Hellsbane Hereafter (28 page)

“Wait—What?” I swerved again, then got it under control. “I still have a human soul.”

“Oh. Oops. You didn’t know? My bad.” He tisked, his tone stained by pity. “Ugh. What’re we listening to? This is crap. We need some real tunes.” Tommy reached for the radio, wiggling his fingers at it like he might use his ghost mojo to work it. Nothing happened.

“Just answer me, Tommy.” My hands strangled the steering wheel. “I know Jukar screwed with my DNA, but I thought at least my soul was, y’know, normal.”

“It is,” he said. “For an angel.”

“I’m not an angel.”

“Well, you ain’t human.” He must’ve read my slightly freaked-out expression. He sighed. “Relax. You’ve always had a little more angel in you than the rest of us. It’s just now…now your soul, or spirit, or whatever is almost totally angelic. You’re more like a magister, an angelic spirit influenced by human contact. It’s kinda weird.”

I threw him a glare.

“Oh, but totally cool. I mean, I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’m sure there’s some reason for it in the grand scheme of things. You know?”

“If there is, the grand scheme can just keep it to itself.” I waved a warning finger at the heavens. “I don’t want to know. You hear me?”

He laughed. “Yeah. Good luck with that.”

I threw him another glare.

“You should keep your eyes on the road,” he said. “No. Seriously. You’re gonna hit him. Look!”

I turned back in time to see a body drop in front of my headlights. I slammed on the breaks, my heart hammering in my ears. Luckily I was on a side street, cutting through neighborhoods to get to mine. There was almost zero traffic. I shifted to first gear and turned off the engine but left the headlights on to see.

“God, please don’t let me have killed someone,”
I prayed, not that I thought anyone was really listening. I shoved open the door and raced to the front of the Jeep.

“Oh shit.” I’d actually hit someone.

A male someone.

A naked male someone. It was totally wrong to notice the tight ass and thick muscled legs. But the dude was naked. He was kind of on his side, but his face was down and his legs curled up. I looked at the passenger seat.

Tommy was gone. Figures he’d check out and leave me to deal with this on my own.

I tucked my hair behind my ear and knelt. “Hey. Mister. Are you okay?”

I glanced at the grill of the Jeep. There was no damage. It hadn’t actually felt like I’d hit anything. Where had this guy come from? And why the hell was he throwing his naked body in front of oncoming cars?

“Hello? Are you hurt?” I reached for his shoulder, gave it a light tap. His skin was warm, and he moaned at my touch. “Are you okay?”

Deciding I had to take action I pulled at his shoulder, rolling him onto his back. The man flopped over, boneless, eyes closed. It didn’t matter. I didn’t need to see his eyes.

“Eli!” I lifted his shoulders, scrambling to shift him onto my lap. He had scrapes on his knees and the palms of his hands, and rivulets of blood trailed down his wrists and shins.

I cupped the side of his face, caressed his cheek, trying to wake him. “Eli, what happened? Where have you been? Please be okay.
Please
.”

He looked almost exactly as he had the last time I’d seen him. If anything, except for the scrapes, he looked even better, younger, with more of a healthy color in his face. Two teardrops hit his face, one landing on his cheek, the other hitting his nose before streaming down to meet the first.

I wiped them away and scrubbed the rest from my face before any more fell. His eyes fluttered open, then stretched wide.

“You’re…you’re beautiful.”

A laugh burst out of me. I couldn’t help it. “You’re not so bad yourself. Where have you been?”

His black brows creased, and he seemed to search his memories for an answer. “I…I don’t know. Where am I? How’d I get here?”

“We’re a few blocks from my house. What happened to your clothes?” I scanned the edges of the road, peeked under my Jeep, but his clothes weren’t anywhere nearby.

He blinked at that then glanced down at himself. His face flushed bright red. “Oh, shit. What happened to my clothes?”

“Relax. It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.”

He pushed out of my embrace, scrambling to sit in front of my car, covering himself. “Yeah, well, I’m glad you get around, but I like to decide who sees the goods if you don’t mind.”

I laughed at that, though I wasn’t totally sure what he meant by it. “Okay. I’ll see if I’ve got something in the Jeep you can use to cover up. And I think I have some Band-Aids in the glove compartment for those cuts. Wait—” I stared for a solid three count at his knees. “You’re bleeding.”

“Thanks for your professional diagnosis,” he said. “But you were about to get something to cover me.”

“No. I mean, you don’t bleed.” I shook my head. “Okay, you bleed, but not blood. Not red blood. If you’re a demon, your blood should be black. Even if you were still an angel your blood would be mist.”

