“Sorry, Michael,” Cam looked down at his feet.
“I know you are, Cam.” Michael patted him on the back. “We also need you to read him. He hasn’t said a word since you guys found him. We need to know what happened to him.”
Cam nodded and went to the other side of the cot. He and Gabi placed their hands on the hurt archangel, and they both went into a trance. Michael motioned Abdiel over.
“The word is that there’s a bounty out on Cam,” the chief said.
Abdiel didn’t ask how Michael knew this. The chief had a way of knowing just about everything. It was near impossible to keep a secret from him.
“Yeah, Cam told me last night,” he admitted.
“Ana wants me to call him back to Heaven.”
“We both know Cam would refuse.”
“I already told her no.” Michael ran his hand through his mane of blond hair. “However, we both know he’s not just an empath.”
Abdiel didn’t argue. Ever since his talk with Cam last night, he suspected as much. The young angel was too powerful and gifted to be only an empath. He had to be more.
“Are you going to tell me what he is?” he finally asked when Michael was not forthcoming.
“He’s a strange mixture that I have never seen before. He is empath, archangel, and telepath all rolled up into one.”
“How long have you known this?”
“I just figured it out yesterday.”
Abdiel stopped and gave him a shocked look. “You scan every newborn in Heaven looking for their talents. How did you miss the boat with Cam?”
Michael set his face in a grim expression. “I’m pretty sure Lehor shielded his gifts from me in an effort to protect him. It was a damn stupid thing for her to do. If I had known all along I would have seen to his training, so he would have been better prepared for what was ahead. Now the kid is throwing his skills around willy nillly.”
“So is he going to be reassigned then?”
“You’re the only one that can control him. Right now he’s too volatile. It’s all he can do to control his emotions,” Michael answered.
Control—that word jarred his memory. It was something Gabi had told him that his brothers had said. “Does this have something to do with that Order of Four thing my brothers were talking about?”
“It’s a very old angel and demon prophecy,” Michael told him. “There’s going to be a battle that could end all of human kind. Four angels will save the world. Three are archangels that have gifts that have never been seen before. The fourth is the Control, the leader of the other three. I happen to think that you and Cam are part of the Order of Four.”
“Come on, Michael, it’s just us you’re talking about.”
“Why do you think your brothers want Cam so bad? It’s because they’re thinking the same thing I am.”
They both looked over at Cam. His blond hair was a mess as usual. He wore his trademark torn jeans and rock tee shirt. He had taken the hoop earring out of his ear. It was replaced with a diamond stud. Yeah, this punk was going to save the world.
“Okay then,” Abdiel said. “Let’s just say for sake of argument that you’re right about Cam and me. Who are the other two?”
“I haven’t figured that one out yet,” Michael admitted.
Cam opened his eyes and walked over to them. He tugged at his hair nervously. It was obvious that Michael still intimidated him.
“They really fu…” He stopped and shot a look at the chief. “They really messed him up.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Michael snapped.
Cam’s eyes widened in surprise. He must not have ever heard his boss curse before. Abdiel laughed at his stunned expression.
“Why don’t you fill Cam in on everything we just talked about,” he suggested.
“I want to know when Cam was going to tell me that he could obliterate demons with his mind?” Michael gave him an irritated look.
“I won’t do it again, I promise,” Cam’s eyes were wild with fear. “I’ll just stick to my duties and not break anymore rules. Please, don’t make me go back to Heaven.”
“Don’t worry,” Abdiel reassured him. “Nobody’s going to send you away.”
“It’s no big deal,” Cam said to Michael. “Every time I do that flame thing, I faint.”
“That’s because you were injured at the time and already weak. You need to learn how to use your gifts more,” Michael told him. “But, I only want you to practice around Abdiel. I taught him how to shield energy bolts so he’ll be able to stop you if you lose control.”
Abdiel was still trying to digest everything Michael had just told him. If what he had said was true, then life was about to get more complicated. He and Cam were going to be hunted nonstop. They would use Gabi to get to them. By taking her as his mate, he had given away his biggest weakness to his brothers, his undying love for her.
Surely Michael was wrong. There was no way that he and Cam could be part of this old prophesy. He had worked in the armory up until a few months ago and Cam had just learned how to play with the big boys. The mere idea was ridiculous.
Cam was looking at Abdiel with a look of horror on his face. He had obviously read the archangel’s mind and knew everything that Michael had just told him. Oops, so much for giving the news to him gently.
“Oh hell no!” Cam spat out.
“You really need to learn how to close off your mind to him,” Michael chastised Abdiel.
“Look I’m no hero,” Cam argued. “I’m just some dork who wants to be left in peace.”
“Sorry, we don’t always get to pick our destiny,” Michael didn’t sound sorry at all.
“How I am supposed to be an archangel? I’ve never been trained to be one?” Cam was talking so loud that several angels were turning to look at them, but he was too far gone to care. “I went to empath training. They didn’t teach us squat about tactics, or war. All we empaths ever did in school was sit in a circle, hold hands, and get in touch with our feelings.”
“Is that what they really do in empath training?” Abdiel asked.
