Angel Of Mercy (Cambions #3) (35 page)

When we made it back to the clearing, the first thing I noticed was blood everywhere. My eyes flashed wildly to my friends. Maggie stood blowing out knee caps with her shooting skills. I’d forgotten that she’d learn to shoot alongside her brothers. I hadn’t wanted to hear much about it, so I didn’t ask her. I was against guns, but I was thankful at the moment she had the training.

Past her, we saw Luke fighting a giant at least two times his height. Flynn and Tom were each battling with one, too.  We turned just in time to see the mysterious boy hurled backward several yards and slammed into a tree. But when he hit, he landed crouched with fist on the ground. Neither his beauty nor the look in his eyes told of lineage. The way he moved and recovered suggested he was some kind of demon. The ground began to tremble and he looked ready to charge the hunter when another appeared at his side, blindsiding him. The demon hunter sword that had been aimed for the guy’s heart became wedged into the oak tree behind him. The wood splintered in the air as the demon boy simply disappeared. Many yards away Sebastian let go of the boy’s arm and disappeared again. Sebastian was all over the place. He was fighting one, but popped in and stopped a killing blow against one of my friends just in the nick of time. We picked up a sword and ran for that fight, figuring the Rune and weres could hand the humans. I had no idea how to wield a sword, but my demon did.

Before we got there, a hunter stepped in our face. One my demon remembered. We inhaled, drinking deep the mist that fed us. Then she uttered a word to the Crew Cut and he froze. “Go to the camp, watch over Nina. Make sure she doesn’t get away.” I think this was one of the hunters she’d given hidden instructions to. But there was no time to ask about it. She was helping me save my friends. That was all that was important now.

Our prey ran off and louder we uttered that word that I couldn’t pronounce or even begin to spell. It must be a word in Hell Speak. And Long Hair came to our side. I wanted to yell
What are we waiting for
but she inhaled again. He’d already been spewing blood from the neck when he came to us. I told myself he was going to die anyway, as we filled ourselves with innocence. When he dropped to his death, she took the sword and sheared off our dress to knee length. Then she kicked off our shoes before we took off towards the fight. My demon was anxious to kill the angels. I reminded her, our targets were only the Angels of Death.

When we reached our destination, we assessed the situation. We engaged the Angel Sebastian had just left in order to protect Tom. Like some medieval battle, we raised the sword to ward off a blow that sent shudders through our body from the sheer force of it. I had to give it to my demon, I was certain that had we not have fed that we wouldn’t have been able to survive that blow.

“Demons,” one of the Angels cried out. “Nephilim and Demon spawn from hell will meet their maker.”

Didn’t these guys know their mandate against the Nephilim had ended thousands of years ago? The clang of metal rang out in the night. McKayla, I thought deciding that she deserved a name because she was helping me and this is what everyone else called her. She thought there was a good chance we wouldn’t survive. That’s when we saw Flynn fall. Sebastian popped in and stopped the Angel’s sword from ending him. But he was down on his back. We turned in time to be back handed by the Angel, causing us to lose our balance. We stumbled back as we watched Tom fall. The sword slipped through him like butter. We cried out and yet managed to stay on my feet. Sebastian left Flynn’s opponent in favor of using force. He looked the part of the Scottish warrior wearing metal armbands, a kilt, and a leather vest with crisscrossing leather straps. He sent the Angel Tom had been fighting, flying backwards.

Moving my blade in front of me, my muscles quivered as the fallen Angel grinned at me as his sword pushed further and further down. He was just too strong. Sebastian showed up and put a blade through the Angel’s gut as my Angel booted him with a foot sending him soaring behind me. My eyes followed. McKayla knew better, but my will was stronger. When Sebastian disappeared from view before hitting the ground, I turned back to see it was too late. The sword was seconds away from slicing into my heart.

In the surreal space of my death, I took in my surroundings. Flynn was still down, Tom was also down. Luke’s Angel was down and the other three Angels were watching me. They’d won. I just wanted to see Luke one more time.

