Auriel and Rahmiel both came closer, trying to reach her, trying to get Kaphawn with their swords while avoiding her.
Kaphawn held the sword of the fallen Angel.
“I’m going in. You get her,” Rahmiel grunted as he slashed at Kaphawn’s sword.
He rushed in close, and Kari screamed as the shining sword in Kaphawn’s fist came down hard on Rahmiel’s shoulder. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see Rahmiel die. Gasping sobs, plus Kaphawn’s grip, made it hard to breathe.
I’m going to pass out. Kari forced herself to calm down, and take deep breaths.
Just as a strong hand encircled her arm, Kaphawn sliced at Auriel. He, too, went down. Kaphawn roared with laughter, but Kari grabbed for Auriel’s sword. Her wrist screamed with pain, but she could still move it.
Rahmiel climbed back up, swaying, blood pouring from a gash on his forehead and another from high on his shoulder.
Kaphawn swung her around. Her sprained wrist throbbed with pain, but she gripped the sword and stabbed down, through Kaphawn’s instep.
Kaphawn roared in surprise and pain, and his foot was pinned to the floor. Rahmiel charged him from the other side. The remaining Angels regrouped and closed in from the back.
“Get Kari!” Rahmiel shouted. One of the Angels grabbed her arm then all was white Ether.
Without a word to her, the Angel disappeared, leaving her in the quiet, soft whiteness.
Kari groaned and swallowed back the bile that kept moving up her throat. She sank back into the Ether and closed her eyes. Both her arms throbbed with pain and she was bleeding from small cuts on her abdomen and a cut on her broken arm she couldn’t remember receiving.
She vomited into the Ether, and it sank, leaving pristine whiteness.
A shiver ran through her. Shock. I’m going into shock…need warmth. The Ether under her heated up. She carefully scooped fluff onto her torso and sore arm and waited.
Rahmiel didn’t come. After some time, she felt better, warmer. Her heart no longer pounded. She got water to soak her swollen wrist and pulled her broken arm inside her shirt to keep it from moving.
No one came. She sat in the white froth, and wondered if she would ever see Rahmiel again. Would she ever see anyone again?
* * * *
“Is she safe?” Rahmiel was slower now, but so was Kaphawn. The Guardians were holding the perimeter.
“Yes.” Tehmuel didn’t waste time talking, but took the lead, giving Rahmiel a moment to catch his breath.
“Take him to the Ether,” Auriel gasped.
“What?” Rahmiel struggled for breath.
“We get close, hang on, and get him to the Ether.”
“Why?” Tehmuel grunted.
“Rahmiel said no demons there,” the boy gasped. He was bleeding freely from several cuts, but had retrieved his sword.
“Worth a try. I won’t be…much help soon,” Rahmiel said. “Sword arm.” His sword arm hung useless, but he was using his other arm to thrust at Kaphawn.
Auriel moved to the side, Tehmuel and Rahmiel both rushed Kaphawn and Rahmiel leapt onto the demon’s back. Rahmiel waited until the others held onto Kaphawn, then they all went to the Ether.
Kari, stretched out on her back, struggled up when they arrived. Her eyes widened.
She looked so scared, like she had when the demon broke her arm.
Kaphawn was unmoving, his limbs frozen in the last move he made. The Guardians let go of him, but he did not move.
“Is he dead?” Tehmuel asked.
Rahmiel shrugged. “Frozen, maybe?” He shoved and the demon fell over.
“What if he thaws?” Kari asked. She came toward Rahmiel and he slid his arm around her.
“Kari, think of our bond. It is a power we can use, remember? Perhaps we can destroy Kaphawn for good. Hold my hand as well as you can.”
She placed her hand over his fist clenched around the sword, adjusting her sprained wrist as well as she could. Then she closed her eyes and looked again for the web of light.
“I see what to do,“ Rahmiel’s voice was soft. Kari opened her eyes in time to see Rahmiel’s sword jab through Kaphawn’s frozen eye.
