His Soul To Keep (Dark Knights of Heaven Book 1) (23 page)

"Because you have no vested interest in Margarite's happiness." Rail’s blank look made her laugh. "If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trapped in the compulsion again."

"Huh?"

"You really didn’t notice?" She laughed harder, covering her mouth with her hands.

"Notice what? Don’t play games," Rail pleaded.

"Tam is in love with Margarite," Cassidy answered, laughter still in her voice.

Rail's brow furrowed for a moment and then he brightened. "I’m an idiot."

"No argument there." Cassidy placed a light kiss on his lips.

"I just thought his attentiveness toward her was because of her fragile nature. Tam’s always been the sensitive type. I chalked up his hovering to a feeling of responsibility. You know, he was the one who saved her." He laughed. "You really think they’re in love?"

"I do. Although, I’m not sure they know it. Yet."

Chapter Forty-Three

"No!"

Rail stood outside Kaz’s office as Tam
talked
to him about adding Margarite to Cassidy’s project "team", giving her access to the computer lab.

Things were not going well.

After a moment of charged silence, the door flew open to reveal a seething Fallen Angel so angry he was on verge of transforming. "You! This is your fault." Kaz stabbed a finger at Rail.

"Guilty," he replied with a cocky smile.

"This is unacceptable!" Kaz stormed back into the office and swept everything off the desk.

Rail followed in his wake, sidestepping the scattered files, paperweights, and various other displaced objects, including a stack of books and an antique clock. "When you calm down, I’d like to discuss this with everyone," he offered, placing a hand on Tam's shoulder. "We’ve got to change how things operate around here."

"Did Cassidy put you up to this?" Kaz snarled, his inner demon waking. So far, the creature was only glowing embers in his eyes and horns shifting beneath his darkening skin. It wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge.

Rail ignored the heat his leader radiated, letting it sweep over him like a summer breeze. In answer, his fists tightened until he thought his knuckles would snap. It was instinct to let his own demon out, but for Cassidy’s sake he only showed the fire in his eyes. "No. Cassidy woke me to this need. It’s a need you recognized when you showed us the library and the prophecy."

"Kaz," Tam interjected, placing himself between the two men. "We’re at a crossroads here. We have
Aktura,
humans, living with us again. As a community. This is a new situation for all of us, not just you. You need to remember some of us hadn’t been blessed with human companionship for more than a few months before our imprisonment. We need to change. Adapt. I hadn’t wanted to admit it before, but I see now that we didn’t evolve with the world. We sat back and took the pieces that fit our needs—but we no longer fit in." The warrior took another step forward. His color changed from its natural deep chocolate to midnight black; a sign his own demon had awakened. "We need to move beyond what we were, what we are, to what we need to be. We’re on the verge of a demon war, and our army isn’t just spread out over the world, it’s disconnected. We need this, Kaz. We need to see who else is out there and open ourselves up to the possibility that we are going to be fighting Lucifer on our own."

"Is this a challenge?" Kaz ground out. His eyes burned brighter.

"You’ve lead us wisely for centuries. No one is questioning that." Moving next to Tam, Rail let the fire in his eyes dim, "But now it’s time to stop hiding and take this war to the next level." Rail held his ground. He hadn’t really answered Kaz’s question. It wasn’t a challenge, yet, but it could easily become one.

Preparing for a fight, Rail made a quick assessment of the male's frame of mind. It was obvious by his stance; Kaz’s rage was under tenuous control. He tightened his fists at his side until his claws cut into his palms. His body shook with his demon's need to get out and bust some heads.

After a few tense minutes, Kaz asked, "How do the others feel?"

His tone left ice in Rail's blood.

"That’s why we want to call a meeting," Tam answered. "Rail and I think it’s time we all had a voice in how we move forward."

"This is not a democracy," Kaz snapped, turning away from the other two. "If you don’t like how things are being handled, take your
Aktura
and leave."

"Now you’re being childish," Frustrated with his leader, Rail shoved Kaz in the back.

In a heartbeat, both were fully transformed and beating the hell out of each other.

Shaking his head, Tam retreated to the far side of the office to let the alphas duke it out. Eventually, the anger would burn out, the demons would calm down, and they would be able to discuss things in a calmer manner. Until then, he was going to enjoy the show.

"Damn. Wish I had some popcorn."

