Angel Warriors

by Stephani Hecht

  When they got to the door, the male turned and started walking away. Gabi’s heart went out for him. He seemed sad and resigned, like the weight of the whole world was on his shoulders.

  “Appolion?” Abdiel croaked out.

  Appolion stopped dead in his tracks and he slowly turned around. His mouth opened and closed several times, but no sound came out. It was easy to see the fear on his face, mixed with what, Gabi prayed was hope.

  “You’re still an angel,” Abdiel whispered. “You didn’t turn. I prayed that you did not become demon, and my prayers have been answered.”

  “No, you’re wrong,” Appolion said, his voice filled with pain. “I don’t know what I am, but I’m not like you.”

  “Come with us,” Gabi spoke softly, using the same tone of voice someone uses with a scared child. “I can sense you are injured. Let us heal you.”

  “I can’t go in there.” Appolion looked at the building apprehensively. “It’s protected. I can feel it pushing me away even now.”

  “Where’s Rachael?” As soon as Abdiel asked this, his brother’s face filled with grief.

  “I don’t know. They separated us the first day we all were in Hell. I haven’t seen her since. We used to communicate telepathically, but not anymore.”

  “What happened to you, Appolion?”

  “They tried to turn me, but I wouldn’t let them.” His younger brother looked down at his feet, not willing to meet his eyes.

  “What did they do to you, little brother?”

  Appolion continued to look at his feet. He shook his head refusing to speak. It was Gabi who answered.

  “They tortured him,” she whispered. “I’ve scanned him, and he carries many wounds on him, some quite old.”

  “They kicked me out of Hell.” Appolion finally looked up. “I’ve been living as a human ever since.”

  Appolion walked over and touched Gabi’s wound. She could feel the heat from his hands as he started to heal the injury. However, he pulled back before it was completely healed.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve only healed humans. I guess I can’t heal angels,” he murmured.

  “It’s because you’re injured,” Gabi told him. “An injured angel cannot heal another angel. I knew as soon as I saw you that you were a healer and a gifted one too.”

  “Please, come back home with us,” Abdiel pleaded.

  Appolion actually took a few steps toward them before he caught himself and stopped. He slowly shook his head back and forth, an apologetic look on his face.

  “Don’t you see? I’m tainted. I’m not an angel, and I’m not a demon. I’m not fit for Heaven.”

  “Michael will help you.”

  “No, he will send me back to Hell,” Appolion’s voice was filled with panic. “I can’t go back there. I won’t.”

  His younger brother turned around and ran the hell out of there. Gabi had never seen an angel move so fast. Soon he was swallowed up in the crowd. Knowing what little she did about Appolion, he was probably shielding himself from view. That was one wicked talent he had there.

  “Appolion!” Abdiel yelled.

  He carried Gabi up the stairs to the apartment door. When he got there, he tried the door only to find it locked. He lifted up his foot in order to kick it in.

  “Stop!” Gabi shouted before she touched the lock, it unlocked at her touch “We don’t need keys.”

  He carried her inside. He went to the bedroom and placed her on the bed. He started to walk to the adjoining bathroom, but she grabbed him and pulled him into her arms.

  Her gentle touch was his undoing. He placed his head on her shoulder and let the tears come. She stroked his hair as he cried silently, her heart breaking too.

  “I love you, princess,” he whispered against her throat.

  “You’ll always have me, Abdiel,” she promised.

  “He was so close, and I scared him away.”

  “Don’t worry,” she told him as she stroked his arm. “We’ll find your brother again.”

  “He seemed so sad. I feel so helpless.” He played with her hair.

  “He’s not a demon, Abdiel. At least you know that.”

  “He’s lost though, Gabi, and I don’t know how to help him.”

  She continued to hold him in her arms as their city fell apart around them. She had never felt so helpless.

  “There was one thing about Appolion that confused me though.” Abdiel kissed the tip of her ear.

  “Only one thing? I could think of a million questions I would like to ask him.” Gabi said as she turned to look at him. “But, what confused you?”

