Aelziroth stepped into the bedroom.
The bed was empty. The four bedposts lay in a neat row on the mattress, the ropes on top.
Yes! Mentally Cassie pumped her fists in the air.
“Where is he?” Aelziroth’s rage rose like flames around Cassie, but she hardly felt it. Tom had escaped! Aelziroth couldn’t kill him! She wanted to dance. The demon ran to the open window. Cold mountain air wafted in, raising goose bumps on her naked flesh. Tom was nowhere in sight.
*Does he think he can hide from me? I’ll find him. He will suffer for this defiance!*
*Tick-tock,* Cassie reminded the demon. *You have less than half an hour.*
Aelziroth lashed out at her, and her screams would have shredded her throat if she still controlled her body. But the demon stalked into the living room and began to dress.
Jared flipped the phone shut.
Dave stared at him. “That’s your plan? You’re going to turn yourself over to Aelziroth?”
“No. Not if I can help it.” Jared pointed at the white paper-thin barrier stapled to the bottom of the bridge above them. “That symbol will bind Aelziroth while I exorcize him from Cassie. He only gets me if that doesn’t work. If that happens, I’ll need you to be ready with the rifle so you can kill him.”
“Kill him.” Dave drew out the words. “That means killing you too.”
Jared shrugged. “We can’t let Aelziroth roam the earth in an immortal body, doing whatever he wants.”
Dave was silent.
“I don’t know what he did while he was in you—”
“No, you don’t,” Dave said angrily. “And I’m not going to tell you. I’ve done a lot of things in my life, but he—” He looked away, the muscles in his jaw jumping.
When the mercenary turned back he was calmer, but his voice was still tight. “Let’s just say, I know what he’s capable of. I’ll shoot you if I have to. But I’m not an expert marksman. I’m a good shot, but I’m no sniper.”
“Just do your best. Hopefully you won’t have to.” Jared stood, giving a hand up to Dave. “Let’s get that stuff into the car.” He grunted as he stood, pressing his palm against his bandaged side.
Their wounds and weakness made them move like old men, but they got the job done.
“Take the car to one of those residential streets, then come back and position yourself so you can watch the other side of the path there.” Jared pointed as they stood next to the Benz. “Keep an eye out in case he uses a decoy like he did before.”
“You want to do something about that light?” Dave nodded at the pole beside the parking lot.
Jared shook his head. “You may need it to take the shot. Besides, it’s better if everything looks as normal as possible, just in case someone drives by.”
“Lord save us from civilians,” Dave said. Then he got in the car and drove away without turning on the lights.
Jared sagged against the side of the covered bridge and bowed his head. This had to work. He didn’t know what he’d do if Aelziroth killed Cassie.
He loved her. Her strength and compassion astonished him. He couldn’t stand thinking about what the Apostate had done in the past few hours. Dave was right; she might never recover.
She’s resilient. But fear for her threatened to choke him. He tried to focus on what he had to do next, but he couldn’t.
*Help me,* he begged Michael. Raphael, as leader of the Guardians, was the logical choice to petition, but Michael, if he chose to act, would give no quarter. Jared didn’t hope for Michael to manifest with his flaming sword, but he could do no better than to have Michael’s influence in the coming battle. If Michael would hear him. *I don’t ask for myself. Help Cassie. Please.*
A stillness settled into Jared’s bones. He didn’t know if Michael had heard him, or if he’d help, but his mind and heart were clear. It was time to finish his preparations.
Jared used a large piece of chalk to draw the symbol he needed on the floorboards of the bridge. He’d remove the compulsion Crandall had laid on Aelziroth. Jared didn’t doubt the demon might kill Cassie just for fun, but at least he wouldn’t be bound to Crandall’s will to “neutralize” her.
And when Aelziroth stepped into the symbol he expected to see, the one hidden underneath would bind him while Jared forced him out of Cassie’s body.
If all went according to plan.
Tires crunched on the gravel of the parking lot and headlights swung across the bridge. The motor turned off, and the soft sounds of the night resumed.
Cassie got out of the vehicle. She wore a combat vest and carried a gun. Her face was cold and hard.
