Ashes of Angels (19 page)

T
he Fallen angel standing above her brandished wings of startlingly beautiful binary code. The green, digital code was ordered in the shape of wings, and moved as if wind dusting through the feathers. Across his chest a sigil flashed blue, though why it did baffled her. His sigil shouldn't glow unless he was near his muse. And she was most definitely not his muse.

Then another idea occurred to Cassandra. She prayed that none of the muses Coco had put on flights away from Berlin had changed their minds about leaving.

None of that mattered. What did was the angel who approached her with a lascivious grin and lust in his multi colored eyes. He was focused on one goal: to mate with her.

Cassandra screamed as a wing of seemingly intangible substance swept forward and brushed her cheek. It felt like fire and she smelled burned hair. The coded feathers slipped around behind her neck, burning a trail in her flesh. He leaned in,
sticking out his tongue to stroke across her face—and then the creature was gone.

The Fallen was flung up and away from her. And in his place stood Sam. Unwinged. Shirt torn away and muscles flexing as tensely as his jaw. He reached for her, but the other Fallen— Kambriel—collided with him, and the twosome flew across the warehouse.

In the cage, the nephilim yowled and worked at the bar, which had become even looser.

At the far end of the warehouse, vampires battled with what looked like a Sinistari and Zane.

“Coco? The vamp better not have brought her along.”

Standing and straining against the manacles, Cassandra searched the upper catwalk where she'd seen Antonio enter and leave the warehouse. The key to unlock the manacles was in his trouser pocket. She bet he wasn't going to stick around with all Hell scattered loose below.

Above and Beneath, she corrected. The demon and the angels had come to heads. Toss in a few earthly bloodsuckers and—

An ear-shattering screech felled her to her knees. The nephilim banged the bar it had wrenched free from the cage against the other bars.

The space was yet too small for it to fit through. But that didn't stop it from jamming a shoulder between the bars and pushing. It wouldn't take long for it to bend the other bars.

 

Zane dodged to avoid the Sinistari's arm as it slashed around the long demon blade and cut off the heads of two vampires. One Anakim minion left standing.

The Sinistari could handle it.

Zane leaped over the piles of ash, only a little disturbed that he could have ended up the same. Ahead, the Fallen ones went at it up by the caged creature—and Cassandra.

His first objective was to keep Coco's sister safe. But those cage bars were beginning to bend. Bloody hell, that creature was ugly.

The two Fallen clashed and their momentum sent them soaring to the top of the cage. The new Fallen used its odd, glowing wings as weapons, cutting deftly across Sam's body, and using them to trip him or punch as if a multitude of extra arms. Sam appeared to be tiring, losing the battle as he teetered at the edge of the cage—until he was not.

Growling and thrusting his shoulders back and forth, Sam shifted, shaking out wings of silver.

“Not bloody good. No wings! You forgot, no wings!”

Zane raced for the cage. In his peripheral vision he sighted Cassandra. She was safe for now.

It seemed the Fallen could go at it forever, sweeping wings and tearing at muscles. They were an equal match. Yet Sam's halo, dropped during the fight, lay on the ground near the muse. He had no means to destroy his opponent.

“This better work.” Swinging the chain out wide and in a circle, Zane aimed high. “Sam! Catch!” He released the chain and said a prayer to any God who would listen.

 

Kambriel's wings of code swept across Sam's thigh, burning deep into his mortal flesh. Damned wings were like laser beams. He folded a wing forward and cut across the Fallen's throat, but the gaping line of blue didn't slow down his opponent.

Below, he heard Zane call out to catch. Sam saw the glint of blade soar high. Yes, the demon blade. Just what he needed.

Clutching, he leaped out from the cage top and grabbed the blade. As he began to free-fall, the Fallen grabbed Sam by the neck with a wing and squeezed. The vise grip cut through his mortal flesh and muscle. He could cry out, but he didn't need to.

Using his last bit of strength, Sam swung an arm backward and embedded the Sinistari blade into the Fallen's chest.

 

Sam had slain the Fallen intent on mating with her.

Sam had shifted to half form during the battle. Which meant only one thing—she was not safe from him now.

But Cassandra couldn't reason beyond what she witnessed. As Sam held the blade deep inside his brethren Fallen, the few standing below gathered. The Sinistari stomped across the floor, seething but apparently content to wait and see which Fallen remained whole for him to slay next.

