“Thank you, sister, I would like that very much. Then we can have tea and treacle tarts while the stars sing.”
“Um… yeah, that sounds like fun,” I smiled faintly. Just when I thought I could have a mostly normal conversation with her, things like that came out of her mouth and I was reminded how alien she was.
“Merceline…” She caught at my hand as I turned to go. “Bide a moment.”
“I have to get back to work, I really don’t have time to… bide.” I tugged lightly at my hand, but she held tight to it.
“Your light grows.”
“You noticed that, huh?” Ever since the glow of Raziel’s Grace faded I didn’t think anyone could tell. But Oriana wasn’t just anyone.
“As does the child’s, let the heavens tremble.”
“Oh… well, I don’t think they have to tremble exactly, it’s just a harmless baby. Unless… Oriana, can you See the baby in there?”
Oriana’s head canted to one side, her brow crumpled in confusion. “I can not see through flesh.”
“Not with your eyes, but with your gift. You know, can you see if the baby is normal or…”
“What is it you seek to know?”
“I want to know where the baby came from.”
“This I know.” Her face lit up in happiness. “When a man and a woman feel love within their hearts, that desire turns carnal and…”
“No,” I stopped her before she launched into her twisted version of the birds and the bees. “I know where babies come from. I want to know where
this
baby came from. I already know it can’t be Adam’s.”
“How do you mean?”
I’d obviously stumped her, but how to explain an ultrasound? “The doctor told me the baby was conceived in November, while Adam was away. I wasn’t physically intimate with anyone else…” I waited for her to make the connection, but she stared at me blankly. “I want to know how the baby was conceived.”
“But the child is Adam’s.”
“No, he wasn’t there at the time. It couldn’t be his, and it’s not growing at an abnormal rate.”
“Your love transcended physical space.”
“Huh?” She lost me.
“Did he never come to you in dreams?”
“Dreams aren’t real, they’re…” And all at once I figured it out. “The Ether. Sam did say once to be careful what happened there.” I remembered the knife I’d pulled out of the Ether once when Azazael attacked me. Maybe I’d pulled something else out after my nights with Adam?
“Fear not, the child surely will know love from both of you.”
“I fail to see how with him gone all the time. Wait… do you think he’ll come back then?”
“The future is ever shifting, it is difficult to cast one’s eye on it with certainty. But his love for you both is real enough.”
“Right.” I let out a long breath. No one would ever love me as much he did, that was his promise to me. Right before he promised never to leave me again. “I’d better get back to work now, I’ll see you at the end of my shift.”
Somewhat subdued, I returned to my spot behind the bar, eager to be distracted by work.
“How did it go?” Parker asked, sidling up to me.
“Not too bad. It turns out she didn’t like working here anyway.”
“What’s wrong with working here?” His forehead puckered in dismay and I couldn’t help but smile.
“You wanted her gone, right? Well, she’s gone, after tonight anyway. I told her she could hang out in your office for the rest of the night.”
“I pay competitive wages,” Parker muttered, pouring himself a beer. “With benefits. Not too many clubs I know of offer employees health benefits.”
“You could go and talk her into staying if it bothers you so much,” I teased, distracted by the sight of Luz slinking her way through the crowd, dressed in a fire engine red dress that hugged her ample curves. Her long dark hair spilled loose over one shoulder, pinned back with a jeweled comb.
“Wow, you look dressed to kill,” I greeted her. “You got a hot date tonight?”
“Maybe, we see how things go.” Her eyes were on Parker as she spoke, but instead of his usual playful flirtiness, he gave her a polite smile.
“Excuse me, ladies, I have to go play waitress seeing as how we’re short handed tonight. Nice to see you again, Luz, you look good.”
I might have been mistaken, but I thought I saw disappointment flash across her features as Parker walked away. “What can I get you to drink? It’s on me,” I offered, and she gave me a grateful smile that didn’t last long, her eyes darting back to Parker from time to time. I didn’t ask her anything else while I got her drink, figuring if she wanted to talk about it she would.
“I think I messed things up with Parker,” she said finally.
“I thought you broke up with him.” That was the way Parker spun it at least.
