“Now someone tell me something before I really lose my temper.” Dante raked his eyes over them.
Hunter took a breath, it was now or never. “I have information, Dante.” Dante glared at him, “This had better be good Hunter because right now YOU are not sitting on my good side.”
“The female? The Angel you spoke of?” Hunter asked.
Dante clenched his teeth together but said nothing. “She is the one James tried to sell to you.”
Dante relaxed slightly, “So she was worth something after all. Even after I told you to take her to the mortal plane and LEAVE her there?” Dante emphasized the ‘leave her there’ part. Hunter was in deep shit.
“Bring her to me.” Dante demanded.
“We tried. She is bound to the mortal plane.” Hunter explained.
“How?” Dante asked, the vein in his forehead throbbing again.
“She carries the Tribunal brand. I know who branded her. We have eyes on her and as soon as he shows up I will have him. But the brand has some kind of binding component to it. And it won’t allow us to Flash her off the mortal plane,” Hunter explained.
“Now you are telling me these brands are trapping the carriers on the mortal plane? Is it just me or does it appear as if the Tribunal always seems to be one damned step in front of us. What else can these brands do? Or are we just going to wait for this female to die to see?” Dante growled and slapped the arm rest of the chair he was sitting in. “I grow very weary of hearing about the Tribunal winning. If need be I will extract this brand from this female alive or dead. But I will get my information.”
“She is the first live specimen we have encountered I do not want to lose her. Or for her to show up dead somewhere I prefer alive, you will do everything you can to keep her that way, do I make myself clear?” Dante asked them all.
The Reapers nodded as one.
Hunter was furious at Dante’s words, Lailah wasn’t a pawn, and he wouldn’t allow anyone to use her like one. Not even Dante, “For what purpose, Dante?”
“I thought I just made myself clear, we need to understand everything the brand can do, and what the Tribunal use it for. She is our key, if we have to, we will dissect it from her.” Dante spat.
Hunter grew light headed for a moment as the thought of Dante using Lailah in such a manner and what it would mean for him to go against Dante in order to keep Lailah safe. When he had regained his composure he stood alone. All his brothers had Flashed away.
Dante regarded Hunter for several long minutes while Hunter tried to decide how to broach the subject with his father. “The Arches have contacted me about this female. She apparently is very important to them,” Dante told him. “And I am every willing to grant the Arches their every wish. So please keep her protected and pure, and blah blah blah,” Dante said waving his hands around. “I told them you would consult Uriel of the Betweens on anything concerning the female.”
Hunter barely kept his mouth from falling open in horror, he answered to Dante only. To have to answer to Uriel of the Betweens was going to be nearly impossible. “However, that being said.” Dante continued, “You know how I feel about the situation. You understand how important she is, what I want the outcome to be. Make it happen Hunter, I want the bastard branding the souls on the mortal plane and I want to know what this brand is all about. Have I made myself clear?” Crystal, Hunter nodded, he didn’t have to answer to Uriel but he needed to let Uriel feel like he was in control the pompous ass. Hunter understood sometimes Dante had to play a political game and unfortunately this time it meant that Hunter would have to play it as well.
It made Hunter’s skin itch, he didn’t like it one bit.
Dante nodded, “She is not a Fallen, and she will be an earthbound Angel. She hasn’t gone through her transition many things will be happening, don’t get involved Hunter. ” Dante warned.
“Just so you know, Uriel and his newly Fallen are, complete shit at protecting this female? I just want to say that for the record. I’ll defer to Uriel for propriety sake. But she would be better off with mortal police and we can’t even trust that the Tribunal hasn't turned them. Those newly Fallen are imbeciles at best, bumbling idiots at worst,” Hunter argued.
Dante sighed, “Don’t get too involved Hunter, Angels are cock sure self-righteous fools. Who don’t have the time of day for Reapers. You have a specific mission here; bring me back my souls, information on this damn brand, and the bastard who is branding them.”
