by KD Jones
“Ari’s my friend, and I believe he prefers demi-demon.”
Michael growled in disgust and grabbed her arm to stop her from walking. “He’s got demon blood. How could you be friends with such an evil and disgusting creature, much less let him touch you so intimately?”
She heard the hatred in his voice. “Have you forgotten? I have demon blood in me as well. Do you consider me an evil, disgusting creature, too?” The fact that he didn’t try to deny it made his feelings glaringly obvious. She jerked her arm from his grip and stormed the rest of the way down the dingy basement stairs.
Ari was waiting for her at the bottom and looked at her with concern. “What’s wrong?”
She held up her hand, telling him she didn’t want to talk about it. She moved toward Father Raphael, who was opening a heavy metal door.
“When the vault was first built, we didn’t have electricity.” He pulled a candle off a shelf and lit it with his lighter. The candle was really old, and the wick had a lot of dust on it. It flickered out. “Let me get another match.”
“Don’t worry about it, Father. I’ve got this.” Ari held up his iPhone and switched the flashlight feature on. He pointed it toward the inside of the vault and whistled. “Man, this is some really old stuff. Where are the handguns and semi-automatics?”
Michael growled. “Most of your modern weaponry is made out of plastic or some impure metal. These weapons all have tips or edges of pure silver that can be dipped in holy water, which is the only type of metal that will kill a demon.”
“You could get silver bullets dipped in holy water,” Ari told him smugly.
Cass tried to hide her smile. Ari had him on that one. She moved past them into the vault and lightly touched the different weapons. There was weird stuff she’d never seen before, as well as spears, things with spikes that looked like they’d be used by gladiators, and a saw—she cringed to imagine how that was used.
She’d almost forgotten what she was looking for, when her eyes caught something. There it was, laying against the wall, almost hidden. She reached down and picked up a beautiful white recurve bow.
“What is it made out of?” She caressed it in awe.
“Yew wood.”
“Are there arrows?”
She bent down and moved some swords out of the way. She found a quiver, and inside were six silver-tipped arrows. She lifted it up and carried the bow and arrows out of the vault.
Michael frowned. “A bow and arrow? It’s going to take a lot of practice for you to be able to hit a target from a distance.”
Cass fingered each arrowhead and found the silver tips to be quite sharp. “I only found six arrows. Where can I get more if I need more?”
Father Raphael smiled at her. “That is a special bow and arrow set. For Arkangel Gabriel’s first battle on the Earthly plane, he was gifted an unbreakable bow and a set of endless arrows.”
“For real? That’s Gabriel’s endless quiver?” Michael was suddenly very interested in what Cass was holding.
Cass ignored him. “So, what does it mean to be endless?”
Raphael gently laid his hands on the quiver. “These six arrows will be all you need. If you use all six, they will return to your quiver automatically.”
“Really? I have got to check that out.” Cass bounded up the stairs, feeling a spark of excitement she hadn’t felt in a long long time. Magic arrows that returned to the quiver—that was simply unbelievable.
She could hear the others following behind her as she went back outside to the private garden. “I need a target.”
“You could shoot the half-demon,” Michael offered.
Ari growled at him before walking up to a large, wide tree. He pulled out a small can from his coat pocket, shook it, and then sprayed three circles on the bark, forming a makeshift target.
“That’s one of the oldest oak trees in the state.” Father Raphael rubbed his balding head.
“She needs a target,” Ari answered bowing for Cass.
Cass looked at Ari and the spray can he still held. “Do I even want to know why you have a spray can in your pocket? Never mind.”
She turned her back on them and moved away, then took one of the arrows and nocked it on the bow.
Michael stepped up to her with his eyes on the bow and arrow. “Perhaps I should show you first, since you’ve had no experience.”
She glared at him. “I never said I didn’t have experience.” She didn’t even think about it. She raised the bow, looked at the target, and released her breath with the arrow. It hit dead center.
Michael was shocked to silence. Ari smiled at her widely. Raphael came up to her. “How did you learn to do that?”
“I remembered something from my childhood. I was dreaming that I was somewhere dark and scary. There was a man there and he was demanding that I practice this. He made me do it over and over again until I hit the mark. Then and only then was I allowed to eat.”
All three men turned to try to hide their expressions, but she saw them anyway: shock, horror, and worse, pity.
Ari stepped closer to her but didn’t touch her. “Do you remember anything else?”
She shook her head. “No. I’ve dreamed stuff before but this was the first time that I actually could remember anything clearly. It felt so real. The smells were horrible, I had terrible hunger pains.” She touched her stomach, frowning. “The worst were the sounds. I could hear screams and crying, people begging for mercy.”
She felt a comforting hand on her arm and her remembered pain faded. She knew it was Father Raphael. She nodded her thanks to him. “I’m fine. If it was real, it’s the past and can’t hurt me now. I really need to unlock my past. How can I do that?”
Father Raphael patted her on her back. “I’m not sure. If I was still at full power, I could heal your mind, which may have helped you with your memories.”
