Tigress (Night Hawk Series)

by Taylor, J. E.

  And then he’d come after me and everyone living in the house. He knew it was vampire-proof and angel-proof and suspected it was probably demon-proof, but he promised we didn’t account for the things he’d send and there was no known defense against them.

  I shivered at the thought of what type of mutant monster that would be.

  Shuffling behind me caught my attention and I stiffened.

  “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Michael’s voice penetrated the darkness.

  “I’m going after him,” I said just as my fingertips found the box I was looking for. I turned on my phone and punched in the familiar numbers. When the hand pad lit up, I put my palm to the glass and held my breath.

  I’d never felt as alive as I did the moment the scanner finished and the lights flooded the garage. Platinum plates shifted, disappeared into the flooring with one exception. A panel as wide as the underground tunnel slid to the ceiling and clasped into place.

  I turned and scanned the vehicles. Not one was in working condition and my heart sank. Michael hadn’t said a word but his scan of the collection revealed an appreciation in his eyes and he sighed when he brought his gaze back to me.

  “I need help getting one of these vehicles back in shape. Did Ted pick up what Damian asked?” I shot the question at Michael and I received a blank stare.

  “Damian’s list that was on the table.” Even I could hear the near hysterical note in my voice.

  When he didn’t answer, I huffed and climbed back down the stairs. Nothing was going to stop me from getting to Damian. Not now that I had a location and if I couldn’t get us free, at least we’d die together, but I’d make sure it was on our terms and not what Lucifer’s sick fantasy dictated.

  As I navigated the dark tunnels, I couldn’t help but shrink away from imagined creatures in every shadow. The itchy, uncomfortable sensation of spiders crawling on my skin overcame me and I shuddered, picking up the pace. When I stepped into the brightly lit hallway, I sighed with relief, rubbing my arms and then the back of my neck.

  I glanced over my shoulder, and met Michael’s gaze.

  “You have no idea how much the paintings down here meant to Damian,” I said. “Especially the path of sunshine in the bedroom.” I didn’t wait for a response, instead I headed right to the kitchen where Ted and Valerie sat eating meatloaf with potatoes and carrots. I glanced at my plate. My stomach growled and I cursed the needs of my human body.

  Instead of following through on my questions, I sat down at the table as a sign of respect. “Thank you,” I said.

  “You’re welcome,” Ted said and offered me the bottle of ketchup.

  Even with my pulse ticking off the wasted seconds, I ate without much conversation. After taking the last bite, I set my silverware down and wiped my lips.

  “Did you happen to pick up the things on the list I left on the table?”

  “Not yet, but...” He glanced at his watch. “I might be able to make it to the auto store in Torrington before it closes.”

  A wave of relief hit.

  “I will clean up the kitchen if you pick up what he has listed for the Aston Martin.” That was by far the fastest car in the garage and I know it was one of the top ones on Damian’s list. He wiped his hands and pulled out the sheet, scanning the list before he nodded.

  “Is it safe out there?” Ted asked, but he looked beyond me to Michael.

  “Yes,” I said, not knowing if Lucifer was bluffing or not, but he was explicit with his directions and while he promised Damian would suffer, he also promised that he would leave the occupants of the adjoining property alone for the duration of the twenty-four hours.

  I didn’t want to take either of their vehicles. It was bad enough they were targets, but Lucifer didn’t know Valerie lived her. He knew about Uncle Ted and the inheritance of the land from Valerie’s deceased family. He assumed he was alone and if I showed up with one of their cars, their identity could be compromised.

  “You’re going after Damian?” Valerie asked after her uncle left.

  “Yeah, assuming I can get one of the cars started.”

  “I could understand why you would do that before, especially with the tiger thing, but now you’re just human. You’re no match for demons.”

  I leveled a sarcastic smile in her direction, remembering some of the conversations I had with my grandfather over the years. All his warnings about the darkness in the world, stories about demons and bloodsuckers and the pending war. And most of all, his description of the savior, the one who makes the darkness flee.

