The Fall (11 page)

“If I tell you, he will kill me,” Crux said, his cerulean eyes pleading.

“If you don’t tell me, Malachi won’t need to. I’ll be more than happy to do it myself,” Archer countered.

Crux seemed shocked that Archer knew Malachi’s name, then appeared to weigh his options.

“If I tell you, will you give me and Sin safe passage out of here?” Crux asked.

“Not your buddy Silver?” 

Crux shook his head.

“No, I only met him this week, and he scares the shit out of me.”

Interesting
, Archer thought. It wasn’t often you met such a docile Nephilim, but Archer wasn’t complaining.

“Very well. Provided Sin cooperates too, you can both leave unharmed.” Some of the tension left Crux’s body, and he took a deep breath before beginning.

“Okay, I don’t know as much as Silver does about everything, but Malachi is paying a lot of money to any sons of Kokabiel to help with a ceremony. He needs them because of their ability to see spirits, or something. That is what Sin and I were here about. We were wondering what the conditions were. He is also hiring Nephilim to kidnap some human chick,” he added, stopping when he saw Archer’s rabid expression.

“Why does Malachi want the girl?” Archer demanded, fighting not to shake Crux.

“He needs her for a sacrifice in the ceremony. He said it’ll take too long to find another,” Crux said, confused by Archer’s strong reaction.

“Over my fucking dead body. When you leave here, Crux, you are going to tell everyone you know that this human girl is protected by the sons of Samyaza. Any harm that comes by her will be reciprocated tenfold.”

Crux’s eyes widened, and he nodded rapidly, feeling the power that was spilling from Archer’s words.

“What line is Silver from?”

“Azazel is his father.”

Great, another crazy fucker
, Archer thought.

“Is that all you know?” Archer asked, daring Crux to lie.  Crux nodded his head, and Archer believed him.

Archer left the room and moved to the one that contained Sin. Original name, Archer mused.

Sin was sitting with his back against the wall, knees to his chest, and arms wrapped around them. He looked weary and rather annoyed, but unlike his brother, he didn’t look scared shitless.

“So, Sin, your brother has bargained for both of your freedom,” Archer said in greeting, and Sin’s head shot up in alarm at the words. His eyes were identical to his brother’s. “Are you going to cooperate, or do I need to persuade you like I did your brother?”

Sin shook his head in dismay. “What has he done?”

“He chose life. Now tell me why Malachi wants the human girl, and how he plans to get her,” Archer demanded. He knew there was more to it; he wanted to know why Addison was needed specifically.

“I know only what Crux did, cousin. Silver is the one Malachi confided in,” he said, before adding, “I told them I want no part of that. If it was just a ceremony, fine. But I do not, and will not, be there when they hurt a woman.”

Archer actually thought that under different circumstances he might have liked Sin. As it was, it just meant he wouldn’t kill him.

“Take your brother and go. I advise you leave town,” Archer suggested.

Archer knocked on the door, and Quinn opened it for him. He told him to release the brothers. Quinn looked rather disappointed, as if Archer had taken away a delicious piece of candy.

Archer went to Silver’s cell. Silver still lay in the same position, unmoving.

“Well, well. You seem to be adjusting,” Archer said.

“I have faced far worse conditions than this. The Middle Ages were particularly disgusting,” he said reminiscently.
This one will be more difficult
, Archer thought.

“Tell me about the ceremony Malachi plans to do,” Archer ordered, not bothering with small talk.

Silver let out a short laugh. “Oh, sure. I’ll be sure to cut off my own balls while I’m at it.”

Archer considered utilising some of those creative methods he mentioned to Crux, but he was eager to return to Addison.

“Tell me about the ceremony Malachi plans to do,” he repeated, this time injecting his coercive powers into his voice.

Silver’s eyes widened before he began talking against his will. “He needs sons of Kozabiel to release our fathers from their prison. He needs a descendant of Enoch to sacrifice, and their blood will be payment for the release. It’s a part of the prophecy.” Silver’s eyes were wide in alarm.
Finally
, Archer thought. Silver’s words sunk in. Addison’s a descendant of Enoch?

