by G. Bailey
Evie
“Who the fuck do you think you are to tell me what to do, angel?” Azi growls, his chest vibrating with anger as my head is pressed tightly against it. His smoky and somewhat sweetly seductive scent comforts me for only a second as I realise it’s really Azi. How is he here? Azi is no angel. Unless the angels lied to me, which I highly doubt.
“Am I dead?” I ask, pulling away and looking up at Azi who holds me in his arms. He lets me down as I wriggle and sway on my feet.
“No, Vi, I wouldn’t let you die,” Azi tells me firmly, holding his hand on my shoulder. I blink my eyes into focus, seeing Danike standing in front of us, his arms crossed as he stares down Azi. Bad move. I look around him to see Charmeine hugging a girl who I assume is her sister by the looks of it. Right behind them is a crowd of angels, all of them looking at us expectantly.
“What do you want?” I ask Danike.
“We need your demon to open a portal, so we can all leave and return to earth,” Danike answers. He doesn’t even give a shit about me, he only cares about escaping here. Go figure.
“I am taking Evie, and that is it. This place was made to keep you away from humans and demons,” Azi says, and Danike narrows his eyes.
“I knew most demons were selfish bastards, but you are willing to let us all die?” Danike exclaims.
“Azi, can we talk alone?” I ask, not wanting him to answer that, and he looks down at me before nodding.
“Don’t be long. The souls will come back,” Danike warns us as we start to turn away.
“We will be as long as we want. You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do,” I warn Danike, who looks close to losing his shit until Charmeine places her hand on his arm and he walks away. I walk straight to the far house I see in the distance, with Azi keeping himself close to my side.
“Who is he to you?” Azi asks. “And can I kill him? I find him annoying.”
“My father, and trust me, if anyone has a reason to kill him, it’s me,” I reply. Azi places his hand on my back, comforting me without any words.
“Angel…I didn’t expect that,” Azi finally says into the silence.
“Neither did I. The wings are strange,” I say, and I see Azi looking at them.
“They are stunning and suit you,” he replies. Smooth, real smooth.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I chuckle in return, nudging his shoulder. Azi opens the door to the house, letting me go in before coming in himself and shutting it.
“Hali? You did get her? Or we need to leave right now?” I say the moment the door is shut. I couldn’t say anything in front of the angels, I don’t need them knowing about Hali when I cannot trust them all. Azi steps into my space, placing his hands on the top of my arms.
“The Protectors broke Hali out and have hidden with her. I saw Hali before I came here, and she is heartbroken but perfectly okay,” he says, and I sigh in relief until I process what he just said. The Protectors did what?
“They did what?” I ask in disbelief.
“Saved Hali. It seems you have their respect, even when they think you’re dead,” he tells me.
“I will have to thank them. I owe them now,” I mutter. I’d rather owe Azi, and he is a demon. I don’t have a clue how I could pay back the Protectors for such a debt.
“You act so much like a demon with your need to repay favours,” Azi mutters.
“I was mainly brought up around them, and I find their way of life to be right,” I answer and then think of something. “How did you get here? The angels say they can’t escape.”
“They can’t, and only an overlord can get in—and out—of here. My father made this place, and we were all told that coming here would cost all the worlds a great price,” he explains, his words spoken low, and I can sense he feels some shame in breaking a no doubt important promise to his father. I don’t know much about his parents, only that Azi respected and loved them. To break anything he promised them, well it means a fucking lot.
“Still you came for me?” I whisper.
“Evie, fuck. Don’t you know by now that I will follow you anywhere? Even if you don’t want me there and hate me…my place is at your side,” he says, sliding his hands up my shoulders and to my neck. I don’t move as his one hand slides to the back of my neck, and he pulls my lips to his. His hands rest on my neck as he passionately kisses me, the way I remember his kisses being. Perfect. Incredible and so seductive that you forget the entire world around you. I fist my hands in his hair as he picks me up by my ass, turning us around and lying me down on the table.
“We shouldn’t. We have a lot to do and—” I stop as Azi lifts my leg, kissing the inside of my leg, my voice catching in my throat.
“There is nothing we can’t leave until later,” he tells me, kissing my thigh this time as he steps into the space between my legs. I lean up on my elbows as Azi goes to push my dress up and flashes me a wicked grin.
“We have a problem!” Charmeine shouts, and then bangs on the door. “The souls are back, and we need to leave!”
“For fuck’s sake,” Azi groans, and I feel exactly the same. I slide off the table, pulling the door open and knowing I need to find some time alone with Azi to repeat this again.
Forty
Evie
“Where are they?” I ask Charmeine at the door, stepping out where all the angels are gathered together. She points in the distance, where there is a massive crowd of souls running for us. We still have a few minutes, but not a lot.
“Azi?” I ask, and he gently grabs my arm, pulling me away from Charmeine.
“We don’t know all these angels, and if we take them, they could attack everyone. Earth was nearly lost once because of an angel attack,” he explains in a whisper so no one else hears. If everyone blamed entire races for the actions of a few, no one would be left alive. I won’t think like that. I look over at the group of angels, most of them are sitting on the floor and giving up. Others are stood proudly, watching us for our answer. Danike, Charmeine and her sister are talking quietly, Danike’s eyes drifting to me every few seconds.
