“Holy cow. What kind of blood?” Joy’s eyes were huge.
“Human blood.” Seth’s reply was succinct and bleak. “They took a life in order to open the door. It was horrific and unholy and evil.”
“But it didn’t work.” I could speak to this particular truth with a fair amount of certainty. “Because we don’t have peace on earth, and things are pretty much as fucked up now as they were fifty years ago.” I remembered too late that I was talking to an angel. “Uh, sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize, Colby. I’ve heard worse than that, and swear words don’t offend me. I’m much more troubled by emotions like hate and jealousy than I am by words that really mean nothing.”
“I wish my foster mother had felt the same way,” Joy mumbled. “She never let me say anything stronger than dang or heck.” She gave her head a little shake. “Sorry, off topic. But Colby’s right. The ritual, as awful as it must have been, didn’t end up doing anything, right?”
“It didn’t work the way they’d hoped, because they had mistranslated a crucial portion of the text, and they’d gotten the date wrong . . . by fifty years.” Seth sighed. “The bad news, though, was that they were able to open the gateway just enough for one demon to come through. His entrance into this world nearly destroyed all the people taking part in the ritual, and in the five decades since that day, he’s managed to work some evil on his own . . . and he also has put events in motion for the ritual to be performed again—this time, on the right day.”
“Fifty years off.” Joy spoke in a whisper. “That means it’s almost time for it to happen, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Seth frowned. “In those fifty years since the Summer of Love, the Hive has morphed from that simple, peace-seeking commune to a powerful and destructive group of people who have been working to make sure that this time, everything works. They’ve recruited what they call drones, who run a number of small communes around the world. On the day of the ritual, those communes will all attack, preparing for the arrival of the so-called peace bringers. Once the door has been opened wide, the demons will flood through and the world as we know it will be completely and utterly destroyed. Think of every apocalyptic or end-times movie you’ve ever seen and quadruple that. There will be violence, bloodshed and total destruction . . . horror on a scale humans have never seen.”
“How can we stop them?” Joy sat up straighter. “We’re part of the fight against this Hive, right? And are there others?”
“There absolutely are others.” Seth grinned now, like a kid with a secret. “There’s a team of people—a small army—who have been preparing to wage this war for years now. They’ve gathered together and will shortly arrive at the rendezvous point. That’s where we’re going. It’s finally time for them to meet you, Joy—and for you to meet them.”
“Wait a second, though.” I shifted until I was sitting on the edge of the couch. “What are we supposed to do? How do we fight these evil people? I don’t have any super powers.” I hooked a thumb at Joy. “And she’s pregnant. No way is she going into battle.”
“Hey.” She crossed her arms over her chest and pushed out her bottom lip, glaring at me. “You don’t speak for me. You don’t even know me. If I’m supposed to be part of this, I’m doing it.”
“Not only are you supposed to be part of it, Joy, you are integral to the fight.” Seth turned to me. “Colby, I know that your instinct is to protect Joy and the baby. But I promise you that this is how it is meant to be. We will all do everything we can to keep them both safe. This is all destined.”
“Tell me how.” Joy’s eyes were wide and intense. She was all in already, committed to whatever it was that Seth was going to share. I wanted to shake sense into her, but I couldn’t help admiring that kind of spirit and resolve.
“Back in 1967, Donald and his team understood that the blood sacrifice had to come from a specific person, someone who was called the vessel.” He paused, letting that sink in, and I watched understanding dawn on Joy’s face. “They thought they’d located that person, and she was the one they . . . used in the ritual.”
“But they were wrong about that, too.” Joy closed her eyes, nodding. “Because I wasn’t born in 1967. And I’m the vessel, aren’t I? So they need me now. That’s why those men have been after me, and it’s why they killed Norrie and Tom.”
The angel reached across to lay a reassuring hand on her arm. “It’s not what you think—or at least, there’s more to it than you understand. Yes, Joy, you are the vessel. When the Nephilim created the ritual that would open the door to allow their children back onto this plane, the vessel was part of that—a being whom they could use to channel the energies required to swing the gate, and whose blood would hold the gate open long enough for the demons to pass through. It was an evil plan, but one thing we know, and you must both understand: there is nothing so bad, nothing so inherently evil, that it cannot be redeemed. However, the beings who seek darkness and hatred and destruction seldom see beyond their own plans. They rarely count on the possibility of redemption.
“When the host learned about this vessel, the power of light was able to take that tool meant for the very worst and . . . tweak it, if you will. What was designed for evil can be used to thwart the plans of the enemy now.”
Joy gazed steadily at him. “I’m not evil then?”
Seth laughed, and it was like the sound of a chorus of ringing bells. “Not at all. In fact, because we already knew you, knew who you would be, we were able to take all that the Hive meant for harm and turn it to good. They wanted to take you when you were a baby and raise you on one of their communes. But we thwarted those plans, and the woman who brought you up protected you from all their attempts to spirit you away.”
“My foster mother? Sheila?” Joy tilted her head. “She was . . . an angel?”
“She is part of the host, yes. Of course, there were others taking care of you, too.”
