“You have to understand, some things are even out of our control. We have been reduced to nothingness. Your creation took a great deal of power, power we didn’t really have.” The white said.
Lailah was thunderstruck, “Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?
You created me with the last of your power, and you now expect me to become this Arch-Angel, what if I don’t want to become an arch-angel?”
“We don’t want to be nothing. We were greatness and omnipotent,” The white thundered making Lailah shake. “We all must do things beyond what we thought we could or could not do. Wars are to be fought and won, and your fate is yet unfinished. Whether you want it or not, this is what you were created for, it’s not a choice child.”
“So what now?” Lailah asked she was trying not to be petulant but it was hard.
“You must understand where you came from and what is expected of you,” The white explained.
“Okay,” Lailah drew the word out, she thought that might be asking a lot of her.
“The Angels have forgotten who they are. Many more will fall before they come to terms with who and what they were and must become. As the only earthbound Arch, you will need to show them mortals can be their way to salvation,” The white said sadly.
Lailah balked, “You’re kidding right? The Others are fighting a war with the Tribunal and now you want me to somehow bring the Angels to heel? Wait not just to heel but to heel to the mortals?”
“This will be part of that war daughter,” The white said.
Lailah felt her mouth sage open, “Wait. What did you just call me?”
“What did you think? You sprouted from nothingness?” the white asked. Lailah took a look around. “Don’t be flippant, child. Of course, you are a child of the elder gods how else could you be what you are?”
“I never thought about who my parents were,” Lailah said throwing her hands up in the air. “So there really is no getting out of being an Angel is there?”
“No,” the white thundered.
Lailah threw up her hands again, “Okay, okay, no need to get testy just checking. What about Hunter?” she asked, the thought of giving up Hunter nearly bringing her to her knees.
The white was quiet for several long minutes. “The Reaper is part of your Fate, you cannot fight this war on your own or without him. But this will not be easy, we cannot guarantee your bond with him. Ensuring your fates will be difficult daughter, but doing so will be imperative in your success.”
“Do you have any good news?” Lailah asked.
“Your body and mind are almost ready,” the white said. “And when you return to your body, you will remember everything you had forgotten.”
“What does that mean?” Lailah asked.
“You will see when you return,” the white said.
“I don’t like the way that sounds,” Lailah said. “Why does everyone always speak so strangle when around me. Will I be able to make that stop? Because that would be awesome. Plus will I have any super powers?”
“We do not grant ‘superpowers’ daughter,” the white announced “You will, however, be endowed with the abilities of any Angel.”
Lailah groaned. “I’m afraid of heights, so you can keep the whole ability to fly part. I won’t need that one. Any other abilities will be cool.”
“These abilities are not just to please you, they are to help you in the war to come,” the white said. But Lailah was having a hard time hearing them it felt like someone had stuffed her ears with cotton and she suddenly felt exhausted, she wondered when she had laid down because she was suddenly closing her eyes. Lailah would argue the point about being hard to please but first she was going to just close her eyes for a moment.
“Shit.” Lailah jumped up and scrambled across the room knocking over Uriel who had been sitting in a chair next to the couch as she did her little acrobatic trick. Lailah looked around the room, trying to get her eyes to adjust to the darkness from the bright lights of the white she had just been in. “Dammit, where am I?” she asked relaxing a little.
Uriel was trying to pick himself up from the floor, he was hindered because one arm was in a sling. Lailah cringed she had hurt him when she had picked him up and tossed him around like a rag doll. Then she realized she knew because—her brain was working in overdrive.
Lailah knew—EVERYTHING! Lailah took a couple of deep breaths as she tried to take it all in and then realized it was okay. She wasn’t freaking out. Calmness penetrated her and radiated throughout her.