Michael and Cam both stopped and looked at him out of the corners of their eyes. Both of their faces read, “Don’t be such an idiot.”
“Look chief,” Cam shook his head as they looked away from Abdiel. “I’m going back to my room. Let me know when you’ve freaking come to your senses.”
Michael grabbed him by the front of his shirt and started to drag him out of the gym. “Abdiel, grab two practice swords and meet us outside.”
Well it was official; Cam was in for it. Abdiel went to the weapons cabinet and grabbed a pair of practice swords. As he ran outside, he glanced at Gabi and saw that she was still in a trance, healing Haniel. Good, she’d have a heart attack is she knew what was about to happen.
By the time he had made it to the front yard, a large crowd had already gathered around Cam and Michael. Abdiel handed the swords to Michael. The chief tossed one to Cam. He caught it and looked down at it in horror.
“I am not fighting you, Michael.”
“Why not? Are you afraid of what you might find out?”
“I won’t fight you for two reasons. One, you are my chief and my vows won’t allow it and two, because you’re Michael. You’re the best warrior in Heaven. You could wipe the floor with my puny ass.”
This comment brought a round of laughter from the crowd. Abdiel was too nervous to join in, however. He felt a small hand gripping his arm, the fingernails digging into his flesh. He looked down and saw it was Ana, her blue eyes were wide with terror. Abdiel put his arm around her, partly to comfort her and partly to keep her from going out and trying to stop the fight. That would dishonor Cam.
Michael didn’t give Cam another chance to argue. He attacked him. The young angel barely had time to bring his sword up to deflect the blow. At first that’s all Cam did, deflect Michael’s strikes. Soon his natural born instincts took over, however, and he started to fight back.
“Does someo
ne want to explain to me what this is all about?” Derel asked, never taking his eyes off his brother.
“Michael initiates every new archangel this way,” Ramiel explained. “It’s a rite of passage.”
“Does Cam know that?”
“I’m guessing no.” Nathaniel drawled. “How long did you last, Ramiel?”
“Three minutes, you?”
“Four, I think our little brother is going to put us both to shame.”
“No way,” another archangel argued. “He’s too small. There’s no way he’s going to last even a minute.”
“Fifty bucks says my brother goes five minutes.” Ramiel growled.
“You’re on.”
Soon all the archangels were placing bets on how long Cam was going to last. Abdiel ignored them and kept his focus on the fight. Damn, he had never realized how quick Cam was. Ramiel was right. He was going to last five minutes easy.
It lasted six minutes.
Michael finally disarmed Cam and knocked him off his feet. The young angel rolled to his knees and sat there panting for breath. The crowd cheered loudly, Abdiel doubted that Cam even realized the cheers were for him.
Abdiel went over to Cam, who was still on the ground. Nathaniel went up to him and hauled him up to his feet and gave him a big, bear hug. Ramiel started to thump him on the back proudly.
“I don’t get it,” he gasped out. “Michael kicked my butt.”
“Camael, I fought every one of my archangels and there was only one that lasted as long as you. That was your good buddy Abdiel.”
Cam gave him a shocked look. “This was all some test?”
“Can’t get anything by you, Einstein. Now are you going to tell us what you found out from Haniel or not?”
“Jeffrey Dahmer has nothing on demon jailers,” Cam shuddered as he spoke. “They pumped him full of demon blood just to see how he would react. When that did not amuse them anymore they used various toys on him. The reason why Haniel hasn’t said anything is because he can’t. They freaking cut his tongue out, Michael.”
“Haniel deserved better than that,” Abdiel cursed out. “He was a great warrior.”
“Douma and Forcas sent me a message.” Cam’s eyes turned dark with anger. “They said next time it was going to be one of my brothers that I found hogtied.”
“You know what I think Cam?” Abdiel asked.
“What?”
“I think it’s time that we went out and took our city back.”
Cam gave a wicked grin. “Oh goodie. It’s time to go demon hunting.”
“Let’s grab Gabi and get going. We’ll explain everything to her on the way.”
“So let me get this straight,” Gabi said. “You and Cam are part of this Order of Four, and Cam is really an archangel.”
They were in Gabi’s car, a small red Beetle Bug. He was relieved to see that, unlike other angels, she was actually an excellent driver. Cam was sound asleep in the backseat.
“That’s what Michael said,” Abdiel told her.
“That would explain what I found in both of you last night.”
“Do I even want to know what you’re talking about?”
“There is some force within both of you. It’s something new too. I didn’t see it when I healed you guys before.”
Abdiel rubbed his chest, a troubled look on his face. “Are you sure it’s just not some side-effect from the demon blood?”
“No, I’m pretty sure that it’s what’s making Cam grow in power. Have you noticed anything different with yourself?”
He scratched his head. “I’ve been having weird dreams.”
“Weird how?”
“Cam’s mom is there, and they seem so real. It’s like they’re telling me the future.”
“You do know that’s how Michael knows so much? He has prophetic dreams.”
“Great, just what the world needs, another Michael. I’ll stick to being plain old Mr. Dark Angel, thank you very much.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You know I’m kind of surprised they haven’t placed a bounty on you.”