She wrapped one arm around the small curve of her middle. “But what about the baby? Did that throw a wrench in the plans? Can I still be the vessel if I’m pregnant?”
“On the contrary. The conception of your child was part of the plan, Joy. The little girl you carry is light and love and good. Together, you will be able to turn the tide of this battle. Never doubt that she was meant to be—she’s no accident, as of course you were not, either.”
“A girl? I’m having a girl?” Wonder lit up her face. “And will she . . . will she be normal, once she’s born? She’s not going to spring fully grown from me, like Cordelia’s baby in Angel, right?”
Seth shook his head. “No, Joy. She is a typical, normal baby girl, and she won’t have any memory or lasting effects from the fight, assuming we win.”
“What about me?” I’d been silent for a while, listening to Seth’s story about Joy, but now I had to speak up. “Where do I come in?”
Seth turned to face me fully. “You, Colby, are also very important. When we understood the value of the vessel, we knew she needed a human protector, too, because there are things the host cannot do. You were chosen, Colby. But you were also hidden. The Hive knew about Joy, of course, but we were careful never to show attention to you or to single you out. You were watched, but covertly. We’ve managed to keep you off the radar of the Hive, but now it’s time for you to join the team.”
“What do I do?” I still didn’t get the whole thing. My head was spinning, and there was part of me wondering if someone wasn’t pulling a huge joke on me, but inside was an answering assurance that everything I’d heard was right.
“You’ve already begun doing it. You offered Joy shelter and food tonight. And shortly, we’re all three going to get into your old truck—the one you’ve been only driving on the farm for the last three years—and we’re going to drive a long way to meet the rest of the team.”
“I can’t just leave my farm.” I understood we were talking about a showdown between good and evil, but I was a farmer, and there were priorities.
“I have cows. I have chores.”
“In a few minutes, your cousin James is going to call and tell you that he really needs a break from his job in Minneapolis, so he’s already on his way down here. He’s going to ask if he can come hide out on the farm for a while—he wants to reconnect with his roots here. Once you tell him that you’re being called away for an emergency, he’s going to be only too happy to offer to take over for as long as you need. And don’t worry, Colby—James needs to do this as much as you need him to do it. He’s been having a rough time, and getting back here is going to change everything for him.”
I opened my mouth to say something flippant, but before I could do it, the phone on the table next to me rang. I raised my eyes to Seth, who only gave me a crooked grin.
“Go ahead and answer it. Tell James to drive safe.”
If I hadn’t believed in the supernatural before, I was definitely leaning that way by the early hours of the next morning, as we rattled along back roads in my ancient pick-up truck.
Everything had happened as Seth had predicted. James had been thrilled to take over for me. I trusted him, because he’d been raised alongside me on that very same farm, and he knew everything I did. He promised he would stay until I returned. I didn’t ask, but I had a hunch that things in the big city weren’t turning out very well for him.
“I can’t believe you won’t tell me where we’re going.” I slid Seth a sideways look. “I’m driving us, you know. It would be good for me to have the destination in mind.”
“But safer for everyone if you don’t. If we were attacked and you were taken, you can’t compromise us. Try to trust me, Colby. I understand that you’ve had a lot thrown at you in the last twelve hours, but it’s all necessary.”
The angel was slouched on the other side of the cab, his long legs folded in what couldn’t have been a comfortable position. Between us, Joy slept, alternating between resting her head on Seth’s shoulder and mine. She snored slightly now and then, too.
“How can she sleep so soundly after everything she’s been through and all that she found out tonight?” I glanced at her pretty face, relaxed and slack. “I’d be flipping out.”
“Well, there are a couple of reasons.” Seth shifted, trying to find a better way to sit, I suspected. “First of all, even though all of this was new information for Joy, on a deeper level, she’s always known her role. Tonight, her conscious and her soul consciousness connected, and that means she’s actually more at peace. Second, the last seven weeks have been filled with confusion and questions and fraught with danger. Getting answers and explanations tonight was exactly what she needed, so she’s more settled now. And last . . .” He grinned. “She’s pregnant. Pregnant ladies sleep well, as a rule, at least until the last month or so before delivery.”
“I guess so.” I rested one hand on the steering wheel. “She’s pretty damn amazing, you know? Any other girl I know who’d heard all of that tonight would’ve been in the corner sucking her thumb. But not Joy. She just straightened up her shoulders and asked what comes next. That blows my mind.”
Seth nodded. “It’s true. She’s made of sterner stuff, as her foster mother might say.” He paused for a moment. “Don’t be afraid of your feelings for Joy, Colby. I can feel you fighting them. You’re convinced that it’s impossible for you to be attracted to her, to have the depth of caring that you do already for someone whom you’ve just met, but this is all part of the plan.” He stared out the windshield into the night. “If the fight goes our way and the world survives, you two will be each other’s reward. You were destined to be together. Don’t fear that.”
I hated the way the angel could see into my innermost thoughts. “I don’t like the idea that this is out of my control. Shouldn’t I be able to make my own choice about who I want?” I was being contrary, because I couldn’t deny that I was drawn to Joy, even after our short time knowing each other. But I didn’t want to fall in love with her only because it was our destiny.
