Lightbringer (20 page)

CHAPTER 18

CASSIE RODE AS a passenger in her own body as Aelziroth strolled up to the covered bridge, casually carrying an AK-47. He glanced at the shake-shingled roof and stopped where the path sloped up to the edge. Moonlight shone in through one of the open sides, casting silvery light on half the floor. A tall parking lot light filled in, leaving only a few inky shadows in the corners.

Jared leaned against a support pillar at the opening, arms crossed over his broad chest. She remembered the blood on his shirt, but it was covered by a jacket now. She couldn’t tell how badly he was hurt. He probably didn’t want Aelziroth to know.

*Don’t do this,*
she wanted to shout.
*Don’t give yourself over to Aelziroth!*

She wished she could go to him, feel him pull her close again, shake some sense into him. But Aelziroth held her in a tight prison of control.

*Don’t worry*, Aelziroth told her.
*You’ll feel Jared take you again—when I’m in control of his body.*

Cassie tried to ignore him.

“Right on time,” Jared said, his deep voice rumbling.

Jared was going to sacrifice himself, and for what? For her supposed destiny? She wished she could tell him not to be such a noble idiot, but he probably wouldn’t listen to her even if she could.

Jared’s eyes met hers, and suddenly she felt steadier. A spark of hope kindled in her heart, and the music he’d given her grew so sweet and clear it made her want to sing. Cassie was surprised Aelziroth couldn’t hear it.

“Nice work, Jaradiel.” The demon perused the drawing on the wooden floorboards, then looked up, examining the underside of the roof where a series of metal plates were bolted. “No binding symbol here, and none drawn on the roof.”

“I figured you saw that movie too.”

Aelziroth chuckled. “I don’t know if I’m proud of you, or dismayed. You’re giving in so easily. Not much of a challenge.”

“Sorry to disappoint. Shall we get on with this? It will be dawn soon, and the joggers will be showing up.”

“So eager,” Aelziroth drawled with her voice. “Very well.” He sauntered onto the bridge, into the drawing.

Jared stepped outside the circle then closed it with a short mark of the chalk. He began to chant. Power pulsed and eddied around Aelziroth. The air shimmered like heat haze rising from the desert in summer.

Cassie could see just enough of Aelziroth’s mind to know Jared didn’t need the trappings of bell, book, and candles. This wasn’t witchcraft, and Jared wasn’t mortal. He had his own Power and he didn’t need to use any spells haphazardly cobbled together from bits and pieces. All it took was Power spoken aloud, and the right symbol to focus it.

In minutes it was done. Cassie felt the
geas
break like a bubble popping. The magical compulsion on the demon to “neutralize” her was gone.

Aelziroth laughed and spread her arms wide. “Well done, my friend. Well done. I am free of that mortal parasite, Crandall.”

Aelziroth stared intently at Jared. “We were friends once, Jaradiel. We could be again. I know you chafe at the restrictions Michael and his sycophants impose. Throw them off. Join us. Join me. You can keep your body. We can travel the world together and have fabulous sex and do what we will. No one will be able to gainsay us.”

Jared soberly returned the demon’s gaze and began chanting again. The Power leapt up, swirling into a complex pattern of lines and colors that began to contract around Aelziroth.

The demon screamed in rage.

Cassie’s heart leapt. Jared wasn’t giving up without a fight. “You’re trying to exorcize me?”

Aelziroth raised the gun and ripped off a burst.

A bullet hit Jared in the shoulder. He staggered back a step but his words didn’t falter.

*No!*
Cassie reached for the music that had given her strength before and focused on lifting her arms, pushing with every ounce of strength she had. Aelziroth’s aim shifted, and the rest of the bullets buried themselves in the roof.

Jared continued chanting in that beautiful, musical language that was almost like singing, and it harmonized with the music playing in Cassie’s soul. She pulled her arms down, aiming the gun at the wooden floor.

The demon speared Cassie with a lance of pain, then struggled to aim the weapon again, but his arms were now trapped by her sides. He couldn’t move.

Neither could Cassie. The Power that held Aelziroth immobile had her trapped as well.

