The ryan chronicles seri.., p.54
The Ryan Chronicles Series, page 54
“Neither did I.”
She let out a light laugh. “You were snoring before I got settled back in bed,” she said after she spit.
“I don’t think so,” I said.
“Ya-huh,” she said. “I thought having to keep quiet wore me out, but apparently it sucked the energy right out of you, instead.”
I smiled. Making love to her last night was far from the wild romp we usually got into at home. It was subdued and slow, and I loved every second of seeing her struggle with keeping quiet. It was the perfect ending to the perfect night, and just what I needed to fortify my inner strength.
“I hope you packed the long johns,” I said and she pulled them out of the bag like a musician.
We dressed in layers. Light thermal underwear underneath jeans with a fleece lining. I opted for my work boots instead of the bulky snow boots. I could stuff foot warmers in if I needed to, but the steel toe gave me a little more protection in case it came down to another fist fight. My leather jacket fit snugly over the sweater and this time, I remembered my ski hat and a scarf. It wasn’t frigid, but it was below freezing, according to the weather maps, and I didn’t want to be frozen solid by the time we got there.
Valerie had the same idea of layers, but instead of a leather bomber jacket like mine, she wore her down coat that almost reached to her knees. The last thing she pulled out of our bag was the knife from Hawaii. I stared at it and then traded a glance with her. She gave me a nervous smile and strapped the sheath to her belt. It couldn’t hurt having something like that, and maybe it could destroy an angel. We would certainly find out.
I tapped lightly on Damian’s door, letting him know we were ready to go.
Downstairs, I grabbed a juice out of the refrigerator and tossed it to Valerie just as Damian climbed down the stairs. He was equally as bundled up as we were.
“Passports?” he asked holding up his.
“Yes. In my wallet.” I tapped my jacket to make sure I did have my wallet and phone in place. “Good to go?” I asked, glancing at the two of them. The creak on the stairs pulled my attention.
Tom rubbed his eye with one hand. “Be careful,” he said. I wasn’t the only one who heard the words perfectly in my head.
I crossed. “You, too,” I said and gave him a quick hug. Without any more words, I turned and stepped outside with Valerie and Damian, heading towards our car. The morning was bright, but the pending stand-off weighed heavily on me as I drove the short distance to the airstrip in Wolfeboro.
Ted was already standing at the counter as we walked in. I gave him a strained smile and shook his hand.
“I didn’t think you were going to be our pilot today,” I said and he gave me a shrug, but didn’t say anything until we were safely tucked in the plane.
“I got the distinct impression this wasn’t a joy ride,” he said, meeting my gaze.
I didn’t want to drag Ted into this. He was not, in any way, equipped to deal with monsters, but he had a right to know. “No. It’s not. And if none of us are back by ten tonight, it’s wheels up for you, okay?”
His lips pressed tight and his gaze traveled over the three of us.
“You aren’t doing anything illegal, are you?”
The three of us let out a laugh. “No. We aren’t,” I said. “All you need to know is we’re going after the bad guy and when I pour a line of salt across the entry before I leave, know I’m not insane, and as crazy as it sounds, that line will protect you from what we’re hunting.”
His rapid blink put me on edge and then he turned, closing the hatchway.
“Steve once dragged me on one of his vigilante quests, and I always had a grain of regret about asking so many questions, especially when he gave me answers,” he looked between all of us again. “And I know I’m going to regret this, as well, but what the hell are you hunting?”
Damian reached into his pocket and pulled out another blood stone necklace. “Raven asked me to bring this for the pilot,” he said and held it out towards Ted.
I took it from his hand and stood crossing to Ted. “You really don’t want to know,” I said and handed him the necklace. “But this will also offer you some protection.”
He stared at the necklace and then met my gaze. “Are you packing?”
I shook my head. “A gun wouldn’t do any good.”
