Angeli Trilogy: Angeli Books 1-3

by Amy Vansant

“Con.”

  “Oh.” Michael cleared his throat. “Did you find Tyannah?”

  “No. If she was here, I think he’s already gotten to her.

  “Damn.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “Okay, well, maybe I can help. I have news. First, I just ran into another Cherub and I think I figured out two things.”

  “Another Cherub? Do you need help?”

  “No. She’s gone. Drained.”

  “She? It was a woman?”

  “A girl. Another Sentinel took her out. Harry Longabaugh.”

  “Harry!” Anne smiled and covered the phone with her hand to talk to Con.

  “Michael ran into another Cherub and Sundance took it out!”

  “Ha! That’s my boy!”

  They high-fived and she returned to the phone.

  “Sorry, Michael. We know Sundance. Con trained him.”

  “Yes. He mentioned that.”

  Michael’s tone sounded odd, but she decided to let it drop.

  “So what did you learn?”

  “I think they’re children. Immature. The Cherub you battled was a teen and this girl was about eight. She seemed confused. I think they’re not supposed to be here. Not yet.”

  “You think they came too soon?”

  “Yes. Something we did. Maybe even something I did…I don’t know…”

  Michael’s voice faded.

  “Are you okay?”

  He sighed. “Perfidia was either a sign that there was a problem, or the way I chose to correct it caused the problem. Maybe reaping angels and restarting them was the wrong thing to do. Maybe reaping Seth opened a door between this world and another. Seth went somewhere. Leo has gone somewhere… I can’t help but think if I could see the place they went I could understand what’s happening and fix it. Maybe then I could close the connection.”

  Anne scowled. She didn’t like the way he was talking.

  “Michael… You’d have to die to go where they went.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re not thinking about killing yourself, are you?”

  “What? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just thinking that maybe if we could bring back Leo or Meili, or even talk to Seth, we could gain some insight.”

  “Oh. Good. Well, speaking of Seth, we found him.”

  “Seth? Did you capture him?”

  “Not even close. He blew Con to pieces and dropped me from a mile above the earth.”

  “What? Are you okay? I thought you said Con was there?”

  “Yes, and he is. He pulled himself back together. Fully back together.”

  “Fully…” Michael trailed off.

  “He’s back. One hundred percent solid.”

  “You mean he’s whole again?”

  “Yes. Seth must have given me the rest of him because I just gave it back to him.”

  “In spades,” said Con. Anne slapped his arm.

  The phone went silent.

  “Michael?”

  “What? Oh, that’s great. Great news. Tell him I said congratulations,” he said, continuing with renewed vigor. “So…where was I…”

  “The Cherubs are kids…”

  “Right. So we might have an advantage there. In addition, we have a new report from your region. They found another man reduced to ash and bone in Ohio, in a gun shop.”

  “A gun shop? Guns aren’t going to stop an Arch.”

  “No, but they could slow down a Sentinel. A Sentinel protecting an Arch. We have video. I sent you the link. I need you on their trail as soon as possible.”

  “Okay. How are you, Michael? You sound tired.”

  “Not as tired as—” began Con but Anne slapped her hand over his mouth.

  “I’m fine,” said Michael. “We’re still working to locate your Cherub on our end. Let me know what you find.”

  “Will do.”

  Anne hung up.

  “Really Con. You shouldn’t tease him. He’s got a lot on his mind.”

  “The hell I shouldn’t. You forget I’ve been watching you two for a hundred years. I see the way he looks at you when you aren’t looking. And worse…I’ve seen the way you look at him.”

  “Don’t pout. You look like a little boy.”

  Con scowled and thrust his lower lip out farther and she giggled. She kissed him on the nose and pulled up the video Michael sent her so they could both view it.

  The silent black and white picture showed a gun shop and two men standing behind the counter talking. Their heads whipped to the left in unison, as if they’d heard something. One man stepped out of frame. The other man waited, and then scurried into a back office. Two new men then appeared. Anne recognized the first as the boy who attacked her in the park. The second person, bigger and older, didn’t seem familiar.