Hunter felt like his hands were tied and he didn’t like it at all, he finally nodded and walked away from Dante waiting until he was in the hall before Flashing back to the mortal plane.
Uriel was already in Lailah’s apartment when Hunter got there. And he barely controlled the urge to growl and snap at the Angel.
Uriel gave Hunter a disapproving look, “I sent your siblings away, they refused to go far. But since I had orders from Dante they didn’t have much of a choice.”
“Where is Lailah?” Hunter demanded.
“It is four a.m. She is exactly where she is supposed to be alone in bed. She is transitioning she needs as much rest as she can get, Reaper.” Uriel explained with disdain as if Hunter were too stupid to understand.
Hunter grunted at the Angel and walked down the hall to check on Lailah for himself. Lailah was curled up in her bed, but it was fitful and he walked into her room pulling the covers up he tucked them around her. Hunter brushed some of her white blonde curls off her cheeks, cringing when he noticed she was slightly warm, they would have to bleed some of her power from her soon. He also knew someone would need to tell her who and what she was soon. He didn’t envy the person who gave her the news. Hunter couldn’t keep the smile from his lips when he thought of how she would take it. He had to admit, the way she stomped around and flipped out was something to behold.
Hunter ran his fingers gently down her cheek just wishing things were easier for her., Wishing he had the key to that formula, maybe now Uriel was in here full time Hunter should concentrate on finding Banner and not worry about Lailah, this was his chance, technically she was off limits to him anyway. Being this long awaited earthbound Arch Angel and all. Hunter shook his head, he still couldn’t believe he had stumbled across this amazing creature what were the odds?
Hunter wasn’t surprised when Lailah’s eyes drifted open, “Hi,” she whispered.
Hunter squatted down so they were eye to eye. “Hi.”
“You’re back,” Lailah said rolling over on her side.
“I’m back,” Hunter nodded.
“I’m glad,” she gave him a smile. “My head is pounding. I think I hit it pretty hard yesterday.” She blinked several time as if that were going to take the pain away.
But Hunter knew it wasn’t from her head injury he knew she was completely healed. He had checked it. Lailah was already healing at a faster rate than normal mortals, maybe it was something she had always done. No, it was hurting because of the buildup of power from her impending transition, they would need to explain to her what was happening to her sooner rather than later. And his stomach ached thinking about it.
“Would you like me to rub your head for you?” Hunter asked trying not to think about her transition.
“Do you mind?” she asked hopefully.
“Of course not,” Hunter said surprised, she obviously didn’t realize she could pretty much ask him to do anything for her and he would probably do it. He sucked it up, but Hunter was pretty sure he should ask Victor to kick his ass right about then. Standing he moved to sit on the side of the bed Hunter threaded his fingers into the mass of white/blonde bed head curls, then threaded his fingers into those curls and started to rub her head.
Lailah moaned with pleasure, and Hunter went instantly hard. It took everything he had not to moan right along with her. Hunter briefly chastised himself for being so turned on by this women, and something as simple as comforting her. But then she let out another soft breathy moan, and his body kicked with need. Hun
ter had to force his fingers to keep moving but not to hurt her. Because all he wanted to do was fist her hair, and drag her body flush was his so she could feel just what she was doing to him, as she made those soft little moans and sighs.
Hunter had to remind himself what he was doing, that he was comforting her and that it wasn’t sexual at all. But the look on her face and the little oh’s and ah’s she was making weren’t sexual. But damn it was so freaking hard, in every way. And the way she bit her bottom lip was almost too much for him. Hunter ran his thumbs in circles across her forehead while his fingers ran through her hair and massaged her scalp.
“Ah Hunter, oh my god,” Lailah moaned. Sucking her bottom lip into her mouth again. Hunter wondered if he could drive her to orgasm by just massaging her head. Her breathing had hitched up, and her cheeks were flushed. Hunter would swear to whatever god you placed in front of him she was aroused. Because he sure the fuck was, in fact, he was about to blow his top, just watching her. “Do you have any idea how good this feels?” Lailah asked.
