Angel Magic (14 page)

 
The hallway shimmered as they walked to the next room. Auriel was inside, resting on a floral couch. He was dressed in a clean tunic, and Kari couldn’t tell if his wounds had healed already or if Kaliel had simply bandaged them.

 
“Don’t even say it, Rahmiel,” the boy spoke quickly. “I know what an idiot I was to take the girl there. I nearly got her killed.”

 
“Nearly got yourself killed, also.”

 
“I’ll be all right in a day. It will be longer for Amber.”

 
“How long?” Kari asked, thinking of her mother’s long recovery from surgery.

 
“Seven days at least.
Maybe a while longer.
But she’ll feel better right away, when Mother is finished.”

 
Kari smiled. “For humans, that doesn’t seem long. It would be much longer on Earth, more like six or seven weeks. Plus, Amber doesn’t have health insurance so the cost would really be a problem.”

 
“People exchange currency for healing?” Auriel looked shocked. “Healing isn’t a calling?”

 
“Well, it is a calling to some, but it is so expensive—the equipment, hospitals and all that.”

 
“What if someone can’t afford it? If they are…poor?”

 
“There are some ways to get help, but many people go without medical help.”

 
“Barbaric,” Auriel looked at Rahmiel. “Was it always so?”

 
“No, but humans are no longer in tribes that care for their own. And Angeli healers did much of the healing back in the days before the move to the Overland.”

 
“So when Angeli left, humans suffered?”

 
“Yes,” Rahmiel nodded.

 
Kaliel entered the room. “The little girl will require rest for the next two or three days, but her health has been restored.”

 
“Can I see her? I really need to talk to her,” Auriel said.

 
“Apologize to her for endangering her life, you mean? That will have to wait. She is in a restorative sleep for now, which is what I want you to do also.” She moved to Auriel’s side and placed her hand on his forehead.

 
“You will have to make a decision about binding her. She will be in danger when she returns to Earth,” Rahmiel said as the boy’s eyelids fluttered.

 
“Binding…what…” Auriel didn’t finish his question before falling asleep.

 
Kaliel stroked the boy’s forehead for a moment. “You know, he is not really a bad child. Most of his problems are because of the choices we have made here in the Overland. We have eliminated warriors such as you, Rahmiel. But in doing so, we have made no place for boys such as my son, who would have thrived in the ancient days, as Guardians. We thought they could be police, or craftsmen, or healers. But that is not their natures. They live in a world that has no place for their talents.”

 
“The Guardians are not what they once were. I find the changes are not noble ones.”

 
Kaliel paused for a while. “For the Angeli, the changes seemed gradual…and logical. But I see how they affect my son, and I wonder if our withdrawal from Earth was the right thing for the Angeli. Perhaps we could find some time to talk.

 
“Now, let me see your cuts,” Kaliel said, and did a few things to Rahmiel’s arms that Kari could barely follow. She healed his arms. Not even a scar remained.

 
Kaliel moved toward the door. “Come, let us have some refreshments and catch up.

 
Somehow, Rahmiel, I knew the ice prison would not be the last we would hear from you.”

 
Kari followed them down the glistening hallways and lacey stairs. She felt grubby, with smears of Rahmiel’s blood on her shirt. Her hair hadn’t seen a brush in… How long? She had lost track of time.

 
“Rahmiel, what day is it on Earth? I can’t quite remember,” she asked during a lull in the conversation, when Kaliel went to get them refreshments.

 
“Well, we were to return to your house at sunset, after spending the day at the island, remember? But the Guardians took me into custody. The boy and Amber went to your house at sundown while we were escaping from the Guards and going to Ether.

 
Now, on Earth, it would be middle of the night.”

 
Kari looked at him, horror welling up within her. “Rahmiel, my mother returns home today.” She thought of her mother, returning to the house where the demon would find her. The vision of Lisbet, thin and crumpled on the floor, filled her mind.

 
She grabbed Rahmiel’s arm.

 
“I have to get home right now. Mom’s flight will be coming in this afternoon. I have to meet her. Then, where will I take her? Kaphawn knows everyone I know.”

 
Kaliel turned to her. “Kaphawn? That’s who did this?”

 
“Yes,” Rahmiel answered for her.

 
“How did Kaphawn get free? He’s been neutralized for thousands of years.”

 
“Um, I did it,” Kari admitted. “By accident. I wanted to lose weight and saw a spell…”

 
Kaliel looked at Kari with an expression of shock in her face. “You summoned this demon? Are you a shaman? Or a sorcerer?”

 
“No. I just thought it would be better than dieting.”

 
“Rahmiel, how could a young girl do this?”

 
“I don’t know, Kaliel. I suspect she is descended from Angeli blood. I did a calming on her, one she should not remember, but she remembered it.”

 
“I have to get home to my mother,” Kari insisted. “I have to keep her away from Kaphawn. I guess we have to get a motel room or something. Rahmiel, I need to go.”

