“The flask spilled open. I slipped on the mud it made at the top of the hill, and then cut myself on a rock sliding down the ravine. I remember being surprised and out of breath when I landed at the bottom. The impact broke through a couple of dry layers of crusted dirt to reveal more mud underneath. It splashed all over my pants.”
“I dug and dug until I found a spring coming out between the two boulders. Near it was some kind of wild grass—something close to the onion family. The bulbs at the bottom were bitter but edible. I spent weeks living off that stuff. Slowly, I ventured farther and farther, but I couldn’t find anything else to eat. Not until I went back where I’d thrown the food away.”
Realization hit home “And you found the fruit you’d thrown away had sprouted into a tree,” he finished, connecting the dots.
She nodded. “So, you’ve seen it?”
“Yes, but only recently. I avoided that particular spot in the wasteland for the last two decades.”
“Oh.” There was a wealth of meaning in that one word. “Not even a fly-by?”
“No. It hurt too much to remember.” He cleared his throat. “So…just like that, you could grow food?”
She let her head drop back. “That’s not how it works. By the time I visited the ravine again, the tree had grown. It even had fruit. They’re not normal peaches by any stretch of the imagination, but they taste almost good if you cook them first. The grain paste had some intact seeds in it, too. Those had sprouted as well. I tried to replant them, but they didn’t take anywhere else.”
Kara sighed. “It took me months to put the pattern together.”
She had cut herself back then and again today. “You needed to shed your own blood, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but not just that. After much trial and error, I realized I need to lean into the curse in a way. If I bled and did something that was actively against my interest, then the effects were nullified or even reversed.”
“That’s why all the survivors wear a vial around their necks?”
“Yes. If they break it on themselves, it can sometimes stop the curse in its tracks—if they try to make the effects worse like I did. We tested other Firehorse blood. Only mine works. But not always. It depends on how the curse chose to manifest.”
He thought back to what happened to Theo. “So if the river sprang a leak because of a tremor or a sinkhole, it won’t magically seal up.”
“Exactly. But say a tremor started. You wouldn’t duck under a doorframe. You’d go stand under a glass window instead.”
“Unbelievable,” he breathed. “And that really works?”
“Not always. But sometimes…yes, it does. And it’s less effective here in town.”
He nodded. “That makes sense. Bastille was where the curse was cast—at the demon tower. It must get weaker the farther you get from it.”
“Montmeurtre?”
“Yes. The altar was built for that purpose. All the sacrifices were done there. It’s the epicenter.”
That wasn’t a complete surprise to her. “I figured that would be the case. It was the demon kings’ seat. I’ve even tried to get in a few times, but never got past the door.”
Err… “Perhaps that’s because I warded the structure, blocking access to anyone but me.”
Kara looked at him in shock. “You did what?”
“At the time, making sure none of the surviving demons took any of those books or objects of power was the priority. I had to make sure none of his acolytes had enough juice to take over. Blocking access was the most expedient way. Over the years, I’ve pilfered the library, searching for a solution. The books are scattered in caches all over the city. There are even some here in the closet.”
Kara smacked him on the arm. “Do you have any idea how many times I tried to get in there?” She smacked him again.
“Sorry,” he said, holding up his hands to ward off her blows. “I couldn’t risk anyone getting their hands on the things inside.”
“Well, at least you didn’t burn the books,” she grumbled.
“No, I’m not that stupid. But I’ve read those texts backward and forward, however, and while there were some promising leads, there was nothing that could undo the spell. I’ve even been back to the altar ruins a few times to search for clues.”
The logs in the fireplace shifted, making the light flicker. It caught her lovely face, the sad, distant expression haunting. “What’s wrong?”
“Aside from everything?” She laughed, but tears shone in her eyes.
A thought occurred to him. “Is it Theo? The two of you weren’t, um…”
How do you ask something like this? In addition to believing theirs to be a master and subordinate-type relationship, Ash assumed Theo had been too young for her. But on a human scale, it wasn’t that big a gap—less than a decade.
“No!” Kara smacked him on the shoulder. “I can’t believe men. You all only think about one thing. Even angels, apparently.”
Embarrassed, Ash felt his face growing hot. “I don’t usually.”
She tilted her head, studying him closely. “But you do with me?”
Breathing became a bit more difficult, enough it seemed wiser to keep his mouth shut.
She took a breath that ended with a little shudder. “Theo was important to me. All my people are, but he was special. I depended on him. I always believed if anything happened to me, he could take over. But it’s more than that. Seeing you again and getting to know you has stirred up a lot of stuff for me.”
Well, that wasn’t hard to understand. “I know. But we need to help each other now. I know I’m the last person you want as an ally, I really do. But we need to get past our past.”
Those glittering eyes bored into him. “And is that all you want from me? An alliance?”
He didn’t answer.
Something in her expression shifted. If he didn’t know any better, he would have said there was a hunger there.
“I can feel it, you know,” she said.
“What do you feel?” he whispered.
“You. Watching me. It doesn’t feel friendly.”
“I’m not your enemy, Kara.”
