Angel Tormented (The Louisiangel Series Book 3)

by C. L. Coffey

  Cupid grinned. “It’s still further than what the rest of us have managed. I think we can defeat him, especially if we can get Ronnie on board. Hey, you want to grab your bow and join me?”

  “That depends,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

  Cupid’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Depends on what?”

  “How you feel about Garret joining us?”

  “We figured that Garret would end up returning to the convent with Veronica anyway,” Cupid pointed out.

  “When I say Garret, what I really mean is Garret and the rest of the cherubim,” I said. Then I gave him my cheesiest grin and two thumbs up.

  Cupid frowned, rubbing at his chin. “Well, I have no objection to any of them visiting, but why would they all come?”

  “Veronica said that she runs the day to day stuff, but when it comes to the big decisions, they vote and take the majority’s choice,” I explained. “I figured it would be easier to tell them all at once than to wait for Veronica and Garret to head home, argue, and repeat everything to the remaining cherubs.”

  “She was always set on trying to get a democracy amongst the angels,” Cupid mused. “But we can’t do that. Not for this, anyway. The angels will not be involved.”

  “I’m not suggesting we change anything,” I hurriedly told him.

  Cupid nodded. “I know. We should move us out of the dining room though. I think all the angels and the cherubim eating together will be painfully awkward.”

  “I’ll get Nyle to help me set up the conservatory. That will fit twenty of us, won’t it?”

  Cupid nodded. “The long table is still in there. It extends, though I’m not sure where the additional chairs live.”

  “That’s fine,” I told him. “I’ll hunt them out.”

  “You want help?”

  I shook my head. “You enjoy the archery for a while longer. I can handle setting the table.” I started to head back inside, but paused. “Neither of us are Michael, but we’re not doing too bad a job, right?”

  Cupid glanced back over his shoulder. “Any day in which we don’t burn the convent down is a winner in my eyes.”

  I gave him a grin and hurried inside. I had no idea where those chairs were, but I doubted anyone else did either.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Assistance

  I eventually found the chairs and set the table, without conscripting Nyle’s help. Sarah had recruited him first and I was not about to do anything which would jeopardize my meal. I had left myself enough time to shower and change, but on the way up to my bedroom, I passed the bottom of the attic stairs and instead found myself in Michael’s room.

  I stood in the doorway for a long time, looking around. It hadn’t even been two weeks since Michael had been killed. Nothing had changed, but the room still looked different and I couldn’t work out what it was. I inhaled, puffing out my cheeks, then released the breath in short bursts. It looked like Michael should be in here – like he was going to come out of his bedroom and ask what I needed. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe he would. When he didn’t, I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes.

  I didn’t know what had brought me up there, so I paced the room, examining the few mementoes on the shelves, and the, even fewer, pictures hanging on the wall. There was nothing really personal about this room. Anything decorative looked generic enough that you could pick up a standard home style magazine and it would not look out of place. I bet he hadn’t even chosen the style or color of the two couches.

  I continued meandering around, finding myself in his bedroom. There were even fewer items in this room. The bedding matched the curtains, like my own. The only thing in his rooms that stood out was his bed. It was a beautiful ornate sleigh bed covered with a hand carved design. It was also enormous – two people could spread out in that thing and be comfortable.

  I sat down on it, running my hands over the bedding and realized the lingering smell that I could only describe as Michael was fading. That was what was different up here. He was starting to fade.

  It wasn’t until the tears splattered on my thigh that I realized I had been crying. I wiped them away, wondering when this was supposed to stop hurting, wondering how someone I barely knew could get me this upset. I would never know – there was no answer to something like this.

  “Joshua and Leon are here,” Cupid’s voice broke my thoughts.

  I told him I would be right down and washed my face in Michael’s bathroom. I had wanted to shower and change before dinner, but it looked like I didn’t have time. The cherubim were due imminently and there were more important things than my outfit. I left Michael’s domain and went downstairs.