Aelziroth raged, pouring his fury onto Cassie. It was like being burned alive. She tried to turn away from the pain, but there was no escape. It surrounded her, filled her. Her entire existence was agony.

*Sing, Cassie. Help me.*
Jared’s voice resonated in her heart.

The flames of Aelziroth’s temper threatened to burn her to ashes.

Cassie sang. She lifted her mental voice to join with Jared’s, just as she had helped to sing Gideon home in Linda’s living room. Music welled up from deep, deep within her, bubbling like spring water. Cassie focused on that, drinking it in, pouring her own song back into the melody. She submerged herself in the waves of the music like a cool oasis, letting it support her and soothe her, willing Aelziroth to weaken, willing Jared to be strong enough to rip the demon out of her.

The flames receded. There was a tinge of panic in Aelziroth’s anger. Cassie could feel her limbs again, though she still couldn’t move.

Cassie soared on the music, blending her strength and her song with Jared’s. Power flowed all around them, a pure light shaped by hundreds of years of worship. She could feel Jared now, drawing on the Power of the land. He was in terrible pain, but his heart was strong and his Power was singing, grappling with Aelziroth’s.

Heat burned a trail along the side of her head and her focus shattered. She heard a sharp crack. Wood splintered as a bullet took a chunk out of the names of lovers carved into the support beyond her.

Someone had just tried to shoot her.

Three more sharp reports shocked the quiet night air, coming from a different direction.

Jared faltered in his song and the pattern wavered.

Aelziroth’s power surged, and Cassie reached for Jared’s Power in a panic. The demon tried to aim the gun, but Cassie threw everything she had into holding Aelziroth still. She would not let him kill Jared.

Running feet slapped the asphalt of the path then pounded on the wooden boards. A rough arm grabbed her rigid body and pulled her against one of the tall supports between the half walls of the bridge. The cold barrel of a gun was jammed against her neck.

“Drop the gun,” a man’s voice growled beside her ear.

I would if I could
.

“Drop it!” The man thrust the gun painfully into her neck.

Jared stopped chanting. The Power filling the air started to dissipate.

Fighting Aelziroth all the way, Cassie managed to relax her hands. The gun fell to the wooden boards.

“Now call off your dog,” the voice called out loud enough for Jared to hear, “or she’s dead.”

Dave swore silently. He’d commanded enough field ops to know a snafu when he saw one.

He’d barely spotted Crandall before the bastard had taken his shot at Cassie. Dave clenched his jaw. He thought he might have clipped Crandall with his third shot, but now the son-of-a-bitch was using the woman as a shield.
Damn it, I told Jared I wasn’t a sniper
.

Dave sighted on Crandall’s head. Too close. Crandall was too close to Cassie to risk a shot. Maybe if he had a scope and a week to practice.
And if wishes were horses, I’d be in the Bahamas with a blonde on one arm and a redhead on the other
.

Damn it!
Should he take the shot, or wait?

Aelziroth was in the woman. But killing Cassie was not the plan.

Not Jared’s plan anyway. They still needed to kill Aelziroth. And if he took out the woman, Crandall would be without his shield.

Dave lined up the shot.

“You’ll kill her anyway,” Cassie heard Jared say through the music. The cold barrel of the gun pressed painfully into her flesh. Her attention wavered, and Aelziroth tensed her muscles.

*Release me!*
Aelziroth demanded.
*I can save your pathetic life.*

Even if the demon’s lightening reflexes could take out Crandall before his bullets shredded her carotid artery it wasn’t worth it.

*No!*
Cassie wrapped the beauty of the music around her like a protective shield. Whatever happened, she would not let the demon have her body back. Not without a fight.

“Maybe.” Crandall tightened his grip. “But if you don’t call off your shooter, it’s guaranteed. Do you really want to watch her head explode?”

“Dave,” Jared called out. “Stand down.”

A breeze riffled through the pine needles, but there was no sound except the music still playing in Cassie’s head.

*Free me!*
Aelziroth pushed hard, lashing out with a searing bolt of pain. Cassie’s focus on the melody slipped.