  A tiger born of pure blood.

  A trinity.

  I had no idea those stories were reality until Mark sold me to Lucifer. All my assumptions about vampires were based on those stories, and Damian certainly hadn’t fit any of the cold-dead-blood-thirsty fiends my grandfather described, but then again, he was born of a pure bloodline too.

  “I seem to still be able to turn into the tiger,” I said and both Valerie and Michael froze in place, staring at me like I sprouted another head.

  “What?” their voices rang in unison.

  “When they were attacking Damian,” I started and ran my hand over my stomach. The skin was still sensitive where the knife had tore flesh. “I guess I got angry and attacked and my fur protected me from the knife.” I offered a shrug and collected the dinner plates, heading into the kitchen to let them digest both their food and that little nugget of information.

  * * * *

  It took the four of us the better part of the night to get the Aston Martin to turn over and even then the engine sounded sluggish and unreliable. I just needed it to last an hour on the road at best. I wasn’t going as far as New York this time. I was going south to Candlewood Lake in New Fairfield, and I was going alone.

  I leaned my head on the steering wheel and turned the engine off, my eyes closed from the weight of exhaustion wracking my body. I was in no condition for a stand-off.

  “Maybe you should get a little sleep before you try to save the world,” Valerie said as she leaned on the open window. She looked as tired as I felt and guilt bit at my skin when I glanced up at the light filtering into the windows.

  “Do you have to go to school now?”

  She glanced at her watch and gave me a pressed-lip smile.

  “Jesus, I’m sorry for keeping you up all night,” I said and covered her hand with mine.

  She sandwiched my hands between hers. “Stay safe, you hear?” Her voice choked on the words that we both knew were a prequel to goodbye.

  I climbed out of the car and gave her a warm hug.

  “I have to do this,” I whispered in her ear and she squeezed tighter.

  “I know,” she said and pulled away, wiping her tears away. She gave me a quick smile and made a beeline for the tunnel, leaving me with Michael and Ted.

  “Well, I’m going to take a shower and head to work,” Ted said looking every bit as haggard as the rest of us.

  “Thank you for your help,” I said, feeling small and selfish.

  “Just bring Damian back in one piece,” he said like there was no option of failure.

  I nodded and he followed the path Valerie took.

  “You need to get some rest before we go after Damian,” Michael said.

  “Lucifer said I had to come alone,” I said, but I let Michael help me from the car and lead me to the bedroom he’d painted for Damian and me. He didn’t argue, but I knew he wasn’t going to let me leave without him. To prove his point, the keys to the car slid into the front pocket of his jeans. He tucked me under the covers and stretched out on the recliner in the corner, crossing his arms.

  Michael drifted off before I did and I considered sneaking the keys from his pocket, but before I could muster the energy, my body pulled me into a succession of brutal nightmares.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  My scream shattered the darkness but they just kept coming and coming, brutally taking me despite my screams while Lucifer laug
hed and Damian roared. Hands gripped my shoulders holding me in place and I broke free from the chains and swung.

  “Naomi!” Michael’s aggravated voice pierced my dream and my eyes snapped open to the dim light of the bedroom and Michael’s strong grip on my wrist.

  He stared at me for a moment. “You read the emails,” he said when my breathing evened out and my heart beat no longer caused pain.

  I dropped my gaze to the covers and then glanced at the clock. It took a moment to register and then every muscle jumped into action.

  “It’s after ten at night?” I snarled at Michael and he nodded.

  My body needed relief and I took two minutes to empty my bladder. I stormed back into the bedroom and pointed at the clock, my nerve endings screaming at me to get moving. “It’s been over twenty-four hours. Do you know what that means?”

  A dull pounding pressed on the back of my eye sockets and I didn’t know if the headache was due to over-sleeping, lack of food or the raging anger wracking my body.

  “Damian would want me to protect you,” Michael said and stood, putting himself between me and the door.

