by Willa Blair
A sigh greeted her statement. “It might be for the best. Thank you, Abigail.”
“You’re welcome, your…” Lord, how on earth did you address an archangel?
“Michael will be fine. Good night.”
Abby closed the phone, and propped an elbow on the table. Could her life get any stranger? Talking to an archangel. Wow. And she needed to try to get in touch with Sean.
Doing a quick flip of the phone again, she dialed 9-1-1 and asked for Sean. After being chewed out a bit for not having an emergency, she was connected to the department. A few moments later, an officer said he would try to reach Sean by cell.
Now, she just had to wait and see if he would call her back. A bare minute later, the cell rang.
“Sean?”
“Yeah, Abby, what’s up? I’m a bit busy.”
“I know, but Michael called looking for Darach.”
“Michael as in leader of God’s army, Michael?” The awe in Sean’s voice echoed what she’d felt.
“Yes, he said there are a lot of demons out tonight and for Darach to be extra careful. Angus could be behind this.”
“Why didn’t he call Darach?”
“He left his phone here, and I don’t know why he didn’t just communicate with him another way. Maybe there’s a rule. Who knows, but please let Darach know if you see him?”
“Will do. Stay put, okay?”
“I plan on it. Thanks!” Abby hung up the phone, but instead of feeling comforted that Sean would look for Darach, she felt a shiver of fear. The vision she’d had Thanksgiving Day still rode her mind. What if something had happened to Darach? What if he was dead? Again, could he die?
****
Angus smiled. He’d found someone who could get close to Abby and bring her to him. Once that happened, he would enjoy himself as he hadn’t since he’d taken Briene.
Michael hoped he would not get his wrist slapped. He’d interfered as much as he could without crossing the line. He could guide his immortals but he could not direct them in all they did. He just prayed his warning would be received in time. Yet, he had an ominous feeling things could turn deadly.
Chapter Thirteen
Darach had been following the same trail of sulfur since he’d split off from Sean after leaving the bar. His mind had been on and off again with the demon he hunted.
Abby’s words were well taken. He should have asked her what she thought. After all, it was her life in danger. Of course after thinking she was correct, his mind shifted the other way. Why was it so wrong that he wanted to look after her?
The alleyway he walked through was like fifty others he’d traversed tonight. It was getting on toward morning. The bar would close soon, and he needed to get Abby back home. Of course after the scathing set-down she’d delivered, she would probably say she could do it herself.
And to think Rae sided with her. It was confusing to say the least. That was one of the reasons he couldn’t quite keep his mind on the task at hand. A scuffling to the right of the alley preceded several rodents running from the debris. Strange how even the smallest of creatures didn’t like paranormal beings.
Were they running from him or a demon?
The alley narrowed before it took a slight turn to the right. Darach moved with it, but measured his steps. He wanted to surprise Satan’s minion, get the job done, and get back to Abby.
“Well, lookee here. You are a bit off your bounds aren’t you, executioner?”
The oily voice matched the face of the demon standing in front of him. Darach couldn’t be sure but he felt like the creature had used glamour to disguise his form and not taken over a mortal’s body. ’Twould make the killing much easier.
“Nothing is off bounds to me in NOLA. ’Tis my territory, demon, and ye are not wanted.”
The demon moved closer and Darach could make out the bleak contours of his face, the amber gaze that could not quite hide the flames of Hell, and the sharp fangs pushing his bottom lip down. Slight of build, he must be a lower demon, but he still needed to be dispensed.
“What, nothing to say before I send ye back to Hell?”
His foe laughed, the sound a raucous belching of noise. Darach wanted to flinch but kept his eyes on the demon. He was either braver than most of his peers or he had something up his pointed tail.
“I think that it will be you who dies tonight, immortal.”
Darach felt the first hint of apprehension cross his spine. He’d bet his power to teleport that this was a well-sprung trap, and he knew Angus was behind it.
“Well, dinnae just stand there, demon. Show me what ye have before I kill ye.”
Again laughter fell from the creature’s snarled lips. Another bad sign.
Darach drew the sword out of his coat, and raised it in the air.
“Come ye, son of Satan.”
The demon seemed to fly forward on a breath of hot air blowing through the alley. Its clawed hand sported a knife. If that was the best the creature had, then Darach could more than handle him.
He brought his blade down and blocked the smaller weapon in its downward spiral. The demon snarled, showing uneven fangs, before retreating.
“Time be wasting, come let me finish this night’s work.” Darach taunted him in the hopes he would oblige. He was more than ready to see Abby.
Again the demon laughed. “You are too sure of yourself, immortal. This night’s work will belong to the one who craves your body and soul.”
“Then he should be here fighting and not his lesser demons.”
“Right you are, and that is why he sent a few others to help me with this task.”
Darach felt the air current at his back change. He couldn’t tell how many demons were behind him without turning around. And then he breathed a sigh of relief as two of the creatures joined the first.
He relaxed somewhat. Three he could take if he was careful and kept his head, and God prayed he did for that would mean he could get out of this without more than a scratch or two.
The first demon still bided his time, the smirk he wore grated on Darach’s nerves.
