Shattering Halos (33 page)

The Celestials fought for the Heavens and for their existence, for the Earth, and for our afterlives. The darkness might swallow us all, and I felt so alone with the knowledge.

Gabriel, I can’t see you!

I missed him. Gabriel’s ring slept dead and cold around my finger. He must be buried somewhere in the pandemonium in front of me.

Ramiel broke free of Michael’s stare-down, twisted his head toward the balcony, and roared, “Lilith, stop her!”

His voice propelled his dark minions back into the battle, but now the Celestial forces had Michael; his presence strengthened their resolve. Was it me, or were they vibrating with energy?

My hopes rose as more Grigori fell than Celestials. Not a single of Zadkiel’s angels had been wounded, and none wavered from their mission with the Purest Ones.

Michael and Ramiel didn’t exchange words. Facing each other, Michael straightened, and I’d never imagined him capable of the merciless glare he was drilling into his evil brother.

The woman from Germany placed a hand on Gazardiel’s cheek, her gaze soft and wondrous. The teacher from the Bronx released his dagger. It thumped to the floor as if it were utterly insignificant.

That was when Ramiel screeched.

And even if I knew better, his pain was so raw that I flinched.

Chapter 33 — Pivot

Cassiel

I’d been saved by a chick with no say in the matter. A stroke of that sword would’ve nixed me if my favorite fog machine hadn’t jumped to the rescue. I guess I was lucky.

What an odd situation to be one lucky angel when everything else looked so bleak. On one side, I found myself alive and flapping. I was flanked by Lilith and Yofiel, the most attractive broads ever created.

On the flipside, my chances of survival were beyond depressing. Everybody and their brother—especially their brother—had legit motives to kill me. The only Supernaturals not interested in obliterating me were Lilith and Michael. And maybe Kakabel at the moment.

Kakabel hung with us until his hot sister entered the picture. Pumped and eager to show off, he was bouncing like a pro boxer in the shadows of the gallery. As soon as Yofiel arrived though, she trapped him in a mind-bending stare-down. She tried her damnedest to dig out a remnant of goodness in him to work with.

Why the hell hadn’t I requested a sword before this brawl began? Apparently, the poor bastard who’d been gassed by Lilith wasn’t attached to his anymore. I snatched it from a limp hand and hopped back onto the balcony.

Some of Michael’s angels poured up the stairs while others dove at us from the ceiling. I wondered about the dimwitted impulse that had overcome Lilith when she yelled down to Ramiel, and I quote: “Kakabel’s up here at the gallery, and we’re totally like the super-easiest target in the universe for anyone who’d like to slaughter us!”

Pretty sure those were the exact words, complete with uncensored valley girl lingo.

Maybe she’d been nursing a grand plan. Who knew, she might have banked on taking them all out with her poison. Unfortunately for her, Michael’s posse knew who they were fighting, so of course they went for full protection.

Oh yes, the white angels came tanked up on nectar. It instantly reduced the majority of counter plans to the most ludicrous ideas ever. The rightful owner of the sword I held was a good example. He already stirred after, what, ten minutes?

Let’s just say the situation didn’t kick ass. Soon, I’d be toast, over and done with. In no time I’d throw in the towel. My fun existence as a Free Fallen was over, but at least I could elect to go down fighting.

Choices, choices. Should I use my new weapon on Kakabel and Lilith or slay as many Celestial Ones as possible?

Come to think of it, no option would have me come out victorious. For me, there would be no winning or losing. Whatever I chose, I’d bite the dust so who the hell cared?

Yeah, I’d just not bother. With minutes left of my existence, what I wanted was a drink—and a chick.

First, they got Lilith. With a swift stab, they penetrated her chest and tossed her unceremoniously off the balcony. She landed with an unhealthy crack across Ramiel’s throne, her green blood generating the mess of the century. Eventually, she dissolved and seeped through the floor.

Samael was nowhere to be seen. Not much of a mate she’d gotten herself when he couldn’t even tear away from Sataniel’s court long enough to help. Who knew, though. Maybe the gargoyle urine they swore by downstairs could fix her. If somebody felt like stepping up to the task.

Seven of them came for Kakabel, and he looked too damn funny. Instantly disarmed, he put up one hell-of-a fight to no avail. I watched, unable to keep the chuckles at bay.

