by Lexi Ostrow
Neal turned on his heel and exited, so quickly there may as well have been a small trail of smoke behind him. Seraphina chuckled, closed her eyes and brought her finger to her wet core—she had been lying.
Thirteen
Layel felt uncomfortable. Being out in the light of day was not something any demon enjoyed. His wings were folded against his back and concealed under the bulky waistcoat. Typically, he did not have to hide their shape at night, and he found having them pressed so close into his body was rather itchy. The guild halls around him were nearly as magnificent as some of the castle spires, and he wondered if the reputation of those that worked in them could truly be so sullied if the halls themselves were almost opulent.
He was just to the main door of the appropriate guild when the door to his right swung outward, nearly clipping him. He was about to protest when Thomas stepped out onto the steps. The man looked rather dapper in his coat jacket and trousers. Gold cuffs glittered at his wrists. Layel could not help but wonder if the man had dressed better for Layel. Prior times, when it was not known he was coming, Thomas had been wearing plain clothes.
“I had someone watching for a man of your description. They believe you to be an investor for the Crown.” Thomas stepped aside and gestured for Layel to enter. “I have been thinking about this over the past day to some extent, and I believe that if we are going to have the proper measure of secrecy and security, we must utilize the lower levels of the Guild.”
Thomas continued to walk, and Layel followed, gazing in awe at the hustle and bustle around him. It seemed as if early morning was even busier amongst guild workers than when he had been there in the afternoon just a few days before. Men and women, some barely older than ten, ran about in a tizzy.
Thomas walked to large gold-leafed doors and stopped. “It is rather amusing that the king selected us. Our inventors have recreated King Louis XV’s flying chair. Behind these doors is a carrier that can go up and down to various levels of the building. However, we have not tested it with humans inside, nothing heavier than a tomcat or dog. Most members have no idea it exists.” He patted the door fondly. “My father’s idea.”
Layel nodded, understanding the concept of family quite well. “It would seem King George did pick rather well. Please, the streets have been quiet save for the attack at the palace, I would like to use this to our advantage and begin.”
“Very well then, if you will follow me, we can meet the others.” Thomas turned and began to walk right.
Layel followed him down the grand hallway, into a smaller corridor and then down three flights of stairs. When they pushed open a heavy door, Layel was shocked to see the same golden doors to his left. Along with a door just a few meters away, and one rather far down the hall. Thomas turned right, walking towards the furthest door.
When they approached it, Layel saw that it was open. Three guards stood inside the room, and two men sat on the rickety looking chairs across from a very pathetic desk. The room was dark, there were no windows, and only small candelabra lit the space. There appeared to be dust in every corner of the chamber, and Layel wasn’t certain Thomas was thinking clearly, bringing them down there. Thomas went in, and Layel followed, nearly choking on a plume of dust that rose as they entered. Thomas stood beside the desk, and Layel chose to close the door behind him and press his back against it. Layel looked around and saw goggles adorning all the men’s faces and watched as Thomas pulled a pair over his eyes as well.
“We are all here for an express purpose,” Thomas said as he slowly lowered himself to sit on the desk. “You are all aware of what is to come, of the battle we have been drafted for. Allow me to acquaint you all before we begin. This man before you is not a man, but an Angel. Layel, would you mind? I am not certain my inventors understand or truly believe what they have signed on for.”
Layel resisted the urge to smirk and stepped away from the wall. Tugging the wool coat off, he let it drop to the floor. With a flex of the root muscle deep within his back, his wings thrust out, nearly knocking into one of the guards, due to the small size of the room.
“Bloody hell,” one of the inventors whispered.
“Now that there are no questions that can be asked on the validity of my claims let me continue. Layel is the true man in charge. He is the one who chose to break his kind’s laws to step forwards. He will be our guiding light in this mess of murkiness we’ve stepped into. You will always wear protective eyewear around him, or run the risk of falling into bed with him.”
Someone gave a nervous chortle, and Thomas narrowed his eyes, first at Layel, then at the man, a guard.
“I am not kidding. I have the misfortune of knowing someone, my wife, who has fallen to his powers.” That earned him a hushed room, and he continued, “Gerard and Jacques are the palace guards who have been assigned to the group. Should we need more, heaven help us if we need more, ones will be provided. Antonio and Louis are men from my Guild. They have shown considerable skill when it comes to manipulating the gears and springs into trinkets, and Louis worked on the flying chair, what we call the lift.” Thomas stopped speaking and rested his eyes on Layel as if indicating it was his turn to speak.
Layel nodded at the man and felt no need to fold his wings back against him as he slipped his fingers into his trouser pockets and pulled out two brilliant purple crystals. He held them up to the room, twirling them to let the flickering flame from the candle light up every facet. “These will be a source of power. If you are to fight demons, you will need a far cry more than bullets and daggers, though the latter are a strong recommendation for tight situations.”
Antonio, the inventor, spoke, “How can a crystal power anything? We have gems and rubies spilling out of our ears—well we would if we were the Royals.”
