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Chapter One
A siren screams past on the 101 Freeway not far from where I’m perched atop the South San Francisco Conference Center. Lights at night reflecting off the San Francisco Bay usually make it feel magical, but it feels anything but that at the moment. I’m on high alert and shift to stretch one leg then the other, glad only that I can disappear my wings when not in use since we’ve been in these tight confines for way too long.
“Be still, Gladriel. You’ll give us away,” Astread, my partner and BFF, warns in a hushed tone, crouching beside me.
I harrumph. My back’s stiff, and my legs are practically numb from hunching in this position beneath a large metal vent. It rises a good four feet from the roof, then curves forward, affording us aerial cover from passing enemy but offering zero comforts. I may be immortal, but that doesn’t mean my body enjoys this treatment.
Angelic brightness dimmed because we’re in enemy territory, we’ve been surveilling the area for the last five hours.
As part of the cherubim army, I swore an oath to guard and protect all that is the Almighty’s from the Enemy, and that includes humans. But daylight fled and darkness fell and nothing remotely resembling a threat has materialized despite intelligence reports cautioning us to the contrary.
The other four members of our squadron are paired up and scattered across the area, but none of them has communicated they’ve spotted danger either.
With nothing of interest to focus on, I allow my mind to wander to events from this morning, and I feel my stomach flutter. I can’t help but smile.
“What a fake, Gladriel! Well done.”
The deep, masculine bellow comes from the wooden benches surrounding the fresh, sawdust-covered sparring circle, from Kessien, my muscled squadron leader who just bolted up, followed by his raucous clapping.
His beautiful, beaming face makes my stomach flutter—it’s so annoying—despite attempting to focus on Astread and what she’s cooking up next to try on me. I’ve never allowed myself to have feelings for someone I work so closely with, and I’m not about to start; it would make things weird for the whole squad. If only my body had gotten the memo.
“Way to go!” Aliyah, a teammate, shouts encouragement, bouncing on the balls of her booted feet beside our leader.
One of another pair going at it in the next ring over barks as he lunges forward, connecting with his opponent’s blade. The female beats her wings, skittering sideways to avoid his follow-up. Looks like they’re evenly matched.
“You can do it, Astread,” Jael calls from beside Aliyah.
Issra, on Kessien’s other side, adds a two-fingered whistle for good measure to bolster my competition. What a male.
Kessien’s still clapping. He’s toned, not bulky, but definitely built, and in his black leathers… Gabriel, help me. I don’t want “a relationship,” but I appreciate eye candy when I see it. And I don’t deny myself.
He sends me a wink, to which my body again responds, this time by dispatching a quiver that races through my gut. Stupid, fickle body, get with the program.
Astread increases my angst when—her back to our cheerleaders—she laughs, then feigns several kisses. Blast her.
I lick my lips, quashing the smile that’s begging to erupt. I’ve tried to shut down her kidding, but it’s only encouraged her further. There’s nothing going on between Kessien and me, now or ever.
Why won’t she believe me? Why won’t my stomach?
Standing on the balls of my feet, I force myself to focus on honing my skills—it is why we’re here, after all—flitting my gaze between her eyes and feet as I tighten the grip on Phantom, my sword. I will the flame of my celestial blade hotter, from dull red to orange, just to make things more interesting.
She grins, then mimics in response with Decimation, her blade. The look in her eyes shifts from playful to intense as she clenches her jaw.
Game on.
Holding my blade steady, I wait until she turns her toes left in response to seeing me glance over the top of her left wing, toward our cheerleaders. She always gives herself away.
I feint right, but she’s not buying it this time. At the last second, she pivots and lunges right, barely blocking.
The flames of our blades clash in a flash of white light, and a wave of blazing heat races in all directions.
Humans will probably think there’s been another solar flare. It’s a safe bet considering the distance between here in the third heaven and Earth.
Regrettably, the heat will make my long, golden locks a frizzy mess, but the sacrifice will have been worth it, because she’s off-balance.
I capitalize on the opportunity, slicing up and left. She lets out a howl when Phantom finds purchase in her side.
“I yield.” She holds up a hand before bending forward and grabbing the wound.
Our cheerleaders race to her aid—Aliyah will heal her and have her good as new in no time—but before they reach us, she presses on her wound, straightening with a wince, and says in a hushed tone, “There’s a picture for you.”
I furrow my brow.
“… of what you and Kessien could be… if you’d let it.” She grins before grimacing.
“What, a flash in the solar flare pan?” I joke.
She shifts, moving close. “No, fiery, passionate lovers.”
I snort, then roll my eyes.
A seagull screeches overhead, bringing me back. I wish it hadn’t because I was enjoying my reverie. I chuckle to myself.
