by John Corwin
"Okay!" Ivy said in a bright voice.
They went upstairs to the planning room. Shelton and Bella were already inside talking with Cinder. The golem looked at Elyssa with a stiff smile.
"I believe I have narrowed down the possibilities for this symbol." He projected an image above the table of several similar symbols. "Templars used these symbols centuries ago to imprison various entities. In particular, they used them to combat those possessed by demons."
"You're saying the Synod Templars took Justin?" Shelton said.
Elyssa shook her head. "Those weren't Templars I saw in the video."
"A video?" Ivy asked. "Can I see it?"
Shelton looked back and forth from Elyssa to the young girl. "Uh, how'd the talk go?"
"I promised not to incinerate people unless they're evil," Ivy said with large innocent eyes.
Bella put a hand to her chest. "Madre de dios."
"A worthy goal," Cinder said in his calm voice. "I have found it is often better to think things through before resorting to deadly force."
"Well, that's what the adults seem to think." The girl shrugged.
"Anyway," Shelton said, displaying the video for all to see, "these are the perps who took Justin and his dad."
In the video, the hooded figures walked down the sidewalk with what looked like the unconscious forms of Justin and David on flying carpets.
"The Exorcists have him," Ivy said in a hushed tone.
All eyes turned to her.
"The Exorcists?" Elyssa said. "They don't exist anymore." She vaguely remembered a mention of them in her Templar history classes, but that was about it.
"I know all about the Exorcists," Ivy said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Daelissa bragged all the time about how she made the Templar and Exorcist organizations." She sighed. "I got really tired of hearing about it."
"What do you know?" Shelton asked.
"Daelissa told me she made the Exorcists into their own organization a long time ago." Ivy tapped a finger on her chin. "Sometimes when she came to visit Jeremiah, she brought along this fat guy named Montjoy. I think he's their leader. Daelissa talked about how she wanted to kill him because he was such a nincompoop."
Shelton's forehead wrinkled. "She called him a nincompoop?"
Ivy laughed. "No, but Bigmomma—Eliza—wouldn't let me say the words Daelissa said."
"Hold on a second," Shelton said. "You're saying there's an entire organization of people who exorcise demons from the possessed? Justin and his father are demon spawn. That ain't the same thing."
"I think Montjoy was looking for a way to get rid of demon spawn," Ivy said. "Before I got to know Justin it sounded like a really good idea."
"Because Jeremiah told you all demon spawn were evil," Bella said.
The girl shook her head. "No, Daelissa told me all that. Jeremiah told me vampires were evil."
Shelton grunted. "That doesn't make any sense. Vampires are on Daelissa's side, aren't they?"
"I believe I know why Daelissa wishes to purge all demon spawn," Cinder said. "The history I've uncovered from Ezzek Moore's personal journals indicates the Daemos fought against the Seraphim. Perhaps she sees them as a threat to her future."
"Yeah, and vampires are her allies." Shelton aimed a look at Ivy. "Did Conroy tell you why he wanted to kill the vamps?"
Ivy shook her head. "No, but he convinced me they needed to be killed."
"I hope to hell he doesn't know where you are." Shelton shuddered. "That old man scares me."
Elyssa paced back and forth, listening to the group talk as she tried to remember her history lessons about the Exorcists. Unfortunately, not much came back to her. "We need to find where these people are."
"There's one place Daelissa talked about a lot," Ivy said. "I can take you there."
A ray of hope warmed Elyssa. "Grab your gear, everyone." She headed out of the room. "We're going to pay the Exorcists a visit."
Chapter 5
"You have him," Daelissa said, not even glancing at the kneeling Exorcists all around her. She gave Montjoy a haughty look. "I am pleased with you."
The pompous ass bowed as much as his paunch allowed. "As promised, Milady."
"A promise kept is a promise kept, though it took the passage of centuries to see it through." The Seraphim made an exaggerated yawn. "Nevertheless, servant, you have done well."
Montjoy ground his teeth at the backhanded compliment. "The ritual failed to purge him."
Daelissa raised a blonde eyebrow. "Indeed?" She made a dismissive motion with her hand. "Leave me."