Hunter was speechless, the only words he had would send her screaming for the hills. Hunter applied a little more pressure with his fingers nails and Lailah made the most amazing sighing noise.
“Yes just like that. Don’t stop it feels so good,” Lailah sighed.
Oh, he wasn’t stopping, he didn’t think he was every going to stop. He would massage her head for the rest of his damned life.
“What in the hell is going on in here?” Uriel asked slamming into the room.
“Lucifer’s hairy balls,” Hunter jumped up from the bed. His hands up, he felt like a virgin who had just been caught with his first woman. And damn it all if he wasn’t blushing as Uriel glared at him from the doorway.
Lailah let out a yip and pulled the covers up to her chin.
When Hunter realized who it was he sat back down on the edge of the bed, more to cover his huge erection than anything else, “Shit, Uriel, you scared the hell out of us.”
“What the hell is going on in here?” Uriel demanded.
“Listening at doors Uriel, really?” Hunter asked shaking his head.
“Of course not, she… you…” he stumbled looking between the two of them.
“Yeah, listening at doors. Perv,” Hunter said more to himself then to Uriel. Hunter rubbed a hand over his short hair and tried to talk his body down.
“Do you know who she is?” Uriel asked finally pointing a finger at Lailah, then glaring at Hunter.
“Who exactly are you?” Lailah asked peeking around Hunter. Hunter smiled when he saw the glare on Lailah’s face.
Hunter lowered his head into his hands hiding his smile, then groaned when he remembered that he had to play nice with Uriel, or at least pretend to play nice with him. “He is who is in charge now.”
“What?” Lailah asked.
“Uriel of the Betweens,” Uriel said at the same time.
Hunter turned to Lailah, “You need to get some sleep. I promise to explain everything in the morning. But right now you need to sleep. How is your head?”
She gave him a weak smile, “Much better thank you.”
“Good, get some more sleep. We will talk in the morning.” He kissed her on the forehead because god dammit he just couldn’t help himself and then he grabbed Uriel and they left her room.
“Do…” Uriel started.
But Hunter held up and hand stopping him. “Yes, I know who she is. So keep it to yourself. I will keep watch with my brothers.”
“My Fallen are more than capable of keeping watch,” Uriel snapped.
“Yeah, those Fallen were keeping watch while she escaped out the back. They kept watch on an empty apartment for two whole days. Those Fallen were watching an empty apartment while she fought off a mad man at the bookstore and got branded by a member of the Tribunal. So I won’t hold my breath for them to keep her safe. Dante says you are in charge Uriel, but you have to prove your worth to me. And you haven’t done anything yet to prove to me you deserve to stand in her shadow much less in her presence. So don’t push me.” Uriel was about to say more but Hunter was already Flashing away. He just wasn’t in the mood for the sanctimonious ass to tell him how much better off a man he was then Hunter because he was an Angel and Hunter was a Reaper. Apparently Uriel had forgotten Hunter’s mother had been an Angel too. Such easily forgotten history when you are on the other side of it.
* * *
Lailah felt like shit. And she really wanted to ask this Uriel guy where Hunter was. But he didn’t seem to want to talk about the Reapers. Every time she brought them up Uriel got all bristly. He had promised after breakfast he would explain everything to her. Why he had all the answer all of the sudden she didn’t know. But she was willing to eat her breakfast if it meant she could get the answer she wanted.
So she ate her breakfast in silence, then she called Sally. And Sally had told her all about the horrible break in just after Lailah had left and how lucky it had been Lailah had left the store when she had.
Lailah felt like the worst person in the world for lying to her friend and boss. But apparently Sally was okay and the store would be closed for the next week or so while the insurance looked into the break in and the glass for the front window was replaced and Sally got a state of the art security system. So it all ended up best in the end. Because Lailah had wanted to call in sick with a headache. Perfect timing and all.