  “Damian will die at sunrise!” I screamed.

  Michael’s face pinched in pain and he pressed his lips together. His jaw muscles jumped and his eyes sprouted a glaze of tears.

  “You don’t think I know that?”

  “You can save him,” I said, grasping at straws. “We can save him, please...” hot tears choked my voice. “There has to be a way,” I begged and a light passed over Michael’s irises but he shook it away.

  I wiped the tears from my face and stared him down. “No matter how dangerous or insane, there has to be something we can do,” I said, forcing my voice not to shake. “I’d rather make the attempt, even if it means we both die, please.”

  He slowly shook his head.

  Fury blasted through me and I glared at him. “You can’t keep me locked up forever,” I growled. “And when I escape this jail, I’m going to let Lucifer do whatever the hell he wants to me. Even if that includes building an army.”

  The rash remark had the desired effect. Michael’s face bloomed red with anger and his hand shot out. I wasn’t sure whether it was in retribution or for comfort and I didn’t wait to find out. I caught his wrist in powerful tiger jaws.

  He was stronger than the demon and he tossed me across the room. I twisted and landed on four paws, my teeth bared in derision.

  “Don’t you ever threaten me with that,” he snarled, pointing a shaking finger in my direction. “I don’t give a damn how angry you are with me, dangling the end of the world as a method of blackmail is wrong.”

  “Letting Damian die is wrong,” I said and stood on my human feet, the transition from fur to human flesh as quick as a blink. It calmed the raging beast in my blood, but I was still hell bent on saving Damian. “I know you had an idea of how to save him. I saw it in your eyes, so give up the ghost.”

  He laughed and his hands found his hips as he studied me. When his laughter wound down, he inhaled and blew out a stream of air. Michael closed his eyes and recited an ancient verse. Light filled the room and wings fluttered as he transformed into his true celestial form.

  I took an involuntary step backwards and he cocked his head, silently questioning my actions.

  “I’m not going to smite you.” His sigh rustled the fabric covering the bed and I wondered if Lucifer was as intimidating in angel form.

  Michael’s lips twitched into a smile. “I’m a pussy cat compared to my brother.”

  “Well that just makes me feel so much better.” I couldn’t stop the sarcasm, after all it was my default defense mechanism and right now I had no idea whether Michael took the form to help me or to stop me.

  “Sit,” he ordered and pointed at the side of the bed.

  My feet obeyed and I crossed, taking a seat facing him.

  “What came to mind is highly unorthodox and extremely dangerous,” he started and crossed the room, taking my hands in his. “If we fail, the worst case is both Damian and I die and you fulfill the dark prophecy.”

  I shivered with revulsion and the flash of nightmares I had was nothing in comparison to the stark fear that drained the blood from my face.

  “Another more likely scenario is we all die.” He paused, keeping eye contact. “But if this works, there is a slim chance of saving Damian.”

  “What about you?”

  His exhale told me more than I wanted to know.

  “It’s been a very long time since Lucifer and I stood face to face. It’s apt to get very bloody for both of us. He was a formidable sparring partner before he was cast out of heaven and with so many years of resentment built up in him, I’m not sure I’ll be in a condition to last for long, but I will do damage. Perhaps as much as you did.” He smiled and placed his finger under my chin.

  “What do you need me to do?” I asked and bit my lower lip, quelling the dread building in my stomach and tightening the muscles in my throat and chest.

  “You have to get me into the house.”

  “What if I can’t find the markings?”

  His sad smile made me recoil. “That’s not what I’m suggesting.”

  “Then how,” my mouth asked while my brain screamed to run, to shut up, to let all this go because whatever it was promised pain and anguish for all of us.

  “Do you remember what I said to transform?”

  I shook my head. “It sounded like Latin.”

  “Meque his exsolvite humanae gloriae caelestis exercitus ad vincula,” he whispered and placed his hands on my head. The words echoed through my brain, forming a Braille pattern on my tongue as I spoke them over and over with him.