“There must be thousands of his descendants. Why is Malachi so eager to get Addison?” Archer asked, power oozing from him. He doubted he could turn it off if he wanted to. His emotions were going haywire.

“The sacrifice must be a virgin.”
Addison is a virgin?
Archer thought absently. He had come so close to taking her last night.
Shit.
He tried to stay focused.

“Why a virgin?”

“All the greatest ceremonies involve virgins,” Silver said sadistically. “Only something pure can release those who are so tainted. It’s about balance.”

“How does he plan to get her?” Archer demanded.

“He’s hired mercenaries to find her and deliver her untouched.”

“When will the ceremony take place?” Archer asked.

“Samhain,” Silver said before closing his eyes in torment. He opened them, and they burned bright with hatred.

“Where does Malachi stay?”

“Do you think he was stupid enough to tell anyone that?” Silver said, his lips curling into a cruel smile. “When our fathers are released they will reward us for freeing them. We will unite and be strong enough to overthrow Heaven. You will die or rot in the depths of Hell.”

Archer threw his head back and laughed. “That’s what you think?” Archer asked incredulously. “You are idiots. The Grigori will finish killing us all, hoping they will once again win God’s favour. You are naive to believe anything else.”

Archer didn’t wait for a response but knocked on the door and left when Quinn opened it. He shut it behind him.

“You should know, he is also a son of Azazel,” Archer told him.

Quinn’s face didn’t change.

“Like I give a shit.”

“In that case, have fun with him,” Archer returned. Quinn’s lips slid into a chilling smile before he stepped into Silver’s cell.

***

Chapter 12

Addison sat in the passenger seat while Jake drove to campus. He was wearing a black sweater and jeans, looking hotter than any university student she’d ever seen. Still, he wasn’t quite as delectable as his brooding older brother. He chatted with her the entire way, about nothing and everything. He was very easy to be around, and Addison found herself enjoying his company.

They walked into the lecture and took a seat towards the back. Jake took a quick look around, taking in the surroundings. Addison realised that his nonchalance was an act. While he maintained a lazy expression and relaxed posture as he scanned the room, she didn’t doubt that he took in all the information with a critical eye. This included good-looking women.

“Just my luck. Attractive lawyers must be a rarity.” Jake narrowed his eyes at her, and appeared genuinely frustrated before adding, “Except you of course you, Addy. You are beauty incarnate.”

He let out a deep mournful sigh before turning back to her.

“What is your middle name?” he asked her curiously.

Addison frowned at the sudden change of subject before saying, “I don’t have one.”

Jake narrowed his eyes. “It can’t be that bad, what is it? Gertrude? Beatrix?”

Addison suppressed a laugh.

“Jake, you will never know.”

Jake stared at her for a few minutes, his hazel eyes suspicious. “Alright then, Addison No Middle Name O’Donnell. It has a certain ring to it, I guess.”

As students kept arriving, Addison found herself surrounded by women all staring at Jake. Well, maybe staring wasn’t the right word, salivating would be more appropriate. Jake was lapping up the attention, as Addison had thought he would. James came and sat next to her on the other side of Jake.

“Hey, Addy.”

“Have you finished your assignment on jurisprudence? We could go to the library and do some studying together?”

Addison smiled. “Sure James, that sounds good, I have a lot of work I need to catch up on.” She wrote her number on a slip of paper and handed it to him. He smiled back, before suddenly freezing. Addison looked behind her to see Jake standing there quietly, deadly, all signs of his usual playfulness gone. He raised an eyebrow at James, but before he was able to comment, Addison stood up and grabbed his arm. She took her bag and went outside, pulling Jake along with her.

“What the hell was that, Jake? You scared James half to death,” Addison said in an irritated tone.

“Addison, I don’t think Archer will appreciate you agreeing to spend time with a boy who is halfway in love with you.”

Addison opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and then opened it and tried again.

“Jake, not that it is any of your business, but James is harmless. He’s a nice guy.”

“All the more reason to stay away from him,” Jake mumbled. “Because flirting with him is only gonna get him killed.”