Fluffy clouds drift across the almost full moon, but the smell of Chinese food from King Sun Buffet next door makes me wrinkle my nose. It smells like a mixture of lard and sweat in an old basement, and it’s getting more pungent the longer we’re here. I’ll take Indian any day. The fragrance—yes, fragrance—of sautéing onions, curry, and other complex spices… I barely staunch a moan. It’s divine. My heavenly body doesn’t need such sustenance, but hey, it’s fine cuisine, and I’ll indulge every time. Enough said.
Astread nudges me before I can revel in my food fantasy further, and I turn to watch a couple emerge from the Holiday Inn on the other side of the conference center.
I scan the skies, looking for the pack of squalid, mangy menaces we’ve been expecting. Where are they? When will they strike?
The man takes the female’s hand—ah, amore. Chivalry’s not dead with this one—and they head for the sidewalk that stretches beside the four-lane road running in front of the conference center. No doubt they’re heading for the restaurant. It’s the only place to eat within walking distance.
The woman laughs at something her companion says, and I smile at how cute they are.
A disturbance forces me to tear my gaze away from their easy banter and focus instead on a vehicle several blocks away that’s approaching from behind them at high speed, heavy-metal music blaring out the open windows.
Human senses aren’t nearly as acute as that of spiritual beings, and I know they won’t hear it until it’s nearly on them.
My sore muscles scream as I tense, readying to unfurl my four wings in an instant if I need to. Astread turns her head as she notices but otherwise doesn’t flinch. If we intervene, it’ll blow our cover—not that the humans will see us, because they won’t, but who knows who else might. Regardless, I won’t allow this couple to come to harm, if it comes to that.
The man laughs as they stroll past a streetlight.
My pulse speeds as the car continues careening toward them, running a red light two blocks away and cutting off a pickup truck entering the intersection. The driver of the pickup screeches to a stop and lays on the horn, but the sound does nothing to stop the maniac.
“Demon. Has to be,” I whisper.
Astread bobs her head. I draw my celestial dagger, readying as the threat nears. Always the controlled one, my partner, again, doesn’t otherwise react.
Eyes wide, the strolling couple whirls around when the sounds of the commotion reach them. Turning back, they hurry inside the restaurant.
I exhale when the door closes behind them.
“See, nothing to worry about.” A corner of Astread’s mouth hitches as she continues watching the errant car. “Oh, ye of little faith.”
I shake my head. “I may be an overprotective worrywart, but don’t say I lack faith. Them’s fightin’ words.”
She chuckles.
But the sound of a revving engine and screeching tires has me pivoting my head again, and I suck in a breath because that car swerves into oncoming traffic to get around a vehicle in its way.
Beastly demons! Too bad guardian angels aren’t real.
I spot the repulsive, leather-skinned demon, that’s the size of a terrier, latched onto the neck of the rogue car’s passenger as he makes a profane gesture out the window when they’re even with the driver of the offending vehicle. That demon has him under its control, and it’s not about to release him; it’s having way too much fun, judging by the loud cackle the thing lets loose.
If only humans could sense these bastards!
Demons roam in packs, so I guarantee there are more than one in that vehicle, and I again ready to launch.
“Hold. Don’t ruin the mission,” Astread says, grabbing my arm.
She’s always better than me at detaching herself from the drama and staying focused on our orders. I can’t help it. I hate situations like this. The notion that we’re supposed to let these mangy misfits wreak havoc “for the good of the mission” always grates on me. Those demons will get humans killed at this rate—it’ll look like the humans are nothing more than a victim of drunk driving. I huff to myself. Hardly.
Is that really “God’s will”? No, it can’t be. It’s capricious, and God’s not that… is he? I pause to consider. I’m hardly an expert. I’ve only seen him when he reviews the troops. A shiver runs down my back as memories of those times flash through my mind. In his white suit and tie, he’s so bright, it’s blinding… and intense… and, I’ll admit it, a bit scary. No one so much as flinches. I’ve no delusions he couldn’t whup our butts if we stepped out of line, but who’d be stupid enough to test him? No, he’s powerful enough that I can’t see him needing to stoop to being capricious. It would be petty for someone like him. Right?
I shake my head. I’m a warrior, not some brainiac, powerful archangel. That’s above my pay grade.
Refocusing, I only barely squelch a squeak as, still in the wrong lane, another car approaches, heading their way.
I can’t look, but I can’t tear my gaze away either, and my heart again accelerates. We have to do something.
“How do you know this isn’t the threat we were warned about? There are demons involved,” I growl, not taking care to keep my voice low.
Astread glances over. “How do you know it is? The warning said to watch for a ‘significant’ conflict involving the enemy. This is hardly that.”
