by Melody Raven
With a quick jerk of her hand, the blade sliced through half of his throat. The demon fell, immobile, to the floor. He wasn’t dead, but he would not be able to fight any time in the foreseeable future. Another demon threw a right hook in her direction, but she ducked down just in time to avoid it. The demon’s hand plowed straight into the drywall. While he struggled to free himself, Muriel finished him off in one quick flick of her sword.
Muriel looked to Kier and gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment before she turned to take on her next target.
While Kier was looking at Muriel, a vampire snuck up behind him. Kier just narrowly transported three feet to the left before the vampire stabbed the air he recently vacated. Instead of taking the time to convince the vampire that they were on the same side, Kier focused on killing more demons.
Kier took down three more demons before he checked on Muriel once again. He was awed by her. She fought ruthlessly but efficiently. Every movement had a purpose. She was aware of every demon in the room and was able to predict their movements in ways to ensure they would end up on the deadly end of her blade.
For a moment, Kier was incredibly grateful that he’d never met her when she was a full angel. He surely wouldn’t have survived the encounter.
His hellfire itched to be released, but the precious seconds it took to aim and fire were out of the question with the close hand-to-hand combat. A demon attacked from his right, sword aimed for Kier’s head, but the metal abruptly clattered to the ground when the same vampire who had tried to kill him just moments ago cut off the hand that held the weapon.
Kier tilted his head in thanks as a small brunette female attacked the vampire. She didn’t appear very demonic, but she was able to land a blow on the vampire that sent him flying across the room. There was something supernatural about her, and she was playing for the wrong team.
Kier walked two steps to assist the vampire when he saw something that made his heart drop out of his chest.
Samuel was on the losing end of a fight with a demon. His fighting arm was already bloody as he fell to a knee while he blocked the blows coming from a being twice as strong as him. Muriel was making her way over to him, cutting down demon after demon. Kier knew nothing would stop her from saving her friend.
He would’ve let her save him, except Kier knew the demon who was currently kicking Samuel’s ass. Teryn.
Kier cursed his luck as he transported over to the closest thing he had to a friend. Teryn landed a punch that surely broke a few of Samuel’s ribs. Samuel hit the ground hard while Teryn raised his blade to finish him off. Kier gave a heavy shove that sent Teryn flying. As he slammed against the nearest wall, Samuel grimaced as he saw who had saved him.
Kier didn’t have time to bicker with the human. He approached Teryn as he pushed himself up from the ground.
Samuel’s army might’ve been outnumbered, but they were also much more skilled than the demons. By this time, there were only a few of the attacking horde left. Kier was able to focus all his attention on Teryn.
“You followed me?”
“Tracked you,” said Teryn. “Curious, isn’t it? This whole school was warded against demons yet somehow you could just come and go as you please. Azazel had to move the fucking earth to get us in.”
The school was warded against demons? When the hell had that happened? That explained the earthquake. “You are working for him? You can’t stand him. Of all people who would want his death, you’re at the top of the list.”
“I might want his death, but I need souls. All you care about is your little piece of ass over there but I’m starving!”
Despite the battle that still raged around them, the silence between them was heavy. “How long have you felt guilt?” Kier kicked himself for not seeing it sooner. Teryn’s reluctance to corrupt the innocent. Waiting until the last possible moment to feed. Even when he did hunt, he would just skim a bit off a gangster or someone already down the path to Hell.
It made sense why he would be so desperate to get those hundred souls. One death for years of a hunt-free existence.
Teryn didn’t answer.
“You already know how this is going to end. Azazel is going to be dead and there won’t be anyone to give you one hundred souls. There is no point in working for him. If you stay here, I can help you. We can figure out some way for you to get by without taking any souls. I haven’t fed for over a month and I feel fine.”
“You aren’t even a demon anymore!”
Teryn looked into Kier’s eyes, and for the first time Kier was able to see what was getting him so upset. Jealousy.
Teryn didn’t want to be a demon.
Kier threw down his sword as an offering of peace. He held his hands up in a nonthreatening manner. “We can figure this out.”
Teryn looked from Kier to the fighting behind him. Kier knew what was happening even though he didn’t look for himself. He could hear Muriel’s satisfied grunts every time she landed a blow. The sounds of metal against metal faded as fewer and fewer demons were left to fight.
Indecision flickered across his face. “You think your angel is really going to kill him?”
Kier did risk a glance behind him then. Muriel was splattered with demon blood as she gracefully dodged a blow and swung her sword with deadly efficiency. “I really think she is.”
For the first time since he heard the prophecy, he truly did believe that she could do it.
Teryn nodded his head. It was more of an acknowledgment than an agreement. In an instant, he was gone, leaving Kier staring at nothing but empty space.
The demon in front of Muriel fell to the ground. Her breath came in quick pants as she took stock of her comrades.
Her heart pounded on her chest as adrenaline rushed through her. Piles of dead demons littered the floor, their blood staining the old tile.
Samuel and Ava worked together to finish off a demon. The werewolves were crowded around one of their own. Muriel’s heart sank at the sight.
