“Mom?” The little boy’s voice came soft and scared.
Surcy turned… the mom had a soul-blade pierced through her chest. The children held onto each of her arms as she sagged between them. Surcy knelt down, heart racing. What could she do?
And then, the soul-blade vanished and blood poured from her wound.
“We need to—need to.” But the words wouldn’t leave her lips.
What can I do?
And then, she had an idea. It might not save the woman, but it would give her a chance.
“Can you stay here?” she asked the children.
The woman’s eyes were closed, and her skin was pale, but her chest rose and fell.
“Why?” the girl asked, her voice shaking.
“I’m going to take your mom to get help.”
The girl nodded and took her brother’s hand. Surcy pulled the mother into her arms, looked back at the two frightened children one more time, and teleported away.
She appeared in the middle of the hospital in their town. It was a place she’d been a few times before and could remember well enough to reach.
A nurse glanced up from behind a desk, and her eyes widened.
“She was stabbed!”
Instantly, the nurse grabbed a bed and wheeled it closer. Surcy laid the woman down, staring at her face, praying that the mother would live.
The nurse shouted for a doctor.
With regret swimming in her stomach, Surcy teleported away.
Materializing back by the side of the road, Survey opened her mouth to tell the children the next step, but they were gone. On the ground? She spotted white feathers.
Chapter 6
Surcy ran down the road, searching for any sign of the children. When she spotted people up ahead, hope blossomed in her heart, but it was only Daniel and Tristan with the farmer.
As she drew closer, she saw four angels dead at their feet. Daniel’s arm bled, but Tristan wore his gargoyle form, a sword in hand.
The farmer stood between them, holding a dagger of his own. Within seconds, the bodies of the angels disappeared in a flash of light.
At her approach, all of them looked at her.
“Are you hurt?” Tristan asked, stepping forward.
Surcy looked down at the blood covering her jeans and t-shirt. Beth’s blood.
She shook her head, slowly.
Tristan’s emotions disappeared, hidden behind a mask of indifference.
“Then, whose blood is it?” Daniel asked.
A second later, she saw it hit him.
“Where’s my family?” the farmer asked, tension in his voice.
Her entire chest ached. How could she tell him his children had been stolen and his wife was hurt—perhaps dead? She was supposed to keep them safe, and she’d failed in every way.
“We need to get you out of here,” Tristan said, unsettlingly calm.
The farmer stepped back from them. “You said you came here to save us, so why would we leave without them?”
Daniel whirled on him. “We came here to save you. You’re the important one. We wanted to save them too, but if we couldn’t—“
“Not a fucking chance!” Clarence snarled. “I’m not going anywhere without them.”
Surcy struggled to form her explanation. “One of the angels wounded your wife. I teleported her to a hospital.”
“And the kids?” he asked, taking a step closer.
“They—they got them.”
“You mean the bloodthirsty creatures who wanted to kill me have my children?”
She nodded.
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
He stared at her for one horrible minute that seemed to last a lifetime. “If they wanted me, they wouldn’t have gone far. I bet they’re back at the farm.”
Her stomach twisted. He was probably right.
“You can’t go back,” Tristan told him. “They’ve had time to gather their forces. We’d have no chance.”
“I don’t care.”
Tristan gave her a nod, so subtle the others didn’t see it.
He wants me to teleport away with him? I can’t just do that to him. I can’t leave the kids here.
She shook her head. “We need to save the kids.”
Tristan’s gaze met hers. “The fate of this world rests on getting all ten Immortals. If a single one dies, we have failed.”
“Tristan…”
“Take us out of here.” He spoke the words in staccato, one after the other, anger and frustration embedded in each one.
Her gut clenched, but she realized that he was right. They couldn’t risk the Immortal. The angels would be waiting to attack. They only had one option.
She took their hands. Tristan grabbed the farmer. Before he could protest, she teleported them away, leaving the children behind.
Chapter 7
Surcy teleported them to the top of a building, in a city she’d never been to, but that Mark had described in his note. Instantly, the farmer sagged to his knees, his mouth dropped in shock.
“The next Immortal is here,” she said, pulling out Mark’s note from her pocket and handing it to Daniel.
“Where the hell are we?” The farmer shouted. “Where are my kids?”
She looked at her demons, memorizing their faces, her heart in her throat. They were everything to her, everything in this world.
But she couldn’t let those children die.
“Don’t worry,” she told Clarence. “I’ll do everything I can to save them.”
Tristan’s brows drew together.
And, she teleported away.
Heart hammering, she stood in the cornfield just outside the farmhouse. Slowly moving forward she crept closer, gently pushing aside stalks with each step. Everything was far too quiet. Even the wind hardly stirred, and on the air she smelled the plants, the sun, and the sky, like all of it was alive and open to her. Underneath it all, the scent of copper lingered, the mother’s blood still wet and sticky on her clothes.
Up ahead, she heard a child crying. It took everything in her not to sprint forward. If she got killed, it wouldn't help the children get back to their father.