As they watched, the brown leathery flesh from his face and hands crumbled away and disappeared into the Ether. The leather tunic he wore disintegrated, leaving only a skeleton, which soon fell to pieces and disappeared.
“Like the vomit. It just disappeared,” Kari whispered.
Rahmiel gathered her close with his good arm, careful of her injuries.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he said. “I thought Kaphawn was going to snap your spine.” He stroked one hand through her hair.
“I thought I’d lost you when he cut your shoulder. I thought it was your neck.”
“I’m all right. Nothing a healer can’t fix.”
Rahmiel turned to the other Guardians. “I think Kaphawn is gone for good. Let’s get Kari back to Kaliel’s and see to her needs. One of you must gather our wounded.
And dead.”
“I will.” One of the older Guardians vanished.
Rahmiel looked at Kari. “I will return with you, but I may not be able to stay.”
She nodded.
Rahmiel sat by Kari’s side once they arrived at Kaliel’s. Kari drifted in and out of consciousness, aware only at times. He sat watching her, waving away the healers who would tend to him.
“She’ll be fine, Rahmiel,” Kaliel assured him.
Kari, awoke for a few moments, smiled up at him. “I feel better already, Rahmiel.
Go get your arm fixed.” His lips curved into a smile and he left with Tehmuel.
Chapter Thirteen
Kari woke up alone. She was no longer in pain and felt deliciously warm. Where was Rahmiel? Had they tried to arrest him? Was he already in custody, or in the Ether?
Kaliel wouldn’t let them take him, would she?
A healer entered her room, followed by her mom.
“Mom, I must get to Kaliel. We need to help Rahmiel. They might take him back to prison.”
Her mom blinked. “Rahmiel was in prison?”
“Yes, but he didn’t do what they said he did. There’s no time to explain.”
“You should rest,” the healer protested.
“I’ll rest later.” She got off the bed, and realized that while she was no longer in pain, she was quite weak. She swayed. Mom put an arm around her and helped her to the corridor.
They found Tehmuel a few moments later. He snatched Kari up and scolded her.
“What are you thinking? You should be in bed. Rahmiel is a tough old warrior. He’ll be fine.”
“Rahmiel’s still here? They haven’t tried to arrest him or anything?”
“Of course not. There is nothing for you to get upset about and there’s no need to wander the corridors.” He scolded all the way to Rahmiel’s room, and placed her on the bed next to him. “Here. I know you were going to get up in a moment to find her anyway. You two rest.”
“I was trying to find Kaliel,” she explained to Tehmuel. “I’m afraid Lemuel and the Guardians will take Rahmiel away to the ice prison. I just know they want to do that.”
Tehmuel nodded. “Yes, that’s true. Lemuel would do it if he could. I’m going to search out my daughter and some of the Assembly members to find out what is going on.”
Rahmiel nodded, and pulled Kari close. “Thanks, Tehmuel. I think we can both sleep now. But wake me and let me know what the Assembly is planning.”
Kari’s mom decided to stay and sleep on the small couch in the room, just in case Kari needed anything.
Tehmuel returned sometime later. Kari woke when she heard his voice as he spoke to Rahmiel.
“What’s going on?” she croaked.
“It is all right,“ Tehmuel said. “The Assembly has put Lemuel on probation, so he is not leading the Guardians. They are unhappy—I’d say they are embarrassed—that he refused to help with Kaphawn. They are in talks to determine leadership and the new
direction of the Guard. Lemuel’s refusal to help fight the famine demon woke some of them out of their stupor. A group is currently working on setting Guardians on Earth as watchers, to report to the Assembly on any unusual demon activity.” He turned to Rahmiel. “They are reviewing your case and there is little chance they’ll put you back in ice or make you face any other disciplinary measures. Actually, I think they might ask you to be an Earth liaison. Since you have contacts.”
“Well, that’s good news,“ Rahmiel said. “Doesn’t look like I’ll have to go to the Ether to avoid the ice.” He looked at Kari and smiled, and she sank into the pillows in relief.
No ice prison.
