Dirty Angels

by May Dawson

"I was looking for you all."

  "I doubt you were looking for us all," Jacob muttered.

  Duncan ignored him.

  "It's my sister," I said, cutting off Ryker and Levi, who had both started to speak. "The Company killed her and then brought her back. More or less."

  "Looks like some pretty powerful magic on her," Duncan said.

  "Do you know how to fix it?" My mother asked quickly.

  "I don't know." He shrugged. "Your best bet is to find whoever put the magic on her."

  "That's great. We'll just add that to our to-do list," Ryker muttered.

  "What else is on that list?" Duncan said.

  Ryker glanced over to me. "Just trying to master our abilities so we can go into the Far."

  Duncan dropped bones onto his plate and leaned back in his chair. "That's not happening, son. I've been looking into the Mythos, since you couldn't find the Fourth."

  "We were, too." Levi leaned back in his chair, his posture mirroring his father's, and crossed his arms over his chest.

  "There's no going into the Far down one," Duncan said.

  That was hard to argue with given how our morning had gone.

  "Well, luckily, I'm here now." Nimshi waved flashily.

  Duncan shook his head faintly, but whatever he had to say, he held back for later. I had every intention of making sure I dogged his heels until he left the house, because I could just tell he intended to slip me to talk to his two sons alone.

  And I didn't like Duncan. Jacob didn't like Duncan, and that told me everything I needed to know.

  "So, what is the plan?" My mom asked brightly.

  "We'll talk about it later," Jacob said. "No sense ruining lunch with business. It's delicious, by the way. Thank you."

  I mouthed across the table at Jacob, "You're being polite."

  He mouthed back, "And you're making it weird."

  "Because it is weird," I mouthed back.

  "So Nimshi, that's such an unusual name. Where does it come from?"

  "It means mischievous in Hebrew," Nimshi said.

  "Do all the demons have Hebrew names?" I asked.

  "Usually. Demons and angels both." Nimshi winked at me. "Hebrew names. Powerful magic. Devilish good looks."

  "It's not that powerful of magic," Ryker said. "Given that most of you can't touch the earth."

  "And yet we convince you weird little humans to do our bidding anyway," Nimshi said.

  Levi shot him a warning look, his eyes flickering to Duncan.

  Levi didn't trust his father.

  "I'd like to hear about this Hunter Council," I said. "Wendy went undercover for them? What was she working on?"

  "Annihilating the demons," Levi said. "No offense, Nimshi."

  "It makes things a little weird," Nimshi said, to no one in particular. I flashed back to the scene in the garden, to Wendy saying that killing Hedron was her one chance at saving her son.

  "Hunters have tried many times throughout the centuries to wipe out all demons. But it's never worked before, because there was no ability to make a united global effort. So say, western Europe managed to wipe out every demon, there would still be demons hiding out elsewhere. They migrate. They keep trying to make more demons, and eventually, they repopulate," Levi explained.

  "But if you wipe out all the demons at once, then there wouldn't be any way for them to enter the world again." I understood what they were saying.

  "It's a great idea," Nimshi said drily. "Maybe we could save it a generation though. I'm not all bad."

  "One person versus thousands of lives saved," Duncan said.

  "Well, this family reunion just keeps getting better," Jacob said to no one in particular. He nodded to my mother as he stood. "Thanks for making us lunch, Ms. Landon."

  "You already said that," I said.

  Jacob quirked an eyebrow at me, but he stacked his plates and carried them into the kitchen without comment. I knew exactly what adjectives he had in mind for me from that look, anyway.

  "So how does the Hunter Council work? Is it like being elected class president?" I glanced between Ryker and Levi; I was being light-hearted, but I desperately wanted to understand this new facet of my world. "Which one of the boys would have a better chance of winning?"

  "Neither," Duncan said shortly. "You'll all be outcasts now. No Hunter will help you."

  26

  "I wanted to talk to you boys," Duncan said, clapping Levi on the shoulder. "Let's go for a walk."

  "Great," I said. I took a step back, glancing through the doors to the kitchen. "Jacob, can you keep an eye on Nimshi?"