  “The entire time we were fighting those demons I could have sworn he was humming the song, ‘Kung Fu Fighting’. Is that weird or what?”

  Appolion stood on the roof of a building and looked over the skyline of Detroit. He was silently chiding himself, You just had to sing “Kung Fu Fighting” didn’t you, you idiot. Now Abdiel knows that you sing your own soundtrack when you fight, great way to impress your big brother there.

  Appolion felt like kicking himself. He had finally gotten to see Abdiel after all these years and how did he react? He ran away like some little girl. His father had been right. He was just a weak fool.

  Another explosion tore through the air, and his gut tightened at the thought of there being more destruction. He had really liked the city despite all of its faults. Now he would have to leave.

  It used to be that the demons left him alone, but not anymore. Now that Douma and Forcas knew where he was, he would be hunted. He would never allow them to take him back to Hell.

  Abdiel’s female had been right. He did carry old injuries. He had been terribly abused in Hell ever since the first day he had been taken there by his parents. His back hurt constantly from the scars that the whippings had left behind.

  Yet, he had not dared go with the angels. Douma and Forcas had told him that Michael would destroy him if he ever went to Heaven.

  Of course they could be lying. They also said Abdiel would attack him and that had been untrue.

  He let out a ragged sigh. He could not allow himself such wishful thinking. He was all alone in the world. That would never change. He started to hum, “One is the Loneliest Number”. Oh god Appolion, shut up already, he snapped at himself.

  Suddenly, a presence reached out through the night air and touched his mind. He shook his head, denying what he felt. The touch was so familiar, but he had to be wrong. The presence called to him, and his heart responded. Although he knew that he could not respond to it, he could not turn away from it either. There was no way it could be here on Earth this close, but, he knew at the same time that until he knew for sure there was no way he could leave Detroit. He would just play it cool for now and hide in the shadows.

  He was damn good at being invisible.

  Chapter Twelve

  Abdiel walked down the long hallway, not knowing where it led. He finally found himself in a small dining room. The only pieces of furniture were a large oak table and four chairs. Cam was sitting there with Appolion. A third chair was occupied by a small female. She had long, dark, curly hair and the same piercing blue eyes that Appolion did.

  “Cam, what are you doing here?” Abdiel asked. “That demon took you.”

  “I dunno.” Cam shrugged. “This is your dream not mine.”

  “I’m dreaming?”

  “Well, this sure as hell isn’t my dream.” Cam rolled his eyes. “If we were in one of my dreams, there would be a dozen female justice angels catering to my every naughty need.”

  Appolion’s jaw dropped. “No way, you guys have orgies? I didn’t know angels did that. I’ve always thought it was just a demon thing.”

  Cam gave him a wicked smile. “Normally angels don’t do that, but all rules can be broken in dream land.”

  Abdiel groaned. How was it that even in his own dreams Cam still managed to drive him crazy? He looked over at the dark-haired female. She continued to stare straight ahead, completely igno
ring the males.

  “Who is she?” Abdiel pointed at her.

  “You already know who that is,” Appolion told him. “Look closer at her.”

  “Is that you, Rachael?” The female refused to answer him.

  “She won’t talk. She can’t yet.” Cam sighed.

  Abdiel threw his hand up in frustration. “Is anyone going to tell me what in the hell is going on here?”

  “Now you’re just being rude.” Cam shook his head at him.

  “Is he always like this?” Appolion asked Cam.

  “Usually, that’s why they call him the Dark Angel.”

  A tall female walked into the room, bringing a bright light with her. Abdiel had never seen her before, although her eyes were identical to Cam’s. Her blonde hair was pulled back in an intricate braid, and she had a gold tiara with rubies in it.

  “Do not worry, archangel,” she said, her voice soft and soothing. “All your questions shall be answered in time. Although you may learn that you will not like what you find.”

  “Hi Mom.” Cam waved with a huge grin on his face.