  Cupid, Joshua and Leon were chatting amicably in the entryway when I joined them. I barely had time to say hello before the area was packed full of cherubim. The atmosphere went from relaxed to uncomfortably charged in nanoseconds. We were rewarded with the same eerie silence, of not a single teen cherub speaking, that I had encountered at the Plaza Tower. This had Leon and Joshua sharing a look.

  I shared my own with Cupid. “I’m glad everyone could make it,” I said, meaning it until I spotted Garret and Dion at the back of the crowd.

  “We’re serving dinner in the conservatory if you want to start making your way there?” Cupid said.

  “Don’t want us mixing with the angels,” someone – I couldn’t see who – retorted.

  “This is going to be a fun evening,” Cupid sighed in my head. Both myself and Cupid managed to keep our expressions neutral, as though we hadn’t heard what was said, but I caught Leon and Joshua sharing another look.

  “Shall we?” I asked. The room was further down the corridor. I took a couple of steps and was aware of a brisk draft. When I turned, the cherubim had vanished.

  Cupid let out an audible sigh this time. “I’d best go with them,” he said apologetically.

  I waved him on and he disappeared, leaving Leon, Joshua and myself alone. Leon, who had managed to keep his jaw from dropping open, was blinking rapidly. “Have I missed something?” he asked me. “They’re just kids.”

  “They would be cherubim,” I told him. “They look like kids and with the attitude, I’m sure they’d easily be accepted into a high school, but they are angelic, and they put my fighting skills to shame.”

  “But they barely look old enough to drive!” Leon blurted out.

  “Maybe we should take our time walking to the conservatory?” I suggested. “They get offended easily.”

  I slowly led the way to the conservatory, happily following my nose. The chili chicken had a sweet aroma to it which was positively mouthwatering. Hopefully no one would want to discuss business until after we had eaten because the last meal I’d had – breakfast – seemed so long ago.

  “There is more than one group of angels in New Orleans?” Leon asked.

  I glanced back at him and found the bewildered expression had been replaced with a look of concentration. “They used to live here. I don’t know what you remember about being possessed?”

  Leon shook his head. “Little. Snippets here and there, but it doesn’t equate to much. I thought Joshua had filled me in on everything else?” he asked, looking to Joshua.

  “The cherubim arrived after Raphael and Joshua took you to hospital,” I started to explain.

  “Raphael?” Leon repeated, coming to stop. “As in, the Archangel?”

  I paused, turning back to him. We probably should have had this conversation sooner. There was a chance that this evening was going to turn into a disaster and it would be my fault. My stomach, only moments ago empty, now felt full – of dread. “Yep,” I confirmed, forcing myself not to let my nerves show. “He was there with his partner, St. Patrick – Paddy.”

  “Saints are real too?” When I gave him a smile, he gave me a resolute nod. “Okay, saints: check.”

  “The cherubim used to live here in the convent, but they had a disagreement with Michael and left. There’s a bit of an
imosity, but it’s mostly coming from their direction,” I pulled at my top. “Okay, I’ll be honest, this is likely to be an uncomfortable meal. When I sent that text earlier, it was only going to be Veronica and Garret, but I ended up inviting everyone.” I gave them both the most optimistic smile I could. “The food will be good though.”

  “You said this was important. I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Leon reassured me.

  Joshua stepped up to me and rested his hands on my shoulders. “I’m here because you said it was about Asmodeus. If you need me for moral support, I can give you that too, but I’m certain that’s the last thing you need.” When I looked up in to his blue eyes, he leaned forward, his lips millimeters from my ear. “That and I’ll take any opportunity to look at that ass,” he whispered.

  I suddenly had other reasons to not want to go into that room, and it was only Leon clearing his throat that I realized that wasn’t an option.

  Resolutely, I stepped back and opened the door. In addition to Cupid and the cherubim, Paddy was joining us for dinner. “We thought you got lost,” she said loudly as the three of us entered. Judging from the silence in the room she was the only one to think that, not that I could blame her.

