by Trina M. Lee
Two level scoops of cane sugar and some steamed milk made my coffee smell almost divine. With a contented sigh, I sat at the table, angling my chair so I could face him.
“Does Edmonton have many recovery jobs?” I asked. It wouldn’t surprise me to find that the city was littered with objects of evil. It hadn’t received the nickname Deadmonton for nothing.
“More than you might assume. The city is built on the empire of a powerful demon queen. It draws and feeds evil. Although she’s no longer here and her empire is sealed, the power emanating from it can’t be fully contained. It’s turned the city into a trading post of sorts, a place where demons come to create, obtain, and exchange such goods.”
“Sounds interesting and a bit scary. Sign me up.” I took my first sip of precious caffeine, almost missing Cinder’s raised brows.
“Are you sure? It’s not an easy job, Ember. It comes with risks.”
I mulled over what he’d said to his friend, finding it to be too true to keep denying. “You were right when you said I’m overwhelmed. All I know is that I’m supposed to be some leader of nephilim, helping them escape the dark. The only experience I have is with Arrow, and if that’s anything to go by, I’m already off to a bad start. Honestly, I don’t see how I’m supposed to liberate anyone. I could use something else to do.”
A deep frown marred Cinder’s brow. He remained silent as he scooped scrambled eggs onto a plate. Bringing me a plate of eggs and bacon with a banana and yogurt on the side, he set it before me and took the seat across the table.
“It is much too early for such discouragement. You’re playing right into the enemy’s hands. If you’d like to try your hand at a recovery mission, I can make that happen, but by no means should you doubt yourself in any manner. We all have a job to do, a job we were chosen for. Try to have a little faith.” Hands clasped, violet eyes narrowed, Cinder studied me.
His searching gaze made me squirm. To break his analytical stare, I turned his remark back on him. “I thought you didn’t know who my father is. But your friend just said he was a great warrior. What aren’t you telling me?”
Cinder’s gaze never wavered. “I didn’t know him personally, but yes, I know of him. He was said to be a great warrior before his fall. But you are not him. You are your own person, and I daresay you have the potential to be greater than even he was.”
My fork clanked against the plate before sliding with a screech that made me shiver. While I appreciated Cinder’s honest, straight-forward nature, such declarations were a tad nerve racking.
“No pressure though, right?” I managed a smile as I recovered the forkful of dropped food.
“The only pressure is that which you put on yourself,” he said with a thoughtful head tilt. “All that is expected of you is that you do your best.”
The eggs, usually delicious, grew tasteless in my mouth. My appetite fled, and I shoved the plate away with a grimace. “I’m not sure I even have a best. Dash came to The Wicked Kiss. He threatened me. I feel backed into a corner, like there’s nothing I can do.”
There it was, the confession I hadn’t wanted to share with anyone. Learning so recently that I had a calling, a purpose that included both Rowen and Arrow, it had been both a blessing and a curse. I longed to be all Cinder thought I could be, but I didn’t know how.
“When you’re backed into a corner by a foe, there are only two choices,” Cinder said, reaching to take my hand. “You can accept defeat or come out fighting. I suggest you fight.”
“How?” My voice sounded hollow, weak. “What do I do? He’s a demon, and I’m…”
“You’re a warrior. You just don’t know it yet. And he’s not infallible. All demons have a weakness. Find it and find victory.” Cinder squeezed my hand, and I gasped as pain shot through my sore wrist. “You’re hurt. What happened?”
Clutching my mug with my free hand, I muttered, “Skylar happened. We had a little run in with her last night. It’s fine. Nothing some ice and time can’t take care of, I’m sure.”
He nodded, his gaze darting across my face. He assumed the bruise on my face was from Skylar, and though I would never lie to Cinder, I didn’t correct that assumption.
“Perhaps.” Cinder turned my arm over, studying the bruise that spread across my inner wrist. With a gentle hand he traced a finger over the swelling. At his touch the bruise faded and the swelling receded. “You need to be able to swing a sword if you’re to go on a recovery mission.”
