Falling (The Falling Angels Saga) (11 page)

“What does this have to do with us?” Guy demanded.

Orthon got to his feet and glared at Guy. “It has
nothing
to do with you,
angel
!”

“Guy, please!” I called, hoping they wouldn’t start fighting again. “You have to let him speak.”

“You cannot trust demons.”

“You told me that already, but
I
trust him, and I’d like to hear what he has to say. If you can’t listen quietly, maybe you should wait in the car.”

Guy flinched as if he’d been slapped. A surprised expression came over his face. He turned to Orthon. “Speak,” he said in a more civilized tone.

“Sit down,” I said to Orthon, with a gesture toward where he’d been sitting.

“The new leader possesses dark magic,” Orthon said retaking his seat.

Guy clucked his teeth dismissively. I shot him a look, and he heaved a heavy sigh.

I turned back to Orthon. “What does that have to do with me?”

“He’s gathering the Satanists together for a large conclave very soon. They’re planning something big. I don’t know what, but the subject of the gathering is you.”

“Me?” My voice rang out with surprise. “What do you mean me?”

“How do you know this?” asked Guy, still skeptical.

“Guy, please! Let him speak.” I beseeched Guy with my eyes. He stared back at me without responding. I again turned my attention to Orthon. “How do you know this?” My heart was once again thumping.

“Let’s just say, I run in those circles,” replied Orthon. He looked into my eyes. “I’m not sure what the new leader intends. To discover that, one of us will have to attend to conclave.”

“How do we know this isn’t a trick to get Megan alone with the Satanists?” asked Guy.

“You don’t,” replied Orthon, his crimson eyes narrowing into an icy glare.

This time I did nothing to smooth over the rift between them. I had my own troubles. I sat there, my head hanging low. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. If it wasn’t Satan, it was the Satanists. I had again allowed myself to believe the worst was behind me when Guy had successfully kept Satan from entering my dreams.
Will this ever end?
I wondered.

Guy eased into the seat next to me and took my hand in his. “Do not despair. We can beat this one, too.”

“I want to believe you,” I said, my voice cracking. “It’s just that… I get the feeling it’s never going to end until I surrender.” A wellspring of hopeless tears appeared in my eyes.

“I will never let them have you,” said Guy. He put his arm around me.

“Neither will I,” Orthon said from across the table. I looked into his eyes, spilling over with pain. I wondered if his pain was the result of my tears, or the pain of watching Guy comfort me.

“Why do the Satanists want me? Is it to replace Erin as Satan’s bride?” I was finding it hard to think, but I had to hold it together.

“I do not know, but they’ve had you in their sites for a long time,” Orthon replied. He lowered his pain-filled eyes as if, in not knowing the answer to my question, he’d let me down. “I’ve given you all the information I have,” he said, avoiding my gaze.

“Then we have to find out.” I stood. “Aunt Jaz,” I said in a breathless sigh. “I know she’s been in the hospital, but we have to run this by her. She’s always been a wealth of information. She may have more insight into what’s going on.” Both Guy and Orthon seemed to agree. “If anyone will know what to do, she will.”

I hadn’t seen Aunt Jaz since I’d discovered it was me who’d tried to kill her. It was time to make my apology.

*

We gathered in her living room the next day after school. I asked Harrison to join us. He was like a big brother to me and a demon fighter to boot. Aunt Jaz’s living room seemed small and felt cramped with me and three tall men gathered there. Harrison’s lanky frame looked so uncomfortable next to Guy on the banana-shaped sectional sofa. Orthon chose to sit away from them on the rocker in the corner.

Aunt Jaz’s apartment usually smelled of something delightful that was cooking in the kitchen. Today, the faint fragrance of cinnamon was in the air, the fragrance used by Orthon to mask his foul odor.

Orthon’s odor was the elephant in the room. Everyone detected it, noses twitched and eyes searched for the source. And then there was the knowing look on both Guy and Harrison’s faces as they realized the source was Orthon.

My heart went out to him. He seemed so uncomfortable, seated at the edge of the chair, not allowing it to rock, as if any movement would make things worse. He stared at the ceiling and walls, at everything but us. Being in the presence of the angel I loved and a demon slayer had to be the last place he wanted to be. He was here for me. I tried to catch his eye and give him a reassuring smile. I wanted him to know I was grateful he’d come, but he wouldn’t look at me.

