Hell's Gift (25 page)

I trudged on, admiring the scenery. The syde was full of vivid colors and exotic animals, none that I tried to befriend, but they were pleasant to look at, nonetheless. Besides the spiders and such I’d encountered earlier, when meeting Prince Damien, I couldn’t see what would be so bad about spending an eternity there.

I’d sent Malcolm on his way after Damien had left me standing beneath the tree. We needed more information, and he was the only one that could dig it up. He’d muttered something about checking in on Josselyn and then poofed out of my head.

I yawned, and then quickly shook my head. Fighting to keep my eyes open was getting extremely difficult, and the dimming of the light around me only made it worse. I guessed Damien was pulling out all his tricks.

I imagined Abbi’s beautiful smile, her hand on my chest over my heart that only beat for her and the look in her eyes as they glistened in the firelight of the small home we’d lived in before tragedy found its way into our lives, leaving us with broken souls and shattered hearts.

Lost in my daydream of better times, I almost didn’t hear the low snarling until the animal’s hot breath was at my back. I heard the snapping of teeth and took off running as fast as my tired legs would carry me.

I glanced over my right shoulder and realized there were two massive creatures at my heel. They weren’t covered with fur, like normal animals, but had hardened scales instead, like a reptile, and their maws had at least three rows of razor sharp teeth, snapping at me. I didn’t have time to study them further, because one of the 400 pound animals darted off to the left, out of sight. I closed my eyes and sprinted faster, praying the beast that was still behind me didn’t all of a sudden turn serious about catching his prey and take a bite out of me.

There was a small hill up ahead of me with a vast clearing beyond it. I pushed my muscles even harder in the hope there was something there that could help me. I had no time to turn and use my spear or climb a tree. The beast would’ve had me mauled if I’d slowed any.

“Malcolm! Help!”

I knew it was a risk shouting for him to help me out loud, but I knew my thoughts were already loud and racing; he should have picked up on my mental instability by now.

No answer from him.

I was nearing the hill and I could see a low hanging branch possibly within my reach. If I jumped hard enough, it was highly likely I could grab on to it and pull myself up into the shelter and safety of the other branches above it. I was only hoping the beast couldn’t climb.

I set my mind to it and pushed harder, getting ready to launch my body into the air, ignoring the burning of the muscles I had already pushed too far. I promised I would rest them if I could just get to safety without being eaten.

Out of my peripheral, I caught sight of the other beast closing in on me from the left side. I had no choice but to change my course and pray I could grab the end of the branch that was just a little higher up from my original mark.

I could do it. There was no doubt in my mind I could make the jump.

I started the ascend of the small hill, and when I reached the top I didn’t dare stop; I was airborne, my arms stretching for the branch, the rhythm of my heartbeat going silent in my chest and the fear threatening to choke me to death. The instant my fingers closed around it I tucked my legs up so the snarling hell-hounds couldn’t get to me.

As I gasped for breath and my heart found a fast but steady rhythm again, I repositioned my arms so I was facing the animals. They were in position and ready to attack, and not at all happy their meal had outsmarted them. Drool dripped from each side of their mouths, their lips curled up, baring their razor-sharp teeth. Long black tongues came out to lick the air and to show me they in no way thought supper-time was over.

As vicious as they looked, all I could do was laugh. I had done it. The prey had escaped the hunter.

My laughter abruptly came to a halt when the branch I was dangling from cracked and then gave a little. I looked swiftly to the still splintering wood and tried to hand-walk my way closer to the trunk, where it was a little more stable.

I glanced down to the ground under me for the first time as I continued to move. There had been a ten foot drop over the hill, so the approximately fifteen foot fall wouldn’t kill me. It probably wouldn’t injure me either if I landed right, but I doubted I had enough momentum to get up speed before I was mauled and eaten by the beasts. They wouldn’t let me live again. Playing with their food was over, and it was clear that it was time to eat.

The dinner bell had rung.

My game was about to be over.

Giving up was not an option, so I continued to work my way toward the base.

