Crushed Seraphim (14 page)

S
eraph Gabriel was handsome and furious. And he had eyes only for Everett. Emma was immobile and hating every second of it.
At least Jason is fine
, she told herself. Satan, on the other hand, was twitching in the snow.
Jack
, her mind corrected. Her heart softened as she remembered he once had been a man.

The angels’ wings fluttered in unison, and each righteous face was etched with justice about to be delivered. Everett turned his back slightly to change his outfit, and in a heartbeat he’d replaced his tux with a crisp, white business suit when he once again faced the virtuous army, now gathering in a semicircle around him in midair.

Gabriel made the sign of the cross while the other angels surrounded Everett. Emma tried to plead to them with her eyes. Then Everett leaned down and tenderly kissed each of her eyelids. They were sealed shut. She was in complete blackness, but she could hear Everett’s deception start on a course of no return.

“Brothers, sisters, it pleases me endlessly to see you,” he began. “I have fought a hard, lonely battle. Many of you have been hurt by me, and for that I extend my deepest apologies.” Everett repositioned Emma so her face nestled deeper against his chest, as if she was a resting babe. “God and I worked together to bring the Devil to the surface. It seems Jack was working with our beautiful Emma to bring destruction to our fair land.”

Seraph Gabriel’s deep, authoritative voice claimed the air. “Brother Everett, you would have us believe that tearing our wings from our backs and scattering us far from our home was part of a larger plan?”

Everett took a deep, pretend breath. “I know, kind Gabriel, my actions were drastic, but the implications were dire. God was trapped, and I had to save Him the best way I knew how.”

Emma knew Everett’s buttery words were supported by his glistening wings. The angels’ desire to see good in their own kind made them easily blinded — and quick to find fault in those not from Heaven. None of them had made a move to rescue Emma, or even ask about her condition. “Of course, you all know about my affection for Emma, so I made sure she was not ended. She can start her life again, as a human, if the Council agrees. Every seraph deserves another chance.” He began petting her hair like he would a cat. “Of course, she has lain with the Devil. Maybe she’s even pregnant with his spawn, but I could no sooner condemn her than I could spit on God’s feet.”

The angels tittered amongst themselves, distracted by Everett’s smooth demeanor and the scandal of another’s sin. The proof was before their very eyes. Satan was reeling on the ground below. And they were now fully restored angels again, despite their brief, uncomfortable banishment.

“Well, God told us to listen to our hearts and make the best judgment we could,” said Seraph Gabriel. He seemed to be weighing his options.

“He has infinite wisdom and loves all His children,” Everett said, nodding. “I’ll need your assistance to handle Satan. I’m surprised my heart-poisoning technique has contained him this long.”

Everett shuffled Emma again anxiously and went for the killing verbal blow. “I know we all considered Emma to be an unconventional angel — maybe a little unworthy. If I’m to be brutally honest, as I feel I must be, her fall reflects poorly on all of us. But Gabriel, you would forgive Claudette any sin, and this is how I feel toward Emma.” He paused dramatically. “Look quickly, the half-breed vampires are assembling. I’m sure hoards of them are on their way. They move so quickly. They’re practically his children. We all know how evil the minion’s spawn are.”

Jason was reassured when his family reappeared in the clearing after his cell phone call. He had no idea how to help the writhing Satan, or even if he should. He looked up to see the angels in their impromptu sky gathering.
How can they ignore this pain here on the ground?

Seriana held a hand to her mouth when she saw the Devil’s torment.

Just then a small, brown-haired angel fluttered down softly and slowly, leaving the group above. She looked reluctant as she approached the Devil.

Jason motioned for Dean and Seriana to stand underneath Everett. Softening Emma’s fall, were she to have one, would be their main job.

The small angel crept closer to the Devil and reached out a tentative hand.

Jason couldn’t read the angel’s thoughts, but the Devil’s were one long, sure word as he endured Everett’s torture:
Nooooo!

“I’m here, Jack. Please allow me to pray over you.” The little angel stroked his face. “Heavenly Father, please hold Jack in the palm of Your hand. Heal his pain, both real and imagined. He may no longer be in Your flock, but I know he’s in Your heart. Let the truth shine through him and create the peace he craves. Amen” She smiled on the Devil and his muscles relaxed. She took his hand and Satan opened his eyes.

Jason expected a warm rush of pleasure to fill Satan’s mind. Having an angel smile upon you was amazing — Jason knew first hand.

Claudette. My Claudette…

The Devil’s thoughts were strangely tempered. He was warmed by her attention, but there was no rush of feeling, which seemed to confuse even him. Jason’s jaw tightened as Satan then pictured Emma instead.

Now that he was no longer convulsing, the Devil propped himself up on an elbow. He scanned the sky and found Emma nestled in Everett’s arms. Only then did he return his attention to his long-lost angel, now before him.

“Claudette, are you okay? Did that bastard hurt you?” The Devil pulled his metal flask out and took a healthy swallow. “I’ve missed you,” he added thoughtfully as he wordlessly offered the flask to Claudette.

She shook her head. Satan shrugged and slipped the flask out of sight.

“If you’re referring to Brother Everett, no. He did not hurt me,” Claudette said, exasperated. “I find it hard to believe you would try to taint the face of Earth with your evil, Jack. I thought you were a better man than that.” She sat back on her heels. Her gorgeous wings gently pulsed, sweeping the snow with every pass.

