“Push it open,” Inyoka whispered, the excitement in his voice tangible. “Push it open and you will be free of this prison they keep you in.”
Reba did as he requested. The gate swung open with more force than she’d applied, smashing back against its hinges. It was dark beyond, and a howling wind could be heard in the distance, picking up speed as it approached. She hesitated, turned to look over her shoulder and was met with a sad sight. The sunflowers sagged, their leaves turning to ash. The path blackened with dead flowers.
“There is nothing here for you, Reba,” Inyoka said. “But beyond that darkness, you will find freedom and power beyond your comprehension.”
The wind came swiftly upon her, howling as it swirled around her body blowing her hair about her face. The stems and leaves of the dead flowers turned to snakes. They hissed and slithered about her legs, tugging at her as they poured into the darkness beyond the gate. Reba tried to call for help but her fear froze in her throat. Her chest burned and her eyes watered. Gasping, she clutched with her hand at her neck.
From the darkness, thunder crashed, and a bolt of lightning arrowed towards her. It smashed into the ground at her feet. The explosion flung her backwards and she fell. The ice in her throat melted and her terrified screams echoed through the nothingness as a force catapulted her from the dream.
Danjal
“Was I in love with Reba?” Danjal stared into the depths of the rich tawny liquid in his glass.
The question ripped a chunk of his armor away. That wasn’t something he’d ever considered.
Keeping his voice light, he met Elijah’s candid gaze over the glass. “I don’t remember. Besides, that would have broken all our rules.”
“Ha!” Elijah laughed. “The Danjal I remember was a rule-breaker, a law unto himself.”
Danjal blew out his cheeks. “Even though my memory fails me, I know I can say with certainty that I probably never had feelings for that girl,” he lied.
He couldn’t remember a thing, but every time he’d come near her these last days, the center of his chest burned, and his loins erupted with desire.
He drained his brandy and placed the goblet on the table. The fiery liquid burned his lying throat, and he closed his eyes as he exhaled. “I asked you that question, Elijah, because I find myself in need of help with Reba. And if you two were close, it may just help with her trust issues.”
Elijah leaned forward, his head cocking to the side as he rubbed his chin with a forefinger and thumb. “Of course, but why now?”
“Because she’s here.”
“Oh!” Elijah’s mouth fell open. “At the convent?” He looked about the room as if he expected her to suddenly appear.
Danjal nodded. “And we have discovered something unexpected about her.”
“What could that be?”
“She’s Isiah’s daughter.”
“Shut the front door!” Elijah exclaimed slapping his jean-clad knee. He chortled with laughter. “That sly old fox!”
Danjal agreed. “He shared his secret with Noah of course.”
“So, she still smells like a human, I’m guessing, but has the ability to do inhuman things. Like frying that vampire.”
“Correct.” Danjal grinned. “She’s pretty handy with fireballs and flames.”
“I bet she is.”
“So, you know what she is?”
“I suspected years ago that she was a fire elemental, but that hex I mentioned before makes it impossible to decipher her true abilities and species.”
“Commander!”
The door burst open, startling both men from their conversation. The housekeeper leaned into the room.
“Kathleen, what's wrong?” Danjal was on his feet in an instant, he’d never seen her so distressed.
“It’s Reba, you have to come quickly,” she gasped, out of breath.
Danjal strode towards the distraught woman, her eyes like saucers and her skin as pale as snow. He grabbed her forearm. “Look at me Kathleen.” He kept his voice low, his tone even. “What happened to Reba?”
“She was asleep on the couch in the library. I saw a snake coming out of her mouth.”
The woman trembled beneath his grip.
“It was pure evil Commander, oh that poor girl.” she wept.
“You saw a snake coming out of her mouth?” Danjal’s fingers sank into Kathleen’s wrist as he forced her to look at him.
“Yes Commander. At first it was a yellow mist coming from her nose, but then I saw a snake!” She placed a shaking hand over her throat. “It was black with red eyes.” She gasped, pointing down the passage with a shaking hand. “You have to help her. It’s too awful.”
