Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades)

by CS Yelle

  Gabe moved next to me, taking his seat gracefully. Leaning on the arm rest between us, he unbuttoned his jacket as he edged closer.

  The lights went dim and the curtain came up. I turned to Gabe, my mouth opening with delight. His face was mere inches from mine and he stared at me, ignoring the production getting underway.

  I forced myself to turn away from him and concentrate on the play. It proved harder than I expected. The play was wonderful, exhilarating beyond anything I might have imagined, but Gabe’s attention to me made me feel self-conscious. I shifted my weight nervously, trying to keep his glimmering eyes, reflecting the lights from the stage, out of my mind.

  When I finally started to relax, I glanced into the crowd scanning the faces all turned to the stage enjoying the show. I smiled at the expressions of enjoyment, the enthralled looks as they peered at the actors, whisking them away to another place, an escape from their burdensome lives.

  As I perused the audience I skimmed over faces not watching the stage, but focused on me. I stopped, frowning at such an absurd thought, then, when I went back, the glaring eyes of Bastion and his men stared back at me.

  My heart didn’t skip a beat; it stopped completely. I watched Bastion, my recognition seemed to bring him pleasure and he slowly came to his feet. He moved to the aisle, his men sliding in front of the disturbed audience members right after him. The group rushed up the aisle to the rear exits and disappeared into the lobby.

  I turned to Gabe, my heart stuttering to gain its rhythm again. He stared at me, ignoring all else.

  “They’re here,” I whispered frantically.

  “What?” Gabe eyes flew open wide.

  “Bastion,” I repeated. “They’re heading up here now.”

  Gabe took hold of my arm, pulling me along as we hurried to the exit. He swung the door open and we burst into the hallway. Taking two steps back the way we entered, Bastion and his men rumbled into the hall as well, the old theatre structure echoing under their footfalls.

  We jerked to a stop staring at the only other people not inside, watching the production.

  “We should have guessed you had help Britt...but an angel, very impressive.” Bastion said.

  “She is under my protection,” Gabe stated definitely, taking a step in front of me.

  “That matters little, angel,” Bastion replied unaffected. “We have orders and the authority to take her to Greece for questioning.”

  “What crime has she committed to warrant Eternals sending their bounty hunter to retrieve her?” Gabe asked, not politely.

  “Her very existence is a crime,” Bastion hissed.

  “Surely you can do better than that.” Gabe chuckled.

  “She was created by an Eternal from a person already gone. It is the highest crime an Eternal can commit. She is to be taken to Greece as evidence to the Eternal’s crimes and then destroyed.”

  “Hmm.” Gabe placed his hand to his mouth in thought. “But if she is under my protection now, I guess you must defer to my authority.”

  “Your authority does not have any jurisdiction over Eternals, angel. Now go before we are forced to destroy you and take the girl.” Bastion took two steps towards us, his men right at his heels.

  Gabe raised his hand, halting their advance. “I guess if you feel you need to threaten me, you should know who you threaten.” Even standing behind Gabe, I could feel his smile spread across his face as he finished speaking.

  “And what angel are we to rid ourselves of tonight?” Bastion laughed.

  “I am Gabriel,” Gabe told them calmly and the Eternals began muttering behind Bastion, whose face turned ghastly white.

  As the Eternals hesitated Gabe reached back, taking my hand, and the theatre changed to the living room in our hotel suite.

  “Oh my God,” I shouted, dropping to a knee on the carpeting.

  “Are you alright?” Gabe turned and knelt beside me, his concern for me almost painful.

  “I thought we were dead,” I gasped, struggling to regain control over my breathing.

  “They had us, but their hesitation gave me the time to visualize and get us out of there.”

  “You need time to travel?” I asked, still confused at how it worked.

  “Concentration is the key. Remember, we always concentrate first and then travel. If they had rushed us without giving me time to concentrate on this suite, we could have been in trouble.”