One of the later arrivals moved toward Darach and then as he brought his sword to bear on the demon’s head, his face changed into Abby’s image. Darach pulled back. He knew it couldn’t be his Abby, but it threw him off stride.
As he watched the face warped back into the creature, but before he could swing his sword again, he felt a sharp fiery pain in his back thigh.
He could feel the blood running down his leg. Darach turned to face his attacker and found three more of the monsters behind him. His odds of surviving just went down a notch, but he’d faced harder battles before and won. His gaze scanned the alley and found an open space where there was no debris. If he could make it there, he could use the brick wall to protect his back while he fought the demons face to face.
And he knew just the way to do it—transport. Darach concentrated on the back wall, willing his body to turn to molecules. A part of him wanted to dissolve, collect Abby, and run for Canal Street, but the executioner in him would not allow him to leave without taking as many demons down as he could.
He felt the first beginning of the molecular change radiate throughout his body when the demons attacked in mass. One caught him a glancing blow to his sword arm, but he brought it to bear on the creature’s chest.
One down and five to go. Blood dripped from his arm in tandem with the wound in his thigh. A third fanged creature struck Darach a blow to his other leg, dropping him to his knees. The odds had just turned in favor of Satan’s minions. He struggled to stand—he had to get to his feet and fight. If he didn’t he could very well die this night, and Abby would be left at Angus’s mercy.
A blow to the back of his head, no telling from what, caused Darach to see constellations. His eyes began to close despite his fight to keep them open. He could not give up—he would not give up.
A quick thrust of something sharp slid under his ribcage into his chest area. Blood flowed f
reely as he fought the dizziness threatening to take him under.
He fell backward and the view from the alley floor only made him wish he’d stayed home with Abby. More demons had gathered. A smaller demon moved in close, probably to gloat at Darach’s impending death.
He brought the sword up one last time and severed the head from the demon. Then darkness moved in to gather like a storm over his head. He prayed that Michael would dispatch someone stronger than he’d been to protect Abby.
****
Abby looked at the bar’s clock for what seemed the hundredth time in the last hour. Six o’clock was fast approaching and still no word from Darach. She was so afraid something had happened. And she so wanted to yank her bitchy tongue out of her mouth.
Why had she fussed so much about staying at the bar? Come to think of it, she’d been a witch more than once since Darach had come into her life. Yes, maybe it was due to the fact he’d scared her spitless, or that she knew he could get under her guard, making her almost quiet life into something she wasn’t ready to embrace.
What type of woman was she, to allow a man to play her body like he owned it, to ache for his touch, and then turn on him like a bayou reptile?
Abby took a sip of the water Rae brought to her while warning her the bar would soon be closing. It tasted like bracken to her. She should have waited instead of pouncing on Darach like a shrew.
“Abby, I’ve gotta close up, hon. Bill, the owner, says you can stick around until I get things squared away, but then you’ll have to leave.” Rae cocked her head to one side, making her now slightly disheveled hair list to the left.
“Have you heard anything at all from Darach?”
“No.” The word sounded hollow just like it had the last several times she’d repeated it in answer to Rae’s queries.
“What about the lieutenant?”
“No, not since he said he’d try to find Darach.”
“Oh honey, I’m sure Darach will be okay. He’s a strong man, and I’ll say a prayer for him and you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate all you’re doing for me.”
“Not a problem, even if I didn’t hold Darach in such high respect, I would still do it. You’re in love with him, and he deserves someone good.”
Abby felt the burn of tears in her eyes. How could she have been so blind? The emotions she’d tried to push off could be moved no longer. She wasn’t sure when it happened but Rae was right. She did love Darach.
“I’ll be back in a bit, then if you don’t hear anything I’ll walk you to the streetcar.”
“Thanks, Rae.”
She looked at the clock again and willed the door to open, for her phone to ring, anything that would tell her where Darach was and if he was okay.
When the phone did ring, Abby jumped. She grabbed it off the table and slammed it to her ear.
“Hello!”
“Abby, I need you to get to the emergency room as soon as possible. Darach’s hurt bad.” Sean’s words touched off a fear so strong in Abby she wanted to pass out.
“What happened?”
“No time to go into details. I’ll meet you there.”
Abby closed the phone, grabbed her coat, and looked for Rae who was coming out of the back room.
“I have to go. Darach’s hurt. I need to get to the hospital.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’ll start those prayers now. I’d go with you, but I need to get home to the kids.”
“Thanks for the thought,” Abby called over her shoulder as she pushed the door opened and hit the street running.
God in His merciful Heaven, it must be bad since a half-demon was worried. She ran for the streetcar as she wondered if she could get in touch with Michael. Then she shook her head, silly thought, he was an archangel he had to know. Then a germ of thought popped in her brain, why, if he knew, had he not stopped it from happening?
Sean was nowhere in sight when Abby blew through the ER doors. She spotted the help desk and ambushed the woman sitting behind the glass barrier.
“Hi, I’m here to see Darach MacRath. He was just brought in.”
The woman looked up from her paperwork, gave Abby a tired smile, and then bombarded her world.
