Bad Angels: Falling

by Belinda McBride

  Rex was no longer shivering, and he'd clearly dropped back to sleep in Hunter's arms. When the entity had struck out, Rex had seemed to take the brunt of the attack ... if that's what it was.

  He lowered Rex back to the ground and the Sidhe curled up on his side, arms and legs held tightly to his body. Hunter leaned down and brushed a kiss against his cheek. He sat close to Rex, gazing out into the foggy night. The fire seemed small and insignificant against the weight of the darkness.

  Memory had not been his friend this past year. It had taunted him, teasing him with images that dissolved like mist when he looked. Remembrance slid into his mind's eye, slipping away as quickly as it came.

  The turn of a head, the smile of ... someone. The tone of a bell or the sound of a voice. White marbled halls and the fragrance of roses drifting lightly on the air.

  Hair the color of starlight, celestial blue eyes, the colors of the many moods of the sky. An enemy who wasn't ... a friend who was.

  Hunter gazed at the night sky, seeing but not really remembering.

  A woman with smiling eyes, her tongue trailing down his smooth, hairless body, looking up at him through a fringe of silver-white hair. Her lips moved, but he couldn't hear her speak. His heart swelled with joy at the long awaited consummation of their love...

  A friend, arm draped lazily over his shoulder, laughing as he urged him along ... somewhere...

  A scream, more screams ... a sword over her head, coming down in a blaze, leaving nothing in its wake but empty space. A sword ... suspended over his head ... hands wrenching his mouth open as the glowing hot metal was shoved into his throat...

  Hunter tried to scream ... to wake, but the dream had him and wouldn't let loose.

  He was flat on his back in the damp dirt of a Scottish meadow. The thing of fire and ice roamed his body freely. Flames licked his skin. Warm heat nudged his cock, drawing it to painful sweet erection. Faster than he could comprehend, he was pulled to climax, his seed drawn into her ravenous mouth. Again, hard ... painful ... and release pulled all the strength from his body ... again and then again.

  He heard a scream, thought it was his own as the hungry mouth began again ... torturing him with the sweetest agony. Another scream ... This one ripped from the bottom of his lungs, tearing over his scarred vocal cords.

  An answering scream ... and another...

  Hunter fought past the flames of lust and fear; he beat them down, struggling to wakefulness. For a moment, he thought the world had gone to hell and back. Rex lay thrashing and struggling. A red glow wrapped his body, stripping him of his glamour. His face was wan and pale, his eyes fevered and partially open.

  Hunter looked to the other side of the fire, and saw Patrick also struggled in his sleep. The faintest red mist hovered over his form. That wasn't what held Hunter's eye...

  He crouched, gathering Rex into his arms, only marginally aware of the sweat and the semen that soaked his clothing and coated their bodies.

  Rex screamed and thrashed as his body arched into another impossible climax. His tail thrashed wildly, catching Hunter like a whip over his back, his legs, and even his wings. Hunter stood his ground, ignoring the pain.

  Patrick was now awake and on his feet, his black hair spilling to his hips in glossy waves. His naked skin was no longer human white, but the color of moonlight, glowing in the coming dawn. Huge, black-feathered wings rose above his back. His cock was hard and rigid, yet streaks of semen glittered on his belly and thighs. As Hunter watched, the ebony sword he brandished began to glow with an unearthly white light. He held it to the sky and the red mist fled, as though in fear.

  It still clung to Rex, pulling the very life from his body.

  "Save him..."

  The smile was gone from Patrick's eyes. In its place was deadly intent, reflected in the flame of his sword. He was crossing the camp, but clearly, his intent was not to aid Rex.

  "It is as I feared, Kokabiel. The demons are drawn to your side."

  "How do you know my name?” Hunter stepped back. Rex felt light in his arms, as though he was losing substance. He glanced at the Sidhe, and from the corner of his eye, saw his own wings rising bright and magnificent in the darkness.

  "Who are you?"

  "You do not know me?” The other angel faltered for a moment, a look of confusion in his eye. It was quickly gone.

  "You know me well. I loved you and called you friend. But you are no longer that person. It is in the honor of God's Star that I slay you this day."

