it is safe.’ And so here I am, doing what Mom said to do,” Mike said with a smile.

  “You must be insane if you think I am letting Toni out of my sight,” Leigh retorted.

  “Actually,” Brea told her, “It may not be a bad idea. It isn’t like they can’t protect them.”

  “I am not a baby,” Jade huffed. “But I would like to go to Boston. Especially if I can fly with him,” she said wide eyed at Mike.

  “It’s the only way to fly,” he tossed back at her with a confident grin.

  Brea explained to Leigh that the Boston Clan Leader’s house would be the safest place for Toni and that they had a few powerful supernaturals of their own there to protect her. “I don’t want our children anywhere near here with a demon on the loose.”

  “Whoa, demon?” Phoenix asked. “No way those kids need to be here.” He turned to Jade, “Go, pack a bag. Leigh pack one for Toni as well. If you are really uncomfortable with her leaving, then go with them.”

  “I’m not leaving my husband,” Leigh snarled at him.

  “Good, because we may need you.”

  “But she has never been more than a few hours without me,” Leigh continued. “You want me to send her to the other side of the country?”

  “Exactly. We don’t know what we might be facing,” Rebel told her, taking her hand. “I know Victor and I know his family. They have always been there for us when we needed them. They love children and would die before letting any harm come to them.”

  “What if we don’t win this,” Leigh started, “What if we die and then she’s an orphan, just like I was?”

  “Then I can think of no better family to look after her,” Rebel said, kissing Leigh on top of her head. “Phoenix is right. We need to get the kids out of here and we need to do it now.”

  Leigh finally relented and packed a bag for her infant daughter. She reluctantly placed the baby in Michael’s arms and kissed her on the forehead. “She needs to fly every day,” she told him.

  “I got it covered Aunt Leigh,” he said to her.

  “Are you sure you can fly with both of them?” she asked him. Never mind that she softened just a little bit when he called her his aunt.

  “Don’t worry,” Phoenix said. “He is strong and very responsible. Plus, his mother would have his hide if he screwed up.”

  “I’m ready,” Jade announced as she pulled a backpack over her shoulder. She hugged her mother and her father before tripping lightly to Michael’s side.

  The family watched as Michael carefully wrapped his arm around Jade and held Toni with the other. “I will be careful,” he said.

  “Call as soon as you get there,” Brea said, sniffing back a tear.

  Jade grinned and Michael spread his wings. They shot into the sky and flew east. “Take care of her,” Leigh whispered as she watched them until they were out of sight.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Immortality becomes you,” Ricco said as he watched Samuel fix himself a bottle of blood.

  “Yeah sure,” Sam mumbled. He was desperately trying to forget the look on Azerial’s face as she disappeared from his sight in the alley. He hated himself for hurting her. She was everything that was good in the world and he knew without a doubt that he loved her above everything else; which was why he needed to do what he did. She would eventually get over the hurt, but she would probably hate him for it. As much as he wanted her, it was better this way. She deserved someone who was divine, like her. She deserved a god, not a reconditioned detective with more baggage than the fucking LAX terminal.

  “Earth to Sam? Hello?” Ricco was saying.

  Sam snapped out of his own head. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I guess I’m a little distracted. What
were you saying?”

  Ricco scratched his blonde head and Sam smiled. He had always reminded Samuel of a surfer. He thought maybe he was before coming to work for Angel. Of course, working for Angel came with a high price tag. For Ricco and Keelie, that price had been their lives.

  “I was asking about Azerial. No one has seen her in a while,” Ricco repeated.

  “Oh, um, well she’s a goddess. She goes wherever she wants, whenever she wants. I’m sure she’s around.” Sam tried not to wince as pain struck his heart when he thought of her.

  “Who goes wherever she wants?” Frankie asked as she entered the room. Keelie and Brea followed close behind.

  “Azerial,” Ricco said as his wife sat down beside him. Samuel grunted, drained his bottled blood and quit the room. He knew he couldn’t handle a conversation about her right then. He had only left her a matter of hours earlier, but he missed her like he would miss his right arm. He stomped off to his room where he could mope in peace.

