Beloved Purgatory (Fallen Angels, Book 2) (17 page)

I squatted down to her level and adjusted
her headband so her little devil horns would be on straight. "There
we go. You ready to come in?"

Her mouth fell open.

"Uh, Kim?"

"Oh. My. God." She whispered.

"What?"

"Devi, you are so lucky you aren't seeing Oz
tonight."

I folded my arms over my chest. "Oh
yeah?"

"
Oh
yeah
," she drawled exaggeratedly. "You look
like an extra from an exploitation flick. A recently deceased
extra--and by that I mean actually dead, not dead for the
camera."

I gave her a lopsided grin while she
grimaced. "Thanks for clarifying. But for the record, I think he'd
be open to letting me express myself."

"Yeah, if he wanted to express himself by
throwing up."

Something deep in my chest trembled, so I
wrapped my arms around my body. Normally that kind of comment
wouldn't have bothered me but after what I'd done to that
angel--

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
You're costume is just a little too good."

I laughed. I couldn't help it. I knew I
didn't look too hot. The sore that had previously graced on my left
cheek was hanging between my ear and my neck. At least the one on
my right seemed to be in place, or maybe that wasn't a good thing.
I could feel the Kool-Aid leaking over my face, and the wet flour
re-drying in greasy clumps. The front of my body was covered in
jam, smeared chocolate, and...well...Camael's special contribution
to my costume.

Her fingers hovered around
my chest. "What
is
that nasty black stuff?"

I grabbed her hand. "Trust me, you don't
want to know."

She scrunched up her nose. "You're either an
evil genius, or you've gone insane."

"It's a little bit of both."

She shook her head. "Is the kid here?"

"He's in the kitchen, scarfing down
pancakes."

Kim's eyes lit up. "Yum! You made
pancakes?"

Oh, I shouldn't have said that. "Don't get
too excited. He ate them all."

She bit her lip and frowned. "That little
devil."

"Hey, that's you tonight."

Just then something small hugged my left
leg. "Dinosaurs eat devils!"

Kim tried her best to look disapproving
while she grinned. "Well, devils blast fireballs at dinosaurs."

I picked up the blue and silver pompom and
shook it between them. "And zombies dazzle everyone. I win!"

Kim stole my pompom and waved it back at me.
"You do win the coveted award for most terrifying costume."

"I like it!" The dinosaur said. "All blood
and guts, none of that stupid girl stuff."

"Yeah, well, you're what? Six? Eight?" Kim
rolled her eyes. "I remember when I was your age. Damn, I'm
starting to feel old."

"Yeah, only three more years
until you're
twenty,
" I drawled.

Kim suppressed a shudder. I don't think she
caught my sarcastic tone. "You must be Jasmine's little brother.
What's your name?"

"Velociraptor!" It answered.

Kim arched a brow. "Velociraptor?
Really?"

The dinosaur nodded. "Velociraptor of
darkness and doom and destruction!"

Kim groaned. "I can already
tell this is just going to be a
thrilling
evening."

"Don't forget alliterative," the dinosaur
piped.

Kim gave him a sideways glance. "It's funny
that you know what alliteration is when you can't even tell that
your Velociraptor outfit looks more like a T. rex."

The dinosaur pouted.

"Aww, it's okay little guy. Let's go get
lots of candy! Ready, Devi?"

"Just a minute," I murmured, and I glanced
towards the kitchen.

I couldn't see much of it, but nothing
appeared to be out of place. The floor and table were clean, and so
was the angel.

He stood about six feet away, his posture
straight and in his signature, nondescript clothes. He seemed
distant again, his eyes guarded as he watched me. It was as if
nothing had changed--then again, perhaps nothing had.

Even though Kim and the dinosaur were already
on the sidewalk, I waited until he went outside before shutting the
door. Then I resumed the familiar routine of pretending he did not
exist.

***

Ten minutes and four houses later, T. rex
received a call he couldn't ignore. He also couldn't let me or Kim
listen in on that call, either.

Kim tapped her toe as she watched the
dinosaur crouch beneath a Japanese oak half way down the street. "I
guess he's a really important dinosaur."

