Los Nefilim Book 4

by T. Frohock

  Guillermo interrupted him. “Who are we, Garcia?”

  “We are Los Nefilim. We were created to serve as the angels’ warriors in the earthly realm.”

  “And I do,” said Guillermo. “I serve Sariel’s will. I swore my oath to her. If I usurp her rule, then I will be a traitor—­like you.”

  Garcia’s cheeks reddened. “You have polluted yourself and Los Nefilim!”

  Sparks of rage flew from Guillermo’s eyes. “I’ve done no such thing.”

  Garcia pointed a shaking finger at Guillermo. “You consort with daimons and have inducted them into your ranks.” He spat in Diago’s direction. “Sariel’s negligence has allowed you to lead Los Nefilim amok.” He lowered his hand. “Well, that is done. Prince Aker is taking over the principality of Spain, and he has designated me to lead Los Nefilim in his name. Hand over the child. We’ll determine whether or not he’s been contaminated by the daimons.”

  Diago asked, “And if he has?”

  Guillermo shot him a sharp look, but Diago ignored him. In any other confrontation he would take a subservient role to Guillermo, but not when it concerned his son.

  Garcia didn’t hesitate with his answer. “If the boy is unclean, we’ll give him the second death.”

  “Christ,” Miquel whispered.

  Guillermo said, “You’re not getting the boy. And we’re not handing ourselves over to you. I will not abdicate my rule to you or anyone else. Stand down.”

  A slow rain started to fall. Garcia seemed unperturbed by Guillermo’s refusal. “You have allowed the abomination of daimons to infiltrate Los Nefilim.”

  From the corner of his eye, Diago saw his son flinch. He clenched his pistol’s grip.

  Guillermo touched his wrist. “No guns. We settle this like Nefilim.”

  Diago nodded and allowed his hand to fall away from the weapon.

  Garcia shouted, “Bow before me! I am the new king of Los Nefilim.”

  Thunder crashed overhead.

  Garcia reached up and grabbed the thunder’s black vibrations in his fists. He sang a note and twisted the noise into a sigil. Behind him, the German joined his voice with Fierro and Moreno to create a concussive glyph.

  If he hits us with that, it will be enough to stun us. Diago didn’t need to know what would happen next. Garcia wanted them alive. Probably for the same reason Guillermo wanted Garcia—­information.

  The skies opened up and the rain poured from the heavens.

  Garcia fired the glyph with his Nefilim’s voices. He threw the ward upward.

  A bolt of lavender lightning struck the sigil. Engel. Even while fighting Prieto and Yellowcloud, the angel assisted his Nephilim.

  The lightning shattered the glyph into six bolts of sound. One for each of us, Diago had time to think before Guillermo’s deep voice ruptured the air.

  Eva and Maria joined their melody with Guillermo’s song. Miquel picked up the thread of the music and added his voice to their choir. Diago listened for the music’s weakness. There. Between the chords of Guillermo’s bass and Eva’s soprano, the register was thin.

  Diago caught up with them on the refrain. He sharpened the song with his tenor. Behind him, Rafael added his boyish soprano to the chorus. Eva and Maria opened their hearts to Diago and Rafael. They saw Diago’s darkness and did not flinch. They wrapped Rafael in acceptance and joy, and drew the child into their song. Rafael leapt into the air and executed a twirl, adding his amber vibrations to their sigil.

  Guillermo took the combined vibrations of their voices and formed a shield designed to absorb Garcia’s sound. When Garcia’s thunderous noise struck Guillermo’s buffer, Diago’s head rocked. But he didn’t falter in his song, nor did the others. Together they held the shield, and Garcia’s bolts of sound died.

  Diago didn’t wait to recover. He stepped past Guillermo and into the torrent of rain. He skimmed the sole of his foot over a puddle. Water sprayed in his wake, leaving droplets of sound. Diago sang a note and formed a sigil. Miquel joined his song and they created a ward to catch the wind. Eva, Maria, and Rafael twirled like dervishes. The skirts of the twins’ habits raised the wind and water, turning it into a miniature tornado. Rafael shaped the tempest between his palms. Guillermo charged the ward with his voice and sent it flying.