He swallowed and took the necklace, slipping it over his head. “Then why isn’t Steve here with you?” he asked. He had seen enough of the things Steve was capable of over the years, but I wasn’t sure he knew about me.
“I’m better suited for this trip than he is,” I said and Ted’s gaze narrowed.
“You sure about that, son?”
I smiled. “Yes.” I’m the one who supercharged Steve. I sent the thought into Ted’s mind and his eyebrows rose. “Well, technically it was my father, but I was the one who originally gave him the juice,” I said aloud.
Ted uttered a laugh. “Steve never let on about you,” he said and gave my shoulder a soft pat.
“Can you blame him?”
“No, can’t say that I can. And I’ve gladly kept his secret all these years. Yours is safe with me, as well,” he added before turning and marching into the cockpit.
The fact he didn’t press for more answers was a relief, because if I had to burst Ted’s bubble with what really existed out there in the world, it would have put a target on his back.
I bit the inside of my cheek as the realization set in. Ted was already a target, at least as much of a target as Sandy had been. His longstanding friendship with Steve made him vulnerable, and I wondered just how thin I could spread myself today.
I took a seat next to Valerie and she covered my hand.
“You can’t protect the plane.”
Damian’s statement pulled my gaze to his. “Why not?”
“Because you’re right, that would spread you too thin,” he said, throwing my own train of thought back at me. “You need everything you have, and you’re already splitting it, so don’t even think about safeguarding the plane while we’re gone.”
I glared at him, but he was right. I needed everything I had. Instead of dwelling on what was coming, I pulled up the table between the four seats and opened the compartment near the window, pulling out a deck of cards.
“Five card stud?” I asked and both Valerie and Damian’s eyebrows rose. “It will pass the time,” I added as I shuffled the deck.
“What are we playing for?” Damian asked, leaning forward.
I bit my lip and glanced at Valerie. “Babysitting hours,” I said and Damian grinned.
“You’re on,” he said.
Valerie leaned forward, her gaze jumping between us. “You told him?”
I nodded, dealing the first five cards. “Can you grab the pen and pad in there and keep track? I have a feeling this might be a very valuable game.” I winked at her, knowing she was irritated with me, but something else danced in her eyes.
I think this is the first time I have looked beyond today, and it filled both of us with hope.
By the time we landed, the damage was done; whatever hope we had in the future included owing Damian forty-five hours of babysitting. He just grinned while I muttered under my breath, sliding the cards into the box and stowing them away.
My luck was equally tested when we arrived at the car rental place to find the truck we rented. It was old enough to make me doubt it would make the trip, and the single snowmobile in the back added to the frustration. At least the thing was long enough for the three of us, so that was a plus.
Damian pulled me aside once we got the snowmobile down from the truck bed. “You need to get into the right frame of mind before we get there,” he said, and I crossed my arms. “I know you’re irritated with how the cards fell on the plane, the condition of the truck, and even the single snowmobile, but you ever think that maybe your luck was reserved for a reason?”
I blinked and my arms dropped, the shock stilling me for a moment, and then I let out a little laugh. “God, I hope to hell you’re right,” I said. “I was starting to think we should just turn around and do this another day.”
Damian let out a chuckle. “I hear you, but that’s three things that haven’t gone as planned.” He pulled up his coat sleeve showing me his watch. “But, if you hadn’t noticed, we’re ahead of schedule,” he said.
I hadn’t noticed and I offered him a nod of thanks.
Valerie stood by the snowmobile waiting for us, and I caught a quick kiss before we piled on the contraption. I took comfort in the thought that Valerie would benefit from our warmth as we squished together on the seat. I took a moment to pull out my phone and turned the snowmobile in the direction of the blinking dot. I tucked the phone away and took off in a straight line toward whatever waited for us in the deep Canadian woods.
The snowmobile may have been big, but it certainly hauled ass.
Angel Wrath Chapter 26
The three of us stood outside the perimeter of Hell’s portal. Evil spilled over like a nasty oil slick sliding over the water, destroying everything in its path. You could almost smell the foulness.
