Infernal Justice (Angels at the Edge Book 2)
Page 22
Caligula arched backwards, letting my sword pass, then surged toward me. The tip of his blade almost pierced my chest. At the last second, though, I remembered Diana’s training. I pulled out my dagger with my left hand and used it to knock the demon’s blade away while I attacked with my sword.
Caligula’s movements were blindingly quick and hard to follow in this poisonous mixture of fire, smoke, and fog. I needed to win soon, or I was sure to lose.
Our blades clashed, clanging against each other and raising a hell of a lot of racket, but that still didn’t attract any nearby angels. The sorcerer must’ve somehow isolated us. I was the gambler’s only hope.
Caligula circled me. For a few seconds, the only sound came from the crackling flames around us. Time to reconsider my options.
I stood little chance against him, and I could fly away. That meant leaving the gambler to die. But I couldn’t face myself if I turned tail. Better to fight and lose than to live with being a coward. Inga wouldn’t get within a mile of me again, and rightly so.
I had to make my stand, so I spun to keep Caligula in sight, hoping against hope that help would arrive soon.
Soot covered me and the sorcerer, but he was dressed in dark clothes, so it wasn’t as noticeable. I thrust my sword again at the sorcerer.
In response, he vanished.
Christ Jesus, what do I do now?
I seemed to hear Diana’s voice in my head. Maintain your composure. Do not flail around, hoping to get lucky.
I half-expected to see her emerge from the fog, but nope. Just my overwrought imagination playing tricks on me.
The worst was, I didn’t know which direction he would attack from. He’d had enough time to circle me completely.
Then the smoke and fog worked to my advantage. Caligula’s invisible body had created a clear void on my right side shaped like a man. It had to be him.
I slashed at the void, swinging for the spot where the sorcerer’s head had to be.
Caligula reappeared, screaming. A bright red line emerged across his right cheek. I’d drawn first blood, but barely.
The demon dashed behind me, slashing back and forth as he moved.
This time, I screamed. My left thigh burned from a deep cut. I could hardly stand anymore.
As I twisted around to face the threat behind me, I stumbled on the uneven ground. For a second, I teetered…then lost my balance completely. My left knee smacked the ground, twisting my leg and opening the wound further. I was blinded by the searing pain.
Caligula squealed with delight and lunged again. This time, his sword caught me under my rib cage on the left side. It sunk in deeply, but not enough to destroy me.
I gasped and scrambled away on the burnt ground, fighting to stay conscious. If I didn’t hang on, I was done. Honah, where are you?
The sorcerer chased me and laughed at my agony. That jarring sound cleared my thinking for an instant. His voice told me where to strike. I swung my sword backwards on my right side where he seemed to be closest.
He roared in pain. I twisted again to see what I’d done. That hurt me more, sharp agony. Thank God, though, I’d sliced open part of Caligula’s belly. His free hand covered the gaping wound, holding in his intestines. His sword arm hung limply at his side.
Before he could recover from the shock, I had to strike. With my trembling right hand, I drove my sword into Caligula’s chest.
The demon shriek seemed loud enough to alert everyone within twenty miles.
I’d wounded him but not enough. Fighting to push my blade in further, I stretched to my fullest. The blade penetrated through to the demon’s back. Instantly, the monster vanished in a puff of black smoke.
Chapter 23
VICTORY, BUT I felt pain, not elation. I sat on the blackened ground, took several deep breaths to compose myself, and yelled, “If there’s any angel out there, I sure could use some help!”
In an instant, Honah, Jack, and Sonja showed up in front of me.
“Where the hell were you?” I asked her. Without waiting for an answer, I said, “I found them,” pointing with my sword at the two humans, “and Caligula, too. I asked for help a couple of times, but nothing.”
Honah must’ve checked my mind. He said, “You did, indeed, but the sorcerer isolated the two of you with a cloaking spell. That's why we didn't come, we couldn't hear you. Despite that, you handled the situation very well.”
Jack patted me gently on the back. “Sorry you had to go it alone. An amazing victory. We should celebrate, but first, you need a healer.”
The smoke and flames continued to swirl around us. I was already covered in dirt and soot, and our work wasn’t done.
“Shouldn’t we put out this fire before we go?” I asked.
Honah shook his head. “We will manage that without you. You need healing.”
“And Sonja and I’ll take care of the humans,” Jack said. “Gabe, you best be on your way.”
The chief teleported me back to a comfort room in the legion’s office where I changed into my normal self. As usual, the cursed injuries stayed with me. Luckily, Deng Ming was waiting.