  My cranium hurt when he released his hands and he tilted my chin so our eyes met.

  “I need to ride you into that house.”

  A vision of the tiger with Michael clinging to my back flashed before my eyes and Michael chuckled.

  “No, I need to ride in your bloodstream.”

  “What?”

  “And you can’t transition to the tiger because you can’t recite the incantation to bring my form into that room with you.”

  I stared at him, blinking and still not understanding how that was possible.

  “You can’t call me until the moment the sun hits the horizon.”

  Shock filtered through me like a jolt of electricity. “But if I wait until sunrise, how will that help Damian?”

  “He has to bite you and drink your blood before the sun rises.”

  “But that will kill him,” I gasped and recoiled.

  “This is where we have to have some blind faith. Yes, it could kill him like it did that vampire who attacked you at the rest station, but he’s got angel blood in him, trinity blood at that because of your infusions into him, so I think there’s a slight chance you could be his cure.”

  “If I’m not the cure, he will suffer and if I am the cure, he’ll die of old age.”

  “If you aren’t the cure, the sun will turn him to dust,” Michael said. “It’s a gamble, Naomi, but either way, his death will be on your terms not Lucifer’s. If by some miracle he doesn’t die, you need to get him out of there. You’ll have to release me first, otherwise this will be in vain.”

  I nodded slowly. A slim chance was still a chance and I had to take it.

  He drew in a deep breath. “One more thing, if my human form is rendered useless, all bets are off.”

  “What do you mean by useless?”

  “If my human heart no longer beats, then I can’t regain my celestial form. When you release me, I’ll ascend into heaven.”

  “You mean you’ll die?”

  “Yes. If that happens and you can’t escape, you know what you have to do.”

  I remembered the conversation in the car and nodded. “I have to die,” I whispered.

  When Michael nodded, I hung my head, preparing myself for battle.

  * * * *

  I pulled the car over a half mile away f
rom the end of Misty Brook Lane in New Fairfield and glanced at Michael before killing the engine.

  “Now what?” I asked as we stepped out of the car.

  “We need to find a place where you can hide me. I don’t physically have to be in the house when you recite the incantation,” he said and I glanced at my watch and then the plumes of air escaping from my mouth and nodded, praying an unconscious human body wouldn’t freeze over the course of an hour.

  “I won’t freeze. Just cover me with leaves and pine limbs and then head to the house,” he said to my thought process.

  We tromped through the woods in the direction of the house and when we’d covered half the distance, he stopped in the center of a small thicket.

  “This will do,” he said and pulled a knife from his pocket along with two oversized Band-Aids. He handed the bandages to me and said, “You’re left arm.” I held it to him and he pushed the jacket up, revealing the soft flesh of my wrist. “This isn’t going to be pleasant for either of us. Just try not to make a sound.”

  I nodded and clenched both my teeth and lips together, bracing myself for pain. He sliced my wrist and then his in quick succession. The pain was bearable, after all, I had had worse in my lifetime, but when he pressed his open wrist to mine, my breath sucked in and out of my lungs with the burn. It was more debilitating than the agony of the vampire virus. The air shimmered and then his wings disappeared and his eyes rolled up into his head. I caught his slack body at the same time his power merged with my cells, making me dizzy and nauseous.

  I quickly put a bandage over his wrist and then mine, the flow of blood already slowed as he had told me, the itch of healing taking hold. Before I covered him, I leaned my ear against his chest just to make sure. The steady thrum of his heart calmed my vertigo and I took a deep breath, praying that this would work, otherwise it was the end of my world.

  Chapter Thirty-Three - Damian

  My eyes blinked open and I glanced around at the darkness surrounding me. My shoulders ached, hell, my entire body ached and I shifted, rattling the chains holding me in place. The last thing I remember was running toward the house praying I’d be able to hurdle over the fence, but with the platinum blade still embedded in my thigh, I highly doubted it. The moment I broke from their grip, something clocked me in the head and everything went black.