  “What’s going on with him?” Frankie asked.

  “I have no idea,” Ricco answered. “I asked about Azerial and he snapped at me.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t get too worried about that,” Brea said. “He is kind of testy when it comes to her. She’s his mate.”

  “Score for Sam!” Ricco said with a grin. “Who would have guessed back when he was human that he would bag a goddess!”

  Keelie rolled her eyes. “Who would have thought you would mate with the most awesome bitch in history?”

  “I knew you were mine the first time I saw you in Brea’s apartment, Love,” he said with a real smile.

  Brea’s phone rang and she picked it up. “Jade,” she said, the relief she felt evident in her voice. “That’s wonderful, uh huh, ok I will. Make sure someone calls Leigh, she has been worried sick. Ok get some sleep. I love you too.” She hung up and smiled. “They made it safely. The sun is already up there, but no worries, because the Boston clan are day walkers. Our babies will be safe around the clock.”

  “Thank God,” Keelie said. “Now, what can we do to help? We’re here, so let’s get a move on it.”

  “I don’t really know to be honest,” Brea confessed. “The guys are getting ready to go back out on the streets.”

  “I can go with them,” Keelie offered.

  “No,” Brea immediately said. “It’s too dangerous.”

  Keelie rolled her eyes. “I’m a wolf, remember? I got a great nose and they could use the extra help.”

  “I don’t want anything happening to you again,” Brea said quietly.

  “Like what? I get killed? Been there, already done that.”

  “That’s not funny Keelie,” Brea reminded her.

  “Brea,” Macy butted in, “You know that she isn’t here to stay.” And Brea did know. She remembered all too well how much it hurt when Antonio died and how hard it was to accept when he couldn’t stay with them. Her family was only with her for a short time and she knew it, but that didn’t mean she wanted to accept that fact.

  Ricco had left the women to talk it out and went in search of Samuel. He found him in his room, strapping weapons to his body. He didn’t bother to announce himself, because Sam knew he was there.

  Sam heard Ricco as he entered his bedroom on nearly silent feet. His new hearing was exceptional and he used it. No one would ever get the drop on him now that he was a vamp. His senses had been honed to a fine point and he could see, smell, and hear literally everything. “What’s up man,” he asked as he slid his Glock into the holster at his hip.

  “I was just coming to tell you that Keelie is going out with you guys,” Ricco told him, bringing himself out of the doorway and into the room.

  “Sure thing,” Sam said. “We could use her.”

  “Yeah I know,” Ricco came to stand directly in front of Sam. “If you don’t mind, could you bring her back in one piece?”

  Samuel turned his head slightly and looked at Ricco. Damn but it was good to see his old friend. He looked exactly the same as he had the last time Sam saw him. Sandy blond hair, boyish good looks, and the body of a wrestler. Without permission from his brain, Samuel’s hand came up and landed on the human’s shoulder. He was as solid as any other person. He didn’t know what he expected, but what could he expect with someone who was technically dead? The worry in his friend’s eyes as he leveled his stare reminded Sam that he had asked a question. “I will protect her,” Sam finally answered. “With my life.”

  Ricco smiled his thousand watt smile and clapped Samuel on the back. “I knew you would.”

  Samuel watched Ricco leave his room with a confident stride. Hell, how could he not protect Keelie? She was family. His family now, even if she was kind of dead. Sort of. Shit, he was never going to be able to wrap his mind around all the shit that was going down in this house. Here he was, living a new life, in an almost new body, with vampires. There were four people in the house right now that were technically dead. There was a Phoenix, a dragon, and a witch. There was a demon out for him and he was head over heels in love with a Goddess. What the fuck had he gotten himself into?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Azerial opened her eyes and stared at a white ceiling above her. Where was she? She could smell the cotton of the pillow her head laid on and feel the soft sheets over her body. How did she get here? Where was here?