Jared’s heart twisted, seeing her like that. It’s show time.
CHAPTER 18
CASSIE RODE AS a passenger in her own body as Aelziroth strolled up to the covered bridge, casually carrying an AK-47. He glanced at the shake-shingled roof and stopped where the path sloped up to the edge. Moonlight shone in through one of the open sides, casting silvery light on half the floor. A tall parking lot light filled in, leaving only a few inky shadows in the corners.
Jared leaned against a support pillar at the opening, arms crossed over his broad chest. She remembered the blood on his shirt, but it was covered by a jacket now. She couldn’t tell how badly he was hurt. He probably didn’t want Aelziroth to know.
*Don’t do this,* she wanted to shout. *Don’t give yourself over to Aelziroth!*
She wished she could go to him, feel him pull her close again, shake some sense into him. But Aelziroth held her in a tight prison of control.
*Don’t worry*, Aelziroth told her. *You’ll feel Jared take you again—when I’m in control of his body.*
Cassie tried to ignore him.
“Right on time,” Jared said, his deep voice rumbling.
Jared was going to sacrifice himself, and for what? For her supposed destiny? She wished she could tell him not to be such a noble idiot, but he probably wouldn’t listen to her even if she could.
Jared’s eyes met hers, and suddenly she felt steadier. A spark of hope kindled in her heart, and the music he’d given her grew so sweet and clear it made her want to sing. Cassie was surprised Aelziroth couldn’t hear it.
“Nice work, Jaradiel.” The demon perused the drawing on the wooden floorboards, then looked up, examining the underside of the roof where a series of metal plates were bolted. “No binding symbol here, and none drawn on the roof.”
“I figured you saw that movie too.”
Aelziroth chuckled. “I don’t know if I’m proud of you, or dismayed. You’re giving in so easily. Not much of a challenge.”
“Sorry to disappoint. Shall we get on with this? It will be dawn soon, and the joggers will be showing up.”
“So eager,” Aelziroth drawled with her voice. “Very well.” He sauntered onto the bridge, into the drawing.
Jared stepped outside the circle then closed it with a short mark of the chalk. He began to chant. Power pulsed and eddied around Aelziroth. The air shimmered like heat haze rising from the desert in summer.
Cassie could see just enough of Aelziroth’s mind to know Jared didn’t need the trappings of bell, book, and candles. This wasn’t witchcraft, and Jared wasn’t mortal. He had his own Power and he didn’t need to use any spells haphazardly cobbled together from bits and pieces. All it took was Power spoken aloud, and the right symbol to focus it.
In minutes it was done. Cassie felt the geas break like a bubble popping. The magical compulsion on the demon to “neutralize” her was gone.
Aelziroth laughed and spread her arms wide. “Well done, my friend. Well done. I am free of that mortal parasite, Crandall.”
Aelziroth stared intently at Jared. “We were friends once, Jaradiel. We could be again. I know you chafe at the restrictions Michael and his sycophants impose. Throw them off. Join us. Join me. You can keep your body. We can travel the world together and have fabulous sex and do what we will. No one will be able to gainsay us.”
Jared so
berly returned the demon’s gaze and began chanting again. The Power leapt up, swirling into a complex pattern of lines and colors that began to contract around Aelziroth.
The demon screamed in rage.
Cassie’s heart leapt. Jared wasn’t giving up without a fight. “You’re trying to exorcize me?”
Aelziroth raised the gun and ripped off a burst.
A bullet hit Jared in the shoulder. He staggered back a step but his words didn’t falter.
*No!* Cassie reached for the music that had given her strength before and focused on lifting her arms, pushing with every ounce of strength she had. Aelziroth’s aim shifted, and the rest of the bullets buried themselves in the roof.
Jared continued chanting in that beautiful, musical language that was almost like singing, and it harmonized with the music playing in Cassie’s soul. She pulled her arms down, aiming the gun at the wooden floor.
The demon speared Cassie with a lance of pain, then struggled to aim the weapon again, but his arms were now trapped by her sides. He couldn’t move.