The other Exorcists evacuated, some of them carrying the unmoving forms of their fallen comrades. I wondered if David's blue mist attack had killed any of them, or if the demon-possessed people held sole responsibility.
Montjoy sputtered. "But—"
The Seraphim's eyes narrowed and lips curled down as she turned her baleful gaze onto the rotund Exorcist. "I said leave," she hissed. A pulsar of white light blazed to life in her hand, spitting sparks of darkness.
"What the—" I said. David bumped me, interrupting my thought, his eyes also regarding the strange spectacle. Daelissa was a Brightling, the upper crust of the angel social class. Her sister, Nightliss, was a Darkling. Despite the explanations I'd received, I still didn't understand why those of her particular persuasion were regarded as evil and second class, but I knew they used dark energy when channeling magic, whereas the Brightlings used, well, bright energy.
Montjoy continued to argue, despite the hazard to his health pulsing malevolently in her dainty hand. "I only wanted to—"
Daelissa raised her hand until the deadly energy almost tickled Montjoy's chin.
He waddled away faster than a duck on roller skates.
The bright sphere winked out, leaving a cloud of sparkling dust. The angel turned to David, a smile playing on her lips. "It has been too long," she said. "Have you missed me?"
"How could one not miss such beauty?" he said, all sign of irreverence gone. "You are as fair as the day I met you, Daelissa."
"And you are ever so handsome and charming," she said with a girlish sigh.
"You two know each other?" I said.
Daelissa's eyes flared, as if seeing me for the first time. "Who is this boy?" Her voice rose to fever pitch. "Who is this child? I did not order any boy servants attend me."
She doesn't recognize me?
"He's my servant," David said, voice smooth, even as he cuffed me on the back of my head. "I must apologize. The lackwit doesn't understand he cannot speak unless spoken to." My father snapped his fingers. "Keep your mouth shut, boy." His eyes flared with warning.
I backed away, bowing apologetically like I'd seen a dancing monkey do after someone put a quarter in its little red hat.
"Now, where were we?" David said. He reached out as if to touch Daelissa, but the circle prevented his hand from crossing.
"What is it?" she said, face blushing.
"Your servant put a barrier between me and your beauty," he said. "I long so much to feel the warmth of your fair cheek beneath my hand. To feel your supple lips press against mine."
"You do?" she said, sounding like a girl on a first date. "You have changed your mind?"
"My heart has never wavered, my sweet Daelissa. My mind, likewise, never thought differently. Necessity and fate tore choice from my grasp and made a poor life for me." He took in a deep shuddering breath. "Lovesick, I yearned for your fair sight, but lost hope as centuries passed I would ever see such beauty again."
"Oh, Davidius," she said, a tear sparkling in her eye. "I knew your heart chose me, and not Alysea. The others corrupted your mind. But now we can have what should have been ours millennia ago."
Millennia?
Holy French fries in a milkshake. How old was my dad?
"It is my dream, fairest of the fair," David said. "Everything is but dust and ashes without your beauty." He pressed a hand to his heart. "I feel naught but lovesick in your absence."
>
Daelissa heaved a longing sigh. "I knew you loved me then." She twirled like a princess. Her silky white dress flared wide. She stopped, looked at him. "Then and forevermore."
A longing growl escaped David's throat. "Were it not for this barrier, I would take you now, my love." He ran his hand down the invisible shield, sighing with such longing I thought he might burst into tears of pure testosterone.
"Make it so," she said, raising a hand.
"Help!" a man screamed. Two Exorcists dragged him into the sanctuary by a chain manacled around his neck. "Who are you crazy people? Help!"
"What is the meaning of this?" Daelissa cried, teeth bared like a lioness ready to pounce.
"We have found another of the pure ones, blessed Divinity," said one of the Exorcists. His face blanched when he saw the expression on her face. "Montjoy said you desired sustenance, holy one."
I noticed David's eyes flare with something akin to alarm. "Foolish servants," he said, slashing a hand through the air. "We will have our fill of each other first, my love. Then you can have your way with this food."