She slowly approached to see that it was Martin. He had been one of the older werewolves, always quick to smile. He never started any trouble with Samuel’s mortal friends and he got along with everyone.
He had been a strong fighter, but not strong enough. His throat was mostly torn out and a silver dagger stuck out obscenely from his chest. His brethren stood solemnly over him, hands folded and heads down.
Muriel’s upper lip quivered. She closed her eyes and focused her breathing. She would not cry. She refused to give Azazel the satisfaction.
She turned away from the tragic scene as she counted those still standing. One of the vampires was wounded to her left. His head was down as he fed from Antonio, the oldest vampire on the base with the exception of Jared.
She couldn’t see Jared anywhere. Had the fighting moved into another room?
Esmeralda knelt over one of Samuel’s friends, calling her magic to help him. She couldn’t do much in the way of healing because she practiced dark magic, but she could ease the pain and speed the process a bit.
Finally her gaze landed on Kier. He stood still in the back corner of the room, partially concealed by the shadows but not hiding. At the sight of him, a tear made it past her guards.
He had fought alongside her. She hadn’t asked him to stay, and he must have known how dangerous it would be. He was lucky none of Samuel’s men had taken him out.
Muriel took two steps toward him when Samuel took notice. Sword in hand, he turned to face Kier.
The last thing Muriel needed was the two of them getting into a pissing contest. “Back off, Samuel.”
Samuel focused his furious gaze on her. “He’s with you? You know he led the demons here!”
The werewolves took notice. Their eyes narrowed on Kier as they stood in unison, muscles tight and ready to pounce.
Kier said nothing to defend himself. He simply clenched his fists and squared his shoulders as though getting ready for a fight.
Muriel moved to stand between him an
d the slowly forming mob. “Maybe you were too busy to notice, but Kier was fighting on our side.”
“He doesn’t do anything without the promise of personal gain.” Esmeralda’s silky smooth voice dripped with disdain.
“Nice to see you, too, Esme,” said Kier with a sarcastic grin. “Did I ever send you a thank-you card for those handcuffs?”
Muriel shot Kier a death stare over her shoulder. “I’m trying to save your life here and you think now is a good time to bait the sorceress who hates you?”
“I’m not afraid of them.” As though there were not thirty highly trained killers who all had a bone to pick with demons staring angrily at him.
“You should be.” Samuel’s hands gripped his sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
“Well, last I checked, it’s Muriel who is supposed to take out Azazel. I would think that as long as she’s under your protection, whatever Muriel wants, Muriel gets.”
“So this is the guy you’ve been banging!” Everyone jerked at Jared’s sudden entrance.
Muriel would’ve been embarrassed by the sudden announcement, but the sight of Jared’s injuries distracted her. “What happened to you?”
Jared shrugged an obviously dislocated shoulder and winced at the movement. A large gash from his forehead to his chin had covered his neck and shirt with his own blood. One eye appeared to be missing. Muriel could only guess what other injuries were hidden under his baggy training pants and t-shirt.
“Nothing major. Just got my ass handed to me by a five-foot-tall demoness bitch. By the way, I motion that we put a death notice out to all five-foot-tall demoness bitches.” Jared took in the wounded and dying around him. “How many did we lose?”
“Three,” said Samuel. “Martin, Derek, and Kyle.”
Muriel winced. The werewolf, a vampire, and a human. Kyle had only been thirty years old.
Samuel’s anger mixed with the grief of the others. The smell of blood and sweat still remaining from battle hung heavy in the air. Samuel broke the silence. “This shouldn’t have happened.” He pointed an accusing finger at Kier. “Demons shouldn’t be sneaking in here for a quick roll in the hay without anyone being alerted to the danger.”
Was this her fault? Kier had all but admitted that he was working with Azazel.
She had never known a demon to suddenly grow a conscience. Never. She had been so willing to believe him. It made sense. She was changing because of him; it stood to reason that he was changing because of her. Was she truly the biggest fool in the galaxy?
“That demon just saved your life,” she pointed out softly.
That was all it took to push Samuel over the edge. He threw his sword down in anger. The clanking of the metal on wet tile was almost deafening in the silent room. “You’re going to stand there and defend him? He led those demons here and now three of my men—our friends—are lying dead at your feet! Can’t you see that he’s using you?”
Muriel held her head higher as Samuel approached her. He might be bigger than her, but she was stronger. She wouldn’t let him intimidate her. “You aren’t using me? What do you think my chances of survival are if I go into Hell to take on Azazel?
“The prophecy says I kill him. Then what? I’ll tell you. Every demon in Hell will make a move for his ring. Anyone who gets it will have all the power of Hell, and the first order of business is to make sure that the angel who took out the old king never makes it out alive. And who am I doing this for? If you don’t remember, I was fired from my old job. Dishonorably discharged, even though I had no other choice than to take out that human! So don’t tell me that I’m being used. I know damn well that I’m being used. If I’m going to die, can’t I at least spend my last few days with someone who makes me happy?”