  Garcia formed a quick song. Moreno and Fierro followed Garcia’s lead. The German caught on a beat too late. The tornado grabbed him and flung him into a nearby building. The sound of bones crunching carried across the yard.

  The wind picked up speed. Lightning flashed blue and white across the sky. Orange and crimson light ringed the clouds roiling across the heavens.

  Before Garcia had time to recover, Guillermo summoned another sigil and charged it with his song. Miquel sang with Guillermo. The twins harmonized. Rafael let loose a cry as he leaped into the air.

  Diago caught the notes together and cut a sharp sigil, charging it with the vibrations of his song. The ward sliced the air as it hurtled toward Garcia, Moreno, and Fierro.

  Overhead, a brilliant flash of silver lightning turned the darkness bright as day. The electric charge descended into the yard and fired Diago’s sigil. Static electricity made their hair stand on end. The bolts of lightning engulfed Garcia and his Nefilim, leaving them flopping in the puddles, helpless against the rain.

  As suddenly as it began, the storm ended. The sun rolled behind the clouds and sent crimson and orange rays to border the storm. The light burned brighter and brighter. Diago noticed the lavender was gone.

  Prieto and Yellowcloud had won.

  The rain came down softer, feathering away until it was merely patters against the roof tiles.

  Diago panted in the sudden quiet. Without thinking of who might be watching, he reached out and took Miquel’s hand. His lover smiled and touched his forehead to Diago’s brow.

  Miquel murmured, “Are you all right?”

  Diago nodded and turned in time to catch Rafael in his trembling arms. He lifted his son, checking him for wounds. Rafael was fine.

  “Let’s move, ­people,” Guillermo growled at them. “We’re not safe yet.”

  A nun emerged from an alley and ran toward the downed Nefilim. Diago realized it was Sofia.

  “Quick!” she called out to someone behind her. “Be quick if you want them alive! They have cyanide capsules in their mouths.”

  Her words broke through their joy, but even as she reached Garcia, Diago saw that the Nefilim were dead.

  Garcia grinned up at the sky. His eyes open to the last of the falling rain.

  Two uniformed Urban Guards suddenly appeared. They were followed by a Nefil in a worn suit. He was older, with oiled black hair and soft gray eyes. His face appeared as rumpled as his suit.

  Guillermo glared at him. “It took you long enough, Santiago.”

  Santiago reddened at Guillermo’s rebuff. “I’m sorry, Don Guillermo. I had to circumvent Garcia’s orders and charm the Chief Inspector. The affair required finesse.”

  Sofia loosened her veil and shook free her long hair. “We have Jaso and Acosta in custody. I’ve ordered my ­people to take them in for questioning.”

  “Yes. Thank you, Corvo.” Santiago turned to face someone behind Diago. He made languid shooing motions with his hands. “Please, go back inside, everyone. I am Inspector Carlos Santiago.” He lifted his jacket so they could see his badge. “Everything is under control now.”

  Several mortals lingered on the porch for a few seconds before they returned indoors, murmuring amongst themselves.

  Dr. Vales detached himself from the crowd. Pushing against those who were going back inside, the young doctor came forward. With a sideways glance at Diago, Vales faced Santiago. “What the hell happened here? Garcia and his men said that Dr. Alvarez was under suspicion for the Ferrers’ murders.”

  Santiago blinked lazily, as if noticing th
e mortal for the first time. “And you are?”

  “Vales, Dr. Vales. I signed off on Alvarez’s admission to the hospital.”

  “Ah,” Santiago assessed the mortal. “I’m afraid it was Inspector Garcia who was trying to cover his own crimes. We’ve been investigating him for several weeks. It was an internal affair.”

  Diago admired Santiago’s new spin on the story. Without telling a lie, he had just outlined the entire situation.

  “Sergeant Corvo”—­Santiago gestured at Sofia, who had shed her nun’s habit and now waited beside Garcia’s body—­“was undercover here at your hospital. Her sisters, Señoras Eva and Maria Corvo, were assisting. Dr. Alvarez was brought in from Sevilla to help us flush Garcia into the open. Don Guillermo graciously volunteered to help. Everything was going according to plan until Garcia and his cohorts abducted Dr. Alvarez and his son.”

