by E. A. Copen
“No!” Danny gripped my hair and pulled my head back, further exposing my throat. “What did you do?”
“Danny, meet Vinè. One of your rivals for the Devil mantle. Vinè, Danny. For the measly price of my soul, he’s come to stop you.”
Vinè unfurled his huge form. He had to be at least three meters tall.
The knife relaxed in Danny’s hand as he beheld the behemoth demon and his murderous grin.
I grabbed his wrist and twisted the knife away. Before Danny could move, I turned on him and jammed the blade into his chest. I’ll never forget the sound he made, a horrible strained gasp. Danny looked down at the knife in his chest. I flinched as his hand shot out, but it wasn’t a strike. He gripped the side of my face and stared into my eyes, his face locked in a terrified expression.
Time stopped. Memories fled by, flashes of moments without meaning or connection. I remembered the first time we’d met, but not the whole thing. Just the awful music playing in the background at the party. We’d both hated it. I remembered the way he used to sleep all curled up with his chin tucked. How he hated the way his beard grew in fiery red instead of dark. The way he’d sometimes snort just a little when he laughed hard enough.
With a shout, I twisted the knife and felt something meaty inside shift.
Sound fled the rooftop. Danny teetered and collapsed. Something in me panicked and reached out to catch him before he could hit his head. He landed awkwardly over my lap, still making that awful sound every time he tried to breathe. Danny coughed, and dark blood stained his chin. His hands flailed, searching for something, anything to hold onto. “Joey... it hurts.”
I pulled him closer and gripped his hands tight. They were freezing. “Shh, it won’t take long. It’ll be over soon.”
“I...I don’t want it to be over.”
It suddenly felt like the knife was in my chest and not his. “I know. I’m sorry, Danny.”
His breathing became shallow, more desperate and full of wet sounds. His whole upper body stiffened as he stretched out to draw in one more breath. “You said...”
I squeezed his hand. “I didn’t mean it. I did need you. We should’ve left that night, shouldn’t we? Maybe in the next life, mate.”
“Don’t...” He blinked rain out of his eyes and stared at nothing. “Don’t call me that...unless you...mean it.”
His last breath escaped in a cold fog. Rain pooled in the corners of his eyes, dripping down his face like tears. I lowered Danny’s body to the rooftop, barely noticing the pain in my side.
“It’s time,” Vinè snarled behind me. “Pay for what you bought, Josiah Quinn. Your soul belongs to me now.”
“Oh, about that.” I glanced over my shoulder at the demon squatting behind me. “You may want to get in line.”
“What?” Vinè’s eyes glowed red. He spun around just in time to take the full force of Decimus’ shield in the face.
A sword appeared in Decimus’ hand and he swung it. Vinè lifted an arm to protect his face. Decimus’ sword sliced through the demon’s flesh like a hot knife in butter and Vinè’s arm tumbled to the rooftop.
The demon grabbed his stub and backed away as Decimus squared up for another go. “Bastard! We had a deal!”
“Sorry to rain on your parade, Vinè, but you don’t have the authority to claim my soul. Not without permission.” I stood. My legs were numb and my head swimming. It was cold enough that the rain was freezing into a slush in some places, including on my skin. I didn’t even feel it. That couldn’t be good.
He squeezed his oozing arm. “Impossible. Only Lucifer rivaled me in power. I am the strongest among the Fallen, and I will have what is mine! You can’t go back on your bargain!”
Decimus touched two fingers to his throat, sealing the bleeding wound there. “Josiah’s soul is not his to bargain with. He traded it already some time ago. If you want it, you’ll have to go through me first.”
“Fine,” the demon growled. “Kill him.”
The lesser demons on the rooftop opened fire. Decimus turned, ready to defend against the hail of bullets. Stupid angel. His meat suit was already gone. But he was a good soldier. Well trained. He responded as he’d been drilled to and addressed the more immediate threat.