“Mist? Wait. If I were still a what?” His shoulders sagged. “Shit. You’re on some kind of medication or something, aren’t you? Hearing voices, seeing angels and demons? Right. Have a nice trip, lady. Figures. Just my luck to get run over by Constantine’s sister.”

I bolted to my feet, my head spinning. “You’re human.”

“Brilliant. Wow, you really are good at this stating the obvious stuff.”

I couldn’t fill my lungs. I could hardly speak. “How?”

“How what? Lady, I don’t even know how I got here.”

“Lady?” I blinked at him. “Don’t you know who I am?”

He stared at me then shook his head. “Should I?”

“Do you…” I swallowed. “Do you know who you are?”

He opened his mouth like he was about to answer, then confusion snapped it shut, and fear filled his dark blue
human
eyes. “No. I mean, I know who I am, but I can’t…I can’t remember my name. I can’t remember…anything.”

I knelt again, touching his knee. “It’s okay. Don’t worry. I know you. We know each other. We’re…friends. You’re going to be okay.”

God, I wanted him to be okay, I wanted everything to be okay. Then suddenly a warm tingle filled the palm of my hand, and a gentle glow reflected between my hand and his wound.

“What was that?” He pushed my hand away, looking at his knee. “Hey.
Hey!
You healed me. How’d you heal me? Wha—what are you?”

“I think…”

“What are you?”

“I think…” I met his eyes. “I’m an angel.”

Epilogue

“Top of the mornin’ to ya, Eli,” Liam said to me with a wink. “How’s our Emma handling the change?” He settled into the deep cushioned chair in Emma’s waiting room. With Mihir’s investment, she and Sadie bought the building the hair salon and psychic shop were renting and knocked out the wall to the next room. Emma could have managed the purchase without an investor after inheriting Jukar’s conglomerate. She tried not to touch that money, though, and left the running of everything to Danjal, Jukar’s assistant.

Emma’s business had skyrocketed and, by association, Sadie’s, too. They needed the extra space. Of course the surge in business was double edged. It had come because of Abram’s last video blog where he proclaimed Emma to be half angel and privy to all the secrets of the universe.

Most people wouldn’t openly admit they believed it, yet here they were, lining up outside the shop, waiting for Mihir to open.

Emma should’ve been here by now.
I checked my watch then smiled for her little Irish friend. “She’s better. I think. I mean, she’s busy. She vanishes in the middle of the night and comes back at odd hours. But what can you expect being the go-between for good and evil in the world, right?”

The whole situation still left a chill racing down my spine and a hiccup in my reality meter. My girlfriend was an angel. Not born that way, but made. After having been born half angel. Okay. She was still human. That’s what I kept telling myself. At least a part of her was.
Right
. That’s not utterly insane. Whatever. It’s not like my life made much sense anymore, either.

“Eli.”

I flinched when I heard my name, snapping me out of my private thoughts. I looked up, not sure who had called me. “Yeah?”

Everyone was here, Amon and Liam, Mihir. Even Sadie was already in the salon side taking clients. We were just waiting on Emma.

“I said, did you tell her what time to be here?” Mihir pushed to his feet behind the reception desk where he’d set up his alter and caldron. Whatever he’d put in the little black pot was already bubbling, steam rolling over the edges. But there was no flame. “This batch is only good for a certain amount of time, and then I’ll have to make another one. Could take weeks.”

“No.” Amon, the uncomfortably attractive man—I mean,
demon
—stiffened on the couch next to Liam’s chair. “It has to be now. We have to do it today.”

Liam moved his hand over to clasp his lover’s on the arm rest. “We’re doing it today, love. With or without Emma.”

I turned from the door to look at the group. “Can we wait a few more minutes?” I checked my watch again. “She really wanted to be here.”

Mihir stirred the pot, bending over like he’d smell it. “Yeah. We can hold off a few minutes more, but that’s it.”

Amon leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and cupping his ears like he might be sick.

Liam rubbed his back. “It’s okay, love. I’m here. I won’t let him take you again. It’ll be over soon.”

Pity struck a chord through my body. “It’s still that bad?”

Liam looked up at me. “Naww, it’s gotten better. Abram’s call is just so damned seductive. Catches him off guard sometimes.”

“If it helps, Emma’s pretty sure he’s not actively calling the demons and Fallen anymore. They’d find him quicker if he did.” I crossed the room, sunlight streaming in through the big front windows. I took a seat across from the Irishman, still not totally cool with sitting next to a demon. “She thinks it’s like an echo. He still hears it because it was already in his head.”

