by Willa Blair
“None taken.” Darach closed his mouth and waited.
“Business that takes precedence over God’s business?” Michael pushed back from his desk and stood up. As Darach watched, the archangel seemed to actually grow taller than his usual seven-foot or so frame.
“It’s a personal matter that I can’t leave at the moment. I’m sure if you look though your window to Earth, you will understand why.” Ragnor made no apology for his words, and Darach couldn’t help but wonder if Michael would slap him with a lightning bolt or worse.
Instead, Michael closed his eyes and for a full minute there was no sign that the archangel even breathed. Finally he opened his eyes, fixed his gaze on Ragnor, and spoke, “Fine, you are excused, but once this business is concluded, you will report to me. Is that understood?”
Ragnor nodded his head and before Darach or the other two immortals could say a word, Ragnor was gone.
“Sean, you will have to work alone.” When Sean nodded his understanding, Michael spoke again. “Are there any questions?”
Darach knew he shouldn’t but couldn’t prevent the words form tumbling from his lips. “I dinnae expect you to tell us what Ragnor’s business is, but can ye tell us why ye didn’t know what it was until ye looked?”
Michael’s stare made Darach wish he had kept his mouth shut. After a moment, the archangel shrugged his massive shoulders. “It seems my boss didn’t think it was something I needed to be bothered with, but”—again he shrugged his shoulders—“that’s all right, my boss knows what He’s doing. Now, gentlemen, you have your assignments. Take care of them and be careful.”
“We will. So what do we do with the dagger once we find it?” Darach wanted to wrap up the chat, he needed time to think about how this new problem would effect him and Abby.
“Contact me. I’ll take it from there. Now, if you three are ready, I’ll get you back to Earth.”
Darach stood up, as did Sean and Connor.
“Lieutenant Black, thank you for your help.”
Sean still looked like his mind was muddled from the evening’s events, but then a smile crossed his lips.
“You’re welcome. I would hazard to say I’m probably the first demon to ever get this close to Heaven since Lucifer’s thwarted mutiny.”
Michael’s lips revealed even white teeth as he returned the smile. “You would be correct on that, but regardless, my boss is very cognizant that you are trying to do good and not evil.”
He turned to Darach. “And the answer to your other question is yes. Let me know the time and date, and I’ll send a gift.”
****
Angus watched the fiery ball of the sun sink below the horizon. Night would soon be upon the city. He loved the darkness. It allowed him to play and tonight he would. After careful consideration he’d decided to hold off on his plan for another kidnapping. Although, Darach had escaped his trap, he was still injured, and if he was lucky could still die. He’d rather wait until he knew for certain before he made his next move. Somehow it wouldn’t be as gratifying if Darach was clueless to Angus’s plans.
Memo: Research the facts of the dagger, and delve further into Lieutenant Black’s parentage. From this point on there needs to be eyes and ears on the demon world. For if correct, Lucifer may have found the perfect way to take down His immortals. Then Hell would rule the Earth in force.
From the desk of Michael/Archangel to God
Chapter Eighteen
Abby was almost sick with worry. She had not seen Darach for almost forty-eight hours. Of course the hospital had told her he was resting, which she found hard to believe since he’d shown up at her door a couple of nights before. How on earth was he fooling them into believing he was still hurt? And why?
Okay, she knew why, but Abby didn’t like it.
Tomorrow school would start. They had delayed reopening until after the funerals. Thank God, Jim, Nate, and Meg had handled the arrangements. Abby had decided not to go to either service. She just didn’t feel like walking into a place where death was prevalent.
Arianna had already informed Abby she would be walking her to school and walking her home each day. As for her night job, Arianna wasn’t anymore pleased with her declaration she would also be working at night than Darach had been Thanksgiving night.
“You know that’s just plain dumb, Abby. You could be a target at anytime, and to put yourself out there after dark is nothing short of a death wish.”