I was too tense to respond. Something was
wrong. I was sure of it. Luckily it wasn't a long call, so Kim
didn't notice my lack of social graces too much.

"Hey little guy!" Kim called out soothingly
as he made his way back. "What's wrong?"

"I have to go see Forneus," he said.

I
really
didn't like the way Kim's eyes
lit up when she heard that devil's name. "Forneus?" She grabbed his
foam claws so hard that for a moment I feared she'd rip them off.
"Let's take you there right now! We shouldn't keep your uncle
waiting."

I coughed. "Uh, Kim, I don't know if..."

"Actually, you're both invited," T. rex
interrupted, somehow slipping out of Kim's death grip.

I froze. Did he
want
me to see Forneus?
What the Hell was going on?

Oz glanced up at the angel. "He promised not
to do anything tonight."

The angel responded immediately. "That
doesn't matter. She shouldn't see him."

"I know," Oz whispered, "but I've been
summoned. As long as no harm comes to her, I must..." He cringed.
"I don't think it would be wise to make a scene."

Kim stepped forward and cautiously gave the
dinosaur a hug. "T. rex, are you feeling okay?"

I realized that to her it must have looked
like the dinosaur was talking to himself, so I tried to cover for
him. "I think he's just had too much candy." Wait, he hadn't had
any yet. "I mean too little candy."

Kim gave both of us a pitying look.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the angel
made a fist. "Fine. Azazel, make sure this doesn't happen
again."

Chapter 9

The West Hills was a notoriously affluent
neighborhood in Portland, and I was lucky to live in it. True, my
craptastic ranch house didn't have a prime spot on the hill, but it
was safe, the schools were nice, and my neighbors gave away the
best Halloween candy in the city.

Due to this, it shouldn't have surprised me that
Forneus lived in a mansion six blocks up from my place--or that
fate had also decided to give him my dream house.

That golden Italian villa existed in a sea of white
colonials. When I was a little girl, I dreamed of walking up the
driveway lined with rhododendrons, dogwood and mandrone trees. I
wanted to linger in the shade beneath the arches of pink roses and
hops. I wanted to sit by the marble fountain the center of his
circular driveway at the top of the hill. Always, I wondered what
paradise lay beyond the hardwood door.

But tonight I didn't want to know. When the child
beside me buzzed the doorbell with his foam claw, I had to ball my
fists to prevent myself from grabbing it midair, picking him up and
racing down the hill.

The door creaked open.

"Uncle!" The dinosaur shrieked, launching itself into
Forneus' arms.

Forneus shoved the thing off as if it had just soiled
itself. "Christ. You weren't joking when you said you were a
kid."

It didn't take much to figure out Forneus didn't like
children. The 'Halloween decorations' around the perimeter of his
house had been the first clue. I had a feeling the life-sized dolls
crucified upside down on pikes were there for a little more than
decoration.

Forneus opened the door. Beneath our feet were
smooth, steel-colored stones, and beyond that, hardwood floors that
shone like fresh blood. The walls were an off-white color. He chose
it, I think, to accentuate the furnishings--oriental silk chairs,
ornate wooden desks, and subtly painted clay vases. On the walls
hung masks from Africa and the Pacific Islands, dried flowers, and
stunning Tibetan Mandalas behind glass.

"Wow, this is your house?" Kim stepped into the hall.
She gripped her red, latex fingers together, as if afraid she would
unintentionally touch something.

Forneus nodded. He stepped back to let me and the
angel through, then shut the door.

"Your house is so big--I mean..." Kim swallowed.

Oh God, couldn't she contain herself for just one
night?

She coughed. "I'm just surprised you don't have a lot
of kids, is all."

"I don't think they like the decorations," Forneus
mused.

She smiled. "Yeah, they are hella creepy."

Camael tensed.

"Oh, come now," Forneus drawled. "I wouldn't invite
someone into my home and then attack them."

Camael remained tense.

"How about this? I promise not to hurt her, or to
make a deal, even if she begs me."

I glared at him.
Like I'd ever beg you to do
anything.