Maudrina and Aunt Jaz appeared in the doorway. The three men all rose to their feet. Aunt Jaz smiled. “One trip to the hospital, and suddenly I’m the Queen of France.” She laughed easily, trying not to push it. She was in full makeup, and her hair had been recently done in a relaxed fifties style. She had on the cutest white dressing gown with a green polka dot print.

I smiled inwardly. There was no way Aunt Jaz was going to allow a man to see her without makeup. She was nearly back to her old self, and yet she appeared to be downsized. That’s the only way I can describe it. I can’t say she looked thinner, or less healthy, just somehow she seemed less; less Aunt Jaz, less full of life.

Maudrina escorted her into the room. While Aunt Jaz seemed to be moving just fine, her feet gliding gently over the shag carpet, Maudrina wasn’t taking any chances, hanging onto her arm as if at any moment she might topple over.

Maudrina smiled over at me and then at Guy. I’d told her about his return briefly over the phone.

Aunt Jaz looked at Guy and smiled as well. “Good to see you, Guy.”

At first Guy seemed surprised that Aunt Jaz knew him. Then recognition appeared on his face and he cast a wrathful eye at Orthon. “Good to see you, too, ma’am,” Guy said, forcing a smile to his lips that didn’t match the ire in his eyes.

“Sit here, Aunt Jaz,” Maudrina said, releasing her arm only when she arrived at the end of the sectional. Harrison moved over toward the center. He took Aunt Jaz’s other arm and helped her down.

“Whooph,” Aunt Jaz said, sitting heavily. “I had no idea the trip from the bedroom to the living room could take so much out of a girl.” It was meant as a joke, but with all the tension in the air, no one laughed.

“Hey, Aunt Jaz.” I’d been standing near the faux fig tree by the window. Her eyes moved to me. They danced with delight.

“Come on over here and give me a hug.” She smiled wide and held her arms out to me. “You don’t want to wait for me to come over there. You’ll be waiting til the cows come home.” She laughed her laugh. It wasn’t as full and boisterous as usual, but it was music to my ears.

I moved across the room, leaned over, and hugged her. “I’m so sorry, Aunt Jaz,” I said, holding on extra tight.

“Me, too. I’m sorry I didn’t bake anything.” This time we all joined her in laughter. Leave it to Aunt Jaz to ease the tension in the room.

At Aunt Jaz’s insistence, Maudrina headed off to the bakery a few blocks away to pick up a dozen chocolate chip cookies that I knew would go uneaten. As soon as Maudrina was gone, we got down to business.

“I knew there was someone in town who had tremendous dark magic skills,” Aunt Jaz said. “Only a demon or a powerful magician can place a soul sucker inside an innocent girl,” she said, referring to what had happened to Erin last summer. Her eyes moved to me. “I thought you girls might be in danger.”

“Do you know anything about the magician? What do they want with Megan?” Guy said, his voice layered with concern.

“I’ve had my feelers out for some time, but as soon as Maudie told me about the conclave, I made a few more phone calls. Your friend over there is right,” she said, gesturing toward Orthon. “The Satanists have a new leader, a real leader this time. His name is Cyril Dagenhart.”

At the mention of Orthon being my friend, Guy’s eyes moved to me. I couldn’t tell if he was angry, or hurt, or confused.

“Orthon says he’s targeted me.” I looked away from Guy to Aunt Jaz. I didn’t say anything more. I held my breath and waited for her to reply.

“I’m not sure about that. My sources say Dagenhart is interested in one of you. Could be you, could be Erin. My sources suspect he was pulling the strings behind Danny Tambor’s takeover.”

That caught me by surprise. “Really?”

She nodded. “Mmm hmm. He’s an incredibly wealthy man. He came to town last spring and started throwing money around. He’s the one who purchased Tavares castle. I’m sure it was Dagenhart who put the soul sucker in Erin.” Her tone shifted darkly. “Perhaps he wants to finish what he started.”

At the mention of Erin being the one targeted by Dagenhart, my heart felt lighter. My lungs seemed to open, as if I were recovering from an asthma attack. I was secretly overjoyed to hear that it might not be me. But like a slow moving storm, the joy gave way to clouds of disgust.
How can I wish something so horrible on one of my best friends? Especially after she’s been through so much.

“You say ‘finish what he started.’ Do you mean a wedding?” asked Guy. “To Satan?”

“The Satanists are lunatics,” said Orthon. “They have no direct relationship with Satan. This is a fact,” said Orthon. He, too, was looking at me, hoping his words had lightened my burden. I smiled and he looked away.