The slight Italian accent was unmistakable, and Layel wondered what the man was doing so far west. He sucked in a deep breath and blew on the crystal. The moment he did so, it began to glow. A brilliant purple ball in an otherwise dim room.
“Bloody hell, all we have to do is breathe on ‘em?” the guard, Gerard breathed in awe.
Layel felt a small smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “Well, it is much more than that, but to the outward eye, I could see how it would appear as such.”
“We have to heat it up,” Louis spoke, awestruck but stepping forwards with his hand outstretched. “Might I?” He nodded towards the crystal and carefully took it when it was passed to him. “We need to heat it up. It must be rather simple to the steam concept rumors we have heard circulating through London. If we can create a mechanism that can generate heat, without a flame, then we could harness this into more things than only a glowing light, could we not?” The man looked to Layel as a pup would look to its master.
He gave a nod. “That is correct. There are things I have sought to give you, things that will help with your path. These crystals are the fundamental elements of it. With these, I will show your inventors how to create a communication device, a weapon, a tracking device, and something of a warning system. All the tools to start you on your path. But for now, I would like to see what the pair of you can create on your own. Louis is correct. You must heat these and harness what they can do. Might I suggest your first work be a weapon, consider what a normal powder gun could do, if you could harness the light from this crystal, and blast it outwards through the barrel.”
Louis and Antonio both had stars in their eyes, and Layel couldn’t help but be happy with Thomas’ choice. The men would do splendidly, and if he wasn’t mistaken, he thought they might come up with a way to do things on their own.
Antonio coughed and held out something in his hand. “Might this be something like what you are talking about?” He pushed the tiny, metal spider closer to Layel. “It is powered like the winding of a clock. The making of such trinkets is not uncommon anymore, though if we could create a way for the light to flare out and capture an image imprinted on the metal, we could see things we cannot reach.”
&nb
sp; “Bloody hell, my father said you were brilliant, Antonio, but I had no certainty of how much so,” Thomas said, staring wide-eyed at the other man. “Layel, is that possible?”
“If there is a way to seat the crystal in it and generate a high-intensity flash of light it gives off, it is entirely possible. Yes, very possible indeed and not something I ever would have thought to offer to you.” He smiled at them all before continuing, “Things will not be easy, despite how simple they seem at this moment. Start your inventions now, start your combat practices now. With the growing threat, the time when you will be put to the test cannot be far off.”
“He is correct. There is a boarded up chamber just down the hall, it is to be the labs. The four of you, get to work on fixing it up. I will send Layel to help however he can with the crystal manipulation, but first I must speak with him.”
“And what of the demons?” Gerard asked, his voice thick with concern.
“I will help to train you on their kind. All of you. It is imperative that everyone knows what they are up against. The nights will be your new days, and you will begin to get used to such a schedule by meeting with me every night to learn. Some will work with crystals, while others are instructed on demon kind. You will share your knowledge with one another, though, be careful about writing it down. You cannot control whose eyes see parchment. Best to keep the knowledge I share with you in your head.”
Thomas nodded as if agreeing with, and backing up Layel’s order. “We must be vigilant. What we have been asked to do is terrifying, but it is also an honor. One I almost did not embrace for fear for my own life. That cannot be in your hearts while we do this. You may leave at any time, but for now, we begin.”
“This might be a queer question, but, well, do we have a name?” Jacques asked even as he was holding onto the door.
Layel saw the three other men stop in place, waiting for an answer. He shifted his eyes to Thomas, who looked flustered. His eyes scanned Layel’s as if the name would suddenly appear. Layel could not help Thomas in this. If the man was to lead, he was going to have to begin to take charge.
“Go on, Thomas. This is your merry little band. You must name yourselves. It will give you purpose,” Layel pushed.
Thomas swallowed deeply and twirled the sterling wedding band on his left hand. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the metal ring, and at Louis, who was holding the two crystals. When he lifted his head, a passion burned in his eyes that Layel had not known the man could possess.
“This is about humanity, about saving it alongside the demons. We are an Alliance. We, along with these crystals and metals, must be tempered, molded into something different.” He fiddled with his wedded band. “Like my ring. And this will be done with steam. We are the Alliance of Silver and Steam.”
Layel could hear the pride rolling out with Thomas’ words, and he could not deny that he felt the same pride that Thomas did. The name was fitting. The alliance was fitting. Together, they just might be able to save humanity—if he and Thomas could truly put aside the matter of the indiscretion. A murmur of contentment came from the hall. The men liked it as well.
“A fine choice, Thomas. You have more grace and goodness in you than I believe you know.” Layel inclined his head out of respect. “Let us get back to our tasks.”
The four founding members of the Alliance of Silver and Steam nodded and walked down the hall towards the room they would make a lab.
Thomas was slightly shaking, the barest tremor of his body, and he blew out a small breath. He’d never dreamed he’d be in this position. He was barely skilled enough to lead the famous Clockworker’s Guild, and now he was running a secret sect. Thomas tried to temper his breathing as he watched the four men walk down the hall, leaving him and the Angel alone.
