“Would you like to come with me?” I asked and watched as she jumped away from me.
“Ah….. no, it’s fine, thanks. I’ll be here helping Lada and Lotan.” Her blush crept up from her slim neck and spread out over her cheeks. For a moment I was taken aback. I had never noticed a lot of things it would seem. She was beautiful. Deadly, potent even, but beautiful. Mine.
Chapter 8
Nanini
“Oh no, you go along with Max, Nanini. Lotan and I are going to grab some sleep before all hell breaks loose.” Lada stood up and grabbed Lotan, dragging him out the door with her.
“But-” I was going to kill her.
“Have a nice time,” she called back with a huge smile.
Why was everyone against me?
“Shall we go?” Max asked.
“Look, I just don’t want to go with you. I am going to go get some sleep as well.” I turned around and saw the exit, but never got a chance to use it. My hand was grabbed from behind and the next thing I knew, I was standing at Amon’s compound. Crap!
“It won’t take long. We’ll be back in a few minutes and then we can both get some sleep.” Max kept hold of my hand and dragged me through the doors. Do not panic. Do not freaking panic.
As we made our way through the hallways, Max greeted everyone, keeping hold of my hand, not giving me the chance to shift the hell out of here. He held the Intel Room’s door open and waited for me to walk in first. Oh, I am so screwed! “Amon, we need your assistance.” Max walked over to the spirit fae, once rogue, but now our human-based ally.
“What can we do?” Amon asked, looking perplexedly from me to max.
“Kasadya’s born has been released successfully. We now need to track down the rogue and the demon prince and find those relics before they get to use them.” Max pulled me to stand right next to him. I didn’t even notice that I was plastered against him in the kitchen. It was only when he asked me to go with him that I noticed his voice was right above me. How was that possible? I don’t do touchy, touchy. And now, standing right next to him again - correction - pressed against him again, I felt no anger or anything. This is not good, girl, not good at all.
I could see Amon make the connection between Max and me, his smile almost blinding me. “Yes, of course. Alright, people, this is a red light. I need all the contacts updated ASAP and we need to find this demon before he gets those relics up.” Amon started to shout orders.
A few of the humans came to ask Max details about contacts and stuff. In no time the entire room was just one big chatterbox. On the huge glass globe, Amon was lighting up lights indicating the progress of the calls. And I was still pressed against Max. And the warmth coming from him wasn’t helping either. I yawned and almost swallowed my tongue in the process. Max’s hold on me tightened, and I looked up with the intention of biting him. I was suddenly face to face with him. “Let’s go home and get some sleep. We are of no use to anyone in this state,” he suggested. I nodded. For once, I agreed with the jerk.
We said our farewells and shifted to my room. “Do you need something to eat?” Max asked, letting go of my hand. I was suddenly enveloped with the sudden chill of the room, and had to stop myself from snuggling up to him for his warmth.
“No thanks, I am fine. I am just going to crash and get charged up again.” I didn’t know what to do to with my hands, so I rubbed my now cold arms. He frowned and walked over to the thermometer.
“I am turning up the heat a little. Your room is a little too cold,” he said, looking at the thing against the wall. I didn’t argue; it was really cold in here.
He turned around and looked at me, concerned etched into his face. “I think maybe a hot bath or shower would be best,” he suggested.
“Yeah, I’ll do that. Thanks,” I replied, but he still just stood there.
“You can go now.” I indicated the door.
He nodded and turned around for the door, but stopped before he opened it. Turning around, he looked back at me. “How long have you been living away from home?” he asked.
Dumbfounded, I gaped at him. How long? Crap, maybe since fourteen, or was it thirteen? “Since thirteen, I think. Why?”
His frown deepened. “Why did you leave home at such a young age? I though the age to be submitted to the Hellhouse was seventeen?”
Oh wow, he must be the first person, except for Vulcan and the girls, to notice that. “My abilities surfaced at the age of eleven. Mom and Dad tried to train me at home, but I needed a Custos to help me fully develop. So Vulcan suggested I be enrolled in the Hellhouse earlier than other fallen kids. So I went to stay there at the age of thirteen.”