Vinè grabbed him from behind, wrapping his one remaining hand over Decimus’ head. The gunfire died. He looked at me. “I’m going to enjoy torturing you, Josiah,” he said and squeezed.
Decimus’ head popped like a grape, blood and brains spewing through the cracks in Vinè’s fist.
I staggered away from the demon. Bugger, was I fucked.
Vinè cast what was left of Decimus aside and stomped toward me. “You know, I’ve never been a fan of this whole only divine beings can harm divine beings shit. Angels fighting demons... Everyone knows the Fallen will win every time. Angels just aren’t smart enough. They don’t think dirty, so they don’t win. It’s as simple as that.” He extended his hand and grinned. “If you come willingly, I promise not to let your father have you first.”
I looked around, searching for a way out and finding none. Any time, Reggie. Any time! If he and Milly hadn’t found my bag in the wreckage, then this was it. At least if I went with Vinè, I wouldn’t have to deal with dear old dad. That was plus. Always an upside to everything, even when trading your soul to a demon for a little rain.
The cell phone vibrated and began playing the opening guitar riff of Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Vinè’s grin faded. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s called music.”
He ground his teeth. “Why is it playing now?”
“Oh, that.” I reached into my pocket and pulled the phone out, flipping it around so that he could see the caller ID. “That’s just the signal I’ve been waiting on.”
The wind picked up, blowing across the rooftop heavily charged with magic. Above, the storm clouds parted in a perfect circle and the golden light of Heaven poured down onto the rooftop. A tone, high and painful, vibrated through the air, shaking my bones. Vinè lifted a hand over his face and tried to back away, but the light just grew more intense until it swallowed him whole.
Black wings sprouted, barely visible at the center of the light. A white blade flashed followed by a blast of pure blue fire. The sheer power of the explosion knocked me back onto my ass. I landed over Danny’s body and rolled onto my stomach to shield my face from the flame. It licked at my back, singeing my hair and threatening to burn me to ash. The whole thing lasted ten seconds, maybe twenty, and then it was over.
Shaking, I pushed away from Danny and chanced a look back at where Vinè had been standing.
Vinè was no more. There wasn’t even any ash to suggest he’d ever been, just a dark stain on the rooftop. More dark stains painted the edges of the roof, right where all the lesser demons had been waiting. Kneeling in the center of the massacre was a blonde angel in shining silver armor. A blue halo of light surrounded his head and filled his hollow eyes. He knelt before a massive, two-handed sword of gleaming white, head bowed against it in prayer.
The angel blinked once, letting the blue light fade, and stood. “Josiah Quinn. I didn’t think I’d have the honor so soon.”
“Michael,” I grunted. “I’d stand, but your smiting seems to have taken all the wind out of me.”
“Not all or you’d finally shut up.” He strode across the roof, armor clinking loudly, and looked down his perfect nose at me, his face smug. “Nice trick, calling Vinè here with a sacrifice and promising him your soul.”
“I knew you lot’d step in.”
“Of course.” Something dark flashed behind Michael’s eyes. “The last Nephilim. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this? To finally purge the world of your stain?”
I lifted my hand from my side and watched blood spurt onto the rooftop. It squished loudly under my hand when I tried to put pressure back on. I had just a few more minutes, if that. “I’ve still got a ciggy in my pocket. If you wouldn’t mind, I�
�d like to leave this Earth doing what I love.”
“A fair request.” Michael knelt and retrieved the pack of cigarettes from my pocket, pulling one out for me and offering a light.
“Thanks, mate.”
Michael sat. “You know, when that troll and that pet spider of yours summoned an angel, I almost sent Sandalphon in my place. Only once I heard it was you did I decide to come down here personally. You know you’re the one piece of unfinished business I have in this world. My one incomplete task.”
“Must be embarrassing. Being shown up by a prick like me.”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter now, does it? Remiel hid for a long time but I got him too. You’re the last of his spawn. The youngest. Not even the most clever. You know, some of your half-siblings evaded me for ninety years or more. Yet none of them managed to infuriate and frustrate quite like you. You’re like a stubborn gray hair, you Nephilim. Pluck one, two more spring up. But no more. After you, it’s over. I can finally move on to focus on what’s important.”
