by Missy Jane
“That’s good. No need for them to start panicking.” Mike shook his head. “Rafe called to say Asta remembers a lot of evil in Huntsville about a year ago. It’s why she didn’t stick around here long. She didn’t investigate it, either, but said a feeling of wrongness hit her strongly.”
Cam opened his mouth to reply when Uri spoke in his mind. All of you need to get in here and see this.
They hurried into the living room, where Uri was watching the news on Cam’s big-screen TV. Reports were pouring in from all over the U.S., where small earthquakes were hitting in the most unlikely places.
“…another area where no fault lines have ever been mapped,” the reporter confirmed.
“Shit,” Cam said.
“Yeah, that about sums it up,” Sel replied.
They all looked to Mike. “I’ll call an assembly of Watchers.”
Cam whistled. “Damn. How long has it been since the last one?”
Mike frowned. “What year is it?”
Uri chuckled. “It’s 2016, bro.”
“And the Roman Empire really got going in…”
“Eh, sometime in the twenties BC,” Sel said.
“So, about 2,050 years…give or take,” Mike replied.
Cam snorted a laugh and shook his head. “Good luck getting everyone assembled. And where in the hell are we meeting?”
“I’m calling only Earthbound Watchers from actual cities, not outlying towns. Those still in hiding from the humans won’t help anyway. Plus, I’m only going to call the ones within the United States for now. This seems, so far, to be an American problem.”
“That’s weird,” Sel said.
“Or lucky,” Mike replied. “I can’t imagine trying to fight in every country at once. Perhaps the demons can’t, either.”
“So we’re gathering roughly twenty thousand angels?” Cam asked.
Mike blinked. “Yes.”
The other three tried to hide their wary amusement and simply made various sounds of agreement.
“So, we better get to work,” Mike said.
With a sigh, Cam headed back to the map in his kitchen. He rolled it up carefully, placed it in a holder, then returned it to his massive library. He felt Uri and Sel leave the house as Mike walked into the room alone.
“I think we can meet in the Astrodome. It’s mostly being ignored for the moment,” he said.
“Didn’t they start demolishing it already?”
“Only a small part. We can meet there safely. The assembly won’t take long. I’ve sent the call out to the heads of each state, and they will inform their city leaders. Sebastian will take care of Texas for me while I plan my speech.”
“What exactly are you going to say?”
Mike paced away and ran his hand over his goatee. His black hair had grown over his shoulders for the first time in centuries. Even his speech patterns had started to change. Mike was their leader and always appeared when needed, but he spent time away from them that he never explained. Not that any of them had actually asked. Rafe thought it was to spy on Gabriel, but Cam had his doubts.
“I need to address this problem with the earthquakes first and tell them what we’ve sensed here in Huntsville. Most likely, all of the quakes have been an attempt to open a massive portal. I also need to make sure they understand to be on their guard. It’s doubtful multiple portals of a large size will open at once, but if there is even the slightest chance, we need to be ready.”
“All right. What do you want me to do?”
“Map all of the known quakes within the past few hours and see if there’s any type of correlation between the areas. Also, I need to know the distance between them.”
“I’m on it.”
Mike slapped him on the back then walked out his back door.
Cam rubbed his hands over his eyes and was about to sit at his computer when his cell phone buzzed. A text message from Eleanor appeared.
Sorry I forgot to let you know I arrived home safely. I took a nap and feel much better now.
Confusion hit him for a moment before he remembered his earlier conversation with her. He had told her to text him. He let her know he got the message and then went to work researching the quake spots. After a few minutes his mind wandered back to Eleanor’s text. How had he forgotten about her and what had happened earlier? That seemed to happen a lot. Too often, really. He stepped away from the map and went in search of a different text. There was something not quite natural about an Archangel constantly forgetting one specific human in his midst.
…
Cam had his cell phone to his ear, trying to fight back laughter as Rafe attempted to talk to him with Asta speaking over him every few seconds.