* * *

"Let’s not start that again," Tam warned when it looked as if Kaz would transform again. "We have breakable people in the room this time."

Kaz gave him the finger and returned to pacing in front of the picture window—which was now missing its glass. "Hiding behind the humans? Some warrior you are."

Tam returned the single finger salute.

"The
Aktura
are here because they have the right to be," Zach offered, "and if their presence helps keep the tempers in check, I’m all for it."

"All of you can kiss my ass! If not for me—"

"Blah, blah, blah." Boomer opened and closed his hands like puppets. "I think you’re suffering from a God complex. Isn’t that the last sign before you go completely bat-shit crazy and try to kill us all?" He laughed when Kaz roared and punched the wall nearest to him, showering them in plaster from the ceiling.

"Boomer!" Gina punched her man in the shoulder. "Stop riling him up."

Cassidy stood in the back of the meeting room near the door, trying to block out the shouting. It had been like that for over an hour. At least when the Knights switched to the Angelic language, her head didn’t feel like it was going to split anymore. In fact, she understood scraps of it. Courtesy of her connection to Rail, she surmised. It still didn’t sound like flutes or children laughing, though. Rumbling thunder? Maybe. Or a roaring lion.

"Can you please go back to yelling in English," someone asked. Cassidy thought it was Tucker or maybe Serephina, but the static in her head made it difficult to focus on the voice.

She wasn’t feeling well. For the past half hour, she’d felt like the flu was coming on hard and fast, and it was getting worse. There was a constant thrumming—like the beginning of a migraine tapping on her skull; her stomach roiled.

On top of everything else, she had the strange sensation that her body was being pulled away even though she stood perfectly still.

The only thing holding her in place was the constant invisible bond to Rail. At times, his strength wrapped around her like a warm blanket. A barrier to protect her from the storm. He was her anchor. No matter how badly she felt, she couldn’t abandon him.

Even though the others were arguing on Rail's behalf, she stood as his only true support.

Mentally, she hugged him, hoping he took comfort in her strength.

As the shouting escalated again, another wave of "wrongness" swept through her.

Taking a deep breath to balance herself almost cost Cassidy her last meal. With a hand flying to her mouth, she stepped into the hall.

The sudden motion made her head spin and stomach roll like a Tilt-a-Whirl.

She took another, slower, breath and found herself drowning in scents; everyone in the house—tonight's dinner, the sharp tang of the sea, the woodsy spice of trees, the different flowers. To keep from choking, Cassidy focused on her breathing and began picking the scents apart, exploring the different layers.

She worked her way through identifying the different perfumes coming from the garden, and her heart rate slowed. The thrumming in her head turned into a jackhammer, threatening to split her skull.

The shouting in the other room drilled into her brain, and she grabbed the wall. Bracing herself, Cassidy sank to the floor, covering her ears with her hands.

Her connection to Rail must have gone into overdrive or something.

A small pair of bare feet appeared in front of her. Without lifting her head, she asked the Un-tar to get Rail. In response, she was bombarded by a high pitched screeching—nails on a chalkboard. Cassidy’s head snapped upward, a vicious growl escaping her lips.

Startled, the little demon stepped back, gesturing wildly.

More screeching cut into her brain, allowing other sounds to flood in: the crash of the breakers, trees rustling in the breeze, the snap of wings, animals calling to each other. The once beautiful birdsongs became rabid noise.

Sensory overload ravaged her body, stole her mind.

Cassidy tried to push herself to her feet, but her legs were like jelly. Her strength vanished, and she slid back to the floor. Pain exploded in her chest.

This time she knew what it was—she was going to flash again.

Just as her desperation to be with her family had triggered her flash last time, this time it had to be her need to escape the assault on her senses.

The air around her shimmered and grew hot, her blood began to boil, and her bones splintered.

Just when she thought she would burst, Rail's warmth and love broke through the chaos and surrounded her—but it was too late.

In a blink, the world shattered.

Chapter Forty-Four

Rail threw his hands up in frustration. "Kaz! You’re not listening. Again."

"Because all I’m hearing is foolishness." Kaz stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Switching to the Angelic language, he snarked, "Why don’t we just announce to the world that we really exist? Maybe tell them about the Entity that created this world is an interdimensional alien and how everything they think they know is bullshit!"

"Hey," Tucker called. "Can you please go back to yelling in English?"

"Kaz said he wants to come out of the closet to the human race," Boomer snickered.

