by Willa Blair
“Nay!” Darach’s roar echoed in his ears and settled in his heart. He barely realized when Sean picked up the sword he dropped and swung it at Angus’s head. The demon shrieked and then his body exploded into fragments of bone and gore.
“Is she?” Arianna dropped to her knees by Darach.
“I dinnae know.” He frantically searched for and found a pulse.
“What can we do?” Sean and Conner both now crouched by Abby’s almost lifeless form.
As Darach watched her breath began to slow. And then her eyes flickered open. He had to lean his ear close to her lips to hear her whispered, “Darach.”
“I be here, me love. Hang on. We will…”
“It’s too late, my beloved immortal.” Abby lifted her head just a fraction. “Arianna, keep him safe and be good to Sean. And Sean, no matter what Darach says, please continue to be his friend.”
Abby’s body shuddered. “Darach, I’m cold. I am so cold.”
Darach held her so close to his body he could feel the point of the blade still buried inside her body.
Rage and pain bellowed forth in one yell. “Michael! Ye owe me, angel. I have given my service to ye. Take me life back and give Abby hers. Hear me, Archangel, dammit; she dinnae deserve to die! Why have ye and God turned your back on me?”
****
Tears poured from Michael’s eyes as he watched the scene below unfold. Never in his wildest imaginings had he expected this conclusion. Darach’s cries caused the roses outside his window to weep also. The dew from their petals fell onto the paved pathway. He should not, would not interfere. It could cause him to lose his position as an archangel. If he did so then who would help his immortals, who would teach them to fight the demons so intent on taking over earth? Michael shook his head—he had no answers.
Yet, he found himself stepping outside and then he caught a shooting star’s light to earth.
****
As Abby took her last breath a golden light filled the warehouse. So bright, Darach squinted his eyes swollen lids against the glow. As he watched a form stepped from the light.
Michael!
Arianna gasped, the halfling stepped back, and even Conner backed up as Michael strode toward them. “Give her to me, Darach.”
“Nay, ye cannae have her.”
“I want to hold her.” Michael’s tone was patient and kind. As he looked full into the archangel’s eyes he saw a sheen of moisture. Reluctantly Darach handed Abby’s body to him.
Michael pressed his lips to her forehead, all the time whispering something Darach could not hear, as he lay her down on the concrete. He then gently withdrew the cursed dagger from her body, and with a flick of his wrist it shattered into pieces so small they would never be detected by human eyes.
Darach turned his attention back to Abby. Was Michael going to help her? Would removing the dagger bring her back? The questions stumbled through his mind as he fought against the inner and outer pain threatening to take him. He kept his gaze trained on Abby and the archangel.
So faint it was at first, he dared not hope that her chest rose and fell with life. His gaze shot to Michael who picked Abby up and returned her to Darach’s arms.
The archangel smiled.
“She is yours now for eternity. You both will fight against evil.” He stood to his feet, his seven-foot plus frame a daunting sight. “And you.” He motioned to Sean. I would have you work as an executioner also.”
“Me? I’m not worthy to do that, angel. I’m half demon, remember?”
“Yes, but it was your mortal soul that chose to deliver justice when Darach could not.”
Darach dared not take his eyes off of Abby but he had to know. “I thought you wanted Angus alive? You warned me not to kill him.”
“That would have been the best thing, but when he killed Abigail, I knew he would die, I just wasn’t certain who would render the death blow.” He nodded at Sean, and then looked at Arianna. “You have done well, Arianna. Conner, you will stay here for the time being.” Michael then glanced again at Darach. “I will handle the paperwork. I’m sure my boss will understand. After all he is a loving God who understands more than anyone what love means.” Michael pressed a hand to Darach’s shoulder and then strode away, only to stop. Without turning around he spoke again.
“Darach, do not curse at me again. I told you there were events that had to occur, although I didn’t know Abby’s death was one of them, and therefore you need to earn patience.”
Before Darach could reply, Michael was gone.
“Darach?” Abby’s eyes fluttered open. Confusion ran rampant in her gaze, but the look of pain she’d had earlier had disappeared. Gone also were the wounds on her face.
“Shush, my love. Everything is all right…now.”
“What happened?” Abby began to sit up, the blood on her clothes the only evidence she’d ever been wounded and died.
“You ran between Angus and me and he stabbed you.”