“And tell him I said—”
“He can hear you perfectly fine, Asta,” Rafe said with exasperation.
Finally, Cam snickered. “Tell her not to worry. I’ve already got a sense of what to look for.”
Rafe relayed the comment then turned his attention back to Cam. “You do?”
“What’s leaking from the fissure is similar to what we’ve felt before but not exactly the same. It’s evil intent of Armoros’s flavor but a bit off, as if from one of its offspring.”
“Not Armoros again. He was enough trouble. Another half?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe just a different high-level demon. One that’s worked its way up the ranks and is finally strong enough to try coming through. Armoros shouldn’t be powerful enough yet from its banishment a few months ago but could be strong enough to delegate. And I’m sure that bastard has plenty of offspring in the hell realms.”
“Shit.”
“Just keep Asta safe at home with the wards we left on your house, and you should be fine. I think Sebastian is being sent to guard your house, too.”
“What about Zerach and Isadora?”
“Sebastian’s sister, Alexandria, will be there to watch over them.”
“Good.”
“Mike thinks every human we have close ties to needs to be protected. I wouldn’t put it past Armoros to try to exact a little revenge by hurting humans we consider family or friends.”
“Okay, I understand watching over our wives. What about humans close to the rest of you guys?”
“I don’t think Mike and Uri are too concerned, since they mostly work alone. Sel left his persona behind a few months ago and made sure to sever his ties as well.”
“Yeah? And what about Eleanor?”
Shock at his own thoughtlessness hit Cam like a ton of bricks. “Eleanor.”
Rafe snorted. “You’re kidding, right? You can’t tell me you forgot about her.”
“No, no, no… Yes. Okay, I did. Again. Shit. I gotta go.”
He hung up on Rafe’s laughter and sent a mental message to his brothers that he was heading to Eleanor’s house. All three of them were at Mike’s house in Houston. Uri and Sel had recently moved there in preparation for the regeneration into their new personas. Cam had considered moving, too, but his library held so many books, it would be a real pain in the ass. Luckily, his house was situated deep in the woods, surrounded by a national forest. He’d owned the plot of land for centuries and retained it when the government had tried to squeeze him out. Of course, they thought he was the original owner’s great-grandson.
Soon he would become his own great-great-grandson. But for now he needed to check on Eleanor and pray he hadn’t completely screwed up by forgetting about her again. Since it would be faster, he ripped off his shirt and took to the sky. His mind wandered back to the book he’d found that might explain why she slipped his mind so often. He wasn’t 100 percent certain it applied, but so far it was the only clue. More time was needed to study the text and maybe cross-reference it.
Eleanor lived in a small house within Huntsville city limits on a quiet street lined with similar houses. She was renting and saving up to buy her own home one day. Hopefully, the severance he’d given her would help with that. He thought of her smile and the light, flora
l scent she wore. Though he hadn’t expected to see her again after that morning, he couldn’t help but be glad he would be seeing her soon.
As he landed in her backyard, he realized he’d forgotten his shirt. “Shit.”
No help for it. It was important to know she was okay.
Using his senses, he scanned the house and felt no evil or violence, although some demons were strong enough to block out or dampen their effects for a limited amount of time. He couldn’t take the chance that had happened. He turned the knob on her back door, found it unlocked, and stepped inside.
Eleanor had her back to him as she hummed and stirred something in a steaming mug. He froze. He could just back out quietly, and she would never know he’d been there. He could ward her house against evil, and if anything passed through the wards he would immediately know. But then her doorbell rang, and she jumped, spilling the hot liquid down the front of her shirt.
She cried out. “Oh my God! Ouch!”
Cam was halfway across the room before he realized he’d entered the house. She looked up and screamed.
“Cam? Oh my God, you scared the hell out of me.”
“Sorry. Are you okay?”