And there he was, inches before me. He glowed bright. The light haloed him but didn’t pour out as if he were trying to send a demon back to the underworld. He opened his mouth and I thought he was a vision telling me he loved me before I died and was sent away to hell. Instead, blood spewed from his mouth just before the blade came through his torso.

His glow faded and his eyes were unseeing. Sebastian was there with a sword up through the giant’s head entering at his chin. The giant fell back and I found myself back in control of my body on the ground next to Luke.

Rage overcame me like the war cry of a beast. And I cried out to the heavens. My head fell back, screaming out my pain. My sword pointed north as my hand dug into the earth beneath me. Death poured out of me like a shock wave. I saw Sebastian dive for the ground as the ring of death that left my body leveled anything standing in its path. The two angels left standing cried out as just before they turned to ash when the wave struck. Then a golden light rained down in flecks of glowing light in the wake of destruction. I saw Tom begin to stir and it gave me hope. I couldn’t see Flynn. I turned my attention to the Luke at my side. He hadn’t move. He wasn’t breathing.

I didn’t think about what I’d done. I started CPR like a mad woman. I put my mouth to Luke’s and shoved all my power into him. I still felt like I had so much to give. When he didn’t take a breath, I started chest compressions.

My kiss did nothing to stir his soul. My breaking heart wasn’t enough to jump start his.  My tears were constant now along with my cries of anguish.  I felt numb as Luke remained unmoving, not breathing. “I love you,” I said in desperation. “Please don’t leave me. Please.” I said again although my words were hardly recognizable through the sobs and running nose from my incessant tears. 

“Mercy,” a sympathetic voice said. 

Looking up, I saw Sebastian.  “Stay away from me,” I yelled.  “This is all your fault. You let him die. If you think for one minute that I’ll be yours because he’s gone, you are so wrong.  I hate you,” I spat. Spit and other things blew out my mouth as I spoke.

Sebastian had conveniently been a few seconds too late. I watched him protect all of us in the nick of time. If he’d shown up a second before, Luke would still be breathing.

His eyes hardened and he stepped back.  Turning my attention back to Luke, I still held pressure on his wound.

“Mercy,” a different voice said.  Flynn knelt on the other side of Luke.  His face held the same despair mine did.

“We have to do CPR,” I ordered, as I continued to pump away.

Flynn’s lips thinned as he clamped his mouth shut.  I ignored him and pressed my mouth to Luke’s once more.  No one did anything.  I was the only one fighting to save his life.

“He’s gone,” Flynn whispered, his voice choking on the words.

“No, he’s not,” I cried. “He can’t die.  He’s part Angel.  He will heal.”

Nothing else mattered. I continued on until a thunderous sound came from somewhere in front of me. Three giants appeared from out of thin air.  Flynn stood and I did too. We were prepared to fight, to avenge my heart. The blade that struck him down lay harmless on the ground next to him.

As their footsteps fell, their long strides put them in front of us in moments. I recognized the one in the middle. Dressed like a Gladiator, manifested in angel form, Jonah, Luke’s father stood before me.  I had to crane my neck at an odd angle just to look the man in the face. 

The contempt I saw in his eyes had me taking a step back. It wasn’t defeat that had me do it.  It was an acknowledgment to his father that he had the better chance of saving his son than I did.  The great man knelt and picked up the lifeless boy who was my everything.  Luke flopped in his arms like a rag doll.  The three surveyed us, but said nothing.

I knew that we meant nothing to them. Our motley, bloody and beaten crew of two half breeds, a vampire, two werewolves, a demon, and one human didn’t matter.  The look in Jonah’s eyes said we weren’t worthy to be in his son’s company let alone worthy of his life. That is until his eyes landed on the mysterious boy crouched at the outskirts of everyone. And their pure revulsion filled those eyes. An angel beside him made a step towards the boy but when Jonah commanded him he stopped.

And after a long moment, where my eyes tried to look at everything but that limp body but failed horrendously, the three fallen angels turned and walked away.

