Redemption (18 page)

Enael retches one last time then rises, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve.
 
“Thanks for that.”

Roseline shrugs.
 
She has her own problems to deal with, and she doesn’t need the boy causing her any more.
 
Obviously, Lucien wants the boy dead.
 
No doubt, he felt that she would be more willing to drink from him if he were dead.
 
The trouble is…he is probably right.

“Just do me a favor and stay alive.”

He snorts, tucking his robe tightly around him.
 
“That is the plan.”

“How long was I asleep?”

“Hard to say,” he says, pulling his legs into his chest.
 
“A couple hours. Maybe more.”

“Malachi has not returned?”

Enael shakes his head.
 
His patchy beard is more pronounced than it was when he first arrived.
 
A light stubble of growth clings to his chin.
 
She grinds her teeth, infuriated over the impossibility of judging the passage of time.
 
“He should have been back by now.”

“Yep.
 
Told you he wouldn’t help us.
 
I know his type.
 
They save their own skin, no matter the cost.”

Roseline clenches her fists, hoping that Enael isn’t right.
 
For once, she thinks he probably is.
 
“We’re going to have to do this on our own.”

“How?”
 
He stares at the metal grate overhead.
 
“You’re not strong enough to reach that and there’s no way I can.”

Slowly rising to her feet, Roseline takes a close look at the grate.
 
Eight bars run in a crisscross pattern across the opening.
 
They are made of steel, by the looks of it, easy enough to break for an immortal.

She narrows her gaze, searching for any sign of angel hair wound around the bars.
 
It is nearly impossible to see in this light but from what she can tell, the bars are not protected, unlike the reinforced cage door.

“He wants me to escape,” she whispers.

“That’s insane.”

She looks down, startled to find Enael beside her.
 
Her gaze flits over the dried blood caked on his skin.
 
The scent of his open wounds makes her stomach turn over as Lucien’s plan begins to unfold before her.

“It makes sense.”
 
She steps back from him, exhaling before she draws in a breath of musty air.
 
“With your blood I will ignite the final stages of the transformation.
 
I would be strong.”

Looking at the grate overhead, she knows she is right.
 
“That’s our way out.”

“We’ve been over this.
 
You aren’t…” he turns and stares at her, shaking his head as he backs away. “No.
 
No way!
 
Don’t you come near me!”

“Calm down, Enael.
 
I won’t take much.
 
Just enough to get us out of here.”

“Are you insane?
 
I’m not going to just let you bite me.
 
Don’t you remember what you became earlier?
 
That thing?”

Roseline winces but nods.
 
“Yes, but you’re not going to let that happen to me.”

“I’m not?” he asks, surprised.

“No.
 
I get us out of here and you help me find Malachi.
 
He can counteract the blood and remove it before it does too much damage.”

Enael pauses, looking longingly at his source of freedom.
 
“You really think it will work?”

“It has to…for Gabriel.”

With a curt nod of approval, he steps up to Roseline and rolls his neck to the side.
 
“Get it over with.”

Her forehead crinkles with disgust.
 
“This would be a lot easier if you weren’t so disgusting.
 
No offense, but you smell like you been sleeping in a garbage dump.”

“Look who’s talking.”

“Fair enough,” she laughs.
 
“Now hold still.
 
This will only hurt for a second.”

“And then you’ll stop, right?”

Without pausing to respond, she wraps her fingers around his neck and pierces his flesh.
 
The delicious metallic taste that flows over her lips mingles with the scent of unwashed skin, turning her stomach.
 

She tugs at the vein, clutching him tightly to her chest as heat races through her body.
 
The fires burn hotter than ever before, almost to the point of unbearable pain.
 
She groans, fighting to remain latched to his neck.

Enael beats at her arm, screaming at her to let him go, but she doesn’t.
 
Not yet.
 
She needs just a bit more.

***

S
eneh’s cry of pain shakes Gabriel from his paralysis as the angel falls to his knees, a wide gash opened in his side.
 
“Seneh!”

“No,” the angel holds out his hand to stop Gabriel from rushing to his aid.
 
His palm glistens with fresh blood, his voice strained with pain.
 
“Get the sword.
 
It is your only hope.”

“I won’t leave you,” he protests, taking a step toward Seneh, but he stops at the glint of determination is his guardian’s eyes.

“Get the sword.”

Gabriel turns and sprints forward, diving just beneath the wide sweep of a cherubim’s claw.
 
As he passes under, he notices blood dripping from its sharp nails…Seneh’s blood.

Gabriel feels the whoosh of air as the paw passes back over him again.
 
He leaps to his feet, sprinting toward its tail, but the second creature is waiting, wings beating the air into an almighty gale.
 
