by KD Jones
“Follow me.” Father Raphael walked to the kitchen and opened the door to the basement. He turned the light on and made his way down the dark stairway.
Cass waved her hands in front of her face when she walked into a spider web. “This is so creepy!”
“What’s the matter, Cass? You don’t like dark and dirty places?” Ari asked from close behind her.
She stopped to turn halfway around and slap his chest. “Shut up!”
Michael squeezed past Ari and got between them. “Yeah, half-demon, shut up.”
Ari growled when Michael placed his hand on her shoulder. “We don’t need the half-demon, send him away.”
Ari snorted. “Have you forgotten that I was the one who helped you find Cass and save her? You and the priest would’ve been sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea and twiddling your thumbs if I hadn’t helped.”
She didn’t know why, but she felt like she had to defend Ari. “He stays.”
Michael was obviously not happy about it. “Fine.” He didn’t say anything else as they went to stand by Father Raphael, who was pulling open a large chest.
He pulled out a bulky book wrapped in a leather cloth. Father Raphael went over to a rocking chair and sat down placing the book in his lap. “It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen this.”
“What is it?” Cass went to kneel at his feet. The book looked really old. She loved old books. She reached out and stroked the cover, and was surprised to feel warmth coming from it.
“It’s a history book documenting the origins of angels and demons. One of the first and few ever written. We call it the Book of Knowledge.”
“I hate to break it to you, Father, but any Bible can tell you the tale of the fallen angel that became the Devil.”
Raphael laughed. “That’s the CliffsNotes version. It only highlights what the author of the book wanted people to remember. What’s inside this book, no one was expected to remember.”
“Huh?” She was confused.
Father Raphael opened the book and found a passage. “He loved the light, but the dark called to him too. It was his lover, his companion. How could he not follow it?” He looked at her expectantly. “Who do you think that was written about?”
“The Devil, or the angel who fell and became the Devil. He followed the darkness.”
Michael knelt across from her on the other side of Raphael. “No, that was written about Gabriel, the strongest and fiercest Arkangel of all time.”
“So Gabriel became evil?”
“Never!” Michael looked at her like she’d said something blasphemous.
“There is good and bad in everyone, even angels and demi-demons. We all have a choice: to follow the light or to follow the dark. Sometimes we have to do a little of both, caught in between worlds. Gabriel fell in love with a woman, but he was torn because he loved God and loved being a soldier for the light. However, the woman he loved was the first who had ever stirred his soul. He didn’t know until it was too late that she was a servant for Lucifer. The woman was a tool, a way to get Gabriel to leave his post. Thousands of souls were lost in that horrible battle. Gabriel wanted to die as well. ”
“He didn’t, though.”
“No, he didn’t. He learned a valuable lesson and hardened his heart. He closed himself off from all emotions after that. Not long after that, the prophecy of a Child of Light was foretold. The idea spread among the commanders that this could be instrumental to fighting the demons, to keep them from taking over the Earthly plane.”
Michael picked up with enthusiasm where Raphael stopped. “Gabriel is a genius. He was the one who realized that just breeding an Arkangel with a human wouldn’t produce someone strong enough, which is why we lost so many of our nephilim brethren. However, if the human was half demon when it bred with an Arkangel, the offspring would allow the angels to take the fight where none had been able to go before.”
“The inner circle,” Ari whispered from across the room.
Michael beamed. “Exactly! No angel has been able to make it past the outer circles, and full demons, because they have no soul, can only remain on the Earthly plane for a seventy-two-hour time period. A child born of a half-demon and an Arkangel would have a soul, and therefore would have the strength of a demon and powers of an Arkangel, with none of the limitations.”
Ari stepped forward, furious. “You do realize you’re talking about a child, right? You planned out the seduction of some poor demi-demon woman and had her give birth to an innocent child, who you want to use as a fucking weapon!”
Cass looked down at her hands. She felt sick inside. Was that all she was? A weapon? Father Raphael placed his hand on her shoulder and she felt comforted immediately. She looked up at him.
“Is that all I am? A weapon?”
“No, child. You are hope. It is true that you may one day be able to help fight the demons and succeed where so many of us have failed. It’s not all on you, though.”
“What powers do I have? A demon’s strength…but I don’t feel very strong. What am I supposed to get from the Arkangel side?”
“We’re not sure which of our powers will translate to you.” Raphael looked at Michael. “Perhaps we need to let her know what powers we have.”
Michael puffed out his chest as he spoke. “An Arkangel can electrocute a demon. He wields a sword of light, he has wings to fly to the heavens, heals quickly, and some have the ability to gain knowledge through touch and can also heal others the same way. I have limited powers, powers of touch: I can sense what the person is feeling, and can track and locate them if the connection is strong enough and they are conscious. Of course, I can also fly using my wings, which are pure white.”
She looked up at Raphael. “You have the touch thing, don’t you? You’ve touched me several times and both times I’ve felt better afterward.”
Raphael smiled at her. “Yes, that’s right. My touch abilities allow me to heal those who are injured, both of physical wounds and spiritual ones.”