“There is always choice, Colby. Remember that. At every turn, in every situation, there is always choice.”
“And if I chose not to be with Joy? What would happen to us?” I gripped the wheel a little tighter.
“Life would go on. There wouldn’t be dire consequences. You just might never feel . . . complete. Or maybe you would. I’m just a low-level member of the host. What do I know?” He settled himself more firmly back in his seat, nudging Joy closer so that she leaned against him. “I’m going to catch some shut-eye for a bit. Follow the signs for I-25 north. Wake me up if you run into trouble.”
I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath about angels and pregnant women and destiny as we rolled through the black velvet darkness.
Tasmyn
A bump in the road roused me from a light sleep, and I blinked in the relative darkness of the RV. My head rested on Michael’s chest, and his arm was securely around me as he slumbered on. I could feel the comforting beat of his heart under my cheek.
We’d been on the road for . . . God, I had no idea. A long time. There had been gas stops and a few short breaks for us to stretch our legs, but whenever we weren’t driving, Cathryn had a tight look on her face, as though even a small slow-down could mean the difference between life and death. And maybe she was right.
“You doing okay?” Across the table, Rafe was wedged into a corner, his gaze resting on me. Nell lay in his arms much as I was in Michael’s, her face peaceful in sleep. It occurred to me that she hadn’t seemed that relaxed even when she’d been in the coma.
“Yeah.” I whispered the answer, mindful of everyone sleeping around us. Lucas was at the wheel again now, with his girlfriend Jackie riding shotgun. Veronica sat on the floor between them, and the three seemed to be deep in conversation. Otherwise, though, everyone was asleep.
“This is crazy, isn’t it?” His mouth curved into that mocking half-smile that once upon a time had both infuriated and enflamed me. “You know, I never expected that we’d see each other again, let alone be fighting a battle to save the world together.” He paused. “I’m glad, Tas. I’ve missed you.”
In the sanctity of this moment, stolen from real life, I could accept that. “I missed you, too, Rafe. I was always sorry that things ended as they did. I wished that we could be friends, and I even wanted to get in touch with you, but your grandmother asked me not to. She said it would be kindness to allow you to heal and move on.”
Rafe raised one eyebrow. “Ah, I’d forgotten that you and Gram are such good friends. Well, she was probably right, at least at the time.”
I nodded. “I agree. And Caroline is a wonderful friend. We have tea together at the estate every two weeks or so, and she tells me stories of the old days. I’ve learned so much about Gravis King and his early days . . . all the tales that were handed down through your family.”
“I met him. Isn’t that wild?” Rafe shifted a little, careful not to jar Nell. “It was the first Christmas Nell and I were together. I talked her into going back to King with me, but she was really struggling with her past, with her memories . . . one night, Gravis and Sarah, the witch who was Nell’s ancestor, came to both of us. It was like a weird combo of A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life. Anyway, he’s a cool dude. Or was a cool dude, I guess. You know he and Sarah were together. He’s Nell’s great-grandfather lots of times over.”
“Caroline thought as much.” I laughed softly. “How matter-of-factly we talk about this stuff—vampires, witches, seeing dead people . . . what lives we lead.”
“Never a dull moment,” Rafe agreed. His eyes softened. “You’re happy, aren’t you, Tasmyn?”
I could answer him with complete honesty. “I really am. Living with Michael, working at the nursery together alongside his parents . . . it’s everything I ever wanted. I feel whole. Like this is exactly where I’m meant to be.”
“I was kind of surprised you two don’t have kids yet.” He lifted a finger to wrap one of Nell’s dark curls around it. “
You seem like you’d want a houseful.”
“Yeah, we do. I thought we’d have at least one by now, but . . .” I lifted one shoulder. “That was our deciding factor for telling Cathryn yes about this mission. If I were pregnant, I wouldn’t do it. But I’m not, and so here we are.” I dropped my voice even lower. “The doctors say there’s nothing wrong with either of us. I guess it’s just timing. Michael believes that it’s because I’m meant to be here, part of the good guys. He thinks that I’ve been destined for this since my first encounter with Ben Ryan all those years ago.”
“It could be,” Rafe agreed. “I’m learning all the time that destiny is a funny thing. Nell says she’s a capricious bitch.” He lowered his lips to drop a kiss onto the top of her head.
“Do you and Nell . . . are you planning to get married? Do you want a family?” I was more curious about this than I wanted to let on. I just couldn’t imagine Nell Massler as someone’s mommy.
“I keep asking her to marry me, and she keeps saying no. Nell . . . she still wrestles with a lot of insecurity and pain. I think deep down she worries that at some point, I’m going to leave her, and it’ll be easier if we’re not connected in any official way.” He sighed. “As for kids, I don’t think that’s in the cards for us. Neither of us had great families of origin, you know? I mean, I’m grateful for Gram and Gramps, but my mom isn’t any prize. Nell didn’t have anyone. Her mom’s an insane witch and her dad abandoned her.”
I felt sad for them both, because I couldn’t imagine not wanting to have babies with the man I loved. But I understood what Rafe was saying.
Age of Aquarius Page 15