For us Fallen Ones, it’s always been destruction or banishment. When I realized they were trying to grab the star-pusher alive, I stopped laughing.

I mean, really? The Grigori had spent two thousand years on making him plunge. Then, once they owned the pretty-boy, they replaced every morsel of love with evil.

Michael clearly craved a pet project. He sure as hellfire would have fun with this one. Oh well. At the moment, my problem was more along the lines of not getting minced.

In seconds, five white angels had their swords poking at me, prepping to transform me into a colander. As I spread my wings in an idiotic attempt to flee, Gabriel swooped in. He glowed like a goddamn streetlamp, and for the second time, I was downgraded to damsel in distress.

“He works for Michael,” he said in this low, knight-in-shining-armor voice. The angels heard him and disappeared in pursuit of meaner boys.

“Last minute, huh,” I smirked.

“Brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…” he trailed off with an expression too mushy for words.

“Dude,” I huffed.

No reason to thank him since it was
his
ass that had plopped me into this bottomless muddle in the first place. Luckily, he didn’t dive into one of his touchy-feely speeches. Instead, a golden bottle of angel nectar solidified in his palm.

“Drink up. It will allow you to leave through the ceiling.”

I stared at the substance and hesitated. Being a Fallen, I knew how freaking
nice
I’d be for a while if I swallowed the contents. The alternatives were dwindling, though. Getting the hell out of Galdhopiggen sounded dandy about now.

I drank up and threw the container over the guardrail. Too soon, a warm, fluffy sensation filled me. I wanted to be mad about it.

“And you, Gabriel?” I grumbled.

Sadly, those Earthlings had infused me with politeness. Truth be told, I didn’t care if he stayed or left. I should make it a point to stay away from Earth more. Freaking starting today.

“Since I’m here and the one responsible for this mess, I need to help however I can before I leave,” he said.

Oh, Gabriel, Gabriel. Always ready to take the blame and pay the price. I wasn’t going to spend energy on doling out opinions he wouldn’t heed. I gave him a vague thumbs up, my gaze already seeking my blessed escape route.

Then, I took off. The nectar carried me through a ceiling that felt strangely buttery, and there I was. Free. To do whatever I wanted.

Chapter 34 — Winged

Gaia

I knew how Heavenly beings looked when they soared. What approached overhead didn’t match the criteria. It might be a bird heading in my direction, but unless I’d misjudged the distance, the thing would have to be enormous.

The aquamarine stabbed around my finger. I watched the color turn a menacing charcoal. Cassiel’s explanation of how it would react to the Grigori came to mind, causing adrenaline to shoot through my veins. I tore it off and hurled it against the table.

Maybe I could hide. I took in the open build of the cupola, the glass table, and the narrow space under the loveseat. There really was nowhere to take cover. I twisted and scanned the exit leading down into the mountain.

Could I lock the door from inside? If I did, would it keep whatever was coming out? The sound of heavy plumage beating against the wind reached me. The familiar sound, usually so comforting, now made my heart shrink.

My gaze snapped up, and I squinted toward the sky. As the being shortened the distance between us, I discerned the dark shine of its feathers.

I ran to the balustrade, leaned out, and scoured the throne hall for clues. Lilith had been at the gallery with Cassiel, Kakabel, and Yofiel earlier. They had all disappeared without a trace. The swarming, gory chaos persisted, centering around the stone, with Michael and Ramiel in the middle.

I can’t tell who’s who in this madness!

Fast approaching, the shadow grew bigger, a shimmering contour in the night.

“Damn it!”

I ripped away from the sight again, desperate to find Gabriel.

Oh God, there he was—alive…and too far away. The joy expanding my chest lasted for one blessed moment before I discovered the danger he was in.

With a sword in each hand, Gabriel stood in the thick of battle, backed up against the sacrificial stone. Demons crowded him on three sides. A slash incapacitated one of them, but others took over, awaiting their turn for a strike.

Then, there was the blood. Blood that streaked my baby’s cheeks!

Scared. Irate.

If they made it back safely, I’d teach both Gabriel and Cassiel a lesson they’d never forget.

In front of me, the sky offered up the blur of a male. He sharpened and materialized in an amber glow. My feet rushed me to Glittertind’s entrance, and with numb fingers, I rocked the handle as if I’d never opened a door before.

The quiet thump at my back announced the landing of a large, nimble form. A silent wisp of breath curled past my temple in the crisp air. So insubstantial. So threatening.

