Balance (The Divine, Book One) (8 page)

I
breathed a sigh of relief. I could lie to an angel and get away with it.
"We're losing," I said.

I hadn’t
thought about it before, but as I said it I knew that it was true. Whatever
mojo came from my crossbred lineage, it was clear in that regard. The balance
was tipping heavily towards evil.

"The
dark gains reach every day,” she agreed. “Since we lost John Paul, it has been
difficult to keep an even footing. Even here, Reyzl has grown powerful beyond
my ability to contain him."

Reyzl.
It had to be the name of the demon that the messenger had flown off to squeal
to. "I had a run-in with one of his messengers," I told her. "He
escaped and intended to tell Reyzl about my presence here."

Her
eyes held deep concern for my welfare. I was starting to feel bad for lying to
her, and also beginning to wonder if I could do what Dante had asked. It wasn't
much of an issue right now, but who knew what the future would hold. Would I be
expected to kill this beautiful creature one day? If so, would I be able to do
it?

"I
do not mean to intrude, but what business brings you here?" she asked.

She
reached forward and took my hands in her own. They were small, but so soft and
warm. Her whole being exuded peacefulness. I felt like I could tell her
anything. I could tell her the truth, and it would be okay.

"To
be honest, I'm not sure," I said. "I've only arrived very recently,
but I had a run-in with a vampire, and lost my phone."

My
mind was beginning to feel as if it were mired in a pit of mud. Clarity was
escaping me, replaced with this overwhelming need to tell her everything. All I
could think about was the warmth of her hands, the softness of her voice, her
shining golden eyes, and the connection between our souls.

"I
used to be a computer hacker,” I said. “I went to prison for credit card
fraud."

It
had been so easy to manipulate people. So easy to get the information I needed
to get into databases, e-mail accounts, you name it. So tempting. It was a
victimless crime, I had told myself. The credit companies had plenty of cash.
They wouldn't miss a little bit here and there. I had gotten too bold, a friend
had blabbed, and it all crumbled around me.

Two
years in a low security facility, another year of probation, and banned from
owning or using a computer for three more. I still didn't always feel
remorseful for what I had done. I was more sorry I hadn't been more careful,
and had gotten caught.

It
had all started pouring out in a torrent, and I was drowning in the truth. I
could tell by the way her golden eyes flared that she knew what I was. I could
feel the warmth of her hands turn cold, feel the peacefulness turn to violence
and anger. It was only then that I realized she had used her power on me, so
subtly that I hadn't even known it. She must have suspected me from the
beginning. I yanked my hands away and got to my feet. She rose, her sword
appearing in her hand in a flow of swirling mist.

"Diuscrucis,"
she cried. "You seek to deceive me!"

I
started to reach toward my sword, but decided against it. "Wait," I
said, holding up my hands. "I don't want to fight you."

She
had taken an aggressive posture, with her sword cocked and ready for the battle
that I refused to start.

"I
just want to talk," I said.

Seeing
that I wasn't going to fight her, she let the sword dissipate back to wherever
it had come from.

"
Speak
,"
she said, her voice powerful in my mind. She was showing me her strength,
sending me a warning.

"The
balance is tipping," I said. "The
end of days are
coming if it isn't restored. We should be fighting together, not fighting each
other. You know, allies?"

Her
golden eyes narrowed. "Allies? Seraphim Law states that I should strike
you down where you stand."

This
wasn't going well. "What benefit would that be to you? You're losing
Josette. I think you need all the help you can get."

I
started inching away, closer to the sword. We both knew it wouldn't harm her,
but at least I could make some kind of feeble attempt to defend myself if she
decided to follow her laws. She stood motionless, undecided.

"I
can help you defeat Reyzl," I said, trying to convince her of my value,
even though I knew I had none. "If he's grown beyond your control, it's
only a matter of time before he comes for you."

Our
souls were still connected, and I felt her demeanor shift again. It seemed even
angels had a sense of self-preservation.

"Very
well," she said. Her eyes were cautious. "There can be no alliance,
our Laws forbid it, but I will not destroy you today. In return, you will seek
out Reyzl and either destroy him or weaken him so that I can finish your work.
I do not care if you live or die completing this task, but know that I will
seek you out again one week hence to see you to your end if you do not hold up
this bargain. I will not come alone."

I
didn't need to ask what the other option was. I had only bought myself a week,
but a week was better than nothing.

"We
have a deal," I said.

The
feeling of heaviness in my gut was immediate. It was if a chain had been
clamped down onto my soul, an awareness of the power of the contract I had just
verbally signed. Josette hung up the connection, and the sudden sense of loss
nearly overwhelmed me. I had been tapped into some of her power through the
bond, and had drunk from it like an alcoholic. I could feel a small piece of it
within me.

“What
is that?” I asked.

"So
I can find you again," she said. "Do not think to double-cross me,
Landon. You will speed us closer to these end of days if you do." She had
said my real name. What else did she know? Why didn't Dante put 'never touch an
angel' into his short list of rules?

"I'll
see you in a week then," I said, trying to sound a lot more confident than
I felt.

With
the connection broken, Josette nodded, then turned back in the direction of the
Apple store, most likely to return to her friend. I was bending down to grab my
iPad when a massive wave of heat crashed into my senses. My mind didn't have
time to process it, but my body reacted. 

I
dove to the left and rolled to my feet, somehow managing to escape the path of
a black, jagged edged blade that buried itself deep in the trunk of the tree we
had been sitting under. There was a growl of frustration, then the sound of
pounding feet running toward me. I looked up just in time to see the demon make
his leap at me, his long sinewy frame carrying him an impossible distance at an
impossible speed. I moved faster than I could think, shifting my weight and
dropping to the ground just underneath its outstretched limbs, escaping being
raked by eight-inch claws.

