Chapter 6 #2
For a long time, I sat there, listening to his heart beat, watching his steady pulse slow as he went under.
He looked like an angel with his face relaxed in sleep, happy, at peace, like he didn’t have death riding him.
I hesitated and then touched his hair, careful not to disturb him as I felt the silky strands.
I watched him sleep. Sleep was so interesting, counting his breaths, the silences between breaths, until I felt his peace soak into me, spreading like his goodness until I closed my eyes and relaxed against the side of the ship.
Not sleeping, because vampires don’t sleep, but deeply relaxed and truly content.
Sometimes we pass out, sometimes go into hibernation, but neither of those is a true sleep state.
Soaking in the angel was the sweetest dream I could have had.
Not that I could have had it because vampires don’t dream.
A sound and a flash of light had me standing, moving in front of Gavriel to protect him from this new, burning threat that stood on the ship’s deck, staring at me with bright golden eyes.
He blinked, and the gold melted away, showing pretty blue that went with his golden hair.
It was dawn, and he looked splendid with the sun catching his strands.
“How are things?” he asked, directing the question at the angel behind me.
Gavriel stood and moved beside me, putting an arm around my shoulder. “Shockingly complicated. First, she tried to kill my commander, but I stopped her because she has too much goodness in her soul and needs saving.”
The blond figure blinked at Gavriel, brows furrowing. “And second?”
“We are running for our lives to a small group of outcasts and misfits, one of whom is Lorien, and there we are to hide until our love can be free to bloom unhindered.” Gavriel said it so sincerely.
I couldn’t help looking at him and saw the affection in his eyes as he gazed at me in return.
My heart felt so heavy in my chest, aching to believe him.
“You’re a very good actor. Good thing you’re the one who has to play the part of love-struck angel.
” I turned towards Richard. “I’m the cold and ruthless murderer who uses angels for her own ends,” I informed him.
He nodded shortly. “Yes, but there should be a growing affection for the angel who would sacrifice everything for you. At the very least, that would appeal to your ego, even if you are incapable of more tender feelings.”
I winced. I’d been willing to sacrifice everything for David, but it hadn’t seemed to make any difference to him. “Yes, my ego is delighted. I take it you’re Richard, the Team Leader’s son?”
The newcomer blinked at me, then glanced at Gavriel. “The Team Leader talked to her?”
“Yes. He interviewed her in jail before he allowed me to release her.”
“Ah. You have your soul?” Richard asked, frowning into my eyes. “Yes, you do. But how?”
“Do you always ask such personal questions?”
“Yes. Gavriel never answers, but that doesn’t stop me from asking. Have you drunk from him? I’ve told him a thousand times that he should try it. He’s always stressed out. He’s so noble, you know, and nobility equals stress. Nothing is as relaxing as being bitten by a vampire.”
“I don’t drink from live prey. It’s too connected, and I’m a hardened killer. Truly. It won’t be an act for me.” Except that I would try not to act like I was starting to be obsessed with the angel of death.
Richard nodded soberly. “You’re almost too honest to believe, but that bright soul makes it impossible not to see your sincerity.
I suppose I should chase the two of you, causing a great scene worthy of an angel before I lose you in the labyrinth of the undercity.
The shadows of death will help. Lorien, hm?
And of course Gavriel wants to save him, not just torture whatever information we can get out of him before he’s executed. ”
Gavriel was looking at Richard with a tinge of disapproval. “We used to be friends.”
“Before he stole my favorite holy artifact and insulted my sister. And betrayed our entire troop. But sure, we can still be friends.” He drew a sword that had golden fire licking up and down its length. “Are you ready to go or do you need to snuggle some more?”
I straightened my spine and glared at him. “Snuggle?”
“Yes, that’s what you were doing before you leapt to defend him from the threat.
To be fair, I am definitely a threat. That’s exactly how you should act while undercover: protective, affectionate, the soft side of the hardened killer.
I’m going to enjoy this chase scene. I’ll have to singe you, Gav, or no one will believe it’s real. ”
Gavriel grunted. “And I’ll have to reciprocate for the sake of believability, of course. Are you ready?” he asked, turning to me, taking my hands and looking at me intently, eyes so soft and concerned.
I cleared my throat and held his gaze. “To destroy a demon? Always.”
He smiled and then picked me up in a bridal carry, dark blades of death stretching out on either side of him. “I’ll be more gentle this time, so you don’t faint.”
