She hadn’t liked that either. A sword wasn’t her idea of a weapon. Sure, it was sharp and would do the maximum damage when necessary but then so would the kubotan or sanjiegun. She liked the options the stick and staff gave her in being able to hurt, maim or kill. With a sword, most blows would be debilitating or fatal.
Mikos stuck his head out the door and nodded. Lexi took a deep breath and slipped into the crack. Into the darkness of the interior of the barn. Once inside, it took a few seconds for her vision to adjust to the darkness after the brightness of the early morning light. Neither Mikos nor Mari seemed to have had that problem.
Great. They could see in the dark. Bully for them.
When her vision adjusted, she scanned the interior. Looked like a typical barn.
Despite having never been in one, she’d seen enough pictures she wasn’t surprised to see the bales of hay stuffed under the eaves, the various farm equipment bits and pieces scattered throughout the interior.
Stale smells, as if the barn hadn’t been used in some time despite the appearance of the hay tickled her nostrils. Dust, mostly, mixed with what she could only suppose was rodent droppings. She figured it was a good guess since she had no idea what mouse crap smelled like but she knew they’d be found in barns.
Faint light from various small holes in the ceiling dusted the objects with mote-filled light. Just enough to hint at the belief of things hidden behind the shadows without identifying what lurked past the light.
With a blur of movement, Mari entered the deeper shadows. Lexi watched her go but not before she saw the pinched expression at the corner of the vampy demon’s eyes. What was that all about? Suddenly, a primitive warning sounded in her brain. Something was so not right here.
He glanced over his shoulder and gestured for her to follow him. Good idea. After that look in Mari’s eyes, Lexi’s warning increased until it reverberated throughout her body as if her body was the gong and the odd sense the bashing stick.
As she and Mikos passed around a particular large piece of farm equipment, she caught a faint glimpse of orange light tinged with a sickly shade of yellow. A very wrong color.
At the same moment, Mari popped in. Not so much as walked. One minute the space was empty, the next the demoness stood before them.
“No immortals are present,” she said, her voice not much above a whisper.
It surprised Lexi she’d spoken at all. Didn’t they need to be silent? That pinched look in Mari’s eyes had disappeared. What took its place was, well, nothing. As if her face was a chalkboard, all expression had been wiped clean, leaving behind a porcelain surface devoid of life. Of emotion.
Lexi’s stomach twisted.
“The structure is empty of dark forces,” Mari continued, her red eyes locked onto Mikos’s silver as if she tried to communicate telepathically. Like she told him something she didn’t want Lexi to know.
Like hell.
“What about Devyn?” Lexi asked. She was not about to stand here like a child while the adults communicated above and around her. Devyn was her responsibility. Her…friend.
Mikos met her gaze. The silver had begun to clear. A sure sign that danger was not imminent. Lines furrowed his brow. “It is best we go.”
Damn it, she knew it. “You’re keeping something from me.” She planted both hands on her hips as she confronted him. “What the hell is going on? Where is Devyn?”
Mikos ran his fingers through his hair. He seemed torn. As if he wanted to tell her but was afraid of—. What? Her reaction? That had to be it.
“Phoenix, you must let her see.” This from Mari.
Mikos whipped his head around and fixed a glare on the demoness. She stood resolute, her chin lifted. “You know she must.”
“Okay, you two are really beginning to piss me off.” Lexi spoke through gritted teeth. “I must see what?”
At the moment the words slipped through her lips, Lexi froze. A quick and disturbing thought flashed through her mind as a flicker of apprehension coursed through her. Her gaze focused on the sickly light.
Pushing past Mikos, she darted for the light. She heard him call out for her to stop but ignored him. Her stomach churned with dread even as she neared the spot where the light forced its way through the dark, seeming to have a weight of its own.
She heard rapid footfalls behind her but didn’t turn around. Rubbing sweating palms against her thighs, Lexi stepped through the small door into a back room of the barn.
At first glance, other than the nasty-looking glow, everything appeared normal. Until she swung her gaze around. She felt the color drain from her face.
