“Opening loopholes was always Insepth’s specialty. He could do it with very little effort.” Sir Austin clutched his head and rolled to his knees. “Even with us combining powers, it wasn’t easy.”
“No, it was not easy.” Youmi rose in a more graceful way than Sir Austin, but his movements were slow. As he stood, he stretched his arms skyward and looked around.
Angus barked in my face, startling me. The dog usually ignored me, but he wanted my attention. I stood and followed the German Shepherd into the trees. Ivan sat on a fallen log. His hands clutching his face.
I sprinted over and placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
“I saw him. Sawyer,” he said quietly.
I rubbed the side of my head and sat down beside him. Angus whined and stretched out in front of us. The dog probably missed Ember and was confused by the sudden departure from Ila’s valley. I was glad Ember’s pet had come with us. I feared if he had stayed with Lutz, he would have died. The thought of the giant bear being overtaken by flames and Hell beasts was heavy on my mind. I hoped I was wrong. But Sawyer had been unique among Demons—loyal and brave, not easily swayed. The quality I admired in him the most was his ability to control his Demon compulsions. I knew firsthand how difficult it was. I’d struggled for a thousand years to retain some of my humanity. Sawyer was the only other Demon I’d met who had worked as hard as I did to do the right thing. More often than not, he had succeeded.
The image of this Demon, whom I had greatly respected and considered my closest friend, going rogue was more than a little difficult to swallow. But for Ivan, the poor pup, it must be even harder.
“Do not forget, he joined Samael to save Ember and the rest of us. If he hadn’t made that bargain, we would have all died days ago when the Angels came to the valley.” My voice sounded distant to my ears. It was a well-rehearsed line—one I’d told myself a hundred times.
Ivan lifted his chin and his eyes glistened. “It was him, but it wasn’t him.”
I nodded. I understood.
Ivan swallowed, reaching down to scratch Angus’ head. “I was never afraid of Sawyer, or you. My instincts told me you were both good inside. That you had honor.” He shivered. “But this time, I was terrified of Sawyer. I sensed the evil clinging to him, and he was coming for us. He would have struck us down with no remorse.” He swiveled on the log and stared at me with wild eyes. “What could have happened to him to make him change like that?”
The sky brightened and birds began to wake, chirping to each other from the treetops. A mist gathered above the wet grass, and squirrels scurried along the branches above our heads. The forest was coming alive with the new day. The death and destruction we’d, just left was still far, far away. This place was protected by its ignorance. But soon enough, fire would rampage these hills. If what the Bible foretold came to pass, the rivers would turn to blood, disease and starvation would befall every living creature, and the world would burn.
But Ivan, with his innocent and youthful mind, wasn’t thinking about any of that. He was overwhelmed with sadness and confusion about the loss of his friend. A part of me wanted to shake the pup hard, shouting at him to face the reality that was upon us. Sawyer carrying out Samael’s evil orders was only the beginning. It was going to get much worse.
As I stared back at Ivan, seeing his moist and fearful eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. More than any of us, he didn’t deserve this pain.
I licked my lips, forcing gentleness into my voice. “Sawyer is a soulless Demon. But he still loved and was loved. He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. When Samael took him away from us, Sawyer lost his connection to what was left of his human nature. Once that was removed, he embraced his true nature. It was a matter of survival and instinct for him. He couldn’t stop the change, even if he had wanted to.”
“Will that happen to you?” Ivan’s words rushed out of his mouth.
I peered into the forest. The loss of my own humanity hadn’t really occurred to me until now. Memories flitted across my mind. Days splashing in the waves, bread and wine with friends, and the feel of a beautiful lover in my arms. What if they were all lost to me? Would I leave this world as a monster?
“I don’t know, Ivan. I hope not, but Sawyer was strong. If he fell, that might be my fate as well.” I dropped my head, suddenly feeling exhausted.
Ivan flung his arm around my shoulder. “If that time comes, I hope I’m already dead.”
I met his level gaze. “Me too.”