I gasped as a strange sensation tickled through my wrist and up my arm. “No argument here.”
“Speaking of that sword, I’d like to see it, please. Oh, and you have to finish your fruit and yogurt.” With a crooked grin, he nudged the banana closer.
Laughing I went to my room and grabbed the Midnight Star from where it sat propped in the corner by the closet. The moment I touched it, I felt its power. It was lighter than it appeared and absolutely gorgeous. The inscription in the blade was in a language I couldn’t read, but Cinder said it spoke of the one meant to carry it: The Flame Bearer. Right now that was me.
Yeah, no pressure at all.
I brought the sword to Cinder who took it with both hands, a small smile playing about his lips. Placing it before him on the table, he laid both hands on the blade and closed his eyes. Watching in silence, I was surprised when the atmosphere warmed. A white light engulfed the sword from handle to tip then went out.
Cinder opened his eyes and handed the sword back to me. “I’ve been meaning to do that. You need to be able to carry it with you all the time. It can’t serve you if it’s not with you.”
“What did you do?” I picked up the banana when he inclined his head toward it.
“I cloaked it. Much the way my wings are cloaked from human sight right now though they’re still very much present. Now you can carry the Midnight Star in public without drawing unwanted human attention. Demons, however, will very much be able to see it.”
I hefted the sword in one hand, chewing a mouthful of banana. “Why can I see it then? I can’t see your wings. I mean, I am half human.”
Cinder quirked one brow up and pursed his lips in a comical expression of disbelief. “Can’t you? Look closely. Use the part of you that knows nothing of human limitations.”
Setting the sword down on the counter, I focused on Cinder, having no idea how to do what he’d said but willing to try anyway. At first he was just human-looking Cinder. I reached for the part of me that was more than human, and my palms began to tingle. Then I stared at him until I was sure I’d gone cross-eyed. The buzz in my hands crept up my arms until my body was one giant tingle.
Just as I was about to tell him it was useless, the outline of his wings shimmered into sight. As I continued to stare at him, they solidified into brilliant white wings tucked close to his body.
“You didn’t make them visible?” I asked, uncertain.
“They’re always visible,” he said with a soft laugh. “To those who can see. Can you see them?”
“I can. How have I not figured this out already?” No wonder I felt so incompetent. This seemed like beginner stuff, and I had yet to master it.
Cinder rose and began to tidy the kitchen. He was again dressed like a model from a men’s fashion magazine, his favorite look it seemed, and the wings just seemed so out of place with his trendy shirt and perfectly tailored pants.
“Stop being so hard on yourself,” he admonished, pausing to point at the yogurt. “Now that you can do it, you’ll be surprised at how easy it comes. And about this recovery job, are you sure you’d like to give it a try?”
I scooped the yogurt into my mouth and pondered his question. “I would. My schedule may already be overflowing, but I need to start feeling useful.”
Cinder stuck a pan in the dishwasher and sighed. “Ember, if we needed to feel useful in order to be useful, not one of us would find our place here. In the midst of life, it’s impossible to see the big picture. And it’s not for you to see. One day at
a time, my dear one.”
The hot sting of tears pricked the back of my eyes. I blinked fast in an attempt to dry them before they could spill over. “I love you, Cinder. I hope you know how much I appreciate you.”
“I do.” The dazzling smile he turned on me shone in his eyes. “The feeling is mutual.”
After finishing the yogurt, despite having little to no appetite, I joined him in the kitchen to clean up. Even though he seemed to enjoy such mundane tasks, I felt bad sitting on my ass watching him clean. So together we tidied the kitchen, making light conversation. It was nice to chat and laugh with Cinder after so much serious talk.
Promising that he would be back soon with a recovery job for me, Cinder took his leave, and I was alone. A shower and a clean change of clothes was all the preparation I needed to be ready for work. After feeding Seth I cranked up some tunes and settled at the table with my laptop.