Samuel opened his mouth to speak, but Muriel wasn’t done. “I was happy an hour ago when we were having sex up against the door to my room and I was happy fifteen minutes ago when I looked over and saw that demon save your life. So why don’t you tell me again how he’s the reason that three of our friends died? Because last I checked, they were protecting me.”
At least Samuel had the grace to look ashamed.
Kier gave her a short nod of appreciation. Satisfied that she’d gotten her point across, she continued, “I’m going to wash the blood off myself and we can continue this conversation later.” She walked away.
Well, it was good to know that Muriel didn’t blame him for her friends’ deaths, but he could tell by the accusatory looks of the soldiers surrounding him that not everyone felt the same way she did.
He could transport away, but he decided to hold his ground. If he planned to be with Muriel for an extended period, he might as well make a token effort to get along with them, even if that meant avoiding a few assassination attempts.
His old buddy Esmeralda broke the silence. “How did you make it past the wards?”
He almost forgot about those. The anti-demon wards that apparently had no effect on him. “Um, I may or may not be a full demon,” he said. Saying it out loud was a blow.
How could he not be a demon? He still felt the same, with the exception of his conscience, feelings for Muriel, and distaste for the Hell realm.
Nope, definitely not a demon anymore. Which begged the question, what was he?
The confession that rocked him to his core was met with disbelieving stares. Esmeralda looked even more perplexed than the others. “How does a demon suddenly become something else?”
“How does a fallen angel suddenly have the ability to shoot hellfire?” he countered. How could so many supernatural creatures be living together and still be so skeptical?
“You think that you’re both changing each other somehow?” asked the badly injured vampire in the back of the room.
Kier was getting sick of the interrogation. “I don’t know why any of this is happening. I know that I want to be with Muriel, even if it means putting up with the B Team.”
Esmeralda sneered. “Well, I guess the brokenhearted part of the prophecy makes sense now.”
“You know what? Your girlfriend was a bitch. She would sleep with anyone for power. You should be thanking me for pointing this out before you wasted any more of your life with her. Secondly, you are such a bunch of hypocrites. You claim to be friends with Muriel but none of you have even told her the entire prophecy that turned her life upside down.”
“Have you?” asked Samuel.
The barb hit home. “I’m not going to hurt her!” The force of his shout caused Ava to jump back. Even Esmeralda looked shocked.
Samuel didn’t flinch. “Why doesn’t everyone take a breather? Clean yourselves up and take care of our fallen. Tomorrow we’ll have to relocate.”
There were a few mumbles of agreement and one or two angry glares aimed at Kier as the mob turned away from him. Kier took a step forward, but Samuel stopped him.
“Not so fast. If you’re going to be sticking around, I think you and I should get to know each other better.”
Kier scowled at the thought. There was no chance this would go well.
Muriel was toweling off her hair when she heard the door open.
Kier softly walked into the room, probably trying to judge her mood. Well, that one was easy. She was still pissed, but not at him. “Sorry for storming out like that. I couldn’t take another second of their bullshit. Were you okay?”
He looked tense but otherwise uninjured. “I’m not dead yet, though I don’t think we’ll be going on any double dates with Samuel and Ava anytime soon. How about you?”
“Well, three of my friends died protecting me today and I was blamed for it, so I’m not doing amazing right now.” No matter how much she dabbed her hair with the towel, it didn’t seem to be getting any drier. She threw down the towel in frustration.
Kier stood out of her way as she stalked past him to pull on an oversized t-shirt and panties. “Not to defend them or anything, but I think they were blaming me more than you.”
“I didn�
��t have to deal with any of this shit as an angel. You just did what you were told, no questions asked.”
She regretted the words almost as soon as she said them. She hated reminding Kier about what she had been. About what he took from her.
“Do you miss it?” he asked.
That was the million-dollar question. “It was a very big part of my life. Over ninety-nine percent if you want to get mathematical.”
“I don’t want to trivialize what I did, but I just can’t imagine how being a robot soldier with no emotions can possibly be better than what you are now.”
“It wasn’t my choice,” she said softly. “I should have had a choice. I should have never been cast out of Heaven in the first place. Then to have a demon’s actions keep me from ever being able to enter again was too much. Not to sound cliché, but it wasn’t fair.”
Kier looked at the ground. She didn’t want to hurt him, but if he was going to stick around, this conversation was inevitable. “And you still want to be with me?”
Muriel sat on the bed and cradled her head in her hands as she tried to think of the right words to say.
One month ago, she had been furious with Kier. Determined to destroy him, no matter the cost to herself. She was ready to throw away her job, let him destroy her house and very possibly hurt someone she knew just to hurt her. She was willing to give all this for vengeance.
How had it all changed so quickly?
“You were supposed to be evil,” she said weakly. She thought back to that first morning in her kitchen. He had complimented her cooking. What demon did that? “I keep trying to convince myself that I can do this. That I can kill Azazel and make it out alive. I have this crazy idea that, if I manage to pull it off, you’re my reward.”