I barely bite my tongue. It is to the humans involved.
The driver’s will to live must be strong because it’s the only way he regains control from his tormentor for a split second and darts back into the proper lane just before they would have collided head-on. Unsurprisingly, the other driver lays on her horn.
You tell ’em, lady!
My breathing slows as the car careens on, leaving a cacophony of horns in its wake.
I return my dagger to its holster and draw a hand to my leathered chest. I may not be “old” in immortal terms, but I’m too old for this crap.
Before my heart fully returns to its normal pace, a telepathic alarm sounds in my ear. I plug one ear with my finger to better hear the voice of the heavenly dispatcher. “We’ve got a code 666 on Coast Highway 1 near Pacifica.” Astread, plugging an ear, tenses beside me. “Demonic activity is behind a massive mudslide burying multiple vehicles. The enemy, including Fallen warriors, have been spotted. Multiple humans down. Proceed with extreme caution.”
This is bad. It’s really bad. But fallen angels are there too. That’s odd. Led by Lucifer himself, fallen angels are nothing but pompous, deluded scum. Seems the Enemy is pulling out all the stops.
“Squadrons 427, 132, 698, 546, and 336 report for duty,” she finishes.
Squadron 132, that’s us. Pacifica is just south of here. We were so close, but not close enough when it mattered. I wish we could have stopped this before it started.
I clench my teeth as I duck out from under cover, unfold as I stand, then hands on hips, extend my wings. “Guess we found the ‘significant’ threat,” I murmur.
“Understatement, much?” Astread’s tone is light as she stretches, pushing feeling back in her extremities too.
“I hope you gave it your best shot, fallen pretty boys, because you’re going down,” I growl, tightening the band that’s keeping my hair confined.
Kinks worked out and blood flow restored a minute later, we high-five. Astread looks south and grins, a glint in her eyes as we launch.
Chapter Two
My fingers twitch on Phantom’s hilt as we slow, far enough away from the scene of devastation so as not to be seen but close enough to take it in. In the light of the nearly full moon, my stomach drops.
Demons and Fallen warriors have converged, and through a cloud of them, I can make out a huge rockslide. What clearly used to be a section of the coast highway is just gone. Soil above the sheer cliff, along which the road ran, has come loose, and like lava from an erupting volcano, it’s left a trail of devastation all the way to where it plunges into the ocean below.
I swallow hard. How many humans have lost their lives? I can only hope, due to the hour, not many were on this stretch of road. My shoulders curl forward. Who am I kidding? Demons wouldn’t have created this chaos if they hadn’t extinguished a good number of humans in the process. It’s what they do.
Blighters.
Astread stops beside me, hovering. An unnatural calm and focus has replaced the glint in her eyes. She’s downright scary when she gets this way, and rightly so with the sight before us. She’s definitely a force to be reckoned with.
It’s a good thing too, because I want nothing more than to kick some demon butt, then get to the humans.
The host of Fallen warrior angels stretches out between us and the cloud of swirling demons, no doubt to slow us down from rescuing the humans. They may slow us, but they’re undisciplined idiots, and we’ll dispatch them soon enough. Like Lucifer, these pretty boys and girls indulged their vanity and the Almighty clipped their bottom wings, then kicked them out of heaven before they could contaminate the place.
Darn right.
Clearly someone higher up planned their mission because they’re not that smart. Gesturing with their drawn swords, they don’t scare me or any self-respecting cherubim. I’ve never found it hard to discover and exploit their weaknesses. They’ll soon feel our wrath and abandon their objective.
“Yip. Yip. Yip. Yip. Yip.”
“Screech.”
“Caw. Caw.”
Their noise is deafening as they swoop and dive, celebrating their mischief. It amps up my impatience, but we need the rest of our ranks and a plan before we can whack some feathered butts.
I jiggle a wing—it’s a nervous habit—trying to control myself as I scan the area, searching for friendlies but spot none. It’s taking too long. I purse my lips. Those humans won’t have long. We need to get to them before it’s too late.
I need to move. Once I’m fighting, I’ll be fine, but I’m no good at waiting, especially when human lives are on the line.
Seconds later, I spot the other four of our squad approaching fast.
Kessien and Jael halt and hover beside us, catching their breath. Kessien’s strong jaw is set, and Jael opens and closes his fists, his steel-blue eyes focused, in battle mode. Aliyah and Issra, the other two members of our squadron, are nearly here.
Our squadron is the first to arrive, and with our angelic brilliance dimmed, our enemy hasn’t spotted us yet or they’d be attacking. I just hope the rest of our forces arrive soon.
