Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
“She’s dying.” The pronouncement came from Tanner as she threw a fast glance into the backseat. “This shit wasn’t supposed to happen, and she’s dying .”
Jade’s blood stained Az’s fingertips. No matter how many times he tried to stroke her body and share his warmth with her, Jade’s skin remained ice cold. Colder than death. He knew that touch too well.
“Death isn’t here yet.” Because he’d left Marna behind. Scared the angel. Angels weren’t supposed to feel fear. But Marna had always been weak. Too curious about humans. Too slow to take the dying.
If there was one angel he could push around, it was her.
So if she came back, he’d make certain he pushed again. “We just have to get the bleeding stopped,” Az said as his gaze locked on Jade’s still face.
Tanner muttered, “I think we have to do more than that.”
“Just get her to a doctor.” If she’d been Other, she could have already been healing instead of growing colder with each moment that passed.
“The city’s at least forty-five minutes away.”
Because they’d driven deep into the swamps of Louisiana to find a prey that was stronger than Az had ever anticipated. My touch should have killed him.
Had Jade known what he was up against? He’d find out, once she lived.
“I don’t think she’s got forty-five minutes.” Tanner jerked the car, and it flew to the left with a screech of its tires. “But I know a doctor who’s closer. He’s got a clinic in the bayou.”
“Get us to him.”
The car was jumping and hurtling down the dirt road. “I will, but, fuck, man, don’t expect a miracle.”
Why not? Others had gotten them. Why couldn’t he?
“She could die any?—”
“I won’t let her die.” Az was adamant as he cut through Tanner’s words. Her death wasn’t an option for him. “Just take us to the doctor. Get us there, and I’ll take care of death.” On his watch, no angel would get to her. And if an angel couldn’t claim Jade’s soul, then she couldn’t die.
Az held her tighter as the car whipped along the old, dirt road and through the twisting trees. Jade’s eyes weren’t open. Blood soaked her chest, but her heart still beat. His hand was over her heart, so he felt those precious, struggling beats.
“Stay with me,” he whispered to her.
No one had ever come between him and death before. No one had ever sacrificed for him.
Until now.
The car screeched to a jarring stop moments later. Tanner hurried from the front seat. The cop yanked open the back door and tried to take Jade. Az just held her tighter. If an angel came, he had to be close to her.
With her still in his arms, Az carefully climbed from the car. Her head sagged back against his shoulder. Dark shadows lined her closed eyes.
Tanner ran toward the shack that rested near the woods. His fist pounded onto the door. “Cody! Dammit, Cody, open the door!” But then he didn’t give Cody a chance to answer his summons. With not even a second’s hesitation, Tanner kicked the door open.
And he was immediately shoved back through the air. A hard voice snarled, “What the hell are you thinking, Tanner? You don’t bring your arrogant panther ass down here and ram in my door.”
Tanner shoved to his feet. “We need your help.” He pointed toward Az and Jade. “She’s hurt.”
Cody’s dark head turned and his eyes—dark eyes, demon eyes—locked on Jade. “She’s dead.”
Az thought about incinerating him. But, no, they needed the male. For now. “Demon, are you a doctor?”
Cody stiffened. “I’m no demon.”
Az strode toward him. “Tell that to someone who can’t see you for what you really are.” He knew demon eyes when he stared into them. No magic glamour could fool him.
Cody’s hands lifted as if to ward him off. “Don’t bring a dead girl to my door. There’s nothing I can do for her.”
“She’s not dead.” But the doctor could be, very soon.
“Brandt attacked her.” Tanner ran a shaking hand through his hair. “Those were his claws that tore open her chest.”
“Fuck.” Cody rocked back on his heels. “Our psycho of a brother won’t ever stop, will he?”
“That’s Jade .” Intensity fueled Tanner’s voice.
Cody’s brows climbed even as his arms dropped. “Brandt’s Jade?”
Hell, no. “ My Jade.” Az stepped toe-to-toe with the demon. “And if you want to keep living, then you’ll make sure she does, too. You have to stitch her up. Close those wounds. Help her .” An order when it should probably have been a plea. But he’d never had to plea for anything before. Even when he’d been cast out of heaven, he hadn’t begged. He’d raged. Cursed. Fought.