Lailah moved over to Uriel and reached for him, he cringed away. “I am so sorry for this.” She touched his arm gently. When he realized Lailah wasn’t going to hurt him he stilled and allowed Lailah to slide his arm gently from the sling, Lailah gentle placed her fingers on his broken arm. Uriel was an Angel and would heal quickly but she could heal him with just a touch. Lailah placed her hand on the break just below the elbow. Allowing the healing warmth flow from her hand into his arm. Once the bone was healed she gave him a smile, “Again I am so very sorry for hurting you, Uriel.”
“It’s okay, how are you feeling?” Uriel curiously.
Lailah gave him a smile, “I am doing amazingly well considering the circumstances,” Lailah said and looked around. “How long was I out?”
“Just the night,” Uriel explained giving her a strange look.
Lailah looked back at him, “Why the strange look?”
“You just look so different.”
Lailah looked down at herself but didn’t see anything different, “What do you mean?”
“There is a calmness about you, its quiet beautiful,” Uriel said honestly. “I was getting used to the frazzled Lailah, I guess.”
Lailah smiled and sighed. “I feel calm. I was terrified of my transition when I shouldn’t have been. Now having been through it, I feel a little sheepish.”
“What does it feel like?” Uriel asked.
Lailah thought about his question. “I’m very happy I still feel like myself. I have a great deal of information in my head I’m trying to sort through. But I feel like myself only more.” Uriel gave her a strange look, which made her laugh softly. “I know it doesn’t make any sense. And it is hard to explain. But I am still Lailah just more.”
“Interesting,” Uriel said thoughtfully.
Lailah regarded Uriel, “You thought I would be this omnipotent being? More like the Arch Angels you know so well?”
When he didn’t immediately disagree she had her answer, and Lailah gave him a sad smile. “Uriel I was created for a reason. I was sent to grow up among mortals to have a better understanding of who and what they are, for a reason. I am here to represent the them. To stand up for something that has been forgotten for way too long. Just because I am an Arch Angel does not mean I stand on the side of the Collective and the other Arch Angels. My upbringing may not have been normal but it only adds to what I am now. What I will become.”
“So you mean to fight them? The Collective and the Arch Angels?” Uriel asked.
Lailah shook her head, “Gods no. I don’t want it to come to that. Don’t you think the wars being waged on the mortal plane are enough? I want us all to work together. But I’ll do what I have to do, because I won’t let the mortals be the fodder for Tribunal and the Others scrambling for power any longer.”
“I don’t know if that is possible, Lailah.” Uriel said honestly.
Lailah patted the Angel on the shoulder, “It is something we will work on. But let's work on our current situation, I can only handle one battle at a time. Arch Angel or not. Where is everyone?” Lailah was dying to know what had happened while she completed her transition.
Uriel gave her a worried look, “Out,” he said and turned from her. That wasn’t a good sign.
“Out, isn’t an answer Uriel. Would you like to clarify?” Lailah placed her hand on Uriel’s shoulder and turned him so she could look into his face.
“Did they go back for Hunter?” Lailah asked hopefully.
Ur
iel nodded. “Yes, they did.” But she could tell by the look in Uriel’s face it wasn’t the full story.
Lailah was slowly losing her patience, “Okay, let’s get this questioning moving. Please explain to me in detail what is going on.”
“You have completed your transition. We didn’t know how long that was going to take by the way. You should probably remove yourself and go to the Elysian Fields and the other Arch’s. The mortal plane and its worries are no longer your problem,” Uriel said with a nod.
“Uriel, I am the earthbound Arch Angel. I will remain here because this is where I am supposed to be. Did you not hear any of what I just told you?” Lailah forced herself to take several deep breaths. She wasn’t going to lose her temper, not over this. Uriel was looking out for her. But damn he wasn’t making it easy. “Now explain to me where the others have gone and why.” Uriel sighed and sat down heavily. “Just don’t freak out because you’re not going to like it. They went back to your apartment, Hunter was gone. Banner left a note, you and a Guardian for Hunter.”
By the time he was finished talking she was glowing a bright hot white, “Okay, so where exactly is everyone?”
