Fallen Angels (20 page)

I looked in her eyes, grinning at her. I saw a glimpse of fear in her blue eyes. “I most certainly do.”

Kara backed away, looking like she might cry. “Don’t go anywhere,” she said, vanishing into the dark.

I could break free from these chains with ease, but I wanted to see what else Kara was hiding from me. I wanted to see if she really had gotten involved with Peter and why. I mean everything may have been believable until she mentioned Peter. I knew she would never freely call him, especially after he locked Chloe in a cage. Maybe I was a bargaining chip? I wasn’t sure what to believe, but I had serious doubts that Kara would just hand me over after everything she said she did to get me back in her life.

“It’s not a lie Ravyn,” Jeanie whispered from the darkness.

“Hello, gorgeous.” I greeted her with a smile when she stepped into the light. I took the time to inspect her wonderful body as she closed the distance. “I should have fucked you when I had the chance, Jeanie.”

“We may still have time for that. Kara does love you, more than you know. I have to admit, I fell for you too. You can see that right? You can find the truth. I have always been on your side, always rooting for you, Ravyn,” she said, holding my face in her hands.

Jeanie was letting me into her mind, her every thought. It was clouded with panic and the strong barrier was in her mind as well. Jeanie was smart enough to think about less conspicuous things; her thoughts were flashing from church to prophets to church again. The constant variable was the Vatican. I smiled and gave her a wink.

“That’s enough Jeanie,” Kara said. Jeanie immediately shied away from me.

“I’m going to hold you to your offer Jeanie,” I called out to her. “That is one fine ass.” I whistled when she walked away.

Kara was immediately in my face. “I said that’s enough!”

I smiled at her anger, jealousy to be more accurate. Something was definitely being held over my friends, and thanks to Jeanie I knew the culprit. Peter was behind all of this.

“Don’t be jealous lover, I would still be fucking you if you hadn’t pushed me away. All for your innocent little daughter, who will grow up to be just like her father, just like me.” Her hand slammed into my face, barely nudging it to the side. “We are killers, we love the thrill of hot blood, and don’t even get me going about the sex. Well, you know that. We just can’t get enough. I’m sure Chloe will be enjoying the fruits of demon life in a few years.” I laughed loudly.

Kara was a mixed bag of emotion now. My words were hurting her. “You want to know what I learned while I was being tortured and raped after you failed to keep me safe? I learned that I would do anything to keep Chloe safe, to keep my family safe. You have one final chance Ravyn.” She paced nervously while she spoke.

“Just kill me, so I don’t disappoint you again.”

“Shut up!” Kara screamed. “I think it is time to visit your precious Arena. I’ve never seen it and Jeanie always says how amazing you are. I hope you can prove it, because tomorrow you will be prepared for you final test.”

“I don’t care to earn your trust anymore Kara. So prepare to be disappointed,” I replied, chuckling.

“If you do not attempt to pass this test, your friends will die with you. I have to keep Chloe safe from anyone seeking vengeance. You would do the same for Abby.”

“Say your goodbyes my love, because you are going to die the second you turn me loose.” I winked, playing along with this game. This was definitely not Kara’s doing. She could be mad at me for eternity, but she would never hurt her own family.

Kara stared at me for a minute, contemplating my threat. “Free,” she said with a wave of her hands.

My shackles and chains fell to the ground. I shot out of the chair, grabbing her by the throat. “Show me the truth or you and Chloe will die,” I growled. She said nothing, not even a thought. I slowly tightened my grip around her neck.

Her hand pressed against my chest.
I’m so sorry.
An immense bolt of power sent me flying back, slamming my body against the concrete wall while she collapsed to the floor. I watched Peter crouch beside Kara before my eyes closed.

“Get up!”

I woke to an unfamiliar hiss. My eyes opened to darkness, and the snug chains were again wrapped around my body. I let my demon out with a low snarl so I could see who was with me. The room came to life in a dim orange color thanks to my demon eyes. Though Volac was brighter, I could still make out his distinct features.

“Where’s Kara?” I asked.

“She worries for you. I turned the camera off but we don’t have long,” he whispered.

“Is anyone hurt?” I asked.

“Not yet. You know this is not Kara’s doing?”

