Angel's Curse (39 page)

“I can’t believe you met Satan,” Danny said, shaking his head. “Of all the foolish things to do. Is that why your eyes are the colour they are?” I nodded. “He did that to you?”

“Drake said I did to myself, that I’d stayed too long in hell. I had to, in order to get the blood. I could have got it on day one if I was prepared to exchange my soul for it, but I couldn’t do it. I thought I still had a shot of getting into heaven and being with you, so I bided my time, gaining his trust.”

“He’s actually quite beautiful …” I glanced at Danny to gauge his reaction. A spark of jealousy flitted across his eyes, “… considering the cloven hooves, horns, tail and pitchfork.”

Danny’s lips were pressed tightly together and his forehead creased as he drew his eyebrows close. I couldn’t help but laugh manically, until bloody tears rolled from my eyes down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Danny. I couldn’t resist. That’s how most mortals see Satan. They’d be sorely disappointed if they met him in the flesh. Yes, he’s good looking by mortal standards and he has a certain style and charisma, but that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.

“I tried to talk him into ascending to earth to fight the angels at one point, but I guess just as God won’t descend to earth, Satan won’t ascend to it.”

“They can’t, for very good reason,” Danny said. “If either of them set foot in this world it would be the end of creation, and for Satan, the end of him and his league of demons.”

I was surprised by this revelation. “Oh, he never told me.”

“Why would he? I only found out about it when I met Him. I asked Him why He didn’t descend, ever, and He told me. He was quite frank and up-front about it, and a lot of other things as well.”

“Well, to cut a long story short, I eventually managed to get some blood out of him by trickery. It was only then that I could pursue Raphael.”

“You tricked Satan? How?” Danny asked.

“I made him think he was going to get something else he was interested in, apart from my soul. He got less than he bargained for. I’m sure he’s
very
mad at me.”

Danny raised his eyebrows. “I’m sure he is.”

I pushed Danny’s arms away from me and sat on the edge of the couch. It was time to find out if the damage was irreparable.

“Well, you’ve pretty well heard it all now. How can you bear to be near me after what I’ve done?” I groaned.

“It was all part of His plan.”

“And my
sleeping
with Drake?”

His face remained a mask of calm. “You did what you had to do in order to survive.”

“I didn’t do it to survive,” I growled.

I hated it when Danny was nice to me, or forgiving when I didn’t deserve it. Some things never changed.

“I did it because I needed to
feel
something once more before I died, and I
liked
it. The vampire in me,” I poked myself in the chest, “couldn’t get enough. It was only the nine-one-one call that broke the hold the lust had on me. I wasn’t planning on living long after Raphael … I saved some of Satan’s blood.”

“The vampire is a very small part of who you are. You were in the constant company of other vampires. Of course it would have an impact. I know you still haven’t tasted mortal blood. You’re still
pure
. And Satan’s blood is clearly no poison to you — you’re living proof of that.” He gently brushed the hair away from my face. “I forgive you all that you’ve done, can’t you forgive yourself?”

“No.”

“One day you’ll learn not to be so hard on yourself. You’ll learn to forgive yourself.”

“Why did He choose us?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re both capable of great love and compassion.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Not me. As I’ve already said, I’m not compassionate.”

“Helena, you need to believe in yourself. Have faith.” He unfolded my arms and held my hands in his. “I’ll have my answer now, please.”

“After all this, you
still
want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

You won’t get an offer like this again my girl, better jump in feet first as they say!

“Yes,” I said.

“Was that a
yes
to marrying me?”

“Yes!”

He chuckled. “That’s a relief. He told me you would, yet I had my doubts. We have His blessing. In His eyes we’re already married. We have only to slip on the rings,” he produced two rings from his pocket, “as proof of our love and fidelity.”

He got down on the floor on bended knee and took my left hand in his, kissing the knuckles. Even though it was only the two of us I was embarrassed.

“Helena, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife, becoming
Mrs Malakh.
I will love you and cherish you for eternity.”

“Yes!” I yelled and leapt off the couch knocking him to the floor. “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”

He slipped the platinum band onto my finger and handed me his ring.

“Danny —
Danizriel
— I love you. I’ll always love you. I’ve loved you since
before
we met. You are the reason my heart goes on beating. You are my reason for living. I cherish you above my own life.”

The words poured forth from my mouth like they usually did, without me thinking. These words were straight from the heart though, and I meant every one. I slipped the ring onto his finger and he pulled me closer to him so we could kiss. The ring tingled on my finger and I wondered why.

“Did you feel it too?” Danny asked.

“The ring?” He nodded. “Yes.”

“He gave me those rings as proof of His blessing. I think they just sent a message to Him.”

“Yeah, well as long as He’s not going to be peeking,” I laughed. “I’d like to retire somewhere more comfortable, to spend some well-deserved time with
my husband.
”

He smiled. “Your will, Mrs Malakh, your will.”

28.
An Offer is Made

I lay in Danny’s arms, listening to the early morning birdsong and feeling that life had finally come full circle. God Himself had promised us happiness and I believed He would make good on that promise.

“So what are we to do now?” I asked.

“We continue as before, cleansing the world of demons and monsters.”

I rolled onto my side and leaned on an elbow, resting a hand on his chest.