“Did you see Raguel?”
“He was lying on the floor, covered in that mist.”
Danjal dropped her arm and took off at a sprint with Elijah behind him. Their boots crashed over the wooden floors as they headed for the library. It took less than a minute to get there, but to Danjal it felt like an hour.
He shoved open the door. “Reba!”
She stood in the threshold of the open balcony doors. Outside, a windstorm roared, bending the trees, and slapping at the bushes. It whipped around her, dancing through her hair and tearing at her clothing.
“Holy shit, when did that start-up?” Elijah exclaimed. “It was a perfect night when I got here.”
“Reba, close those doors.” Danjal hurried towards her. “The gale will wreck the library!”
Elijah tensed beside him. “Danjal be careful. That’s no ordinary storm. I can feel the power of the magic in the room.”
“Fuck!” Danjal swore and barreled towards her.
“No!” Elijah grabbed his arm, stopping him from moving forward. “Don’t touch her!” he cautioned. “If you spook her, she may step out there and then she’s lost to us. A witch is orchestrating this,” Elijah explained. “I suspect Reba may be caught in the dreamscape controlled by the witch.”
A jolt of fear shook Danjal’s body. “Tell me what to do?” His brusque tone concealed the angst that clenched in his belly.
“She’s kind of sleepwalking, but it’s been induced by a spell. She has to be strong enough to wake herself up.” Elijah explained.
Danjal drew a deep steadying breath. With a slow exhale, he held his hand out and called to her. “Reba.”
Her shoulders twitched, but she did not turn.
“She can hear you,” Elijah whispered. “That’s good. Now see if you can get her to turn.”
“Reba please?” Danjal’s forearms bulged as he fought the urge to just yank her into his arms. “Don’t go out there, it’s dangerous.” He made no effort to disguise the fear that caused the tremor in his voice.
Reba turned and peered over her shoulder; her eyes were glassy and unfocused. The whirlwind around her picked up in ferocity, almost knocking her off her feet. She flailed her arms about, struggling for balance.
“Keep talking Danjal!” Elijah urged.
Anxiety gnawed painfully at his guts. Without a weapon in his hand, he felt naked and watching Reba struggle with unseen forces was propelling him into unfamiliar emotional territory. He was powerless.
“Say something, it doesn’t matter what you say; it’s how you say it.”
“For Gods sakes, Rebecca,” Danjal’s voice cracked. “Come back to us, we are your family, we will protect you. I will protect you!”
She turned suddenly; her movements robotic as if she fought invisible bonds.
“Reba, come to me,” he held out his arms.
She took a hesitant step and then another. A bright flash of yellow light hit the doors and windows of the outer library wall. It shattered the panes of glass and splintered the wood beneath its force.
The impact knocked Reba off her feet, catapulting her towards Danjal. He caught her mid-air, his arms wrapping around her slender body. He dropped to the ground, covering her protectively as debris rained down around them.
Warriors crashed into the library,
weapons drawn. “Commander are you alright?”
“Don’t go out there. I’m trying to keep it outside!” Elijah shouted over the racket of shrieking black creatures that swooped like birds of prey against the protective ward he held in place. Silver light shone from his eyes, mouth and hands forming a sparkling barrier that sealed the damage to the existing wall and kept the furious creatures outside.
“Stand down, stand down,” Danjal ordered his men, who reluctantly lowered their weapons. “Can someone please check on Raguel? He hasn’t moved since we got here.” He waved towards Reba’s guard, who lay face down on the floor.
Elijah continued to chant, and Danjal felt the power of the spell the warlock cast pulsating against his body. Beneath him, Reba lay motionless, the slow rise and fall of her chest was reassuring. At least she was alive, and for now, that’s all that mattered.
As suddenly as it began, the storm dissipated and the screeching creatures retreated, flying high into the night sky, leaving behind an eerie silence, and pungent odor of wood smoke.