“Yes, I’m not an idiot. Why are you here? Are you working with Peter?” I asked.

“Believe it or not you did me a favor by killing my father. I hated him. You did what I couldn’t. I am trying to help you. So shut up and listen! Peter has a final test for you, a game of sorts. You have to pass this test Ravyn, or we all die,” he pleaded.

“What test? And why does it matter? He won't let us walk away anyway.”

“Angie had a vision of Chloe losing trust in her family, because you refused to protect her. If this happens Chloe will choose Peter over us. You have to change the future Ravyn. You have to show Chloe you would do anything to protect her. She looks up to you. You cannot let her down or the prophets will be right about her,” Volac explained frantically. “Shit!” His eyes snapped from the corner of the room and his fist slammed into my face.

I knew then he was telling the truth, and his punch was a show for whoever was watching upstairs.

“Fuck you! When I get out of this I’m going to rip your fuckin head off!” I shouted, playing along.

He hit me again and again while I continued to welcome his fists with my foul mouth. He stopped when he heard footsteps rushing down the stairs, and the light flickered to life above us.

Kara stopped at the sight of my blood and glared. “Volac? Go get cleaned up and do not come back down here.”

Volac gave me a curt nod before leaving the room. I quickly turned my attention to my unpredictable Kara. Her fingers brushed the hair from my face, while her eyes took in my healing wounds.

“You cheated on me with that woman,” she whispered.

“You said you wanted Devlin, so I gave him to you.”

“This isn’t what I wanted,” she confessed on the verge of tears.

“Don’t break on me now Kara. I’m looking forward to my final test.”

“Don’t you dare fail me again Ravyn. Don’t ever fail me again,” Kara said, and then quickly left the room.

I was sick and tired of being tested. I was sick of games, and of running. I was more than on edge and sitting in my training room wasn’t helping. Being down here made me want to hone in on my focus and my craft. It made me crave the coming kill.

Chapter Sixteen

Ravyn

Karma

The flight to Seattle was uneventful thanks to Kara. She used her secret power to knock me out or put me to sleep; I didn’t have a clue what it did to me. I woke chained to a table in the center of my Arena. The chains around my feet and arms left no room for movement, and the chain around my neck was just annoying. I was still able to see that I was shirtless, and I could feel Kara along with the rest of my so-called family; they were here and close. Knowing they were here to see me like this was both embarrassing and irritating.

"Hello child." Peter's voice echoed through the open space.

"Peter, I would give you my hand but I'm a little tied up at the moment,” I said, hoping to be untied. I found it a bit ironic that I ended up like this. I mean, waking up strapped to a table in an arena? I wondered if this was Kara’s idea or Peter’s? I didn't think Kara could be responsible for such an act. She would most likely shy away from witnessing something like this ever again. Then again, she did reveal quite a few lies, so I couldn’t discount her just yet. Or maybe it was just karma being a motherfucker?

Peter abruptly appeared next to me. His eyes gleamed with a profound obsession to delve into my mind. "I would like to take a look."

"I would love for you to take a look," I hissed. I watched his hands move closer to the chains holding me down, wriggling with excitement.

He suddenly stopped; pulling his hands back he shook his head. "Soon enough, child. You have been a danger to mankind since your birth. Your father can no longer save you. Soon you shall die a good death," he said.

“Is this what you call a good death Peter? Killing me on a table, helpless and unable to fight?”

“The table is to prepare you. I need you to be weak and hungry, child.” He approached with a small knife in his hand.

"Look at you. The almighty Peter is afraid of me," I said, watching him steady the knife over my chest. “Bleeding me will not save you, but by all means do your worst old man.” I taunted him with evil laughter.

Seeing Peter hold the knife above me didn’t scare me. Hell, it didn’t even worry me. I suppose if I were human I would be terrified, probably begging my torturer to spare me from the impending pain. My mind conjured up an image of Kara, crying and begging for her torturers to stop. It was the first time I had even thought about how scary the prospect of being injured might be for a fragile human. Yet here I was, inviting Peter’s doom.

Peter drove the blade into my chest, breaking through my sternum. He used such force to shove the small four-inch blade through my chest, I felt like I had been hit with a sledgehammer. I felt the blade scrape against my backbone and rib before the tip crashed into the metal table beneath me. Pain ripped through my body, but I would never give him the satisfaction of knowing it, so I continued to laugh.