A plume of lingering dust from the rockslide reaches us, and I grab for my nose, but I’m not fast enough. Despite taking a deep breath through my mouth, I can’t suppress a sneeze. I catch it against the inside of my elbow, doing my best to keep it quiet.
Jael doesn’t react, just studies the scene before us, and I exhale. But Astread shakes her head, frowning.
I throw up my hands and roll my eyes, to which she gives me another shake of her head, but a corner of her mouth hitches as she returns her gaze to the roiling minions.
Kessien winks, making my stomach quiver.
Knock it off. Stupid stomach.
Fingering the hilt of my sword, I study the legion of demons. They’re all larger than the menace in the car earlier; roughly the size of wolves, they no doubt weigh a good 200 pounds each. Moonlight shines off their bald heads. Between that and their pointed ears, crude, protruding canine teeth, and leathery skin that has hardened into a tough, black coat, they’re as fierce and hideous as the zombies humans fear, only with wings.
Every time I see these things, my skin crawls. I’ve been a warrior for eons, but some things are just… nope, nope, nope.
It’s not long before Zerell, leader of Squadron 427, Adellum, Squadron 546 leader, Tubiel of 698, and Esme of 336, along with their warriors, arrive.
Kessien alone turns his back to the chaos—he knows we have his back if the situation changes in the slightest—as he motions the leaders to gather.
In a low murmur, he says, “I propose we hit the middle of the Fallen with three of our squads as a distraction while the other two each attack a flank. Penetrate the flank, permeate the debris, and start checking for the living. It should be the fastest way. Once the Fallen and legion bug out”—because they always do—“we’ll all help with rescue efforts.”
Heads bob, and Zerell, eyes studying the chaos, brings his hands up to his lips. “We’ll take a flank.”
“So will we,” agrees Esme, flipping her blonde ponytail over a shoulder. I’m not surprised she volunteered. Like me, she has a particular affinity for humans.
“Very well. Then the rest of us will hit the middle.” Kessien’s golden hair ripples in the slight breeze as he draws his blade and turns to face the enemy. Broad shoulders pushing back, he’s wholly focused, and I have to say I love that look on him.
Astread bumps my shoulder when I’m still looking at him, and a corner of her mouth rises, to which I wrinkle my nose.
She holds out a fist to start our pre-mission ritual. I bring mine down on it. Habit has me reciprocate, extending my fisted hand, and she brings hers down. No matter how big or seemingly small the assignment, it’s what we do. I don’t even remember how it started, but we’ve done it for as long as I can remember.
Zerell’s and Esme’s squads separate, keeping their brilliance muted, and head toward the breech points on either side. I silently draw my sword, along with Astread and the rest of my comrades. Then we spread out in a v-formation, ready to drive a wedge through the middle of their lines.
Once everyone is in position, Kessien raises an arm, and we kill the dampening on our celestial brilliance and let ourselves shine as we charge forward. The white light from our blades adds yet more awe to our presence. With only the light of the nearly full moon before, the contrast is shocking to be sure. Exactly what we want.
Astread and I share a smile as the legion of demons stutters in flight for half a second and the Fallen warriors visibly balk.
We’re on them in seconds. My BFF at my back, I reach a fallen angel warrior, and it takes me all of seconds to feint left, then run my blade through his right side. He doesn’t see Phantom coming. He bellows in pain, then winks out of sight, hauling it to their infirmary in second heaven, no doubt.
Astread’s having equal success as I hear another pained exclamation, and then she laughs a maniacally resonant sound behind me. It’d send a chill through me if I didn’t know her.
I’m on to my next victim. This female’s nostrils flare, no doubt pissed, as soon as she sets eyes on me. But being emotional will only impair any skill she has—one more confirmation they really don’t teach them anything down there.
I feint left. Surprisingly she mirrors, and I easily block her blade. But she’s left her side open.
I choose not to overthink it as I’ve been known to do and go with my gut, beating my wings and pivoting. My blade finds purchase, slicing through her black leathers like butter. A second later, she snarls at me before disappearing.
What? Are you a cat? Please, have some self-respect.
The instant the fallen angels realize our strategy, they swarm, trying to surround us.
Yeah, good luck with that.
Just before my next opponent reaches me, I spot Kessien and Jael at the tip of our formation, mowing down the enemy like harvesting wheat. Their blades are white blurs, their expressions fierce, and something in my heart stirs. They’re both beautiful in action.
I take out my next two opponents with Astread at my back, meeting equal success.
It’s not long before we hack our way through the fallen angel enemy line and start attacking them from behind. Zerell’s squadron flows like water through the hole we create. It’s all I can do not to shout my excitement, but I’m more disciplined than that.
The writhing flock of demons that’s been insulated by their fallen brothers must decide they’ve had enough because we’re nearly on them and they beat a hasty retreat.
