Authors: Immortal Angel
His painfully honest words make me feel a little bit better. Brushing my cheek, I’m surprised to find it wet.
He puts his arms around me. “Let’s get your bag and get out of here, before the next demon tries his luck.”
Suddenly, a tattoo glows on Brion’s left arm.
Cas looks up at him, a shocked expression on his face. “You’re being summoned.”
“Is that unusual?”
They look so surprised that I have to ask.
Brion clenches his jaw. “Very.”
Zakiel strides in through the back door. “All clear out back.” He sees Brion’s shoulder. “You’re being summoned.”
“We know,” Brion replies.
“Is there an echo?” Cas asks at the same time.
“Fuck.” I’m learning that angels don’t mince words.
“Yeah.” Brion looks at us helplessly. “You guys take care of her. Get to the lab, get the device, and get out. Don’t go in if it looks dangerous…”
His gaze holds mine. He reaches out and touches the sensitive skin of my underarm. “I’ll be back.”
“Brion…”
I don’t want him to go. Suddenly, I feel as if the carpet is being pulled out from under me.
A glow starts in the center of his belly and envelops him in moments.
Brion is gone.
“Fuck,” Cas says angrily.
Zakiel looks at him in surprise. “He’ll be ok.”
Cas shakes his head. “It isn’t that. I really want to know where he got that second Galadrian dagger.”
I’m summoned into a bright white holding cell. I know that’s what it is, because I’ve placed angels in here before. There are no windows, no doors, and no way in or out except by portals controlled by Michael. And of course, our telepathy doesn’t work.
“Michael!” I shout. “What’s going on? Why have you summoned me?” I walk forward until I find the almost invisible side of the space and pound on it. “My target is in danger!”
There’s no response so I finally kick the wall.
“Fuck!”
I run my fingers through my hair. What can I do?
Hang on, Gillian, I’ll be back as soon as I can.
I lock my apartment as we leave, even knowing it won’t do any good against demon attack. But it makes me feel better anyway.
Cas takes my bag and Zakiel grabs me around the waist. I don’t get the familiar shiver as when Brion puts his arms around me. This feels more…like business.
I direct him toward my building, pointing. As we approach, to my surprise I see the window to my lab has already been fixed.
That was fast.
“Let’s land on the roof. That way we won’t have to deal with security.”
We’re there in just minutes, Zakiel setting me gently on my feet.
I try the roof door, which is usually open. The handle doesn’t move. I look at Cas in consternation. “It’s never locked.”
“Why are you looking at me?” he asks. “Do I look like a locksmith?”
I roll my eyes. “I guess we’ll have to go through the front door.”
“I’m just kidding,” he laughs, pulling out a tool from his back pocket. “I can pick just about anything.”
“I’m not sure that’s something to brag about.” Zakiel frowns, watching him work.
“Why not? With how often I’ve had to use it, they should give all new warrior angels a class on this.”
“Let’s agree to disagree,” Zakiel says as the door opens.
“Whatever.” Cas rises and winks at me. “After you, little lady.”
I pause before entering, picking up my bag. “I think I should stash this somewhere.”
Zakiel nods. “Good idea.”
I peruse the rooftop until my eyes land on one of the air conditioner vent units. I hurry over to it and open the latch, setting it inside on the ground.
Then I hurry back. Zakiel motions me inside.
But it’s dark. Too dark.
“There should be lights.”
The two angels exchange a look.
“They might have gotten here before us. How important is your device?” Zakiel asks.
“It will actually close the portals from the…underworld.” I’m still not quite used to the idea.
Cas glances meaningfully at Zakiel. “We need it.”
Zakiel turns to me. “Stick close to us. If we run into trouble, our first action is to get out of here.”
I nod emphatically. I’ve already seen enough of demons to last me a lifetime.
We enter into darkness, and I feel a shiver of foreboding. “There aren’t even any emergency lights.”
Both angels take out their daggers and we climb down the stairs as quietly as possible. I open the door to the twenty-eighth floor, and it’s still dark. The hand and retinal scanners don’t work, and my hand trembles as I reach for the door handle. I don’t know what I expect to find inside, but I have a feeling it won’t be good. Please don’t be demons.
The second the door opens to my lab, my entire body begins shaking. The workbenches are empty. Every piece of equipment, every computer, is gone.