  The boy looked directly at the camera and then the feed went to static.

  “Looks like he has his Sentinel,” said Con. “And it isn’t a girl.”

  “Wait. Let me play it again.”

  Anne replayed the video and after the second man walked into the store, Anne pointed to the doorway.

  “There, did you see it?”

  “Another person peeked around the corner.”

  “It’s too blurry to tell who, but yes. They ducked back, as if they knew there were cameras.”

  “Then the Cherub cuts the feed.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Looks like we’re going to Ohio.”

  She stood to retrieve her shirt from the chair.

  “Zanesville, Ohio.”

  Anne turned. “How do you know Zanesville? Was it in the video?”

  “No. It’s written on your back.”

  Anne scowled and ran to the bathroom in the hall. She stood in front of the mirror and twisted.

  Zanesville, Ohio was scratched into her skin.

  “Son of a bitch!” she screeched.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Rathe drank his coffee and watched Tyannah and Mallory battle in the center of the empty warehouse they’d found. Though Mallory had the experience, Rathe admired the girl’s pluck. She proved hard and determined, until the old man grabbed a pipe and sent her teeth skittering across the dusty floor. She covered her mouth with both hands, blood seeping through her fingers, her eyes wide with horror.

  “They won’t grow back!” she screamed.

  “Yes they will,” said Rathe. He found it hard not to chuckle. “Give them a sec.”

  “But he’th mithing teeth!”

  She took one hand off her mouth long enough to point at Mallory, who stood grinning, teeth-smashing pipe still in hand. His amusement exposed the source of the girl’s concern; a gap where his molar should be.

  “He lost them in his other life. Anything you lose now will return.”

  Rathe looked to the floor where he’d last spotted Tyannah’s teeth. They were gone. Their physical essence had already returned to her and would soon manifest again as teeth.

  “Check now.”

  She felt her mouth with her tongue and fingers.

  “They’re back,” she said, visibly relieved.

  “Told you.”

  The girl snarled and launched herself at Mallory, nearly skewering him with a rusty saw blade as he spun away, laughing.

  Rathe needed a break. He’d been training the Sentinels for three days straight, letting one, and then the other fight him. He didn’t know much about fighting techniques; that he left to Mallory, but he taught them to drain his energy and then use that power against him. Neither of his protégés could grow glowing swords from their fists like the woman who’d nearly killed him in New York. It was hard to hide his disappointment. He didn’t know if he’d chosen the wrong Sentinels or simply didn’t know how to train them correctly. He cursed the heavens that he’d arrived with his name carved into his arm but no instruction manual.

  Not that he wanted pages of information carved into his flesh.

  That morning, he’d had Ty and Mallory attack him at the same
time, hoping they’d learn to work together like cogs in the same machine. He knew he needed both Sentinels to bring down an Arch Angelus. Especially since neither had those incredible swords.

  Tyannah was so determined to excel and Mallory was such a bastard, he’d barely escaped with his life. Mallory was a dangerous wild card. The soldier wasn’t sure whether he needed Rathe or not. He could feel it.

  “Kill me and you’ll both die as well!” he’d screamed as Mallory dug his knife into his back. He hoped he didn’t sound as weak and panicked as he felt.

  The man was a monster. He didn’t want to think about what he’d do to the girl without Rathe around to protect her. If Tyannah knew half the things he’d seen in Mallory’s past she’d kill the mercenary in his sleep. Tyannah, with her terrible childhood, was at heart a kind girl. Mallory, who’d had loving parents, was a demon. He couldn’t understand the man’s burning hate for women and insatiable need to hurt them.

  Rathe probably deserved to fail for turning a man like him into a Sentinel.

  Stop it. Don’t think about it. You have a mission.