“The mark I’ll brand on his spirit will stop it,” Mihir said.

I threw my buddy a smile. “Emma said you’d figure something out.”

Mihir grinned back. “I may not be able to play baseball worth a damn, but ancient shielding spells I can do.”

I laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll have you hitting home runs in no time.” The guy was hopeless on a baseball field, but he tried. Couldn’t ask more than that. Plus he was funny as hell and hands down the smartest person I knew.

We’d gotten close after I watched Emma heal the injuries some demon had caused him. They’d both been kind of sketchy about the details. Apparently I already knew the whole story, but I just couldn’t remember. According to them there were a lot of details, an entire life’s worth, I didn’t remember.

The healing abilities were new. Part of the whole angel package. She was still learning all she could do, but healing Mihir had been at the top of her list the moment she realized she was more angel than human now. They wanted me to believe I’d been an angel, too. Emma’s trainer, to be exact. And I’d been around for eons. Of course no one could explain why I was now totally human. Something about a gift from an archangel. Saint Michael to be exact. Of course. Who else?

They also couldn’t explain if I’d been this ancient love-struck angel, why I could remember my entire human life. I was Professor Eli Goldsmith. Born thirty years ago right here in Pittsburgh. I went to high school then college and finally got a job teaching theology at the University of Pittsburgh. Mihir taught there now, too, when he wasn’t filling in for Emma at the shop.

I remembered every detail of my human life. I still had family in Duquesne—my mom and her sister, Aunt Beatrice. I had trophies from running track in high school. I had proof of my life. But that didn’t seem to matter to Emma and Mihir. They insisted I’d been in love with Emma for over two years and that I’d given up everything to be with her, and the archangel Michael had finally made it possible.

Apparently the archangel is a bit of an ass. At least he hadn’t erased my feelings for her.

I had to admit, even though I didn’t know Emma well, there was something about her. I was drawn to her. My entire body responded when she walked into a room, recognizing her in my soul. I loved her, but I didn’t know why, and that kind of freaked me out. But I was working on accepting it and learning to trust my heart. I didn’t have a choice really. She was constantly on my mind.

The fact that she had these amazing powers, and she was on talking terms with other angels and demons and fallen angels, helped back up her claim. It was hard to deny I might be missing something when she had three demons, a fallen angel, and two seraphim sitting in her living room.

Emma attracted them now like some sort of beacon. She was a safe spot, a no-fight zone, wherever she was, and a lot of the unearthly types were eager for a break. Thanks to Emma, they got one.

She’d basically pushed the pause button on some angelic war. Having a foothold in both camps, good and evil, she had a unique perspective. She was also strong enough to hold her own against anyone who might try to question her decisions. The thought that someone might even try to harm her made me physically ill, but it’s not like there was anything I could do about it.

Emma had rallied both sides to search for Abram. He’d gone underground, but if her half brother dared raise his head again, there was an army of supernaturals waiting to put an end to him. Not everyone followed her. Most of the seraphim went back to Heaven. Michael included.

He’d left her in charge of everything: all angel, fallen angel, and demon issues on Earth. If anyone had a problem, they called on Emma. She’d gotten a few compensations out of Michael for her efforts before he left.

No more illorums would be marked, and those who were marked could lay down their swords and return to a normal human life if they wanted. Most didn’t, but the option was there. The gibborim weren’t given the choice. They were made human again whether they wanted to be or not. That was non-negotiable.

A bunch of seraphim volunteered to hunt the Fallen now instead of nephilim, but only the Fallen who continued to sin. Those seraphim were her army now, and they were pretty badass. Totally loyal to her. But the biggest difference, according to Emma, was that before being sent to the abyss, the Fallen would be given the chance to repent. A lot didn’t, but a few did. Emma said those few made everything we’d gone through worth it.

I had to trust her on that count.

She was gone a lot, to places I couldn’t follow, but we were happy. Emma was determined to hold on to her human life. And me. I was really glad for that.

Sadie squealed from the salon, and a few seconds later she hurried into Emma’s side of the shop. “Did you see this?” She waved a newspaper, taking it to Mihir. She didn’t give him time to read it. “Officer Dan’s getting married.”

Mihir nodded. “To his partner. Crissy. She looks pregnant.”

