Chapter One #2
Ronen’s head shot up. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself.
Don’t you think I haven’t tried to let it go?
To move past the terror that eats at me from when those fucking demons tortured me?
” His stomach roiled, heart pounding as fury rose in him.
“Do you know that every time I see the scars on my body, it’s like I’m enduring the horrendous pain all over again?
At the same time, my memory is still blocked.
Which means I have the joy of knowing these gruesome things were done to me, but bringing up the memory is impossible. ”
He pounded his fist on the table. “Not knowing is the biggest torture of all. I’d rather have the memories than to constantly wonder what was done to my helpless body.
The only time, only time, I feel I can cope is when I’m focused on defending the forces of evil.
That’s my sole moment of peace. Eradicating more of the filth that dared to abuse me. ”
Cassiel reached across the table, covering his still-clenched fist with her hand.
“I can’t truly understand the trauma you’ve been through, but I can say this.
Your ability to push through, to not give up and keep fighting, humbles me.
I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to put myself in the path of the very creatures who were responsible for my torture.
I admire your strength and how you’ve never shirked your duties as a defender. ”
Ronen was finally able to meet her gaze. “I appreciate it. I’m not trying to diminish how you feel, but I don’t view myself as being particularly brave. After all, gargoyles are meant for nothing but to protect and fight. I’m no more remarkable than any other gargoyle who’s faced the dark forces.”
Cassiel shook her head. “Not true. There have been several gargoyles who surrendered their status and chose to be mortal rather than face evil. Why do you think we lost so many of our kind to the rogue demons? They had no faith. They were the ones who were weak, not you. For all you know, they tried to recruit you while you were being tortured. Yet you stuck to your oath and didn’t abandon your duty.
” She smacked him on the side of his arm.
“You’re a fucking boss, dude. Embrace it. ”
He scrubbed his face with one hand, chuckling a bit. He wasn’t going to break free of his doubts overnight, but confessing his inner turmoil to her had been a good call.
Ronen smiled, the tension in his body lessening. “Is it too sappy of me to call you my closest friend?”
Cassiel gave him a smack on his arm again. “Just don’t tell anybody.”
He grinned. “Deal.”
She let out a long sigh, then leaned back in her chair, clasping her hands behind her head. “I’m hungry. What do you say we—”
A booming shout, followed by the shrill alarm warning of intruders, echoed through the lair. They both shot from the chairs, racing down the hall toward the entrance.
Cassiel glanced at him as they ran. “Be careful what you wish for, champ.”
By the time they reached the large circular foyer, the sentinel had shifted to his gargoyle form. Nash’s teeth were bared, golden eyes glowing like fire, his stance battle-ready with his axe held high. Ronen and Cassiel quickly shifted as well.
“See?” Ronen turned to Cassiel. “Never know when you might need a freshly sharpened blade.”
“Cute,” she growled back at him as the pounding and yelling continued.
The loud voices on the other side of the door were an odd mixture of normal speech and an eerie, unintelligible tone that made his stomach churn.
Ronen gritted his teeth. “What are those things?”
Nash looked over his shoulder. “I haven’t the slightest clue. I’ve transmitted to the others that they need to get back here immediately.”
“I’ll take your telepathic message and double it,” said Cassiel.
The banging and shouting became more desperate.
While it was unlikely that the group of beings so desperate to enter could bust through the enchanted lead barrier, it still begged the question of who they were and why they were swarming the lair.
Was this a new strategy of the rogue demons?
If so, it was a weak one. Announcing an imminent attack didn’t exactly give them the upper hand.
A pleading voice cut through the chaos, its tone normal yet filled with fear. “Show us mercy! We might not deserve it, but we beg of you, give us another chance! Let Michael consult the Most High on our behalf!”
“Holy shit,” Ronen said. “I think those are shadow gargoyles.”
Nash growled. “Seems like those pieces of shit have some life choice regrets. I say we destroy them!”
“Fuck me.” Cassiel groaned. “That decision is above our pay grade. We’ve taken back other shadows before. However, it’s the Most High’s decree that each case be evaluated individually.”
Ronen shook his head. “I’m with Nash. There’s too many of them. Who’s to say this isn’t a ploy to get us to unseal the door? It’s not as if they haven’t pulled that shit in the past.”