Zane, head back and jaw gaping in wonder, let out a cry as the first crystals of angel ash began to fall.

Like winter snow, the crystal remains of Kambriel fluttered from above the cage where Sam stood, silver wings outstretched magnificently. The ash caught the harsh fluorescent light and glinted in all colors, much like the Fallen's eyes. So beautiful.

The nephilim had noticed, too. Cage bar held in one stubby pink hand, it opened its mouth to wonder at the substance falling directly above it.

“No,” Cassandra whispered, and caught her fist against her chest. “Don't stand under it. It'll…”

But she could not stop what had already begun.

Angel ash fluttered onto the nephilim's bare, distorted head and spilled over its sloggy eyelids. The creature lapped at the substance, gulping at it as if starved. Its entire body seemed to soak in the crystal, drawing it into the pores.

And when it was completely covered with angel ash, a brilliant light spread over the entire creature, and a flash beamed out from the nephilim, as if from divinity. Cassandra had to shield her eyes. Zane bent and twisted away from the brilliance as if it were sunlight.

The Sinistari plunged onto one knee, reverent as it bowed its metallic head.

The nephilim released a great howl that shook the walls and roof and shattered a few windows. Limbs outstretched, it cried to the heavens from which it could claim no home.

Cassandra choked back tears.

The brilliance flashed out.

A few flakes of angel ash sifted down from above.

Cassandra approached the cage, but was abruptly stopped by the chains. The cage was empty. Not a trace of angel ash or nephilim. It had not escaped; the ash of a Fallen one had simply consumed it.

Gone. Accidentally slain. An innocent condemned by the need for bloodshed to survive.

Someone grabbed her from behind. “We need to get you out of here, love. Boyfriend isn't looking too friendly right now. Rather, I think he wants to get friendly, if you know what I mean.”

Above them, Sam peered down from the top of the cage. His wings flexed out, and his body shone under the lights as if he were a life-size silver sculpture.

Cassandra had never seen anything so beautiful.

“Sinistari!” Zane shouted. “Come here and help me get this pretty muse out of these manacles.”

“I'll do better than that.” The demon brandished his blade and looked up to Sam.

“No!” Cassandra shouted, but the demon paid her no heed. It stepped forward, but the vampire put out a foot and tripped it.

Zane flashed a wink at Cassandra. “That's not going to do us any good—he'll be up in a jiff. But I know where your head is at, love. Maybe I can pick these locks.”

She gave him her wrist, but couldn't take her eyes from Sam. The outlaw angel held her gaze. Outstretched behind him and
to his sides, his wings gleamed. Was he considering whether or not to jump and approach her? He must know, even in half form, that he could harm her.

Did it matter to him while in that form? Could he distinguish between right and what was deemed wrong according to human morals? He'd said the compulsion focused him. All he could see was he and the muse, together. And she suspected such a coupling would not be like the sweet love they had shared only hours earlier.

One manacle fell from her wrist. Zane started on the other.

The angel standing upon the cage jumped, wings stretching out to slow its descent.

The Sinistari lunged, blade aimed for Sam's heart.

Cassandra swept low and grabbed the halo. She had but a moment to aim, and knew she could never get it right, but had to try. She released the circlet in a
whoosh
.

The halo cut through the demon's wrist, severing the hand that wielded the blade and dropping it to the floor. It yowled and spun, spattering black blood across Cassandra's legs. It burned, but she'd withstood far worse.

The angel dodged to avoid the demon and in doing so, its wing tipped the halo and reset its trajectory. The halo soared over the top of Sam's head—and stopped.

The Fallen landed on the floor before the cage with a thump that stirred up the dust and minute ashes of angel. His halo, affixed above his head, glowed blue, yet it was growing brighter, much like the nephilim had done before dispersing into nothing. Sam whipped back his wings, but his movements did not dislodge the halo.

The other manacle dropped from Cassandra's wrist. She shoved away from Zane and ran to Sam.

Ignoring the fact she rushed into the arms of a winged angel who could harm her, she plunged into his solid form. It was as
if she collided with destiny. He was warm. Heaving. She felt a pulse against her chest.

Was his heart beating?