Cody swallowed and nodded. “I-I’ll do what I can.”
Not good enough. “You’ll do everything.” He strode through the entrance and was surprised to see that the place was actually much bigger inside than he’d realized. It snaked back, dipping low and twisting around.
Cody hurried around him. “This way. I have a small clinic set up for?—”
“For emergencies like these,” Tanner finished quietly.
The demon doctor shoved open another door. The room inside was small, but packed with medical equipment.
“Put her on the table.” Cody grabbed a pair of gloves. “We need to cut off that shirt so I can see what kind of damage we’re dealing with.”
Az lowered her onto the thin table. Her head rolled to the right. Carefully, he pulled away her shirt, ripping it when it stuck to the drying blood because he didn’t want to jar her. The slashes were deep in her chest. Thick and gaping. Az ached when he saw them.
And he wanted to tear Brandt apart. Death will make you scream.
“Sadistic bastard.” Rage thickened Cody’s voice. “I thought she was supposed to be the one that he loved.”
Tanner shook his head. “You know he can’t really love anything. Brandt can only destroy.”
“He meant to kill me.” Az brushed back her hair. “She…got in his way.”
“You mean she took the attack for you.” Tanner was by his side. “Brandt has killed too many people that Jade loved. I wasn’t there back then, but I know the stories. She wasn’t just going to let you die, too.”
Az frowned down at her. “Jade doesn’t love me.” She needed him. She…wanted him.
But love ?
The cop didn’t respond.
The one called Cody stared down at Jade’s savaged body. “I can close the wounds.” He licked his lips. “But I’ll tell you now, she’s lost too much blood to survive.”
Tanner’s head snapped up. Az saw the shifter’s nostril’s flare. “Flowers,” Tanner mumbled. “That scent, I smelled it before.”
Found us. Az spun away from the table. “Close her wounds and get her ready for a transfusion.”
“I don’t have any blood here.” Cody shook his head. “I can’t?—”
“Get her ready!” Az yelled back at him. Az followed the floral scent out of the house. If he hadn’t been so intent on Jade, if the smell of her blood hadn’t filled his nostrils, then he would have already known.
Death stalked them.
Time for him to send Death running.
He shoved through the broken door and stood on the slanting porch with his legs braced apart and his arms loose at his sides. “Marna, I told you what would happen if I saw you again!”
An angel appeared in front of him. The angel’s long, black wings stretched toward the sky. But this wasn’t the delicate Marna. This…This was Bastion, an ancient death angel. An angel who’d been second only to Az.
“Where is she?” Bastion demanded as his wings lowered. His eyes,—golden as the streets of heaven—locked on Az.
Az didn’t move. “You’re not getting to her.”
Bastion’s eyes narrowed. Interesting. The angel had never shown any emotion before. Or perhaps Az just hadn’t noticed the signs when he’d been in heaven. Maybe he hadn’t wanted to see them.
Because that would have meant that we were all weak.
“Your human should have left this world already,” Bastion said flatly. “Her name is in the book.”
The damn book. It had once belonged only to Azrael. Immense, magical, it contained the names of all the dying. Once a name appeared in the precious book, the soul would be collected within forty days.
There’d only been one soul to ever escape the collection. Only one. A vampiress.
But if one could escape, then the rules could be broken. “Jade is not going with you.”
Bastion shook his head. “You don’t want to fight with me.”
“Yes, I do.” And he tossed a ball of fire right at Bastion’s chest. Unprepared, the angel took the blast and flew back through the air. Fire couldn’t kill an angel. The angels could control that element too well, but it could take them by surprise.
Bastion rose to his feet in an instant. “You would war with me?”
That wasn’t the option he’d prefer, but, yes. “It’s one soul.” There were thousands more to take. Millions. “You can stand to lose her, just this once.”