Addison froze.

“Killed? That’s not funny Jake.” A few girls from another class chose that moment to walk by, and Jake’s eyebrows went up in interest. He walked up to two of the girls and put his arms around them, the same way he had done the first night Addison had seen him. Wanting revenge, she decided to cock-block him. She walked up to him and grabbed his shirt. “Release the bimbos, Jake. Sorry girls, this man is mine, so get your hands off him.”

“Is that right?” Came a deep voice from behind her. Addison spun around to see Archer standing there, his arms folded over his glorious chest. She slowly removed her hold on Jake and walked up to Archer, whilst Jake smartly left with his two women after assuring them that Addison was delusional.

“What are you doing here, Archer?” She couldn’t deny she was pleased to see him.

Archer’s eyes were amused, but primal. “I came to surprise you and pick you up from class. I wanted to take you out somewhere.”

Addison swallowed. “Archer,” she started, but was cut off by Archer’s lips on hers. He kissed her roughly, possessively, and then hastily guided her to his car with his hand on the small of her back. Any male who even glanced at Addison on the way was given a deathly look, and Addison watched them all avert their eyes. She sighed dramatically. How much alpha male could one girl take?

***

Archer trusted Jake with his life, and he knew no matter what, Jake would never make a move on what he had proclaimed as his. Even so, seeing Addison grab onto another man and call him hers made Archer see red. Logical thought was no defence against instinct, and Archer could think of nothing but proving to Addison and the world that she was his. What was it about her that made him lose control?

He looked over at her in the passenger seat, all big brown eyes and chocolate curls. Archer wanted her, desperately. He could see why the Grigori were tempted by mortal women; there was no doubt Archer would break any rule that would try to keep him from the tempting package sitting next to him.

“Where are we going, Archer? Is this your means to avoid the informative conversation we had scheduled?” Addison asked quietly.

Archer had wanted to take her out somewhere, a kind of date, he thought. He’d thought about it, and decided to take her to an art gallery that had a new exhibit. Addison was an intelligent, cultured woman, and he figured she might like it. It was a gamble; he just hoped she enjoyed it. It was an invitation-only event, but Archer knew a lot of people in the city. Money talked, and it tended to get you access to everything.

“I thought we could take the afternoon off to relax. Just an hour or two, where we don’t have to worry about anything.”

Addison’s face lit up when they pulled into the art museum.

“Archer, how did you know I love art?” she beamed. “I always wanted to study it, but my parents said it was too flaky.”

“Lucky guess,” Archer replied, pleased that he knew her well enough to pick things she appreciated. They both got out of the car, and Archer offered her his arm. She took it, kissing him on the cheek.

***

Addison had such a great time with Archer. He was attentive and witty, and didn’t feel the need to fill every pause in conversation like some people did. He was so patient with her and such a gentleman.

Addison and Archer returned to the apartment later in the day to find Jake standing in the kitchen with Chance. Archer walked up to him and the two of them embraced in that half-hug with hands clasped that guys do.

“Hey, Chance,” Addison said in greeting.

Chance smiled and walked over to Addison, putting his hand out to greet her. He kissed the back of her hand, the same way Jake had when they’d first met. Chance spoke to Archer whilst never taking his eyes of Addison.

“Archer, I thought you were just going to ask her a few questions. I didn’t know you were going to ask her to move in with you.” 

Addison couldn’t stop staring at Chance. With his baby-blue eyes and dimples, he was extremely attractive. Seriously; what was it with all the men in Archer’s family? They could make a family calendar and sell millions.

Archer seemed to notice Addison staring, and he stepped behind her and pulled her back into him, his hands on her waist. Chance’s smile widened, and he turned to look at Jake. A wordless conversation ensued before they both started chuckling.

Jake looked at Archer and Addison, and said, “I see the two of you have made up. I thought Archer was gonna kill every man on campus for a while there. Is that kid James still alive?”

Addison scowled at Jake, promising him retribution with her eyes. Then, as a diversion, she turned and offered Archer the most beguiling smile she could muster. She ran her hands from his nape into his hair and licked her lips.