  “They seemed like they’re afraid of you.” I looked over at him as he stood up and moved towards the mantle, the fire was still burning in the fireplace.

  “Being an Archangel does give one some street credit.” He turned, smiling down at me.

  “And…?” I knew there was more. There was always more with him.

  “During a battle with some rebellious Eternals many years ago, I might have taken out an entire regiment myself.” He shrugged nonchalantly, blushing a little.

  “They must consider you the Eternal slayer then.” I got up and sat on the couch.

  “Why do you think they charged me with eliminating Kendal?”

  “Makes sense.” I nodded.

  “Would you care for some wine?” He asked. “Sure, I think I earned a drink,” I sighed.

  He poured two glasses of wine out of a decanter sitting on the coffee table, handing me one as he took a long drink.

  A buzzing in my clutch purse made me scurry for my phone inside. I pulled it out and looked at the text, from Angelina.

  Trial starts up again tomorrow. Life sentence likely, we did it. I smiled, unable to contain the joy at having saved Allister’s life. I looked to Gabe, his eyes turned down to me, glazed and staring.

  “Gabe.” I jumped to my feet just as he fell into my arms. I eased him down to the floor and knelt beside him, his head resting on my lap.

  “Poison,” he whispered, barely audible. “What?” I stared down at him, confused. I didn’t think you could kill an angel so easily. “Gabe,” I cried as the elevator doors slid open.

  Bastion strode out of the elevator. The butler, Kurt walked alongside with another half dozen men. I quickly grabbed my phone and tucked it under my dress, into my underwear.

  “You were right.” Bastion shot a glance at Kurt, “the first thing he likes to do is have a good glass of wine.”

  He moved over to me as I cradled Gabe’s head and gave a nod to one of his men. The man, as huge a man as ever I saw, strode over to me and raised his hand above me. The last thing I remember is that enormous hand coming down and then black.

  Chapter 32 I woke rocking back and forth between two men in the back of a limo. I suddenly had an enormous dislike for limos. I kept my eyes open as slits to avoid alerting them of my consciousness. What should I do? My mind, still cloudy from the blow to my head, didn’t make it easier to concentrate on my options. ‘Concentrate’ echoed in my head as Gabe explained the need when trying to travel.

  Gabe. I forced back the tears at the thought of my loss. He did nothing but try to protect me from all of this and now he was gone too.

  Allister. I needed to find a way to escape. Otherwise I sentenced him to death. I focused on the one thing I could with all my heart. The interior of the car blurred and I sat on Trish’s bed.

  I turned just as Trish came awake. Seeing me sitting on the edge of her bed she let out a scream. I screamed back at her reaction and we sat screaming at each other for another second or two.

  Finally regaining our wits, we looked at each other in shock and flung ourselves into a tight embrace.

  “Where the hell did you come from?” Trish gasped.

  “Winnipeg,” I said, hesitant to tell her too much.

  “Britt, I mean how did you get here?”

  “I can do a few things now,” I said with a shrug.

  “You don’t say,” Trish sighed and glanced down at the floor. “Britt, what’s that?”

  I followed Trish’s gaze down to the floor and then to my foot resting on the carpet. A soft green light blinked every
few seconds in the dark around the vicinity of my foot.

  Trish clicked her nightstand light on and we stared with surprise at the clunky black box attached to my ankle.

  “Tracking device.” Trish stated.

  “I screwed up,” I cried, lowering my head into my hands.

  “It’ll be okay.” Trish pulled me into her arms.

  “How could you think that?” I pulled away to look at her. “I just lead Bastion to all of you.”

  My phone pinged as a text came in and I dug it out from under my dress. I lifted it and opened the message from Angelina.

  Court back in session, think Allister will get life, not death. Angelina. “Who was that?” Trish scrunched up her brows. “Angelina.” My relief at having Allister’s life spared was tempered by the blinking green light on my ankle. “I think I stayed away from Bastion long enough to save his life at least.

  “That’s great, isn’t that what you wanted?” Trish asked, seeing my tears.

