Authors: Zoey Marcel
Her
heart ached. Nimbus was the reason. She had been hopelessly in love with him
before, but after being mated to him and finding out how much he adored her,
she couldn't even entertain the idea of leaving. That and it was next to
impossible to overcome this new dark nature of hers.
Seeing
Sully murder an innocent person brought her back to her senses. She must do
something or they would continue to breed these vampire-demon-human hybrids now
that they knew it could be done successfully. They would have armies of these
things. Her son would grow more evil and one day be killed for it. She must
save him. She must protect the innocent, even if it meant never seeing Nimbus
again. Her heart was cut at the thought. Perhaps when he saw her as a black
angel he would be moved to join her. She had become a demon for him, how could
he not be willing to repent for her? She would save him. Perhaps this was meant
to be all along. She could do good and have Nimbus by her side. She wouldn't
have to sacrifice everything anymore. They would be free.
***
Sonya
led Less far away from the manor to make certain she was safe while Sonya met
with Cassiel. She stood outside the gates of heaven with him.
“You
are a succubus now, I see.”
She
nodded. “My son is evil.”
“Demons
generally are.”
“I
need you to make me a crusnik.”
There
was a heavy pause. “Why?”
“What
do you mean why? So I can save my family.”
Cassiel
sighed. “That is noble of you, Sonya, but it has to be for yourself.”
“It
is, but can't I help my family in the process?”
“Repentance
is up to them. If they don't want to change then they won't and nothing you can
say or do will ever alter that.”
Tears
pricked her eyes. “I have to try. I can't lose them. I would do anything for
them.”
“I
know, but what would you do for redemption? If made a crusnik you will be obligated
to feed off vampires. Can you do that? Could you kill Nimbus if you had to?”
She
felt a sharp pain in her chest. “Nimbus isn't a vampire.”
“What
if he was? Could you look him in the eye and slay him? Drink the blood of the
one you mated?”
Tears
trickled down her face. “I won't ever have to because he is an incubus.”
“That
is another thing, Sonya. Being a black angel doesn't automatically make you
good. All it does is restore your angelic nature, but your demonic attributes
will still exist. You will be half angel and half demon. That's what black
angels are. Their souls are divided perfectly in half as a sort of metaphor for
their inability to make up their minds which side they are truly on. You will
be hated by demons, feared by vampires and the disgust of angels. Only mankind
will be grateful for your services and God will commission you,” said Cassiel.
“You may seek companionship if you are lonely, but should you bed vampires or
demons you will damn yourself. Your only hope of redemption now is to slay
vampires and protect mankind from them. Avoid other types of demons, lest they
try to sway you, or render you harm. Never let a vampire bite you or drink your
blood.”
“Why
not?”
He
gave her a look that said to just obey and not question anything regarding her
second chance.
“I
will do whatever I have to,” she agreed.
“You
can't ever sleep with him again. Your succubus nature will constantly long for
your mate and forbidden liaisons, but you must resist keeping the company of
demons.”
Never
touch Nimbus again? Sonya was crushed, but she must do this. “I understand.”
“Kneel.”
She
knelt and Cassiel laid his sword on her shoulder and gave a brief speech and
she said her vows. He stepped back and told her to rise. She gasped when she
felt plumes behind her. She had wings again – black wings. “Thank you, Cassiel.
I won't let you down.”
“You
must do this for God and yourself. It can't be for me.”
The
sultry tone of dusk broke through the celestial stillness. The voice sounded
familiar and hostile. “Sonya!”
Her
heart fell when she saw Nimbus standing there. The blatant disapproval on his
face instilled fear in her and a steady rush of exhilaration at the thought of
him spanking her for being naughty. No. The look in his hellfire-orange eyes
said he was out for blood and the heavy weight on her chest told her that this
was not going to turn out the way she had hoped. “Nimbus, what are you doing
here?”
“What
the devil are you doing here?” he growled as he closed the distance between
them.
“Sully
killed an old woman. I had to do something.”
“So
you stabbed me in the back? I thought blood mates were supposed to be loyal to
one another.”
“You
have my devotion. I just want to save our son.” Her hands were shaking
violently at the rage in his eyes and her heart was pierced over the anguish
she saw in them.
“Will
you read him scripture to save his little demon soul – the one he doesn't
have?” Nimbus taunted. He slapped her face hard.
Cassiel
drew his sword, face teeming with irascibility.
“Cassiel
don't.” Sonya felt her mate's suffering in that slap, “The fortune teller said
Sully would turn evil and be killed by a black angel.”
“So
you decided to join our son's future murderers?” Nimbus shouted. “Why not
assassinate them?”
She
was near tears. “But don't you see? If we raise him right he won't ever be
killed by them.”
He
glared at her. “Do not drag our son into this. You weren't thinking of anyone
but yourself. Is that why you let me claim you – so you could become demonic
and then betray me by becoming a crusnik? You used me to redeem yourself?”
She
wept. “No! I wanted to save your life.”