“I didn’t faint; I passed out. There’s a difference,” I protested, but I was feeling distinctly maidenly in this position, completely in his power, trusting him not to drop me, but also to release me as soon as he could. The gown really didn’t help me feel tough and capable.
Richard snickered. “Arguing like a real couple. Cute. All right. Let’s go knock down some buildings.”
Gavriel sniffed and then launched into the air. He was slower that time, less rocket, more plane, and Richard was behind us the entire way. At the coast, he threw a firebolt at us, and Gavriel barely got out of the full blast. Meanwhile, it singed my hair and his wings.
“Sorry about that,” Gavriel murmured before he shifted me so I was in one arm and then hurled a sphere of darkness at the angel.
The world blurred beneath us as we flew, and then we were on the outskirts of Singsong City.
Richard was on us, his sword swinging down.
Gavriel barely deflected the blow, and then it was a sword battle in the air over the city in broad daylight, with me occupying half of Gavriel’s arms. When Richard got close enough, I raked my nails across his cheek.
After all, this was a fight scene, and I was a renowned killer.
Richard fell back at that, giving us enough space that Gavriel shot forward, flying down the nearest escalator into Song, cradling me against his broad chest as we flew.
We buzzed right over a pack of werewolves who raised their heads to nip and howl, but we were already a street away.
Then two. We wound through the streets with no sign of Richard.
Had we gotten away? It shouldn’t have been that easy. Of course, he wasn’t really chasing us.
We flew around a corner, and an explosion caught us, knocking us back, tumbling until we hit a building and crashed to the ground.
“Gavriel!” I cried, pulling him upright. My cuffs were getting in the way so I ripped them apart, leaving a silver cuff on each wrist.
He blinked dazedly, then tried to take a step and fell.
I caught him, then hauled him over my shoulders and ducked into the building behind us.
It was an apartment building with a long hall down its length.
I ran, arms full of angel, hating Richard with all of my heart.
Singe him? I could smell angelic blood, and it made me want to kill Richard much more than I wanted to feed.
I burst out the door on the back side of the building, coming out in a narrow alley that smelled like the worst things in Song.
I shifted Gavriel and ran, leaping over boxes and trash until I got to the next door.
It was locked, so I kicked it in, bursting into a kitchen that hadn’t been scrubbed down for at least a decade.
I froze, Gavriel’s blood trailing down my arm, as the table of outcasts stood, drawing a wide variety of weapons.
The elf with a monocle was the last to stand, but he didn’t draw a weapon, just studied me with intent, ageless eyes.
“Kill them, quickly,” some kind of sea-man hissed, with tentacles coming out of his chin and bulbous eyes. “Neither is good for eating, but angel parts go for good money.”
I snarled at him. “If you lay a finger on my friend, I’ll see that you and your little hovel are nothing more than a blur of blood.”
A large man in dark leather and spiked knuckle wrappers stood up, pointing at me.
“It’s that blood vampire, the assassin.” His voice was resolute, although he was built like an enforcer.
Unless I was wrong, this should be the back room of Lament.
We’d actually made it. For some reason, with Gavriel unconscious in my arms, the mission wasn’t as important. I was going to kill Richard.
No, I wasn’t going to waste Gavriel’s pain.
I tightened my jaw. If they knew my actual reputation, they’d never let us in.
Then I’d take Gavriel to the nearest hospital and forget about trying to infiltrate this filthy place.
But not until I tried. “That’s in the past. I promise not to kill you if you let me and my friend through.
” If they tried to stop me, they were dead. Every one of them.
“Through to where?” the elven fellow said, taking his monocle down so he could polish it. “Your friend needs to stop the bleeding. The sooner the better.”
I flashed my fangs. “You’re not touching him with your filthy hands.”
He examined his hands, and they seemed immaculate. “No? And you are capable of patching up an angel without getting distracted by his blood?”
For a moment I panicked. I had to stop this pretending and get Gavriel some real help. The Bellham was an excellent hospital that would welcome the angel.
“I…”
The fish guy sighed and flopped back down in his chair. “Just because we were just talking about how we could use an assassin. She’s not to be trusted.”
“Of course not,” the elf with the monocle said, moving gracefully around the table. “No one here is to be trusted. That’s why we get along so well.” He held out a hand to me. “Welcome to Song’s Lament. I’m Tiago. I will help you save your friend.”