His eyes didn’t move from mine, captivating me. But what had my nerves going haywire was the look in his eyes. He was sad. “It wasn’t a big deal, you know. I kicked ass pretty well even at that age. And I took out a few kids way older than me.”
“Yes, I don’t doubt that for a minute. But, to leave home at such a young age could leave a negative impact as well.”
Negative? “What are you moaning about now?”
“I- never mind. Take a hot bath and then get some sleep. By the sound of it, we are going to get even less sleep in the next week or two.” He turned around again and reached for the door.
“I am not scared.”
He looked at me again, his eyes softening. “True, insanely brave and very dangerous. Most of the time a bad combination. But… not all mountains in life are right there in front of us, Nanini. Some mountains we find right under our feet and don’t even know they were there. It’s only then that we realize that we have another battle to fight, a battle that cannot be physically fought but mentally, and your opponent-no other than yourself.” And with that iceberg, he opened the door and walked out.
What the hell? Did he freaking lose his mind when he went born? Invisible mountains? The guy lost it.
Chapter 9
Max
Life is really strange. It took only a day for me to notice things that I have never noticed before, but even more, to feel protective over someone whom I never thought in such a way. Seeing Nanini retreat from the kitchen brawl was, well, was unsettling. And now I fully understood why. I shook my head, unable to process a life without my parents at the age of thirteen. What was even more disturbing was that she was assigned a Custos at that age. I have seen custose train; it’s hard and brutal, without any mercy. What did she have to bear at that age? How badly did she get hurt? Anger spiked within me, my protective side reaching a very dangerous line. Sure, it was how any fallen was trained, but not at thirteen. The sudden urge to shift over to the hellhouse and kill Vulcan flared up and I had to stop and close my eyes to regain control. My hellhound was strong, and for the first time I feared what was inside me.
What if Nanini couldn’t keep it calm? Would I destroy people I cared for? Memories of Ryan’s death flashed again, and I shook my head, trying to rid myself of them. I was breathing deeply. I was ready to kill. Opening my eyes, my vision was a red gaze. Shit! I grabbed the walls, closed my eyes and tried to keep myself from moving and actually hurting someone. Warm, wet water was suddenly on my forearm. I snapped my eyes open and looked at the intruder.
“Okay, um, I think let’s try taking a few deep breaths.” Nanini was soaking wet, with a towel wrapped around her.
I focused on her wet hair and the drops falling down from it towards her small shoulders.
“My eyes are up here,” she snapped at me.
I quickly stopped gawking at her and looked at her eyes. Blue, sapphire eyes. Her nose, small and petite, just like her body. Her lips, luscious and begging to be bruised. I shook my head and looked away, only then noticing that my anger was retreating and a… a bubbling feeling was replacing it.
“Bubbles?” I looked at her again.
“Hey, I like bubbles. They’re fun to play with. And it was all I could come up with so fast. Yes, Godzilla, I was closing my eyes in the bath when I was suddenly face to face with Mr.
Mad inside you. Really? I mean, is this going to be happening a lot, because then we need to talk about personal time and crap like that. Because, you know, this mojo comes at a high price. One is that I need my bubbles. So what the hell has you so crapped out?”
She was now talking with her adrenaline, it would seem. She didn’t even catch a breath in all of that. “No, it won’t be problem,” was my only reply. Or was it? Was I really able to keep the monster inside at bay long enough?
“Yeah, like totally believe you there. Look, you seem to be fine again, so I am going to finish my bath and get some sleep. Well, that’s if your hellhound would allow it?” She was pissed, in a cute way.
“I’ll keep a leash on him until tomorrow morning.” I removed my arms and jammed my hands into my pockets. They were tingling, and I didn’t think it was because of holding the wall.
“Okay, toodles.” She shifted out again. I looked down at the carpet, now soaked with two small feet in them. Toodles?
