Immortal Alliance (IMMORTAL ALLIANCE SERIES Book 1) Page 16

  I nodded in agreement. Working with them was less than ideal. At least they had the decency to stay on a different side of the building, and they usually wouldn’t all be here at the same time.

  I laid down across my bed, twirling my dagger between my fingers, staring up at the ceiling. Tendrils of my powers streamed out into the halls and corridors of the warehouse.

  The tendrils gave me a sense of the bodies within it. Lillith still lounged on the couch, now joined by Daevas who returned to his game. Jophiel and Duma had left, the Guardian master was in the training ring doing some reps. The power speared further, seeing Gabriel and Heather on the roof.

  I sent my earlier Heather and Feathers sitting in a tree towards Gabriel’s mind, but was only met with a solid crystal wall blocking me out.

  Oh well. I’ll tease you later.

  Seere continued to play with her braids, fidgeting more like. I let the tendrils come back into the room, and instead focused them on creating a ring of smoke and fire, letting them float above my head.

  The two forms swirling around each other like a tornado, perfectly in sync. Little activities like this helped keep my inner fire in check and manage the anger the roiled inside.

  Seere’s voice sounded in my head. Any word from Lucifer?

  I sighed.

  My mental blocks were always down for Seere. We grew up together, trained together. My best friend. I had no secrets from her, so our line of communication always remained open.

  With Daevas, it wasn’t open all the time. I trusted him, but he wasn’t as dependent on our bond. I didn’t mind his selectiveness. More likely than not, with his special abilities, he’d see the disasters in there and try to erase them and fill them with less terror.

  A lot like what he did with Heather at the dinner. I don’t think she fully realized what he was doing, but I saw it all.

  Daevas was the Psychísąe. His unique abilities included being able to root out some of the deepest seeds of fear and anguish that grow within the mind.

  He did such a thing in Heather, finding those in her from her most recent experiences with us. Only instead of amplifying or exploiting those seeds, as he was trained to do since the beginning of his existence, he tried to wash it away.

  So Daevas tried to help Heather. Tried to flush away the fear. Not enough to make her forget—but enough to help her sleep better in this place.

  I kept my eyes on the ring above my head when I answered Seere’s question. I’ve heard him nagging, but nothing actually helpful.

  I felt her shift, now laying on her belly on the floor with her feet perched up against the wall.

  I’m not sure I believe everything Lillith was saying in there.

  A little bit of my anger slipped then, causing the ring to jut out of alignment slightly.

  She has her own agendas. Lucifer has the bitch on a tight leash. I’ll likely need to speak to Daevas or Dumdum about hell later.

  More of the ring lost control. I let it dissolve—no point in trying if I can’t keep it in line.

  I decided to change the subject. You wanna talk about Reapers Creek? You seemed tense when I mentioned it earlier.

  Even from across the room I felt Seere’s mood change. It was nothing. An anticlimactic place, no naked Reapers getting massaged, it was disappointing really.

  Inappropriate humor was Seere’s natural defense mechanism, a tell that she was experiencing feelings of discomfort. She knew as well as I that this was her way of avoiding what was really upsetting her.

  But Seere never hid those parts of herself from me, I knew her insecurities and deepest shames.

  She left her mind wide open for me. Not that she could keep me out if she tried, her mental shields are limited because of her lack of raw demonic power, but after a couple of decades working with her to build the little walls inside her mind, she was better protected.

  I only stepped a fraction into her mind before I saw a glimpse of what had happened in Purgatory. And right away I could see one of her biggest insecurities poking at her insides.

  I swallowed. You’re not weak…for needing Iaoel’s help.

  She was the one to sigh this time.

  I know. I mean, I really do know that it was stupid to feel that way. But I can’t help feeling insignificant in all this. Compared to all these powerful beings, like, more than one fucking archangel is involved, it’s not easy knowing that among all of us, I’m the least powerful. she admitted.

  I sent a smirk her way. Technically, the mortal is the least powerful. I joked.

  She giggled and plopped onto the bed next to me. Sitting with her legs crossed and jabbed me in the rib with her index finger.

  “You know I wasn’t counting her, smartass.” We both chuckled together. Then it died, seriousness returning to her eyes. “I just don’t need everyone here to think that I’m only a part of this alliance because I’m your loyal puppy.”

  Everyone in hell, especially Lucifer and Lillith called Seere that. Even after all the carnage she committed in the pits to prove her strength, they still saw her as a mindless grunt with a leash around her neck attached to my arm.

  I raised up on my elbows, staring at her. “Did you already forget why I made you my second?” I asked.

  She looked away shyly.

  “Yes, we’re friends, Seere. You were there for me when I needed someone. And if you weren’t around, my dear ole’ creator and the other hellborn grunts would have delighted in watching me engulf the world in flames. Hell, I probably would’ve liked it too.”