Oh my God. Lexi’s heart, which had been thudding rapidly in her chest, skipped a beat, tripping over the ache in her chest.
Devyn the lovely, innocent girl who’d only wanted to be her friend was spread-eagled on the far wall. Her wrists and ankles splayed in the shape of an X.
Across her naked chest, another X had been carved into her flesh, the blood washed away leaving deep scores into her skin, cutting deep and jagged.
Other marks surrounded the X. Smaller sigils twisted around the large symbol. Despite her limited knowledge, none of the sigils were familiar.
Lexi’s gaze traveled past the mutilated chest up into Devyn’s face. For all the horror she’d obviously suffered, the young girl’s bleached face was unlined with pain or terror. In fact, it looked as if she were merely sleeping.
All her muscles turned rigid. She stared at Devyn as Mikos walked up to the girl. He touched a hand to her body, then lowered his head. She saw his lips move as he mumbled something, a prayer maybe?
That was enough for Lexi. She fell to her knees, her hands covering her mouth. She heard a muffled keening sound, a wailing. It took a minute before she realized the horrible, pain-filled sound came from her own mouth.
Bleak and primitive grief overwhelmed her as she locked on what used to be a girl in the prime of her life. The pain of loss, regret and anger filled each atom of her body until it cried for release. She threw back her head and screamed. Pain crashed over her.
And soul-wrenching guilt.
Another life lost because of her. First her parents, then her professor and now Devyn.
“Lexi, we must go. They will not have gone far and will have heard your cry.”
She turned her head and through tear-filled eyes, stared up at Mikos. Raw anger and pain glittered in his icy gaze that no longer seemed so icy. A match to her own she suspected. She could handle the pain. The rage, however, needed an outlet.
“Good. Let them come.”
She heard the ice-edged tone, marveling that it had come from her own mouth. In fact, it was an accomplishment she could speak at all. Her throat felt raw from screaming.
“There will be too many.” Mikos frowned as he spoke.
“I don’t care.”
“You will die.”
“Read my lips. I. Don’t. Care.” She enunciated each word, exaggerating the movement of her lips.
His scowl burned into her, but she still didn’t move. Before she could react, two hands came down on her shoulders and yanked her to her feet. Those hands which once, not so very long ago, had held her tenderly, now had a punishing grip.
“Would you let Devyn’s death be for naught? Would you let her sacrifice destroy everything? Beliel took someone you cared about. To use her against you. To stop you. Would you let him win by following her into death?”
“Mikos, you bastard, Devyn’s death was for nothing.” Lexi tried to jerk away from his grip to no avail. His hold was tight, no flexibility existed to break away.
So she just lifted her chin, meeting him glare for glare. “She died for no good reason. Because of me. Just like my parents. Just like my professor. For what? For some grand scheme written before I was even born? How could it be in anyone’s plan that Devyn die?
“And what makes you think I’d want to be part of a plan where innocents are killed because of me?”
She jerked away
again and this time Mikos let her go. He dropped his hands to his sides. He clenched his fingers into fists. She didn’t fear he’d strike her. Maybe he wanted to grab her again and shake her until her brain rattled. She was past caring.
“You and Mari go. I’m staying. I want their blood.”
Resolve entered his eyes. “Very well. You leave me with no choice.”
“Good. Then get out.”
Mikos nodded. “As you command.”
Lexi started to turn but as she did so, he suddenly lunged at her, wrapping his arms around her. She let out a squeak of surprise then stiffened. His black wings snapped out from behind him. One set folded around her, locking her tight against Mikos.
Between his wings and warm arms, Lexi felt, for a brief moment, cherished. In the next second, fury ripped through her but before she could react, she felt herself lifted into the air.
“Mikos! You bastard! Let me go!”
He ignored her, his flight carrying her the length of the barn until they burst out through the double doors into the light.
The beat of his powerful wings carried them up, higher into the light-laden morning. Below her, scenery rushed by in a blur of blue, green and brown. Her head spun. She felt her eyes cross. Her vision narrowed.