“Not you, again,” he said with a broken smile.
“Afraid so,” I said. “Can’t seem to stay out of trouble.”
He worked his healing magic on me and asked me in his broken English what had happened. I gave him a five-minute summary while he cared for my wounds.
He was much more gifted as a healer than I was, and he soon put me back to right. We continued to chat for a few minutes while I thought about loose ends.
-o-o-o-
WHEN MING WAS called away, I went to visit Ophelia in one of the comfort rooms. Although she supposedly was our prisoner, the door had no lock. I knocked and entered. She sat alone on a sofa.
She looked up at me expectantly.
I sat next to her. “Caligula is gone for good. You’re free.”
She looked down at her stomach. “Wonderful, but how do I get rid of this demon he left inside me? Maybe it’s gone, too.”
My dagger and sword handle had appeared when I entered the room, so I knew the answer to her question wouldn’t please her. Plus, I felt the demon’s aura.
To explain what was happening to her, I took the flaming dagger out and showed her. “This weapon only becomes visible when a dark immortal is nearby. So, one demon is still inside you. It can’t be killed by human hands, I’m sorry to say.”
She looked at me with glaring, wide-open eyes. “Then kill me! I can’t live with his hatred growing within me. I haven’t known a day of peace since Caligula cast the spell that filled me with evil.”
I shook my head. “I can’t use this blade against a human.”
She stared at it then moved with incredible speed to snatch it from my hand. Before I realized what she’d done, she’d stabbed herself in the stomach.
The blade had penetrated into her all the way to the hilt, but didn’t seem to harm her.
She gasped. “Nothing! I can’t bear it any longer.”
I patted her shoulder. “I told you. It won’t work against a human.”
But then I realized the infernal aura was gone, and my dagger disappeared from her hand.
I was stunned and confused. Then the truth dawned on me “Wait, my dagger must’ve killed the evil inside you, but without hurting you. Now, you truly are free.”
She burst out sobbing and threw her arms around my neck. “Thank you! You’ve given me my life back… a life free of hatred.”
We stood and spun each other in a circle. Caligula wouldn’t live on in his evil offspring after all. That was a true blessing.
I found Ming, and he confirmed she was free of the demon. Still another shock for me in this crazy immortal world. At least, for once, it was a happy surprise.
-o-o-o-
INGA ARRIVED BEFORE any of the other guardian angels, and she gave me a warm hug. Her perfume smelled like orange blossoms.
“You made me crazy with worry,” she said. “Honah told me you were wounded but nothing life-threatening. I had to come and see for myself.”
“I’m fine,” I said, touched by her concern. “Is the fire out?”
She nodded. “Tell me what happened.”
I caught her up on everything that’d occurred since I last saw her. She asked lots of questions, and I answered as best as I could.
Then I had a few questions of my own. “Who is the fallen angel Caligula said runs North America?”
“I don’t know his earlier name. Everybody just calls him Zorro, the fox in Spanish. He came to the New World with Hernan Cortez and the other Spanish conquistadors. He’s been a thorn in Honah’s side ever since.”
He sounded like real trouble. “I hope he doesn’t know about me yet. He’d probably love to annihilate the newest angel.”
She put an arm around me and squeezed. “Say, Amen, brother.”
Her comment warmed me up inside. “What happened to the gambler?”
“He’s back at home. He thinks a whole band of angels saved him. To protect your privacy, Jack and Sonja didn’t tell him how you did it on your own.”
“Perfect. The fewer people who know me, the better. What about the demon wannabe, David?”
She snickered. “When he unfroze and saw himself surrounded by a dozen scowling angels in full battle dress, he wet himself. Because we can’t punish humans, Honah only said, ‘Be aware, if you had become immortal, we would’ve destroyed you, too. Use your second chance at this life wisely and renounce Satan.’ The guy groveled before the chief and swore he’d change his evil ways, for whatever that’s worth. Then the chief sent him back to his mother.”
That had worked out as well as possible. “You know, she’s entitled to the reward. She put us on the right track to find Caligula.”
Inga smiled. “Wonderful, and from what Sonja told me, Lucinda could really use the money.”
That was definitely true, and it pleased me no end that Inga enjoyed for someone else’s good fortune. She was such a caring person.
-o-o-o-
INGA AND I were still chatting when Cleo popped up near us and beamed. “Is this a private party, or can I join in?”
I welcomed her and caught her up on the day’s crazy events.