Peter sliced and stabbed my body in an effort to bleed me, but my healing ability proved to be a pain in the ass. He worked to cut the wounds as they healed; he even tried to use a surgical retractor to keep me from healing. My skin just grew around the device, so Peter ripped it out of me, taking a good chunk of skin with it.

I could hear muffled crying while he worked to weaken me. Kara’s familiar whimper echoed through the Arena like a siren. I turned my head, following the sound, and found her standing in a metal cage that looked like a prison cell made up of thick metal bars. I watched her trying to shake the cage while her tears fell like a gentle stream.

Seeing her tears made me smile. She didn’t willingly put me here. Kara loved me and I had said some harsh things to her while in the basement. I still didn’t know if she was lying about Devlin and Jeanie, that could wait though. I had to find out what Peter wanted and why this game was so important to him.

He must be holding Chloe’s life in his hands in order to get Kara to do this to me. I had plenty of time to think about it while being butchered. Kara’s behavior was definitely a little farfetched. In fact, I couldn’t see any of it being true at all. She would never intentionally hurt Devlin, and she sure as hell wouldn’t invite someone like Jeanie to be so close to me. The mere thought of it made me laugh out loud. None of it could possibly be true, so I turned my attention to Peter, who was reopening the wound in my chest.

“Why go through all this trouble Peter? Bleeding me? Making Kara out to be the bad girl? What is the end result of this nonsense?” I asked.

Peter leaned over me. Staring into my eyes, he smiled. “You are smarter then you look.” He paused to cut into my arm. “Very well, child, you deserve a bit of truth before your end. I have been around a very long time, as you know. I have waited centuries for the child to be born. I have invested years planning the child’s creation and protection,” he said with a proud smile. “You may think that your life has been full of horrific coincidence, but I have guided much of your life to arrive at this moment. Of course I had the help of the Prophets and Astoroth.”

“You are full of yourself Peter.”

“True, though it was I who envisioned your future with Kara when she was born. However, somethings could not be foreseen, like the love you two would form. It did end up working in my favor. If you hadn’t loved Kara so deeply you would have killed her and most certainly the child.” He paused to slice my skin open. “You were chosen to protect Kara. In order to complete your task we had to awaken the demon within you. Astoroth suggested murdering your mother. It awakened your demon, however, we failed to see your love for Kara would cause you to run away from her.” He shrugged.

“Bullshit,” I said.

“Your loving father sent Nebiros to guide you and soon you were ready to continue your training with the Vatican. We were waiting for Kara to mature and for you to become a feared killer. While you were busy assassinating innocent people for the Prophets, Dagan and Remy were sent to watch over Kara, while Astoroth and Gabriel moved into your beloved city to prepare young Abby for your return. She was the key to everything falling into place. Abby was a test of Kara’s motherly abilities and of your patience.” He reopen my wounds, which were healing slower.

I could feel my blood starting to pool around my body. I also felt like my entire existence was one big lie. How could someone have the power to control the lives of so many? I was stunned, and my will to fight was quickly sinking. My demon shrank back into its cage, encouraging the loss of blood.

“My visit to your home was to be certain you and Kara were ready. You demonstrated your strength and ability when you defeated Lokie in your weakened state. More importantly you proved you would protect Kara at any cost. And Abby showed me the love and patience given to her by both you and Kara. Both of you were finally ready for the child. But seeing your strength I decided to use you to get rid of those who knew about my involvement in bringing the prophecy to life. All I had to do was push the Prophets and Gabriel in your path of destruction. Then I waited, it didn’t take very long for you to become bored and complacent.”  

“You’re lying,” I growled.

“Calm yourself, child, there is more to tell. My plan was working better than I ever imagined, but Astoroth had a different vision for you. He always thought you were the one. He held you on a fucking pedestal, insisting you were the one holding the power to mankind's demise. How could you destroy a world of humans when you love a woman from that horrid inferior race? Astoroth ruined everything when lured you underground into his cavern. He wanted to fight you, he wanted to prove me wrong.” Peter again shook his head in disappointment.