“Samuel suspects there is some type of alliance between demons, or demon and human, that made that ritual,” Tehmuel continued. “They knew exactly what they were doing. It was very precise. The fact that a young human woman with no training in magic could perform such a detailed ritual has them a little shaken up. What if there are other rituals out there that summon other ancient evils?”
Kari didn’t realize her mom was awake until she spoke. “Kari was always good with small details. She’s very bright, you know.”
“So, the Assembly is going to be busy the next few days. They will probably request a great deal of your time, Rahmiel. Better get some rest.”
“Yes, you both need some rest.” Kari’s mom looked at Tehmuel. “They both look washed out. Perhaps you will direct me to my own room? I think these two will do fine alone for the rest of the night.”
Kari was vaguely surprised her mother wasn’t objecting to her sleeping in the same bed as Rahmiel, but she was too tired to dwell on it.
A healer came into the room at that moment with two small glasses of something that tasted like herbal tea. After drinking hers, Kari’s eyes immediately grew heavy, and she almost fell asleep as Mom hugged her and told her to rest.
* * * *
Kari and her mom went home after lunch the next day. Mom wanted to get the living room cleaned up a little and get ready for work on Monday. They both were shocked at the state of the living room. Broken furniture and blood stains covered the normally cozy room. Mom sat down on the single remaining dining room chair and looked like she was about to cry.
“Mom, I’ll help with this mess. And I’ll be out job hunting next week. I can pay for this stuff.”
“You will not. Kaliel said you needed to rest your arm for another few days. And I have money in savings. We’ll manage.”
Kari did need to continue resting the arm that Kaphawn broke so she wasn’t a great help at cleaning. They would need to replace the dining table, entertainment center, television, end tables and carpet. Mom thought she could get the blood stains out of the couch. Kari wanted to help haul broken furniture but Mom wouldn’t even consider it.
“You can rest. That’s it.”
Rahmiel was in meetings all day, with the Assembly and the Guardians. Kari had seen him briefly in the morning before he went to breakfast with some Assembly members. She wondered when she would see him again, now that Kaphawn was no longer a threat. Perhaps this is how it will be now, she thought. He will be busy with Guardian business and I will be back in my old life, and we won’t have any reason to see each other.
Auriel, who had phased them home, observed the stained carpet. “You know, my mom knows some textile people. Maybe they could get the stains off the walls and carpet. Want me to ask her?”
They readily accepted the help. Auriel prepared to leave, but stopped and turned back toward them. “Do you know where Amber is? She’s not at her apartment.”
“She went to Tressa’s. She figured Rahmiel would phase me down to Tressa’s to get my car, so she’s having a short visit. Plus she’s supposed to still be resting and healing.
Tressa said she’d look after her.”
After Auriel left, Kari’s mom continued to clean. “Mom, why don’t you wait to see what Auriel can do to help us? I’m sure the Angeli know how to clean anything.” Her mom kept sweeping up broken glass from the entertainment center.
It wasn’t long before Auriel returned with two thin, glamorous Angeli women.
They examined the room and spoke in quiet tones to Kari’s mother.
One of the two Angeli women put a hand on Mary Ellen’s shoulder. “We can take care of everything.”
The second woman nodded in agreement. “We will be finished by morning.”
Her mom finally accepted the help and Kari made her way back to her bedroom.
She could hear her mother chatting with the Angeli women in the other room as she stretched across the bed and looked around the room.
She missed Rahmiel. That’s why she was so out of sorts. She felt tired but restless at the same time, and wondered if that was the bond. She felt as though she couldn’t really relax with him so far away. It seemed so weird to be home, resting on her twin bed, alone. When would she see Rahmiel again?
Maybe be won’t see each other again. He was back with his own people now.
Kari decided to bag all the too large clothes in her bedroom for a second hand store.
Doing something, anything, would help her keep her mind off gloomy thoughts about never seeing Rahmiel again. Her mother had slipped out to the grocery store and she could hear the two Angeli women as they continued to clean. She wandered toward the kitchen for some trash bags and stopped just before the door, halted by their conversation.