  Vales wasn’t entirely appeased by the explanation. “Dr. Alvarez shot three ­people.” He pointed back toward the hospital with a shaking hand. “Aren’t you interested in that?”

  Santiago matched Vales’s tone. “Dr. Alvarez is a veteran. He’s seen active duty, and his ability to handle himself under adverse conditions was the reason we wanted him involved in our investigation. If he shot them, they needed to die.”

  Rafael rested his cheek on Diago’s shoulder. Santiago came to Diago’s side and ruffled the child’s hair. Rafael gave him a wan smile.

  Santiago smiled back. “The little guy looks like he’s had a rough day. Why don’t we let the doctor take his son home?” He tilted his head at Sofia. “Sergeant Corvo, would you escort Don Guillermo and his ­people to their vehicles?”

  “Of course, Inspector.” Sofia gestured for them to follow her.

  Diago followed Guillermo.

  “Dr. Alvarez!” Vales called. “Will you please come to my office tomorrow?”

  Diago hesitated. He should just keep walking. Instead, he turned back. “Not tomorrow.” Maybe not next week. “But soon.”

  Vales accepted the answer with a nod, and turned to converse with Santiago. Just beyond the spot where Vales and Santiago talked, a scorpion scuttled along the sidewalk.

  Diago tracked the arachnid with his gaze. The scorpion ran to a column where it joined its mates. The scorpions took the form of a man.

  Alvaro. A pool of ice formed in Diago’s stomach.

  Alvaro smiled at Diago, but his predatory gaze was on Rafael.

  Diago shielded his son’s body with his own.

  “Are you all right?” Miquel asked.

  “What is it, Papa?” Rafael tried to look over Diago’s shoulder, but he covered the boy’s face with his hand.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Diago whispered.

  Miquel frowned and studied the arcades.

  Diago looked back again.

  Alvaro was gone.

  Chapter Eight

  Guillermo didn’t ask any more questions about Diago’s descent into the daimonic realm, and Diago offered no further explanations. Instead, Guillermo and Miquel spent the ride telling him what they’d learned from Prieto, and in return, Diago told them about Amparo.

  By the time Guillermo parked the truck beside their house, Diago was numb. Rafael dozed with his head against Diago’s chest. In spite of his coat, and the combined warmth of Guillermo, Rafael, and Miquel, Diago remained cold.

  Miquel opened the passenger door and slid out. “Give him to me.” He reached across the seat.

  Diago shifted his weight until Miquel could reach Rafael. Once he was certain that his lover had a good grip on the boy, he joined Guillermo beside the truck.

  Guillermo’s hand landed on Diago’s shoulder. “Listen,” Guillermo said. “Take this week off and just rest. We’ll talk about your studio next week.”

  “What studio?” Diago asked.

  “I need you to start work.”

  “Work on what?”

  “We need the Key, Diago. You have it.” He touched Diago’s chest with one blunt finger. “Locked inside of you.”

  Of course. Time to earn my keep. Alvaro is right, everything has a price. For Guillermo, it is the Key. And for the Key itself . . . To search for that chord meant remembering secrets long past. Diago wasn’t sure he wanted to resurrect those days.

  Miquel waited by the front door, holding Rafael, who was just beginning to wake. “We can talk about this later, can’t we?”

  “Sure.” Guillermo gave Diago’s shoulder a squeeze. “Come to my house on Monday. I’ve had some plans drawn up, and we can go over them together. We’ll see which ones you like.”

  Diago nodded, afraid to speak. He didn’t trust the words that might spill over his lips.

  Mercifully, Guillermo said nothing else. He lit a cigar and started back down the road toward his villa.

  Diago couldn’t stand it anymore. “Don’t you want to know?”

  Guillermo stopped, but he didn’t turn around. “Know what?”

  “Don’t you want to know what happened with Alvaro and Moloch?”

  Guillermo smoked. Diago counted eight puffs before the big Nefil finally spoke. “No.” He turned and fixed his fiery gaze on Diago. “You’ll do what’s right. Even if you don’t believe in yourself, I do.” Before Diago could say anything else, Guillermo walked away.

  Small fingers brushed Diago’s palm. He started and looked down to see Rafael blinking sleepily by his side.

  “Come inside, Papa. Someone fixed our door and cleaned our house.”