  "Babysitting duty?" Jacob picked up the dish towel from the side of the sink and wiped his hands. "On my way."

  Nim rolled his eyes. "Didn't we already establish that I am firmly on Team Ellis? Given that my alternatives are all Team Kill Nimshi?"

  "I still don't trust you skulking around," I said.

  Nimshi turned away from Duncan and the boys. His piercing eyes caught mine. "But do you trust me to go into the Far with you?"

  I crossed my arms over my chest. There was something about the way he asked, the note of genuine hopefulness no matter how light his voice was, that struck my heart hard.

  "I don't much care for the Far," I said.

  "But we still have to go. You have to talk to your sister."

  "How do you know that?" I asked, suddenly horrified by the thought that he knew something about my dream... or that he had somehow made me have that dream.

  "You've got this whole plan, but you've missed a few steps, haven't you?"

  Behind me, the guys were leaving the dining room. I didn't want to be left behind, so I hissed at Nimshi, "We'll talk more later."

  The cockiest smirk made just one corner of his mouth tilt up. "Looking forward to it, sweetheart."

  I heard the front door click shut, and I hesitated. I had so many questions for Nimshi, but I wanted to hear what Duncan had to say. I couldn't stop thinking about how Ash had spoken to me in the Far. You never asked me what I wanted.

  I hadn't. But how could she choose death, chasing demons in the Far, over coming back to life, to me and our mom? What I had seen in the Far had to be some kind of trick. Especially if Nimshi knew... unless it was so obvious to anyone that wasn't tangled up emotionally that bringing my sister back to life was a dicey proposition.

  Jacob joined us in the dining room and nodded to me that he was on demon-watch. I turned on my heel, avoiding the look Nimshi gave me—something complicated, not just mischievous and smirky but knowing—and hurried after the guys.

  I passed Ash's room, where the French doors stood open. My mom sat on the edge of the bed, telling her something in low, fond tones.

  I stepped in, just for a second. My mom was telling her the recipe for fried chicken.

  "Brine in buttermilk and Old Bay?" I asked. "Do you think that's going to pull her out of her coma?"

  "It's a great recipe," my mom said with dignity. "But more importantly, she just needs to hear our voices."

  I nodded. That was probably true. I never knew what to say to my sister, but maybe I should just say anything. Ash was on her side now, her arms folded up next to her pillow with her palms together making her look like a sleeping angel. That would have entertained Ash, who was certainly no angel. Mom had braided her hair back from her face in two tight French braids, the same way she'd done our hair when we were little. But she'd had to scrounge for hair tie, and there were rubber bands knotted around the ends of Ash's long black hair.

  "Have you been exploring the house or did one of the guys find these for you?" I tweaked the end of one braid.

  "I'm a little scared to wander the house now," she said. "Knowing that there's a dungeon here."

  "It's hardly a dungeon," I said.

  "If you think it's not a dungeon, you should try closing the door. It's a scary little room to be stuck in."

  "It's got to be nicer than the haunted insane asylum that you sent me to," I said.

 
; Mom's lips parted slightly, as if she were going to respond, and then she froze. I didn't have time to argue with her.

  "Later," I interrupted before we could fight, knowing that I had to hustle after the boys. I was racking up quite the list of awkward conversations to enjoy later.

  I headed out onto the front porch. The warm Virginia air was damp with humidity, making it feel even hotter, and I hurried down the steps. Duncan, Levi and Ryker were headed to the woods. Levi, the tallest of the three, stood out between them. Knowing Levi, I had no doubt he was the peacemaker, intentionally placing himself as the buffer between his father and brother.

  Ryker stopped, swiveling on one heel, looking casually back at the house. His eyes met mine, even across the open field, as if he'd been looking for me. He raised his hand in greeting. I couldn't hear, but he said something to Levi and Duncan.

  Duncan twisted to look at me, aggravation written across his features. Even from here, when his lips moved, I could tell he was complaining.