I choked on how alone I was. My body packed with adrenaline, I prepared to face pure evil in whichever twisted manifestation it chose.

I turned like a cornered animal. Bluish feathers clapped shut, making me jump. Then beautiful, glimmering eyes narrowed in a smirk.

“No way. This is how you greet me?”

My knees weakened.

“You…You scared the living daylights out of me!” My voice shook with relief. For the first time ever, I threw myself into his arms. Catching me immediately, he lifted me off the ground.

“Mmm, I like this,” he purred. He sniffed my hair and squeezed me tighter than he should. A horde of butterflies did somersaults in my stomach.

Goddamn him to hell and back.

Cassiel had arrived. Not a Grigori: Cassiel! In that moment, I didn’t care how inappropriate he was. Even my stupid response to his embrace seemed insignificant. I was ecstatic that he’d escaped!

“Oh, shut up, Cassiel. Be nice.”

Taking advantage of my weakness, he nibbled playfully at my throat. I tried to suppress a hot shudder, making him chuckle gleefully. He flung himself on the sofa, bringing me down with him.

“Gah, listen to me! Stop the freaking games, Cassiel.”

“Hmm, this
is
me being nice, babe.”

“Whatever. Just drop it, okay? What are you doing here anyway?”

“Well, let’s just say Lover Boy called in a favor I didn’t owe him.”

Cassiel’s eyes widened with mock innocence and whispered pleadingly, “Fly to the Glittertind cupola. I left her behind when we discovered you in here. Please, Gaia’s alone. Tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can.’ Geez, so dramatic! How do you put up with him?”

He really was a good actor.

In the precious minutes we had wasted, the situation in the other massif had developed. Cassiel’s focus strayed from my flesh even as he had me secured on his lap.

“Hey, look at the Purest Ones, Gaia. None of them have daggers anymore, and all Protectors are intact, present, and working with them.”

“What? Zadkiel and the others are their guardian angels?”

“Yes, they needed guardians with special powers, not the simpleton type you have.” He arched a brow at me, but I just nodded, too amazed to react to the jab.

“Thank God—no more wailing. Good grief, those guys do earsplitting like nobody’s business!” he moaned, pointing at the cherubs.

Merely sobbing inside the cage, they still held on to angels who hummed sweetly against their ears. The general racket in Ramiel’s lair had subsided too. A sense of defeat saturated the movements of Grigori and demons. Despite the duel with Michael, even Ramiel seemed calmer.

Abruptly aware of my snug posture in Cassiel’s lap, I squirmed to get up. His arms tightened around me.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Oh, I don’t know, off of
you
?”

“Shush, you’re freezing. Besides, Gabriel wanted me to take care of you, remember? Stay.”

I let out a sigh, wishing I had brought the duvets from Shimmer’s Edge up to the cupola.

“Where is he? Can you see him?”

“Aw, she wants to keep tabs on the boyfriend,” Cassiel sing-sang. He couldn’t quite pull of his customary barbed effect. I frowned.

“What’s wrong, Cassiel? Did you lose the pizzazz?”

“Oh, yeah, about that. You boyfriend’s a dick. Dude forced me to drink nectar, so now I’m freaking
pleasant
.”

A small group of Celestials scattered. Two fell, others moved to the sides. They revealed Gabriel in the midst of the mayhem.

“Oh, he’s still fighting,” I breathed, but my stare drew to the cut that frayed his shirt. A deep gash trickled crimson beneath, drenching the fabric. Over his heart?

No!

Cassiel’s thumb stroked over my cheek. For once, he didn’t proffer a snide comment.

In Galdhopiggen, Ramiel began to expand. His eyes glowed fiery red, demanding the archangel’s attention in a way he hadn’t since Kakabel’s disappearance. A hunchbacked demon crept up behind Michael. He clutched one of the ceremonial daggers. With his hideous face contorted into a grimace of pleasure, he leaped.

The tip of the weapon struck the midpoint between the archangel’s wings. Slow scarlet melted into feathers, and I froze solid in fright.

Michael reacted in a flash. Spellbound, I watched his back overextend into an arch. His head curved with the motion in a spectacular dance.

The move gave Gabriel time to blur into action. He flew at the hunchback and caught his knotty fist before the knife burrowed into Michael’s spine.