“Good on ya, mate.” I pulled the cigarette out of my mouth and gestured to him with it. “Or it would be if you were actually going to get to kill me.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t think you can wheel and deal your way out of this, Josiah.”
I nodded to August’s body. “Decimus was one of your commanders, right? Spoke with all the authority of Heaven? Well, he and I had a deal. I save this stinking shithole of a city and kill Danny Monahan, and me and the succubus walk out of the city alive. No interference from Heaven. We had witnesses and everything. Very legit.”
Michael said nothing.
“You don’t get me this time, Mikey. That is, unless you want to make Decimus—and by extension you—out to be a liar, in which case you’ll have to round up those witnesses. Otherwise, you’ll be admitting one of you was fallible. Michael, a sinner. Who’d have thought?”
I could practically see the steam rising from him. His face jerked as if he were about to have a seizure.
“Seein’ as how I’m bleeding out though, you’ll probably have to heal me if you don’t want me to die on your watch. Can’t make it out of the city alive if I’m dead.”
Michael’s hand shot forward and tightened around my windpipe, closing off the air. “I could crush you with one finger.”
“Murder’s a sin,” I gasped out. “So is wrath.”
The angel released me and stood, storming back and forth in front of me, shaking his head. He was searching for a way out, but I hadn’t given him one. Thanks to Decimus, the deal was ironclad.
Michael stopped and drew his sword. Blue fire raced down the blade. “You want to leave the city? That’s fine. Leave. Live. You’ve dealt a major blow to Hell’s forces today and done Heaven a favor.” He said the last bit through clenched teeth before turning toward me. “But the minute you pass beyond the city limits, you’ll do so with a target on your back. I’ll have every legion scouring the Earth for you. You won’t last an hour.”
I smiled and closed my eyes, suddenly too tired. “You might be surprised. I’m a stubborn bastard, after all.”
“Your soul will be mine, Josiah, and when it is, I’ll personally spend the next two millennia redefining the word pain for you.” Michael jabbed his sword in my side, filling me with painful heat.
THIRTY
KHALEDA
THEY ESCORTED ME TO an empty exam room and left me there for hours without explanation. I didn’t know if Josiah was alive or dead, but he must’ve succeeded because the rest of New York looked just fine. At least, what I’d seen of it while they escorted me out of the building in handcuffs did.
While I waited, I searched the room, looking for anything I could use as a weapon. They could’ve killed me at any time, but maybe they’d been waiting to do so in a sterile environment. Freaks like God’s Hand would want to dissect me, figure out how I worked. Like hell would I ever let them lay a hand on me.
While I was trying to pull a cord from the wall, the door buzzed open and the woman from before stepped in. She was still wearing that ugly white pantsuit. Two armed guards followed her in, taking up positions next to the door, the threat clear. If I tried to leave, they’d shoot me before I could. Between the three of them, they might even succeed in killing me. Even if they didn’t, I didn’t know my way out and the place was probably crawling with armed men. I’d never make it out alive.
“Evening,” said the woman.
I stepped away from the cord in the wall. “If you’re going to kill me, just get it over with. Otherwise, this is unlawful imprisonment.”
One side of her face twitched, but she didn’t move otherwise. “My name is Petra. I don’t want to waste any more of my time with you than I have to, so let’s not mince words, Ms. Morningstar. We know who you are, what you can do, and where you’re from. We also know why you were assisting Mr. Quinn.”
“Is Josiah alive?” I took two hasty steps forward and stopped when the armed guards shifted their rifles.
Petra made a slight turn and they lowered their guns. “For now,” she said, turning back to me. “As long as you behave yourself, he and the troll will keep breathing. Cause trouble, and all three of you will be terminated and your bodies dumped in the river with cinderblocks attached.”