“Dave?” Crandall sounded incredulous. “So that’s why I lost the connection to Aelziroth. You exorcized him.”

“Not exactly.” Jared stepped slightly closer to the shadows in one corner of the bridge.

Crandall shifted, as if examining the floor. “Is that what these symbols are for? The exorcism? They’re different from those I’m familiar with.” Then he straightened. “I want to see him. Have him come out.”

Aelziroth poured on the agony like liquid fire. Cassie lost her connection to Jared and the Power welling up from the earth. She couldn’t hold on. The demon burst free with a rush of glee, no longer immobilized.

*Sorry dear, I’ve got to go. Crandall is going to blow your brains out, and I’m not going to die with you.*

Suddenly Cassie was alone in her body. Aelziroth was gone, into Crandall.

Cassie’s knees gave way and she slumped, pulling Crandall’s body off balance. Aelziroth took a step, trying to hold her.

The sharp report of a rifle echoed in the cold night air. Aelziroth’s hand spasmed and released her. Something warm and wet splattered her face and shoulder. Cassie fell, Crandall on top of her. The world went black.

CHAPTER 19

“CASSIE!” HER NAME tore from Jared’s throat in a ragged shout as he ran to her, heedless of the pain shooting through his side. Blood slicked her face and hair, covered her shoulder.
So much blood
. Heart hammering, he kicked both Crandall’s and Aelziroth’s weapons away.
She can’t be dead. Don’t let her be dead
.

Crandall’s head was covered in blood too. Jared nudged him with his foot. He didn’t react.

Relief threatened to turn Jared’s limbs to water. Crandall had been shot, not Cassie. But did Aelziroth still have her?

Her eyes fluttered open. Jared reached for Crandall’s gun, but then he touched her mind. It wasn’t Aelziroth gazing up at him. It was pure Cassie. His knees buckled. He pulled Crandall’s body off her then held her close, rocking her gently. His side screamed in pain but he didn’t care. She was alive. Alive and free. “I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered.

“Not yet,” Cassie said on a short breath.

Dave ran onto the bridge, footsteps thudding on the wooden floor. He stopped abruptly, looking sharply at Jared holding Cassie, and then at Crandall, whose head was a bloody mess.

“Oh, thank God! I made the shot. I made the shot.” He ran a hand over his face, then dropped to his knees beside them. “Are you all right?” he asked Cassie.

Was
she all right? Jared’s heart twisted. Aelziroth was gone, destroyed, but would she ever be able to forget what the Apostate had done to her? Jared skimmed the surface of her mind, tasting the chaotic swirl of her emotions, the relief of freedom, the residue of torture, the remains of fear and horror and disgust. He wanted to delve deeper, to join with her, but he was reluctant to intrude further after the invasion she’d endured from Aelziroth. That small glimpse was enough to make him scream with hot, impotent rage, but he held himself still for her sake. Jared could almost wish the demon still present so he could slake his desire for vengeance on him.

“Sorry. Stupid question,” Genuine sorrow twisted the mercenary’s face.

Cassie reached out a hand to Dave. “Thank you.”

Something passed between them, then Dave swallowed and looked embarrassed. “It was a team effort.” He glanced away for a moment, blinking rapidly. Then he cleared his throat and said, “The cops will be here in a minute or two. There’s no reason they should be interested in you, except as the victims. We’ll tell them Crandall heard about your gift and became obsessed with you. You turned him down, so he tried to take you out. If he couldn’t have you, no one would.”

Cassie shuddered. “Why didn’t we wait for the police at the cabin?”

“You were freaked and ran away,” Dave answered. “We went after you. Stupid maybe, but that’s what we did.”

Jared lifted his brows, impressed. Dave was spinning their cover story with amazing ease. “What about the symbols on the bridge?”

Dave’s lips thinned as if at a bitter memory. “That’s the easy part. They’ll find all sorts of shit at his house. Crandall’s deep into black magic.”

“And the man I shot?” Jared asked quietly.

“I’ll take the heat for that. He was with Crandall, breaking into your place. He was wearing a vest and carrying a gun. It was self-defense.”

“He’ll go to prison, and all he’s guilty of is being controlled by an Apostate,” Jared said.