Soon, the angels who’d been searching the coast returned in groups of twos and threes. A spontaneous celebration began and grew in size as folks heard the happy news. San Francisco’s head demon had finally gotten what he deserved.
The sound system was blasting old Motown tunes when Jack and Honah arrived together. I sipped a glass of aged rye whiskey when Jack rushed up and gave me a punch on the arm. The idiot almost spilled my drink.
“Way to go,” he said. “The wicked witch is dead.” He grinned like a little kid.
“It’s going to take a while for humans to figure out that normalcy has returned to the Bay Area,” I said. “But I’m sure looking forward to the craziness slowing down for a while. Clara is just beginning to notice the outside world, and I need to be there for her.”
Honah beamed at me. “Of course. Today, I’m happy to grant you any favor you ask for.”
I asked Jack, “What’s going to happen to the mayor and his brother? Have you heard anything?”
He nodded. “It hasn’t been announced yet, but the mayor is taking the fall. He will resign in a few days, and he’ll plead guilty to one count of official corruption. He probably won’t serve any prison time at all.”
That seemed fair. “What about the brother?”
“What brother? The mayor has a brother? I hadn’t heard.” He grinned even bigger than before.
I took that to mean the cops weren’t going to punish the mayor’s brother. Prosecutors always preferred to nail the big fish and sometimes let the little ones go. That was the right outcome in this case.
Lots of angels wandered by and congratulated me, but I told them the truth. It’d been a complete team effort. If any other angel had stumbled upon Caligula on Bodega Head, including Sonja, they would’ve done exactly what I did, only much quicker.
The party lasted for hours, and for once, Honah seemed to have time for most of it. He eventually took Sonja by the hand and headed for me. From the grin on his face, I knew he planned to cause some kind of trouble.
I was holding hands with Inga and sipping another glass of rye, but not feeling any of the alcohol’s effects. That was too bad. I’d always enjoyed the glow that came from a drink or two, and I could’ve used the buzz to deal with whatever the boss had in mind.
Honah looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Gabriel, your old friend, Ben Torino, is investigating a shocking case of someone impersonating a Federal law enforcement official.”
I sighed. In hoping for a little peace and quiet, I’d set myself up for disappointment. “He can rot in hell for all I care.”
Sonja groaned and pointed a finger at the boss. “I told you, several times, making me work with Townsend is a terrible idea. His bad luck rubs off on everyone. Probably all the bad karma he’s built up from many lives filled with wanton cruelty or worse.”
Honah’s eyes twinkled, which helped settle the churning in my stomach. I didn’t need to say anything to defend myself, after all.
But sweet Inga rounded on Sonja anyway. “How about you stop criticizing him for just one day? He’s our hero. How about we let him enjoy himself for a few more hours? Is that asking too much?”
What a woman! I was crazier for her than ever. Sure, I was a screw-up, but I’d come though when it really counted. And I’d made San Francisco a better place to live, at least until Zorro found a new thug to run the dark side of the city.
Before Sonja could respond, Honah held up his hand. “I’ve merely informed you about his inquiry so you will understand why Sonja will have to change her FBI persona. Her partnership with Gabriel is proving to be successful, actually, it’s exceeded my wildest dreams. Over time, I’m sure you two will become extremely fond of one another.”
Her eyes flashed, and without reading her mind I knew what she thought. She wouldn’t warm up to me for years, if ever.
For me, I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. She hadn’t helped me at the end, but Honah had surely been right. Caligula’s cloaking spell had prevented me from communicating with either angel. And I didn’t have any say in who the boss partnered me with. One thing was certain—I’d had worst partners. She at least was competent. That would have to do.
I sighed and exchanged a knowing glance with Inga. She laughed with her eyes.
Honah patted me on the back and wandered away. Sonja followed him, still haranguing him about what a terrible mistake he’d made. He acted as stoic as ever.
“I agree with her that we’re not a great team,” I told Inga. “Maybe, after the glow of our latest victory wears off, he’ll pair me with someone friendlier.”
Inga snickered. “Don’t get your hopes up. He can be incredibly stubborn.”
She would know, so I waved bye to that hope. Instead, I gave her a warm hug. “Thanks so much for sticking up for me.”
She hugged me back. “I’ve always loved goofy guys, don’t ask me why.”
On the spur of the moment, I had an idea. “Why don’t we go check out that garden? I’ve always been too busy to see it, and it’s lit at night.”
She took my hand. “Why don’t we?”
~Finis~
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