Kaz roared and lunged for the younger angel. "That’s not what I said!"

"We’re not asking for that," Seraphina interjected quickly as Bass and Hacker blocked Kaz. "We want to help Cassidy help you. We don’t have to reveal ourselves to interact with the outside world."

"What does it matter if the world knows about you, huh? You’re human."

Seraphina stepped forward and jabbed a finger into Kaz’s chest. "Have you forgotten that we are a part of this war too? Without us, you die. Permanently. We have just as much to risk as you do."

"All we’re asking for is a chance to help," Margarite said softly.

Tam rested a hand on her shoulder. "Not one of the
Aktura
is asking to leave or contact their families—"

"And how long before they want to?" Kaz glared at the humans in turn, challenging them.

"You’re being a bigger ass than usual." Boomer got into Kaz’s face. "You’re just pissed because someone is questioning you."

Kaz shoved Boomer back. "Do you think you could do better? Or you?" He pointed at Rail.

"Better? I don’t know and I’m not asking to find out. You’ve been our leader for a long time." Rail stepped forward, relaxing his body. "I remember when we were first cast out. We landed right in the middle of a demon horde. You rallied those closest to you, organized us. That is your strength. Your weakness is in your reluctance to face changes. We are no longer alone in our fight and damn it, our humans have the right to know what’s going on and help. Wake up, Kaz. It’s humanity at stake here—always has been. Somewhere along the way, you forgot that."

Kaz growled low and menacing, but Rail didn’t give ground. The men stared at each other, eyes burning as the air around them crackled with energy.

Abruptly, Rail stepped back, his hands clutching his head. "Cassidy!" He looked to the back of the room. The spot she’d occupied since the meeting started was now vacant.

Without a thought for the others, he ran from the room, skidding to a stop in the hall.

Cassidy leaned against the wall, head down, pain and energy radiating off her in waves. An Un-tar stood next to her, asking what it could do to help.

Rail shoved the creature aside and gathered Cassidy into his arms. Immediately, his body filled with pain and fire. The building energy surrounding them turned into a supernova. The resulting explosion took them with it.

Chapter Forty-Five

"What the fuck?" Rail rolled off Cassidy, flinging several daggers at the unfamiliar presence he sensed near them. With his next breath, he fully transformed. Taking a defensive position over Cassidy, he raised his eyes to the male in front of him.

"Now was that really necessary?" Lucifer pulled a blade from his left should and another from his right thigh, casually tossing them aside. Flames leapt into his eyes as his gaze fell on Cassidy. "A two for one special!" He laughed, pointing at the couple with a bloody sword.

Rail narrowed his eyes at the blade. It was the same blade the minion, Sayer, skewered them with a few weeks ago. The one that killed Cassidy.

Noting the look on his foe’s face, Lucifer waved the sword back and forth like a conductor’s wand. "Now how did this happen? Unless…" He ran his tongue over the length of the blade. "Ah, I see now. My minion got you both. Interesting." He kicked a small rock across the floor. "That would explain why the first summoning didn’t work—you weren’t together. Oh, well." Lucifer sighed, sounding bored, but the fire hadn’t left his eyes, showing it was an act. "I have you now and this will work much better, I think."

With a flick of his wrist, Cassidy went flying into the wall behind her. The scent of burning flesh and hair made Rail gag.

Her screams echoed through the cavern.

"Damn you, Lucifer!"

Lucifer braced for Rail’s attack then stood back in shock as the Knight rushed to his woman instead.

"I see now. She is your soul-keeper. Or perhaps she is more? Your lover? Your
Aktur-mon
maybe?" He licked his lips. "I can feel your bond. Your souls have blended." Chuckling, Lucifer lazily paced in front of them. "You can save her. Swear fealty to me and I’ll let her go."

"Don’t. You. Dare," Cassidy growled through clenched teeth.

"She won’t last much longer. I can hear her blood simmering. Any minute now her brain will turn to mush…" He made a dismissive gesture, waving his hand in a circle as though the whole affair were common.

Rail gazed into Cassidy’s eyes and gave her a kiss. "I love you."

"Awww, isn’t that sweet—"Air burst from Lucifer’s lungs with a whoosh when Rail plowed into him, throwing them to the floor. Ignoring the sword impaling his abdomen, Rail clawed, punched, and bit with all his strength. In that brief instant of shock, Lucifer lost his concentration and Cassidy dropped to the floor with a pained gasp.