  Hunter took another step back, thinking quickly, but finding no answers.

  "Who are you to me?"

  "I am Azrael. I am the Bringer of Death."

  "And you have come for me.” It wasn't a question. That black sword blazed in the death angel's hand, chasing the scattered remnants of the red phantom as though it was smoke. His intent was clear.

  "The demon might have sought me out, but it meant to kill me, Azrael. Why do you foil the demon when it clearly shares your purpose?"

  Again, confusion flickered in the dark angel's expression. Rex moaned slightly, and shifted in Hunter's arms.

  "This Sidhe has done no wrong by the laws of our people. I will not allow him to die, nor will you break the laws of our people by taking his life."

  Hunter was desperate for time, for inspiration. He remembered enough to know there was a rigid code of conduct among the angels, and he prayed that the Blessed Ones were off limits.

  "Stop hiding behind your lover."

  "Allow me to tend his health. I will face you then."

  Azrael lowered his sword and stood his ground, allowing Hunter to lower Rex to the ground. His pulse was fast and erratic, his skin held a dangerous pallor. It wasn't good. Hunter knew he had to save himself in order to save Rex.

  "Tell me, Azrael, what crime am I guilty of?"

  "You know."

  "I have no memory of any wrongdoing.” He looked up from Rex's still form. “I have no memory of your face or name. I believe you speak false when you claim that we were friends."

  Azrael flinched as though he'd been slapped. Hunter sorted through the fragments of his memory, and nowhere did he recall a black-winged angel.

  "Did they cast you out as well? You are dark therefore you must be better suited to the evil things that you hunt here on Earth."

  "I am Heaven's Angel of Justice."

  "No, Azrael, you are a flunky. You are the bringer of death because no others will soil their hands. I remember little, but before I fell, I was as white and spotless as all the others. When I woke here, my hair was the color of flame."

  "It is a sign of your corruption."

  "I am not corrupt, Azrael. I am still the bringer of Knowledge and Truth. Look upon me."

  It didn't really work that way, Hunter needed to touch in order to see, but Azrael's tortured eyes told him what he needed to know.

  "What is my crime, Azrael?"

  "Treason."

  "What did I do? My life was one of beauty and music. They thrust a white-hot blade down my throat and killed my song. Mere speech gives me pain now. They stripped the memories from my brain. A woman ... someone I loved. She is no more because of me. What did I do, Azrael?"

  He stood and faced the angel.

  "Were we truly friends?” He searched the dark angel's face for something familiar. If they'd been friends, shouldn't he have known him? Shouldn't he ... feel?

  "What attacked us just now? You and I broke away, but its main target was Rex. Why?"

  The blade vanished from Azrael's hand, and his shoulders slumped forward.

  "What was my crime, Azrael?” He moved closer, palms open and empty.

  A terrible expression crossed the dark angel's face. Tears and anger chased each other through his eyes. “I don't know. I am commanded, and I obey."

  "Were you truly my friend?"

  "You don't remember. If you remembered, I would see it on your face. You never could lie, Kokabiel."

  "My name is Rion Hunter.”
He moved closer and looked up into the other angel's face. “What did we mean to one another?"

  Azrael caught a breath; it very nearly sounded like a sob.

  "All shunned me but you, Kokabiel. When I was banished and became the Angel of Death, I was marked like this.” He bowed his head, his ebony wings spread slightly. “They all turned their backs. I walked through the Celestial Halls and the others turned away, save you. You smiled and remained my friend."

  "What did I do to be banished?"

  "I do not know.” He hung his head in shame. “I am commanded, and I obey."

  Slowly, Hunter reached out and clasped his arm. “Look upon the truth, Azrael. Look with knowledge. See my heart.” Distantly, he was aware of the glow that grew and enfolded them both. Azrael's eyes grew large with fear ... horror.

  "They took your song. They took your memories..."

  "Who was she?"

  Azrael shook his head mutely.

  "Could you see the faces of my betrayers?"

  "No. They used magic to cloud your memory. I'm sorry, Kokabiel.” He seemed to wilt, to somehow grow smaller, though he stood taller than Hunter.