“And if we leave them, that’s on us. It would be genocide because of something they didn’t do,” I harshly whisper back.
“It won’t be genocide. You will be coming back,” he says.
“Not without them I won’t,” I tell him, crossing my arms and stepping one step back towards the angels.
“Don’t be stubborn now,” he mutters, rubbing his face.
“I’m not. I’m being normal and doing the right thing,” I tell him, not keeping my voice down, and I hear the angels whispering behind me.
“God, I hate your moral compass at times. Fine,” he says, stepping around me and walking to stand in front of the angels.
“You like me really, demon,” I tease, moving to stand at his side and chuckling at the glare he gives me before addressing the angels.
“I will open a portal to earth, which you will need to run through as quickly as possible. Do not be alarmed if you pass out, demon and angel magic don’t mix well,” Azi shouts. I glance behind us, seeing the horde of souls getting that much closer. The angels all cheer, looking between each other, and a few hug. I spot five who stand slightly away from the others, they are all men and have cold looks on their faces.
“I give you one warning though,” I shout, and everything goes silent. “If you cause any problems, any danger to earth, or kill anyone without reason…I will come after you. You do not want that.”
“And she will not be alone,” Azi says as I keep my eyes locked on the five angels. The one in the middle lowers his head and nods in agreement. That’s all I need, and I will have to trust them for now.
“Time to go! I need my sword and a bacon sandwich, asap,” I say, holding my hands on my hips.
“Trust you to bring up bacon at a time like this,” he says, chuckling as he holds his hands out.
“No time is bad for bacon,” I shake my head at him, believing he should know t
hat by now, and then step away as he calls the portal. The portal burns into existence, bigger than the usual one he does for one person. I glance at Azi, seeing red veins covering his face from his burning red eyes. His demon is close to taking over with all this power, and we don’t need that to happen here.
“Run in the portal or stay! Now!” I shout at the angels who stare in shock. They quickly move, running through the portal two at a time. Charmeine grabs her sister’s hand, nodding once at me before jumping into the portal. Danike stands, waiting by the portal until every angel is gone but Azi and me, before jumping himself. I walk towards the portal, standing right in front of it as it burns, and the heat hurts my skin a little.
“Go,” Azi bites out when I look back, seeing how much he is struggling. I quickly jump into the portal, the fire feeling like it burns away my soul before darkness thankfully takes over.
Forty-One
Evie
I roll onto my back, groaning as every part of me hurts, and I force my eyes open to see where Azi has portalled to. I’m surprised to find us all outside his manor house on the outskirts of London, which thankfully has high walls, so no one can see in. I pull myself up, looking around at all the angels still unconscious on the floor and spin around just as Azi falls through the portal, landing roughly on his knees. I rush to him, jumping over two angels and sliding down in front of him. I lift his head, seeing his red eyes are glowing, and there are veins crawling all over his face, but his demon hasn’t taken over. I relax a little when he smirks at me, the lines disappear, and I push some of his black hair off his damp forehead. It took way too much of him to save the angels and me.
“That was dangerous, if I wasn’t in control,” he quietly tells me, while he is still struggling to catch his breath.
“You are always in control, Azi. I know that,” I whisper to him.
"I could have not been in control, and that is really dangerous for someone like me. I'm a demon, and you should know that when my inner demon takes over, he doesn't recognise people. Especially not people I am in love with and would never usually hurt," he whispers the words quietly and so full of emotion that I find it hard to look away.
"Azi, I'm not scared of you, and you shouldn't be scared of who you are," I tell him, needing him to understand that. What I don’t tell him is that if his demon took over, I would be running my ass away as quickly as possible.
I stand and turn around, looking at all the angels plastered across the lawn of Azi’s gardens. They all look okay, nothing particularly wrong with them that I can see anyways. I think for a second about the fact I could have made a big mistake and these angels could be evil, but I know I can figure out a way to kill them if they betray us. I am glad that Azi decided to bring us here. It is probably the best place for these angels, hidden from the world until we figure something out, and they can get to understand everything that has no doubt changed since they were last here. I look up at the giant house, which I've only been to a few times, and admire how good it feels to see something of colour again. My eyes drift to a purple flower crawling up the side of the house, reminding me of Hali as it’s her favourite colour. We need to leave soon to find Hali and let her know I am alive. I can’t even imagine how upset she must have been. A tiny part of me wants to go and see the Protectors, but I don’t think on that for long. They might not want to see me, knowing who I am and who I am going to kill to get my revenge. I won’t let anyone stop me, no matter what they say or do.
"They will not wake up for a while. Should we go inside?" I ask, though I don’t see the point in waiting for a reply. I don't wait for his answer as I step over the angels and walk straight towards the house. Azi’s house is looking extremely beautiful and old. I look at the old stone building, the beautiful brown brick walls and the white windows. There are rose bushes planted outside, and they are loads of different colours which look extremely beautiful. I open the white door, looking round at the small entrance hall, which is covered in white sheets, and the grand staircase that goes up to the second floor. I briefly try to remember where kitchens are in this house, and I turn to the right to have a look on that side. I find the kitchen straightaway, and I head straight for the fridge, opening it up and seeing the zero food inside.