“If they want to get me, whoever it is, they could do it during daytime. Remember, Cecil was attacked after daybreak. Give me a break, Arianna. I can’t just do nothing. At least if I’m out and about, maybe they will make a move. Then you can catch them.”
“I wish it were that easy. After what happened with Darach and that bespelled dagg—” The immortal stopped so quickly with her words and her pacing, Abby just stared at her. What about a dagger? Was it the same one that had almost killed Darach?
“Okay, explain. What dagger and does it have anything to do with Darach not getting in touch with me?” Abby tapped her foot.
“I can’t answer that, Abby. I’m not even supposed to know about it, but Sean let it…”
“Uh huh. Let it slip did he? Well, if he knows then don’t you think I should?”
The consternation on Arianna’s face almost made Abby feel sorry for her, but not quite enough to dispense with wanting answers.
“Look, I don’t know a whole lot. Just that there’s some type of dagger, ancient as all get-out, that could be the reason Darach was taken down so easily.”
“And?” Abby strived for patience but it was disappearing fast.
“And nothing, Abby. I can’t say anything else. You’ll have to ask Darach.”
“Fine, that’s just what I’ll do.” Abby followed suite by grabbing her coat and purse.
“Where are you going?” Arianna followed her into the foyer.
“To the hospital. If you want to go with me, fine, but if not, then so be it.”
Abby wasted no more breath on words, but headed out the door. She was almost at the trolley stop when Arianna came up beside her. The smile that came unbidden to her lips was discarded just as quickly as it came.
She needed answers and if she didn’t get them she and one immortal Highlander were going to go toe-to-toe.
****
Darach signed his discharge papers as Sean and Conner stood waiting. After talking it over, they decided he could be just as out of the way at his home as in the hospital. Sean would take care of wiping the hospital staff’s mind, glamouring them into thinking the patient in room 421 was an elderly man with a bad case of pneumonia who had gone home.
As he took his copy of the papers, the door whooshed open to reveal Abby and Arianna.
He thanked the nurse and felt an overwhelming need to sit down. Why was she here and why now? Probably to berate him again on his determination to continue to hunt Angus. She would have a fit if she found out he was incapacitated when it came to his executioner gifts.
“Evening, Abby. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I want to talk to you, Darach.”
He barely heard Sean greet Arianna and the immortal’s barely civil reply. For some reason both the halfling and Arianna struck sparks off of one another and sometimes that wasn’t a good thing. As for Conner, he kept silent.
“So talk, Abby.”
Abby glanced at the other three occupants, and raised a brow when her gaze hit on Conner.
“Sorry. Abigail Dupree, meet Conner Douglas. He’s here to help us find Angus.”
Conner smiled. “’Tis a pleasure, Ms. Dupree.”
“Oh wow, he has a brogue just like yours, Darach.” Arianna threw in her two cents and then introduced herself. “I’m Arianna. Guess you’ve been stuck in Scotland for a while.”
“You could say that. About a thousand years worth.” Conner shook the hand she offered but then dropped it when Abby spoke.
“Darach, we need to talk.” Her tone was te
nse, he wasn’t sure what bestirred her enough to come to the hospital as upset as she was with him, but one look at Arianna convinced him somehow she was at fault.
“Hey, it’s not my fault. Sean didn’t really say the dagger was a secret, just to keep it quiet.” Arianna snarled.
“Well excuse me, Ms. Immortal. I would have thought someone who is suppose to be as old as you are would know better.” Sean’s sarcasm reeked of ire.
“Look you two, why don’t you take it outside like you did last time.” Abby’s tone carried a bit of ire itself. He couldn’t help but wonder how much of that would be aimed at him. “And if you wouldn’t mind doing the same, Mr. Douglas, I would appreciate it.” Her words were uttered in a much softer tone, and Conner nodded his head at both Abby and Darach before leaving, following the others from the room.