“It’s empty,” I whisper.
“What?” Cas asks over my shoulder, his voice worried.
We step inside. My mind can’t process what’s happening. “It’s gone!” My voice rises to a hysterical shout.
My work! The device that could save us! This is worse than demons!
“That’s right, sweetheart,” comes a voice from behind us.
We turn and I see about ten demons stepping out of the stairwell next to the elevator.
Okay, maybe it isn’t worse than demons.
He continues, “Michael came down and spirited it all away.”
I hear movement in the lab behind us and turn back to see that at least twenty demons must have been hiding under the workbenches. We’re surrounded.
“Michael?” I look over at Cas and Zakiel. “Boss of the Angel Warrior army? But why would he want to steal my invention?”
The demon shrugs. “All I know is that we were going to destroy the device, but Michael told us in exchange we could have Earth. And you.” He sneers pointedly at me. “My master is very interested in you.”
My knees go out from under me and Cas catches me before I fall forward. “Can you get us out of here?” I ask, grasping at his arms.
“Son of a bitch,” Cas curses. He sets me on my feet and steps in front of me. Zakiel steps to the other side of me. Both tensed, ready to fight.
As the first demons come at us, I come to the sudden realization that I will probably never see Brion again.
I love you, Brion.
I think to him in my mind. Yes, it’s stupid and premature. We’ve only known each other for a day. But I know what I feel, and it’s real. I feel it to the depths of my soul.
I love you.
I step forward, taking out my own dagger. I’m not going to let them fight alone. I’m ready to die if I must.
I probably haven’t been here long, but it seems like hours. Every second is one more that Gillian is in danger without me.
I should have kissed her one last time.
Where is Michael? Why did he summon me? And what the hell is taking so long?
As I pace, I think back over the past twenty-four hours. How did the hell dimension find out about Gillian’s invention, when we didn’t even know upstairs? How did the demons suddenly have Galadrian daggers? And how had the demon who had walked into her ex-lover evaded our detection?
Somehow, the demons have help. And now I’m in prison.
My mind is going to a place I really don’t like.
One side of the cell becomes invisible. Even though I can see through it, I know it isn’t open. And that force field hurts like a son of a bitch.
A flaming sword appears on the other side. Two seconds later, Michael appears, grasping the sword and standing at the ready.
His power flows over me and I kneel, cursing myself as I do it. I grab my dagger as I stand, knowing it probably won’t do a damn thing against that flaming blade.
“Brion.” His voice is smug. And he addresses me in Angelic, the high Angel language.
Every sense that I have is telling me that his purpose here isn’t good.
“Mikhael.” I reply cautiously, using the Angelic version of his name.
“I’ve enjoyed listening to you in here, whining about your precious little human.” His lips turn down in disgust.
“What are you talking about? You’re the one who assigned me to protect her.”
“Only until her machine was finished. Now she’s of no use to me. And neither are you.” He lifts the sword, and I know he’s dying to thrust it into me.
I know I can’t stop that from happening, but I want more answers first. “Why do you want her invention?”
He snarls. “You humans are so damn ignorant. Why do you think you’re the only planet in the universe?”
Huh? I must admit, I’m completely taken aback. “What planet are you talking about?”
“Celeron, you ignorant peasant.”
“Celeron. The one all the archangels are from?” I really don’t understand what he’s talking about.
“Yes, I took her invention to protect my own world. I’m sick of protecting Earth. Humans are ungrateful, wretched beings.” Michael gives himself a shake. “I don’t even know why I’m talking to you. It’s completely unrewarding. You are too slow to understand the universal implications of what I’ve done. Have fun figuring it out.”
And then he does it.
Even though I tried to prepare myself for the pain, it’s still impossibly bad. I burn. I scream. The blade doesn’t kill me, but it hurts so bad it paralyzes me. He slowly draws the blade out of my stomach. And then, I feel no more.
I come to, not knowing how much time has passed. But I have the feeling that Michael is long gone. I rise on shaky legs, trying to think of what to do. For all I know, he could intend to leave me here forever.
I pound on the wall, testing its strength. It’s pretty strong.
Think, Brion.
My emotions are almost choking me. My hands are shaking as I pull out all the stones, artifacts, and weapons I have on me. What can I use to get out of here?