Danjal carried Reba to the couch before the fireplace and laid her down. Her eyes fluttered and she smiled sleepily as he tucked the throw around her.
“I was dreaming, Roharn,” she murmured, “about a field of sunflowers. It was beautiful.”
“I’m not Roharn,” Danjal snapped at the sleepy woman. Anger and an emotion as unknown to him as his lost memories, burned the edges of his heart. Had she thought it was Roharn calling her from the clutches of the witch? Was that why she turned so readily?
Reba bolted upright and rubbed at her unfocused eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled, and pulled the ivory blanket protectively around her shoulders.
“Reba,” Danjal cut her short, “I’m going outside, but I will be back in a moment. Please just stay on the couch.”
She twisted her head around and gasped softly when she saw the shattered doors. “Oh my God, what happened?”
“There was a freak storm,” he replied. “I’m going outside to check the damage.”
“But—”
“You have no shoes, and there is glass everywhere, so stay put!”
Reba sank into the couch.
Danjal made his way outside and down the steps to the lawn. Over a hundred warriors prowled in the darkness, searching for any demons they may have felled during the attack.
“Report,” Danjal demanded of the closest man. “What the hell were they?”
“I don’t know, Commander,” the warrior replied. “Our swords and arrows sliced through them and they disintegrated. No bodies or any type of residue was left behind. We sustained no injuries either.”
“Fuck!” Danjal swore in frustration and turned to Elijah. “Do you have any idea what we’re dealing with?”
“This is but a small example of what the witch can do. You have to let me place protective wards around your lands. Those shadow demons were minions sent for Reba. They are returning empty-handed and their master won’t be pleased. They will try again, so you have to be prepared,” he replied.
“Why would they want her?” Danjal asked.
Elijah shrugged. “There is something about her that they want. We must find out more about her and what she’s capable of. Just make sure you never leave her unsupervised.”
“Christ!” Danjal whirled around. “I left her alone on the couch and the library isn’t secure!” He raced up the stairs followed by Elijah.
“Reba?” Danjal called as he hurried through the smashed doors. Glass crunched beneath his booted feet as he marched into the room. She wasn’t where he’d left her.
His heart punched against his ribs. “Rebecca, where are you?” His voice crackled like gravel, but it camouflaged the inner panic that bloomed within.
“Danjal,” she called softly, her voice croaky with terror. “I’m here.”
“Where are you, I can’t see you?”
“In the corner by the fireplace.”
Her small voice instantly set him on edge. Danjal swung his gaze to the hearth and spotted her huddled on the floor in the corner, her eyes wide with terror.
“What’s the matter, what are you doing on the floor?” He headed towards her.
“There’s a snake.” She jerked her head to her right. “Please be careful Danjal.” Her voice quavered. “I think it’s a Black Mamba, it’s really big.” Her skin had a gray tinge to it and sweat lined her upper lip and brow. She’d pushed herself against the wall and wrapped her trembling arms about her knees.
“Deadly to you perhaps,” Danjal retorted. He spotted the snake not far from where Reba cowered.
At the sound of his voice, it turned towards him. Its tongue flickered out as it tasted his scent.
“I’m not afraid of you,” Danjal said, and the creature hissed menacingly. “I’ll give you something to hiss about.” Danjal moved towards it.
“Its eyes are red, Danjal, this is not a snake,” Elijah said. “It’s a demon and we have to be cautious with it.”
“Elijah!” Reba cried as she recognized the warlock, “what are you doing here?”
In her excitement, she seemed to lose her fear of the snake. “OMG it’s so good to see you!”
“Hey sweetness, it’s good to see you too.”
“God, Elijah it’s been so many years.” her voice trailed off.
“How about we have the reunion later,” Danjal interrupted, “and deal with the snake first.”
“I’m terrified of snakes,” she admitted softly.
“Then hang in there, baby girl and we’ll get rid of it, okay,” Elijah promised.
Danjal shuddered at the intent in its antagonistic hiss. “If it’s a demon, it should be destroyed.”