“What am I supposed to get?”
“The only way we’ll know is to start your training.”
Chapter 10
“When you said—start my training—I thought—it—would be—tomorrow!” Cass complained as she blocked Michael’s punches and kicks. They had gone outside, to the back of the church were the church garden was. It was private and gated, so no one could see them or interrupt.
Father Raphael sat on the cement bench with a cup of hot tea in his hands. “No time like the present.”
Cass took a hit in the face when she turned back to glare at the priest. Ari yelled from behind her, taking the position of her personal coach.
“Keep your hands up, Cass!”
She gave him a heated look. “What do you think I’m trying to do!”
While she was distracted by Ari, Michael came up and kicked her in the back of the leg, making her fall to her knees. Her anger was now focused solely on the Arkangel.
“That’s not fair! We need a time-out or something so I can catch my breath.”
“Nothing's fair in a fight, and you shouldn’t let yourself get distracted. Demons aren’t going to give you time-outs. How much training have you had?”
She got to her feet and rolled her shoulders. “None, actually.”
Michael stopped to stare at her in shock. “None? How is that possible? What do you remember of your mother?”
“I can’t remember my early childhood. I was found wandering the streets when I was about eight years old, and they placed me in foster care.”
Michael shook his head in frustration. “We’re going to have to start from scratch and build up your stamina. Your human side is way too weak.”
She leaned back, moving her hands over her head and then twisting from side to side to stretch out her back. “What do you mean by build up my stamina?”
“You will train eight hours a day, starting with running in the morning and ending with running in the evening. You will study
from the Book of Knowledge for two hours, then have two hours of hand-to-hand and two hours of weapons training. A few hours a night you will walk the streets with me and Raphael to look for signs of demons.”
“Whoa there, buddy. I have a job that I work, and as far as I know being this Child of Light isn’t a paying gig.”
Michael looked confused. “You will do as you are told. As the highest-ranking Arkangel here on the Earthly plane, I am your commander-in-chief.”
“I’m not some damn soldier!” She crossed her arms over her chest and she could hear Ari snort at Michael. Those two really did not like each other.
Father Raphael stood up and moved forward to stand between them. “How about a compromise. Cassandra, would you be willing to train in the morning until it’s time for your shift?”
“I need some downtime too. I’m not doing it every day.”
“You must—” Michael started to complain, but the priest cut him off.
“Five days a week?” Raphael asked.
“Yeah, I could do that.” Cass nodded.
“Very good.”
Michael punched his fist into his hand. “That’s not acceptable. Time is crucial here.”
“Why?” Cass wasn’t sure why he was in such a hurry to train her.
“You can thank your demon friend there for putting us on a deadline. Demons are only able to stay the Earthly plane about seventy-two hours before they are called back to their circle. They have no choice in that. Your buddy over there slapped a magical bracelet on the demon, keeping him here. That bracelet will also keep him from healing from his wounds.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” She looked from Raphael to Michael.
“He’s going to be like a wild injured animal in a hunter’s trap. Anyone who comes near him is going to be in danger. He could go on a killing spree,” Father Raphael explained.
She turned to Ari accusingly. “Did you think of that before you put that bracelet thingy on him?”
Ari shrugged. “I had to keep him from going back to his circle. If he told them about you, others would be coming after you and you are clearly not ready to handle any of them yet.”
“I can’t—I need space!” She stormed away, needing a breather from all the crazy shit that was going on in her life. Just a day or two ago she was a normal girl working a normal job, nothing dangerous and nothing special. Now she was expected to be some kind of super-soldier for the Arkangels, hunting down demons. It was too much.
She went up to the room that she’d woken up in. Father Raphael had told her this would be her room. Evidently they were expecting her to live under their roof—or steeple—too, so every minute of her day would be controlled and consumed by them.
She sat on the bed and winced. Every part of her hurt. She eased down and laid her head on her pillow. Closing her eyes, she breathed out a sigh of relief. A few minutes of rest, that’s all she needed.
*****
“You can leave, half-demon.” Michael crossed his arms over his chest.
Ari shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere, bird-boy. Not until she sends me away.”
“I don’t get it. Why do you care about this? It’s not your business.”
“She’s my business.” Ari shrugged.
Michael laughed. “Do you really think she would want your tainted blood mixing with hers?”
Ari moved forward slowly, rolling his shoulders. He winked. “She didn’t have problems sharing other body fluids.”
Michael growled. “You’re a disgusting creature.”
“You think you’re so much better than me? I didn’t leave a defenseless child in the hands of demons and forget about it for over twenty years.”
Michael rushed forward and punched Ari in the face. Ari shook it off. “You want to fight?”
“Yes, I do.” Michael answered, circling him.
Ari looked over at the priest, who was sitting back down on the bench. “You okay with this?”
Father Raphael smiled. “You two have some issues to work out.” He took a sip of his tea.