“Not officially, we just stopped seeing each other as frequently. Is he seeing someone else?”
I’d done my best to stay out of their relationship, given my complicated connection to Parker. I didn’t like being dragged into the middle of it, even if she was my friend. “He told me he’s taking a break from dating right now.”
“Ah.” Luz took the news well. Maybe it made her feel less of a sting at his indifference. “Maybe I let him cool off a bit more before I try again.”
“Does this have anything to do with Remiel leaving town?” I hazarded a guess, the slight widening of her eyes giving me my answer.
“Do you know where he went?”
“He told me he was going back to his place in Texas.”
“Oh.” That news was less encouraging to her. “I should have known he wouldn’t stick around. He never does,” she sighed into her drink.
“It does seem to be a recurring theme with angels.” I had to agree.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that up.” Her face contorted with sympathy.
“It’s alright, I’m getting used to it.” Not that I was jumping up and down with happiness over Adam’s absence, but I didn’t spend my nights crying into my pillow over him either.
“I think I’d better go.” She slid off the barstool. “Talk to you soon?”
“Yeah, we’ll get together,” I promised, but to tell the truth my heart wasn’t really in it. Sure, she was great to sound out my pregnancy questions with, but after the way she’d thrown Parker over when Remiel crooked his finger, I admit I lost a bit of respect for her. Plus, I missed sharing all my secrets with Daphne.
The rest of the night passed without incident, but Parker insisted on escorting Oriana and me to my car, just in case the Big Guy got any bright ideas about sending someone else after me. It was easier to let him do it than explain that he’d be nothing but target practice if an actual angel showed up, glowing sword and all.
Oriana dropped to her knees just after we stepped onto the parking lot, eyes resolutely on the ground.
“What the…?” I traded looks with Parker as we went back a couple of steps for her. “Come on, Oriana, it’s late. You can pray or whatever you’re doing after I get you home.”
“He comes,” Oriana replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned forward to press her forehead to the ground.
“Who’s coming?” Parker looked up to the empty sky, but the source of her fear came from another direction entirely.
“Hello m’lovely,” Raum smiled, stepping out from behind the building.
Chapter Fourteen
“The man himself.” I offered Raum a tight smile, wondering if I could manage to grab both Parker and Oriana and fly away quicker than he could attack. Probably not.
“Fetching as always I see,” he said, grinning like a loon. “And my sweet witch, at least you remember some things.” His head bobbed in acknowledgement of her position on her knees.
“Who is this joker?” Parker muttered, stepping in front of me protectively.
“This would be Raum, Demon Lord of Midian.” Even though I’d tangled with Raum before and lived to tell the tale, his black demony eyes still creeped me out. He hadn’t lost his manners though, nor his friendly demeanor.
“At your service,” he sketched a quick bow. “Now then, we’ve a long way to travel, so chop chop.” He clapped his hands at Oriana like she was a trained poodle.
“You’re not taking her with you, she’s part of my family now.” Even though he scared the crap out of me and I couldn’t use my Grace on him, I had other options at my disposal.
“You want to play? How delightful.” He focused on me, his smile stretching wider. “I have enjoyed our games in the past.” He shivered with anticipation, “Most invigorating.”
“I’ll give you invigorating…” I called forth my sword, the glow bright under the dim parking lot lights. “Parker, can you please take Oriana inside for me?” I circled around to give myself a clear shot at Raum’s neck.
“I’m not leaving you out here with him,” Parker started to say, and I lost my temper.
“Now!” Extending my wings, I spread them wide to fill the space, counting on the spectacle to impress them both. Momentarily stunned, Parker stared at me open mouthed, making no move to take Oriana to safety. “Parker, will you move it?” I hissed, and he nodded, practically dragging Oriana to the club door.
“Lovely,” Raum clapped his hands together, “but not much of an advantage in a fight, I think.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I lifted myself into the air about four feet above him. “There’s something to be said for taking the high ground.” Actually he had a point. With me up in the air I actually felt more vulnerable, my legs and abdomen easier targets. But I hoped he’d follow suit so I could lead him away from my friends. You know that saying,
be careful what you wish for
?