  When she didn’t look me in the eye I gripped her chin and forced her to face me.

  “But that’s not the reason you’re my second. You’re the best combatant ever bred in hell. Even Daevas and Lillith can’t hold you in a hand-to-hand fight. Yeah, sure, all of the rest of us have raw power on our side. In a fight, they will rely on their magic to do the fighting for them. But what happens if magic and power aren’t options? If who or what we’re fighting uses wards and runes that nullify it altogether? Then they’re out of luck.”

  Seere nodded, some of the stuff I was saying sinking in.

  I grabbed one of her braids and tugged.

  Her head jerked, “Ow!” she squealed.

  “You have just as much right to be here as anyone else. Own your strength, damn it! Don’t let your demons eat you, kay?”

  She rolled her eyes, and I tugged again on her braid.

  When she yelled again, I demanded, “OKAY?”

  “Okay! Jeez, do that again and I’ll cut off your favorite part, and then you won’t be able to seduce anymore archangels, you hot-headed-ass-wipe.”

  We laughed. Once our laughs died down, we both sensed Daevas and Lillith nearing the room. And at the moment they opened the door, our heads shot to it in unison.

  Lillith entered first, unabashedly. Daevas slipping in and simply leaning against the wall right inside the door.

  “I know you don’t spend a lot of time in the mortal realm, Lillith. But knocking is considered a courtesy,” I grumbled.

  She smiled, her eyes playful and naughty. “Didn’t realize we were interrupting such an intimate moment,” she teased.

  Seere and I only rolled our eyes—earning a glare from Lillith over the innate disinterest in her games.

  “There’s a report of a small wraith hoard terrorizing Cape Town. Figured you’d like to join us for a little anger management.”

  My inner fire burned at that. Lillith knew all too well that my powers needed siphoning, whereas hers did not.

  And though I hated agreeing with her, some justified violence would do me some good.

  I stood, grabbing a few extra daggers from my dresser. Or maybe, tonight I would fight the old-fashioned way. Seere and I followed Lillith and Daevas out of the room.

  The warehouse was warded and covered in runes that prevented anyone from winnowing in or out except from/to the practice floor. Makes it a lot easier to isolate any unwelcome visitors.

  Gabriel ha
d since joined Jade in the sparring ring. Weaving and moving around each other gracefully. Mostly evading one another’s blows rather than using brute force.

  Such an angel thing to do. Avoiding conflict instead of facing it.

  On the rare occasions they did manage to land a blow on the other, it wasn’t hard. If Gabriel were to use his full energy, the Guardian master wouldn’t stand a chance.

  “What a lovely little dance. Should we install ballet bars into the walls and buy everyone tutu’s?” I teased.

  The others chuckled and snickered behind me as we walked down the steps.

  Gabriel and Jade ceased their scrap. Jade simply shook her head and even showed signs of amusement. The archangel on the other hand, he held a stoic prick-like stance with his arms crossed over his chest. His regular casual business attire replaced with a pair of blue fitness shorts and a gray t-shirt.

  “Where are you all off to?” he asked.

  I winked. “Got an orgy appointment, can’t be late.”

  Seere and Daevas coughed, covering their laughs. Gabriel obviously wasn’t convinced—eyeing our weapons and fighting attire.

  Rolling my eyes, “Wraith hoard, gonna go kill some. Don’t wait up.”

  Gabriel straightened. “Do you need assistance?”

  Almost in unison all four of us snorted. We gathered in the large pentacle in the far end of the space. Designated to be the area of egress for supernaturals.

  “Just don’t ruin anything while we’re gone.”

  Seere and I linked hands, Daevas and Lillith did the same, Daevas placing his other hand on my shoulder. I speared my power to cross into the Ethereal realm, and then visualized our destination, using Daevas’ mind to help narrow it down to where they received reports.

  Smoke, fire and lightning—my winnow signature, wrapped around us as the air and space bent around us. Fifteen seconds, and then the space reshaped. I dropped us out of the Ethereal, letting my winnow signature float back to me. Daevas and Lillith broke physical contact, Seere lingering a moment longer to send me her signature ‘good luck’ squeeze then let go.

  The reports were correct—ugly and bony hooded creatures screeched and wailed, shooting razor sharp claws outwards to scrape and lance the small gathering of angels and demons fighting them off.

  The buildings were crumbling and broken. Glass windows shattered, roofs burning, and blood running down the gutters, splattered across the sidewalks and broken buildings.

  No bodies in sight.

  I forgot that part about wraiths—when they killed humans, they didn’t leave much evidence behind. The angels that were present looked to be Guardians and Reapers, judging by their auras.

  The two demons that were there were a part of the sixth-generation legion, utterly powerless aside from their combat training. When one of them noticed us he came running over to us. Blood was smeared across his forehead, and his sword was coated in a black tinted liquid.