“That’s what I know,” said Aunt Jaz with a sigh. “I haven’t heard anything about the conclave. I’m afraid if we want to find out anything more, I’m going to have to call on Monsieur Perez.” She looked at me, and I got the sense this was the reason she’d sent Maudrina away. “Will you accompany me?”

“Yes, yes, of course. After all, you’re doing this for me,” I replied. Despite my dislike of Monsieur Perez, I knew Aunt Jaz shouldn’t visit him alone.

“I will go along as well,” said Guy.

Aunt Jaz shook her head. “No. He won’t be very cordial if you’re there.”

“Why not? Does he not like angels?”

Aunt Jaz’s gaze moved from Guy to me.

“Guy, sweetie, you’re going to have to stay behind.” I tried to smile, but he saw through it.

“What did you do?” He rose to his feet, his eyes flaming at Orthon.

“Nothing you wouldn’t have done,” Orthon replied with rage.

“I would do
nothing
that a demon would do,” Guy squawked, his voice rising.

“Easy, Guy,” said Harrison. He, too, rose, but only to keep Guy from doing something he’d regret. He began massaging Guy around the shoulders.

“Monsieur Perez was disrespecting me, and Orthon defended my honor.” I shot a grateful look in Orthon’s direction. This time he treated me to a brief but sweet smile.

“Oh… Thank you,” Guy said. His raging gaze softened a bit. “I’m… sorry.” He bowed graciously in Orthon’s direction. “I let emotion get the best of me. My apologies to you all.” He turned his attention to Aunt Jaz. “I think we should meet again after your visit with Monsieur Perez. Once we have all the facts, we can come up with a proper plan to keep Megan and Erin safe.”

Despite the dire situation, I found myself smiling. This was the Guy I had fallen in love with: rational, thoughtful. “That’s a good idea,” I said.

The front door opened amid a rustling of keys. Maudrina was back.

“Not a word of this to Maudrina until after our visit,” said Aunt Jaz, shooting me a warning glance.

Maudrina entered the room carrying a pink pastry box. “Aunt Jaz, that bakery doesn’t even sell chocolate chip cookies.” My breath caught, as I choked back a laugh.

“Are you sure?” asked Aunt Jaz, as if she didn’t already know.

“Positive!” replied Maudrina, annoyed.

“Well, I’m sure whatever you brought, it’ll be appreciated. Come on out into the kitchen and help me with the tea.” Aunt Jaz rose slowly, casting each of us a smile that was filled with warning, and shuffled from the room.

That evening I brought Guy home with me. It was time my mother knew he was back, and I wanted Tony to meet him.

When we got in, Suze was at the kitchen counter doing paperwork she used to do at her desk, before her clutter overtook the breakfast nook.

“Guy! This is a surprise.” Her opinion of Guy had been altered when she found out I’d met Harrison through him. Harrison had saved me from being expelled from school. Any friend of Harrison’s was now a friend of hers.

“I know. A
pleasant
surprise,” I said, smiling into Guy’s eyes. “He showed up earlier and accompanied me to visit Aunt Jaz,” I said, continuing to smile at him.

“You’re here to visit your mother?” Suze asked.

“Yes,” he said, gazing at me. “And other people.”

Oh, my!

“Where’s Tony tonight? I wanted him to meet Guy.”

“He decided to spend the night at home. Some sporting event he wanted to watch at home. He says he can’t scratch himself and drink beer over here.”

“You got that right,” I said, and we shared a laugh.

“How long are you in town?” Suze asked, turning her attention to Guy.

“Hmm. Not sure,” Guy said. He shot me a furtive glance.

“If you’re hanging around with my daughter, I’m sure you’ll meet Tony. He’s here most every night.”

“Righteeo.”

Despite her change in attitude toward Guy, my mother’s rule of his spending his evenings with me confined to our living room sofa and not in my bedroom, prevailed. At least, now that I was sixteen, she allowed him over on a weeknight.
Sheesh!

She offered him dinner, but he told her we’d already eaten.

“Why did you tell her
we
ate? Now I’m going to look like a greedy pig when I go in there and fix myself a plate.” We were in our old spot on the sofa. It felt familiar.

“You could miss a meal or two.”

“WHAT?” Instinctively I punched him in the shoulder, which elicited a wave of belly laughter from him. “That’s a horrible thing to say.”