* * *

It hurt to breathe, or think, or move, but she had to. Rolling to her side, she took in her surroundings. Her mind couldn’t comprehend the situation.

They were literally in Hell.

The sounds of battle focused her attention. Rail stood off against Lucifer.

Blinking a few times to clear the sweat from her eyes, Cassidy sized up the demon. He wasn’t what she’d expect the Greatest Evil to look like. She’d expected his human appearance to be something akin to a slimy politician or used car salesman—instead he looked like a shirtless rock-god, complete with long hair, tattoos, ripped abs, and low-slung leather pants.

The better to seduce you to the Dark Side, my child.

Gulping in the heated air, Cassidy cheered for her man. "Kick his ass, Rail!"

On cue, Rail slammed a doubled fist into Lucifer’s face.

Before Rail could land another punch, Lucifer transformed.

Now, Cassidy saw what she had always believed the Devil to look like. Where Rail was dark like aged bronze in his demon form, Lucifer was the color of dried blood. Large black horns curled back from his forehead, and crimson wings jutted from his shoulder blades. Unlike the stories, he did not have the legs of a goat or cloven feet, but those much like a wolf. As the combatants spun away from her, Cassidy choked back a laugh. Lucifer’s tail stuck out through a tear in his pants.

Lucifer forced Rail back, leaving the sword sheathed in his abdomen. He’d underestimated the so-called Knight. He shouldn’t be half as strong as he was. With a grunt, Lucifer chalked Rail's determination up to the need to protect the soul-keeper. Still, he shouldn’t have been that strong. Everything Lucifer had studied about the Forced Fallen showed they were weaker than his minions because they held strong to the soul connection with their human keepers. But this Rail was a monster—a match for his own strength.

Finally a worthy adversary.
He threw back his head and howled in delight.

Rail ripped the sword from his body and tossed it aside.

Lucifer smiled cruelly in answer to the challenge. "It’s been a long time since I’ve fought someone worthy of my attention. Usually, I can’t be bothered with you trifling Knights." He spat the last word.

* * *

Rail didn’t give in to the bait. As the two demons continued to circle each other, Rail scoped out the chamber they were in, looking for any sign of an exit. The space was an inverted bowl. A rough dome carved from the stone curved upward from the flat floor. Hellfire lit the arena in braziers interspersed around the circle. The wavering light sent disorienting shadows dancing across the walls and made the stalagmites appear to be alive.

Symbols covered the surfaces in intricate patterns—some in blood, others in charcoal or chalk. Some he recognized, most he didn’t. All of them glowed with power. The summoning Lucifer used was more than just blood magic. It was a summoning built of Hell itself.

A current of hot air twisted around them, yet there was no apparent doorway, no visible break in the stone. No witnesses. It was interesting that Lucifer, the ever-preening peacock, hadn’t wanted an audience. Maybe because the first summoning he mentioned had failed.

A lance of power scorched his left shoulder and sent Rail back a step.

Get your head in the game
, Rail reminded himself, throwing a combination of punches. He hated splitting his attention, but he had to get Cassidy out of the cursed chamber. With luck, they were in one of the upper levels of Hell, close to a surface portal. Opening a portal would require a great deal of magic and with every breath his powers weakened, while Lucifer appeared to be gaining strength.

Rail growled. He would not fail Cassidy as he had failed Shanner, Zendril, and their family so long ago. They had been his responsibility, but Cassidy was his life.

Beside him, Cassidy also assessed the situation, scanning the area for an escape route. Drawing on her strength and resolve, Rail rushed Lucifer once again.

* * *

An angry roar tore the air, snapping Cassidy’s attention back to the fight. Rail rushed forward like a linebacker, shoulder down, lifting Lucifer from the floor, and flattening him against the opposite wall. The crack of stone and bone echoed around them like a gunshot. In seconds, Lucifer sank his claws into Rail's shoulders and rolled, reversing their positions.

Rail's suffering was incredible. Cassidy felt every wound as if they were her own. Gasping for breath, she struggled to her feet. Her steps faltered and she fell back into the heated wall, adding new burns to the mix. Desperate, she threw herself forward and bit down on the scream clawing its way up her throat, afraid she would distract Rail. At the moment, Lucifer had the upper hand, beating the shit out of Rail.