  He bowed to me when he reached us.

  “They’re nasty buggers. When we got here, the buzzards were already fighting them off. We managed to corner these five, but a couple scattered and got away. The rest of the town is secure, a few other patrols arrived and have been scouting to make sure of that.”

  I let my expression remain bored and didn’t even bother to look him in the eye. Lillith was the one who stepped forward and met the eyes of the now gaping angels who held the wraiths in a tight corner.

  “You golden geese can be on your way now.”

  One of the Reapers scoffed, his teeth baring. “Who are you to order us around? We’re the ones who kept these things under control, you and your filth can leave.”

  A demon-hater. I muttered down the link between Daevas and Seere.

  Typical. Daevas replied.

  Boring. Seere added.

  I glanced at Seere who had a knowing smile across her lips. Then I made full eye contact with the angel who spoke. “Go report to your keeper, we’ll make sure they are punished accordingly.”

  He stared back at me, looking me up and down, recognition now crossing his eyes. He realized who I was. I grinned wickedly.

  “I won’t say it again.”

  His eyes widened. The other angels exchanged looks, then one by one they winnowed out, with the outspoken Reaper going last, pillars of light following in their wake.

  Daevas, Lillith and Seere had positioned themselves around the cornered wraiths, the other two demons stepping back. They too, knew that these were our playthings now. I stepped up to the center position. The wraiths watching us, hissing, and clawing at the air, as if they stood any chance at surviving.

  Seere and Daevas tilted their heads towards me, waiting for me to make the first move. I scratched my chin lazily, scanning the five remaining wraiths before us.

  Until my eyes landed on the only one that didn’t look away—the only one who held my penetrating stare. The only fear it displayed came when my signature smirk appeared.

  I pointed at it. “This one lives.”

  The wraiths didn’t even have time to scream before we attacked like wolves—gutting, slicing, tearing until the rest of them were mere ribbons of flesh.

  SIXTEEN

  Heather

  THE PEACEFUL SLUMBER had allowed me to forget where I was, and what had happened the day before.

  Even as I opened my eyes, my immediate thought was that it was all a dream. But when I saw the iron and steel framework on the ceiling of the room, and instead of smelling the comforting lavender of home I smelled metal and rain, I remembered where I was.

  My chest tightened as I recalled everything. Yesterday was a long day, and the amount of information I was given in such a short amount of time was mind boggling.

  The room I was given was no larger than my apartment bedroom. A twin-sized bed on a simple metal frame against the corner wall. The window was painted like the others, darkening any natural incoming light. A small dresser, a bedside table.

  The space was simplistic, a guest room that had little purpose, probably put together last minute. I got the feeling this place didn’t usually have visitors.

  The floor was concrete, cold. I would guess that this entire warehouse might’ve been used to produce and ship products once upon a time. This room might’ve been an office.

  My computer and a few notebooks lay on the dresser. Gabriel had them brought in late last night when I was settling in. I took some time alone to unpack the little personal belongings I brought with me.

  I clicked my phone to see the time, 12:34 PM. It was close to two in the morning when I had finally went to sleep last night. I guess I needed the rest.

  I couldn’t hear anything in the hall outside the metal sliding door. Nothing sound-related woke me. Maybe they were all gone.

  I was half-tempted to stay in bed. Curl under the cotton blankets and forget the stark reality that awaited outside the concrete room.

  But I was already feeling the grime and stress sweat that had accumulated from yesterday’s ordeals. A shower was very much needed.

  Gabriel had said the washroom was only a few doors down, by the end of the hall. With a heavy sigh, I lifted my wary body from the bed. I gathered a few of my toiletries and went to the door. The lock was a simple latch, I lifted it and it slid open with a metallic screech. The loud noise interrupted the silence that filled the entire hallway, making me cringe.

  But there was no response. Nothing to suggest anyone was near. I paddled over to the door marked with a bathroom sign.

  Inside there was a long counter with three sinks and a large mirror above it. The floor was covered in black and blue tile, differing from the concrete everywhere else. I walked further in, just past the sinks in the corner was a single shower stall with a blue curtain and a toilet stall on the other corner.

  Why have three sinks and only one toilet? I shrugged.

  A shelf was in between the two, and on it there were baskets of various soaps and fresh towels. Thank goodness, I didn’t bring one a
long.

  I turned the dial, and water flowed from the spigot. Feeling it with my hand until the water turned to a near-scalding hot.

  Looking around, checking to see if anyone was coming in, I quickly stripped and hopped in.

  The water felt amazing.

  I went to work scrubbing and washing every inch of myself, and once that was done I allowed myself to just sit in the hot water for a little longer. The hot water relaxed my tense muscles and soothed my nerves.

  It felt normal—and I needed normal right now.