Her eyes gleamed like dark jewels in the dim light. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”
He shifted uncomfortably, keenly aware of her scent and warmth. “I’m not a carnal being, Kara. I didn’t fall because of a desire for human women.”
“Then why are you still in this bed?”
She knelt on the mattress, getting as close to him as she could without actually touching him. “What do you want to do to me right now?”
Holy heavenly crap. “I… uh…”
Kara leaned back on her heels. “Or are you afraid they won’t let you back into Heaven if you touch me?”
His heart was starting to thrum in his chest. “Maybe I’m afraid if I touch you, you’ll stab me.”
She looked down at his chest—at the expanse of muscle displayed by the open neck of his tunic shirt. Slowly, she raised a finger and traced his collarbone. “I promise not to do that again. Or do you believe God won’t forgive you? An angel having sex with a human woman is the heavenly equivalent of a felony, isn’t it?”
Ash stared at her, his eyes widening as she reached down for the hem of her shirt. In another moment, it was off, revealing golden brown skin so fine it looked like something out of a Renaissance painting.
Da Vinci couldn’t do better. His hands itched. He wanted to touch her so badly.
Kara tilted her head with leonine grace. “Isn’t saving the world supposed to earn you a get-out-of-jail-free card? Can’t Raphael overlook one little carnal sin, or will it violate the terms of your deal to get back into Heaven?”
His mouth dropped open. “How did you know about that?”
Kara smirked and sat back on her heel. “Everybody knows about that.” Pursing her lips, she reached for her shirt. “Well, I guess I’ve overshot on this one. I’m going to leave.”
Moving as
fast as lightning, he grabbed her hand before she could pull it back over her head.
“No. Stay.”
Ash flipped her over, pinning her to the bed before covering her with his body.
She shivered. “So you do think the big guy upstairs will overlook this?”
“Whether He does or not doesn’t matter. You are worth falling for. For you, I would give up Heaven.”
21
The sound of a tray hitting the table woke him. Marcus was standing in the antechamber of Ash’s apartments. He’d come in to serve him breakfast. He appeared close to a coronary, hopping back and forth from one foot to another as if he couldn’t decide whether to run away.
Ash sat up, pulling the sheet to cover Kara’s nudity before he turned back to his aide, who was staring at him with his mouth open.
Say something. “I’ll need coffee for two this morning, Marcus.”
“Oh. Of course, my lord.” His aide rushed away, pounding down the stairs two at time judging from the racket he made.
When he looked back down at Kara, she was awake, peeking out over the edge of the sheet, which she’d pulled up to her chin.
“I’m naked.”
So was he. “Believe me, I haven’t forgotten.” He stroked her hip under the blanket. “I’d like nothing more than to spend all morning in bed, but I think we shocked ten years off Marcus’ life. If we don’t want to make it twenty, perhaps we should dress.”
Ash stood, pulling on the loose pants he always wore while alone in his rooms. Kara followed suit, reaching across the bed to her discarded clothing on the floor.
“So…you have a manservant?” she asked, a hint of egalitarian disdain coloring her words.
“Not precisely,” he explained, pulling on a clean tunic. “Marcus was my aide-de-camp during the war. Now he’s just my aide.”
“He calls you ‘my lord’ and brings you food,” she said, a hint of a snicker in her words.
Her teasing stirred feelings of guilt and upper-class privilege. “I’ve tried to get him to call me Ash, but he’s not terribly flexible in that respect. The breakfast routine developed over the years. I stopped thinking about it after the first few. It does save me time,” he defended.
“Hmm.”
He wanted to say more, but Marcus came in at that moment, bearing a second tray. This one was a feast compared to Ash’s more spartan meal. There was fresh fruit and oatmeal, served with cream and a small loaf of crusty bread. A second coffee cup—this one made of dainty porcelain—was in the corner.
Ash stood and waved at each of them in turn. “Kara, this is Marcus, my assistant. Marcus, this is Kara. She’s…special.”
He could feel Kara’s glance turning into a glare. She gave him a surreptitious smack on his backside on her way to shake Marcus’ hand.
To his credit, Marcus made an effort at small talk, but his inquiries into her background made Kara clam up immediately. Sensing his blunder, Marcus made a few desultory remarks on the weather before excusing himself.
Kara rounded on him as soon as he was gone. “I’m special? Why don’t you just hang a sign on me that says Firehorse? You can add that my blood nullifies the curse in small script.”
Ash scratched his head. “I wasn’t referring to your gift. I meant you are special to me.” He glanced at the door his aide had just departed from. “I’m pretty sure that’s how Marcus understood it, considering the state he found us in this morning.”
High dudgeon interrupted, Kara looked down at the floor. “Oh. That’s all right then, I guess…I should be leaving now. I have to tell the others about Theo.”
“You can delay a half hour. Bad news can wait that long, at least.” He gestured to the table, pulling out a chair. “Eat something first. You need to keep up your strength.”
She looked askance at the table. “I can’t eat all of this and live with myself.”
Ash understood, of course. He couldn’t stomach a full meal after visiting the poorer districts in his city…and there were a lot of them.