Silver wings slid down her back and along her legs. The feel of it was like hot metal, but it didn't hurt. It felt as if sunlight moved through her veins.

That sunlight rained over her body in the form of silver ash as the wings dispersed around her.

Sam's body went limp, and he dropped from her embrace.

S
am lay sprawled on the cement floor, nestled upon the silver ash that had once been his wings. He didn't move, no matter that Cassandra shook his shoulders.

Beside her Zane stood guard. “Stay back, Sinistari. You're after the Fallen. This one is…no longer.”

No longer? Cassandra's heart fissured. Could it be real?

Sam's halo was nowhere visible. She hadn't seen it fall away from him as he'd collapsed.

What was going on? If he was dead the rest of his body would ash. Or maybe it just took longer. Usually the Fallen's wings ashed first and then his body.

“No.” She pressed an ear to his chest. “It's beating. His heart is beating. He's alive. He has to be.”

“Impossible,” intoned the demon deeply. He clutched his wrist where the hand had been cut off and black tar oozed.

“Not impossible.” The vampire stepped closer to the demon, keeping him back. “Your bloke going to be okay, love?”

“I'm not sure. I can't bring him awake. Oh, hell, why not?”

A swirl of dancing lights suddenly rose from out of Sam's chest. They dipped and flickered, hazing the air. Was that the beginning of his end?

Cassandra clasped at the intangible lights, trying to force them back into Sam's chest.

A man shimmered into view and tutted before saying, “Won't work, Cassandra Stevens. Those are mine.” He gestured the lights toward him and they giddily wavered up to his dark figure.

The Sinistari took a step back. “Soul bringer.”

“He's not dead!” Cassandra pleaded with the soul bringer, helpless to stop what she couldn't comprehend.

“Is that so?”

“No! He's…he's got to be alive. He just doesn't need these souls anymore. They belong to the souls of all the mortals he taught the craft of silversmithing. Go ahead and take them.” She swished the lights away from Sam's chest, then pounded a fist upon his hard pectoral, right over his heart. “No! We were going to be there for each other. He was going to sacrifice Above to stay with me. I…I love him. I…I thought we could have a happily-ever-after.”

Much as her idea of happily ever after had never seemed real, she wanted it now. She'd fought angels and demons, and vicious vampires. Didn't she deserve a happy ending?

You're not a princess, sweetie
.

No, but she was someone's bunny, and she wasn't about to let this be the end.

With silly fairy tales dancing in her brain, Cassandra bent to kiss her lover's mouth. The stories were always better than reality. A kiss could never bring a person back to life.

It was always and only true love that could breathe life into a loved one.

“I do love you,” she whispered against Sam's lips. “I have
loved you before you came to earth. I sculpted you, knowing you were the enemy, but wanting you to be mine. Come back to me, Sam. Love me. Let me love you.”

She clasped his hand and held it to her heart. “I promised you I'd hold your hand. Well, I'm doing it now. Can you feel me, Sam?”

She kissed him hard, clasping his head between her hands and straddling him to lift his head. A shaky hand slid over her hip, and she thought it was the vampire, until she noticed Zane ran past her.

“Be right back, love. I see a sneaky master vampire I need to introduce to my blade.”

“I'll go along,” the Sinistari growled.

And the hand at her back pulled her down to embrace against his hard chest that housed a beating heart. Sam pushed fingers through her hair. “Entwine me within your ribbons forever, love.” He pulled her to his mouth to kiss.

Cassandra had dreamed of this kiss. She'd never thought to know it. Had hoped. Had aspired to such a selfless connection. And now she felt it become reality.

The divine light she'd witnessed in the nephilim and in Sam before his wings had dispersed now grew between the two of them, blazing through her system. His heart beat against her palm. And Cassandra knew the light was really his earthbound soul coming alive inside him.

“Love you,” he murmured. “Always have.”

“You're alive.”

“Yes. And…mortal?”

“I think so. I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to put the halo above your head. I just wanted to take out the Sinistari. My aim was horribly off. Can you forgive me?”

“For giving me mortality?” He pushed onto his elbows.
Azure eyes studied hers. Not multicolored, but instead a clear, liquid blue. “For loving me? I will never forgive you. It's what I want, Cassandra. You and me. Together.”