My branch was splintering heavily and dropping me further out of reach from the other branches I needed to grab hold of. I swallowed as I glanced down at the growling beasts, then, in one last attempt to save my life, I let go with one hand and swung my body trying to reach the closest branch to me. It was smaller, but I was hoping it would hold me long enough to get to the thicker branch on the other side of it.

In mid-swing my branch snapped and, with wide eyes, I watched my fingers close around air.

I fell.

Chapter 31

Josselyn

Josselyn didn’t have a clue where to find Malcolm, so she started with central. She had noticed it was where he spent most of his time anyway, in the LOD room.

There seemed to be a ruckus going on when she arrived. Several people were just standing outside, by the fountain, looking at the entrance with worried expressions.

She studied them a moment, then left them standing there and walked through the door in a rush.

In the grand hallway, she was almost plowed over from behind by two male angels in tactical LOD wear. They were so consumed by their conversation that they never saw her or even apologized after the fact.

She fell casually into step behind them and enhanced her hearing to hear their quick, muffled voices better. Whatever had happened must have been pretty confidential. She had never seen anyone, not even members of the LOD, act that way.

“I don’t know. Troy said he was unconscious when he walked into LOD. I’ve never heard of an angel losing consciousness. Have you?” One of the males asked the other.

“Wait…” Josselyn said, and placed her hand on the arm of the angel that had been talking. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that she knew the answer to the question before she even asked it, but she had to know what was going on. “Who are you talking about?”

The male looked at her like he hadn’t been aware there was anyone else listening to him besides his buddy. “Uh…I’m not really at liberty to say, ma’am. You shouldn’t even be in here—”

Josselyn grabbed the guy by the front of the shirt and slammed him up against the wall. “Tell…me…what happened.”

His eyes widened in shock and he held his palms out to show her he was unarmed. “Uh…um…I don’t really know. Malcolm was found in front of the speculum a bit earlier, and he was unconscious. We couldn’t get him to respond. His eyes were open, but they looked weird…like crazy weird.” He glanced down to her hands wound tightly in his shirt. “Will you put me down, now?”

Josselyn immediately let him go, and he dropped the three inches to fall squarely on the soles of his always perfectly polished boots.

She glanced away from him, nervous because of what she had done to the male, but even more anxious to find out what had happened to Malcolm. “I’m sorry. I…I—gotta go.”

Josselyn took off, running in the direction of the LOD room, but a group of angels were clustered around the doorway that led to the hall to Isaiah’s office.

Everything appeared to slow down as two, then four, then eight angels turned to stare at her as she grew nearer to the archangel’s door.

Troy was up near the front, sitting on a bench, and when he looked up and her eyes locked with his, she knew. Isaiah knew—they all knew. But that still didn’t explain what had happened to Malcolm.

She kept walking, her head held high. If she was going to be banished, she had every intention of doing it with her pride intact. Perhaps she could really help Rhyan once she got down there with him, she thought.

The crowd of people parted the center of the aisle so she could enter into Isaiah’s business quarters. It was obvious the archangel had been waiting for her. Tears stung her eyes and she willed them not to fall, demanded they not betray her, but nothing worked. The drops of emotion rolled over her cheeks and then vanished as they fell from her jawline.

Troy stood and took her hand in his. She wanted to jerk it away and run from the presence of all the inquiring eyes. They’d only needed a little more time. There was no way Isaiah would listen to her; she had no clue where Rhyan was in his quest, and now something had happened to Malcolm. How could something bad possibly happen to an angel in Heaven?

She wet her lips nervously and glanced at the huge pair of hands encasing her own. “How is Malcolm?” she said, and then cleared her throat.

Troy shook his head, his forehead creasing in confusion. “I dinnae whit’s happened ta ma friend. Isaiah seems tae think that ye dae. He started mumbling aboot demons and Rhyan and ye, but he’s no responsive.” He framed her face in his big hands and encouraged her to look him in the eyes. “I will help. Aw ye need tae dae is ask, Josselyn.”

