Lailah chewed the inside of her lip as a moment of clarity struck, “Motherfucker.” She slurred the words as she blinked several times really hard and pushed herself off the bed. Tangling herself up in the covers. “Fucking drugged. Going to kill him,” Lailah muttered between her teeth as she took several breaths as she leaned on the bed, the room spinning out of control. Lailah needed air, cool air.
Lailah stumbled over to the window and pushed it open she stuck her head out and breathed through her nose sucking in great gasps of air.
“Hunter, you asshole,” Lailah ground out. Knowing as long as he was still on the property he would hear her. “I’m never going to forgive you for this.” But she also knew it wasn’t true because she knew he had done it to protect her instead of the way Jimmy had always drugged her all the other times in order to do horrible things to her. The air helped to clear her mind and Lailah straightened and looked out toward where the clearing was and swore some more, it was dark and the gods only knew how long she had been out.
Closing her eyes, she Shifted down to Bowens control room.
“Where are they?” Lailah demanded of Bowen knowing her words were still a little slurred.
Her sudden appearance made the Tracker shriek and clutch his chest. “What the hell, Lailah. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Bowen turned on her.
“Bowen I am so not in the mood.” Lailah was breathing heavy and still trying to shake off the drugs.
“You don’t look so good. Why don’t you sit down and let Hunter and the others take this one.” Bowen offered pointing to a chair.
“Because, they have no idea what Grayson is capable of,” Lailah said searching the monitors over Bowen’s shoulders. Things were still fuzzy in her peripheral vision but were getting better.
“Grayson is out cold just like you were,” Bowen said turning back to the monitors.
“Yeah.” Lailah said. “And that drug worked so well on me.” Lailah was already Shifting away when Bowen swore.
“Shit.” Bowen swore picked up a walky-talky.
Lailah Shifted to the container, Hunter, and Falcon where just about to descend the steps with Grayson between them. Eric following behind them.
Hunter’s eyes rounded in shock when he saw Lailah. “He’s not out,” was the only thing Lailah was able to say before Grayson moved with uncanny speed and everything fell apart.
Grayson kicked out connecting one foot solidly with Falcon’s face he sent the Tracker several feet away. Lailah cringed and hoped Falcon survived the impact but Falcon didn’t immediately get up, and Lailah didn’t have time to worry about him as Grayson turned on Hunter.
“Hunter,” Lailah screamed.
With both palms, Grayson pushed hard sending Hunter flying backward. Lailah jumped in and grabbed Hunter taking the brunt of the impact as Hunter went flying backward, she dug her feet in letting her wings expand out so they only slid into the ground. Hunter grunted in pain.
“Are you alright?” Lailah asked him.
Hunter shook himself and nodded. They both turned as Grayson attacked Eric, but Eric was ready and flung a ball of energy at the man. It picked Grayson up off his own feet and took him several feet toward the stairs they were trying to get him down.
Hunter barreled at Grayson who was rolling on his stomach, Hunter kicked him while he was down making Grayson moan and curl in on himself.
Eric stood over him and hit him again with another ball of light. Eric and Hunter grabbed Grayson pulling him toward the dirt steps. But Grayson still wasn’t going down without a fight and let loose with several souls which attacked Eric.
Eric dropped Grayson to battle the souls and Lailah joined him as one soul wrapped itself around Eric’s throat.
Lailah grabbed one soul, it let out a scream that made Lailah stumble back. Shaking it off she glared at it, “I don’t think so you piece of shit.” Beating her wings she drove off one of the dark souls, the other attacked Lailah its screams still piercing the air.
Lailah batted at it for a moment before it went for her throat and then she just grabbed it letting out a scream of her own she shook it. The soul’s scream died as it dissolved into dust in her hands.
Lailah looked down into the dust, “I hate these things.” Then she ran over to Eric who was turning a horrible shade of purple. She wrapped her hands around the thing that was still around Eric’s neck. It didn’t make a sound as it dissolved into dust around Eric.