The
beast landed and turned, small black eyes looking right at me, a snout full of
razor teeth bared. It had a humanoid frame with grotesquely long limbs that
ended in those sharp claws, leathery skin, and
bones which
protruded at awkward angles from various points on its body.

"Reyzl
sends his greetings, newcomer." Its voice was gravel, and its words dripped
with disgust.

I got
to my feet and reached over to where the sword was leaning against the tree. My
instinct seemed to be doing a good job of keeping me from being destroyed. As
long as I didn't think too much maybe I could get lucky.

I had
forgotten about Josette. The demon didn't seem to have noticed her either until
we both saw a white blur darting in at us. It raised its paw just in time to
deflect her first strike, causing a shower of energy to reverberate against the
air around us. She pressed the attack, her sword a blur of stabs and swipes
that was matched by the demon's blocks.

Their
attention diverted, I took a more defensive position behind the tree and peered
out from the side to watch the battle mature. I looked around and saw the area
was deserted of people, as if something in their minds had told them to stay
away from this part of the park. Was this how the Divine war raged on with
humans none the wiser?

The
waves of energy from the clashing enemies filled my senses. Josette was a whirlwind,
her down jacket flowing out behind her as she spun and twirled, the sword an
extension of her arm that danced and pricked at the demon. It roared in pain
and anger, lashing back but finding only empty air. She continued to press the
attack, forcing the demon to retreat backward.

A few
more quick jabs and she was past those massive claws, her body slipping inside
the demon's reach, her sword being pushed up into its chest. She yanked the
weapon free and leapt backwards a good ten feet, leaving the demon on its
knees, doubled over as it's body expelled a viscous mess of thick black blood.

I
stepped out from behind the tree and started moving towards them, wanting to
get a closer look. Josette turned to glance at me for just an instant, then
resumed her vigil of the demon's demise.

Something
happened then. Something Josette clearly hadn't expected. The demon's wound
closed over, and with a razor sharp grin it pounced forward, slamming her with
its hand and sending her torn body thirty feet through the air. She bounced
against the ground a couple of times and came to rest against a distant tree.
The demon turned to face me.

"What
are you staring at seraph?" it asked. "Have you never seen a Great
Were before?"

Never
seen, never heard. I only had a second to wonder if by were it meant werewolf,
when it leapt at me for a second time with a speed that I couldn't match. There
was an explosion of pain that blossomed throughout my entire body when the
sharp claws dug into my flesh and rended it from the bone, ripping into me like
no more than a piece of meat. My vision blurred and doubled as the
Were
lifted me to eye level.

"Pathetic,"
he said, throwing me across the lawn.

Another
round of agony greeted me as I hit the dirt and slid face down. I lifted my
head just enough to see the demon. I watched it transform in the space of one
step to the next, shrinking in mass and gaining hair, skin, and clothing. It
became a man with long raven hair in skinny jeans and a worn t-shirt, like a
werewolf for sure. He exchanged his claws for a jagged black dagger that he
pulled from the back of his pants. He was walking towards Josette, who I could
see was fighting to rise to her feet.

As he
approached her, he reached under his shirt and produced a necklace with a red
stone. He held it up to her, showing it off. "Have you ever seen one of
these seraph?" he asked. "It removes the poison from your blows. I
don't suppose you have one of your own, to do the same to mine? No? A
pity."

 I
could feel the pain in my body subsiding as it worked to heal itself. I looked
down and watched in fascination as new skin grew to replace the shredded mess
above it, new muscle regenerating beneath. Fascination gave way to anger. I'd
had enough of this punching bag routine.

The
Were
was almost on top of Josette, his posture oozing
confidence and superiority. He was oblivious to me, and to my change in health.
I couldn't take him out head on, but there was more than one way to skin a big
ugly monster cat.

I got
to my feet and looked for my sword, finding it a good fifty feet away. No good.
I looked back at Josette and saw her weapon was on the ground next to her. Not
great, but better. I took off towards the demon at a run, willing myself to be
faster than I had ever been. I was rewarded with a burst of speed that left the
ground no more than a blur beneath my feet. In less than a second, I was
leaping towards the
Were
, reaching out to will the
angel's sword to my hand.

It
all happened in the space of an instant. I should have been destroyed, because
the sword didn't come at my call. I found myself airborne, rapidly approaching
the back of the demon, and weaponless. There was no time for an alternate
approach. I had sunk my efforts into this one desperate move. I could see the
demon's head begin to turn towards me. I could see Josette's golden eyes flare
as she sensed my approach.

The
impossible happened then. The seraph took hold of her sword and threw it
towards me with perfect precision, my hand caught it and my arm drew back. The
Were
completed his surprised turn, and I sank the weapon
into his heart as I slammed into him. We both tumbled to the ground, the force
of the impact throwing me away from him again. I rolled to my feet and watched
him gather himself, rise to his feet, and pull out the sword a second time. He
looked at me with a shocked yet satisfied smirk on his face, until he saw that
I had his necklace in my hand.

"Who
are you?" he growled as he went back to his knees. "You should be
dead."

I got
up and approached him. Whatever magic was in the angel's sword, it was doing
its thing. The demon was disintegrating from the point of the wound outward.
There was a smell of frankincense, and smoke began wafting from the hole in his
chest. Where a moment ago there had been a gloating beast in man's clothing,
there was now just a dying lamb.