  “Sorry, I had to take a call,” Leon said. I flashed him a grateful look.

  Whether it was the cherubim’s doing, or what Cupid had requested, I wasn’t sure, but the five non-cherubs were at one end of the table together. I took one of the spare seats well aware that seventeen pairs of eyes were watching our every move.

  Cupid had made arrangements for food to be left on the table so we could help ourselves, rather than have the angels waiting on the cherubim. Once, the cherubim would have been the ones serving us, but we had agreed it wasn’t fair on the angels. Judging from the way they were eyeing everything with suspicion, it was the right decision. “Shall we dig in?” I suggested, allowing my stomach to make the next move.

  I reached for the nearest silver chafer. Half was full of fried rice, the other held sweet chili chicken. Yes! I piled the food on my plate, ignoring Joshua’s amused smile. I liked my food – sue me.

  My movements did encourage the table (slowly) to start adding food to their own plates. I tucked in. The food was as delicious as I was hoping it would be. The chilies I’d never heard of added a nice kick to the dish and complimented the honey. I’d devoured half of my portion before anyone had spoken – partly because it was so moreish, but mainly because focusing on eating was a lot easier than trying to combat the awkward silence.

  “This is delicious,” said Veronica. Her expression told me the silence was making her feel as uncomfortable, and I caught Cupid shoot her an appreciative smile.

  “Eugene is really good in the kitchen. He’s got talent,” I said, giving credit where credit was due.

  My words made someone snort derisively and I wasn’t surprised to track its owner to Dion. “You mean he looked pretty while you got caterers doing the work,” he scoffed. “Angels don’t have talent.”

  I wasn’t looking to start an argument, but Eugene had done a phenomenal job – it tasted amazing and he’d had no notice to up the recipe. Okay, he’d had help from Sarah, but that comment was uncalled for. “This was made in-house. If the thought of an angel being able to cook better than you is causing you such an issue, I suggest you don’t eat the meal. Otherwise, take the stick out of your damn ass and shut up.”

  Unbelievably, my words didn’t cause an argument. Instead, for some reason the table stared at me in a stunned silence. All except Joshua, who was just grinning at me.

  It was Veronica who once again broke the silence. “The food is good,” she said, firmly, shooting glares at her fellow cherubs.

  I set my fork down on the table, the rest of my meal abandoned. My appetite was gone. Even though most of the people sat around the table were still eating, I decided now was as good a time as any to get started, and hopefully the chewing would keep them quiet while I was talking.

  I took a sip of my drink and then cleared my throat. “We should probably talk,” I said.

  I looked to Cupid, but he shook his head. “This is your plan.”

  “I think we’re all up to date on everything, but I’ll just recap,” I said, getting to my feet. “Currently there are at least two Princes of Darkness in New Orleans,” I said.

  “Tell us something we don’t know,” Garret muttered, not making the effort to keep his voice low.

  “I know where the rest of the Princes are,” I shot back at him.

  “Yeah, right,” Garret scoffed.

  “You do?” Cupid asked at the same time.

  I nodded. “I happen to know that the Princes have not long since returned from their annual away day, which this year was hosted by Mammon in Las Vegas.”

  “Where did you get this information from?” Paddy asked.

  “The same place I got the rest of my information from,” I responded. “But I’m not going to give up my sources.” I looked over to Garret and found him glaring at me. He wasn’t bothering to hide his dislike of me, nor that he was clearly doubting what I was saying, but I caught him share a look with Dion that told me they both were considering that I was telling the truth.

  “We’re getting sidetracked,” Cupid said. “And we need to have another conversation later about the other Princes.”

  I gave him a small nod as acknowledgement. “Asmodeus and Beelzebub: they’re the two Princes in the city,” I continued. “Right now, our focus needs to be on Asmodeus. Michael and I were at the Port because I’d received information that Asmodeus was up to no good there.”