“Yeah. Emma told me.” I smiled, a pinch of envy twisting my gut. I would’ve liked to have kids. Someday. Emma wasn’t sure she’d be able to get pregnant. I wasn’t clear on why she felt that way. It didn’t matter. If I had to choose between her and kids, I’d pick Emma every time. “They took the out clause. Both Dan and Crissy laid down their swords, and Crissy found out she was pregnant a few weeks later.”

I wondered if that would work for Emma. What if she just turned her back on all the angel stuff and asked to be human again? I didn’t suggest it to her. In my heart I knew she’d never want to leave everyone who’d stayed to fight for her on both sides without someone they could count on. She’d decided a while ago that her human life was forfeited for a greater cause.

“Well, good for them.” Sadie snatched back the paper. “I’m glad they’re happy.”

I smiled. “Me, too.” Not that I knew either of them very well.

Sadie wandered back to her shop, staring at the paper. Amon moaned, and I turned to see him rocking in his seat, holding his ears.

“Bugger this,” Liam said. “Let’s get on with it. If it works, Emma can be there for the next
git
.”

“The idea was that she’d see how it was done so she could perform the spell, too.” Mihir stirred the pot again then set the stick, which looked suspiciously like a wand, on the desk. “Though she’s already missed the most important part of actually mixing the spell. But if this works to block Abram’s call to Amon, then it should work just as well for every angelic creature who’s fallen out of grace. It should block the power of King Solomon’s ring. Abram will lose the one small advantage he had. He’ll be alone.”

I pushed to my feet. “Which means Emma will be even busier doing the spell a thousand times over.”

My friend met my gaze. He rolled a shoulder, empathy shaping his expression. “Sorry. Guess it’s a good news, bad news kind of thing.”

“Forget it. Comes with dating an angel.”

“Right.” Mihir chuckled. “Just ask Emma. She gets that better than anyone.”

I matched his smile. “Yeah.” That probably would’ve meant more if I could remember my angelic life. I held a hand out to Amon. “You need help getting over to Mihir?”

“I’ve got him.” Liam helped his lover to his feet. Liam had lost his right hand in battle, but thanks to his illorum power, the stump had healed quickly. He’d already learned how to fight left-handed. Liam would never lay down his sword. Amon was Liam’s life, and laying down his sword would mean losing the ability to know the man he loved as he truly was. I respected that.

“I’m here.” Emma suddenly appeared at the door. “Wait.” She glanced around. “Yeah. This is right. I’m here. Did I miss it?”

I hadn’t seen her walk through the door. I hadn’t seen her arrive at all, but I usually didn’t. She moved too fast. My heart leapt to my throat, my body hard in an instant. God, I loved her. “No. We were just about to start.”

She looked beautiful as always. Even with strands of blond hair hanging wild and loose from her ponytail and dust making brown streaks across her left cheek and coating her jeans and T-shirt, she looked…stunning. I clenched my jaw, not fully comfortable with the power of my feelings for her.

“Good.” She crossed the room to me and planted a solid kiss on my lips.

I snaked my arms around her waist and held her a half second longer.

When the kiss ended she leaned back, smiling. “Hi.”

“Hi,” I answered back. We stared at each other for a long moment.

“Can you two get over each other fast so we can do this?” Liam demanded.

Emma stiffened and shifted out of my arms. “Right. What do we do?”

“It’s pretty simple at this point.” Mihir lifted the pot, spilling more mist from its edges. “Amon just has to drink this.”

Amon leaned hard on Liam’s shoulder. He gave Mihir a sideways look. “What will happen?”

Mihir held the caldron out to the demon. “It will mark your spirit with a powerful sigil that will shield you from Abram’s call.”

“Will it hurt?”

“Um, no?” Mihir shook his head. “Okay, I’m not sure, but I don’t see why it would.”

Amon found his balance and let go of Liam. He took the black pot with both hands and drank. We all stared, waiting.

“Well?” Emma asked.

Amon looked around as though listening for something. I could already tell by the way he straightened to his full height and by way his eyes gleamed that he felt better.

“It…it stopped. I don’t hear anything.” Amon looked at Emma. “It worked.”

“Yes.” She did a little fist pump. “We’ll cut Abram off at the knees.”

“First you have to mix up new batches,” I said. “And then hand it out to everyone.”

She sobered. “I know. You’ll help though, won’t you?”

My heart expanded, filling my chest. She needed me. It didn’t happen often, but I had to admit I liked it. “Of course.”

Emma hardly ever needed anyone. She was the one who protected us. She was powerful, and fair and kind. She was everything we needed, and she was the only one among us who hadn’t gotten what they wanted most.