  “Yeah,” I cried. “But the reality of never seeing him again just hit me.”

  Trish pulled me into her arms, holding me tight as I sobbed.

  A ping sounded on my phone and I pulled away to read another message from Angelina.

  Bastion sent video evidence. The council sentenced Allister to death.

  I sat frozen on Trish’s bed as the phone fell from my hands, clattering to the floor.

  “What, what is it?” Trish asked, then leaned over to retrieve the phone when I didn’t. I could only stare off into space. She read the message, gasped, then typed back.

  I heard another ping on my phone as Angelina responded to Trish’s message. “Britt,” she said her voice low. “Britt,” she repeated when I didn’t respond the first time.

  “What?” I turned to her, my eyes unable to focus on her face, still staring at something distant.

  “They’re going to execute him…now.” Even though she whispered, the words drove into my mind with such force, I snapped back to reality as jarring as if I’d been thrown. I stared at her and she leaned back, her fear clear on her face.

  “No,” I whispered, the sound echoing hollow in my brain. “No, no, no, no,” I shouted, coming to my feet.

  I concentrated on Allister with every cell in my body; focusing on his face, his smile, his hair, his touch, his smell, his kiss. I pulled his image and memories to me bringing them to life, bringing them to the here and now; insisting they come to me and demanding they obey.

  Trish’s room melted in front of me as stone, granite, and marble took its place. I knelt on the hard white floor on one knee. My hands touched the cold surface next to my feet as my head bowed and steam rose from my body. My dress smoked, some had burned away exposing skin underneath while other parts still survived. The tracking device on my ankle fell away, smoking

  A gasp rose around me as I raised my head, the smoke dissipating and my eyes clearing. Not more than a few feet in front of me stood Allister, hands bound behind his back as a man held each of his arms at the elbow. A third man stood in front of Allister, his arm pulled back as if to punch him.

  The three men stared at me in disbelief as I got to my feet, easing myself to my full height. The man in front of Allister lowered his arm. Anger enveloped me as I surveyed the room, causing my vision to blur pure red.

  Seven people, men and women, sat at the large stone table Allister faced. My rage rose; the council, I sneered. Galleries on either side of us and also behind caught my glance as I searched for other threats to Allister and myself.

  I noted Victor, Jennavia, and Angelina, phone still in her hand, staring at me in astonishment. I turned my gaze upon the men beginning to gather around us, closing a circle cautiously. I held out both arms, hands up, stopping their approach, as I looked to the front table.

  “So…the vile creation has come forward to face judgment.”

  I turned my gaze to the man standing near the table who broke the silence and he shrank back.

  “How dare you intrude on these proceedings,” a man seated at the table spoke up. “How did she shimmer in here, the chambers are blocked from shimmering?”

  “No matter,” the woman beside him said, “we can close this matter completely now.”

  “Who do you think you are?” I heard my voice coming in an unfamiliar deep, gravely tone. “None of you has the authority to condemn me.” The memory of Gabe’s words resounded clearly in my thoughts.

  “Wait your turn.” The man standing by the table tried again. “We will take care of you in a minute.”

  My eyes sought him out again, but this time, he only shook and didn’t retreat. He looked to one side of me and two men move forward.

  With the slightest thought, a bright energy burst from my hands, hitting the men and throwing them across the room. They landed, smoking in a heap. I sensed they still lived, a part of me was relieved, but the larger part remained focused on the council.

  Cries of shock rose from the galleries and the looks on the council members’ faces turned to terror.

  “I come here to speak for Allister Parks and demand his release.” I glanced at Allister as he looked over his shoulder; his face white.

  “He has already been sentenced for his crime,” the man standing at the table advised haughtily.

  “How can he be sentenced when more evidence can be presented?” I rasped.

  “Your existence is more evidence of his guilt, it will do no good if your hope is to stay his execution,” the man replied.

  “Aw, but you seem to be missing the point.” I smiled unpleasantly sending a rumble of murmurs through the gallery.