“This creature is on a suicide mission.” Elijah moved closer to the snake. “I sense it’s like a trojan horse. Kill it, and in dying, it will release further demonic entities into the convent. Reba will never be safe here again.”
The snake rose on its coils, reared its head back, opened its mouth and bared its curved fangs at Elijah. They glistened in the firelight, and Reba yelped fearfully.
Elijah stepped forward and squared his shoulders. “Tell your master I am Elijah Hawke, the High Warlock of David’s Town, leader of the Fenugreek coven. I will not tolerate their magic in this town. It would be wise for us to meet and talk about what they desire and perhaps we can work together and find a solution that will put an end to these senseless murders.”
The snake hissed furiously but glided arrogantly towards the shattered doors. Elijah walked behind it. “Leave it be,” he cautioned the warriors gathered outside as it passed. “It takes a message to its master.”
Jequon hissed menacingly as it slithered past. “Next time, I’ll make boots from your pretty hide,” he promised the reptile, waving his sword at it.
The snake showed no fear at the threat as it glided down the stairs and into the garden, disappearing into the darkness.
“And unfortunately, there will be a next time,” Elijah warned. “We have to talk, all of us—the wolves, the vampires and your Elah families. This witch has declared war.”
Danjal’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he lightly touched the earpiece. “Bendagan,” he answered as he helped Reba onto the couch and dropped the throw around her shoulders.
“The Lantern hive was attacked earlier,” Phenix’s voice broke through the device. “There were victims.”
“Who the hell attacked them?” He swung away from Reba and paced, hands on hips in front of the crackling fire.
“Sebastian is blaming the Fenugreeks.”
“Elijah is here with me, has been for several hours. He wants peace, not war. Why would he assume it’s the witches and not a pissed off demon?” Danjal demanded.
“I’m outside the gates of Lantern and I can feel the magic thrumming in the air. Commander, it’s crackling like static.”
“Can you smell wood smoke?” Danjal asked suspiciously.
“Yes, I can, but there is no smoke or fire her
e,” Phenix replied.
“Fuck it!” Danjal cursed his gaze hovering over his destroyed home. What the blazes was going on in this bloody city?
“The Prince has dispatched his henchman to bring him the head of a witch by daybreak in retaliation for what he believes they are responsible for. I’m not letting them leave the compound, but I’m going to need backup as the vamps are gathering.”
“Tell Sebastian to hold his horses, the convent was targeted in this attack too,” Danjal commanded.
“I’m dealing with his enforcer, Sir,” Phenix replied, “Because Sebastian wants you to get your angel arse out here as he does not deal with subordinates.”
Danjal ran an agitated hand through his hair. He looked down at Reba who’d curled herself into a ball on the couch. He didn’t want to leave her, not now that he knew something evil wanted her. He was almost certain it was responsible for the recent murders and Blue’s attack.
“Will you be coming out, Commander?” Phenix pleaded more than requested.
Danjal could hear the raised voices of the crowd the young angel was trying to control. Anger rode their fear and fed their bloodlust. Phenix wouldn’t hold them down for long.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, and Phenix.”
“Yes, Commander?”
“Don’t take any shit from those vampires; you do whatever it takes to keep them from going near the witches.”
“I will, Commander.”
Danjal cut the connection and turned to Reba. “I have to go out.” She didn’t look up but nodded. “Shaiton and Rorex will watch you. Raguel will need to be cleared for duty before he can watch over you again.”
“Why does it want me?” She sniffed, hunching forward, and pulling the rug tighter about her trembling body.
Danjal fought the urge to sit beside her and pull her into his arms. Instead, he straightened to his full height; looking down at her he said, “I was hoping you had the answers to that.”
“How can you believe that I’m one of those Nephilim creatures?” Tears gathered behind her lids and she bit down on her lower lip as they spilled over her lashes like a waterfall.
Run Angel Run: A Steamy Dark Fantasy Romance (The Angels of David's Town Book 1) Page 10