“Why did I lose my memories? Was what happened to me so traumatic that I blocked it out?”
“All these questions will be answered slowly as you tap more into your own abilities. It’s just going to take time and patience.”
“Father, I’m not the most patient person.” She glanced over at the sunset. “I need to call my friends to see how they’re doing.
Michael sighed. “You need to get your priorities straight.”
She glared at Michael. “My friends are my only family; they are my priority, not you or your damn crusade!”
“You can use my cell phone,” Ari offered. She took it and stormed away.
Chapter 12
Cass sat on the stoop and hit the end button. She’d tried to call the diner and Leeza’s cell phone, but got no answer. Something was wrong, she felt it in her soul. She stood up and handed Ari his phone.
“I need to go to the diner.”
“Absolutely not, you’re just starting to train. The diner is not important.” Michael crossed his arms over his chest.
She wanted to punch that perfect face of his. “You’re not in charge of me, buddy. My friends aren’t answering their phones and I have this terrible feeling that something’s wrong. The demon could have them.”
Michael waved his hand around. “Even more reason to not leave. You’re not ready to face the demon.”
“You could help me.”
“Not until you are ready.”
She pleaded. “Father Raphael, I can’t let my friends get hurt.”
The priest nodded his head. “I’ll get my car.” Michael glared at them.
Ari stepped up. “Let me take you on my bike. I can get us there faster.”
She nodded, put the bow and arrows in the carrier, and slung it over her shoulder. “Thanks, Ari.” She followed him back through the church and out the front entrance. His bike was parked haphazardly in a handicapped space. She stopped to give him a look.
He got on the bike and shrugged. “My legs were hurting, so I parked closer.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your legs, Ari.”
�
��Are we going or not?”
She sighed and moved to swing her leg over the back of the bike. He handed her a helmet and she had just enough time to put it on before he took off. She threw her arms around his waist and held on for dear life. “You could have waited long enough for me to buckle the helmet!”
“Got to move faster, baby!”
She leaned her forehead against his back, feeling just a little bit scared. She didn’t even like to ride in a car if someone was speeding. She preferred to walk places, which was why she picked the building she lived in. She could walk where she needed to go, or at least to the bus stops. She felt his hand on hers.
“I’ve got you, sweetness. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She snuggled further against him, soaking in his warmth. She’d fantasized about riding on the back of his bike so many times. She looked up and watched as they whizzed past cars and pedestrians. The sun was setting, and the scenery was beautiful. Maybe she could get him to drive her through the countryside some time.
She felt the wind against her face and closed her eyes. His hand touched hers again and something strange happened. She had a flash of a memory, but it wasn’t hers. It belonged to Ari.
He stepped into the diner, shaking the rain from his hair and coat. He glanced around the room until he spotted her, bending over, cleaning off a table. His body hardened at the sight of her. The short skirt of her waitress uniform rose up, exposing her strong, sleek legs.
He moved forward slowly, stalking her. Her ass was a work of art. Nice and round and firm. All kinds of delicious and wicked things popped to his mind about what he would love to do to that ass. He licked his suddenly dry lips.
He decided to sit at the bar tonight. He swiveled in the seat so that he could watch as she took the dishes to the kitchen. She laughed at something her friend Leeza said to her. She turned halfway toward him, and he could see her beautiful face light up with her smile. She glanced his way and their eyes met. He felt an electric shock to his system. It happened every time. His heart beat faster, and every cell in his body was on full alert.
God, she was beautiful. She always looked beautiful, no matter what. If only she noticed him, really noticed him. Maybe if she got to know him better… No, she would run for the hills if she knew what he really was like.
She blinked as the memory faded and she became aware of her surroundings again. She was on the bike, holding onto Ari. What the hell was that? How did she get his memory?
“We’re here.”
She frowned when she noticed that Ari had pulled the bike into the back alley behind the diner. She felt sick inside when she looked over at the dumpster. She would never look at it the same, and she didn’t plan to take the trash out by herself for a long long time.
A blue truck caught her attention. “That’s Jerry’s truck, but I don’t see Leeza’s car.”
They parked the bike and Ari got off first. He helped her stand and removed the helmet she wore. She patted her hair. “Do I have helmet hair?”
He swept her hair back from her face lingering. “Not really. You always look beautiful, no matter what.”
She shivered with a weird sense of déjà vu. She always looked beautiful, no matter what.
“Is something wrong?”
“Let’s go in and find out.” She moved past him. There was no way she was going to let him know she’d seen his memory. It was more than seeing it, really—she’d actually lived his memory. She felt what he’d felt at that moment. How was that possible?
She opened the door to the diner using her key. “Jerry?”
Jerry wasn’t in the kitchen. She got that weird feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was really, really wrong. She ran out into the dining area and noticed a large body on the floor. The closer she got the more familiar the body became.