  Diago turned around to find Miquel gone. He took Rafael’s hand and led the child inside, where he found that order had been restored to their little home. Miquel had tossed his jacket over the back of the couch. Diago retrieved it and hung it by the door along with his own coat and Rafael’s little jacket.

  Miquel emerged from the kitchen with a bottle of orujo and a ­couple of glasses. He poured the brandy and gave a glass to Diago. “You look like you need a drink.”

  Diago downed the shot and felt the brandy’s warmth spread across his chest. “Who was here?”

  “Juanita left a note on the kitchen table. Along with dinner.”

  Diago followed his lover into the kitchen. Bowls and platters were spread on their small table. There was enough food to carry them through the next two days. Diago stood in the kitchen door, his glass forgotten in his hand.

  Miquel smiled and came to him. He touched the corner of Diago’s eye. “What is this?”

  Diago wiped the tear away. “It’s the light. It’s too bright.”

  Rafael placed his satchel on the coffee table and joined them in the kitchen. “I could use a drink, too,” he announced.

  Miquel laughed. “How about some hot chocolate for you?” He kissed the side of Diago’s mouth before he went to the stove.

  Diago sat at the table and uncovered the still-­warm dishes. A bulging envelope rested beside one bowl. He turned the thick paper over and saw his name written on one side. He’d seen this script on one other occasion.

  “What’s that?” Rafael climbed onto his chair and swung his leg. The now familiar thump of his heel striking the table leg provided their backbeat.

  “Stop kicking the table,” Diago murmured absently. The paper reminded him of the calling card Prieto had left in the mirrored box in what seemed like so long ago. But it was only a month ago. Yet it felt like years. Still, Diago couldn’t dispute that the handwriting on this envelope was the same. “Prieto.”

  Rafael ceased to kick the table.

  Miquel turned from the stove to see. “What?”

  “Not what, who.”

  Miquel shut off the stove and came to stand behind Diago. Placing his hands on Diago’s shoulders, he massaged him gently. “Open it.”

  Diago slid his thumb beneath the seal. Inside was the magnifying glass he had thrown at Engel, nothing else. Diago pi
voted the glass free of its brass case. The magnifying glass had been removed and in its place was a mirror.

  Etched into the glass was the silhouette of a woman poised to dance, her arms raised over her head, her face turned upward as if looking at the sky. She was dressed in rags that rose behind her and gave her the illusion of wings. The ethereal figure seemed to twist and turn in the kitchen’s light. Around her throat was a small serpent with ruby eyes and golden scales. Beneath her feet was a scroll with the dates 1895-­1929 etched into the glass.

  Crimson and silver light bled across the kitchen floor. The rays gathered together and took the shape of the tall thin angel that called himself Prieto. The colors of his song leaked from his wounds like multihued ribbons. The right side of his face was burned red and tight. His long silver hair was matted with blood and shadowed his eyes, great crimson orbs shot through with streams of silver. Pain rendered his gaze feral and bright.

  Rafael left his chair and came to Diago’s side. He pressed himself close against Diago and watched Prieto with wide eyes.

  Diago put his arm around his son, wondering if this day would ever end.

  Prieto straightened and snuffed a smoldering patch of fire on his coat. “Don’t be frightened, child. This is what happens when angels war.”

  “You should stop fighting,” Rafael whispered.

  Prieto laughed, and the sound drove their fear from the room. “Such good advice.” He came to the table and sat on Miquel’s chair. Gesturing at the etching, he said, “Her earthly name was Candela Maria Cortés Prieto.”

  Diago felt Miquel’s fingers tighten on his shoulders.

  Prieto didn’t notice Miquel’s sudden tension, or if he did, he didn’t remark on it. Instead, he winked at Rafael. “When you are older, I will sing you her angelic name. She loved you very much. Engel murdered her when she refused to tell Prince Aker where she had hidden you. Engel gave her the second death.” Prieto’s lower lip trembled. “I have avenged her.”

  Diago finally found his voice. “You gave Engel the second death?”

  Prieto pursed his lips and nodded. “Sariel sanctioned the death sentence.” He reached out to touch Diago’s wrist, but Diago moved his hand out of the angel’s reach. “I just wanted to see that my nephew is loved.”