  She pushed up on her elbows and took in the plain room with its white walls and the plain white comforter on the bed. The floor was covered in a plush grey carpet. She swung her feet off the bed and stood. She fought a wave of dizziness, but was able to get it under control with little effort.

  She pushed her hair away from her face and padded to a door that she hoped lead to a bathroom. When she turned the knob, she was elated to see that it did. In addition to a sink and toilet, the bathroom had a huge garden tub with all manner of body washes and shampoo on the side. Since she felt like warmed over poop, Azerial opened the tap and let the tub fill with steaming water.

  Once the tub was full, Azerial stripped off her clothes and stepped in. It felt heavenly. The thought of anything heavenly caused a tug in her heart and she wrinkled her brow. She was missing something, but she couldn’t figure out what. She knew on some level that she was supposed to be here, even if she didn’t know where that was or why. She tried to remember what happened the day before and was alarmed when she couldn’t. In fact, she couldn’t remember much more than her own name.

  Her head began to ache with the effort so she washed quickly. She got out of the water and wrapped a fluffy robe around herself. She had to know what was going on. Why couldn’t she remember anything? She knew her name and she knew there was something important that she needed to do. That was it.

  She opened the bedroom door and went in search of someone who might be able to help her clear the cobwebs from her brain. She walked down a long hall and into a modern kitchen. There was a man sitting at the table nursing a cup of coffee when she entered. He looked up at her and smiled. His eyes were dark, almost black, set under severe slashing brows; he had a sharp nose and thin lips. His hair was black as night and cut short in a no-nonsense cut. He was dressed in a business suit and looked like he was ready to start his day.

  As his eyes met hers, they lit up a bit and a smile crept over his face. “Good morning, Love,” he said sweetly. “You’re up. How do you feel?”

  Azerial sat at the table across from him. “I’m not sure,” she answered. And did he call her Love? “I seem to be having some trouble remembering a few things.”

  “What are you having trouble with?” he asked.

  “Well,” she said, “Everything. I seem to know my name but nothing else. I am so confused. Did something happen to me?”

  The man smiled sympathetically. “Yes, something did happen. You took a nasty fall and had a head injury. Your memory was all but wiped clean. The doctors said you would recover physically, but no one knows about your memory or how much of it you might get back.”

  �
�Oh,” she said, staring at the grain of the wood on the table. “Then don’t be offended, but who are you?”

  He laughed. “I’m John, Love. Your husband. We have been married for years. You and I run a business together.”

  Azerial scrunched up her brow. Husband? It wasn’t that he was not attractive, but something inside her just thought that was wrong.

  “Don’t act like it’s so distasteful,” he barked on a laugh. “I’m not that bad of a catch am I?”

  “Oh no,” Azerial said quickly. “I just thought that was something I should remember.”

  “No worries, Love, it will come to you in time. Would you like to go to the office with me today? You look like you are feeling much better. Maybe seeing everyone will jar something loose.”

  Azerial thought about it for a second. She was a little afraid to meet new people that she supposedly already knew, but she also didn’t want to be alone all day while he was gone. If he was her husband, then surely he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. “Sure,” she finally answered. “Just let me get dressed.”

  She moved back down the hallway to the room she woke up in. She found clothes in her closet and she ran her hands over the fabric. They must be hers, but she felt no possession of any of the items. She quickly decided on a pair of tan dress slacks and a forest green sweater, because the colors reminded her of the forest in the spring. She found a pair of low heeled brown shoes and slipped her feet into them. She found a brush in the bathroom and began the task of taming her long blonde hair. When she was satisfied, she went to meet John in the kitchen again.

  Only he wasn’t there. She walked into the family room and no one was there either. The house was so big. Did they live there alone? Did they have any children? Her heart squeezed at the thought of children and she knew without a doubt that she wanted them.

  “Ready?” John said from right behind her. It was so sudden that it gave her a start and her heart kicked up into her throat. He chuckled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “No it’s fine,” she said. She pushed her shoulders back and held her head high. “I’m ready.”