Darach watched Abby. She stood so still, and looked so fragile, he wanted to hold her. Of course, he knew she was a strong woman. She’d proven it when fighting the demon, and with her attitude of helping the needy, not to mention standing up to him. He just wished…
“Darach, I want to know about the blade and what it did to you.”
Damnation! Sean’s mouth had been at work. He should have kept it to himself.
“I dinnae suppose if I say I dinnae know what ye are talking about ye would believe me?”
“Your accent’s worse. That usually means something’s affecting you strongly. Is it my being here or your not wanting to tell me about the weapon that almost killed you?”
To his surprise her words were softly spoken, not at all what he expected. She had good reason to accuse him of keeping things from her. And he had planned on doing just that if someone had kept their mouth shut.
“Abby, I truly dinnae want to have this conversation with ye.” Darach clenched his fists to keep from teleporting away.
“I know, and believe me, I really don’t want to know anything else that could break my heart, but I need to know what is happening.”
The emotion he heard in her voice staggered him. He would have thought she’d wiped her hands of him. Yet, she seemed to still care.
“’Tis not something I can explain in just a few words. Would ye be willing to come to me house?”
“Yes, I’d like that.” Her acquiesce warmed his heart. Maybe he could make her understand what this would mean to both of them.
He opened his arms and welcomed the feel of her body as she glided into them. The trust she placed in him touched him deeply, and sparked a kernel of awareness. Abby deserved the truth.
“Are ye ready?”
“Yes.” Abby tucked her head into his chest and tightened her arms around his waist as the world dissolved around them.
The disorientation of having your body torn apart and put back together didn’t bother Abby as much this time as it had previously. It could be she was more anxious about what Darach would tell her than about the process of moving through space.
However, she did welcome his strong arm as he led her to the settee and sat beside her.
“Now, tell me please.” As she waited for Darach to begin, she remembered the first time she’d set foot in his home. She’d been in disbelief about his story of what he was, and still feeling the effects her fight with the demon.
“I ken ye need the truth so ’tis what ye will get. The night I was attacked, the demon that struck the first blow used a cursed dagger.”
“Cursed?” If she were a normal person she’d think him a bit crazy but her life had never been normal, and after meeting Darach it was fast sliding toward surreal. “How can you be sure it was cursed?”
Darach’s extended sigh did nothing to soothe her already out of control nerves.
“Because after being stabbed with it, I seem to have lost my immortal ability to feel when evil is near, when a crime is happening, and at the moment, I cannae even scent a demon’s signature.”
Although, she knew this was a blow to Darach, her heart skipped with happiness. Without these important executioner skills, he could no longer hunt Angus. Now, he would be safe.
“So what does this mean? Will you be giving up your executioner job? Stop hunting Angus?”
Abby knew her questions were almost electric with anticipation.
“Nay, why would ye think that? I still have a job to do.” Darach’s stare showed his disbelief.
“Well, just maybe I thought you might have come to your senses about finding Angus. Did you forget you almost died? Would have if Sean hadn’t saved you.”
Darach jumped off the settee. The coldness left behind stung, as did his words.
“I have to find Angus. ’Tis the only way to get our hands on the dagger. It has to be destroyed or all the immortal executioners are in peril.”
Abby wanted to scream. Why did the man have to be such a noble ass? “Why does it have to be you? Couldn’t someone else flush Angus out?”
“Nay, he’s fixated on me. Abby, please, I willna be going up against him alone. Conner will be with me. He’s one of the men I trained with centuries ago, a good man and a skilled executioner.” His words were almost a plea, but the look in his eyes boded a no go on changing his mind.
“If you’re trying to make me feel better, it’s not working, Darach. I can’t believe you would think I could just take this without questioning your sanity. I don’t want you going after Angus. If you do, I can’t watch, I can’t live with the fact you could die—again.”
Abby tried to shrug off the arms sliding around her waist, lifting her to her feet, and then the lips capturing her own. She didn’t want his kisses. Fine, that was a lie, but it wasn’t fair of him to make her want him when this discussion wasn’t finished.