Good riddance.
But once again, the Fallen prove how half-witted they are. The warrior across from me bares his teeth and rolls his shoulders, locking eyes with me. Idiot. They haven’t yet given up the fight.
Fine. Bring it.
He beats his wings and charges me.
I raise my sword, letting the flame blaze white as I give him my best smile. It only angers him more. Mission accomplished.
He’s within a yard of me, committed and unable to change directions, and our swords collide. Once, twice, thrice. I let him think I’m struggling just a little, let him think he’s gaining an edge. Let him grow cocky. Then I wink.
With four wings, I have the advantage when it comes to maneuverability, over his two. His eyes bulge as I beat my wings, jetting around to his side before he can react. Phantom slices through his hip, and he disappears.
I dispatch my next opponent, a pretty male, then turn to see my partner playing with another Fallen warrior. I know she’s playing because she’s not in his face. Sorry to ruin her fun, but I’m wearying of this. Humans need rescuing.
I beat my wings, lowering myself slightly, then pivot around her and land a roundhouse kick to her opponent’s groin.
Her adversary doubles over, and Astread’s mouth drops open, an accusatory expression mounting her face.
I shrug. “Just trying to help. Shall I finish him, or would you like the honors?”
“I will. Thanks.” Her tone is clipped, but I know she’s not mad at me, not really. She goes for the warrior’s neck.
He catches the air with a mighty beat of his wings, lunging to the side, but I spot silver gushing from his neck before he clutches it. She must have nicked a major vein. Like the others, he vanishes before she can do more damage.
I pause long enough to realize the other squadrons have the few remaining Fallen weenies well in hand, and I jet for Kessien.
“Kessien, permission to help the humans.” It tumbles out in a rush.
Sorry, not sorry.
Before he can reply, through our telepathic link, Esme’s voice quakes, “We need help, stat. So far we’ve found fifteen cars buried with multiple humans still inside each. There may be more. Oh, and if they’re alive, there are demons.”
Chapter Three
My wings twitch. Every human has a demon attached to them? What darkness, what evil were these people courting? And why?
I shake my head. Now’s not the time to wonder. Those humans will run out of air if we aren’t quick about it.
Kessien alerts Tubiel and Adellum, the other two squadron leaders, of our plan.
Issra and Aliyah each dispense with another Fallen warrior then swoop to a stop and hover beside me, wiping their brows and panting.
The telltale flashing lights of three red rescue trucks and another three patrol cars screech to a stop on the road near the avalanche, and their personnel barrel out, along with several dogs on leads that immediately start barking.
I’m glad humans have arrived, but they’ll never make it in time with their brethren buried deep.
Jael’s been surveying things beside Kessien, finger tapping his lips. I can’t read him. He’s always as calm as a tranquil sea. Drives me crazy sometimes, but I digress.
Astread is nowhere near as antsy as I am, but her wrinkled brow and the fact that she’s biting a lip—so unusual for her—tell me she’s equally concerned as she floats beside me.
A pair of helicopters arrive and hover above the scene. They keep their distance, probably so they don’t stir up more dust, but their light helps illuminate the area.
“We’ve got this,” Tubiel wheezes through our telepathic link, then exhales sharply as another Fallen warrior disappears not far away.
“Go, help with the rescue,” Adellum grunts a second later. I spot her taking on a pair of Fallen a ways away. Thankfully, her partner has her back, because they’re surrounded.
I extinguish Phantom’s flame and sheath it as Kessien nods at Jael who holds up a calloused hand. We all respond, joining with a hand of our own, then through our connection shout, “Let’s do this!” It’s our squad’s custom once Kessien gives out assignments. So many traditions, what can I say? We’re as bad as humans in that regard.
The instant we finish, I take off like a lightning bolt, not willing to wait for the rest of the squad when humans are dying. “You good handling the demons while I check the humans?” I ask when Astread catches up; my mind’s a whirl, figuring out how to save each one.
I glance over a wing. The others have caught up, too, and fly four abreast behind us. Kessien’s directly behind me, and when our gazes connect, my heart skips a beat.
What is wrong with me? Kessien and I have worked together for millennia. Now, with just his nearness, my body suddenly betrays me?
My hand trembles when I run it down my leathers, trying to rein in my mutinous body. This has got to stop.
Astread gives me a hard look. “How about we make sure each of the human’s time is not yet fulfilled, first?”
I give my wings a strong downbeat and race forward as I huff under my breath. I love her, but I want to scream. She knows how I feel about rules like this. Forget the stupid regulations for once. We can save lives.
“Glad, stop.” She catches up and extends a gloved hand. “We’ve no idea how saving one whose life is complete could change the entire course of human history.”