 
“All right.
I’ll take you home. Kaliel, Lemuel and the boys are tracking me, so once I leave here they may pop up again to throw me in a cell. So I will need Tehmuel to check on Kari frequently.”

 
Kaliel frowned. “Lemuel is trying to put you in holding when Kaphawn is loose?

 
Many humans ha
ve
died?”

 
“Many humans have died, but nothing like in the past. Not so far. I managed to wound him tonight before he disappeared, so he will be weak and looking for easy prey. People he knows about, like Kari’s mother. He has yet to reach full strength.”

 
Kaliel nodded. “Tehmuel will be back soon with the other woman. You can take him with you to get Kari’s mother, bring her here where she is certain to be safe. Don’t worry about Lemuel. I will call him to the Assembly.”

 
“You can call the Assembly?” Rahmiel asked, surprised.

 
Kaliel grinned. “You’ve been gone a long time, Rahmiel. Women are now on the Council, and have been for a thousand years. I am on the High Council.”

 
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.” He paused. ”If you can arrange it, and keep me out of a cell, I would like to talk to the Guardians about a possible plan. If I could have more manpower, I think I know a way to get rid of this demon for good. He is far from having full strength.”

 
“I will see what I can do.”

 
Rahmiel turned to Kari. “Since you mother won’t arrive until later in the day, we do not need to be at your home tonight. It would not be the safest choice. It is around midnight there, so we have time to sleep. Tomorrow we can make our plan, and get your mother.”

 
“I can offer you a room,” Kaliel said. “And I think I can get you a meeting with the Guardians, Rahmiel. I know I can keep you out of a cell—for a while, anyway.”

 
“Thank you.”

 
At that moment, Tehmuel and Tressa phased into the room.
Kari ran to Tressa and gave her a tight hug.

 
“I was so worried the demon had gone for you. Amber got hurt, but she’ll be okay…” Kari babbled on, until Rahmiel gently pulled her away and wrapped his arms around her.

 
“Wow,” Tressa said. Her eyes were huge as she looked around the crystalline walls and sumptuous furniture in the room. “May I see Amber?”

 
“Certainly. In fact, her room has two beds. You can sleep in there with her. I’m Kaliel, by the way. Auriel’s mother and Tehmuel’s daughter.”

 
Her voice faded as she guided Tressa up the stairs.

 
“Come, let us find a room. Tehmuel, do you know what room Kaliel would have for us?”

 
Tehmuel took them up the lacy stairs, but down a different corridor, to a large hallway that had a grouping of stairways spiraling up. “Take the third stair. I think you will like the room.”

* * * *

Kari groaned when she saw the
stair case
. It went on forever.

 
Rahmiel laughed. “You don’t think we are going to walk up those stairs, do you?”

 
He swept her into his arms and into the air. “They are all for the look. Angels never use them.”

 
Rahmiel deposited her on a large velvet-covered bed, in the most extraordinary room she had ever seen. The walls were all crystal, but somehow they magnified the stars overhead, and the room glittered with sparkling light.

 
“Oh, look at the stars, Rahmiel.”

 
Rahmiel pursed his lips and looked up, briefly. “Yes, stars. I’ve seen them. Stars don’t interest me.”

 
“But they are so beautiful.”

 
“I see only one thing of true beauty in this room.” He came up behind her and ran his hands up and down her arms. “Hair like russet silk, skin like a petal of an ivory rose. Enchanting…”

 
He pulled her hair to one side and she felt his warm breath on her neck. It made her shiver.

 
He wrapped his arms around her as he did when they flew and she glanced down and saw that his wounds were nearly gone. However, blood still smeared her shirt.

 
“I have nothing to wear,” she complained. “I’m all grubby, and in this beautiful place, getting it dirty.”

 
“Take off your clothes,” Rahmiel’s voice was husky. “You will be the jewel in the setting. And I can have your clothing cleaned.”

 
“Really? Angels do laundry?”

 
He smiled. “We have our ways.” He moved his
hands down
to the hem of her shirt and pulled it off, then slid her shorts down her hips.

 
He spun her around. “This is pretty,” he said, moving a finger over her
lace covered
breast, “but what’s under it is truly lovely.” He opened her bra and pulled it off slowly.

 
“Yes, perfect.”

 
Her heart rate, already fast, went up another notch. Then his fingers slipped under the lace at her hips and pulled her panties down.

 
He scooped up the clothes and placed them in a beautifully carved cabinet. He turned and paused, looking at her for a long time. He ambled toward her, gazing at her body the whole while. Kari felt her cheeks get hot under his perusal.

 
As he reached her he looked into her eyes, and tipped her chin up when she tried to duck her head, embarrassed.

 
His eyes glinted in the
star light
, and they looked so serious. She could see desire there, but there was something else, as well. Did he care for her, really? Would they be together when Kaphawn was no longer a problem?

 
His finger left her chin to trace her lips. He pressed a
finger tip
between her lips and desire shot through her. She slicked her tongue over it.