With a smile, I walked up to my room and closed the door behind me. I was extremely tired, all of the events suddenly taking hold of my worn and torn body. I could still feel the spot where the other hellhound ripped my wing. It burned, but being used to pain, it wasn’t all that bothersome. I decided that a shower would be needed and jumped into the shower, warm water splashing over my face and down my back. I leaned forward and let the water caress the pain. Tomorrow was very uncertain. We had a demon prince to hunt down, two fully born hellhounds, and future mating that should be worked on. However, the word ‘mate’ didn’t feel right. Born and raised a human, it just didn’t connect with me. Maybe that would also be a problem? I have more human characteristics, where Nanini has always been fallen. Would she be able to accept my human life and ways?
Finished, I dried myself off and jumped into a pair of boxers. Only time would bring the answer. Bending down before my bed, my prayer was short, but powerful. I prayed for guidance, patience and the power to protect what I have come to know as my family.
Soon I was drifting in a peaceful world, one I last saw as a child, and there, right beside me, was a playful younger Nanini, laughing and playing with me.
Chapter 10
Nanini
Ah nuts, another day. Well, not everything can be a ray of sunshine. I got dressed, pulled my hair into a pony, and got my butt downstairs to the kitchen. I ate a bowl of every cereal we had, and still felt an echo in my tummy when I swallowed the last bite. Holy crap, my adrenaline thing is really wearing me out these days. I opened the fridge and found a note stuck to the top shelf. Look inside the oven. Max. Okay, weird, creepy even, but okay. I grabbed the note and closed the fridge. Opening the oven I found a huge plate of flapjacks. The smile on my face appeared without my consent. Stupid jerk, he thinks he can buy me over with food.
I grabbed the plate and hunted down the syrup, only to find it on the table with butter, a knife and fork. Okay, he is really pushing the button here. Grumpy, I walked over and planted myself in the chair. Oh sweet baby faes, they did look delicious. I grabbed the syrup and drowned them in it. Taking a huge first bite, I was sent to heaven with halo and all. The moan also escaped without my consent. Damn hellhound.
All too soon I was done and now completely satisfied. Rubbing my tummy, I held the note and looked at his handwriting. Very clean and neat. Yeah, should have known, he was striving to be a perfectionist. Now wouldn’t it be fun to totally blow that bubble?
“Everyone report to the lounge,” Vulcan announced via Corra.
I stood up and placed the note in my back pocket. I’ll just have to talk to the jerk and make sure he doesn’t think he can win me over like this. Shifting, I landed next to Ben and found Vulcan and the Archangels dressed in battle gear, waiting for us. Lada and Lotan were the last to arrive. My eyes landed on the female standing next to Caim. Oh no, it’s the loony bin from yesterday. She kept her head high, ignoring the daggers being thrown at her with our eyes.
“All right, let’s shift out,” Vulcan interrupted and shifted us.
We landed in a small clearing surrounded by woods. At the base was a small cottage. Suddenly my own problems disappeared in an instant. We waited silently until then the door opened and Chax came walking out. He was as serious as ever, but he wasn’t the one I wanted to see. And finally out came Kasadya, who froze at the door taking in the picture. A hand grabbed mine. “Give her some space,” Max chimed in. How did he know I was going to run over and hug her to death? He kept me in place and we watched as the most beautiful sight played off around us.
Chax made his way to us, and turned to look at Kas still standing in the door.
“The demon lords will be well protected and for that, we need to protect you to complete your divinity,” Chax said.
When he finished that, all of the fallen shifted in with a huge shift. The ground shook beneath us from the sudden impact.
“Together we will ensure that God's will is done, and is better protected for the future,” Thonyn said and nodded at Kas. Well, now, this is new. Last time I checked he wanted to kill my friend.
Kas started to cry, and I had to try to fight my own tears. This must be so overwhelming. Yesterday they wanted to destroy her; today they came to fight with her. She started to walk slowly towards us but stopped when she reached her parents.
“Kas, you can do this,” her father said.
She nodded, tears still running all over her face.
“And you will be victorious,” her mother continued.
Suddenly my own vision was clouded with tears. I blinked rapidly to make sure I wasn’t going to cry. I didn’t want the jerk still holding my hand to see me going all girly.