She looked up at Mikos. A muscle flicked in his jaw, his lips clamped tight. He must have sensed her watching him because he lowered his eyes and clashed with hers.
Lexi didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to since she was sure her eyes said everything for her. Acknowledgement sparked in his, and he seemed to nod. As if he knew, and accepted, his actions would have consequences.
Her vision narrowed further until all she saw was his silver eyes. Then those too blinked out. She was left with pain, anger…and darkness.
The jolt of the landing snapped Lexi out of her daze. Her head tilted back, and she stared up at the underside of Mikos’s taut jaw line. His wings pulled back.
For a moment, she couldn’t move. Didn’t want to move. To face the world outside of the strange comfort she’d felt being wrapped in Mikos’s arms. Being carried in his arms. A comfort that had overwhelmed the fury and agony at Devyn’s loss.
Fury and agony Lexi felt returning each second. Taking a deep and unsteady breath, she stepped away from him. She felt her fists bunch at her sides. Before the thought did more than enter her mind, Lexi swung a right hook. Her fist connected with Mikos’s jaw, snapping his head back.
She’d struck him wrong as evidenced by the sharp stab of pain zigging from her fist up her arm. Shaking out the knife-like torture rippling through her fist, she glowered at him. “I’ll never forgive you for this,” she said through gritted teeth.
A part of her knew she was wrong. None of this was Mikos’s fault. It was hers. But since he’d stopped her from punishing herself, he’d have to be her scapegoat.
She spun and stomped upstairs. Once in her room, after she’d slammed the door hard enough to rattle the walls, Lexi flopped onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
But only for a second. Rage burned her chest with heat. She flung herself from the bed, pacing the carpet. After too many damn passes, her attention was caught by a flash of light reflecting off glass.
Lexi stared at the picture frame and her eyes narrowed until the tiny faces of her parents were all that choked her vision. How dare they leave her with such a legacy, yet not be around for her when she needed them most?
She curled her fingers around the frame, and snatched it from the dresser. Her parent’s smiles seemed to mock her, laughing at a cosmic joke. Her lips curled. At the same time, moisture at the corners of her eyes only made her angrier.
She didn’t want to feel. Didn’t want to care. Each time she did, someone hurt her or worse, died. Like her parents. Like Tom. Now Devyn.
Before she could think, she threw the frame at the far wall. The picture of her parents hit the plaster with a wooden thunk and the distinctive tinkle of glass breaking.
Shattered beyond repair, the last link to her parents.
Lexi stared at the pile without blinking until she felt a dry, burning sensation.
“Alexandria.”
She whipped her head around. A shimmering column of silver light coalesced near her, solidifying until it took the shape of a human. Male.
Lexi sank into a defensive crouch. Another freaking demon? In Mikos’s own home?
Instead of the darkness and sulfur-scent of demon, the intruder was all brilliant light. Wavy golden hair framed a strong face. He wore power, confidence and faith like a mantle. No like a second skin.
Serene contemplation glowed within the sapphire blue that held her gaze. Empathy, but no pity. Understanding.
“Who are you?” She finally found the words.
“You know who I am.” His voice had an infinitely compassionate tone.
She felt like weeping.
Finally, Lexi nodded. Actually she did. As suddenly as he appeared, a name flashed into her mind. “You’re Archangel Michael.” She straightened, but for some reason, crossed her arms over her chest.
His turn to nod, a brief bend of the neck. “Why are you so angry?” he asked. A simple question. Not accusatory as if she didn’t have the right. Just a question.
“Shouldn’t I be?” In contradiction to his calm, matter-of-fact tone, her voice sounded broken, tired.
“Anger serves no useful purpose,” he continued. “It makes you weak.”
“I don’t feel weak.”
“Your soul, Alexandria, not your physical body.”
Lexi snorted. “My soul? My soul is a bit bruised but just fine, thank you.”