Just then I hear a voice in my mind.
I love you.
It’s Gillian. And with the strength of emotion behind it, I can tell she’s in serious danger. Rage suffuses my entire being and I clench my hands into fists. She isn’t going to die today.
I love you, too, my little scientist.
And I’m going to be back to give her that kiss. With a roar, I shove everything back in my pockets except my daggers. I grab them and begin to fly upward, scraping the wall with their edges.
As I fly upward, the air becomes thinner. I gasp for breath but keep flapping my wings.
I’m dead. I shouldn’t have trouble breathing. I don’t understand.
Finally, I’m holding my breath, almost passing out. I thrust my daggers into the wall and keep climbing. Hand over hand, thrust over thrust.
I’m choking, coughing, and I know I’m nearing the end of my strength. But just like that, I reach the top. And it’s open. I climb over the side, seeing the Hall of Records far, far below.
I try to hang on and fly, but all at once I feel myself crumple and everything turns black.
I love you, too, my little scientist.
The thought comes from somewhere deep inside, and I know it’s Brion. For a moment, I can sense him, smell him.
Hold on. I’m coming.
Then it fades.
And I’m back.
Back in a fight for my life I can’t afford to lose.
I clutch my dagger more tightly, even though I’ve yet to use it. The two massive angels in front of me have managed to maneuver me into a corner in an attempt to keep me safe. So far I’ve seen the swooping of their wings and the bare muscles of their backs, drenched in sweat. The clanking of daggers and stench of sulfur and death fills the air.
I’ve occasionally seen the faces of our attackers. Their skin hangs from their flesh, mouths open to reveal sharpened teeth. And the way they fight makes it obvious they don’t care about the bodies they use.
They can always come back in another.
The angels have tried to push us toward the window, but the horde of demons is too strong. The demons have cut at them with their daggers, rarely successful, but those intermittent cuts must be adding up because I can feel them slowing slightly.
“Brion said to hang on. He’s coming.” I say to them as quietly as I can. I don’t want to alert the whole horde, in case we can use the element of surprise.
I watch as they thrust and parry. Zakiel gets in a good stab with his dagger and another demon turns to ash.
Please hurry, Brion.
One of the demons stabs Cas in the wing.
Red blossoms on his feathers, and my stomach turns. How much more of this can they take?
“Fuck!” Zakiel yells, doubling his efforts. He kneels and thrusts, then jumps and kicks, swinging his long blond hair over his shoulder. His fighting is a beautiful, deadly dance.
All at once, there’s a glow in the far corner of the room.
I can’t see more than that, but I pray it’s Brion.
Demons start to howl in anguish, and the fighting becomes a frenzy. I see flashes of wings through the crowd, and for the first time, I feel hope.
Help has arrived.
I can’t tell how many angels there are, but it’s a lot. They are cutting their way through the horde to us. Daggers are flying everywhere. Those who don’t have them are fighting hand-to-hand.
I hear an immortal cry of pain not too far from me and look to the right. An angel has been pierced through by three daggers at once. His pained gaze meets mine for a moment before he disappears, leaving only glittery dust falling to the floor behind him.
“Daniel!” Cas shouts.
But there’s no time to consider what the death of an angel might mean, because suddenly Brion is fighting right in front of me.
“Michael betrayed us,” he says to Cas.
“We kind of figured that out on our own.” Cas replies, his voice thick with pain.
“Can we get out of here before we chat?” Zakiel grits his teeth as he thrusts his dagger into another demon. It disappears into grayish dust with a howl of pain.
Cas curses. “Agreed. For every demon we kill, two more appear.”
Brion nods. “I agree.” He raises his voice into a shout. “Retreat!” Then he shouts in Angelish, “Iaxioue! Iaxioue!”
The angels begin to fight their way toward the windows on the far wall. It’s much easier this time because there are so many of them.
Once the demons realize what they’re doing, they redouble their efforts. But the angels are just too strong.
Just as we reach the windows, Cas gets stabbed in the chest.
“Dammit,” Zakiel says through gritted teeth, catching him. “Let’s get the fuck out of here!”
Zakiel and Brion put their fists through the glass at the same time and we burst through, Brion’s arms coming around me at the last second.