“…Rahmiel and Nadriel back together, now that they are working side by side on Assembly business. They were so gorgeous together in the past. I never thought her association with Deriel would last, and now that all the children are settled…”
“But he’s bound to the little Earth girl,” the other Angeli woman protested.
“Well, true, but surely in all these years, with all our advances, the binding can be removed.”
Kari retreated without a sound to her room, the tears almost blinding her. She’d been so foolish to think there could be anything between her and Rahmiel. She picked up the phone and called Amber at Tressa’s.
“What’s wrong?” Amber asked in alarm when she heard Kari’s voice.
“Is Auriel there?”
”Yeah. Is something wrong? Is the demon back?”
“No, nothing like that. Do you think Auriel would come and get me, so I can drive my car home?”
“Are you sure you’re up to that?” Amber’s concern was obvious in her voice.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Plus, I need my car. Lisbet’s funeral is on Monday, and I don’t have anything to wear. I need to do some running around.”
“Lisbet’s funeral.” Amber spoke slowly. “I guess we missed all the others. Listen, I’ll drive back with you. That way you won’t get too tired.”
“All right.” Kari called her mom on the cell and told her the plan, and then Auriel was there.
When he deposited Kari safely at Tressa’s place, she and Amber were out on the deck, drinking iced tea in the heat. Auriel picked up a glass and drained it. “I’ll be off.
Amber, may I come visit you? I have some free time until I start Guardian training.”
“Sure. I’ll show you how the computer works.”
He smiled at Amber and vanished.
The girls thanked Tressa for her kindness, stopped to get gas and snacks and finally headed north.
“So what’s wrong?” Amber asked as they hit the interstate. “Is it Rahmiel?”
Kari nodded.
“Did you have a fight?”
“No. I haven’t seen him. He has a lot of meetings to go to, and I went home to be with Mom, to help her get the house back together.”
She took a breath and realized she was shaking.
“So what happened?”
“Well, there are these Angeli women at my house, helping with the clean up.” She wiped a tear from her chin. “One of them said she thought Rahmiel could probably erase the binding, now days. And Rahmiel could go back to some Angeli woman he saw before he was put
in prison.”
“She said that to your face?” Amber’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
“No, of course not. She didn’t say it to my face. She and the other woman were talking in the living room and I overheard. Still, it made me feel awful.”
Amber paused. “But—what if being with me is just the convenient thing to do? I kept him out of prison. Then I was the bait to catch Kaphawn. What if he is just with me because of circumstances? And the binding does affect me, so I think it affects him, too.
I feel…it’s hard to explain…jittery when we’re apart. And more relaxed when we’re together.”
Amber was silent for a moment. “You’re in love with him, then?”
Kari nodded. “I know it’s stupid. We hardly know each other. It’s only been a few days. We are from totally different worlds.”
“How do you think he feels about you?”
“I know he cares about me. He was really upset I was hurt during the fight. I’m sure he likes sleeping with me. That Angeli and human extra attraction thingy.
Something to do with smell.”
“Ohh,” Amber drew out the syllable. “That explains something. Tressa was watching her soaps but Auriel and I wanted to see a movie. We went to the bedroom to sit on the bed and watch it. Auriel had to move some clothes.”
Kari grinned. Amber was a slob—clothes everywhere.
“He picked up my shirt and I could swear he was sniffing it.”
“He has the hots for you.”
“No way. Have you seen him? And seen me? Trust me, men—or Angels—who look like that don’t date girls who look like me.”
“Right,” Kari said in a sarcastic tone.
“Really. Plus, I will barely see him. He has a year of Guardian training. Sounds very tough. But anyway, I do think Rahmiel cares for you. I know you come from very different worlds, but maybe you can find some common ground. And you like the sex, right?”
Kari felt her cheeks turn pink and she was glad the sun was down. “Yes,” she croaked.
Amber snickered.
A little while later Kari spoke into the darkness of the car. “Thanks for coming along. I feel much better.”
Angel Magic Page 12