His eyes glistened. “I haven’t given up on Ember yet. She might succeed in stopping it.”
I sighed. My own faith in the beautiful Watcher had been strong since the day I’d carried her to safety when she attacked the compound. I’d recognized her power straight away. There was something else about the young Watcher that made me believe in her, something I couldn’t quite grasp. A sort of destiny connected to her. Now, I wasn’t so sure.
“It’s already begun. You saw what came into the valley. Samael’s army is on the move. Most of the population of Oldport was killed by Hell’s monsters. How can the world go back to normal after something like that?”
Ivan frowned, but his eyes remained bright, even hopeful. “I don’t know if things will ever be normal again, but I do believe in Ember. She’ll find a way to save us all.”
I chuckled and forced a smile at the pup. I would love to have his faith. “I hope you’re right.”
Sir Austin pushed aside the branches. “We have company.”
I exchanged a worried look with Ivan before we joined the gray-haired Watcher on the knoll. Youmi was already waiting, standing like a statue with his hands on his hips.
“There are too many to count,” Youmi said.
I spied down the tree line with Demon eyes, not seeing a thing. I was about to question the water Watcher further when the howls erupted, sending a shiver down my spine.
The sounds rose, gathering more voices, but I still couldn’t see any wolves.
“Where are they?” I whispered.
“They’re coming,” Ivan replied, a hint of excitement in his words.
He pointed. “See, there!”
Angus growled, but Ivan placed his hand on the dog’s head to quiet him.
Out of the trees came a lone black wolf, then others appeared. Dozens trotted out from the cover of the timber; browns, grays, and snowy white ones padded up the hillside toward us. A sunbeam sprayed down through the clouds, chasing the chill from the air. There were hundreds, perhaps a thousand of wolves arriving. They moved as one across the meadow like a massive shadow. I had seen many spectacles over the centuries, but never a sight like this.
“Who are they?” I asked, unable to keep the awe from my voice.
“It is the great gathering. Wolves from nearly every pack in the world are here,” Ivan replied with pride coating his words.
“They are all here?” I asked, dumbfounded.
The gray and the black at the front were taller and more muscular than the others. They each had the confident look of leadership. Several smaller females fanned out behind them. The gray male and a tannish-colored female came forward, close enough to touch. When Ivan looked back at me, his eyes were round. His smile spread from ear to ear.
Ivan gestured to the wolves closest to us. “May I introduce you to my parents, Panoosh and Hilda.”
Chapter 9
Eae
I slashed with the sword Raphael had given me. Black goo splattered my face as the Hell beast dropped to the ground, writhing and shrieking. Another monster appeared, and my sword stabbed again and again. I paused to wipe the sweat from my brow. Fires raged along the ridge and the heat was unbearable. Angry-looking blisters bubbled from my skin, but there was no time to think about the pain. The beasts kept coming.
Pounding wings above me snapped my head up. I recognized Azriel, but the two brown-winged Angels at his side were not known to me. They swooped into the jagged opening in the ground where Hell’s creatures were
emerging.
My heart leaped with joy when I heard the explosions and felt the ground shifting beneath me. The Angels shot from the chasm, and Azriel paused above it, spreading his arms wide. His chants carried the weight of God’s authority and a blue light flashed from his fingertips, meeting the rocks below. The earth gave another heaving groan, and then all was silent. The brown-winged Angels dodged over the pockets of fire, extinguishing them with the draft from their powerful wings. Dust kicked up, spraying me in the face with sharp pebbles and debris, and I had to wipe my eyes with the back of my hand to see clearly.
I barely had time to turn around when I heard the screeching at my back. The beast was almost upon me and I lifted my sword, blinking away the dirt and sweat. It was close enough that I could smell the foul stench of rotten meat from its mouth. It moved with the speed of a mountain lion, and I knew without proper sight, I was at a serious disadvantage.
Its claw struck my thigh, and then it fell away, tumbling down the rocks below me.
I raised my head in amazement. Azriel faced me with his wings folded behind him. There was a strange look on his tattooed face.