“Jerry!” She threw herself on the floor and turned him over. He had a bruise on his cheek, but he was breathing. Thank God for that. “Jerry, can you hear me?”
He mumbled as he stirred to consciousness. “Cass?”
“It’s me. Are you okay? What happened?”
He tried to sit up but moaned, holding his head in his hands. She eased him back down onto the floor. “A guy came up behind me when I opened the diner’s back door. He pushed his way in and we fought. I cut him with my switchblade, and his blood burned my hand. I dropped the blade over by the bar. Where’s Leeza?”
Oh God...Leeza. “Ari, do you see Leeza anywhere?”
Ari ran through the diner, checking the bathrooms, the kitchen, under tables, then went back out to the alley. He came back to them. “She’s not here.”
A knock on the diner door made her jump. She glanced at the door and was relieved to see Father Raphael and Michael. Ari went to open it for them, and they immediately came to kneel by her and Jerry.
She looked at Michael. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Michael frowned at seeing Jerry’s condition. He glanced up at her. “I should have listened to you earlier. I’m sorry.”
Father Raphael placed his hand on Jerry’s cheek and it seemed to ease his discomfort. Then he made the sign of the cross.
Jerry snorted. “Father, I’m not dead yet. You don’t have to give me last rites.”
Father Raphael smiled at him. “You’ll be fine, but we should have the paramedics check you over.”
Cass stood up and walked over to the bar, where the switchblade had skidded across the floor. The blood was still on the blade and it was smoking a little. “Ari, call 911 to get the paramedics here for Jerry. Father Raphael, could you come over here for a second.”
She waited until he was right next to her then whispered to him. “Something strange happened while I was on the bike with Ari. I touched his hand and—somehow saw one of his memories.”
He smiled. “You have the touch. That’s wonderful.”
“I thought the touch would let me heal people.”
“It’s different with each person. Most do have healing abilities, but the very rare and few can gain knowledge and even memories from other people.”
“If I touched the demon’s blood, would I be able to locate him?”
Father Raphael ran a hand over his head. “Possibly, but you would have to have time to develop that skill to be able to get it to focus on something specific.”
“I don’t have time, Father. He’s got my friend Leeza. Look at the burned places on the floor, this demon is bleeding out all over the place and he’s desperate. I have to try.”
Father Raphael nodded his agreement. “Best do it before the paramedics and police come.”
She could hear the sirens in the background; they would be there soon. She knelt on the floor and reached for the knife.
“What are you doing? That will burn you!” Ari rushed over and tried to pull her away.
“I think I can touch it and find where the demon went with Leeza.”
“Since when?”
“Just—let me try before the police get here.”
He moved out of her way and she reached for the knife. Please God, help me make this work. I have to find Leeza. She focused as she slowly lifted the knife by the handle with one hand. Nothing came to her by touching that part. She was going to have to touch the blood. She took a deep breath and touched one finger of her other hand to the blood.
At first she winced at the burning sensation.
“Let it go, Cass,” Ari pleaded.
“No, I can do this!” She focused her eyes on the blood and placed her finger back on the blade. She resisted pulling away from the burn this time, instead trying to take the pain inward, focus on what she was looking for. Her surroundings in the diner faded as she was suddenly somewhere else, into someone else.
Fucking bitch wouldn’t stop crying. He couldn’t stand these weak humans. Once he sacrificed the girl and drained her, he would be able to free himself from the damn holding bracelet and return home. Once he fully healed, he would come back to the Ear
thly plane with his friends and take the Child of Light. There would be payback. But first, he needed to shut this bitch up. He slammed the cabinet door hard, making it creak as it opened again. Then he turned around and glared at the girl tied up on the futon.
“Oh fuck! I know where he’s at.” She dropped the knife.
Chapter 13
“Are you sure, Cass?” Ari asked as they pulled up and parked outside her apartment building. It was dark and there was a few homeless people living in boxes close by; otherwise it was clear of people
“Yeah, I am.” She took the helmet off and swung her leg off of the back of the bike.
“He’s definitely here. I can smell his blood,” Michael commented as he slowly drifted down from the sky.
Cass shook her head, amazed at how Michael blended. When he was in the sky his body looked like that of a large bird of prey. Then as he landed, he morphed into a man. But she had to focus on her friend now, not on the Arkangel.
Father Raphael stayed with Jerry so that she, Ari, and Michael could come save Leeza. She prayed that they weren’t too late.
Michael stepped forward. “Stay here and I will go and kill the demon.”
She glared at him. “I’m not going to just stay here. That’s my apartment and my best friend up there.”
“What do you think you could possibly do?” Michael asked.
“I could distract him. I’ll go up alone; he wants me anyway. I’ll convince him that I can help take the bracelet thingy off him and lead him down the fire escape. You fly up the back side of the building and come through the bathroom window, get Leeza and take her out of there before he catches on.”
“Then what?”
“I’ll—I’ll take the demon out.”
Michael snorted. “You’re going to kill the demon by yourself?”
“She won’t be by herself.”