  “And what would that be?” another woman on the council queried.

  “I’m not just an Eternal, I’m more.”

  “We feel you are an Eternal,” the woman replied. “That’s all that matters to this council.”

  “Is it?” I raised an eyebrow.

  The galleries and the council began whispering amongst each other and finally the woman spoke again. “What are you getting at?”

  “Your law states an Eternal cannot touch someone whose soul has left them.” I stated, crossing my arms.

  The woman nodded an affirmative.

  “Then how do you explain my soul?”

  The crowd began murmuring again and the woman council member stood, hushing them with raised hands.

  “I can see that you are confused.” She stared down at me. “You have no soul.” Her words were measured, deliberately slow for effect.

  “Don’t you have someone here who can see souls or guardian angels?” I asked, knowing Jennavia had such powers, though I doubted they would allow her to attest to the presence of my soul.

  “Yes, we do,” the woman acknowledged, glancing down the table to a slender woman with long dark hair staring at me with horror filled eyes. The woman turned to the speaker, who nodded.

  Bowing her head slightly, the woman rose, coming out from behind the table and walked cautiously in front of me.

  “I will not harm you,” she told me.

  “Me either,” I replied with a brief nod.

  The woman, much smaller than I, reached up to place her hands on my face. Her fingers spread wide as she leaned her head close and closed her eyes in concentration. The hall became still as all eyes fell on the two of us.

  The woman let out a small gasp, her eyes opening wide as she leaned back. Still holding my face in her hands, she gazed at me, amazement distorting her face. She stepped back, letting her hands lower as she turned to face the council.

  “She has a soul…” her words echoed through the chamber.

  The entire room burst into chaos as cheers and protests arose from every direction.

  “And an angel’s essence.” She finished, barely audible over the noise.

  “Order, order,” a male council member shouted and the room quieted. “I’m not sure I heard that last part Celia,” the man frowned.

  “She has a soul and an angel’s essence,” Celia repeated
, looking uncomfortable.

  This time, not a sound echoed in the chambers. Not a gasp, not a breath, nothing. All eyes locked on me.

  “Celia, we can sense her as an Eternal,” the man pointed out.

  “Tis true.” She nodded. “Yet the more

  overwhelming part of her is angel.”

  “Then what are we to conclude?” the man asked, concerned. First looking at Celia, then down first one side of the table and then the other at the members of the council he clearly was assessing the possible fallout of this complication.

  No answer came to break the silence.

  “I place myself as evidence in Allister’s defense.” I said again. “He touched me while I still lived.” They had no way to disprove it now.

  “Impossible,” the man by the table shouted, his face turning red.

  “May I speak.” A deep voice came from the gallery as Victor stepped forward.

  “The council recognizes Victor Parks,” a council man spoke up.

  “I believe the reason for this anomaly is that the Eternal, Kendal, attacked the girl’s guardian angel. My son interrupted Kendal’s attempt on the angel and thus the angel only partially separated from the girl. With the angel present, the girl’s soul still survived, albeit not strong enough to keep the transformation into an Eternal from occurring completely.” Victor stopped, eyeing me curiously.

  “May I?” I raised my hand.

  The council nodded in unison.

  “When Gabe killed Kendal…” I started.

  “Who is Gabe?” A council man interrupted.

  “Gabriel, an Avenging Angel,” I said, drawing gasps from the chamber.

  “They sent an Avenging Angel to kill the Eternal Kendal?” A council woman asked.

  “Yes, and when Gabe killed Kendal, the remaining portion of my angel returned to me, turning me into what you see before you now.” I extended my arms out from my sides.

  “Amazing,” the council woman gasped.

  “You see.” Victor stepped forward, “Allister didn’t commit a crime here. He is merely another victim of Kendal as much as this girl.”

  “No,” the man by the table shouted. “Allister’s intent says he didn’t care about the law and acted in violation of that law. It doesn’t matter what else happened; he believed her dead.”