  Rathe tilted his head back and tried to push the self-doubt from his mind. As psychopathic as Mallory was, he needed him. He’d come to terms with the fact that he might be the worst fighter the Cherubim had ever produced. He needed a soldier to protect him and get the work done. Mallory was a savage, but he was his savage.

  For as long as he thinks my death means his.

  He closed his eyes and recalled the man standing over him in New York. The Angeli had been so impressive. So tall. That big strapping bastard with the sword-wielding redhead didn’t look like a lousy fighter.

  That guy didn’t need to recruit freaks.

  He wouldn’t stand a chance against a race of creatures like Michael without demons like Mallory.

  He’d considered making a third Sentinel, but already felt his power weakened by the creation of his first two trainees. He didn’t want to hobble his own power when the Angeli’s Sentinels were already searching for him. As long as he always had enough power to run, he could live.

  Rathe rubbed his eyes with his hands.

  What have I done? What am I doing?

  Everything in his body told him he had a mission and demanded he kill the Angeli, but something wasn’t right. He couldn’t help feeling that turning Mallory into a Sentinel was only a fraction of the mistakes he’d made.

  I’m not supposed to be here.

  Rathe sat up and dropped his hands.

  That’s it.

  Nothing felt more real than the sentence that had just danced through his head.

  I’m not supposed to be here.

  What does that mean?

  He looked out into the warehouse and saw his Sentinels battling.

  Should I stop them? Should I put an end to all of this? Should I kill Mallory?

  That thought felt right. He should kill Mallory.

  But…could he kill Mallory?

  I could sneak up on him—

  Rathe felt a fluctuation in the energy around him. The Sentinels seemed oblivious to it. He looked to his left. The sensation grew more intense. He peered into the corner of the warehouse, where no sun reached.

  “I know you’re there. Come out where I can see you.”

  Tyannah and Mallory stopped fighting and turned toward where Rathe stared.

  A woman stepped out of the shadows. She wore a gray business suit and short heels. Her long, curly hair was pinned on top of her head, a single tendril hanging on either side of her face.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Seth sent me. I’m Eris. He said what I was seeking would be here.”

  “You’re an Arch,” he whispered.

  “What?”

  Rathe shook his head.

  “Nothing.”

  He didn’t recognize the names Seth or Eris, but he did recognize the energy signature. She was an Arch Angelus. She had come to him.

  Seth had sent her to him?

  Seth must be a friend.

  Maybe he was on the right track. He found it hard not to smile. He’d never dreamed it could be so easy. Maybe he didn’t need to hunt the Angeli. Maybe they would be sent to him, one by one, until his mission was done and he could rid himself of Mallory.

  He walked to where his Sentinels stood.

  “Arch,” he mumbled to them.

  “Really?” asked Tyannah. “Do you want—”

  “Not yet. It might be some kind of trap. I want to talk to her first. Just stay on your toes.”

  Rathe took a few steps toward the dark-haired woman.

  “How can I help you?” he asked.

  “I’d like my freedom, of course,” she said. She was visibly excited, a nervous smile dancing on her lips.

  Rathe squinted. There was something wrong with her. He could feel the flaws in her as he drew closer.

  “You’re sick,” he said.

  Eris’ smile dissipated.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “It doesn’t matter if you are. I’m just pointing it out. There’s no reason to lie.”

  Eris blushed and looked at the ground. She nodded.

  “Perfidia.”

  “Perfidia? What is that?”

  “A disease. It usually only affects the guardian angels, but several of the Archs have contracted it as well. Seth, me, and I think Meili though we never had a chance to find out. It happens when we desire freedom too fervently.”

  “The Seth you mentioned. He has it?”

  “He did. I think. I don’t know what he has now.”

  “And Leo?”

  “Leo? What about him?”

  “Did he have Perfidia?”

  “No, Seth killed Leo. He wasn’t reaped by a Sentinel.”

  Leo’s name echoed through Rathe’s mind and he regretted mentioning him. The name bounced around his brain twenty-four hours a day. He’d finally been able to rid himself of the mantra and now it was back…

  Leo...LeoLeoLeoleoleoleoleoleo…

  Just when he thought he couldn’t stand it another moment, another thought broke through the string of Leos.