The two demons were a whirling tangle of slashing claws, punishing blows, and snapping teeth. At times, the pair became nothing more than a swirling mass, moving too fast to follow. Watching Rail struggle and even land a few blows renewed her strength—she had to find a way to help him.

When they broke apart, Cassidy took a moment to assess the damage. Both man-beasts were drenched in blood seeping from a multitude of injuries. To her joy, one of Lucifer’s wings now hung at an odd angle, and while Rail had been nearly gutted with the sword early on, he was holding his own.

Cassidy’s heart jumped to her throat when Lucifer charged, sidestepped, and lunged for the discarded sword. Rail sidestepped, but slipped in a puddle of blood and stumbled in the wrong direction. Lucifer took advantage of the miscalculation and plunged the sword into Rail once again.

"No!" Without thinking, Cassidy ran toward the battle and jumped onto Lucifer’s back. Screaming like a banshee, she clawed at his face and neck.

With a furious howl, Lucifer bucked and reached around to grab Cassidy. With little effort, he plucked her from his back, pulled her over his shoulder, and tossed her toward Rail.

The two crashed to the floor.

Air exploded from Rail when Cassidy landed on his chest. "God! Rail, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?" Instead of Rail's answer, all Cassidy heard was Lucifer’s cruel laughter. Struggling to right herself, Cassidy pulled the sword free of Rail's body and brandished it at the approaching demon. "Stay away from him!"

Lucifer laughed harder, clasping his abdomen as he wiped tears from his eyes. "By the Dark Lord, I can’t believe you are such a cliché." He took a deep breath and straightened to his full height, sobering in a second. "Seriously?"

With a pain-filled groan, Rail rolled to the side—one hand locked around Cassidy’s waist, the other clasped to his chest wound. "The chamber is a sealed ceremonial space." He grunted. "No way out unless he lets us go."

"Bullshit," Cassidy snapped, watching Lucifer patiently, almost lazily, pace. "He wouldn’t lock himself in a room with no escape. Would he?"

"He would if he wasn’t expecting this kind of fight. One magic word from him and the place opens up." Rail pushed himself up on one elbow and brushed his fingers along her cheek. "I’m sorry, sweetheart. Looks like this time I can’t rescue you."

"Then I’ll rescue you." Cassidy bent forward and kissed him softly. Before he could guess what she planned, Cassidy jumped to her feet and took a defensive pose with the sword pointed directly at Lucifer’s heart. "Let us go," she demanded.

"Why?" Lucifer stopped pacing and gave her a confused look. "We’re not done having fun yet."

"What do you want? This seems like an awful lot of trouble just to grab one of us.”

"I want the prophecy.”

Cassidy lowered the sword slightly. Hopefully, the bastard wouldn’t call her bluff. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Or I could be lying. If you kill us, you’ll never know.”

"I could always torture the information from you," Lucifer relaxed, some of his human form returning, "and I would so enjoy that."

Shit. She’d hoped he wouldn’t jump straight to threats of torture. So much for the egomaniacal villain who talks you to death about his plans for world domination giving you time to develop an escape plan. "I won’t talk," Cassidy responded, fighting the quaver in her voice.

"Sorry, Lucifer," Rail growled, pushing to his feet, "but I don’t think she’ll be accommodating you. I’m the one with the information. Let Cassidy go, and I’ll talk."

"Shut up, Rail," Cassidy hissed under her breath.

Rail ignored the comment and stumbled to her side, snatching the sword from her hands. With a grunt, he shoved her back, blocking her with his wings. "Let her go, and you can have me."

"But I already have you and her." Laughing maniacally, the Devil rushed them.

Rail braced for the impact. Raising the sword at the last second, he caught Lucifer in the side. It was only a glancing blow to the ribs, but it broke the demon's momentum, causing him to break his stride and stumble.

Enraged once again, Lucifer fully transformed, twisted to the side, and kicked Rail dead in the ribs. Pivoting, he raked Rail with his claws, tearing chunks of flesh free, and sending the Knight spinning.

In shock, Rail looked down at the gaping hole in his side. Flesh hung in bloody tatters, exposed muscle and bone gleaming through the ruined flesh. Somewhere beyond the thundering in his ears, he thought he heard Cassidy screaming. Drawing breath into his damaged lungs, he called out to her, only to find he couldn’t catch enough air.

Stars blinked in his vision.

He was dying, leaving Cassidy completely unprotected.