I glanced at Damian. “When my dad appears, you know what to do,” I said ignoring the plumes of white our breath created in the frigid Canadian air.
Damian gave me a nod. “Get him the hell out of dodge.”
My lips curved at the cliché. I’m sure my dimple made a brief appearance, too. “Yeah, but wait until I give you the signal.”
“Got it. Be careful. I’m not going to be here to bail you out this time.”
“I will. I think I’ll be good, and if not, we’ll have to table the rescue mission.” I glanced at Valerie. “If my powers are blocked, you’d better run like the place is on fire. Understand?”
She hesitated and traded a glance with Damian before bringing her gaze to mine. I pulled her close.
“We talked about this,” I said, and she nodded, but the set of her jaw and the tight line of her lips told me she wasn’t leaving no matter what. “If this goes to shit, you have to promise me you’ll get out of here,” I said, unwilling to move forward with the plan without her concession. My hand drifted lower to her belly and the reason for my hesitation. We had more to lose than just our lives.
Her gaze dropped to my hand. I knew she didn’t want to raise our child alone, but she also knew if Lucifer got hold of her, I wouldn’t be able to say no. Not with my child’s life in the mix. When her gaze came back to mine, she nodded.
“Okay. I promise,” she said.
“I love you,” I whispered, and planted a kiss, taking a moment to let our tongues intertwine. The heavy winter attire made the transfer a little more difficult, so I dropped my gloves and unzipped her coat, wrapping my arms around her waist until the tingle dulled in my fingertips. I pulled away from her lips and pressed my forehead on hers, closing my eyes and willing the full force of my power into the barrier I layered inside her.
Damian cleared his throat and I glanced at him, slipping my hands out from under Valerie’s coat, and zipping it up before I stepped away. I gathered my wits and focused my energies on the pending battle. “Stay out of sight,” I said to Damian, just before he transformed and took flight. The human-to-hawk thing still startled me and I watched his graceful ascent until he ducked out of view, hoping like hell Lucifer didn’t catch sight of him.
“You, too,” I said to Valerie and she slid farther back into the woods, using the big pines like shields.
Nerves bit at my stomach and I closed my eyes, steadying my breathing and centering my power. I didn’t know how much Lucifer knew, now that he had my father under his domain. All I could do was hope Heaven’s secrets were still under wraps.
“Game on,” I whispered, adopting my dad’s favorite battle line and moved forward, breeching the portal boundaries. Brimstone hung on the air and I rubbed my nose, suppressing the tickle that wanted to turn into a sneeze. I still had one hundred yards of dodging trees and thick shrubs before I got to the epicenter. The place where Lucifer would be waiting for me.
I found it odd that no demons approached, and tension filled my muscles, turning me into a coil waiting for the surprise attack. I had the benefit of Uriel’s grace, in addition to my self-defense skills that I hadn’t had with my last encounter with Lucifer, and I was confident that the little extra juice I received in heaven would push the advantage to my side of the chessboard this time around.
I cleared the woods line, stepping into the confines of the small glen and stopped.
The form leaning against the rock at the opposite side of the clearing set my heart banging on my ribcage. I swear my shirt vibrated in time with the beat.
The familiar face smiled, but it wasn’t the warm smile I would have expected from my father. Instead, it held the promise of pain.
I took a tentative step forward, unsure of myself.
“You like the new digs?” He spread his arms out and I recoiled.
Lucifer’s curve ball hit with the level of devastation he probably expected. My chest ached like I had been sucker punched, and I steadied myself, focusing on the power swirling in my abdomen.
“Where’s my father?” I asked, when I was sure my voice wouldn’t shake. Everything about this was wrong.