Eric gasped for air but didn’t actually open his eyes. He was out cold. Lailah patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll be okay,” She told the Druid and then turned back to Hunter who was still fighting Grayson.
Hunter threw himself on top of Grayson before he could release any more souls and head butted him. Grayson’s head flung back and his eyes rolled in their sockets. Hunter knew he had the guy disoriented and took advantage by grabbing him and tossing him down several of the dirt steps. But Hunter was only capable of getting Grayson half way down the steps before Grayson stopped himself.
Arms outstretched, Grayson was trying to climb to his feet as Hunter rushed him.
“You think you can stop me?” Grayson screamed.
“No,” Hunter told him. Making Grayson stop for a moment. And Hunter planted a foot in the center of his chest. Grayson went flying backward the rest of the way down into the metal container where Hunter followed him. “We can’t stop you, nor can we let you live on the mortal plane.”
Grayson looked around in shock and Hunter recognized the moment when Grayson realized what his sentence was, “So we have opted for containment,” Hunter explained.
“No,” Grayson bellowed. Throwing his arms wide with his bellow he made the container shake viciously. Hunter tittered and fell against one wall. “I will not be contained, I will rule the Infernos,” Grayson roared.
“No longer your choice Grayson,” Hunter told him. Backing him into a corner.
“You think I am just going to take my punishment without a fight?” Grayson screamed.
Hunter felt Lailah enter the container behind him, but he couldn’t turn to tell her to leave although everything in him wanted her as far away from this thing as possible. He knew Grayson hated her.
Grayson looked over Hunter’s shoulder at Lailah and hissed, “Get away from me,” Grayson swore.
Lailah rushed up to Hunter’s side shaking her head, “You have contaminated those souls, Grayson. It is time to pay for what you have done.” Hunter would have been proud of what she said if she didn’t do it with such sorrow written all over her face.
Grayson advanced on her, “You think because you are of the light you know more than me, that you are better than I?”
“Of course not,” Lailah said, “But I know what is best for the mortals of this plane and you, Grayson, are not what is best. You have done unspeakable things to the souls you have collected. They deserved rest and you contaminated them.”
“You know nothing,” Grayson said taking another step toward Lailah.
“As the earth bound Arch Angle I sentence you, Grayson, to be interned here in this cell for all time with the souls you have contaminated. May the Gods eventually take mercy on you,” Lailah spoke the words and shook her head. Grayson didn’t take the sentencing well, by the time Lailah was done speaking he was physically shaking with rage and Hunter was worried he was going to split open and spew forth the souls he carried. Then he opened his mouth letting out a horrifying scream causing both Hunter and Lailah to stumble back. Grayson threw his arms wide and his mouth doubled in size.
“He looks like he’s ready to blow,” Lailah screamed looking at Hunter. “This isn’t good.”
“Get out.” Hunter grabbed her and pushed her toward the door. But they didn’t get even one step when they were picked up off their feet and thrown against the sides of the container. It felt like a mini-bomb had gone off inside the container and when Hunter opened his eyes all he could see were dark masses swirling around a hole where Grayson had been sta
nding. “What the hell?”
“I think Grayson released the souls before he blew,” Lailah screamed over the noise of the souls, who were screaming and swirling over an open pit in the floor. “We need to get the door closed and contain the souls,” Lailah shouted picking Hunter up, she gave him a sad smile. “I love you, Hunter.” Lailah screamed over the howling of the souls screaming out of the open crevice where Grayson had been standing, but was now just a gaping hole in the earth.
Hunter pushed at Lailah but she wouldn’t be moved. “I really do, you know.”
Hunter pulled her toward the door and the stairwell. But Lailah grabbed him by his shirt and pushed him with all the force of her Arch Angel powers she possessed. It picked him up and threw him through the door and half way up the stairs. Lailah rushed to the door and closed it, slamming down the arm and all the locks. Hunters face was at the small porthole and he was screaming something but she couldn’t hear, the only sound now the sucking noise and screams of the souls was too loud behind her.