"Now, Devi." The devil turned his attention to me.
Before I had time to react he took my hand and kissed it with his
crumpled, newspaper lips. "You look just as I expected you to
look."

He moved to the side, probably so I could catch my
reflection in the mirror. It looked like I was dying of liver
failure and had begun pasting chopped-up bits of said failing organ
on my face. I glared at him. Thanks.

Unfortunately, Forneus seemed to get off on my
hatred. He gave me a private smile. "Thank you for coming,
Devi."

Wait, what? He hadn't specifically wanted me to come,
did he? Didn't he mean to thank me for escorting Oz?

I glanced at the kid, who refused to meet my gaze. I
suddenly had an urge to act like an irate parent and shake his
shoulders until he looked at me.

Forneus coughed. "There is someone else dressed up as
a little boy--a friend you haven't seen in a long time. He's in the
living room."

Camael grabbed my hand. My palms were sweating,
clammy, wet. His were cold and dry, untouched by my panic. Still,
he'd reached out to me. I didn't know if that was because he sensed
my need for reassurance, or if he needed it himself.

Kim's hips rocked back and forth as she stalked
towards Forneus. I think she was going for sexy, but she kinda
looked like a mad drunk. I guess she really didn't like the fact
that he wasn't paying attention to her.

"So what is your nephews' real name?" She purred. "He
kept calling himself 'Velociraptor'."

Forneus frowned. "But that isn't a Velociraptor
outfit."

The Velociraptor kicked him in the shin.

Forneus sucked in a breath. I guess that kick had
been a little harder than it looked. "You know I can't lie. You're
not a Velociraptor." His eyes softened. "Now hurry up. Your
acquaintance is waiting."

Forneus lifted his purple eyes to me. "You too,
Devi."

"But really, what is his name?" Kim asked.

Forneus raised a brow. "Azazel."

Kim swatted his arm. Forneus balked at the gesture of
affection. "I'm being serious."

"So am I," he said.

She rolled her eyes. "He is a little devil, but that
doesn't mean you have to call him something like that."

Forneus took a deep breath. "Come on, then."

Kim followed close behind as he stepped into the
other room. Once, her fingertips brushed against his. He paused
mid-stride, curled his upper lip, and rubbed the place she'd
touched. Kim didn't notice his disgust--or, more likely, she
pretended not to.

The two disappeared behind the open doorway. I let go
of Camael's hand, dashing towards them.

And I stopped.

The left side of the room was filled with a thousand
lights. The wall was replaced by windows, from the floor to the
ceiling. The city seemed alive beneath us, lights glittering above
the tree line and outshining the stars.

But there was something in the room that burned even
brighter.

At a large table to the right, a boy sat. He had
silver skin and eyes, and a subdued brilliance, as if I were
looking at a reflection of something beautiful in water. Standing
behind him, with his hands on the top of the boy's chair, was a man
with golden skin, golden eyes and hair, and nine golden wings. An
aura of golden heat surrounded him--it seemed to warm my bare face
and hands like the sun.

The boy shifted in his seat, then reached up to touch
the man. The man stepped forward, and the boy tucked his face
behind his abdomen like a shy child cowering near his mother.

I blinked, then saw the dinosaur standing in the
middle of the room, completely still.

"Azazel." The gold man's voice was like silk.

The mittens of his dinosaur costume bunched up,
probably from him curling his chubby, little hands into fists.

The golden man pulled out a chair. "Come, sit."

Azazel's jaw tightened. He walked to the chair and
climbed on it, one leg at a time.

The gold man reached to the floor and picked up a
beat-up box of
Candy Land
. I didn't believe for one second
that Forneus would have
Candy Land
just lying around in his
home, so I guess I wasn't the only one who'd done some last minute
Goodwill shopping.

"Sariel got this so the two of you could play," he
said.

Ah, that explained it. The silver boy--Sariel, I
guess--nodded, and the gold man shifted his attention to me.

With an aristocratic nose, high cheekbones, and wide,
thin lips, his face should have been too angular to be considered
beautiful. Stunning was a more fitting word--or unnerving. Yet, it
was impossible to look away from him.