“You know that’s not how it works.” The flames lingering on Bastion’s skin vanished with a wave of his hand. “And you can’t stop me. You’re not an angel any longer. You’re not the one in charge upstairs. You can’t?—”
“I’m Fallen.” Az jumped off the porch and reached in his back pocket for the bullet that he’d dug out of his own skin. He’d taken Jade’s gun earlier and tucked it into the back of his jeans. As he strode toward Bastion, Az loaded that single bullet into the weapon. Jade had said the bullets could be used again and again. “Being Fallen means I don’t have to play by the good rules any longer.”
Bastion smirked at the weapon. Smirked? The angel was playing with all kinds of emotions. Did he realize how dangerous that was? Did he even care?
“Bullets won’t hurt me. Have you lived with the humans too long? No weapon of man can kill an angel.” Bastion shook his head. “And your death touch won’t work on your own kind.”
Footsteps thudded behind him. “Az!” Tanner’s shout. “We need that blood, now! She’s—she’s?—”
Bastion inhaled a deep breath. “Her heart was too savaged. The doctor can’t help her.”
“Now!” Tanner yelled.
Tanner wouldn’t see the angel. Only those with angel’s blood in them could ever see the angels. Those with the blood or those near death. When it came time for Death to take you, the dying could always see the angels at their sides.
“I can help her.” Az lifted the gun. His finger curled around the trigger. “Get out of here, Bastion. You’re not taking her tonight.”
“Uh…Az?” Tanner’s confused voice.
Bastion didn’t move. “You’re not in charge anymore, Azrael.”
“No, but I’m the man holding the bullet made of brimstone—and I’m the one who’ll shoot you with it if you don’t fly your ass out of here.”
Bastion blinked. “B-brimstone?”
Az knew fear when he heard it.
“It’s not a weapon of man. More a weapon of the devil.” The gun didn’t waver. “I can personally attest, these bullets burn. And when they’re fired into an angel’s heart, I’m laying odds that they will kill.” He lifted a brow. “Shall we find out?”
Bastion backed up a step. “I want Marna.”
“Then go and find her. Just stay away from Jade. She’s not dying for me.”
Bastion’s wings unfurled. He stared hard at Az, then glanced up at the sky. One moment passed, two.
“Az!” Tanner grabbed his shoulder. “Stop talking to your damn self and?—”
“She’s not the innocent you think.” Bastion took another step back. Retreating. “You think you’re saving a weak human, but she’s not what you believe her to be.”
“She’s exactly what I believe her to be.”
“A killer?”
Az didn’t let his surprise show.
“Because she has killed, and not just once.” Bastion raised his arms before him. “Would you really battle with your own kind in order to protect the soul of a killer?”
She took the attack meant for me. “You don’t want to test me right now, Bastion.”
But the angel wasn’t backing down. “You’ve already failed every test. That’s why your wings burned to ash.”
Bastard. “And it’s why you’re about to have a heart full of brimstone.”
“I hope to God you’re really talking to someone,” Tanner snapped. “Because I just can’t deal with another crazy asshole right now.”
Bastion’s eyes narrowed. “She dies now!”
No, she didn’t.
Az shot him. Not the heart. He didn’t want to kill Bastion. But the bullet thudded deep into the angel’s stomach.
Bastion doubled over and howled in agony.
“That’s pain,” Az told him. “It’s what it feels like when angels hurt .”
Bastion glanced up at him, eyes stunned.
“Get out of here,” Az told him. “And stay away from Jade .”
The angel’s fingers were stained with blood. “You…you’ll regret this!”
Az stared back at him. “You’ll need to dig the bullet out. The longer it stays in you, the more it will hurt and burn.”
Bastion’s wings began to flap as the angel rose. “I’ll…be back for her.”
But not right away. The angel would need to heal. That would buy them some time.
“You…you’ve just asked for a war.”
He’d asked for a life.
A muscle flexed along Bastion’s jaw. “The punishment angels will come for you.”
Like he was supposed to be afraid of them? Not likely. “Are you forgetting?” Az asked. “I’ve already fought one punishment angel. And Rogziel was the one who wound up in hell, not me.” Enough of this . Jade needed him. “Want to join the bastard?”