She smiled at him and placed her hand on the small window one last time before turning to face the mad souls swirling up from the darkness.
Lailah rolled her shoulders and let her wings unfurl again. “It’s just me and you now, you son of a bitch.” One soul flew at her clipping her right wing, feathers flew everywhere and Lailah barely kept herself from screaming in pain. Instead, she took a couple running steps, expanding her wings as far as they would go she gathered as many of the souls in as she could as she went and then dove into the pit.
* * *
Hunter watched in shocked horror as Lailah gathered the escaped souls and dove into the hole. He heard himself screaming but it wasn’t making a damn bit of difference. He pounded on the eight-inch thick door but all he got was a bloody fist. Hunter finally realized he was going to need help. Turning he ran, Eric still lay unconscious and for a minute Hunter tried shaking the Enforcer with no luck, next was Falcon still out.
“Fuck me,” Hunter let out a bellow. Bowen met him halfway back to the house, he had a shotgun and a crowbar. “Tell me you know how to get into that container?” They both turned back.
“We made it impenetrable,” Bowen said. “But even I know every plan we make usually goes up in smoke. I built in a fail safe.”
“I think I’m going to kiss you,” Hunter said.
“Well let’s save the kissing for later,” Bowen said running down the stairs. Bowen stopped in front of the door and moved to the left. Using the crowbar, he busted out a keypad Hunter would have never been able to find. And punched in a sequence, Hunter was expecting the door to open instead a smaller window opened up. Bowen turned to him. “It’s a manually locked door,” He said sticking his arm into the window he started throwing the locks. Hunter nearly picked Bowen up and tossed him aside when the door was unlocked.
He rushed in but was pulled to a halt by Dante and another man.
“Stop,” Dante said holding up a hand he stopped Hunter from moving toward the pit.
“What the fuck,” Hunter demanded.
“She is beyond our reach now,” The other man said.
“Who the fuck are you?” Hunter demanded.
The other man gave Hunter a sad look, “We thought you were the darkness that would kill her. But you are a light keeping her safe. Who knew, I wish I had understood sooner.”
“Still doesn’t tell me who you are,” Hunter swore.
“I am Raphael, and, believe it or not, I am on Lailah’s side. Regardless it has been foretold this was her fate,” Raphael said.
“I will not just stand by and wait while she fights the evil in that pit,” Hunter said moving to the edge of the hole. “Isn’t it bad enough she has had to fight so many battles alone?” Hunter wasn’t going to let her fight these souls without him.
But Raphael stopped him again, “Wait just a moment.” He shimmered away and then reappeared holding a sword. “This will help in your fight.”
Hunter grabbed it and felt a lightning bolt of power snake up his arm. “What the hell kind of sword is this?” he asked.
Raphael gave him a half smile, “This is the Sword of Light and I should have given it to Lailah to begin with but I didn’t expect her to win this fight. It is something I regret.”
Hunter shook his head, “You Arch’s underestimated her, and you probably shouldn’t do it again,” Hunter told him.
Raphael’s face split into a real smile this time. “No, we won’t.” Then he stepped aside so Hunter could jump into the pit.
Hunter turned and noticed Bowen now stood with Eric and Falcon and they all nodded to him, “I’ll be right back.”
Dante stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, “I cannot see her anymore. You are both going somewhere beyond me. It does not bode well.” That gave Hunter the chills, “Be safe, my son.”
Hunter nodded then jumped head first into the pit.
At first, everything was black and Hunter felt like he was free falling into nothing. Then slowly he felt as if something started to pull at him as if the blackness had turned thick. Hunter raised the sword and hacked at the blackness, he wanted to open his mouth and call for Lailah but the last thing he wanted was for the blackness to get into his mouth so Hunter tried to push forward even though it tried to hold him back. Using the sword Hunter stabbed and slashed through the blackness. Hunter thought he was moving forward. He hoped he was moving forward.