When she reached the edge of the field, she froze, squinting through the leaves of the corn. Inching a little forward, she held back a gasp. No less than fifty angels stood in perfect formation in front of the little house.
On the porch? The children stood before Frink. He clutched them against his chest and held his glowing blade at their throats.
Her heart sank. The blue flames just barely licked at their flesh, but she could see they were in pain and scared.
There was only one way she could think to save them. If she failed, they would all die.
Closing her eyes, she counted to three, feeling sweat run down her back. Feeling how her legs trembled.
“Surcy, let’s stop these games,” Frink said, his voice wasn’t loud, but it carried in the stillness. “Why keep pretending you can be anything but an angel? None of us can choose. We are what Caine assigns us to be, and you are his soldier.”
She said nothing, just watched the blade at the children’s throat. It needed to move, just an inch or two away. That’s all she needed.
Frink laughed. “You know what the best part of all of this is? You truly don’t know that you’re still working for us.”
If she could tune his words out, she would. Instead she sat, waiting for the opportunity to strike, unable to escape his cruel words.
“Did you really think a man as powerful as Caine couldn’t reach you? That your little garden house and three weak demons could keep him away? Think about it, Surcy, ask yourself why you’re still alive.”
She refused to think about it. Frink hated her with a passion. He was trying to distract her, trying to get inside her brain.
“Because, and this is just so delicious, you’re his little spy.”
The words fell like stones in her belly. Of course Frink would lie about something
so terrible. He wanted to hurt her. To make her doubt herself.
“The man who can affect memories… it’s just pure fun, right? He can sneak into your room late at night, pull your memories from your mind, and leave without you even knowing he was there. He could find out all that you and your demons had done. And he could discover where you were keeping the Immortals.”
Nightmares came back to her, of Caine standing over her bed, of him pressing pain into her mind.
She wanted his words to be a lie, but they felt true.
Metal touched her throat. Her thoughts died away as she realized that a soul-blade threatened her. The angel behind her spoke in a low voice. “You shouldn’t have come here.”
A woman angel, then. Sometimes they were the most vicious. Surcy kept still and waited. She waited to lose her head, to be killed and returned to Caine with the knowledge that she’d failed these children, but nothing happened.
The woman’s voice came again, louder this time. “All of you rebels are the same, so certain you can defeat Caine and all his angels. I seriously don’t understand where you get your reckless faith.” She paused for a second. The voice lowered, just for Surcy. “Listen, I still don’t know what I believe, but I don’t believe in Caine. I won’t directly help you. I won’t put my own life at risk. But I can distract them.”
Her heart raced, filling her ears. She wanted to ask the angel why. Why would she help their cause?
But then, the blade was gone.
A second later, an angel stood in front of the ranks of soldiers. Her blonde hair fell down her back, and she wore a pale dress. “I saw them. The demons and farmer are trying to sneak through the back woods.”
Frink’s blade slipped slightly further from the children’s throats. “Alright, here’s the plan—“
Surcy called her soul-blade into her hand and teleported. Appearing just behind Frink, she sliced off his head, for what felt like the millionth time. Her arms wrapped around the children as his body fell between them, and she teleported away, erasing their path behind her.
When they reached just outside of the sanctuary, she sent her blade away.
The children turned to her, tears in their eyes.
“Where’s mom and dad?” the girl asked.
Her heart lurched. “Your mom is in a hospital. Your dad is helping to defeat the bad men.”
Tears tracked down their cheeks, and the boy touched his raw-looking throat. “What do we do now?”
She nibbled her lip. “Through these woods is a sanctuary of magic. Protected so that the angels can’t reach it. There are people like your father and you there. You’ll be safe. I could take you, but I think your dad and my demons need me.”
They stared at her for a long minute, and then took each other’s hands in a movement she knew gave them comfort.
“Just tell us which way to go,” the girl said.
The boy nodded. “My plants will help me find the way.”
Surcy hesitated only a moment and then pointed, praying that she was doing the right thing. The children gave her one last look, then turned and walked in the right direction. With each step, the plants bent to the side, making an easy path.
Please, please stay safe.
Taking a deep breath, she teleported away.
Chapter 8
Daniel squared off with the farmer, his fists clenched in rage. “You’re going to do what we say or—“
“I won’t do a damned thing without my wife and children!” Clarence shouted, advancing on him.
Fuck this. As much as I want to punch him, there’s an easier way.
His fists unclenched. “They’re safe,” he whispered. Demon magic flowed through the words, and the effect of them was almost instant.
The anger drained from the farmer’s face. “Where?”
That’s right. Believe me. Do as I ask.
“Surcy has gone back for them. She’ll put them somewhere no one can hurt them.”
It took everything inside of Daniel to use his natural demon-ability to convince the farmer, because the truth was he was on the verge of something terrible. Surcy had dropped them on this fucking building and gone back to face unimaginable danger. And why? For a couple kids they didn’t know.