  But Levi waved me toward them. Hot as it was, I still broke into a run, crossing the distance between us in a hurry. As soon as I reached them, Levi slung his arm over my shoulders, pulling me into his side. I took a hurried breath, pushing my hair back behind my ears because it had swung wildly in the humidity. Ryker took a side-step in toward me, his fingers brushing over my hip, and I took his hand in mine.

  Duncan turned his back on us in irritation. "Sure. It's not like I wanted to visit my wife's grave in—"

  "Let it go, Dad," Levi interrupted. "What you have to say, you can say in front of Ellis."

  Duncan stared at Levi, his jaw set. "What's happened to you boys?"

  Levi shook his head. "You wouldn't understand."

  "I think I do." Duncan grumbled. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. I'll tell you what I came here to say."

  "I take it you aren't here to help us," Ryker said calmly.

  "I am," Duncan said. "I know you boys like to think it's you against the world, that all you need is each other, but—"

  "That's not all we need," Levi said hotly. "It's all we've had. Since you walked out on Mom. Since she died."

  "Don't," Duncan warned, as if there was another fight brewing just under the surface of this one, one they'd had many times before. "And you've had more than each other. You've had all those Hunter resources. Safe houses. Back-up teams. Hackers. On your own, you could never have looked after Ellis' mom."

  "We should have just brought her in and told her everything," Ryker said. "Apparently, she can cook."

  Duncan looked between Ryker and Levi, as if he were waiting for them to fall silent. Well, I could see where my boys got their flair for the dramatic. And the boys stared back at him.

  "Now," he said, his voice gruff when he continued from his theatrical pause, "you're going to lose all that. You'll be outcasts."

  "Why?" I demanded.

  Duncan turned to me. His cold blue eyes scanned me. I realized it was the first time we'd made eye contact. "They'll be dirty now. Mixed up with demons."

  "He's their brother."

  "No, he's not," Duncan said. "A demon can't be someone's brother."

  "He's half human," I said hotly.

  Ryker held out his hand. "Whatever he is. He's part of the cards we were dealt. We have to go into the Far."

  "I'm sorry," Duncan said. "Yours is just a lost generation of angels. You'll never make it into the Far."

  "We'll see about that," Ryker said.

  "Dad," Levi said. "I understand you're worried about us. But we'll manage on our own. We don't need anyone else."

  "Sure would be nice if you were on our side, though," Ryker said, giving Duncan a long look.

  "I'm on your side." Duncan clapped Ryker on the shoulder. "I'm always on your side."

  Ryker's lips quirked up slightly, the tension in his face easing.

  But Levi's eyes sharpened, intent on his father.

  "I can't be a part of this, though." Duncan said. He turned and walked away across the yard, back to the battered pick-up truck parked in our driveway.

  He stopped, looking back at us. His big jaw, covered in gray-white beard stubble, worked once, as if with emotion. "I just came to warn you. Couldn't watch you throw your lives, your work, away and not try to help."

  "Yeah," Ryker said gruffly. "Thanks for that. Big help."

  "Next time you want to come over," Levi said, "You can go ahead and call first. We don't take kindly to trespassers."

  Duncan shook his head. "Don't worry, son. Won't be back."

  Ryker watched the truck turn around and then head back down the driveway too fast. Gravel flew out from under the wheels. He stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, impassive.

  "That asshole," Levi said, his voice bitter.

  "We never needed him anyway," Ryker said. He turned and kicked a tree behind us. The branches above us trembled, and green leaves drifted down around us.

  "We never have," Levi repeated.

  It didn't sound particularly convincing.

  "I'm sorry," I said.

  "You don't have anything to be sorry for." Levi squeezed me close, although I could still feel his tension in the stiffness of his body, no matter how cool and casual his voice was. I looped my arm around his hard waist, squeezing him gently, hoping to comfort him a little. No matter what he said, it had to be hard to see his father disappoint them and walk out of their lives.

  I glanced at Ryker, who had fought me so much on inviting Nimshi into our lives. I had won, and now the boys were losing everything in the Hunter world because of me.