"Why can't I find any bacon? It feels like it's been years since I've had anything decent to eat that isn't a bloody white vegetable," I mutter and slam the fridge door shut. I turn around to see Azi leaning against the door, a smirk permanently etched across his face.
"I could go to Greggs to get you a bacon sandwich,” he suggests. I lean against the fridge as a big smile takes over my face.
"And what would I have to do to make you go get it for me?" I ask. Azi just smiles and walks straight out of the door to no doubt make a portal outside so it doesn’t burn his wood floors.
“I didn’t ask anything, I know if you don’t have bacon for a while, you get really moody. It's likely safer for everybody if I go and get you some while we wait for the angels to wake up,” he chuckles before he leaves. He has a point. I smile and find a bottle of water in one of the cupboards before walking back outside and sitting on a wall as I wait for the angels to wake up. The angels don't stir for some time while I drink my water. As I watch them, I wonder how angry the world might be to know there are angels around again. I look at my back, even though my wings aren’t out, and wonder if having my angel wings means I will get any powers with it. I’m not sure if I want any, but with a big battle coming up, any bonus would be useful. I finally see one of the angels moving at the back. I slide off the wall and walk over to see that it is Danike that has woken up first. Typical.
“That portal hurt more than I remember them ever hurting,” he comments as he stands up and then pauses as he looks around where we are. I silently watch his reaction to being outside of hell for the first time in twenty-six years. I do not know what it must feel like to him, but I imagine it's good to see a colour other than white. The other angels all start stirring, some of them climbing up off the ground and looking around in shock. I watch as Charmeine stirs and rolls on her side. She places her hand on her sister’s arm, right next to her, before realising that she is still sleeping. She stretches her hand out in the grass and picks up a small daisy, staring at it in amazement. Her eyes meet mine as she stands up and walks over to me.
"Thank you for taking us out of there. We could never have escaped without your help, and we will always owe you our lives,” she says and presses the daisy into my hand as a gift.
"You do not have to thank me. You owe me nothing,” I reply, accepting the flower. She only shakes her head at me before walking away to wait for her sister to wake up most likely.
"The angels will come if you need them," Danike says from next to me. I look at the man who is my father and feel nothing but anger towards him. He left my mother alone when he must have known the cost of doing that. He left me alone and has had no interest in even being decent towards me since he found out he is my father. I know that I do not need a father like that in my life.
"I will never call for the angels. I have survived on my own since I was a baby, and it has taught me that I do not need anyone in my life, especially not a father who left a pregnant woman alone,” I say harshly, “who left a defenseless child alone.”
"I did not leave her alone, and you have no idea what you speak. You will need the angels, especially if you plan to take the throne. The keepers will never accept a half angel like you as their queen,” he warns me.
“It is lucky that Evie has more people to protect her than you know. The keepers will have no choice in the matter if it is what Evie wants," Azi’s dark voice comes from right behind me.
“Demons cannot protect angels from the price we all pay,” he tells Azi and then looks towards me. “When you want to know about who you are and the price you will pay, come to me.”
“There is no price that I cannot pay. I have everything I need, without your help,” I tell him as Azi slides an arm aro
und my waist.
“You and your people can stay in my home for as long as you wish. We have to leave, but there are humans who will come to the house to bring food and clothes once a week. I suggest you all get to know the world you have stepped into before going out in it,” Azi says, and Danike nods his agreement.
“Good luck,” Danike says once, his eyes locked on mine before he walks away. I try not to feel any emotion that the only parent I’ve known just walks away like I do not mean anything to him. Thankfully Azi uses that moment to show me the bacon sandwich, which I practically inhale in two seconds, and it makes me feel so much better. I smile up at Azi, knowing how lucky I am to have him in my life and how much I missed him. I don’t know when it was, the saving my life or getting me bacon, but I can’t help but feel like we are getting back to how we were before. Once I'm done eating, I look up at Azi with only one question in mind.
“Where is Hali?”
Forty-Two
Evie
Once Azi tells me where to find Hali, I open a portal with my rune and run through it, feeling the cold wash of the magic surrounding me as I step into an empty room. The room is small with a kitchen pressed on one side of it, and the lounge with two sofas on the other side. There is a red blanket hanging over the back of the sofa and weapons all leaning up against it. I hear Azi come through the portal after me, and I turn and give him a questioning look.
“Hali!” Azi shouts. I practically hold my breath as a door opens and Hali steps out, dropping the book she was holding. Hali’s long black hair is neatly braided, and she has on black clothes I’ve never seen her wear before. They almost look like boy clothes, and I wonder if the Protectors went shopping for her or something. Neither one of us moves for a second, then she runs into my arms, crying and mumbling words I can't understand. I hold her close to me, rubbing my hand down her back in comfort as I try not to cry myself. I missed her, and damn, I hate that she had to go through all this heartbreak and shock. She has been through enough.