The web design job ate up the afternoon. It was just what I needed to get out of my head and into the moment. For the first time in days, I felt calm, almost relaxed, as I focused on something that had nothing to do with demons or destiny.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
By late afternoon I deserved a break. Besides, staring at the computer screen was melting my eyeballs. After making substantial progress on the design job, I needed a snack and a stretch.
I grabbed an apple from the counter. I wanted to run down to the lobby and check the mail, so I searched for my keys.
Rowen had called a while ago to let me know Arrow was a free man. No charges had been filed. Since both he and the guy he’d attacked were battered and refusing to talk, they’d been tossed in the drunk tank for the night and released, although Arrow had been told another arrest would result in charges. Rowen had changed the distributor thingy on my car and headed to Arrow’s where Molly’s Chamber was working on their version of “Love Song For An Angel.”
Jett had only snide remarks when she’d texted me to say she was bored and wanted me to come out and party. I’d countered by asking if she wanted to come along for my first recovery job. Cinder should be coming by any time now with details.
With my mail key in hand, I left the apartment and padded down the hall to the elevator. The lobby was empty when the doors slid open, but right away something didn’t feel right. I stepped out with wary scrutiny, scanning every inch of the entryway.
“Weird,” I muttered, sticking the key in my mailbox.
I pulled out the two envelopes inside, bills of course, not noticing the photo until it fluttered to the floor at my feet. It took me a moment to realize what I was seeing. I snatched it up and stared in horror at the picture of Rubi and her grandmother. The two of them stood outside the nursing home where her grandmother lived. The photo itself stank of sulfur.
The sudden sensation of being watched had me turning in a slow circle, but I was still alone. The sun set early this time of year, so when I glanced out the front door, all I saw was my own reflection.
Dash had wasted no time in taking his threat to the next level. Though it was simply a photo, it said so much more. It shook me to my core. Dash was sending a very clear and powerful message. Not only could he threaten my friends, he could threaten those they loved dearly. Innocent, defenseless people.
In the tech age Dash could’ve easily sent such an image to my phone. As a shiver crept up my spine, I knew that he’d done it this way to make me question the safety of my own building, and it had worked.
I sprinted up the stairs, forgoing the elevator completely. When I burst into my apartment and slammed the door, my heart was pounding in my ears. Being safe behind the wards protecting my apartment didn’t stop me from shrieking when Cinder poked his head out of the kitchen.
“Ember? Is everything ok?”
“Yes,” I said automatically, not wanting to worry him. Rethinking the lie, my shoulders slumped, and my breath came out in a rush of air. “No. Not really.” I set the photo on the counter so he could see it. “It’s Rubi and her grandmother. Dash issuing a threat.”
Cinder appraised the photo, picking it up to turn it over in his hands. “Dash can’t follow through on every threat he makes. There will always be opposing forces in his way. Guardian angels don’t stand aside when someone seeks to bring harm to their charge. It’s just another facet of the battle we’re all part of. He seeks to get inside your mind. He doesn’t have to hurt anyone; he just has to make you believe he will. Don’t let him manipulate you, Ember.”
I wanted to believe him. Having an angel stand there and tell me to my face that it was a trick to get in my head should have brought me a semblance of comfort. “But what if he does hurt them? I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to either of them because of me. Rowen wouldn’t want that either.”
Cinder waved a hand, and the photo vanished. “Never start a thought with ‘what if.’ You’re doing his job for him. You can’t make it this easy. Throw him a challenge. Stand firm.”
“Ok.” I nodded too vigorously and shoved both hands through my hair. “Ok. You’re right, I know. I’m just still figuring this all out. It’s hard.”
He nodded, sympathy shining in his eyes. “I know it is.”
In an effort to shift my focus, I asked, “So what do you have for me? Crystal skulls? Keys that open doors to other worlds? Something badass, right?”