Nash nodded. “Exactly.”
Cassiel’s wings folded against her back. “No. We hold tight, protect the lair. We don’t need to let them in, but we don’t need to attack them, either. Not yet. I’m summoning Michael.”
“What about the rest of our team?” Ronen was puzzled by Cassiel’s reticence to carry out their standing orders to destroy all shadows, no questions asked.
Yet, she was also far more experienced than he was, and one rank higher.
“They’re on their way now. They’ll make short work of them no matter what we do in here. ”
“Nash.” Cassiel turned to the sentinel. “Transmit to the team to remain on guard outside the cathedral, but to wait for further instructions.”
A brilliant light filled the room, and Michael materialized, his ice-blue eyes flashing and his gorgeous, white-blond hair uncharacteristically disheveled.
“What now? I was in the middle of something.” He glanced around the room, frowning, as if his senses had suddenly picked up on the racket outside the door.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Hmm. The prodigal sons and daughters have returned. I thought we had more time.” He shook his head with annoyance.
“Lucifer needs to get off his ass and pay better attention. A little warning would’ve been nice. ”
Cassiel stamped a clawed foot. “What are you talking about? Is this something you knew about? How are we supposed to effectively protect the lair without proper intel?”
A pulsating glow surrounded Michael, his eyes becoming like lasers.
“Watch your tone, servant. Gargoyles are on a need-to-know basis.” His glow diminished.
“Although that rat bastard in charge of running hell didn’t exactly keep me filled in either.
” He waved a hand at them. “Please. Change back to your human forms. You’re crowding me. ”
They all did as they were told, but Ronen noted Cassiel’s frustrated expression. Ronen watched as she struggled to maintain her composure. Her desire to lash out at the archangel was palpable, but even she knew that crossing Michael would have serious consequences.
“So,” Michael began with a dramatic sigh, “it seems our demonic friends have decided to cut their losses with the shadow gargoyles. I’d planned a council meeting this week to prepare everyone for this inevitability, but it seems as if Lucifer’s mole isn’t on his game.
” He gestured toward the door where the pounding continued.
“They've been betrayed, cast aside like yesterday’s garbage.”
Nash snarled, “That’s because they are yesterday’s garbage.”
Ronen frowned. “Why would the rogues do that? I thought they needed the shadows to search for the relics.”
Michael’s lips quirked into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Apparently, they've grown impatient. The shadows have been taking too long to locate the remaining holy artifacts. You know demons—not exactly known for their patience or loyalty.”
Cassiel crossed her arms. “Then this same thing must be happening at lairs all over the world.”
Michael lifted one eyebrow as he regarded her. “Obviously. Which is why I sent a message to the other angels within seconds of my appearance.”
Ronen would never admit it to Cassiel or anyone else, but the mysterious ways of the angels intimidated him.
A particularly loud bang against the door made Ronen flinch
“Stand back,” Michael ordered, not bothering to look at them. “I’ll handle this.”
Michael moved to the entryway, his demeanor shifting from annoyance to resigned duty. He placed his palm against the door, and a soft golden glow emanated from his hand.
Ronen exchanged a quick glance with Cassiel. Her jaw was set tight, clearly unhappy with being kept in the dark. He was filled with the same frustration, though he was getting better at keeping his emotions buried behind a neutral mask.
The archangel spoke in an ancient language, his voice resonating with a power that made the air vibrate. The banging on the door ceased immediately.
“Enter,” Michael commanded, stepping back as the heavy barrier swung open.
Ronen tensed, ready to shift back to his gargoyle form at the first sign of treachery. His hand hovered near his blade, his body shaking from the effort to keep his gargoyle at bay.
Michael had been caught unaware of the shadow gargoyles’ imminent return. If an archangel could be tricked, then how could they take his word regarding these traitorous beasts? Ronen bared his teeth, his fingers curling tightly around the steel hilt of his weapon.
“I don’t give a fuck what he says,” whispered Cassiel. “I see one gleaming fang or pointy claw, and it’s on.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You in?”
“Fuck yeah.”
Ronen tensed as the first traitor entered the room. The sight that greeted him was not at all what he’d expected.