Lucifer snapped his fingers and the meanest, ugliest hellhound I had ever seen appeared by his side. The beast snarled, pulling at the restraints holding him in place. He wasn’t the only rabid dog in the vicinity, either. Shapes dotted the woods line, blocking my exit from the clearing. There must have been one hundred hellhounds all gunning for their chance to tear my flesh from the bone.
It wasn’t until I took a closer look at the dog next to Lucifer that understanding overtook me. The hellhound’s vibrant blue eyes followed me, and despite the violence reflected in his irises, I would have recognized those eyes anywhere.
“You turned my dad into a hellhound?” I asked, both anger and anxiety filled my voice, and I met Lucifer’s gaze.
His lips spread into an evil grin.
“And you figured I wouldn’t have the heart to kill the likeness of my own father?” I added taking a step forward.
“I like this look.” Lucifer waved at the fine physique. His smug smile set my fury level to almost unbearable. “And whatever was left of your father when I was through with him has turned into the most viscous hound I’ve ever had.”
Lucifer unclasped the chain holding the hound in place and, like an obedient dog, he stayed next to Lucifer’s side waiting for the command to attack. I dropped my gaze to the ground, praying the abort information was relayed, because if Damian swooped in and grabbed the image of my father, he’d be carrying the devil out of danger.
I took a deep breath, exhaled, looked back at the bastard, and straightened my back in defiance. “You played this kind of sick mind game with Val and it fucked her up. But I’m a different beast all together.” I said, and my fists clenched as I imagined a protective shield surrounding me. “I don’t give a shit what form you take, I am going to end you.”
His smile faltered just before he gave the attack command. My gaze dropped to the blue eyes of the lead hound as he bounded toward me. His snarl carried on the air like a rifle report, and all I could do was prepare for the impact.
When the hound launched, my muscles clenched.
The beat of wings sent a whirlwind around us and the yelp of a dog punctuated it. Before my brain could process any sort of response to Damian snatching the hellhound out of the air, he cleared the trees, heading south, and disappearing from sight with the hound still in his talons. I had time to blink before the rest of the hellhounds attacked.
None of them reached me and the stench of burnt fur mingled with brimstone. If Damian hadn’t snatched my father from the air, he would have had the same fate as the rest of Lucifer’s canine army.
I smiled, relieved that I did have my mojo on the devil’s turf. If not, I was certain I’d be near death right now. His smug grin faded and his eyes narrowed.
“You little shit,” he said.
“Me?” I pointed to my chest. “You’re the one who turned your kin into a fucking dog.”
He chuckled. “I ripped my brother’s head off. What’d you expect? That I’d treat Uriel’s blood line any differently?”
“I didn’t expect that, but I would think you might feel a little differently about your own bloodline.” I dropped the bomb and from the rapid blink and loose jaw, he had no fucking clue. I crossed my arms and squared my feet. “And you know what that makes me, right?”
His jaw tightened. “With your little slut, that gives you the possibility of siring a dark trinity.” His eyes danced at the prospect and I leveled a smile.
“My mother has two angel bloodlines, as well,” I said, springing these new facts on him with a bit of glee.
His smile disappeared. “You’re a... trinity?”
“Ayup,” I said and tilted my head. “Funny that you never picked up on that. But I guess it was masked by the double dose of your blood.”
He actually stepped backwards.
“That, along with a little infusion of angel grace, and I’m your worst fucking nightmare,” I said, dropping my hands to my side where they balled into fists. “This time, I’m ready to tango, gramps.” I allowed the sarcastic overtone to bleed through.
He seemed to recover much quicker than I imagined, and he squared off, crossing his arms as a little smile spread on his lips.
The bushes to my right rattled and in stepped a group of demons, all holding weapons from guns to knives and in the center of the group stood Valerie with her arms bound behind her back.
She met my gaze and lifted one of her shoulders. The minute she had stepped in the confines of the portal, her powers were useless. I guess the trinity piece was the important one and not the angel grace. My heart pounded as I made a small calculation, wondering if what we practiced would work.