She couldn’t believe she was being disrespectful to Archangel Michael. Scratch that. She couldn’t believe she was actually having a conversation with him. Sure, Mikos was an angel. She’d accepted that. But this one…
“Your soul is more bruised than you know. But that is not what I mean. Without faith, without belief, you are open to spiritual attack. A far worse event.”
“You’re an angel. One of the most powerful ones.” Uh, duh, Lexi, how about the most powerful one. She knuckled both hands on her hips. “Surely you can see why I’d be angry. I’ve lost everything. Everyone I’ve cared about. So, yeah, I’m pretty pissed off.”
“Does anger really serve you?”
“It’s kept me alive.”
His head tilted to the side. “Has it?”
“Look at me. I’m here aren’t I?”
“Yes, you have a physical form. Yet, do you really believe you are alive?”
Lexi hesitated, her gaze locked on to the Archangel’s. His words tripped a knowing path through her mind. “Does it matter?”
“Only you can answer that, Alexandria.”
She didn’t like the direction of the conversation. He made her think about things, about her life, things she’d rather not think about. It was enough that she had form. So what if her life was empty?
“Through no fault of their own, your parents were not able to be with you. Were not there to make you aware of your ancestry. Would you really throw away your inheritance? Their gift to you?”
“A gift?” Lexi snorted again. “What gift?
“The gift to see more than others do. To protect against evil. To know there is something more out there than a life on Earth. Faith, Alexandria.”
Inwardly Lexi cringed at the continued use of her full name by the Archangel. However, she didn’t correct him. Somehow it sounded right on him. Besides, who wanted to correct an angel who supposedly sat at the right hand of God?
Even she wasn’t that stupid.
Yet, she was still furious. Each time she closed her eyes, she saw Devyn’s sweet face. Instead of warm and full of life, the younger girl’s face had the glossy, smooth appearance of marble. White, cold. Lifeless.
“Why should I care?”
“You are the only one who can save your fellow mortals from extinction. From death.”
“Everyone dies,” she scoffed.
“Sometimes the timing is bad, but at some point everyone does. After all, we aren’t angels. So what if it happens all at once.”
“There are worse things than dying.”
The words sounded familiar. Mikos had said the very same thing to her when she first met him. “Blah, blah, heard that refrain before. I’ll tell you what I told Mikos. Sometimes living is worse than dying.”
“Do you really believe that, Alexandria?”
Lexi winced at the sympathy in the angel’s tone. Again, not pity. Pity would have just pissed her off. The caring and compassionate manner of the angel did more to shake the foundations of her belief than pity.
So she did what she always did. She resorted to anger to keep her strong. “My beliefs are my own. It doesn’t change the fact that Devyn is dead. Murdered. For what? A game between good and evil? I may not have faith, I may not be a believer, yet even I know that in a game, innocents get hurt.”
Lexi paced a short path. “Devyn was an innocent with her whole life stretched before her. Now it’s gone. Snuffed by bad guys. Demon, angel or human. Doesn’t make a difference.”
“It does make a difference. You will learn. We may not be blessed with understanding the Lord’s reasons, but all things and all life given and taken have a purpose.”
God, she hated when that phrase was touted out as the explanation for everything. “The Lord had a reason Devyn needed to die?” Forgetting her earlier thought about not pissing off archangels, Lexi shouted, “Don’t you get it? Devyn is dead, and it’s my fault!”
As the shout slowly faded, the words reverberated through her mind. Her fault. She’d killed Devyn just as sure as if she’d had done the act herself.
She should have gone after the girl. Instead, she’d made a deal with Mikos to train to fulfill a role she didn’t believe in. Instead of searching for Devyn, Lexi had been secluded in this beautiful mansion playing a game.
Archangel Michael kept his calm gaze on hers. Before he opened his mouth, she knew the words he’d say.
She held up a hand. “Don’t, please. I know you’re going to tell me it’s not my fault. My mind tells me you’re right, but my heart says something else entirely.”
Key of Solomon: Relic Defender, Book 1 Page 22