“Thank you, brother. That one had nearly gotten me.” I nodded at my superior.
Azriel pushed back his hood. His short-cropped hair was black and his skin pale. The contrast was striking in the sunshine. “You confound me, Eae.” The Angel flapped his wings once in a show of irritation. “Your wings were taken by the same creatures you fight Hell beasts to protect.”
I lowered my head. Sometimes I forgot my wings were gone. I’d gather my shoulder muscles to take flight and then I’d realize I was no longer an Angel—or at least a true one. When the Watchers took my wings, they took my powers and my connection to my Father. With the slice of a sword blade, they’d taken everything from me.
“That is true. But Watchers are not the same as humans. I will help where I can.”
“You could have been killed by any of those beasts,” Azriel admonished.
“I am diminished, but I am not helpless. I can still carry out my duties,” I told him.
“What are your duties, then? You were called as a guardian over the youngWatcher, but that was no fault of your own. She has disappeared, so that task is forgotten.”
My muscles tensed and I found it difficult to breathe. As an Angel, my emotions had been clouded with duty and loyalty. I’d watched over the girl, Ember, from the time she was a babe. I’d hide in the bodies of those closest to her, keeping an eye on her development. I’d known what she was from the beginning—a blasphemous consequence of a lustful Angel. It wasn’t until later that I discovered she was an heir to the great arch Angel, Uriel. He had instructed me to not only watch the child grow, but to assist her in times of need. I was torn by my duties. On one hand, I had orders to obey, but on the other, I was disturbed as I witnessed the child become a young woman of great power. I soon saw the wrathfulness in Ember’s soul. Her temper alarmed me. Yet over the years another feeling had developed for her—love. It wasn’t until the day I was severed from the host I’d occupied for much of Ember’s life—the spirited young Piper—that I knew true sadness. The human girl had died from the rendering, and it had ultimately been my fault. I was so intent on protecting Ember, I’d failed another one of God’s children. If I’d only left her body before the Watchers had her, sacrificing my disguise to the ones who would kill me, the girl would probably still be alive today. Sorrow and guilt had been my companions ever since.
I looked up at Azriel, who waited patiently for me to speak. “I have a sin I must atone. Guarding Ember and helping any humans I can, moves me toward that goal.”
The arch Angel shook his head. “The end is near. The others may bicker about how it will be brought about, but there’s no question that sooner, rather than later, mankind will be wiped from this earth.” He pointed where the cavernous gap in the earth had been a few moments before. “There are not enough Angels in the world to seal every crack. We waste our time.”
I cocked my head. “Why, then, do you still labor at it?”
The corners of his mouth lifted and he raised his face to the breeze. “I will carry out my duties until I am instructed to stop. I am loyal only to our Father and the tasks he gave me so long ago.” His smile faded and he arched a brow at me. “But what you are doing is different, Eae. Our Father did not give you instructions to destroy Hell beasts when they crossed into the land of men.” He wagged a long finger at me. “That is your choice.”
“Being with the girl and her friends has affected me, I admit. It seems wrong to stand by and watch them suffer.”
“The suffering will come—you alone cannot save them, especially without your wings.” His voice lowered and he leaned in. “Let me take you to the pinnacle. You can rest and recover there. Perhaps time in the great library or with the Book of Records will distract you from the goings-on here in this chaotic place.”
Azriel was trying to help me. I understood why. He pitied me. An Angel without wings was something altogether strange. The casualty of such a gift from our Father was the ultimate loss.
“I am no longer an Angel. I will stay on the ground and face whatever happens beside the humans.”
Azriel shook his head. “It is up to you, brother. I will not argue with you in these dire times of confusion. I pray our Father is merciful to you in the end.” He placed his hand on my forehead. “The Lord be with you.”
“And also with you,” I replied.
With a mighty flap of his wings, he jetted into the sky. I shielded my eyes from the sun and watched him streak into the clouds.