  “How can you be here, Lehor?” Abdiel demanded. “You have been mentally destroyed for centuries.”

  “You were right. He is rude,” Appolion drawled out.

  “You know, since this is my dream, why don’t you two smart-asses scram?” Abdiel snapped out.

  “We can’t leave,” Cam replied.

  “Of course you can, my dream, my rules. In fact, why don’t all four of your leave, but we can keep the table. Now all I need is Gabi and a can of whipped cream.”

  Lehor stormed over and smacked him hard on the back of the head. Abdiel scowled at her as he rubbed the hurt away before he stopped short. You weren’t supposed to feel pain in dreams.

  “They must be here because you four are forever linked,” Lehor told him. “You angels are our future, our only hope.”

  Abdiel looked over at Cam and saw that there was a goblet full of red wine in front of him. The empath picked it up and drained it.

  “What the hell? Cam, you can’t drink that. It’s alcohol. It’s going to make you puke your guts up.”

  Cam did not even acknowledge him. He just set the empty glass down and silently studied it. That alone proved that he was dreaming. Abdiel had never known Cam to keep his mouth shut for more than five seconds.

  Lehor started to softly sob as she looked at her son. Abdiel went over and put his arms around her, trying to comfort her.

  “Don’t worry. Cam’s going to be all right. He’s just going to be kissing the can for a while.”

  “No, archangel. My son is not going to be all right. He is going to suffer and face great peril, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I begged Him to spare Cam but He said that it must be my son that faces this challenge. I’m afraid it just may destroy my Cammie.”

  Abdiel grabbed Lehor’s shoulders. “Go tell Him I will take Cam’s place. He’s too young and inexperienced, whatever this task is.”

  She smiled sadly at him. “Now I know why my children love you so much. Thank you for your offer. However, this is something that Cam must face on his own. All I ask is that you stand by my son and protect him as much as you can. That is why I called you here tonight.”

  “Why does it have to be Cam?”

  “Because he will always have his brothers and sister to keep him from turning. It would be easier for your twins to give in to the evil. We need all four of you or the Order will not be complete.”

  “Please Lehor, go tell Him that I will take Cam’s place. I would never turn. I have Gabi now, and I would never leave her.”

  She reached up and stroked his face. “I wish that I could spare Cam this, but this is the way it must be. You are a good soul Abdiel, now I know why your mother grieves because she lost you.”

  “You’re wrong about that.” Abdiel argued, ignoring the little surge of hope that went through him. “My mother has not even given me a second thought ever since she left Heaven.”

  “No, Abdiel, it is you who are wrong. Your mother has thought of nothing but you. Every day she cries for you. I must go now, prophet.”

  The whole room started to fade along with all the angels in it.

  “I’m not a prophet,” he yelled out to the fog.

  Her voice floated back to him. “You are more powerful than you think, archangel. You are the Control, and with that title comes many gifts. Having prophetic dreams is just one of them.”

  Abdiel woke up with a start, his breath coming out in great gasps. He looked around for Cam and the twins and saw only the dark outline of the bedroom. He was still in the apartment with Gabi. It had all been a dream, one big, freaky dream.

  Gabi turned over and opened her eyes. She gave him a sweet smile. He reached down and kissed her.

  “Feeling better today?” she asked.

  “Thanks to you,” he brought her hand up to his mouth a nuzzled it.

  Just then his cell phone started playing “Sweet Home Alabama.” He reached over and snagged it open.

  “Hey Abdiel.” It was Cam.

  “Cam, are you all right, bud? We’ve been so worried about you.”

  “I’m fine, just a little banged up.”

  “Where are you? We’ll come and get you.” He gave Gabi a thumb’s up, and she sighed with relief.

  “I know you’re both injured,” his voice sounded tired. “Michael called, he said that Ana’s on her way. I’ll meet you back at the house.”

  “Fine, just do me a favor, don’t drink any wine.” He felt like an idiot making such a stupid request, but the dream had seemed so damn real.