I reached out, but Flynn was there holding me back like I was planning to run after them.  I had no intentions of moving. “Please save him,” I said weakly.  My voice wasn’t more than a mumble.  The silence was not yet quiet enough for his father to hear me.  His father’s steps didn’t falter and he didn’t turn around. I watched them disappear into nothingness and felt my heart die.

My vision blurred as Sebastian grabbed the two guys and vanished leaving nothing of their presence but air. As Maggie ran over, her red curls bouncing. Flynn stepped into my line of vision and wrapped me in his arms.  I felt the wetness of his tears on my shoulder as he leaned on me. 

I wasn’t moved.  I didn’t feel anymore.  So when Flynn stepped back, eyes dry as if he hadn’t had any tears and it was only my imagination, I crumpled to the ground.  Giving into gravity, I wished for it to pull the pain out of me and into the ground that held the pool of Luke’s blood.

I shoved at hands that tried to get me to stand, to move out of the blood that covered me. But I kicked and screamed and pr
ayed to a God that didn’t care enough about my own existence to save the boy I loved. I pledged my soul and my dedication to any task this God desired. I even pledged to give Luke up and stay away if only God would spare him.

Time no longer mattered. I wasn’t sure how long I lay there praying for everything, waiting and getting nothing. Later, I was vaguely aware of being carried.  Dimly, I saw the landscape blur as my forehead glued itself to the car window.  My eyes were open but not really seeing. Indistinctly, I recalled being placed on my bed and a warm body that wasn’t Luke’s wrap itself around me.  I was barely aware of the darkness as my eyes closed for what I hoped would be the last time if I could have Luke alive.

When I came to, it was bright outside. The golden light poured in like it was a new day.  Turning on my back, I reached out and found an empty space.  Luke wasn’t there.  The tears came in a rush.  It wasn’t a dream.  I was about to get up when I heard muffled voices outside my door.

“How is she doing?”  It was David. It all felt like a dream. I was back at David’s house which hurt even more. I’d spent many nights with Luke here. I couldn’t stay. I sat up and listened.

“She’s alive,” my mother answered as if that was the best they could expect.

“What of Nina?” Davis asked. I didn’t hear a response.

“Did you talk to Luke’s mom?” Flynn asked.

“Yeah,” David said.  His word didn’t have the sound of good news. “The funeral will be on Tuesday.”

Funeral. A loud crash hit the wall. A few seconds later a door slammed.

“He’ll be alright,” Mom said.

“This shouldn’t have happened,” David said. “What were they thinking?”  He sounded angry.

“What’s done is done,” Mom said sounding like the voice of reason.  “We should rest. It’s going to be a long couple of days.”