“Isn’t the Almighty powerful enough to compensate?” I’ve never dared voice my objection, but I’m frustrated. Some regulations are just plain stupid.
The helicopter blades beating the night air grow more deafening as we near. Combined with the flashing red lights from more rescue vehicles arriving, it’s sensory overload.
“You’re cranky tonight, Glad. You argued about intervening with that human driver, now this.” She pauses for effect, smiling. “What’s got your panties in a twist?”
We’ve spent considerable time with humans and adopted a good many of their sayings, but this one has always conjured the funniest image to me, and Astread knows it. Leave it to her to try and lighten my mood. I can only roll my eyes.
But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m sick of crap regs like this.
Kessien and the others continue flying behind us, but his deep voice still breaks through our telepathic link, cutting off my reply. Probably for the best.
“Esme and her squad are deep in the landslide on the left side. Zerell and his warriors are on the right. Jael, Aliyah, and Issra, go help Esme. Astread, Glad, come with me. We’ll help Zerell. Exercise extreme caution because they tell me the soil is very unstable.”
I furrow my brow, then look back to see Issra rub his chin. Aliyah tilts her head beside him. Everyone’s gaze bounces between our fearless leader and me. He always pairs up with Issra and Aliyah when our squad splits in two. His partner, Jael, always comes with Astread and me. Why is he swapping with his partner?
I make eye contact with Aliyah behind us and wish I hadn’t because her confusion gives way to a corner of her mouth hitching.
I shrug, playing it cool, but my stomach quivers. Astread doesn’t help when she nudges my wing and winks.
I can only frown and shake my head. Jael and Issra are focused on the emergency and oblivious to the goings on—such amazing teammates… and typical males.
I choose to ignore more scrutiny and turn my attention to the scene we’ve nearly reached.
Seven dump trucks and an equal number of earth movers aboard flatbed trucks pull to a stop. A dozen pairs of yellow-suited rescuers are braving the shifting soil, along with their dogs, and look like yellow ants fanned out across the span of the landslide searching for any signs of life.
The others head out, and Astread and I have just finished our ritual, pounding each other’s fist, when Kessien stops beside me.
Focus, Glad! I berate myself when my gaze lingers on his big, beautiful wings when he beats them down, hovering.
“Zerell said they’re working from the top of the cliff, down, so we’ll start at the bottom and work our way up.” Kessien points to our destination on the right side of the slide, just above the pounding waves.
Seconds later, my feet sink in the loose soil and I furl my wings.
“Fan out and keep in constant contact. When you find a buried vehicle, let’s work it together.” Kessien extends his arms toward the wall of dirt.
“Here we go,” Astread says, vanishing her wings and stepping into and then through the dirt of the landslide. Kessien and I mimic, blending with the debris.
As celestial beings, an act of will gives us the choice of blending with physical objects or accepting their resistance. I would be completely frustrated if I had a physical body like humans right now, but I digress.
Permeating a solid mass always feels like walking through quicksand, and this time is no different. Silence engulfs me as I take careful, labored steps, heading straight back, into the heart of the beast. Tuned in to my companions’ telepathic frequencies, their breathing is the only sound, and it comforts me.
Cars buried down here would have been the first pushed over the cliff at the tip of the avalanche and will have experienced the worst damage based on how far they fell. I swallow hard. These people will be well and truly beaten up.
“Finding anything yet?” I ask to silence the disquieting thoughts.
“Not yet,” my BFF replies.
“No. Times like this I wish we could see through dirt.” I hear determination in Kessien’s steady voice.
“Hear! Hear!” Astread chimes in.
I strain as I push my way through a huge basalt boulder in my path. It’s definitely denser than the surrounding rock but no way will it stop me.
It’s been several minutes, and we’ve called out to one another several times before neon blue metal comes into view in my celestial brightness.
“I’ve… I’ve got one.” Excitement fills me as my heart picks up pace.
“Be right there,” Astread assures.
“Good job, Glad. I’m coming.” Relief flavors Kessien’s voice.
I trace the outline of the car with my hands. The metal is denser than the recently sifted rock surrounding it and makes it easy to pick out.
“It’s pointed downward,” I relay to my companions. “Its nose is rumpled like an accordion.”
“What else?” Astread asks.
“I’m heading for where the driver’s door should be.” My breathing labors as I feel my way in that direction. “This car is in bad shape.”
“There you are.” Kessien reaches me first, having homed in on my telepathic signal, the way we always locate one another. He brushes my arm with a gloved hand, and lightness fills my chest.
Stupid, traitorous body. I’ve got no bandwidth for this crap.
I lift my arm, effectively removing Kessien’s hand as I feign searching for the door. Because it’s what I should be doing, rather than fawning over him.