Neither could Cassie. The Power that held Aelziroth immobile had her trapped as well.
Aelziroth raged, pouring his fury onto Cassie. It was like being burned alive. She tried to turn away from the pain, but there was no escape. It surrounded her, filled her. Her entire existence was agony.
*Sing, Cassie. Help me.* Jared’s voice resonated in her heart.
The flames of Aelziroth’s temper threatened to burn her to ashes.
Cassie sang. She lifted her mental voice to join with Jared’s, just as she had helped to sing Gideon home in Linda’s living room. Music welled up from deep, deep within her, bubbling like spring water. Cassie focused on that, drinking it in, pouring her own song back into the melody. She submerged herself in the waves of the music like a cool oasis, letting it support her and soothe her, willing Aelziroth to weaken, willing Jared to be strong enough to rip the demon out of her.
The flames receded. There was a tinge of panic in Aelziroth’s anger. Cassie could feel her limbs again, though she still couldn’t move.
Cassie soared on the music, blending her strength and her song with Jared’s. Power flowed all around them, a pure light shaped by hundreds of years of worship. She could feel Jared now, drawing on the Power of the land. He was in terrible pain, but his heart was strong and his Power was singing, grappling with Aelziroth’s.
Heat burned a trail along the side of her head and her focus shattered. She heard a sharp crack. Wood splintered as a bullet took a chunk out of the names of lovers carved into the support beyond her.
Someone had just tried to shoot her.
Three more sharp reports shocked the quiet night air, coming from a different direction.
Jared faltered in his song and the pattern wavered.
Aelziroth’s power surged, and Cassie reached for Jared’s Power in a panic. The demon tried to aim the gun, but Cassie threw everything she had into holding Aelziroth still. She would not let him kill Jared.
Running feet slapped the asphalt of the path then pounded on the wooden boards. A rough arm grabbed her rigid body and pulled her against one of the tall supports between the half walls of the bridge. The cold barrel of a gun was jammed against her neck.
“Drop the gun,” a man’s voice growled beside her ear.
I would if I could.
“Drop it!” The man thrust the gun painfully into her neck.
Jared stopped chanting. The Power filling the air started to dissipate.
Fighting Aelziroth all the way, Cassie managed to relax her hands. The gun fell to the wooden boards.
“Now call off your dog,” the voice called out loud enough for Jared to hear, “or she’s dead.”
Dave swore silently. He’d commanded enough field ops to know a snafu when he saw one.
He’d barely spotted Crandall before the bastard had taken his shot at Cassie. Dave clenched his jaw. He thought he might have clipped Crandall with his third shot, but now the son-of-a-bitch was using the woman as a shield. Damn it, I told Jared I wasn’t a sniper.
Dave sighted on Crandall’s head. Too close. Crandall was too close to Cassie to risk a shot. Maybe if he had a scope and a week to practice. And if wishes were horses, I’d be in the Bahamas with a blonde on one arm and a redhead on the other.
Damn it! Should he take the shot, or wait?
Aelziroth was in the woman. But killing Cassie was not the plan.
Not Jared’s plan anyway. They still needed to kill Aelziroth. And if he took out the woman, Crandall would be without his shield.
Dave lined up the shot.
“You’ll kill her anyway,” Cassie heard Jared say through the music. The cold barrel of the gun pressed painfully into her flesh. Her attention wavered, and Aelziroth tensed her muscles.
*Release me!* Aelziroth demanded. *I can save your pathetic life.*
Even if the demon’s lightening reflexes could take out Crandall before his bullets shredded her carotid artery it wasn’t worth it.
*No!* Cassie wrapped the beauty of the music around her like a protective shield. Whatever happened, she would not let the demon have her body back. Not without a fight.
“Maybe.” Crandall tightened his grip. “But if you don’t call off your shooter, it’s guaranteed. Do you really want to watch her head explode?”
“Dave,” Jared called out. “Stand down.”
A breeze riffled through the pine needles, but there was no sound except the music still playing in Cassie’s head.
*Free me!* Aelziroth pushed hard, lashing out with a searing bolt of pain. Cassie’s focus on the melody slipped.