Seconds turned into minutes. Turned into what felt like hours but it must have been only seconds as Hunter slashed through the inky blackness. It was like parting a curtain and Hunter finally stepped through, into a nightmare.
The light was overpowering coming from such darkness Hunter was almost blinded but for the combatants, dark shadows swirled around darting here and there at a blinding speed. Spinning around him, pinging off of him from ever different direction.
All of them attacking the source of the light. Lailah stood at what looked like the peak of a hill, her wings swinging out taking out shadows, she threw out balls of light as shadows attacked, but Hunter could tell she was losing the fight as one shadow got through from the side and dinged on her right shoulder nearly taking her to her knees. Lailah peeled it off her and squeezed it, dispersing it into dust. Lailah turned back to attack more of the contaminated souls.
Hunter didn’t wait another second, he ran toward her. Sword up, he swung it at one of the souls slashing it in half as he went. It immediately disintegrated, Hunter stopped and stared for just a second before swinging the sword at another of the dark souls taking it out. Realizing what he had, he slowed down and started to take out souls before they could even reach Lailah.
When he did finally reach her side most of the souls had been dispatched, Lailah was breathless. But she glared at Hunter. “I didn’t want you here. I didn’t want you to get hurt,” she gasped.
Hunter brushed dirt and blood from her face. “Same to you,” he said then turned back as another soul rushed them. Hunter sliced it cleanly in half.
“Nice weapon. Where did you get it?” Lailah asked. Grabbing a soul that came up on her left, it fell to her feet into dust.
“Would you believe me if I told you the Arch’s?” Hunter said.
Lailah shook her head, “No.” she swung out her wing taking out two more souls.
Hunter laughed, “Then I won’t tell you Raphael had an attack of conscience after you dove into this pit and offered me this sword in order to help you.”
Lailah took out the last soul, her breathing was raged and she turned to Hunter. “A little too late if you ask me.”
Hunter shrugged. “Not if you ask me. I think it was just in time. By the way if you ever put yourself in mortal danger again I reserve the right to shake the hell out of you.” Hunter growled.
“I did what I had to do in order to keep the mortal plane, and those I love safe,” Lailah said as she sunk to the ground.
Hunter collapsed in front of her. “You don’t need to be a martyr, Lailah. That i
s the world of the Arch Angels of the past. You are different.”
“I knew going into this I wouldn’t survive,” Lailah said sadly. “I was okay with that. If you survived. I was okay with saving you and those I cared for.” She said with tears in her eyes.
“I don’t want that, I am nobody without you,” Hunter said quietly. “I could not survive without you. Don’t you understand that?”
Lailah laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “Stop, Hunter. Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“I love you,” Hunter rushed the words and they tripped over themselves.
Lailah’s green eyes filled with tears. And Hunter wished he had said them before, wished he had said them with more finesse.
“I’ve loved you since the very beginning. I thought loving you would make me weak. I thought loving you would change how I ruled Treachery. I thought it would cause me to be less of a man.” Her tears now feel unheeded down her beautiful face and it was tearing Hunter apart because he knew he was the cause of them. “I thought I couldn’t possible love you the way you deserved. You with a heart so big you could love Jimmy even though he tried to sell you to Dante, you who have so much love you wanted to redeem Grayson to the very end. You love with everything you are.” Hunter reached up and cupped her face wiping her tears away with the pad of his thumb.
“I thought I could never be worthy of so much love. I could never return such an all-encompassing love. And then when I realized how much I love you I was so terrified of it. How can I ever make up for it? How can I ever make you understand how much I love you? You who is love incarnate?” Hunter whispered.
When Lailah launched herself into Hunters' arms he was so surprised it knocked them both over.
“Just say it. Say it over and over and over again,” Lailah said as she kissed him. Peppering his face with kisses.
Reaper Dreaming: A Reaper Novel Page 31