Holding her wet T-shirt away from her body, she nodded. Though not overly endowed, the V-neck and wet material worked together to give him a spectacular view. Despite being an angel, he was also very much male; he couldn’t help but appreciate the sight.
“Why are you here? And…without a shirt on?”
He opened his mouth to answer when her doorbell rang again.
“Oh, uh…”
“Are you expecting someone?” he asked.
“No.”
“Wait here. And lock that back door.”
“What?”
He hurried to the front door and set his hand against it. Rage and violent emotions hit him like a sledgehammer. He yanked his hand away and silently let his brothers know.
“Cam?”
Spinning away from the door, he found Eleanor watching him with a wary expression and her cell phone ready. Her hair was down, and he took a second to appreciate that before pointing to her fireplace. “I need you to crouch in there until I tell you it’s safe. Grab a sofa cushion and hold it in front of you.”
Her pretty brown eyes widened. “What?” She raised her phone. “Should I call 911?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes, of course.”
Some of his tension eased at her immediate response. “Then just get into the fireplace. Please.”
She frowned, and he prepared for her argument, but thankfully she just nodded and hurried to do what he said.
The front door rattled and laughter came through. “Invite me innnnn, bright one,” something hissed. “Open, open, open.”
It laughed again, making Cam’s skin crawl. Armoring himself, he pulled out his fiery sword. Eleanor’s gasp of surprise barely registered.
“You should watch what you wish for, demon,” Cam whispered before yanking the door open.
The man standing in the doorway was the same dirty vagrant who’d shattered Eleanor’s window and then blown up.
“Oh my God!” Eleanor cried out from the fireplace, but Cam couldn’t spare a moment to reassure her.
The man laughed as Cam took a single step back and pointed his sword right at his throat.
“I’m not sure what’s so funny, demon. But you have no place here.”
“That’ssss what you think, angeeeelll. Give me the bright one, and I’ll be on my way.” Then it turned and looked right at Eleanor. With a yelp, she pulled the sofa cushion in front of her.
Anger surged in Cam’s veins. “I don’t think so, but you’re welcome to come in and try.”
The verbal invitation was obviously all the semi-demon had been waiting for. Arms raised and hands outstretched, fingers curled into claws, he lurched forward through the door. An inhuman screech left his throat, and he batted away Cam’s sword as if it were made of plastic instead of blessed metal that should’ve been able to penetrate any substance.
Cam cursed under his breath as he felt Mike enter the house from the back door. Although Cam swung his sword again, the demon just laughed and knocked it down as if he were playing a game.
“What the fuck is he?” Mike asked as he appeared at Cam’s side with his own sword.
“No idea.” As the demon tried to advance, Cam swung again. “But he’s not flesh and blood.”
Cam let his sword disappear and punched the demon in the face. It just cackled and kicked him in the stomach, and he stumbled into Mike, who steadied him then stabbed his sword into the demon’s thigh. Black smoke poured out, but it didn’t slow the demon down. It yanked its leg back from the sword and spun toward the living room. It made it halfway to the fireplace before Cam jumped on its back. They landed on the coffee table, shattering it, while the demon struggled to throw Cam off. He rolled against the sofa, pulling the demon with him so it was on top. Mike stabbed it in the stomach.
More black smoke billowed out as it struggled. It yanked one arm free of Cam’s hold and grabbed the bottom of the sofa, flipping it up and right into Mike, who fell back against the entryway wall, the sofa in his arms. Cam used his legs to grip the demon and called forth his sword again. He swiped at the demon’s neck, intent on decapitating it. The demon pulled away at the last second, landing on Eleanor’s television with a loud crash. Mike and Cam both gained their feet and faced off with the demon, swords drawn. It bared two rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Mike mumbled a prayer that was older than human civilization. It was one of the first they’d ever spoken and held its own power. The demon screeched and staggered back with its hands over its ears. Cam stabbed it in the chest. More smoke oozed from the wounds as Cam jabbed his sword into its ribs and stomach over and over. Mike’s voice grew as the wounds widened.