Bastion’s eyes narrowed as he fought the pain. “Death always finds a way. You know that.” Air rushed against Az’s skin as Bastion took to the sky. Despite his injury, the death angel soared quickly, hurtling upward and vanishing almost instantly.
Gone. For now.
“The scent.” Tanner inhaled. “Okay, want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
Az shoved the gun into the back of his jeans. “Not now.” He hurried inside and left the shifter on the porch. The smell of blood was stronger, and when he entered the back room, he saw Cody bent over Jade’s prone form. Tubes ran from her arm. The doc held one piece of tubing and a big-ass needle in his hands.
“This isn’t the way we’re supposed to do this,” Cody began.
Az stalked forward. It was the way they’d have to do it.
“A transfusion like this is too risky.” Sweat covered the doctor’s forehead. “The risk of infection, disease?—”
“I don’t have any disease.” The demon doc could knock that worry off the list.
The doc didn’t look reassured. “What if your blood type doesn’t match hers?”
“Consider me a universal donor.” He knew his smile was bitter as Az ripped open his own vein and got to work connecting the tubing. Angel blood was supposed to be all-powerful. And his blood was Jade’s only chance. He’d either save her or?—
Or I will keep fighting death as long as I must.
Cody rushed around the table and began the work of adjusting the tubes and monitoring the beeping array of machinery that he’d set up. Blood flowed from Az, dark red, as it filled the tube and slid its way to Jade’s body.
Az realized he was barely breathing. Waiting. Watching. Fight, Jade. Fight.
The blood in the tube reached her. Fed into her body.
One second. Two. Az’s own heart had nearly stopped. Jade, stay with me.
Jade’s eyes flew open. Her eyes weren’t the dark green that reminded him of the lush fields he’d once seen in Ireland. Instead, the green was brighter than he’d ever seen it before.
Relief had his shoulders sagging. She’d be alright. She’d be?—
Jade screamed. Again and again. Her long, horrified screams filled the air. Her eyes were on him. Full of terror.
And her screams wouldn’t stop.
Marna didn’t return to heaven. Bastion paced the Great Hall as unease rippled through him. She should have flown back to their realm by now.
He wasn’t afraid. He couldn’t feel fear. But a tightness constricted his chest as he remembered Azrael. Az—a Fallen who’d been ready to kill to protect a human.
Marna had been the one sent to claim the woman’s soul. Had she faced Az’s fury as well? Except…perhaps Az hadn’t just threatened to kill her.
Bastion’s wings spread as he launched from the Great Hall. Clouds raced by him, one after the other. He knew where Jade Pierce had been scheduled to die. At the edge of a Louisiana swamp, right under a cypress tree that swayed near a gator-infested pond. She should have died there, with Azrael at her side.
Marna had foreseen the human’s death days before. She’d come to him and told him because she’d been startled that Azrael had been in her vision.
Marna wasn’t like the others. He’d tried to protect her over the centuries and attempted to make sure that no one saw her weaknesses.
Or her fears.
She’d been afraid of Azrael. Most beings were, though. But Bastion knew that when Marna had gone out on that last mission, she’d been afraid to take someone that belonged to the Fallen. She’d feared how he might retaliate.
Perhaps she’d been right to be fearful.
The ground was a sea of green beneath him as he flew over the trees. Marna couldn’t just vanish.
His feet slammed down just yards from the swaying cypress tree. He stared at the signs of battle. Blood on the ground. The battered earth.
So much blood.
His nostrils flared as he strode forward. There was blood, but…more.
His heart began to pound faster in his chest. So fast that the deep beating startled him. He’d never been worried before. Never been afraid. But this time was different.
Black feathers— wings— were on the ground, smeared with blood. His hand shook as he reached for the feathers. An angel didn’t just lose her wings. They could burn off in a fiery fall from heaven.
Or…or they could slip away when an angel died.
The drumming of his heart grew even louder. Marna was a good angel. Only wanting to help others. She should never have been a death angel. Carrying souls actually seemed to wound her. She should have been a guardian. She should have?—
A scream ripped from him. Fury. Pain.