  "Don't worry about him," Ryker said, his voice low and rough. He swung our hands between us, the gesture cheerful even though his face was still a mask of fury. "Let's finish that walk. Talk through our plans."

  The three of us swaggered into the woods. Despite what Ryker suggested about talking through our next steps, the three of us all seemed lost in our own thoughts.

  "He's not wrong about one thing," Levi said. "A lot of doors are going to be closed to us, just when we need them most."

  "Right when we're going to steal something back from Hell." Ryker swore. "We need to sit down with Nimshi and talk out the plan. We don't even know yet where his... soul... is."

  "While you're doing that," I said, "Jake and I were planning a visit with Zuriel."

  "Nope," Ryker said, without a second's hesitation.

  "We can't fight a war on so many fronts at once," I said. "Angels. Demons. The Company. If we can figure out what Zuriel wants—"

  "Zuriel told us what he wants," Ryker interrupted. "He wants Nimshi. We're keeping my heathen half-brother to ourselves. So that's no help."

  "Jacob thinks it might be more complex than that."

  Ryker sighed faintly. "I liked it better when you two hated each other."

  "Did you really?" I asked in surprise. I was always curious if the boys felt the littlest bit jealous, and that was the first time one of them had admitted to it.

  "No," he said grudgingly. "I worried about the two of you. It was annoying to see you keep hurting each other—"

  "So you know how we've felt watching you two fight," Levi told Ryker.

  Ryker quirked his lips to one side, ignoring his brother. "But you were slightly more manageable without him taking up for you on your every whim, Firestarter."

  No matter what he said, I liked hearing him growl out my nickname affectionately again. I bumped my shoulder against his as we kept walking.

  "I wouldn't say every whim," I said.

  Ryker quirked an eyebrow at me. "You wouldn't? He's fucking smitten. Like the rest of us. Don't let him fool you."

  "So does that mean you're going to let me go without a fight?" I asked. "Because I hate when we argue."

  "It doesn't seem like it, or you would stop arguing with me." Ryker bumped his shoulder back into mine. "I just want to take care of you."

  "You know I want to take care of you guys, too. Even if I’ve screwed up a lot l
ately."

  "We know." Levi leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "There's a reason we choose you over..."

  He trailed off. He cleared his throat, glancing away through the woods.

  I finished it for him. "Over the world?"

  "What else do we need?" Ryker squeezed my hand and released it as we stepped out onto the sun-warmed bank of the lake. "We've got each other. We found the Fourth. We've got our girl. We don't need anyone else."

  "Are you sure about that?" A soft, feminine voice asked from behind us.

  We whirled.

  Olivia stood behind us, her arms crossed over her chest, a cheeky grin on her face.

  "Some Hunters you are," she said. "I passed your dad on his way down the road and ran to catch up with you guys."

  "Your brother said we were done," Ryker said.

  "Well, they don't speak for me," Olivia said. "I'd never leave you guys on your own when you need me. And let's be honest—"

  "We desperately need you!" I said, which made Olivia grin wider.

  I ran over and hugged her. Her chest shook with laughter as she hugged me back, as if I'd surprised her. Then Ryker and Levi piled in, hugging us both, lifting us up between them between their warm, hard bodies. Ryker's hard pecs were against my face, and I breathed in the boys' intermingled scent of fresh-cut grass and sawdust and cinnamon and soap.

  Later, as we walked back to the house, Olivia slowed so that we slipped back behind the boys. They glanced over their shoulders at us and then strode on ahead, giving us some space. I heard them talking about the Nimshi situation.

  "I'm sorry it took me a while to come around," Olivia said.

  "You don't need to apologize," I said.

  "I really do," she said. "Just let me get through this. I was jealous, I was a jerk, and you kept trying to be my friend. And I really need a friend."

  "I really need a friend, too," I said. "I'm surrounded by these... these..."

  "Loudmouth, arrogant Hunters?"

  "Yes, exactly."

  "Everyone needs girl friends," she said. "And even if we're not going to get pedicures and go to the mall together—"

  "Well, let's not rule that out," I interrupted.

  "I really want to be your friend," she finished.