Nimbus
grabbed her by the throat. “And your soul! I can hear your thoughts, you
traitorous witch!” He snarled at Cassiel to keep him from protecting her, “You
don't care about me, or Sully, or Jude.”
“Maybe
not Jude, but I do care about you and Sully with all my heart.” She gasped for
air when he released her and turned his back to her.
“You
are a bloody liar!” Nimbus shouted. “Jude is a vampire. You would have to kill
him if given the chance. Could you slay one of the fathers of your child? What
about Sully? Our son has vampire in him. Are you going to kill him in the name
of redeeming yourself?”
She
hadn't thought about that aspect of her son. “Of course not!”
“How
do I know that?” He yelled. “You betrayed me in the worst possible way. How do
I know you aren't the dark angel prophesied to kill him? How do you know that
in seeking to avoid your destiny you haven't actually sealed it in stone?”
She
sobbed. “Please don't say that. You can come with me. We will fight evil
together and protect our son.”
He
snorted in disgust. “I know this is difficult for your naive, little mind to
fathom, but I
am
evil. I'm not an
angel, a saint, or even a black angel. Where you cry over lost souls, I rejoice
over them. What you call sin and perdition, I call ecstasy and paradise. You
cannot change me. I'm a bloody demon and so is Sully. Don't pretend you turned
your back on us to save us. You can't and if you walk, you do so on both of us
forever.”
She
wailed. “Please don't make me choose. I want both.”
“You
can't have both! You already chose. You belong to me.” Nimbus held up his hand
and clenched his fist, holding eye contact with her as an invisible pressure
suddenly squeezed her neck as though he was choking her. “I mated you. We are
bound eternally no matter which side you choose to be on. You are out of your
bloody mind if you think I'm going to let you walk away from me and our son.”
Sonya
struggled to breathe as a tear rolled down her cheek and she whispered: “I'm so
sorry. I love you.”
Something
moved through Nimbus' eyes. He looked touched, but he squeezed harder when
Cassiel advanced. “You interfere and she dies.”
Cassiel
halted and Nimbus released Sonya so she could breathe again. “Be gone.”
Nimbus
grinned, but there was no joy in the expression, only the deepest of loathing.
“You would like that wouldn't you, Cassiel? With me out of the way Sonya will
pay more attention to you.”
Cassiel's
violet eyes narrowed. “Enough.”
“Go
ahead. Stab me. You know you want to. You have since the great rebellion,
haven't you? Well, now is your chance,” Nimbus challenged.
“Nimbus,
don’t!” Sonya pleaded.
“Bite
your tongue, woman!”
“Your
purpose here is finished,” Cassiel told him.
“So
how exactly does one go about killing a crusnik, Cassiel?” Nimbus asked slyly,
“Is fire one of the ways? Shall we find out? That would automatically send her
to the underworld I suppose. She could be with her husband and son forever like
a good woman would.”
Nimbus
opened his mouth and sparks of fire shot out and landed close to Sonya, but
nowhere near close enough that he had actually put any thought into aiming. She
knew he missed her deliberately. He was bluffing, but Cassiel didn't know this
and acted before the flame even touched the ground. He plunged his sword into
Nimbus' stomach.
Something
inside of Sonya died when she saw her husband with a massive sword in him and
Cassiel pulling the weapon out of him. “Nimbus!”
She
dropped to her knees next to him and cradled his head on her lap. His body was
turning to stone.
“Oh
god! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have left,” she sobbed uncontrollably, “Nimbus,
I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
His
breathing became desperate and shallow as his skin hardened to granite from the
bottom up. “We could have been happy together, you stupid girl. We were. You
will remember that when I'm gone and it will haunt you forever.”
Sonya
wept, knowing it was true. His words gave her chills even as they killed her.
“Damn
you. It doesn't change anything. I love you, Sonya.”
Her
heart broke, melted and healed over those words. It was the first time he had
ever said them to her. She knew he loved her, but to hear them made the
knowledge of his affection all the more genuine. Why he had waited until now to
say them was damned frustrating, but he said them in the most pivotal of
moments when she needed to hear them most. He said the words and meant them. He
might not have said he forgave her with his lips, but his eyes said he did.
“I
love you too,” she sobbed, “so much. I'm so sorry.”
“Kiss
me,” Nimbus begged. He who had never begged for anything in his life, not even
mercy or forgiveness. He now begged for one last kiss from his mate.
Sonya
joined her lips to his, tongues tangling in a sad, desperate union that was
crumbling all around them as she heard his breathing stop and felt the cold,
rough touch of stone against her skin. She pulled away in time to see his face
hardening into stone and the light left his captivating eyes before they too
went still and silent to their granite death.
“No!”
She bawled loudly, emitting noises of sorrow she had never heard escape her
before, even when she lost her soul. Grief turned to vindictive rage as she
turned and glared at Cassiel while she rose to her feet. “Bring him back.”
“And
damn your soul for eternity? I think not. Have you learned nothing?”