Layel seemed to stare at him, waiting for him to speak first. Which made sense since he had said he needed to. Yet, with the room empty of everyone else, it was strange to stand beside the Angel for the first time with real peace towards him. Layel spoke anyway, despite his indication that he would not.
“I need you to take this crystal.” He placed a small green one in Thomas’ hand. “This is the only way you will be able to reach out to me. Just hold it and shout at me—not mentally either. Whatever communication method their minds come up with cannot be applied to myself. I want as few to know about this endeavor as possible. Revealing myself to humans is not wrong, but it should not have been done without a meeting first. I acted alone, and I must keep it that way.”
Thomas clasped his hands around the cold gemstone and nodded. There was very little about Layel that Thomas understood, save for his sense of duty. That meant what they truly needed to speak on needed to happen then and not later. “I wanted to speak to you, about Audrey and this arrangement betwixt the humans and your kind.”
Layel’s bright green eyes grew dark, and his wings fluttered once as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I had thought we were past this, Thomas.”
Thomas sucked in a deep breath through his nose and blew it out even slower. “She does not desire after you. She desired what you . . . what you did together, but not you. She and I have begun to mend the rift placed in our young marriage. I would ask that you and your dealings are done only here, where she cannot be in your presence.” His voice raised on the final word. Thomas felt the smallest amount of rage building as he spoke, as his brain unwillingly conjured images of Audrey and Layel intertwined and moaning. His eyes snapped closed, and his breathing grew rapid before he calmed himself. “Forgive me. I am calm again. Is this agreeable to you, Layel?”
“If that is what needs to be done, then consider it so. I have walked this Earth for almost more centuries than humans have. My duty rests with all Pure Angels, to protect and defend those that cannot do so themselves. In respect to this alliance, I will be forthcoming. I have thought of your wife on many occasions. She has burrowed into my skin, much like a tick.”
Thomas opened his mouth to curse the Angel for likening his wife to a terrible pest, but Layel raised his hand to stop him.
“I meant no disrespect. However, that is how I feel. Like she is something, someone, digging into my very being. I have never slept with a human before, with demons of course, but never a human. She has wedged herself into a place in my soul. She will forever be there, though it is not romantic. I have never felt the gentle glide of love’s caress for any creature. Your wife was a beautiful dalliance, but I wish to have no more interaction with her than you and she wish for her to have with me.”
Thomas tried to calmly process the words spoken to him. Layel had admitted to something akin to desiring his wife. However, Thomas could almost sense how much Layel did not want her in the same breath. You need to trust him. More importantly, you need to trust Audrey to move forwards with your lives. You were granted a miracle with her. Do not sully it more than it has already been tarnished.
He gave Layel an abrupt nod but did not make eye contact with him. Goggles or not, he found the demon’s stare to be soul deep, and he was not interested in baring his soul to any but Audrey. Straightening up, he pointed towards the hallway. “Let us go with them. I cannot be inactive. I may have no practical skill in this, but I will learn to fight. And you, I want to watch you help my men learn to tinker.”
A smile spread across his lips as he thought about Louis’ bloody mechanical spider being transformed into somewhat of a spy’s device. They had a future unfolding to them that none others would bear witness too. Life was about more than living now, it was about saving.
Without waiting for Layel, he walked past the man, careful not to ruffle the glorious wings, and went to go stand with his men.
Fourteen
The rush of blood in her ears was maddening. Audrey pressed her hands against the sides of her head and pushed down as if the pressure could make the noises stop. It had been growing worse every day that she had not seen Layel, the way she heard blood, whether hers or someone else’s. It unnerved her, but more
than that, it terrified her.
She’d been dreaming of him again, of his delicious ichor seeping into her mouth as they made love. She knew the dream had nothing to do with the way he’d fucked her in the carriage, and everything to do with his blood. She’d determined that from the start.
Her body shook as she pushed harder against her head, trying to drown out the sound of blood because all it did was make her mouth water and her body burn for Layel’s. For ichor, blood of the divine, and something she should have never tasted. Something that, if she were honest with herself, should never have been real.
Sleep was not going to come, not even wrapped in her husband’s arms. With each passing day, she grew hungrier. Had the cook been in the kitchen the eve prior, she would have seen Audrey furiously trying to substitute anything for Layel’s blood. Or if Thomas had returned a moment earlier from the bath, he would have seen her prick her thumb and suck at the red pearl dot that had appeared. She felt almost as if her insides were beginning to dry up, and she was afraid, more afraid than she’d ever been.
Thomas groaned as Audrey rose off the bed. She looked down at her husband thoughtfully, a sad smile on her face. Gently, she touched her fingertips to his forehead and smoothed away the errant dark lock of hair. He was awake strange hours since the formation of the Alliance of Silver and Steam, and she worried for him, as she did for herself.
“I will fix this, Thomas,” she whispered into the early morning light of the room. The words were nearly an empty promise, but she might have one chance.