Abby looked down at her body. “Oh, God in Heaven. I remember, but I thought he was going to kill you just like in my vision. And if he stabbed me, why am I not dead?”
“Well…” he replied as he helped her to stand. “Michael paid us a visit.”
“Yeah, after Darach literally called him out of Heaven.”
“What?” Abby stared at Sean.
“It’s true, Abby, Michael actually made an appearance. You were dead. I can hardly credit what I saw, and I have seen a lot of things. And Highlander, your wounds have disappeared also.” Sean’s eyes still contained the shock of the last few minutes.
Before Darach could think about how Michael had healed him, Abby asked, “So what happens next?”
“Ye will be my wife for eternity, and I guess you dinnae have to worry about growing old anymore.” Darach said the words, but still felt the shock of the last several hours.
“You’re kidding. Michael turned me into an immortal?”
“Aye.” Darach thought Abby would be upset, instead she smiled.
“That’s great. Can you teach me how to teleport? Fight?”
Darach caught her up into his arms. “Slow down, Abby. Let me just get ye home for now.”
“Fine, but I want to know everything that happened. Sean are you and Arianna coming? And what about you, Conner?”
“Not right now, Abby. I need to…” Sean kissed her on the cheek and then took off at a run.
“It will take him some time to come to grips over Angus being his sire.” Darach felt the halfling’s pain.
“I agree. Arianna?”
The immortal grinned at Darach and Abby. “Naw, I think you two need some together time. Besides, I found a great restaurant I want to try out. I’ll stop by and pack later. You wanta go, Conner?”
“You’re leaving?” Abby’s question was echoed in Darach’s mind.
“Well, I’m hoping I can stay here for a bit, but if I do I want to find my own digs.” Arianna flashed them a smile and then she and Conner flashed away.
“Well my love, ready to go home?”
“More than ready, Darach, but first I want my ring back. That vicious demon stole it to send to you.”
Darach withdrew the ring from his coat pocket and placed it on Abby’s finger. He followed his action with a kiss to finger and then her lips.
****
Abby rested her head against Darach’s chest, after they’d spent several hours making love, a position she would utilize for the next millennium or longer. She still couldn’t believe she had died and now she was an executioner. How blessed she was to have found love and friendship in the last few weeks. To think if she’d never gone out that night, none of this would have happened.
“What be ye thinking, wife?” Darach’s baritone rumbled inside his chest and tickled Abby’s ear.
“How much I love you. How blessed I am.” Abby entwined her fingers with his before giving a shout.
“What is it?”
“I just realized I missed meeting Mich
ael! That is so not fair!” Abby didn’t care if it sounded as if she pouted. She really wanted to meet the archangel in person.
Abby and Darach heard laughter at the same time a piece of parchment floated through the ceiling and landed on the bed.
Darach unrolled it and felt tears burn the back of his eyes. The deed to MacRath Castle was made out to him. A small sticky note was stuck to the paper. “Sorry it didn’t arrive in time for the wedding.”
“What is it?” Abby’s curious tone and gaze met Darach’s. He handed her the paper. It was the deed to Darach’s family’s property in Scotland. They both looked at one another and grinned before speaking at the same time. “Thank you, Michael.”
****
Michael finished his notes on the night’s activities. All in all it had been a splendid end-result. Darach got Abby. Abby would be working for him, and he’d guaranteed Sean Black would be dedicating his skills for the good of Heaven. And another demon had been destroyed.
The reprimand he expected from his boss never came and for that Michael was grateful. It wasn’t as easy as he’d first supposed centuries ago to make his executioners do what they should. While being immortal, they still maintained some of their mortal qualities. Some he approved of like embracing love, and Michael had discovered while working with Darach and Abby that he liked that emotion and his part in their matchmaking. Now he would send Arianna to Scotland to see if indeed absence would make her heart grow fonder of Sean, but although he had his own opinion about whether they would end up together, he would have to wait and see.
Conner would fill in for Darach and instruct Sean in the ways of executioners, while Darach and Abby got some well-deserved time off.
Michael blew out the candle on his desk, put his quill pen back into the ink, and then walked out the door. A moonlight stroll by the Crystal Sea would help him finalize his plan for his executioners.
As he made his way toward the sandy beach he smiled. Michael hoped God would be as pleased with his plans as he was. While he watched, a moonbeam danced on the placid surface of the sea and he smiled. Yes, it had been a very good night indeed.
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