something that offends you?” He asked and she felt herself
shaking her head. It wasn’t his fault she was so far behind.
“No one I’ve met since I found out I was a Hellmouth has been
so forthcoming with useful information. What’s the catch? What
do you get out of telling me this stuff?” Jeremy chuckled.
“You asked me questions, and I answered them. I thought that
was how conversations usually worked. There is no catch Miss
Kailani. We’re merely bringing you to our Master per his
requests. No more, no less.”
“Then why am I strapped to this chair?”
“Well,” She watched his eyes travel down her body then back up,
“You’re a Hellmouth. You could do something dangerous to
yourself and that would be bad for all of us. Master Ophanuel has
asked us to make sure you aren’t harmed in anyway.” He said
and she gave him a droll look.
“I’m in an airplane, thousands of feet in the air. What could I
possibly do to myself?” She asked and he opened his mouth to
say something but William suddenly yelled from the next cabin:
“Don’t give her any ideas dumbass!” And Jeremy’s mouth
snapped shut.
“I really can’t say Miss.” Kailani just sighed.
“And how long is this flight exactly?”
“Just a little over eighteen hours.” He answered; flinching at the
glare she gave him.
“I’m supposed to spend eighteen hours tied to this seat? What if I
have to use the bathroom?”
“Then I will untie you and take you to the facilities myself.”
Jeremy smiled pleasantly and she shook her head.
“No.”
“No?”
“No. You are not taking me to the bathroom. What if you’re
some sort of pervert?” She asked and his face flushed.
“I assure you I would never—!” He started but she cut him off
with a chuckle. “Miss Kailani you really shouldn’t tease me.”
“Who says I’m teasing? You’re not taking me to the bathroom
and neither is old Willy in there.” She raised her voice at the end
to which William growled. “I don’t know either of you from
Adam, how do I know I can trust you?”
“Well Master Ophanuel—”
“How do I know I can trust Ophanuel?” She asked and Jeremy
frowned, growing quiet for a second.
“He’s an angel. An Archangel. Who better to trust than one of
Gods generals?” He asked and it was her turn to frown. Good
question. But she knew an angel and he wasn’t very pleasant to
be around. Even so, was Pierre really doing all this to help them?
Was he just doing his job or was he trying to railroad them? Who
could say that he wasn’t sticking to some sort of angelic
guidebook where they were concerned? She’d never understand
angels but she wanted to believe they were all good, just like in
the stories she, and every other person was fed as a child. Even if
she wasn’t completely sure, she knew one thing to be true; no
matter what Jeremy said about Ophanuel, it wasn’t an angel
who’d gotten her this far, but a demon. She just hoped Leviathan
would still be there when it was all over.
“Hey,” She started and Jeremy stared at her attentively, “What do
you think they’re doing with Leviathan?”
“More than likely they’ll force him back into hell, breaking
whatever hold he had on you. You don’t have to worry about him
anymore Miss. You’ll likely never see him again.” He told her
and she felt her heart sink into the pit of her stomach.
“Say he had a contract to be here, something that was supposed
to keep him here until a specific task was completed. What would
happen to him then?” She asked quickly and he gave her
thoughtful look.
“Well he’d be forced to confess to his lord and would more than
likely be punished. A lesser demon would be destroyed but
baring the fact that The Leviathan is a principality spirit he’d
probably be expulsed into purgatory for the rest of eternity.” He
said and Kailani jerked in her seat, startling the fallen.
“Turn the plane around!” She struggled against her bonds, “Turn
it around I have to go back!” She screamed and Jeremy got to his
feet, making placating gestures as he flitted around her.
“Miss! We can’t return! We have to get to Germany. The demon
will suffer for what he’s done to you. Please don’t worry.” But
she was worrying. She didn’t want Leviathan hurt at all,
especially not because of her. Kailani continued to struggle, tears
pricking her eyes as she kicked and screamed until finally the
restraints snapped and she was able to get to her feet. Before she
could take a single step she felt a jolt of electricity run through
her, her vision immediately dimming as she fell forward into
Jeremy’s waiting arms. “William. That wasn’t very nice.” She
heard him say as her body began to shut down, his muffled
response the last thing she heard before she slipped into
unconsciousness.
Chapter Thirteen
In the last few minutes of their flight to Munich she’d
been bound, gagged, and unceremoniously dumped onto
something hard. The cold of the steel that pressed against her face
and chest pulled her out of the darkness that had consumed her,
leaving her confused and bewildered. Kailani tugged at her arms
in an attempt to test her restraints but before she could move a
fraction of an inch someone lifted their heavy foot and dropped it
against her back. She yelped through the gag only to have the
person kick her again.