“Nearly there,” Astread says.
Not soon enough.
Chapter Four
“I feel the door handle.” I use the debris as a step and raise up, finding the window to my left. “The glass is shattered but in place.” My jaw tenses. “Kessien, you said there’s probably a demon still in there?”
“Esme said that’s what they’ve encountered with every human they’ve found alive so far. No idea why.”
So a blessing with a curse, like so many things.
A second later, my partner emerges beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Took you long enough.” I reserve my comment only for her through our connection.
She just snickers. Little minx.
I unsheathe my celestial dagger; the space is way too cramped for Phantom. “I’ll take care of the demon, but I need you both to get the glass out of the way so I can puncture the airbag, then go after it.”
“On it.” Astread moves around me until her elbow skims my shoulder.
Kessien brushes my thigh with a shoulder as he moves into position below me. Of course my treacherous body can’t help but respond, sending a shiver through me despite the serious situation.
Get. A. Life.
“Ready,” my BFF indicates a minute later.
“Astread, on three,” Kessien says. “We’ll grab the glass and pull it forward, out of the way. Keep it as close to the car as possible.”
“Sounds good.” I can tell from her tone that my BFF is back in the zone.
“One.”
I grip my blade tightly.
“Two.”
I bring it back because this sucker’s gonna pay if it’s still feeding on this human.
“Three.”
In the light of our brilliance, one hand from each of them moves through the glass, which shatters fully as they force it out, then down.
“All yours, Glad,” Astread says.
Despite all our racket, I’ve no doubt that if there’s a demon in there, it hasn’t given up its human prize and bugged out voluntarily. It’s not what they do.
I swallow hard and pray this human is still alive.
“Here goes.” I tighten my grip on my blade, then thrust forward, puncturing the airbag near the top and drawing a long line down.
I bat at the material, trying to get it out of the way as my partners pull it down. A second later, I spot the hideous creature and cheer inwardly.
The human male’s black seat belt holds him firmly against his seat, his face cradled in the detonated airbag. But a terrier-size demon rests on the man’s left shoulder, back toward me. It’s just removing its boney fingers from the back of the man’s head where it’s been feeding, no doubt planting thoughts of crippling fear.
No more, sucker.
I give the menace no time to react, plunging my blade into its sinewy neck and pulling down hard. Excitement must give me extra strength because the thing’s head flops to one side, still attached by a thread, and silver blood sprays.
I turn my head, taking it on the cheek. The spray dies down seconds later, but the demon doesn’t wink out of sight like always.
How? This never—
A loud screech sounds from the passenger seat, distracting me, and another demon barrels toward me.
Two humans survived.
Yeeesss. My pulse speeds.
A burst of energy hits me as the second demon sticks its hideous face in mine, mouth open. I raise an arm to block, and my blade strikes its leathery chest. If I can hit its neck….
I must succeed because no sooner have I thought it, than the thing screeches again and vanishes. I scan the back seat for more surprises and exhale when I find none—no more demons or humans.
But as I take in the hideous, nearly beheaded demon slumped over the back of the unconscious man still leaching silver blood, my heart practically beats out of my chest. I killed it. An immortal demon. It didn’t wink away to regenerate.
As if an echo, surprise flavors Kessien’s voice as he says, “You killed the thing, Glad. It’s been eons since an angel killed a demon.” He moves up beside me to get a better look, then pokes it.
“How?” I sheath my dagger with a trembling hand, trying to wrap my head around this.
“Partner.” Wonder tints my BFF’s words. “You really did kill it. Its head is partly attached.” Astread peers over my shoulder.
My stomach clenches for a wholly different reason because they’re right. It has been ages. The last time it happened, demons took revenge on the angel who did it in a gang-style retaliation the day after.
Astread pats my shoulder. “Hey, you’ll be fine, Glad. We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”
“She’s right, they can’t hurt you with us around.” Kessien bobs his head.
I can only nod at their attempts to encourage me.
“Let me get that thing off him,” Kessien says.
I retreat a step toward Astread, out of the way but still close enough to see, giving him room to get his muscular shoulders through the narrow window and push the demon’s body up and into the empty back seat. Silver blood gushes the whole time and coats Kessien’s leathers by the time he’s done. It’s thoroughly disgusting.
He pulls back and straightens, wiping his hands on his leathers. It does absolutely nothing to clean him up because he’s covered in dirt and demon blood. We all are.
I pinch the slimy skin at my throat, worry eating me alive. They mean well, but they can’t be around me all the time. What am I going to do?
Brow furrowed, Astread mercifully changes the subject. “These people need rescuing.”
“Yes. Yes, they do.” I move back in beside Kessien, our sides brushing, but I clamp down on the fluttering stomach crap because we’ve got to save these people.