  "The Sidhe stirs. She drained off some of our vitality. He's immortal, so he'll recover."

  "What was that?"

  "Succubus."

  Azrael looked around as though he was searching for something ... someone. “It will come again. It has called attention to you. Others will come now. The essence of immortals is a divine taste upon the lips of the Dark Ones. They will seek you both out and feed from you forever."

  "Shit."

  Hunter turned to see Rex balancing on wobbly legs. “She tasted you as well.” He nodded to Azrael's belly where semen was drying on his alabaster skin.

  "As I tasted her. Now I will hunt the demon as her kind will hunt you."

  "Like I said ... shit. Not that being fucked to death is a bad way to go.” He stepped, staggered and went to his knees. Hunter hurried to steady him as he rose again.

  "That thing was a she?"

  Azrael nodded.

  "Well, evil or not, she's being tortured. That wasn't an act of malice so much as fury and pain."

  "I felt it as well.” Hunter looked at Patrick. Azrael.

  "She is one of the Fallen. She is now demon. I will find her and destroy her."

  He turned away, and before their eyes, the wings faded and before them stood Patrick Feehan, with his merry face and shining blue eyes. His smile had fled.

  "We part ways here. I cannot kill you without knowing more, Kokabiel."

  "I'm sure he appreciates that, Patrick. What exactly does that mean?"

  Patrick turned, and in the gray morning light, Hunter could see the barest trace of glamour, some powerful magic that hid Azrael from sight. Not as good as Rex, but very nearly. How had he remained hidden so completely?

  "It means that I will seek the truth. If Kokabiel is guilty of treason, I will return."

  "And if he's innocent?"

  Azrael had no answer for that. He looked from angel to Sidhe, and swallowed hard. “I don't know."

  Hunter saw that Patrick was truly confused. He was a bringer of death, not justice, in spite of what he'd said earlier. He followed orders, but lacked the capacity to distinguish guilt or innocence. Hunter wondered how much innocent blood the black angel had spilled.

  "In the meantime, Azrael, you are welcome at our hearth.” Hunter stepped up, once again looking deep into those sapphire blue eyes. He looked for the truth. He looked for mercy. He looked for any sort of memory that might live there, but he saw nothing.

  "You must not stay at your farm."

  "What?” Rex's voice was a harsh whisper in the fog.

  "She has tasted you. Whoever holds her leash has tasted you ... all of us. If you remain in one place, you will be found."

  "No ... I can't..."

  Hunter clasped his shoulder and squeezed hard. He felt Rex's grief run up his arm like an ache that settled around his heart. He moved closer and held the Sidhe tight to his chest, looking at Azrael through a mist of shared pain.

  "I've been there nigh on two hundred years..."

  "And you cannot afford to remain there another week. I am sorry.” His Irish lilt was back, and it sat poorly on his grim words. “It is only a place, Blessed One."

  "He's bound to the earth and forest there, Azrael. It's like ... tearing off a limb."

  Azrael gathered his blanket and stuffed it into his pack. “When I hunt this demon and destroy her ... and her nest, you might be able to return."

  He turned away, walking into the mist. When they could see him no longer, his voice suddenly carried to their ears.

  "I am sorry, Kokabiel, to taunt you over the loss of your song. That was ... unkind."

  Hunter didn't know what to say, so he said nothing. He gathered Rex into his arms and rose swiftly into the sky, heedless of anyone who might see them.

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  Chapter Ten

  "It's all taken care of."

  Hunter pulled back the curtain from the bed nook and carefully sat on the edge of the coarse mattress. Rex lay there, still pale, still not recovered from the attack. “I've arranged for Missus Cameron to take the cow and chickens. I hope it's all right ... I didn't charge her."

  "That's fine. She's a widow and has little enough. The rest of the livestock?"

  "I sold the flock to Mister Brown down near the village. He'll send a boy and a dog to gather them tomorrow.” He hesitated. “I told them you are ill and go to live out your days with your brother."

  Rex rolled over to face the wall, giving his back to Hunter. It stung. Hunter stood up and moved around the little cottage, gathering a few things. “I kept the horse and cart, but I doubt we should take more than we can carry easily. It'll be some time before you can walk a full day."