There were more black, bloody feathers. So many more. And the scent of blood that coated the feathers—it was angel blood.
Azrael had made sure that his mortal’s life was spared, and in exchange, he’d known just how to balance the scales of death to give Jade Pierce more of a fighting chance.
A life for a life.
If Bastion checked the Book of Death, Jade’s name probably wouldn’t even be listed anymore. A soul had been taken. Death had been satisfied for that instant in time.
Because Azrael had sacrificed an angel to let a human live.
Bastion’s heart burned in his chest. A death angel shouldn’t want vengeance. Punishment angels would be the ones to deliver fury and wrath.
But Azrael has already helped to kill a punishment angel. Azrael and Sammael had teamed up in the attack.
After his fall, Azrael had battled a rogue punishment angel named Rogziel. Rogziel hadn’t been given the lighter sentence of banishment from heaven for his crimes. Instead, Azrael and Sammael had been the instruments of his destruction.
Would the other punishment angels go after Azrael for this latest offense? Or would they fear him and Sammael too much?
Azrael and Sammael had introduced fear into the hearts of many angels.
The feathers fluttered in the breeze. There was no sign of Marna’s body. Only the broken remnants of her wings.
Bastion forced himself to rise. Slowly, his fingers released the black feathers that they clutched.
If the punishment angels would not do their job, then he would seek vengeance.
Azrael wouldn’t get to keep his human. He wouldn’t get to cheat Death.
Because Death is coming for you, Az.
This time, Azrael would be the one to fear—and to die.
Marna, I am sorry, but you will be avenged.
“I’ve done all that I can.” The demon doc tossed his bloody gloves in the trash. He shook his head and stared down at Jade with tired eyes. “Now we just have to wait and see if your blood can help her.”
Jade hadn’t stopped screaming, not until Cody had pumped her full of sedatives that had knocked her out. Az had tried to get close to her, to comfort her, but as soon as he’d advanced, her screams had become even more frantic.
She’d looked at him, but seemed to see a monster.
Now she’s really seeing me.
“How long will she be out?” Az wanted to know.
“At least till dusk. Hell.” Cody rubbed his forehead. “With all those tranqs I gave her, an elephant would be out until sunset.”
Az stood by her side. He couldn’t move away. Her color seemed better. No lines of pain ravaged her face anymore. A sheet covered her chest and lower body. Beneath the sheet, bandages hid her injuries.
There was no way a human wouldn’t scar from those wounds. But then, a human shouldn’t live with them, either.
“You know that she’ll be… more when she wakes.” Cody’s voice was hesitant.
Az frowned and glanced at the demon.
Cody still gazed at Jade with a faint furrow between his brows. “Human before,” he murmured, “but, now, with your blood…”
“She’ll be the same as she was.”
Cody lifted a brow and turned his too dark stare on Az. “Do you really believe that? Or are you just trying to make yourself think that it’s true?” Cody exhaled on a rough sigh. “When the first angels fell and mated with humans, their blood mixed?—”
“And demons were born.” He didn’t need a history lesson. He’d been there for that history. He’d witnessed the temptations. Cleaned up the chaos left in the wake of so much recklessness.
Cody lifted Jade’s wrist and checked her pulse. “I’ve heard vamps say they can actually drink an angel’s power through the blood.” He put her hand back down and stared at her still form. “I can’t help but wonder, did you think about the risks to her? Or did you just not care?”
“I wasn’t letting her die,” Az growled.
“But you weren’t going to let her stay human, either, were you?”
“She still is human! She won’t change.”
The doctor turned away. “She already has. Didn’t you hear her screams?”
Az brushed back her hair. He let his hand linger on her cheek. “She was delusional. Out of her mind from the pain and the attack.”
“No.” The demon stared out of the small window. “She just opened her eyes and saw monsters all around her. She saw monsters when she’d only seen men before.”
Az’s body tensed.
“She saw my black eyes,” the doctor continued as he turned to slowly face Az once more, “and I’m curious to know, what do you think she saw when she looked at you? Because whatever it was, that sight made her scream the loudest.”