  Perfidia.

  Perfidia?

  “That’s why you have Sentinels!” he said, a little too loudly. “Your numbers have been corrupted and the Sentinels are here to cut off the infected bits before more fall.”

  He felt relieved. It had been eating at him that the Angeli already had Sentinels. He was afraid they’d been killing other Cherubim for years.

  “The Sentinels reboot the infected Angeli. When they return, they’re sheep again, following the code.”

  “What code is that?”

  “To protect the humans, of course.”

  “So the infected Angeli don’t protect humans?”

  “No.” Eris offered a weak laugh. “I wish you’d stop calling it an infection. When Meili told me that we didn’t have to work for the humans, that we could be our own people, it was like a light went off in my head. Such a beautiful idea…such freedom!”

  “The other Angeli sent Sentinels to kill you because you wanted to be free?”

  “Yes. In so many words.”

  “Michael?”

  “What about him?”

  “He sent Sentinels?”

  “Yes. He’s in charge of the Sentinel program.”

  “So why are you here?”

  “Seth sent me! He said you were the answer to my problem. You can heal me? Heal me and set me free! I want to join you.”

  Rathe stared at Eris for nearly a minute.

  This woman is insane.

  He didn’t know who Seth was, but he was already fond of him. He’d sent Eris right to him. Maybe he was really a Cherub? He had to know that Rathe would kill the woman and replace her with one of his own.

  But…if she didn’t want to save the humans…was she a Cherub? Maybe Perfidia turned Angeli into Cherubim?

  He racked his brain, trying to find where the trap lay. There had to be a trap. How did Seth
know where to find him? And, if he knew where to find him, why didn’t he arrive with a league of Sentinels, ready to destroy him? Why would he send one sick Arch, ready for the plucking?

  Maybe it was the disease. Maybe Seth was using Eris to infect him?

  He took a step back. He had drained two humans. Did he have Perfidia?

  He mulled on this.

  No.

  Cherubs were meant to punish humans. Angeli were not.

  She wasn’t a Cherub. She was a sick Angeli. Perfidia made his job easier.

  Perhaps Perfidia always preceded the arrival of the Cherubim…

  He looked back at his Sentinels, still waiting patiently, unaware of the gift that had been dropped at their feet. Eris’ arrival was a wonderful opportunity for them to practice their skills against an Arch, even if she wasn’t a perfect specimen.

  “Are there any others like you?” he asked. “Other Archs interested in freedom?”

  Eris shook her head. “Not that I know of… Not anymore. Seth killed Meili and Seth…like I said…I don’t know what he is.”

  She moved toward Rathe and was nearly jogging by the time she reached him.

  “I’ve been so scared,” she said taking Rathe’s hands in her own. Tears welled in her eyes. He saw the strange green pallor of her skin and jerked away.

  “I can’t tell you how grateful I am,” she said, ignoring his repulsion. “Who are you? Where do you come from to liberate us?”

  “Don’t worry about that. We need to heal you.”

  Tell her what she wants to hear.

  If he was that strange green color, he’d want someone to offer a cure. He wondered if it hurt. He looked at his hands where she’d touched him and wondered if he’d caught it. He felt an uncontrollable urge to wash. He flashed into his energy form and then back to human, hoping that would kill any possible infection.

  Eris’ mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ as she appreciated his light show.

  “You’re red!” she said.

  She reached for his hand again and he nearly tumbled over a bench trying to avoid her.

  “Oh please! I still have my mind, but I can feel it slipping. They’ll be after me soon. Seth came back as a monster after they reaped him. I don’t want to come back as a monster. I won’t, will I?”

  Rathe motioned to his Sentinels and they moved to his side. Mallory cracked his knuckles, a humorless grin on his face. He stared at Eris as if she were a piece of meat. She glanced at him and then turned her attention back to Rathe.