  "I'll be fine soon enough.” He still didn't move to face the room.

  Hunter sighed and set down the bundle of clothing he held. He moved to the bed and carefully slid under the blankets, wrapping an arm around Rex's waist. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Rex. I don't know how to make this up to you."

  That brought Rex around to look at him. “You blame yourself for this?"

  "Azrael came for me. He said the demon came for me. Where else do I place the blame?"

  "Oh, Hunter, no ... No. This isn't your fault. It was time for me to leave anyway. I've nearly overstayed and the neighbors are growing suspicious.” He pulled Hunter closer, drawing his head down. “I'm tired, Hunter, and a little sad. I'm very frightened as well. For you more than for myself."

  The Sidhe was in his true form; his tail was wrapped around Hunter's waist, gently stroking and soothing. He ran his hand down the angel's hair.

  "Can we go back to the Other Place? Just until you recover?"

  Rex shook his head. “Patrick was right, she's tasted us. If we go there, that could give the Dark Ones a way into our world. It's too dangerous. We just need to move."

  They lay quietly. Hunter could hear the beat of his heart, feel the velvety surface of Rex's wings. Before they left, the Sidhe would lay wards on the house. The locals would slowly forget the little croft near the forest, and it would gradually fade from view until Rex returned as his own son or nephew. He'd already dug up several small caches of coin and gemstones that had been hidden over the years. They had money that would feed them for a long time to come.

  "What do you remember about the succubus?” Rex's voice was low and strained. Had this been his burden these past days? Had the attack left him damaged in his soul?

  "She was angry and frightened. I just remember her mouth on my cock, bringing me again and again. Not much else. I broke away before you did. Do you remember something different?"

  "Hatred. She hated me, but needed me as well. I ... I said yes to her, Hunter. She didn't take ... I gave. She was afraid of dying.” He rolled onto Hunter's chest, resting his cheek on the rough fabric of his tunic. “I don't want to run from her. I wan
t to find her ... help her."

  "She's a demon, Rex. She means to hurt us."

  "She's a succubus, Hunter. They haunt the dreams and feed on lust. But they don't do any real harm. They don't kill. They aren't necessarily evil or demonic."

  "But Azrael said..."

  "I heard what he said. But do you remember what we talked about a few days back? About evil being a choice?"

  "Yes. I remember."

  "I didn't sense evil, Hunter. Fear and fury and the need to survive. She needs help."

  "Are you saying what I think you're saying?” Hunter leaned back and looked down into Rex's face. “That we find her? Is that what you want?"

  "I don't know, Hunter. I don't know what I want. But I do want you to remember that this world isn't black and white. This world isn't even shades of gray. It's a vibrant place with all the colors that you can imagine in all the combinations that the eye can understand. Just because someone does something bad, doesn't mean that they are evil. Your friend Azrael sees only black and white. I don't see that way, Kokabiel."

  "Don't call me that.” Hunter shifted away, moving to the edge of the bed. Rex's tail held him tightly, not allowing him to escape.

  "Make love to me, Hunter."

  He felt his skin flush ... Rex hadn't touched him since they'd returned to the croft. They slept in the same bed, but with caution and distance. “You're still too weak."

  "I'm too weak to stand in a tree and fuck, but I'm strong enough for you to make love with me.” The Sidhe's strong rough hand slipped under Hunter's tunic, stroking the soft skin of his chest and belly. With the urging of hands and lips and that comical tail, Hunter returned to Rex's side, sighing as his shirt slipped over his head and his pants dropped to the floor.

  Rex was on his back, his wings spread out beneath his body. With a sense of surrender that was somewhere near to despair, Hunter rose over his slender body, covering it with his own. They kissed gently, lips clinging, breath mingling.

  "Gentle this time, Rex."

  "Gentle,” he whispered in Hunter's ear. It was indeed gentle, skin brushing, lips caressing. Words of love were spoken and all feelings of guilt fled from Hunter's soul. He knelt between Rex's parted legs, kissing a soft line from belly to hip to that tender valley between thigh and groin. Before his eyes, Rex's shaft filled and grew hard and straight, moving up over his belly.