Darach’s tongue caressed and then coaxed her to open her mouth to his. His touch as always ignited a fire that only Darach could quench. Against her will she kissed him back, pressing her body closer to his. She wanted the man and she shouldn’t. Abby should run from him. Run fast and far until she could coat her heart against the terror blanketing it. No matter what he said, no matter how much his touch marked her as his, she would not, could not watch his possible death.
She wrenched out of his arms. When he made a move to pull her back, she whispered. “No, please. I can’t do this. Please don’t ask me to, Darach.”
Darach halted Abby’s retreat. He feared if she walked away this time, he might never get her back.
“Abby, I would ask this and more of ye. I want ye to marry me. I love you, woman.”
She turned toward him so fast, if his hand had not been on her arm, Abby would have fallen.
“No, I can’t. I can’t even think about marriage to you right now. You have a death wish. I can’t condone what you’re doing.”
“Abby, I be the same man ye first met. Ye cannae judge me for what I am, no more than I judge ye for having visions.”
Abby’s eyes went wide for a moment. “How can you even compare the two? You actively seek death, I don’t. And the fact you want to go out and play Mr. Hero, is not acceptable to me.”
He released his grip on her arm when she tried to tug it free but watched to make sure she didn’t over balance.
“It’s not only the fact you put yourself in danger, although for all the right reasons, but face it, it won’t work. You will never look older. I will, and I have to tell you that’s not something any sane woman wants.”
“Abby…” He knew he was pleading but it was his heart in danger of dying now. “We can work it out. Just give me a chance. Let me finish what I’ve started with Angus before ye walk out of my life. Please…”
It was as if the word “Angus” ignited a volcanic reaction inside of Abby. “Angus? I’m tired of hearing about him. I’m frightened to death you will find him and he’ll kill you, and I’ll be a frozen Popsicle in hell before I shackle myself to a man who cares more about revenge than he does love.”
Abby turned and literally ran out of the room. He heard the front door open and then slam shut. His breath e
scaped in a frustrated sigh. Without knowing where the house was she would be stuck until someone took her home. Yet, it would probably be best if he didn’t act as her ride. She needed space, even though it killed him to acknowledge that thought. Darach speed-dialed Arianna, all the while his heart shattered into fragments of lost hope.
It seemed that no matter what he did, he would lose Abby. Darach didn’t know what to do anymore. Aye, ye do. Ye will hunt and trap Angus and then kill him. For not to do so could mean the death of Abby and others.
So be it.
Next Darach tapped his phone and waited to be connected to Sean. “Tell Conner I be ready in a few minutes. I’m at the house.”
“I figured as much. Arianna got your call and has already gotten Abby home safely.”
Darach closed his phone and then flopped back on the couch. He might as well give all his attention to the coming night’s hunt. Abby was lost to him, but at least he could make sure she didn’t wind up dead.
****
Angus sipped some of the whiskey he’d bought after he left a club. He’d made certain to time his visits, the night before between, Darach and the lieutenant’s trips back and forth in the Quarter. A moan from the corner of the room reminded him he’d also brought back his bedmate. After his people had Abigail, he would celebrate. And what a celebration it would be. Not long now and his demons would steal Darach’s woman.
Michael truly wished he could snatch Darach bald-headed, or at the very least lock him up until he saw some sense. The man might have been a respected laird in his day, but he knew next to nothing about soothing a woman’s feelings. If he didn’t get a handle on his relationship with Abby soon, then it could be too late.
Chapter Nineteen
The door to a sleazy bar near the bayou slammed back against the wall. Darach entered first followed closely by Conner. At least fifteen sets of eyes turned their way, the pupils pulsating a deep crimson. He dinnae ken why he was able to see their pupils glow, but he be glad of it. Maybe Michael had given him that gift since his senses were now off kiltered.
Well, in for a penny and all that stuff. He wanted to find demons so he could shake some information loose about Angus, and it looked like he was getting his wish.