The angel's eyes turned back to him, widening as if suddenly remembering their conversation. "Leave the human chained here. I will feed after I have my love."
A smile touched David's lips. "Already do the flames of desire taunt me unto madness, most desirable of women. Loose me from these confines so I may taste your sweet skin."
"Oh, yes," Daelissa said, raising her hand.
"Almighty Divinity," Montjoy said, peeking around the corner of the partition to the right of the sanctuary. "I regret the intrusion, but this pure specimen will soon expire unless you use him now."
"Suffice it to wait!" she screamed, fists balled, face red like a girl throwing a tantrum.
He offered a forced smile. "I do not wish fear to pollute the specimen's purity."
Daelissa flung out a hand toward the chained man. His body jerked, hands flying straight out toward the angel. White tendrils flowed from each digit, streaming into Daelissa's. He made a horrible moaning wail, splitting the air with a cry wavering between pain and pleasure.
I grimaced and clamped hands over my ears so I wouldn't have to listen to the animalistic sounds tearing from the poor man's throat.
David clenched his teeth and glared at Montjoy. The Exorcist narrowed his eyes, lips widening in a greasy smile.
"What is it?" I whispered.
"She's borderline insane unless she feeds," he said. "Montjoy just brought her back from la-la land."
White light blazed in Daelissa's eyes. She made a soft moaning sound as the man's skin writhed with dark veins. Smoky shadows roiled from his body, and his eyes rolled up until only the whites remained visible. With a croaking scream, he collapsed to the floor. The angel shivered, and gasped. She turned toward us, skin suffused with an alabaster glow. Her eyes narrowed.
"Davidius Slade," she hissed, voice crackling with fury. "You tried to fool me."
David sighed and shrugged as if pissing off the crazed angel was no big deal. I backed away slowly.
The movement caught her eyes. "Justin Slade." She spat the words. White fire filled Daelissa's palms. Without hesitation, she hurled the crackling infernos at me. They splashed against the magical barrier, dissipating with loud whooshes.
Montjoy appeared behind her. "I did not realize Slade was meeting his son, but I captured both for you."
"You did well," Daelissa said, glaring at me, another deadly inferno boiling in her hand. "You have made quite a name for yourself, boy. But you failed to fulfill Foreseeance Forty-Three Eleven. Your sister is the Cataclyst, and she is still loyal to me and my servant, Conroy."
Apparently, Jeremiah hadn't told the angel the truth about Ivy's current whereabouts. I didn't even know what to think about this Cataclyst business. Another Seraphim had referred to me as the Cataclyst—someone who would bring about great change. I decided it would be a bad idea to correct Daelissa.
"I may have failed," I said, trying to come up with something to get her off track, "but you still won't succeed."
Her fiery eyes narrowed. "You are still the blood of Alysea. Perhaps you can help me." She made a tutting noise. "Unfortunately, Ivy is too young, her voice not yet mature."
Dad and I exchanged confused looks.
Mature voice? Does she want me to make prank calls with her? "I won't help you with anything," I said.
The angel laughed. "Oh, but you will have no choice."
"Would you prefer to kill the boy?" Montjoy asked.
"Does it sound like I want to kill him?" Daelissa shrieked. "You idiotic toad! We will banish him. Send word to Serena and have someone waiting."
"See it is done," Montjoy said to one of the Exorcists. The hooded figure scurried away. "Your Eminence, perhaps we could send them to Kobol until Serena is ready to receive them."
"I will not give them another chance to escape." She flashed teeth at David. "Davidius is most slippery."
The Exorcist who'd left the room a moment ago returned. "It is done. She will be ready."
"Excellent," Daelissa said. "My mind will rest easy with this abomination no longer soiling Eden's fair lands."
"Why are you so intent on ruling again?" David said. "The cost was staggering last time, Daelissa. With your power, you could usher in a time of peace and serenity."
A low, growling laugh rose in Daelissa's throat. A cold, malicious smile spread across her lips. "What good is peace and serenity when there is no one to share it with, hm?" She paced outside the ring, eyes never leaving David. "You, of course, have someone. You chose her over me, I might remind you."