Kessien reaches for the driver’s earlobe and runs a finger underneath. “One zero nine, two five four.”
I rub the back of my neck. He’s checking for the man’s expiration date. “The guy’s alive. Let’s just save him, shall we?” My words hold bite.
Kessien turns toward me and, with a soft tone that’s rich with understanding, says, “At times, I wish we didn’t have these regulations either, Glad, but we do.”
Not one for sentimentality, Astread interjects from behind us, “That number’s too long. That’s the number of hairs on his head, not his remaining lifespan. Try lower.”
Kessien meets my gaze, and a pained expression mounts his face. He pauses from assessing the man and puts a large but gentle hand on my arm. “I know you’re worried about demonic retribution but don’t. Everything will be okay, Glad. I’ll make sure of it.”
I want to look away, the intimacy is too much, but I can’t because I know he’s sincere. He deeply believes it.
He holds my gaze for longer than is comfortable, before finally lifting his hand and turning back, again reaching for the driver’s ear. “Okay, how about two, zero, one, one, five?”
“Quick math, he’s got another fifty-five odd years left,” my BFF says.
I press a hand to my stomach, relief flooding me. We can save at least one.
“I’ll check the passenger,” I say, not giving them time to deny me. Thankfully they don’t object.
I move around Kessien and Astread and force my way through the dirt, around the crumpled car, and make quick work of the other shattered window and airbag when I reach the other side.
I bite my lip. The woman’s in bad shape despite the airbag detonating from the dash and her seat belt holding her firmly against the seat. Her auburn hair falls limply over her black T-shirt. Blood trickles from a nasty gash in her head just above a small rose tattoo on her cheek. The airbag bears red streaks that lead to a pool of blood directly below where she’s slumped, and my heart constricts.
Still be alive, please.
Ducking in, I find the woman’s ear, then feel for the distinctive bumps. “One, zero, zero, eight, four, and…. Oh, no, that’s the hairs on her head.”
My heart speeds as I feel for the other number. “Ah, there it is. Um, zero, zero, zero”—I swallow—“zero….” My stomach goes hard as I find the final digit.
“What is it, Glad? What’s it say?” My BFF means well. She needs certainty and closure. I understand that.
I fist my free hand. I’m a warrior. I should be tough, hardened to human death, but it always hits me. I don’t know which is worse, being too late or reaching a human right before they pass and not being able to stop it.
A second later, movement draws my attention. A silvery glow rises from the woman’s slumped form and floats up toward the headrest, then up and through the back seat before disappearing. Small solace, it’s headed upward, rather than down.
In my sadness, I scrounge for something, anything positive, and come up with only the fact that at least she’ll look like her old self once they give her a celestial body up top. It’s not much, but I’ll take even the tiniest nugget of good news in all this destruction.
“Let’s save this guy.” Astread’s admonition draws me back, and my gaze locks with hers across the car’s dark interior.
Yes, rather than mourning, I need to celebrate the life we can save. I’ve told myself that too many times, but there’s nothing else to be done. I take a deep breath, breathing out my heartache and breathing in renewed determination to save this man.
“What do you suggest?” I throw the question out.
“Can’t we just push the car forward until it’s visible to the human rescuers?” Astread looks to Kessien beside her.
“We’ll have to make it look like the dirt is shifting in order to reveal it without raising suspicions to our presence.”
“Easy enough. Let’s do it.” I don’t want to debate the virtues of the best way to save the man; I just want to do it.
Kessien catches my gaze across the interior and returns a steady look that does nothing to calm me, because my stupid body sends a flutter through my gut, and I look away.
Give me a fricking break, body.
“Let me notify Zerell, Esme, and the others to expect a shift in the landslide so no rescuers are endangered.” Kessien’s gaze moves to the top of the car’s interior while he telepathically connects with our forces.
My BFF gives me a warm smile and thumbs-up. “This’ll work, Glad.”
Several minutes later, I’m panting, sitting between Kessien and Astread in the loose dirt beside the car, elbows on my thighs, hair completely mussed. We’re filthy from demon blood and the dirt that rained down on us the whole time as we used brute force to wrangle the wreck toward freedom.
The car’s blue paint is just visible through the shifting landslide, and thanks to one of the helicopter’s lights, humans on a rescue boat in the water below point up at it.
I breathe a sigh of relief. They see it. We saved a human. The man will be okay.
“Pretty freaky, huh? That demon. How do you suppose you killed it?” Astread shakes her head.
Kessien leans forward and gives her a long look.
Yes, thanks for reminding me.
“Let’s see how many more humans we can save,” he suggests as he rises.
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It’s so beautiful 😍