When I dropped my gaze, loneliness touched my heart. The bodies of the Hell beasts I had killed littered the ground, bushes still smoldered, and smoke and dust choked my lungs. I strained to listen and could hear screaming and sirens in the distance. The city of Los Angeles was falling. Azriel was right. There weren’t enough Angels to seal all the cracks. Very soon, the entire barrier would come crumbling down.
My head felt heavy. I wanted to be with Ember when that day came. I was her guardian Angel, and even without wings, I could ease her suffering in this world.
“Help us.” The words were a quiet whisper on the wind.
I looked around, not seeing who had spoken.
The gurgle of crying met my ears, and I followed the noise around a scorched patch of trees. My eyes widened when they settled on the crouched figures. A boy, maybe ten or eleven years old, huddled with his arms around two smaller girls. Their dirty faces were streaked with tears and blood. A few paces behind them was a camper and a picnic table. The coals still burned in the grill and bowls of food were turned over on the red and white table cloth. The bodies of a woman and man were sprawled in the dirt, their bodies hacked up to pieces. Flies were already buzzing around them.
“Help us.” It was the smallest girl who spoke. Her lips trembled and she whimpered.
I remembered Azriel’s lecture. Why did I care what happened to the humans? I couldn’t change fate. Even if I had wings, there was nothing I could do to save them all. It was a hopeless situation.
Ember’s face entered my thoughts. Almost everything had been taken from her—parents, friends, and even her lover. And yet, she still had faith. She continued to fight, no matter what stood in her way. I inhaled deeply, feeling the warmth of the sun on my back. This world still had goodness in it. And as long as it did, I would fight on. Our Father hadn’t spoken to me in some time, but my heart told me it’s what He would want me to do.
And Ember needed me.
The children’s wide eyes were glued on me. I lifted my hand and they scurried to me as fast as their small legs would carry them. The girls’ arms encircled my legs, and the boy stood close.
I inclined my head toward the vehicle parked nearby, and eyed the boy. “Can you operate it?”
The boy’s eyes grew and his mouth dropped open. He looked from the vehicle then back to me. “I can try.”
“Good,” I said, diseng
aging the girls and gently shoving them into the backseat. “I am Eae. You must be brave. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
The boy climbed into the driver’s seat and I walked around to passenger side. I was really too tall for the human machine, but without wings, I had no choice. I sat down, scrunching my legs up in front of me. The cross dangling from the mirror was a sign that I was on the right path.
“Where are we going?” the boy asked as he fumbled with the keys.
The engine roared to life and I smiled. Such an archaic thing, and yet so useful at the moment.
“First, we will go to the mountains of Tennessee, and if Ember isn’t there, we’ll travel northward to Ohio.”
“Who’s Ember?” one of the girls asked, pressing her head in between the front seats and gazing up at me with teary eyes.
I smiled at the child. “Hopefully, with a little help from our Lord, she’ll be our salvation.
Chapter 10
Ember
Uriel’s red hair whipped around his face in the wind. That face looked even more serious than usual. His blue eyes drifted to Adria, who held her ground, and then to Raphael, whose mouth tipped up crookedly.
“Really, brother. How can anything this child does surprise you?” Raphael’s hair was tied in a ponytail and his face was smudged from smoke. His tunic was torn at the side, but I couldn’t see any injuries on him. But of course, Angels were better versions of Watchers. I’d expect them to heal from their wounds very quickly.
“Why must the one who carries my blood be so rebellious?” Uriel asked with a huff. He fondled his sword, glaring at me.
“Oh, I don’ know. It might be because you’re a belligerent Angel,” Adria said, smirking.
I swallowed and moved closer to her. I was surprised that when the Angels showed up she didn’t jump into the sea in a burst of colors, transforming into a dolphin. She’d recognized Uriel and Raphael and hadn’t been afraid. Adria felt comfortable taunting the red headed Angel, and even seemed to be enjoying it.
Uriel’s gaze shifted to Adria. “This child should forget the earth Watcher. If he has been captured by Gabriel, then he is a lost soul.”