"I'm sorry—"
She cut him off with a slash of her hand. "Tell me, Davidius, and tell me true. What does Alysea have that I do not? Am I not more powerful? More beautiful?"
"You are the fairest of all," Montjoy exclaimed.
Daelissa backhanded him across the floor, and continued to speak as though she'd just swatted a fly. "I offered you the world. I offered you myself, and you refused me." Her last words emerged in an angry hiss.
"There was never a choice," David said.
Her blonde eyebrows rose. "What do you mean?"
"My choice never wavered from Alysea." He shrugged. "I thought I could stop your mad conquest with deceit and treachery. I failed."
"Lies!" Daelissa screamed. "You are lying to me. I know you loved me. Alysea poisoned your mind against me." A bright glow formed around her body. The air shimmered with heat. Any nearby Exorcists backed away, eyes wide.
"Maybe we could get you a subscription to an online dating site," I suggested, figuring the situation was far beyond reason at this point. "I'll bet there are plenty of guys looking for an angel who's into world domination."
"Enough!" Daelissa screeched. One of the wooden pews behind her smoldered. She spun to Montjoy who was only just now recovering his wits after the blow she'd dealt him. "Begin the ritual, you lazy swine. I want these two banished and in my service immediately."
"Y-yes," Montjoy said, staggering to his feet and promptly falling flat on his face. "Gather the others for the ritual," he shouted at the Exorcist he'd sent on the errand earlier as the other man helped his boss to his feet.
"Talk about melodramatic," I said with an offhanded wave of my hand. "Banishment doesn't sound so bad as long as I don't have to see either of you two again."
"I assure you it will not be pleasant, boy." Daelissa's eyes flicked to David. "Do you see what choosing Alysea has cost you, Davidius?"
"I'd say it spared me your constant bitching," he said.
"Fool!" Daelissa shouted. "We could have united our kingdoms and ruled together. You squandered it all for a silly girl whose fondness for these animals"—she indicated the still form of the drained human behind her—"cost us everything!"
"You," David said in a calm voice, "are a crazy, maniacal bitch."
"Quoted for truth," I said.
Daelissa's eyes flashed. "Your precious wife may be out of my reac
h for now, but I still have your daughter well in hand."
Thank god she doesn't know the truth.
David tensed, whether for show or because he didn't remember I'd told him about Ivy living with me, I didn't know.
"She will do anything for her Aunt Daelissa." The angel sneered.
David blew out a breath. "You think if I cared about her I wouldn't have taken her from you already?"
"She is your daughter," Daelissa said.
"She was a mistake," he said back in a flippant voice. "I gladly let the Conroys take her."
My stomach clenched at hearing his words. Did he really mean it, or was it a ruse?
"I knew you were cold when you spurned my love, Davidius." She arched a blonde eyebrow. "I see now you still care only for yourself with one exception." Her lips curled into a sinister smile. "Alysea, the dimwitted little fool, somehow touched your heart. You may not care for your daughter, but she does."
"What's your point?" David said.
"I can use Ivy to draw Alysea into the open." The angel tapped a finger to her lips. "While you waste away in exile, I will find and kill Alysea." Her lips peeled in an ugly smile. "I welcomed the pathetic creature back after the Conroys found her. She repaid me with yet another betrayal. I will enjoy tearing off her wings."
My father shrugged. "What makes you think I care? Do you really think I'd arrange to marry one of my own kind if I cared at all for Alysea?"
Daelissa bared her teeth. "You are obviously once again using your talents as you used them against me." She looked at Montjoy. "Proceed."
David clenched his fists, even though his face remained passive. Desperation filled me. Daelissa didn't appear to know Ivy was living with me, but if she managed to contact Ivy and lure her into a meeting, I wouldn't be able to do a thing about it. Where are they sending us?
Exorcists filed into the room, some of them limping from the previous battle with the possessed and that blue smoke from my father. Without a word, they formed a circle around the silver ring. Montjoy took his place atop the tall podium, the effort of climbing so many stairs causing him to huff and puff with each step. He reached the top and took a moment to catch his breath.