His laughter warmed me, chasing away the chills created by Dash. “Let’s start with something a little less detrimental, shall we? There’s a demon here who runs a weapons trade. His name is Nova. He has a throwing star created by demons to weaken angels in battle. I want you to find him, get the star, and bring it to me.”
Huh. I mulled it over, finding that I was both excited and frightened by such a task. Having a car with the same name as a demon didn’t sit well with me. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It could be. Of course it may also be difficult. That’s why you can’t go alone. I want you to take Jett and Rowen. Arrow too if he’s willing to be part of such a thing.”
“I see what you did there, Cinder,” I laughed. “I’m not sure why you want so badly for us to work as a team, but I can’t see Arrow being much help. He’s a mess.”
Cinder shrugged, his lips quirking into a hint of a grin. “He has more to offer than either you or he yet realizes.”
“Well, the guys are working on a recording tonight, but I’ll call Rowen. Jett’s already on her way over.”
“Splendid.” He produced a deep-blue stone that glowed in his palm. “Take this. It will help you locate Nova. He and several others can often be found conducting business in an abandoned church on the edge of town. Be careful.”
I held my hand out to accept the stone. It was warm, causing my skin to prickle where it touched. “I will. Thank you, Cinder, for trusting that I can do this. I want to help, to do more.”
“You’d be surprised what one can accomplish when the heart is willing.” He pulled me in for a hug that seemed to sweep my thoughts free of negative debris. “You have a place among us, Ember. Believe in yourself.”
I nodded, unable to speak as emotion gripped me. Dash wanted me to fail. He wanted me to think I didn’t have what it took to stand and fight with my father’s kind. He was wrong.
“Now I must be off,” Cinder said, planting a brief kiss on my temple. “A dear friend’s time left on earth is running short, and she is in need of strength. I’ll see you soon.” With a wink and a smile, he disappeared.
I marveled at his parting words. Cinder was off to spread love and courage to those who needed it most, a task that couldn’t be without challenge. And here I was worrying about whether or not I could handle a couple of nephilim and a demon with an attitude problem. The lesson was in the doing. Cinder was taking action, doing all he could without stressing the outcome. I had to do the same.
My phone call to Rowen went unanswered. He was probably in Arrow’s basement, the music too loud to hear his phone. I left a message detailing what I was doing and w
here I was heading if they cared to join me later.
A knock on the door caused me to all but jump out of my skin, and I swore.
“Hey, lady,” Jett crowed when I opened the door. “What’s got your panties in a twist? You look like you’re about to crap yourself.”
After a quick peek into the empty hallway, I closed and locked the door. “Dash was here, in the lobby. He left a photo in my mailbox.” I told her about the photo and Cinder’s response to it as I got ready to head out.
She listened attentively, popping a chocolate she’d found in the kitchen into her mouth. As the holiday season approached, it was impossible to resist the many goodies out on the store shelves. I was a sucker for a melt in your mouth chocolate anything with hazelnut.
“Cinder’s right,” she said around another mouthful of chocolate. “Let Dash do Dash, and you do you. Rubi will be fine. Personally I think it’s smart of Cinder to get you involved in other ways. This whole ‘leading the nephilim out of the darkness’ shit is changing you, Spike. And not in a good way.”
“Rude,” I quipped, gathering my hair together so I could pull it over my shoulder and braid it. “Can you really blame me? How would you feel if you were told that saving someone like Arrow was in your hands?”
Jett considered this as she watched me wrestle my black locks into a braid. “I’d feel like throwing myself off an overpass. Good thing it’s you and not me. Seriously though, there’s more to your existence than that.”
“I know. That’s why I volunteered for this recovery job. Are you sure you’re cool with coming along? It could be dangerous.”
“It fucking better be,” she cackled. “Do you have any idea how boring it gets being a werewolf in this damn city? Your kind is far more exciting.”
A spritz of strawberry perfume and I was ready. Too lazy to bother applying makeup to hunt down a demon, I changed into jeans and a t-shirt, pulling my favorite Black Veil Brides hoodie on to combat the chill of the late November night.