Gabriel leans into the wind, fighting to remain upright.
 

Forced to his knees, he lowers his head and waits, praying that his senses are not dulled by the beating of wings.
 
The pressure on him shifts just before the mighty claws swing down at him.
 
He manages to roll out of the way at the last second, but not before the razor sharp nails tears through his shirt.
 
  

Gabriel can see the sword blazing high overhead but realizes that it is still too far out of reach.
 
He frantically searches for a way to climb high enough to leap for it, but the walls are smooth as glass, offering him no help.
 
He spins and grunts as a tail smacks into his stomach like a whip, knocking the breath from his lungs.

He goes down hard, cracking his knees against the stone.
 
Pain lingers in his chest as he grasps at the tail, holding on as it rises high into the air.
 
It flails about, trying to shake him loose, but he clings to it with all his might.

Refusing to let go, he digs his fingers into the creature’s fur, searching for flesh.
 
The cherubim’s muscles are strong and broad, even in its tail.
 
Gabriel holds on, praying to inflict enough pain to buy him some time.

A growl echoes through the room as Gabriel claws at its flesh.
 
With an almighty whip of the tail, Gabriel is thrown off, slamming hard against the wall.
 
He slides down to the floor, shaken by the brunt force.
 
  

Seneh limps several feet away, his sword barely held aloft and his spare hand trembles as it covers his wound.
 
Gabriel calls out to him, but Seneh doesn’t appear to hear him over the thrashing of the cherubim.
 

Gabriel’s gaze trails up the curve of the beasts’ back, and a crazy idea forms in his mind.
 
He looks to the sword and then back to the writhing creature.
 

I’m really going to regret this,
he thinks as he rises unsteadily to his feet.
 
He crouches low before leaping onto the Cherubim’s hairy back.
 

The monster whips around, trying to throw him off, but Gabriel is prepared this time.
 
His fingers anchor into its flesh, pulling him along.
 
It bucks wildly, like a horse trying to unseat its rider.
 
“Seneh!
 
I could use some help over here!”

The angel nods, grimacing as he staggers on his feet.
 
His chest heaves as he takes a deep breath and, with a mighty bellow, launches his sword deep into the meaty flesh of the cherubim’s chest.

It roars in pain, rearing high into the air.
 
Gabriel clings to its furry mane as it whirls around to face Seneh.
 
Just before it lunges, Gabriel leaps from its shoulders and soars through the air, over the second cherubim’s raised claws.

Gabriel crows with victory as he plummets to the ground, the fiery sword clenched tightly in his palm.
 
The heat in his forearms instantly cools as the glow of his tattoos fades away.
 
His ankles buckle under him and he goes with it, rolling several times before rising to his feet.
 
“Seneh!
 
I got it.”

The cherubim’s head whips around, its massive face a mask of rage.
 
Gabriel’s smile falters as he looks down at its foot and finds Seneh impaled on its claws.

“No!” He screams, rushing forward.

Blood bubbles up from his guardian’s lips as he raises his hand in warning.
 
“Must…get…Elias…”

Seneh’s hand falls limp, landing atop the creature’s hairy paw.
 
His head lolls to the side, the whites of his eyes showing just before his eyelids fall shut.

Numbness rolls over Gabriel as the creature shakes Seneh off its bloodied claws.
 
The once majestic angel flops against the ground, broken and lifeless.
 
Gabriel’s anger floods in as he stares into the remorseless black eyes of the creature.

Gabriel holds the sword aloft, a growl rumbling deep in his chest.
 
He crouches, ready to attack, but the cherubim begin to back away.
 
“Stand and fight me,” he shouts.

They bow their heads and step back onto their pedestals, murmuring their chants.
 
The light in the room begins to dim.
 
They sit back, perched once more in their rightful place.
 
They look at Gabriel one final time before raising their gaze to stare into the tunnel beyond him.

Gabriel’s grip on the sword tightens.
 
Rage swirls in his mind and heart, begging for him to seek revenge, but as he stares down at the broken body of his friend, he knows it is wrong.
 
Grief weighs heavily upon him as he sinks to his knees, placing a hand atop the scarred chest of his guardian.

His howl shakes the trees in the garden beyond, echoing off the walls.
 
Breathing heavily, he lets his forehead fall onto Seneh’s chest, his fingers splayed against Seneh’s arms.
 
“I’m so sorry.”

Tears stream from his eyes as he sits back.
 
He reaches out and grasps Seneh’s sword, placing it over his chest.
 
Then he grabs the warrior’s great hands and places them on top.
 

“You gave your life for me,” he whispers, slowly rising to his feet.
 
“I promise I will not let your death be in vain.”