“Are you a family member?”
“No, I’m…a…friend.”
“Then, I’m sorry, you cannot see the patient.”
Abby wanted to pull her hair out and yank the nurse over the desk.
“Can you at least tell me how he is?”
“Again, I’m sorry, I can’t give out pertinent patient information without a release from the patient directing me to do so, unless your a family member.”
“Please, I just want to know if he’s okay.”
“Abby!”
She spun around at the sound of Sean’s voice and walked into his hug. “How’s Darach?”
“Not good. The doctors are prepping him for surgery as we stand here.”
“Oh my Lord, what happened? He’s almost indestructible.”
Sean walked her over to one of the vacant seats and helped her sit. He lowered his body next to hers.
“I was out hunting him, had been since I got your call. I was about ready to call it quits when I heard the sound of fighting. By then I could smell the stench of demons—a lot of them.
“I found Darach in an alley alone. The demons must have fled almost to the instant I arrived. He had several deep cuts, and was bleeding badly. I got no response when I tried to wake him up, and his pulse was almost non-existent.” Sean raked a hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry, Abby. I didn’t know how to help him. I know he’s an immortal, but the wounds weren’t closing like I thought they should have. I was afraid if I didn’t get him professional help he wouldn’t live long enough for you to see him.”
Abby slumped in the chair. “And now it still may be too late.”
“I should have looked harder.”
“Sean, you did what you could. In fact, you’re not obligated to help Darach or me.”
For just a moment, she saw the red leap into his eyes before he replied. “I am obligated. I’m not like the demons that attacked Darach, nor am I like Angus. I don’t believe in death for the sake of just killing.”
“I’m sorry. I just meant… Oh Lord, I don’t know what I meant. I haven’t since Michael called.
“It’s okay. You’ve been through a lot lately.”
“Don’t excuse my behavior, I snarled at you, at Darach. I’ve done everything I can to fight him on what he thinks is right. I should have listened to him. To tell him I was wrong. To admit…”
“That you love him?”
Her opened mouth must have clued him into her shock.
“Abby, if that hard-headed Highlander hasn’t already realized you love him, then he’s not as smart as I think he is. And you should know he is feeling the same for you.”
“Strange, Rae said a lot of the same things tonight. How could both of us be so blind?”
Sean laughed. “Well in your case, you’re excused because you’re human. But Darach isn’t, so I think once he gets well you should hold his feet over the fire for not admitting his love.”
Abby giggled just a bit, but quickly realized there was nothing funny about the situation at all. Darach could die…
Both she and Sean sat there for what seemed like hours before a physician came into sight. He looked like he’d just come from the OR. As she waited, he spoke to the nurse she’d wanted to throttle earlier before making his way to where she and Sean were seated.
“Lieutenant Black?”
“Yes, and this is Abigail Dupree, Mr. MacRath’s fiancée.”
With Sean’s words, the surgeon turned to Abby. “I’m Dr. Jackson. Mr. MacRath is in recovery, but it doesn’t look good. He lost a lot of blood before we got our hands on him.”
“Will…he…”
“Make it? I don’t know, Ms. Dupree. The fact he survived the surgery is a miracle in itself. One of my staff will keep you posted and let you
know when you can see him.”
Sean thanked the doctor for both of them while Abby sat there with her eyes closed. She could feel the tears leaking out from under her lids, but could do nothing to stop them. Darach could die, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
****
Angus’ hand banged against the wall so hard, the concrete cracked. He cursed the fact he didn’t have a woman with him. He needed an outlet for his rage.
Darach should be here now in his power. Why couldn’t the minions he used do as they were told? Why were they so weak they ran from a half-breed demon?
Dawn sailed across the night sky, and he rose from his chair to cross to the bedroom. He was tired of playing games. The next move he made would be one Darach could not mistake for anything but what it was—a gauntlet of demonic war.
Michael viewed Earth far below and zoomed in on the hospital where Darach lay fighting for his life. Had he done wrong so many years before by taking away his mortal death? Now when he’d finally found love again, although against the rules for executioners, he stood the chance of losing what he’d had stolen from him by Angus. Yes, best not to interfere again.
Chapter Fourteen
Abby rubbed the back of her neck trying to dislodge the crick that had sprung up over night. Darach had still not awakened from surgery. She, as well as Sean, pleaded and won the battle to stay in his room. ICU rules dictated short visits at specific times of the day, but she couldn’t live with those. She needed to be near him.
If, God forbid, he died, she did not want him to be alone. In the telling of his mortal death centuries before he’d not addressed the fact that he’d died without any loved ones there. Of course, she could argue the fact that the ones he loved the most were in the same room, but for Abby it wasn’t the same.
She prayed he’d awake up, and if he did, and she had to believe he would, then she wanted to be close enough to tell him what she should have before. She loved him.
“Abby, you really need to try and rest. I could take you home.”
Sean started to move his long legs off of Darach’s bed.
“Stay put, Sean. I’m not leaving. Besides, Darach would say it wasn’t safe, and after what happened to him, I have to agree.”