“I
will not
kill any of the vampires that helped me in the battle against the angels. They were allies in hard times and I won’t do anything to harm them, unless they pose a threat. Do you know they only seek out those mortals that are close to death anyway, offering them a second chance? They don’t prey on the innocent as they once did. They’re evolving morally. Perhaps the human in them is slowly gaining dominance. Maybe one day they’ll be able to live in harmony with mortals.”

“Do you really believe that?” he asked.

“Years ago I didn’t believe such creatures existed. Now I know
anything
is possible.”

“From pessimist to optimist, wonders never cease,” he chuckled.

I slapped him playfully — hard enough to leave a red mark — knowing it wouldn’t hurt him, then rubbed the area gently in mock regret.

“If it comes down to us and them, you know who you’ll need to choose, don’t you?” he said.

I rolled my eyes and said sarcastically, “No, Danny, I don’t.
Please
enlighten me.”

“Us of course,” he said. He’d still not mastered the art of sarcasm and I rolled my eyes again.

“Do you feel like a shower, or a bath?” I asked.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had either,” he admitted. “Perhaps a long soak in the bath would be nice. I ache through to my bones.”

I laughed and slipped out of bed. “No you don’t, you liar.”

“I can’t lie, remember?”

“Oh yeah, that’s right. Well fancy that,
I wore you out!
”

“I didn’t say it hurts,” he teased, “only that I ache.”

“I’ll meet you there,
old man.
”

I laughed all the way to the bathroom and eased myself into the huge tub, a replica of the one at the penthouse suite of the La’miere. After half an hour, when Danny hadn’t joined me, I called out his name, but there was no response.

That’s odd. Surely he doesn’t ache so much that he can’t crawl out of bed.

I climbed out of the bath and wrapped myself in a robe. Still dripping, I headed to the bedroom. He wasn’t there.

“This isn’t funny, Danny. Where are you?” I called out.

I checked all of the rooms, even the ballroom, and walked around the outside of the cottage in the garden. I stopped briefly at the plaque and goosebumps formed on my arms, along with a feeling of déjà vu. This was not good. Something was not right.
God promised we would be happy!
What had gone wrong?

“I need clothes,” I mumbled. The robe disappeared and I was in my usual casual gear — jeans and a comfy top.

Take me to Danny!

Nothing happened. Why didn’t it work? If Danny was still alive I should have gone to wherever he was. What if … what if this had all been a dream, or some trick Satan had played on me? What if Danny had not come back? What if it really had been Satan and I’d married
him!

Please, take me to Danny!

Nothing happened.

Take me to Danizriel, now!

There was a bright flash and suddenly I was standing behind an angel with wings. I was hidden from view by the wings. When the angel spoke I recognised the voice, and was frightened of what this meant.

“Why do I have wings, Michael?” Danny asked.

“There are vacancies amongst the archangels. You are offered the chance of a promotion. It is yours for the taking. This is something we have not seen before in heaven — a changing of the guard.”

“And what of Helena? Is she to be offered a position amongst the archangels as well? Without her, His plans could not be carried out.”

“She is not a heavenly angel. She cannot be given such a position.”

“
Are we so righteous?
” Danny asked.

“No, we are not righteous,” Michael replied sadly, shaking his head. “We have proved to be flawed twice now.”

“Then surely a fresh angel, a different point of view, would be a good thing,” Danny argued.

“I have been given the task of choosing replacements from
heaven’s
angels. I
cannot
choose her.”

I stepped out from behind Danny and touched his arm. He looked surprised to see me.

“I was worried when I found you were gone,” I said.

“How did you find me?” he asked.

“I simply wished to be taken to you. That’s how I found Raphael, though it took me a while to find you, as I didn’t use your proper name at first.”

Danny turned to Michael. “Michael, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Helena,
my wife.
”

Michael’s eyes were questioning. He didn’t seem to understand what Danny meant.

“
He
has given His blessing for our union,” Danny explained.

Michael held out both of his hands and Danny encouraged me to go to him. I walked the few steps to Michael. He took my hands in both of his and gave them a gentle squeeze.

“Welcome, Helena. You are welcome to visit anytime you wish.”

“But I’m not welcome to stay, right?” I asked dryly.

“I’m sorry, no. I don’t make the rules. We all have our orders to follow.”

Danny stood behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.

“Then I do not want wings, Michael,” Danny said. “Find another.”

The wings disappeared from Danny’s back and he hugged me fiercely, possessively, protectively.

“I am content to stay in your army and work as I have done for aeons, but I will not be parted from Helena again.”

“Please, Danizriel, how can I convince you to change your mind?’ Michael asked.

“You cannot.”

“Can I speak?” I asked.

“Yes,” Danny said. “You’ll not be prevented from saying your piece.”

“There is an angel, a kind and caring angel, who I think would bring a nice balance to the archangels.”

“Of whom do you speak?” Michael asked.

“His name is Hael.”

Michael smiled. “Hael, a wise choice indeed. Perhaps we can call on you, Helena, when we need advice?”

I turned to Danny. “Is he serious or is he being sarcastic in a
nice
way?”

“Helena, I really don’t understand sarcasm, but Michael does not joke very often, and never about needing advice.”