Angel Warriors

by Stephani Hecht

  My family is so dysfunctional that we should be on the Springer Show, Appolion replied dryly. I saw you earlier tonight at the bar and immediately sensed that you were a telepath. I know that you live with Rachael and Abdiel. I was hoping that you could answer some questions for me.

  So that had been the mental push he felt earlier. Cam settled back on the bed and told him everything. He explained the Order, told him about his and Rachael’s powers and how Abdiel fit in. He even divulged what had happened to him in Hell. Appolion listened thoughtfully and even interjected some humorous observations of his own. Cam slowly began to like and trust him and soon was telling him about his transformation. Since Appolion was trapped between both worlds too, he completely understood.

  We have been talking for hours and you have not tried to talk me into coming back. Appolion seemed surprised.

  Hell. Cam sent back, If it weren’t for the vows I took as an archangel I would be tempted to join you in exile. I feel like a freak most of the time even around my sister and brothers. They would probably be relieved if I left.

  I need to hit the sack. Appolion yawned in his head. I have to work tomorrow. I’m going to leave the link up though so you can talk to me anytime you want. Just you though, tell Rachael not to even try reaching me. Even though you claim that she and Abdiel are cool I am just not ready to deal with any of my family yet.

  After what you shared with me about your parents and brothers, I don’t blame you. Cam smiled when he imagined how pissed Rachael was going to be. Thank you for letting me vent. You ever need me for anything, let me know.

  Chapter Twenty

  Gabi woke up and instantly reached over to Abdiel’s side of the bed only to find it cold and empty. She sat up and saw him standing in front of their bedroom window, a dagger in his hand. The soft, early morning light cast harsh shadows across his face as he scanned the street in front of their house.

  “Did you sleep at all last night?” she asked him.

  “Sure, I just woke up not too long ago.” He never looked away from the window.

  “You’re lying to me. You’ve not even taken your boots off let alone come to bed.”

  “Yeah, well, sleep is overrated anyhow,” he snapped at her.

  Gabi juggled her options in her head. She just did not know the best way to approach him. She was afraid that if she pushed him too hard that he would just shut her out. However, she was also afraid that if she didn’t help him face his fears that they would take over both of their lives. She finally decided on the latter option. It was time for her mate to talk about what had happened to him.

  “What was Hell like?” She pretended not to notice the annoyed expression he gave her when she asked the question.

  “It was Hell. What do you think it was like?”

  “Were you and Cam kept together? Did you, at least, have each other?”

  “No, they separated us almost from the first day. I could hear him while they were torturing him though.” She felt a small sense of victory when he came and sat on the bed with her. “It was horrible, hearing him suffering and not being able to go help him.”

  “Did they keep you chained up the entire time?” When he only nodded, she continued. “They didn’t feed you guys at all, did they? I saw the way Cam attacked his food when the healers first brought it to him.”

  “No, I only got a couple of meals that some female demon left for me. You want to hear something real pathetic? At the time, I actually thought it might have been my mother.”

  “Actually, you may be right.” She reached over and stroked his hair. “Did you know that Appolion was not exiled. Your mother just told him that. She really set him free.”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “Beelzebub rubbed it to Rachael to hurt her feelings. Unfortunately, it worked.”

  “I wish he had stayed long enough during the battle so I could have paid him back for that one. I noticed that both he and my brothers hightailed it out of there as soon as things got hairy.”

  “Do you know why they decided to fixate so much on Cam? Was it Douma and Forcas that messed with his mind?”

  “No, it was Mammon who mind raped Cam. He decided to make him his ‘special project’.”

  As soon as she heard Mammon’s name, her stomach flipped over in fear. Every angel knew about the most powerful and ruthless demon in Hell. No wonder Cam had been so damaged when they got him back.

  “How did he find out that Michael was his uncle? Did Mammon tell him?”

  “Cam won’t admit it, but his mother came to him and comforted him while he was down there. She told him. Mammon just had fun rubbing the fact that Michael never wanted to claim him in.”

  “How horrible.” She remembered how the other Lehor’s had reacted to the news. “How could no one have known that they were related?”

  “You forget how disorganized things were in the angel world back then. We were the first class of students to be formally educated in the school, remember? It wasn’t until after the fall of Lucifer that the council was even formed. Most angel families didn’t really even know each other. They all lived their own separate lives. The few angels that did know the truth about Michael probably knew that they had better keep their mouths shut.”

  “Until Jehel opened his big trap.” Gabi spat out venomously. “The little maggot loved the reaction he got from Ana and the boys.”

  “That’s okay. He got his. Did you see his face when the emapths made Cam their leader? He looked about ready to explode. This means Cam will be sitting on the council now.”

  “Cam’s got a whole lot of responsibility all of a sudden. I hope he can handle that coupled with everything else that has happened to him.”

  “Ana will help him with the leadership stuff. She’s good at that sort of thing.”

  She noticed the dark circles under his eyes. She doubted if he had slept more than a couple hours since he had been home. The few times he had let his guard down enough to sleep, nightmares woke him.

  “Are your dreams about what they did to Cam?” she asked gently.