Kasadya finally made it to Chax and Michael, wiping her tears. Our eyes met and I smiled, a tear of my own falling down my cheek.
“Archangels and team leaders,” Michael said aloud.
The Archangels and team leaders stepped into the clearing in front of everyone. They all watched Michael, waiting for orders.
“Search the globe, and find them at all costs,” he instructed.
And with that command, team leaders and teams began to shift out. Michael turned to Kasadya. “Our scouting parties will notify us the moment they find a demon prince. You must destroy all of them if we are to succeed, in not only in your divinity but also in saving this world.”
Kasadya nodded.
“We will start in Rome today,” Chax said with a nod at Michael before he shifted us out.
Chax shifted us all and we landed in the Coliseum, of all places. Being a total history geek, I was so impressed. Suddenly realizing that Max still had my hand, I ripped free and stepped far away from him. Jerk, totally taking advantage of the situation. He looked at me, but I just glared back at him.
“We have to cover the entire city. Spread out and search in pairs. If you find anything, call it in with Corra,” Chax instructed us when we all had our feet on the ground.
“Let’s begin,” Chax said.
“You do remember that you are my Custos?” Max suddenly projected at me.
“How can I forget that irritating detail?” I snapped back. He looked at Kasadya and I decided to shift us the hell out of here.
I shifted us a few blocks away and started walking, Max close on my heels.
Chapter 11
Max
“It was nice of everyone to jump in and help like that, don’t you think?” I decided to break the silence.
“Yeah, too bad that the Angels had to pursue them. Bet you that they were not happy about it,” she said, stopping to look down an alley. I looked in the same direction, but saw nothing. I was sure she was right. Kasadya and the rest of us - the half-breeds - were not really welcomed with open arms. And I was sure that there were still a lot of fallen who would gladly take the opportunity to destroy us.
“Yes, I agree. But Michael and Raphael can be very persuasive.” We continued to walk down the streets, searching for any sign of a demon.
; “It’s really quiet out here. Shouldn’t there be at least a human on the streets?” Nanini asked, looking at the streets.
True, there was not even a human in sight. Strange, very strange. We jerked around when we heard a noise coming from behind us. In the same alley, a figure was running away from us. “Gotcha!” Nanini yelled, transforming and taking to the air.
“Nanini, wait!” I called after her but she was already flying down the alley. I transformed as well and leapt into the air. My wings were suddenly too wide for the alley and I was forced to go above it. Looking down I could see Nanini chasing the figure just below me. Suddenly, something jumped from a roof and landed on her, taking her down hard.
“Nanini!” I closed my wings and dove towards them. Pink fae bombs were lighting up the dark alley, and I knew we had just stepped into a trap. At least six more waited for the pair to hit the ground. I leaned forward even more, gaining speed quickly. The moment Nanini and the other figure hit the ground, I tucked and rolled, landing with my swords already drawn.
Three jumped on Nanini, trying to pin her down. Three were heading towards me, shifting to their demon forms. I braced my feet and steadied my swords. The first one went down easily. His head ended up on the sidewalk. The second two were another story. They worked together. One swiped at my torso another got a hit on my thigh. I stepped back and turned, kicking one back into the wall. Now alone, the other one wasn’t a much of a threat, and I ended his life as well.
“Nanini!” I yelled, suddenly noticing that alley had grown dark again. There were no pink bombs lighting it up anymore.
I turned to her direction and a sword cleaved open my lower leg. I roared, and with that the dark vision on the ally transformed into a red haze. I dropped my swords and grabbed the demon. One hand around his neck, the other grabbed his hair. With a triumphed roar, I pulled him apart and advanced on the group that had Nanini. She was still hitting her attackers, but with her head. Her arms were pinned by two, who held her arms tight enough for the blood to stop, and also her bombs. One broke free and met my advance towards them. Pulling back my hands, I punched his torso. Ribs cracked beneath the punch, and his blood sprayed over my face. But I did enough damage to leave him and get to the others. The two holding Nanini’s arms released her and jumped up to stop me.