Okay then. Ari faced Michael. He’d been watching the male exert his strength with Cass. He knew she didn’t have access to her powers or her strength; he just was trying to show her how much better he was than her. Cass might not see it, but it was blaringly clear to him that the Arkangel Michael was prejudiced against his kind, and he even put Cass in the same category.
Michael tried to punch him again, but this time Ari was ready for him. He blocked the throw and kicked him in the gut, shoving Michael a few feet away. Michael was furious and his wings popped out.
Ari snorted. “You can’t control your wings, little bird-boy?”
Michael roared and let his wings lift him up in the air. “Let’s see how you like to fly, half-demon.” He launched himself at Ari, grabbing him by the back of his jacket and lifting him into the air.
Ari could hear Father Raphael call out, “Don’t kill him, Michael!”
Michael just laughed. “As much as I would love to, I won’t.”
Ari didn’t call out or struggle to break free. Hell, he wasn’t stupid. Michael might not plan to kill him but it wouldn’t bother him if he dropped him from a short distance so that Ari broke his legs. He would heal, but it would hurt like a son of a bitch.
“What are you trying to prove, fly-boy?”
“You don’t belong here, she doesn’t need your kind around her.”
“‘She’ has a name, and it’s Cass. She’s more like me than you.”
“Cassandra hasn’t seen your true face yet, has she?”
“She knows me. Are you jealous? Did you see something you wanted being touched by a dirty half-demon?”
Michael growled out. “She will never be with you, demon!” He tossed Ari up on top of the roof of the church.
Ari started to slide, but he managed to catch himself on one of the shingles. “Damn birdman.” He peered over the edge and frowned at the steeply pitched roof. It was going to take some effort, but he would make it down. And when he did, he would pluck some fucking feathers.
*****
Cass was scared. It was dark and cold, and she couldn’t help but shiver. Where am I?
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
It was her voice, but her voice as a child. She looked at her hands, noticing how small they were. She wore a ragged grey dress and it itched something fierce.
A tall man stood in the corner of the room. “Pick it up and try again.”
“What?”
“Pick it up and try again.” He pointed to the ground.
She looked down and frowned.
“I said, pick it up!” The man yelled at her, making her shake.
She bent down and picked the items up: a bow and arrow. Her little hands fumbled to string the arrow to the bow, but she did. Then she turned around and took aim. As she let her breath release, she released the arrow. It hit the target dead center.
“Very good, I knew you could do it. I will allow you to eat now,” the man’s voice told her.
Chapter 11
Cass woke with a start. Her heart was racing, and she shivered. There were times she had dreams or nightmares like that, but this time she woke with a compulsion she didn’t understand. She stood up and realized briefly that all her bruises and aches were gone. She’d healed fully in a short amount of time. She’d also healed quickly earlier from being cut by the demon, but she somehow got side-tracked and dismissed it.
Well, that was a plus. She was going to need super-healing for all this training Michael was going to have her do. Eight fucking hours a day—he’d lost his damn mind.
She made her way downstairs and opened the door leading to the back garden. Standing on the stoop, she spotted Michael a few feet away swinging a sword. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and sweat glistened as it rolled down his muscular chest. He was moving in slow deliberate movements and she couldn’t help but admire him. If the Arkangel that impregnated her mother was as hot as Michael, she cou
ld understand why her mother fell for the seduction.
She was startled when Ari jumped down from the roof and landed in front of her. “What the hell!”
“You look like you’re feeling better.” He moved toward her and she couldn’t help but step back. He’d taken off his leather jacket and his t-shirt was tight against his body, molding to his muscles. Holy shit! Ari was just as muscular as Michael, but in a leaner, tighter, bad-boy way. She shook her head to clear her mind of the naughty things Ari had done to her earlier.
“What were you doing on the roof?”
He stretched his arms over his head, letting his t-shirt ride up. She couldn’t help but stare at the exposed skin. “I liked the view from up there. Did you dream of me?”
She shook her head, finally remembering what she had dreamed of. She pushed past Ari and continued down the steps. “Father Raphael, Michael!”
Michael stopped the move he was doing and glanced her way. Raphael stood up. “What is it, dear?”
“Michael mentioned I would need weapons training. Do you have weapons here?”
“Of course. Down in the basement there’s a locked vault with weapons that I kept over the years.”
“If you want to start the weapons training, I can teach you the basics of sword fighting.” Michael offered, brandishing his sword.
“I need to see the weapons.”
Father Raphael narrowed his eyes at her. “Why?”
“I—don’t know. I just need to see them.”
Ari seemed to think it was a power play, so he stepped up to side with her. “You got a problem showing her the weapons?” He glared at Michael as he spoke.
Father Raphael sighed. “Of course not. Come with me.”
Ari passed her, following the priest, and whispered, “To the bat cave!”
She half-snorted, half-growled at him. He was being an ass, but she had to admit he was funny.
“You need to send the half-demon away. He doesn’t belong here.” Michael came up behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder, glad and at the same time disappointed that he’d put his shirt back on. She thought about it; she’d known Ari now for a while. He was always kind and flirty. She watched him pay for homeless people’s dinners all the time when no one was looking. For some reason, she trusted him.