“You really have to stop that. Master Ophanuel will be
disappointed if she’s
damaged
in any way.” She was suddenly
yanked to her feet, the blindfold ripped away so quickly she had
to close her eyes to keep from being blinded. When she opened
them again she could only gasp at what she found. They’d made
it to Germany all right, and snow covered everything, blanketing
the world in a quiet peace. They stood in another private airfield;
in a temperature-controlled hanger that sported large glass show
windows in the front. She watched Fred, who must have been
flying the plane; move forward to open a door which William
shoved her through. She instantly regretted it. It was freezing
cold with the wind blowing the snow around, whipping her hair
across her face and chilling her to the bone. She was dressed in
Jeans and a T-Shirt while the three assholes around her sported
heavy-duty winter coats. Before she could begin mentally
complaining about the cold and her gag a large black SUV
swerved into view, a man dressed entirely in black stepping out
and moving to pull the back door open.
“Put her in.” He ordered in a thick German accent and William
willingly obliged, pushing her forward and booting her in the rear
to get her into the back of the truck. She fell face forward against
the leather and turned her head to give him a scathing glare.
“Sergei,” William addressed him with a nod of his head, “What’s
the plan?”
“Master Ophanuel is already expecting you.” The driver said and
Jeremy moved to climb in next to Kailani but was stopped. “Not
you. Him.” He pointed to William who cocked a brow at his
brothers in arms.
“We will catch up.” Jeremy said in a soft voice, stepping out of
the way and allowing William to enter who pushed at Kai until
she was in a seated position. Sergei jumped back into his seat and
off they went, leaving Fred and Jeremy standing on the runway
with befuddled expressions.
The three drove for at least an hour and a half before
Kailani had had enough of not being allowed to speak. So, like
any other American bound and gagged in the backseat of a car on
her way to god knows where, she decided to flip out and start
kicking the back of the drivers seat.
“Stop it!” William shouted next to her, grabbing her legs to still
them, which was a bad idea because she switched her tactics from
kicking the seat to kicking him. Finally, fed up with her behavior
he growled and snatched her gag away. “What is your
problem?!”
“You try sitting up with a scarf in your mouth and see how it
feels!” She shot back and he fell into a silent glare. “Now where
the hell are you taking me?!”
“To see Ophanuel. How many times must you be told?!”
“As many times as it takes to sink in!” She shouted back and a
long suffering sigh sounded from the front seat.
“Master Ophanuel will be disappointed.” Sergei voiced, carefully
navigating them through what’s been nothing but farm country
and small towns for an hour.
“And why is that?”
“You are certainly not what he’s expecting.” Sergei’s cold
demeanor cracked as he chuckled and Kailani found herself
frowning. Who were these people? She didn’t know what to
expect from any of them. Other than William, he’s been a
consistent asshole since she met him.
“Just what is he expecting?” She growled. What she’d meant to
ask was what should
she
be expecting. She was terrified of
meeting Ophanuel.
Because Leviathan wouldn’t be there to
protect her...
Although she balked at the ridiculous thought she
couldn’t deny how true it really was. She couldn’t fathom how
quickly she’d come to rely on Leviathan’s protection, on the
strength he offered her with his presence alone.
“A meek woman, willing to follow his every command.” Sergei
answered and she snorted.
“Who’s he expecting, a flipping Disney Princess?” He just
shrugged.
“He is the master. The master will get what he wishes no matter
what.” Was his absurd answer. Kailani was about to return to
kicking them both when he made a sharp turn through a small
cropping of buildings, leading them up a path that was
surrounded by dense forest. She watched in awe as they made
another turn and a beautiful castle loomed into view. The scene
was something out of a fairytale, a summer romance novel
brimming with tales of wicked witches with apples and dashing
princes on white horses. It was as if they’d been transported to a
different country all-together, the endless fields of wildflowers
and the thick foliage a betrayal to the harsh winter weather they’d
just driven out of. It was like walking out of a cold, foggy,
nightmare and into the waking world of some fairy princess who
lived in a far away land.
“Holy shit. This is where Ophanuel lives?” She heard herself ask
as they drove even further into the dreamscape that created an
awe inspired, pregnant silence around them. Ophanuel’s castle sat
carved into the side of a mountain, surrounded by enormous
beech, oak, and elm trees that stretched their branches towards
the open blue sky. The architecture of the castle alone was
something to marvel at, each tower, each peaked roof adding to
the overall allure of the seemingly drawn to life palace. The
massive fortress stood proudly against a mountain backdrop that
looked as if it had been painted into the sky itself. The setting sun
spit colors of orange and magenta that made the sandstone castle
look as if it were glowing. A deep blue lake flanked the back of
the castle, reflecting the suns light and separating the colossal
structure from the wilderness that lay beyond. Several smaller
buildings that must have served as service quarters littered the
grounds of the estate as they drove through the sprawling forest
towards the castle. Angels dressed from head to toe in gleaming
silver armor perched at what must have been strategically thought
out locations but to her just seemed random. “I don’t believe it.”
She muttered as Sergei pulled them up and around a long
driveway and into a gatehouse. More guards stood at the
entrance, holding an array of weapons both ancient and modern,
wings of the purest white adorning their backs and draping nearly
to the flagstone at their feet. Sergei pulled to a stop at the gates,
one of the aforementioned guards trotting over to take a quick
glance inside the vehicle, finally giving them the all clear and
allowing them to drive into the castle. William was the first to
open his door after Sergei pulled to a stop, jumping out and