  “And look where that got Michael.”

  I didn’t need to look at Garret to know he was glowering at me. “And that, Garret, is why I’m telling everybody, so the same mistake isn’t made twice. If you can’t shut up, get the hell out. You’re making this take much longer than it needs to.”

  “Questions and comments can wait until we’re done,” Veronica said firmly. “If any of you feel you are unable to do that, then you can take Angel’s advice and leave.”

  I didn’t wait to give anybody the chance to comment. “When we found Valac there, at first I thought it was a trap, that my source was deliberately trying to set us up, but Asmodeus seemed genuinely surprised.” If they’d have been expecting me, that sword would have been waiting for me, not put there as I was leaving.

  “It’s not normal for the lieutenant to turn up to a crime scene unless the victim is high-profile,” Leon confirmed.

  “He’s up to something and he’s trying to do it in secret. I spoke to my source again and he’s not certain what, but he did say it has something to do with children. That area of the Port belongs to a shipping company called A. R. International, owned by Alexander Ramsey Senior, also known as Valac. Additionally, Valac’s son was murdered this morning. The only other thing to add is that whatever is happening, is happening this weekend,” I concluded.

  “So what’s the plan?” Paddy asked.

  “We need to do some reconnaissance first,” I said, firmly. “We can’t just go in there, swords blazing. We need to take the time to see what we’re up against.”

  Joshua nodded his agreement. “Asmodeus might not know we’re on to him, but Valac has gone missing, according to the police reports, and Valac’s son has been murdered. At the very least, this means his defenses will be up, and he might be trying to move up his timeline.”

  “Why are there two humans here?” Garret asked, impatiently. “How do they seem to know more about what’s going on than we do?”

  “Because Asmodeus is our lieutenant and we work under him,” Joshua shot back at him.

  “Which is even more reason why you two shouldn’t be involved,” Garret retorted.

  There was no way on this planet I would admit it aloud, but I agreed with Garret. Another thing I wasn’t going to admit aloud was that I had every intention of making sure Joshua wasn’t going to be there either.

  “Well we are, and we’re
going to be whether you like it or not,” Joshua continued, oblivious to my thoughts. “We have access to things that you don’t.”

  “I need for you guys,” I said, addressing the cherubim. “I need for you to do some sneaking around the shipping yard. We need to know how many of the Fallen are involved, and how many men they have dragged into this – voluntarily, or otherwise. We need to know how many people are on lookout, how many are helping by other means, and if they’re armed. If you can work out what it is Asmodeus is up to, that’s an advantage. You are not to engage in any fighting until we know what’s happening.”

  “This is why you wanted us in threes,” Veronica said.

  I nodded. “Three is a small group, but I don’t know what you’re walking into.”

  “If Asmodeus is there and I have the chance to take him, or any of the other Fallen, out, I will,” Garret declared.

  I narrowed my eyes. “If Asmodeus is there, I hope you try,” I ground out. “However, I don’t want anyone else to get hurt, so I’d rather no one else tried.”

  “Angel!” Cupid admonished.

  I sucked in a deep breath, puffed out my cheeks, and exhaled slowly. “Okay, that was unfair. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, including you,” I told Garret. “But it’s not just injury I’m concerned about. Asmodeus is doing something at one of the biggest ports in the country. Either something is coming in, or something is going out. If we move too soon, we could spook him and whoever’s working with him. Whatever it is he’s going to use to hurt people, that could disappear before we can stop it.”

  “What are you going to be doing?” Veronica asked.

  “Leon and Joshua,” I turned to the detectives. “I need you to continue investigating both of the Ramsey’s, and if it’s not too dangerous, see if Asmodeus has anything in his office which might give us a clue as to what is happening. I’ll be with you as much as I can.”

  “I have an idea,” Leon said, while Joshua nodded.

  “What about us?” Paddy gestured to herself and Cupid.