“I’m not a good man, cupcake. That’s why I have the job I do. Is that Gabriel’s pansy ass up there? Is he going to play tiddlywinks with the mutiny maker? That sounds about right for him.” Satan stood and offered his hand to help Claudette. She took it, like Emma never would.

“Please, Jack, Seraph Gabriel’s a good man. He’s very fair.” She hovered a bit above the Devil.

“Yes, he
was
very fair. I think he shared his dick with every willing female in Heaven.” The Devil pulled out a cigarette and licked the end to start its fire. It became an easy extension of his hand.

Claudette looked down and crossed her arms. “I couldn’t see you in pain. I don’t like that. I never did. But I also refuse to lie to you. I love Gabriel. We’ve been lovers all these years.”

The Devil took the news like a slap and quickly looked up at Everett before returning his gaze to Claudette.
It’s not love. It’s never been love.
His thoughts were sharp as they came to Jason. Satan shook his head, arguing with himself.
At least
she
never loved
me
…

The angels’ animated overhead conversation sprinkled glitter in with the falling snow. It looked like a rainbow was melting in pieces.

“Claudette, the girl he holds is in danger,” the Devil said, scowling up at Everett again. “He’s talking a bunch of smack. Honestly, I could give a rat’s ass if the world blows up, or even if you all decide to take the douchebag back to base camp and crown him king. I want that girl on Earth with these half-breeds. That’s the best, safest place for her. Tell them to do that, and I’ll go quietly.”

Satan met Jason’s eyes.
I know you can hear me. Listen, things are going to get ugly. They’re likely to take Everett’s side. Can you promise me you love her? Do you love Emma?

Jason had known angel Emma for a day, really. Maybe twenty-four full hours, but it felt like a lifetime. He knew he loved her. He knew he loved her when he tore off her wing. He knew he loved her when he came to and she was there, standing in his forever as a human girl.

“I do.” Jason looked up at her in the sky.

Okay. No matter what, get her out of here. No matter what.

Claudette flew quickly and softly to rejoin the circle, but she seemed reluctant to report Satan’s demands to her peers. On the ground, Jason pointed out different strategic places for his family to stand. Dean prepared to start tossing nature by snapping the branches off trees and gathering boulders.

The sky-high argument was escalating. Finally Claudette pushed Gabriel into asking for Emma.

Seraph Gabriel looked cautiously at Everett as he made his point. “Everett, it seems these are very unusual circumstances. Why don’t you give Emma to Claudette, and you and I can go back to God and figure out what needs to be done?”

Satan met Jason’s eyes and told him again, silently,
No matter what.

Everett used his wings to pull himself away from the crowd. His arms tightened around Emma. His eyes were growing shifty, despite his wide smile. “I’m sure that’s exactly what needs to happen, Brother Gabriel. But we need to handle the Devil first.” Everett nodded down to the forgotten clearing.

Jack had one card left to play. He closed his eyes and opened his hands. The concentration took immense power. As he began the process of transforming, he drained the life from the surrounding plants. The trees that stood proud and true beyond the clearing turned into massive wooden raisins. With their roots shriveled and tapped, the trees came crashing down. Tree by tree, via a colossal game of dominoes, the clearing grew bigger.

Satan took deep breaths. He could feel the attention of the angels and half-breeds washing over him. He ignored them all.

He tilted his head back when he achieved the pinnacle of his power. Rings of trees stood dead, their lives offered for his needs. Satan shouted as his own wings grew and began to form behind him. The smoke that traveled with him now surrounded him like a tornado. His completed wings were massive and stained so inky black they were almost blue. Instead of endless magic and glitter, his wings shed red and black steam. He stretched them out and flew immediately. The angels were poised to fight, but their sweet nature compelled them wait for him to make the first strike.

“Hello, fucking fairies. Didn’t know I could get my own ride, huh?” Satan had held on to his cigarette throughout his transformation, but he now took a drag and tossed it. It landed and exploded like a bomb in the center of the trees. “Everett. The girl?” Satan held out his arms.

Everett smiled. “Of course you know I can’t give her to you.”

“Can’t say I didn’t try, right?” The Devil turned as if to leave, then snapped back and threw a handful of invisible pain into Everett’s face. He smacked Everett’s arms as he winced from the onslaught to his senses.

Emma fell from Everett’s grasp. She couldn’t even scream as gravity took over.

The Devil dove immediately. He could hear some of the other angels pursuing her as well.

“Slow bitches,” he scoffed. He reached her just before she got to Jason’s arms.

Satan wrapped his wings around Emma and veered away from the ground. They looked like a feather-wrapped rocket and were going just about as fast.

He kissed her face and ran a hand down the length of her body. His touch freed her from her paralysis. Emma gasped like she was coming up from being held underwater.

“No. Oh, no. Please. Jack, that was awful. That was so awful.” She reached around his neck and released a wracking sob. “To not be able to move…” Emma dug her nails into his skin.

Jack wrapped her waist in his strong arm and altered their flight path, swooping back toward the foliage below. He murmured to her, the world inside his wings so much quieter than the one outside. “You’re safe. I’ve got you. Shh…” Jack stroked her hair with his other hand.

“I’m tired. This fighting — I’m so tired of it.” She’d stopped sobbing, but tears still streamed from her eyes. Then, twitching as if she’d been prodded, she added, “Where’s Jason? I — I have to save him.”