In his mind, he pictured the little boy and girl, and his stomach clenched. The angels would have no use for them as anything but pawns in their games. If no one came back for them…
He shuddered, imagining them lying bloodied and dead on the ground.
But still… either they all should have gone back or none of them. Tristan and Surcy might value the Immortals more than themselves, but if they lost Surcy, did he even care about Caine?
Maybe. A little.
“I want to see them,” the farmer said, and a little anger returned to his eyes.
Tristan took a step closer. “There is no more time for this. Clarence, did you see those creatures? Those angels who attacked us?”
The farmer nodded.
“Those creatures were disguising themselves as your farmhands to be close to you. They were waiting for a signal from a being known as Caine, The Judge of all living beings. And once they were given the signal, they were instructed to kill you and your family.”
His eyes widened. “Why?”
Tristan titled his head, in a very gargoyle-like way. “Because you are one of only ten beings powerful enough to stop Caine and his angels.”
Clarence began to shake his head. “I’m not—“
“You are. And if we don’t move quickly enough, Caine will win this war, and you and your family will never be safe again.”
The farmer studied him. “Do I have your word that my family is safe?”
Fuck. The damn gargoyle won’t lie.
“Yes,” Daniel rushed out. “They’re safe. We just need to hurry and find the rest of your kind, so we can stop that murderous bastard.”
The man exhaled loudly, and his hand shook as he ran fingers through his hair. “If I wasn’t just attacked by fucking angels… if I wasn’t here talking to a gargoyle and whatever the hell you are… I’d think you were both nuts. But, if my family is safe, and this stops them from being hurt again, I’ll go with you.”
Daniel hadn’t realized how worried he’d been that the guy would just keep refusing to help them until that moment. And while the farmer’s acceptance eased some of his fears, nothing would calm him until he saw Surcy again.
“So,” he turned to Tristan, “who are we looking for next?”
The gargoyle opened the paper and stared, frowning. “I thought we’d agreed to find the God of Sin next, but this place isn’t right.” He stared for a minute longer. “She brought us to the other Immortal first. The Goddess of Life.”
Daniel shrugged. “I guess she made a mistake.”
Tristan frowned down at the paper. “Perhaps.”
“Tick tock.”
Tristan looked at him and raised a brow. “Helpful.”
As they found the roof exit and climbed down the stairs, Daniel almost smiled. It wasn’t often the gargoyle was sarcastic. Hopefully that meant he wasn’t too worried about Surcy. The idea immediately calmed him. If Tristan, Mr. Natural Protector himself, was feeling confident, that meant Daniel should be too.
A weight lifted from his shoulders.
They moved through the town and continued walking, occasionally checking the address. Tristan could fly them there, but without knowing the area, travel by ground was easier.
To Daniel’s annoyance, the farmer peppered him with questions. Every. Single. Step of the way.
“What am I?”
“The God of Earth.”
“What does that mean?”
“You have powers.”
“How come I haven’t seen any before? Now my kids have some special abilities, but I've never noticed anything.”
“Caine wiped your memories.”
And on and on. When they reached the quiet suburban neighborhood, Daniel was ready to punch the shit out of t
he human. Normally, he didn't care, but they had things to do, bigger things than answering questions.
Maybe they should have dropped him at the sanctuary.
They reached the house, but it looked empty.
“So what now?” Daniel asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
Tristan opened his mouth, but a woman spoke instead.
“If you’re looking for the Carters, they won’t be home for a little while.”
Daniel spun around to see woman sitting on the porch next door. She was perhaps in her mind-forties and lovely in a quiet way. Her hair was in a messy bun on her head, she wore pajamas that said, “best mom ever,” and she didn’t have a drop of makeup on.
In other words, she was the kind of woman that any smart man would love.
“Hi,” Daniel greeted her, turning on his most charming smile and moving closer.
A blush darkened her cheeks. “Hi… uh, are you friends of the Carters?”
“College friends of her hubs,” he lied, hoping he’d made a good guess.
She set her coffee on her knee. “Oh, are you guys doctors too?”
He nodded. “The best in L.A. But we haven’t seen him in a while. We thought we’d drop in and surprise him.”
She stared down at her drink. “I’m sure Richard would love that, but he’s at a conference this weekend. It’s just Nichole.”
Well, that will make this lie easier.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Well, I guess at least we can visit with her. We’ve never actually met her.”
Her gaze swung back up to them. “Oh, you’ll love Nichole. She’s beautiful and smart and funny.” She sipped her drink and mumbled. “Not that Richard notices.”
Daniel’s ears perked up. “Would it be okay if we hung out with you just a few minutes? If she doesn’t come home, I guess we can try another time. We were just stopping by between flights, so we really hoped to see them and see their house. You know? Catch up.”
She patted her hair, looking flustered. “Uh, sure.”
Moving closer, he sat down on the porch steps next to her and leaned back, stretching his legs out. “So, tell us about Nichole. What does she do?”
Rebel Loss: An Angel Reverse Harem Romance (Mates of the Realms: Immortals Book 3) Page 3