“Then eat some of it and take the rest back to the wasteland. You’re welcome to pick up more from the larder on the way downstairs. But you still need something now.”
Ash stepped closer to the table, then poured coffee into the two mugs. He held one out to her. “At least have some coffee.”
That got her attention. Kara gave the mug a look that echoed the one she’d given him last night. She took the cup without further argument, inhaling the smoky brew with a deep sigh of satisfaction.
“I don’t remember the last time I had anything this good,” she said after a sip.
“Should I be insulted?” He grinned. “I know I was inexperienced, but judging from the sounds you made, I thought I handled myself reasonably well.”
Kara choked on a sip she was drinking. Her face was as red as sunset when she finally spoke. “Well, granted, I don’t have a lot of experience to compare to, but yes…” She looked away, adding in a mutter. “Kudos, by the way.”
Feeling lighter than he had in an age, he gave her a teasing grin. “Not a lot of experience, you say?” He bit open one of the peaches, swallowing it slowly before speaking again. “Because I would have guessed I wasn’t the only virgin in that bed last night.”
He took another bite and grinned.
Her eyes fixed on his mouth for a long beat before she gave herself a little shake. “Well, well, well. Look who is a quick study… How annoying.”
Ash laughed, stealing a kiss before she could stop him. Blushing, Kara sat at the table, reaching for a bit of the bread. They finished their coffee in silence.
“We should meet later at the demon tower,” he suggested when the moment of levity passed. “I want to look around again, and I want you to come with me this time.”
“Why don’t we start with the books you have?” she asked, turning as if looking for them. “Are they in the closet?”
“No, you can’t store that many occult texts in one place. I scattered them all over town. They generate their own tainted aura,” he explained. “We can get to those later, once we scour the tower together. I’ve done it on myself a dozen or so times, but perhaps you’ll see something I missed.”
She looked skeptical. “All right. I’m willing to try, but I’m not sure what you expect me to find if you’ve been looking all this time.”
It was a grudging acceptance at best. Of course, it is. People avoid the tower for a reason. It’s painted in human blood, you idiot.
“There’s no reason to be afraid to join me there. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
Kara reached over to smack his arm, then winced when she accidentally hit his armor. “Damn it.” She sucked on her fingers. “I’m not afraid of the tower. I live in the catacombs, for crying out loud. Do you know how many dead people are down there?”
“Roughly ten million,” he said helpfully.
Her mouth dropped open. “Really? That’s a few more million than I thought.”
He looked at the table, but didn’t really see it. He was lost in memories. Too many bad ones. “Many more were added after the Collision.”
Somber now, she nodded and continued to eat.
“Kara, there is something else I’d like to ask you. You can say no if you want.”
The crease between her eyebrows deepened. “What is it?”
“I would like a vial of your blood.”
She blinked. “I thought you were immune to the curse because of the whole having wings and being an angel thing.”
Ash shook his head. “I’m not actually, or at least, I don’t believe I am.” He snorted. “I guess my presence doesn’t move the needle in terms of progress.”
And why would it? Human progress was just that…human.
“Move the needle?” she questioned.
“It’s an antiquated expression, back from when they used to measure earthquake strengths.”
“Hmm.” She didn’t ask why they had stopped measuring them. What was the point whe
n they had so many, all designed to create maximum damage?
Kara took something out of her pocket. It was an apothecary vial like the ones her band wore. She must have raided an old shop for the stock. “Do you have a knife?”
He held up a hand. “I’ll get a syringe.” There was one in the med kit downstairs.
Ash performed the blood draw, making sure to clean the area with alcohol first. He filled the vial with it, but hesitated with the little remainder left in the syringe.
“Do you want a second one? Maybe for Marcus?” She lifted her sleeve to offer her arm again.
“No.” The answer was immediate and instinctive.
She frowned. “Don’t you want to protect him, just in case?”
“I do,” he said. “But the more people who know about this,” he said, holding up the vial. “The more dangerous it gets.”
He could picture the mob now. If they had an inkling what her blood could do, they’d be baying after her like a pack of wolves. Those animals wouldn’t hesitate to tear her apart.
“Your safety is the most important thing.”
Kara scowled, snatching the syringe from his hand. She stuck the needle in the crease of her arm, and withdrew another vial’s worth of blood.
“Here,” she said with a bite in her voice. “You’ll need it for the next Firehorse at least.”
Ash hesitated before taking the second vial, acknowledging her gift with a bow. Then he took her hand and kissed it. “Come meet me tonight after you talk to your people.”
Breaking the news about Theo wouldn’t take long, but he’d been a valued member of their gang. They would need Kara’s comfort after losing one of their own.
Ash also had his tasks for the day. Making sure Bastille kept running was a full-time job for ten angels, but they only had him.
She agreed and parted with the food he pressed on her. Once she was gone, he held up the vials to the light. The sun shone on them, revealing their color as closer to onyx than ruby.
Which makes sense if it’s what you suspect. He pushed the thought away, pocketing the precious vials in his tunic before dressing in his armor and preparing for the day.
Having a spare for the next Firehorse was a good idea, but he wasn’t using the other for himself or for Marcus.
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