  “Sometimes,” he admitted. “Other times I dream about what might happen in the future if we don’t stop It.”

  “Stop what?”

  “That super demon Rachael told us about. She was right. It’s real and it’s going to come for us all.”

  “You need to sleep. Abdiel. You look terrible.”

  “I don’t know if I can anymore. I worry that if I fall asleep I’m going to wake up back in Hell.”

  “Here, lay down with me,” she urged. “I’ll stay awake and watch over you. I’ll make sure that you don’t go anywhere.”

  “I’m fine, honestly,” he protested, even as he let her pull him down.

  She put his head in her lap and brushed her fingers through his hair. He fell asleep within a couple of minutes and kept her promise to him. She sat there and watched over him.

  “I talked to Appolion last night,” Cam said casually.

  They had been sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch when Cam finally rolled out of bed and joined them. As soon as Gabi had seen him she knew he’d been up to no good. He had a nice black eye that he made no attempt to hide in addition to a split lip. Several scratches ran down the side of his face before they disappeared into his black, turtleneck shirt. He was pale and his hands shook as reached for the plate of sandwiches.

  As soon as he made his announcement, Rachael and Abdiel’s heads snapped up like someone had slapped them. Cam seemed unaffected by their reaction. He just sat there and ate acting like everything was normal.

  “What do you mean you talked with Appolion last night?” Abdiel finally asked when it became obvious that Cam was not going to readily reveal more.

  “He called me on the physic friends network line.” He winced when Rachael jumped up and slugged him in the arm.

  “Why didn’t you come and get me?” she demanded.

  “I got a little sidetracked.” Cam had the good graces to
look guilty. “You know how I can get a little chatty sometimes.”

  “Just how long did you talk with him?” Gabi asked more than a little annoyed with him.

  “I dunno.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Couple hours.”

  That was the final straw. She was going to strangle him. First he had taken off on them last night without telling them where he was going. Then he had stayed out all night raising hell and now this. Not to mention he was trying to hide numerous bite marks from her. As soon as he walked into the kitchen with his black eye she scanned him for more injuries. She was no idiot either. She knew how he had gotten chewed on, that little perv. Now he was sitting there admitting that he had spent hours talking to someone that claimed to be Appolion without any real proof that the voice was telling the truth.

  “You just can’t talk to anyone that pops into your head.” Abdiel looked like he was ticked as well. “You can’t be sure that it was Appolion. It could have been anyone.”

  “It was your brother,” Cam said firmly. “He sounds almost like you, Abdiel.”

  “Why would he contact you?” Gabi shook her head in confusion. “More importantly why now, after all this time?”

  “He saw me last night and figured out who I was.” Cam said evasively. Gabi

  Couldn’t figure out where they had met but decided not to confront him with it. “I think he’s reaching out now because the demons have been trying to capture him lately. I guess up until then, they pretty much ignored him since he left.”

  “What exactly did you tell him?” Abdiel asked as he leaned back and crossed his arms.

  “Everything,” Cam admitted refusing to look at Abdiel. Gabi groaned. She was really getting sick of Cam’s impulsive behavior.

  “Did he tell you where he’s been all this time?” Rachel had a frown on her face. It was obvious that she was more than a little hurt that her twin had not contacted her.

  Cam shook his head. “He refused. He’s afraid that I would tell you guys.”

  “Would you?” A month ago Gabi would not have asked that question, but she didn’t know what Cam was capable of now.

  Her doubt seemed to hurt him. “Of course I would Gabi. I told you that he contacted me, didn’t I? Just because I’ve done a few stupid things doesn’t mean that I’d deliberately hurt Rachael and Abdiel.”

  Gabi instantly felt guilty. Even though he was going through tough times, Cam was still Cam. He still had his sweet, tender heart. He just hid it beneath layers of shame, guilt, and hate now.

  “Did he tell you why he won’t connect with me?” Rachael looked completely crestfallen.

  “He says he doesn’t want anything to do with his family. After what his brothers and parents did to you guys, he’s a little bitter.” Cam gave Rachael a little smile and reached out to squeeze her hand. “Personally, I think he was trying to protect you. He went through a lot of crap, and he was trying to shield you from it.”

  Gabi got up and hugged Rachel, her heart breaking along with the female. If what Cam has said was true than part of her understood why Appolion would cut off contact with his twin. Their link had been so strong that Rachael would have suffered alongside him during his abuse much like Barakiel had with Cam. Another part of her wanted to slug him for hurting her so much. Until they had brought her home, Rachael had been alone in the world.

  “Do you think you could talk him into coming home?” Abdiel asked.

  “Right now, no. Douma and Forcas have him scared of Michael and of you. They told him that you guys are hunting him down.”

  Gabi was so sick of hearing those two demons names. Come on, they really needed to get a hobby and not one that involved breeding a super demon.

  “What has he been doing all this time?” Rachael obviously was trying to be strong and hold her tears back. “How has he been surviving?”

  “He’s very good at shielding his presence from both demons and angels.” When Cam mentioned that Gabi remembered that’s what he had done for them on the first day of the riot. “He’s been living like a human for centuries. He even works human jobs. He’s been a doctor, policeman, firefighter, and a paramedic just to name a few.”