“Go back to the hell you came from, demon,” Cam said then pierced the place a man’s heart would rest.
The demon dropped its head back and screeched one last time before disappearing in a cloud of the noxious black smoke.
Cam stood, heaving, as the smoke dissipated. “How the hell is it even possible for him to reappear after blowing up earlier?”
“I wish I knew,” Mike said.
“That’s just…”
“Yes.”
Cam let his sword and armor disappear as Mike did the same, then he turned his attention to the fireplace. Eleanor’s large brown eyes peered back at him from behind the only intact sofa cushion left. She dropped it and crawled out of her pristine fireplace, standing in the midst of her destroyed living room.
“Wh-what…what the hell is going on?” she asked.
Rushing over, he pulled her into his arms without questioning his urge to do so. She not only allowed it, but clung to him for a moment. The contact calmed his anger from the fight, and he looked down into her questioning gaze.
How the hell do we explain this one? Cam asked.
Mike just shook his head. Be creative and vague. I’m going to walk the perimeter of her house to see if there’s any sign of how long the demon had been here.
Cam slid a finger down one side of Eleanor’s face. “Are you okay?”
She slowly pushed back from him and set her hands on nicely curved hips. “Are you kidding?”
“I mean physically. Are you hurt?”
“No. Physically I’m fine.” She looked around her destroyed living room. “Emotionally, I’m on the verge of a breakdown and kind of surprised I’m not already screaming. What the hell happened, Cam?”
He ran a hand through his hair, momentarily at a loss for words. Mike reappeared and closed the distance. “Had you ever seen that man before today?”
Surprise lit her face. “No. I mean, he was kind of dirty so maybe he looks different cleaned up. But I’m fairly sure I’ve never seen him before.”
He looked at Mike. She’s telling the truth, but I sense some doubt.
Me, too. She isn’t absolutely
certain and is definitely confused. She’s also scared, but I’m not certain if it’s because of the demon or us as well. I should wipe her memories.
“No.” He scowled at Mike, who simply raised a brow, making Cam realize he’d spoken aloud. He cleared his throat and looked at Eleanor again. “I’m getting you out of here. I don’t know why you’re a target, but you are.”
Surprisingly, she stiffened her spine and crossed her arms with a frown. “A target of whom? I’m your secretary, not a secret agent. I don’t have any enemies.”
Mike snorted and walked to the still-open front door. “I’ll leave you two to sort this out. I’m heading home.”
They both watched him walk out the door and close it behind him. Silence filled the air, but Cam felt her confusion, frustration, and fear. He didn’t like any of it.
He grabbed one end of her sofa from where it was blocking the doorway and pulled it back into place. Then he grabbed the one good sofa cushion and replaced it. “Have a seat, please.”
Her skepticism was palpable, but she did as he said. He sat on the uncushioned spot, still a head taller than her, and clasped his hands together as he considered what to say.
“Cam, did I… Did you… Jeez, this is just too weird.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I haven’t been sleeping well lately, and I think I’m starting to hallucinate.”
Rather than getting into what she may or may not have seen, he decided to concentrate on the bigger problem. “Eleanor, there have been threats against my family. Threats from an unknown source, that may or may not include those closest to us. Since I’m not married or dating, and really don’t have close friends other than my brothers, you’re probably the hu—um, person closest to me. I got here as fast as I could once I heard about the potential danger to you. I’m sorry that I can’t give you details right now, but I really need you to trust me.”
“I…I’m still not sure any of this makes sense.” She shook her head as if having an internal debate then turned her big brown eyes to him again. “I trust you with my life, Cam. But I expect you to explain everything to me as soon as you know all the facts. I’m not going to follow blindly without at least knowing why.”
It was the best he was going to get from her, and he knew it. “Deal. The why is because you’re obviously not safe here. So right now I need you to pack for a few days and come home with me.”