I folded my arms. If it was just the troll, maybe I would’ve tried to fight my way out. I didn’t care about him. He was Josiah’s friend, not mine. Hell, for that matter I shouldn’t have hesitated over Josiah. He was a selfish asshole who would’ve left me to die given the chance.
Except he hadn’t. He’d helped me even when it would’ve been easier to turn his back on me. Even when I was a total bitch and drunk, he put up with me. The man had carried me out of Hell. The least I could do was try to keep him alive.
“All right,” I said. “I’m listening.”
Petra pulled a metal chair away from the wall and sat. “You wanted the missing piece of your soul back. We’re prepared to give it to you if certain conditions are met.”
“What conditions?”
Her thin lips stretched into a smile that looked unnatural on her face. “First, you will provide us with an accurate account of everything that happened since you arrived in New York. You will detail everywhere you stayed, everyone you spoke to, and everything you witnessed Josiah Quinn do, including any magic or spells he used. You will also detail when and how you took control of Agent Victis. Afterwards, you will submit to providing us with a sample of your blood for testing. Failure to comply with any one of these demands is grounds for termination. Do you understand?”
I didn’t like the idea of giving them my blood, but they weren’t giving me a choice. If they killed me, they’d just take it anyway. “Is that all?”
“No.” Petra stood and crossed the room to stand toe to toe with me.
She was an inch or two shorter, but that didn’t stop her from pretending she was a foot taller and twice as strong as me. Josiah had inferred that she was possessed by an angel. I didn’t know if I could take an angel in a fight, especially unarmed. Part of me wanted to try, just to see if I could.
“I don’t like you,” she said after a moment. “If it were up to me, I would’ve let my operatives shoot you when we found you. But Michael says we all have a role to play in God’s plan. Even you, Khaleda.” She reached out to brush some hair away from my face. “There are legions in Hell that would still follow you, you know.”
I grabbed her by the wrist and squeezed as the guards fumbled to raise their guns. They wouldn’t get a clear shot, not with the way she was positioned.
“I don’t want to rule Hell,” I told her. “I don’t want anything to do with my father’s empire. Let it burn for all I care.”
“Good. We want the same thing then.” Petra jerked her arm away. “When we call on you, you will renounce your claim to the crown. Publicly. And when we demand it, you will fully endorse whatever candidate we put forward for the job.”
I stared at her, bile cr
eeping up my throat. Heaven wanted to pick the next Devil? “What do you care who runs Hell? Unless you’ve got someone sympathetic to your cause already lined up?”
The corner of her mouth quirked up. “I can’t divulge that information at this time.”
“Bullshit. Michael hasn’t told you, has he? You’re just an underling. Not important enough to warrant him passing on his master plan.”
Petra scowled and ground her teeth. She leaned in so close I could smell lunch on her breath. “You know nothing about him. Say anything out of line again and this meeting will be over. When I walk out that door, so does your chance at getting your soul back. Think carefully about whatever it is you want to say next.”
“My mistake.” I sat down on the edge of the exam table. “Say I agree. What leverage do you have once I leave this room? Once I’ve got my soul back, I’ve got no reason to talk to you, let alone keep my end of the deal.”
“I’m glad you asked.” Petra snapped her fingers.
One of the guards stepped forward, opened a pouch on his vest and drew out a clear plastic container that he placed in her hand. A nauseatingly powerful wave of magic washed through the room. The lights dimmed.
A solid, human-like form flickered into being in front of me. Features sharpened. Short, dark hair, pointed chin, dark eyes, high cheekbones...
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized my dead brother. “Osric?”
His eyes widened. “Khaleda!” His voice was distant and echoey, as if he were somewhere far away instead of in the room with me.
Osric darted forward, arms outstretched. I tried to embrace him, but Petra did something, and the magic faded. Osric disappeared, reduced to nothing more than a glowing pale green orb inside her plastic container.
Petra smirked. “We have your brother’s soul. Step out of line, even an inch, and I give it to your enemies to do with as they please. Keep your end of the bargain and he’ll be free to rest once this is all over.”