  “I won’t.” Cam sounded completely confused. “My freaking head hurts bad enough without adding an angel hangover to it.”

  “Are you sure you’re fine, Cam?”

  There was a pause over the phone. For a moment, Abdiel thought that he had hung up.

  “Did my family say that I had any other gifts?” Cam finally asked.

  “No, why would you think that?”

  “Ana never said anything about me being a WMD?” he snapped out angrily, not answering the question.

  “Why would Ana say you’re a weapon of mass destruction, Cam?”

  Gabi, hearing only his end of the conversation, gave him a questioning look. He shrugged his shoulders at her.

  “I frigging blew up that demon, Abdiel.” The young angel’s voice was raw with anger.

  “Slow down, Cam.”

  “No, I will not slow down. I have voices in my head, things flying at me, and fire shooting out of my hand.” He was hysterical. “I’m some freak, and nobody seems to care.”

  Abruptly, the call ended. Abdiel frantically called his number, trying to get him back on the phone. His voice mail picked up.

  “Hi, this is Cam, can’t come to the phone now. Look, leave a message and I’ll get back to ya.”

  The sound of his carefree voice brought a lump to his throat. It sounded so different from the Cam he had just spoken to. He had been so scared and angry. He thought back to the dream he had just had and started to get really worried. What if it had not just been a dream? What if everything Lehor had told him had been true?

  Cam sat on the dirty floor, his head between his hands. His broken cell phone lay on the ground next to him. In a fit of anger, he had smashed it against the wall.

  It was a childish thing to do and he knew it, but so what. It’s not like he really needed it anymore. He was Mr. Telepath.

  Ever since the demon blood incident, he hadn’t been the same. He was full of hate, anger and lust. It was all he could do to hide these emotions from the others.

  The other day he had lost control. Anfial had been sitting next to him on the bed. She had been whispering things in his ear that would have made the old Cam turn red. Her hands had been running up his leg, not quite touching, but coming dangerously close.

  All of a sudden a haze of anger overcame him. With a growl he had grabbed her and pinned her to the bed.
He had even started to rip at her clothing.

  I’ll teach that fucking dick tease not to play me, he had thought.

  Luckily for both of them his old self had stopped the new him.

  He left the room, sickened by what he had almost done. He’d left Anfial behind. She’d been scared and confused. As an empath, she had felt the mass of emotions that surged through him.

  What would his family think if they knew what he had almost done?

  Sorry, Ramiel. I violated your empath. In all fairness she shouldn’t not have been playing with fire.

  Yeah, that would have gone over real well.

  Jehel had been right. He was tainted, and it scared the hell out of him. But he didn’t dare tell anyone, not even Abdiel and Gabi.

  Cam let out a growl of frustration. There was a demon downstairs. He felt it lurking around for several minutes. Well, he might as well go down and deal with it. Maybe beating something would make him feel better.

  He slowly made his way down the rickety, old stairs. His leg was still useless, so he dragged it behind him. Every step he took sent a jolt of sharp pain up the entire length of it. This demon was so going to pay for making him move.

  It was obviously an old warehouse downstairs. The entire area was wide and open. It was just as dirty as the office had been upstairs, however.

  “Come out and play,” he called out in a singsong voice. He sniffed the air expecting the usual smell of decay, but was shocked when the smell of incense greeted him instead.

  A small, female demon came out from the shadows. She almost looked like a female angel. Her long, blonde hair hung to her waist, and her porcelain skin was pure and unblemished.

  She wore a red leather corset top and tight, red leather pants. The outfit left little to the imagination. Her body was so damn hot! Cam was horrified to feel raw lust rise up in him. He even licked his lips as he wondered what demon meat would taste like.She smiled at him showing off her fangs. Her eyes were a dark green. The pupils were shaped like a cat’s. A pair of black wings protruded from her back. She tucked them in tight to her as she approached him.

  None of that turned him off. In fact, it made her more desirable and exotic. He knew everything he was thinking about doing to her was wrong and forbidden and it gave him the hard-on of his life.