Dave shook his head. “Aelziroth chose someone who wouldn’t fight what he wanted him to do. I saw into his mind when Aelziroth enthralled him. He’s no innocent.”

For the second time that night, sirens wailed in the distance.

Jared looked hard at Dave. “Are you sure you want to do this? You could just fade away into the night.”

“Yeah, I’m good at that. But then you’d be left with a lot of hard ‘splainin’ to do.” Dave met Jared’s eyes straight on. “I have a lot to make up for. It’s the least I can do.” He stood. “I’ll go wait for them by the road. We don’t want them getting lost.” He jogged away into the night.

Holding her close, Jared felt Cassie tremble and his heart ached. He could take the horror of what she’d experienced from her. Heal her mind of the awful memories. He believed all knowledge brought wisdom, but he didn’t want her to continue suffering from what Aelziroth had done to her.

“Don’t you dare,” she said putting a hand to his face. “I won’t have you violating your principles. I can handle it. You gave me the music. It kept me sane.”

Jared stared into her eyes. “I was afraid it wouldn’t be enough.”

The sirens were very close now. “It’s almost over,” he said.

*Not quite.*
Gideon’s voice penetrated into Jared’s mind.

*About time you showed up,*
Jared thought, but he didn’t try to hide his happiness at his friend’s return.

“Gideon!” Cassie looked around. Apparently she’d heard him too.

“He’s not here. Not in the flesh anyway,” Jared said.

*Much to my sorrow, I cannot manifest physically so soon after returning to the Celestial Realm, or else I would kiss you, my dear. You did splendidly.*

Jared felt Cassie’s emotions swing from pleasure to sorrow and back again.

“Thank you.”

*
You’ve succeeded, Jaradiel. The threat to Cassie and her bloodline is past. Without a mortal strong enough to summon them into the Terrestrial Plane, the Apostates’ influence is limited again. Michael and Raphael are pleased, even if you did spill the beans about us to Cassie and Dave.*

“You told me at the start of this that certain secrets might need to be revealed,” Jared said.

*True enough.*

“So why are you here?”

*I’m here to take you home.*

Jared’s arms tightened around Cassie. Home. It was what he’d wanted for over a hundred years, but now the prospect of it tasted like ashes.

He shook his head. “I can’t go. I’m staying.”

“You can’t!” Cassie exclaimed. “It’s what you’ve always wanted. You have to go!”

Jared shook his head. “No, it’s not what I want. Not anymore.”

“It’s because of me, isn’t it? You feel responsible for what Aelziroth did. It’s not your fault. I’ll be fine.”

Jared stared at her, in awe of her strength.
*You’re right,*
he said into her mind.
*You
will
be fine. You’ll be better than fine, you’ll be great. But I won’t be. If I go back to the Celestial Realm now, I’ll be leaving my heart behind. I want to be here for you. I want to laugh with you, and love you, and hold you through the nights when the dark memories won’t go away. I’ll have an eternity in the Celestial Realm, but only a lifetime with you. I love you, Cassie. I don’t need to go anywhere. I am home. With you.*

Cassie just stared at him, tears in her eyes.

A horrible possibility occurred to him. Maybe Cassie didn’t want him around, a constant reminder of four terrifying days. Maybe she’d rather forget any of this happened.
*That is, uh, if you want to share your life with me.*

Cassie’s tears spilled over as her heart filled with emotion. “Of course I do! How could you doubt it?” She felt his sincerity, but she had to ask, “Are
you
sure?”

Gideon’s wry chuckle tickled the inside of her head. *
He’s sure.*

She kissed Jared, and his lips met hers possessively. His arms tightened around her as if he would never let her go.

“Just one thing,” Cassie said when they finally came up for air. “What is this big destiny thing of mine that was so important?”

*Your destiny is within you,*
Gideon replied.

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Not all of it.”

*No, not all of it. But as Jared will tell you, you have the freedom to choose how you’ll respond to the chances life brings,*
Gideon said.

“You’re not going to answer my question, are you?”

Gideon laughed again.
*You’ll know soon enough.*