* * *
Hunter spat out blood, Banner had worked him over good and each time his body started to heal Banner or one of his goons came in for another round. Plus he still had a bullet wound in his chest. He jerked on the chains binding him to the wall, they only tightened. They were spelled to keep him weak and keep Hunter from using any of his Reaper abilities. It didn’t stop him from jerking on the chains, though.
Hunter had no idea how he had gotten here, and he prayed to the gods his brothers had gotten Lailah out, but Banner wouldn’t be treating him this way if he had Lailah. The last thing Hunter remembered was looking out her damn window.
The bastard must have had a sharpshooter or something just waiting for Hunter or gods forbid, Lailah, to look out the window. Hunter thanked the gods it had been him and not Lailah who had taken the fucking bullet to the chest, Banner had taken Hunter down but hadn’t killed him.
Hunter heard footsteps approaching and he let his head sag forward no use making it easy on Banner by making himself look like he needed more of a beating.
It was Banner who entered Hunters cell this time and Hunter itched to tear the man’s head from his shoulders. Hunter promised himself Banner’s blood would cover his hands before this was over.
“I know you’re awake, I have the room covered with cameras,” Banner explained.
Hunter should have known better. Lifting his head he glared at the man standing opposite him.
“I thought you were more a fair fight kind of man, Banner,” Hunter said jingling his chains.
“I don’t need to fight you, Reaper. I just need to keep you subdued. You, after all, are just bait,” Banner explained. “But while you’re here you can answer some questions for me.”
Hunter gave him a toothy smile, “Ask away, I’m not giving you shit.”
Banner gave him his own toothy grin, “See I think you will. Because this can end two different ways. One.” He held up an index finger. “I can hand you over to the Tribunal. You know they have a ransom out for the head of any Reaper. Or two; when I get the answers I want I can release you. After all you’re not really who I want.”
Hunter wasn’t afraid to be tortured, or even to die if Banner found a way to kill him, so he gave Banner the one finger salute, Banner ground his teeth together and his nostrils flared. “I’m going to get the information I want. One way or another.”
Hunter actually laughed, “Do you have any idea who you are talking to?” Banner was on him in the blink of an eye, slamming Hunter into the bricks behind him. Hunter sucked in the grunt of pain. He wouldn’t give Banner the satisfaction of knowing he had hurt him. Banner followed up with a solid punch to the stomach when Hunter still made no sound Banner gave Hunter and uppercut to the chin. Blood flooded his mouth.
He spat the blood out onto the front of Banners shirt, Banner swore and his fists went into overdrive. He lost count of the number of punches Banner landed. But he didn’t make a sound. Not a grunt or a peep.
Finally, Banner stepped back winded, and glared at Hunter. And through the door of his open cell, Banner barked: “Bring in the table.” Some goons came down the corridor rolling a metal gurney between them. It was solid except for one end which had slots cut into it. The same end had hinges on it, another man followed with a toolbox on wheels. Hunter breathed in through his mouth and spat out the blood pooling in his mouth. So the real torture was about to start was it?
“Get me the hose,” Banner snapped at one of the goons. Hunter was released from the chains and two guys moved him to the gurney where he was again chained. Hunter sucked in air and reminded himself he could breathe and knew shit was about to get bad. It’s just pain he told himself.
“Those scars?” Banner said running a finger down the scars on Hunters face making Hunter flinch for the first time since the beatings started. “Those are going to be nothing.”
Hunter clamped his jaw shut. Hunter heard running water but refused to look. “Now would be a good time to answer my questions?”
“I don’t recall you asking me shit,” Hunter spat.
Banner gave him a smile, “Did I fail to ask you my questions?” Banner said with a laugh. “Oh right, tell me what Lailah is?”
Hunter slammed his lips closed. No way in hell.
Banner smiled again, “Exactly what I thought. Last chance, Reaper. Because it only gets rough from here.” Hunter glared at him, and Banner shrugged as he placed a towel over his mouth and nose. “You just let me know when you’re ready to answer my questions.” Then he dropped the hinges on the gurney and turned the hose on Hunter. Hunter had never been water-boarded before it was a new and particularly horrible experience.