  “That would explain the paramedic uniform he was wearing,” Gabi mused.

  “For someone that claims to not to be an angel, he sure seems to be very protective of humans,” Abdiel said hopefully. “Every job he’s ever had has been geared toward protecting or healing.”

  “I agree.” Cam nodded his head. “He has a lot of guilt and feels like he needs to do penance. No demon would feel that way.”

  Gabi reached over and tilted Cam’s face toward her. He scowled at her but made no move to stop her. She touched his black eye before she pulled down the collar of his shirt to look at the bite marks. She cursed softly under her breath when she saw how vicious they were. She had seen succubus bites before but never this many.

  “Is this what I think it is, Cam?” She looked up and met his eyes. “A penance?”

  “I don’t know, maybe,” Cam admitted.

  “What for? You did nothing wrong.”

  He shifted his eyes away from hers. “We all have sins to pay for. I’m no different.”

  “What could you have possibly done to deserve this?” her voice cracked. “This succubus was downright brutal with you.”

  “You would be surprised of what I’m capable of.”

  “Was it the same succubus that came to you in Hell?”

  “So what if it was? It’s not like I keep a little black book filled with demon names.”

  Abdiel ran his hand through his dark hair as he heaved a deep sigh. “You need to be careful,” he said. “I don’t trust that female demon at all. You should have heard the way she went on in Hell. She’s got a weird fixation with you.”

  “So what if she does?” Cam responded quietly as he looked down at the table. “It’s not like any female angels are going to be lining up to be with me. What female would want to be my mate now?”

  “I had plenty of them asking me about you after your naming ceremony.” Gabi argued. It was true too. She had to finally leave the hallway just to get away from them.

  “They were only interested in me because I was just named leader of the empaths. They didn’t even care about me because I’m, well … me. You understand what I’m trying to say?”

  She did. She couldn’t count the times males had approached her in the past just because of her position within Heaven. It had hurt every time to know that they wanted her power, not her.

  “If you want me to heal you, just let me know.” She instinctively knew that he would refuse any help from her.

  “I’ll be fine.” He downed the rest of his sandwich in one hungry gulp and got up. “I’m going to the gym.”

  “I’m coming too.” Rachael popped up and ran to join him.

  “No zapping each other,” Abdiel yelled after them. “Weapons and fists only.”

  They both groaned in protest bringing a smile to Abdiel’s lips. It soon faded as he stared down at the ground deep in thought. Gabi knew that he was replaying the conversation in his head. She also knew that he was upset to hear that Appolion was afraid of him. She climbed onto his lap and put her head on his chest trying to give him some comfort.

  “It sounds like your baby brother is as stubborn as you are,” she teased him.

  “I’m not stubborn,” he protested.

  She laughed right in his face. “You are the most stubborn male I have ever met.” She softened the comment by kissing his neck.

  “I don’t think we’re ever going to get him back,” he sighed.

  “Don’t give up on him yet.” She reached up and brushed the lock of hair off his forehead. “He did contact Cam after all, and he did it because he knew that he lived with you. That’s a big step forward.”

  “Great, just what we need,” he drawled. “Two males with a serious guilt complex lamenting together. They’ll probably form a rock band and sing sappy ballads.”

 
; “You got to wonder why Appolion decided to come to Detroit. Personally I think that you and Rachael are drawing him here. He may be scared of you but he still wants to be close.”

  “He’s out there all alone, Gabi.” Abdiel played with her fingers. “He’s just as hunted as we are, and he has no one to protect him. At least we have each other.”

  “As long as you and Cam don’t go running off and play hero on your own again.”

  “I promise no more stupid stunts.” He kissed the corner of her mouth before holding her so tight that it almost hurt. “I can’t stand to go through being apart from you again.”

  She wiggled her hips in his lap smiling when she felt him respond. He slipped his hand under her shirt and nudged her black, lacy bra up so he could cup her breast. When he softly feathered her nipple with his thumb, she arched her back and let out a soft whimper. He kissed her long, slender neck just the way she liked. She grabbed his dark hair tight in her hands as she tried to pull him closer. He unzipped her pants and his hand…

  “Ouch! Damn it, Rachael, Abdiel said no zapping,” Cam yelled from the gym.

  Gabi laughed as they pulled away. “When this is all over we need to get away for a few days.”

  Much to Rachael’s delight, she got to go patrolling with them that night. Much to her dismay, big brother Abdiel took one look at her racy outfit and made her change. It was dark before they started slowly walking the streets, with Cam in the lead scanning for demons. They all had their weapons out and ready, Rachael still had Abdiel’s old sword. He had offered to have a new one made for her, but she had refused. Gabi could tell that it had touched him that she wanted to use something that had been his.

  “Hey Cam,” Rachael called out after several minutes. “It’s my turn to scan for demons.”

  Cam gave her a conflicted look. He had always been the one to search for the demons. Gabi knew that he felt it was responsibility to lead the way into battle.

  “But I’m the empath.”

  Rachael made a big show of rolling her eyes. “I am very good at tracking demons. I’ve had a lot of experience in that area in case you forgot.”