“Well then, let’s tussle, shall we?”
All I caught was a flash of dark wings and Raum launched himself at me. Panicking, I let go of the sword in my haste to get out of the way and the chase was on. Parker’s voice echoed after me, but I couldn’t spare him a look back. Hard pressed to keep ahead of Raum, I tried some evasive maneuvers, but I ended up slowing myself down. Why had I decided to bluff my way out of there on wings anyway?
Raum caught me easily and we both plummeted towards the ground, saved at the last moment from cracking our heads open by his ugly, black wings. We stood on a high school gymnasium rooftop overlooking tennis courts. “Now then, m’lovely. How’s about a nice taste?”
I tucked my wings away for the moment, needing to think fast. He hadn’t seemed alarmed at the sight of my sword at all, and my skills were only so-so. That meant I had to come up with something else. “If I give you taste, will you let Oriana go?”
“It might put me in a benevolent mood.” His head inclined slightly (as if I believed any promises he might make, ha!).
“Just one taste…” My hand came up hesitantly as he advanced. “That’s all.”
“For now.” Raum backed me up against the edge of the roof and I pressed at his chest weakly. “Oh yes, it’s so much better when you resist.” His lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth, but this time, I wasn’t afraid.
He wanted a taste, I’d give him a taste.
I hit him with a blast of Grace, strong enough to make his head spin, and while he reeled back with the power of that gift, I flipped him onto his back the way I’d seen Sam wrangle a demon. In a flash I had my sword pressed against his neck, pleased to see him hiss against the pain as the flesh burned wherever it touched him. “Now then, m’lovely.” I pressed harder, the sharp blade growing slick with dark blood. “You’re not coming after her anymore. Say it.”
Raum licked his lips, trying to inch away from the blade, but I held him fast, my strength easily outmatching his, to my great surprise. “Be reasonable, pet…”
“Say it!” Done playing with him, I brought the sword up, neatly skewering him through the shoulder and into the deck of the roof by a few inches.
“I’ll not come for her again, Mistress,” Raum blanched, face contorted with pain, or was that fear?
“Or for me, or any of my friends. We are all off limits to you or the next time I see you, we’ll have a new kind of playtime.” I twisted the sword a fraction to make my point, gratified to see beads of sweat pop out across his brow.
“As you wish, Mistress.”
“And before you get any bright ideas.” I released the sword, taking a gamble. Placing my hand over his chest, I gathered my Grace the way I’d seen Sam dispatch Cephas. “I don’t need the sword to take care of you at all. So, unless you feel like visiting wherever it is your kind goes when you’re abjured…”
“Understood, Mistress. Loud and clear,” he swallowed, breathing easier without the sword through his shoulder. “I am your humble servant.”
“Leave before I change my mind.” I backed off, watching warily for any sign of reprisal, but Raum scuttled back on all fours, much more eager to get away from me than attack.
“Thank you, Mistress.” Raum bobbed his head once he regained his feet. “And if I may say so, your cunning power is only rivaled by your beauty.”
Shooing him off with a wave of my fingers, I watched him jump from the rooftop, landing light as a cat on the ground far below. With a jaunty salute, he turned and loped off in the direction of The Honey Pot.
Letting out a shuddering breath, I took a moment to regroup, thanking my lucky stars that hadn’t turned bloodier and wondering how long Raum’s submissive stint would last. I had to get back though, Parker was probably going out of his mind with worry.
“Are you guys in here?” I pushed open the door to the club, glad to see Oriana inside looking bored while Parker paced on his cell phone.
“Mercy!” Parker hung up on whoever, stalking towards me with determined steps. Afraid he might launch into another lecture about taking risks, I talked fast.
“Hey guys, I took care of Raum. I’m sorry if I scared you, but I had to get him away from here. I’m fine, I…” My words were cut off as Parker pulled me in his arms and kissed me full on the mouth. More than a little surprised by the move, I opened my mouth to… I don’t know what I might have done, because suddenly protesting didn’t seem so important anymore. The next thing I knew, I was kissing him back, completely losing myself in the moment.
It was electric.