* * *
“You’re his brother, I can’t believe you can’t find him.” Lailah was beyond upset. She was glowing bright enough to power most of downtown, and she couldn’t bring herself to power down. “You should be able to pick him up on any plane.” Lailah wasn’t shouting but her voice was still echoing, it was the Arch voice and she knew she needed to learn how to control it because it could be painful to non-Angels. Taking a deep breath she apologized to Victor and the other Reapers, “I am so sorry.”
Victor nodded, “Banner is using some strong wards to keep us out. It’s the only explanation.”
“What does Dante have to say about the situation?” Lailah asked.
Victor cringed. “Um, Dante is extremely unhappy over the current state of affairs.”
Lailah looked at the other Reapers, “What does that mean exactly?”
“That means you don’t want to know exactly what Dante has to say about the situation,” Marcus explained.
“Does he have any suggestions on finding Hunter?” Lailah asked.
“His suggestions was to find him or else,” Victor said running a hand through his hair.
Lailah couldn’t believe they didn’t have any further information, “What do the Trackers have?” Lailah had been told they had brought in all the other Trackers and they were searching all of Chicago.
“At last check in, they had nothing,” Marcus offered. “Banner is really good at covering his tracks. He knows who our allies are. Therefore, he was ready for what are next move would be. He has anticipated our ever move. Knew if he attacked your apartment our first course of action would be to get you out and not worry about those left behind until we knew for sure you were safe. We didn’t circle back until it was way too late. He came in and took anyone who was incapacitated.”
“You mean he walked in and took Hunter. The only one WE left behind,” Lailah said.
Victor thrust a hand through his hair, “Yeah, he came in and took our brother. Don’t think for one second we aren’t kicking ourselves over it either.”
“Okay let’s stop placing blame. And figure out our next step.” Victor and Lailah shared a look. La
ilah was racking her brain trying to figure out what if anything she could do to save Hunter. “Ultimately what does Banner want?”
“Access to the Guardians, and you. But he doesn’t know what you have become,” Uriel added.
“Then let’s give it to him,” Lailah said. Everyone in the room looked at her like she had lost her mind. “Before everyone loses their mind. We aren’t about to just hand it over to him. We just need him to think we are.”
“Do we have anything giving off a Guardian vibe?” Lailah asked.
“The closest thing is a Fallen,” Marcus said.
Uriel nodded “I can get a Fallen to stand in for us.”
“Please let this person know how dangerous this will be,” Lailah stressed. She didn’t like putting someone’s life on the line but she just didn’t know what else to do, the thought of Hunter being at the mercy of Banner was making her stomach hurt.
“Don’t worry, Lailah.” Uriel said with a hand on her arm. “The real question is what about you?”
Lailah gave Uriel a smile, “Trust me, Uriel, I can take care of myself.”
It would have come out sounding so much more confident if she hadn’t stumbled back and grabbed her head in pain.
Uriel grabbed her, “Lailah, are you alright?”
Lailah took several breaths and shook her head, “I feel like someone just kicked me in the head but from the inside.” She looked up to Uriel for help as it happened again. This time Uriel was the only thing keeping her on her feet. Lailah held onto Uriel for dear life feeling like she was being pulled apart.
“You’re being called.” Uriel finally explained reverently.
“Excuse me?”
Uriel’s eyes rounded in shock making Victor snort, Lailah turned and glared at him. “The other Arch-Angles are calling you. They would like an audience.”
Another spike of pain lanced through her brain, and Lailah hissed and moaned in pain. “Does it always hurt so much,” she asked through clenched teeth.
“It shouldn’t hurt at all.” Uriel told her.
“Figures.” Lailah muttered as she breathed through the pain.
“Argh,” Lailah sighed. “I really don’t have time for this.”
Reaper Dreaming: A Reaper Novel Page 19