My door opened and David looked at me.  “Mercy?” he asked, and a torrent of tear sprung from my eyes before I fell back praying for something to take the pain away.

~~~

When I woke again, David was talking again and not to me. “The sleep aid I gave her in the water should keep her out for another couple of hours.” 
Sleep aid? 
I didn’t remember drinking any water.  But really, none of it mattered and I heard retreating footsteps. 

I had a plan. We had a plan.

Twisting my ring finger, I had a plan for revenge. Sebastian had done this. He could have saved Luke. I wouldn’t waste time on that now. I had my own plan to save Luke.  All I needed was to get to that in-between place like before.

Sitting up in bed with my feet on the side, I called out in my head,
Sebastian
.

As if he were waiting for my call, he materialized with bowed head and leaned against the wall. “Mercy, I’m sorry.”

I moved like a vampire, quick and fluid.  Sleep had given me time to wrap my head around all that I needed to do. “Sorry,” I spat. “You’re sorry?” My voice was full of rage, but I kept the voice to a minimum not wanting anyone to come.

“When I saw, I tried to get there, I wasn’t fast enough,” he said, looking at me with earnest eyes.

It was too late for that.  I didn’t believe him.  He had us all fooled.  But no longer.  I wasn’t going to be his nor would he be staying in this house any longer.

“You can’t possibly believe that I wanted him dead,” he said.

“Why not?” I said anger holding me back for a moment. “You are here for one reason. Me.” It may have sounded egotistical, but it was nothing of the sort.  “You can’t have me.  Letting Luke die wasn’t your ticket to my heart.  You are nothing to me.  I never want to see you again.” My words were cold, something inside of me had snapped loose when Luke fell.

“You don’t understand, Mercy. There is something you need to know. Luke –” he began.  But his words died as the dagger he gave me cut through flesh and into his demon heart.

“Don’t ever speak his name. You have no right to say his name. You thought I told them about the dagger but I hadn’t. They got that dagger from the demon hunters. It wasn’t the one you gave me. You can have your dagger back,” I said before I gave over control. Somewhere in my subconscious, I’d made a pact with McKayla.  She and I were on the same side now.  She promised to help me with my revenge and getting me to an audience with the Fey or the Elves whoever we found first.  If I was able to save Luke’s life, I promised McKayla my soul.  It was worth it all.

Sebastian’s eyes were frozen in a shocked expression.  Then he disappeared.  I’d sent a message to his father.  This meant war.  If my soul made it to hell after I’d rescued Luke, I’d make them wish they’d stayed away from me.

Before my trip, I would need to power up.  Distantly inside myself, I followed as McKayla took the lead.  We walked downstairs into the kitchen. When Flynn stepped out of the pantry with a bottle of clear liquid, I felt her smile. 

Pursing his lips, he held the bottle out to me. We took it. After taking the cap off, we began to chug away.  Feeling the burn, I didn’t like the taste, but McKayla loved it. Flynn just stood there looking as dead as I felt. He hadn’t noticed I wasn’t quite myself.  Now that McKayla and I were working together as one, my eyes didn’t change.  He had no idea who he was with.

“Mercy,” he said. McKayla was tired of hearing that name.  I didn’t argue; we were of one accord. The only person I wanted to hear speak my name was Luke.

“Don’t,” I said. McKayla had stepped to the side to let me speak. She wasn’t the right person for this conversation. “He’s not dead.”  Flynn just looked at me. “He’s part angel. He’s alive somewhere and I will find him.”

“I loved him too, you know,” he said. “I lost a brother.”

“He’s not gone,” I insisted.

“This is hard for me too,” he continued as if I hadn’t spoken.

Shaking my head, I said, “Yeah, then why were you fighting over me.”

“We weren’t fighting over you. I gave you up if you recall. I know you had feelings for me. But I loved you and him enough to let you two stay together.”

Surprise filled my features. “You didn’t let me do anything. I feel nothing for you.”

“Whatever,” he said, shrugging me off. “It doesn’t matter. My best friend is gone. He died trying to protect us and I can never repay him.”  Flynn took the bottle from my hand.

What he didn’t say was that Luke had died saving me, not everyone else. Yet he hadn’t rubbed that in my face. I turned to head for my room or someplace to vent my anger.  When I got to the entryway, a knock came at the door. I didn’t want to see anyone. 

Then, my heart did a little leap. Maybe it was Luke; his dad could have healed him. They could have been wrong about the funeral. I found myself running the rest of the distance to fling open the door.

Luke was not on the other side of the doorway. However, familiar faces stood there. Ones that I hadn’t seen in a while but could never forget.

“It’s time,” Kathy said.

“Our mistress is waiting,” Jay said.

I was about to open my mouth to protest but I remembered what I owed to the Elves for saving Luke last time. I took a step forward thinking I could beg another favor.  I’d promise the elves anything if they would send me to that place again.

An arm snaked around me, holding me back from my destination. The portal stood just beyond the pair. The light blended in making it hard to see with my human eyes on that clear sunny day. Yet, I saw it.

“This isn’t the time,” Flynn said, speaking to the two elves that used to attend our school.

“My mistress is well aware of Luke’s fatal blow,” Jay said.