Now Lailah sat across from this Uriel guy. Although he couldn’t have been over two or three years older than her twenty-three he put off an air of a much older person. Lailah had run into her fair share of people like that. You know the sort who looked twenty-one but were really thirty-five. Life sometimes did that to a person, she was a prime example, foster care did that to you. People often thought she was much older than she was. If she had to guess she would bet Uriel had lived if not in the system he had live a jaded life. The world did that to a person.
“What do you know of the war between good and evil?” Uriel finally asked her. “The war between heaven and hell?”
Lailah laughed, “Your kidding right?” When Uriel just stared at her she cringed, “Sorry.” Lailah sobered and thought about it for a moment. “Um on a grand scale? Not much, just that it is ongoing,” she offered. When Uriel gave her a hard look Lailah laughed again, “Do you mean have I read the Bible or something? Because I haven’t, not really my age group type of reading, man. I grew up in foster care, Uriel, it wasn’t on the reading list for foster kids.”
“The Bible is a beautiful book.” Uriel sighed. “Many good points. But…” He trailed off. “Religion today is used for many different reasons, however, this is not why I am here. Good versus Evil that, is why I am here.” Uriel nodded. “many, many millennia ago, there were many gods. Too many to go into in this conversation.” Uriel waved his hands around, “Anyway they created demi-gods. Some where mortal, some immortal. These Gods tried to get these demi-gods to worship them, it didn’t work.” Uriel sighed. “When you create a being with a mind of its own. What happens?” Uriel pierced her with a cold stare. Lailah shrugged, she had no idea what point he was trying to make, “They think for themselves. And when you can think for yourself, what is the one thing you do with that uncanny ability? You question your creator. And it’s the one thing a creator fears the most… that you may one day turn on them. So what did the gods do? Did they learn from their mistakes and stop creating?” Lailah shook her head, and Uriel gave her a sad smile, “No they turned to creating other creatures, lessor creatures. Beings that would worship the gods to be hosts both heavenly and Other. When these creatures displeased them they cast them out or sent them to different planes of existence. Both out of site, and out of mind,” Uriel said sadly looking hard at Lailah to make sure she was still paying attention.
“So this is how the mortal plane was populated?” Lailah asked.
Uriel nodded, “Your mortal books don’t have it correct. Your mythology speaks of heavenly hosts and one God having control
. But once there were many, many gods. The Angels are a collective of minds the Arch are nine very powerful Angels they feed into the powerful collective.” Uriel explained reverently. “Until just recently, these nine Arch Angels ruled the Elysian Fields ushered light souls as they left their earthly bonds and constraints of the mortal existence. Heralded goodness and light on the mortal plane as best as they could. Until now, now there will be a tenth, things are changing in the heavens, because things here in the mortal plane have changed so drastically in the last millennia we now require a ninth Arch Angel an earth bond Arch Angel. It has been foretold for the last millennia, an earth bond Arch Angel will hold sway for those voices that have been silent for so very long.”
“Very interesting,” Lailah said but seriously what did this all have to do with her?
“You are that Arch Angel, Lailah,” Uriel told her.
Lailah barked out a laugh, then abruptly stopped when she realized Uriel wasn’t laughing. No he was absolutely serious. Lailah just sat there for several long minutes just starring at the man. Then she stood up and walked back and forth for several minutes. She tried to swallow past the lump now forming in her throat, she went over everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, everything that had been said. She was pretty sure she was going to be sick, Lailah tried to hold it down but, in the end, she just couldn’t do it.
Running down the hall she barely made it to her bathroom before she threw up all her breakfast. That cowardly bastard Uriel just left her alone while she vomited. He didn’t even have the guts to come and check on her.
Once she was done she cleaned herself up and brushed her teeth. She didn’t know what she would do, but Lailah knew one thing she wanted to kick someone’s ass. She grabbed her bad as she headed back into the living room. Uriel hadn’t moved from his place on her sofa still pushed up against the wall.
“Where is Hunter?” Lailah demanded as she stormed back into her living room.
Uriel look from the bat to her, “Why?” Uriel asked.
Reaper Dreaming: A Reaper Novel Page 10