“Josselyn,” Isaiah said calmly from inside his office.

She nodded to Troy. He removed his hands and took a step back so she could pass.

Josselyn walked the rest of the way down the short hall and knocked on the doorjamb of Isaiah’s business quarters.

“Enter, child, and shut the door behind you.”

Josselyn took a shuddering breath and did as she was told.

Isaiah

Isaiah tossed a journal on his desk and walked to the large open window on the East side of his office.

Heaven was simple, yet exquisite. He looked out at the mountains in the distance, the never-ending amethyst sky, plush green grass, soft enough to lie on without worry of receiving a stain. From where he stood he could see the magnificent clear blue of the Deep Canyon Waterfall. It was one of his most favorite places to go when he needed to think. And thinking was something he’d done much of, of late.

He sighed and shut the window, noticing once more the beauty of his Father’s Kingdom before turning to face Josselyn. There was a single dark spot on the horizon that had only grown in size since he had last observed it. He should have called a meeting sooner.

When he caught her terrified expression, he cringed. He was to blame for everything that had happened, and the angel thought she was at fault, that
she
was to be banished for her actions.

Isaiah motioned to one of the burgundy leather chairs in front of his desk.

Josselyn sat and folded her hands in her lap to keep them from visibly shaking, but that hardly helped when her whole body was trembling.

Isaiah noticed it surprised her when he sat in the other chair beside her instead of sitting in the chair behind his desk. Her eyes widened even more so when he offered her his hand.

She was hesitant, but slipped her hand onto his soft palm. “I don’t understand.”

“Neither do I, child, but I’m praying we can fix the damage together.”

“Where is Malcolm? What has happened to him?”

He pressed his lips firmly together and, for the first time in his long existence, had trouble finding the right words.

After taking a healthy breath, he focused on her again. “Josselyn, were you fond of lima beans as a human?” He already knew the answer, but needed her to speak the answer out loud for her benefit.

Her brow furrowed at his unusual question, but she shook her head and responded without further ado, “No, not particularly.”

He nodded. “I would like for you to tell me that you love lima beans,” he said and then patted her hand.

“But I can’t—”

He nodded in understanding. “You must try, so you will understand what I am trying to explain to you.”

“I love lima beans.” Josselyn’s eyes widened in shock and she covered her agape mouth with her hand.

Isaiah huffed, but squeezed her hand gently. “Malcolm was possessed by a demon and I am the only one to blame.” Josselyn gasped, but Isaiah only continued. “I knew what the two of you would do when you left here after our last meeting; I may have even subconsciously encouraged it a little. Rhyan would not have ever been able to do this mission without your help. Malcolm is good at putting up a shield, but not as good as he thinks he is. I followed every move you made, dear.”

Josselyn took back her hand and nervously looked at her lap.

“I know of you working with Thoros.” Her head shot up at his comment and he smiled. “I see no harm in it as long as you know where your boundaries lie and refuse to let him cross them. Murry is your enemy, and often the enemy of your enemy is your ally. You will need more than the two guards stationed at Kendra’s house when Murry does come, unless you can get Thoros to back you up when that time comes.”

He felt the confused stare at his back when he stood and walk to the window again. “Malcolm should be fine by now. An exorcism has been performed and the demon has been caged. When Malcolm opened a portal so he could pull Rhyan’s spirit to him from Hell, it connected to the LOD’s speculum and allowed evil into the Heavenly Realm. That is why you are able to lie, why every angel has been granted the privilege of an untrue tongue.”

“So, what can we do about that and still help Rhyan?”

“I have sealed the portal, but I’m unsure of the damage it has already caused. I pray the demon we extracted was the only one that slipped through. Malcolm is still Rhyan’s guardian. If he isn’t up for the job after what has happened, then I will take over and try to help Rhyan as best I can. Malcolm has done a fine job so far, but I’m positive he isn’t pleased with me keeping all this knowledge a secret. Until recent events, Rhyan was almost out of the Syde of Sloth.”