“Dave?” Crandall sounded incredulous. “So that’s why I lost the connection to Aelziroth. You exorcized him.”
“Not exactly.” Jared stepped slightly closer to the shadows in one corner of the bridge.
Crandall shifted, as if examining the floor. “Is that what these symbols are for? The exorcism? They’re different from those I’m familiar with.” Then he straightened. “I want to see him. Have him come out.”
Aelziroth poured on the agony like liquid fire. Cassie lost her connection to Jared and the Power welling up from the earth. She couldn’t hold on. The demon burst free with a rush of glee, no longer immobilized.
*Sorry dear, I’ve got to go. Crandall is going to blow your brains out, and I’m not going to die with you.*
Suddenly Cassie was alone in her body. Aelziroth was gone, into Crandall.
Cassie’s knees gave way and she slumped, pulling Crandall’s body off balance. Aelziroth took a step, trying to hold her.
The sharp report of a rifle echoed in the cold night air. Aelziroth’s hand spasmed and released her. Something warm and wet splattered her face and shoulder. Cassie fell, Crandall on top of her. The world went black.
CHAPTER 19
“CASSIE!” HER NAME tore from Jared’s throat in a ragged shout as he ran to her, heedless of the pain shooting through his side. Blood slicked her face and hair, covered her shoulder. So much blood. Heart hammering, he kicked both Crandall’s and Aelziroth’s weapons away. She can’t be dead. Don’t let her be dead.
Crandall’s head was covered in blood too. Jared nudged him with his foot. He didn’t react.
Relief threatened to turn Jared’s limbs to water. Crandall had been shot, not Cassie. But did Aelziroth still have her?
Her eyes fluttered open. Jared reached for Crandall’s gun, but then he touched her mind. It wasn’t Aelziroth gazing up at him. It was pure Cassie. His knees buckled. He pulled Crandall’s body off her then held her close, rocking her gently. His side screamed in pain but he didn’t care. She was alive. Alive and free. “I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered.
“Not yet,” Cassie said on a short breath.
Dave ran onto the bridge, footsteps thudding on the wooden floor. He stopped abruptly, looking sharply at Jared holding Cassie, and then at Crandall, whose head was a bloody mess.
“Oh, thank God! I made the s
hot. I made the shot.” He ran a hand over his face, then dropped to his knees beside them. “Are you all right?” he asked Cassie.
Was she all right? Jared’s heart twisted. Aelziroth was gone, destroyed, but would she ever be able to forget what the Apostate had done to her? Jared skimmed the surface of her mind, tasting the chaotic swirl of her emotions, the relief of freedom, the residue of torture, the remains of fear and horror and disgust. He wanted to delve deeper, to join with her, but he was reluctant to intrude further after the invasion she’d endured from Aelziroth. That small glimpse was enough to make him scream with hot, impotent rage, but he held himself still for her sake. Jared could almost wish the demon still present so he could slake his desire for vengeance on him.
“Sorry. Stupid question,” Genuine sorrow twisted the mercenary’s face.
Cassie reached out a hand to Dave. “Thank you.”
Something passed between them, then Dave swallowed and looked embarrassed. “It was a team effort.” He glanced away for a moment, blinking rapidly. Then he cleared his throat and said, “The cops will be here in a minute or two. There’s no reason they should be interested in you, except as the victims. We’ll tell them Crandall heard about your gift and became obsessed with you. You turned him down, so he tried to take you out. If he couldn’t have you, no one would.”
Cassie shuddered. “Why didn’t we wait for the police at the cabin?”
“You were freaked and ran away,” Dave answered. “We went after you. Stupid maybe, but that’s what we did.”
Jared lifted his brows, impressed. Dave was spinning their cover story with amazing ease. “What about the symbols on the bridge?”
Dave’s lips thinned as if at a bitter memory. “That’s the easy part. They’ll find all sorts of shit at his house. Crandall’s deep into black magic.”
“And the man I shot?” Jared asked quietly.
“I’ll take the heat for that. He was with Crandall, breaking into your place. He was wearing a vest and carrying a gun. It was self-defense.”
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