“There’s always been a bounty out for me.”
“What?” she shrieked. “When were you going to tell me? I mean I’m only your mate after all.”
He put his finger in his ear. She really hoped she’d blown out his eardrum. Cam continued to sleep in the backseat so exhausted that not even her yelling could wake him up.
“I thought you already knew. I really ticked Satan off when I wouldn’t play his reindeer games.”
She swung the car into a parking spot. She shut off the car and turned to give him an angry glare. How dare he be so flippant about this?
“You aren’t alone anymore,” she yelled at him. “Believe it or not, I actually care what happens to you. From now on, you tell me stuff like this.”
“I think it would be better if you stayed close to the house.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke.
“Why? You know I can fight better than almost any healer?”
“My brother’s are out for blood now,” his voice hitched a bit. “They may go after you because of me.”
“It may come as a shock to you, bud, but your brothers would love to get me just because I’m royalty.” Her voice dripped venom.
“Are you telling me that you have a bounty on your head too?” His eyes turned even darker with anger at the mention of her being in danger.
“Not exactly,” she admitted. “But demons have always thought it was a big coup to capture any angel of royal lineage. Not only that, but I’ve made a name for myself even before I met you, Mr. Macho Pants.”
What she said was true. She was the most gifted healer known, more powerful than even Raphael. She knew and had mastered ancient healing chants that confounded every other healer. If she had not been so devoted to the human race she probably would be sitting on the council and ruling all the other healers alongside Raphael.
“You know, you’re so cute when you’re angry,” he told her.
He gave her his crooked smile before he took her hand and started to kiss her knuckles. He leaned over and started kissing her neck. Damn, Abdiel knows this is my weakness.
“Stop,” she commanded even as she tilted her head to the side. “Cam’s in the backseat.”
“He’s asleep,” he whispered against her throat.
Cam picked that moment to start babbling in his sleep.
“Ana, Derel hit me in the stomach.”
They both burst out laughing. Cam was sprawled out and had drool running down his cheek. He thrashed around, caught up in his dream.
“I don’t know why we didn’t realize he was an archangel sooner,” Abdiel said sarcastically.
It was finally their laughter that woke him. He sat up with a snort. Scratching his stomach he gave them a ‘What?’ look. They started laughing even harder.
They left the car and made their way through the streets. Although everything was a lot calmer than before, there was still demon activity. There were no humans out in the city. It was completely deserted unless you counted angels and demons.
“Eloa”, a strong voice yelled from the distance. “Watch your back they’re closing in.”
“I’m trying Derdekea, but they’re fast,” another voice answered.
“You have to be faster,” the first voice chastised. “Muriel, stay back but keep your bow ready.”
They followed the sound of the yelling. Three female angels were fighting a group of demons and the demons were winning. The angels were hopelessly outnumbered. The demons had them pinned down.
Abdiel delivered a flying kick to one demon that was bringing its sword up to strike one of the downed angels. The demon stumbled back a few steps before it turned its weapon on him. He dodged the blade as he kicked the demon full in its ugly face.
The demon fell on its back and started to gag on its own blood. Abdiel turned to find another demon only to be attacked by two. Not that Gabi really expected them to stand back and attack Abdiel
one at a time. That was only for ninja movies.
Cam tackled another demon that had one of the females pinned down. Crouching above the demon, he pulled a butterfly knife out of his boot. Flipping it open he stabbed the demon in the throat. His lips curled up into a cruel smile.
Seeing that they were outmanned, the other demons turned and ran. Cam raised his hand and, using his telekinesis, sent a dumpster flying across the alley. It smashed the fleeing demons into the wall.
“It’s not nice to leave a party early, boys,” he called out in a fake singsong voice.
Damn! Gabi reminded herself not to ever tick him off. He had just finished off six demons and hadn’t even broken a sweat. Somehow she longed for the old, defenseless Cam. This new Cam was scary and unpredictable.
Cam went over and helped the female archangel up to her feet. There was no mistaking the look in his eyes. He was raking the female over like she was a piece of prime rib. Gabi sprinted over and put herself between the two of them.
“Are you guys all right?” she asked brightly, totally trying to ignore the fact that Cam was panting over the three females.
“How did he just do that thing with the dumpster?” the female archangel, Derdekea, demanded, suspicious.
“Any time you want private lessons, just let me know, baby. I’d love to help you in every way possible,” Cam drawled out to her. Gabi let out a groan, it seemed like the demon blood had made him a horn dog to go along with his hair trigger temper.
The female’s face colored with anger. “You’re awfully mouthy for a little, young thing.”
“Why don’t you come on over and see how little I really am?” Cam smiled wickedly. Gabi put her hand over his mouth in order to shut him up.
Abdiel came over and grabbed him by the nape of the neck and hauled him away. “Sorry ladies, he was dropped on his head as a kid.”
Cam waved at the females as he was being led away. To the shock of Derdekea and Gabi, the other two females tittered and waved back. “He is so hot,” one whispered to the other.
Were all young angel’s losing their collective minds? Cam was actually beginning to be some cult hero. It seemed even angels had a serious bad boy infatuation.
Angel Warriors Page 18
