Lapidary

Devton landed in front of me, his daimon wings splayed. He stood tall and strong, and he looked Barrattiel in the eyes as I dropped to my knees, still grasping my throat.

“Let her go,” Devton said.

“Who the fuck are you to give me orders?” Barratiel asked.

Devton flexed his hand, and suddenly Barratiel’s hand was engulfed in red-hot hell fire. He cried out, in pain and surprise, and the holy water released me. I gasped for breath and placed my hands on the ground to prevent myself from falling over.

“I’m Devton Embers – leader of The Risen,” he responded, extinguishing his hell fire. “And you’re in my territory.”

Dev wasn’t leader of The Risen, he was just a member, but that statement was a challenge to Volgrun, who wouldn’t take it lightly. The two of them would fight, and only one would survive.

Barrattiel glanced at Rhinsel, as if to confirm that it was true – that The Risen held more power over Vesea than he did. Rhinsel shrugged. Barrattiel looked at Devton again, and I managed to get to my feet. Devton didn’t appear scared and didn’t back away, although several angels were surrounding us, including Ace. I didn’t look at him. He would always choose his own kind above mine, above me. The angels were surrounding us, and Devton tucked in his wings, to show that he was not going to flee.

“You’re outnumbered,” Barattiel pointed out.

“I’m not,” Devton replied.

Wraiths and reapers appeared from beneath the waves. They rose, like the dead – they were dead. They didn’t breathe, and they were not alive. They had hidden under the water, and now they revealed themselves, carrying scythes and guns. But they were not the only creatures aiding Devton. Fae warriors, Luther’s warriors, were approaching the island on kelpie carts, ready to fight, if necessary.

The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see if a battle would be fought. The anger in Barattiel’s eyes was unmistakable. It would be an even fight, and there was no telling which side would win.

“Draw back your forces,” Devton told him. “There is nothing for you here.”

“I don’t take orders from scum.” Barattiel flexed his hand. A frown spread on his forehead when Devton wasn’t gasping for breath. Barattiel didn’t know about the protection offered by Dev’s ground unicorn horn tattoo on his chest.

Devton moved one hand behind his back to point me in Neron’s direction. He wanted me to leave him, but I couldn’t let him face Barattiel alone. I was too loyal for that. I eyed his finger, but my feet remained planted, and I wished I was as strong as these beings. I looked around for anything I could use as a weapon, but there was nothing that could hurt an archangel.

Barattiel’s next move was unexpected – he splayed his hands and created holy water. It rose from the ground, slowly, for effect. Everyone was staring. The wave grew bigger and bigger, like a monster, and I knew it had the power to wash us away or potentially drown us. Barratiel dropped his hand, and the wave broke, rushing toward us with deadly speed. My knees became weak, and I was scared for my life, but more scared for Dev’s.

Dev raised his hand and, suddenly, hell fire met the wave halfway. A sizzling followed as the hell fire met the wave and turned it into steam. Everyone went quiet. I had known that Devton was powerful, but until now I had no idea that he was powerful enough to take on an archangel. Judging from the facial expressions around me, the others, not even his men, had known.

The steam died down, and Devton spoke. “What you’re searching for clearly isn’t here. I suggest you leave.”

Barattiel drew closer to him, but not by much. “Hell fire, a gift I haven’t seen in a long time. Ento must really favor you.”

Like the fae had their goddess Ayana, the daimons had their god Ento. Occasionally, the gods blessed with gifts such as more magic, a prettier voice or good luck. I hadn’t realized Dev was blessed; I had assumed his father had hell fire, and that was where he had gotten it.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing what my hell fire can do to those perfect wings of yours,” Devton said.

Barattiel straightened because the choice was in his hands, and I feared he would choose violence. The magic beings would slaughter each other, but in the end the humans would suffer, like they always did.

“Let’s go.” Barattiel spread his wings and took to the skies, the host of angels following him. Ace wouldn’t meet my eyes, and he followed them. They soared high and far, and soon they were nothing more than specks on the horizon.

Devton had challenged the emperor of angels – that was no small thing. He had made Barattiel look weak, and Barattiel would never forget it. I shuddered to think what the consequence would be. Dev hadn’t just undermined the archangel’s authority, but also Volgrun’s. He had claimed to be leader of The Risen, and The Risen had followed him to Bareband. Volgrun would certainly step up and try to take back the power he was slowly losing.

Devton turned to me and extended his hand. “We need to get out of here.”

I knew he was scared for me, not himself. I wasn’t sure if he was scared because of Rhinsel or Volgrun, but I could see the desperation in his eyes, and I took his hand. “Fly low.”

He scooped me into his arms, and a small sound escaped my lips as we took off. He did as I had requested and flew close to the waves – if I fell, I’d simply be in the water. At first, I tangled my arms around his neck, but then I began to relax.

“I thought you were going to choke me,” he told me.

“Nah, I like that the other way around,” I said.

His eyes grew darker. “What exactly do you mean by that?”

“You’ll just have to find out.”

He landed on Swordfish Chain and held me a little longer than necessary. Once my feet were on the ground, I felt surprisingly steady.

“Thank you – you saved my life,” I said.

“You saved mine when I was unconscious in the ocean by Shark Bay.”

I smiled at him, and he took my hand in his. He turned it over so that he could see my tattoos. “I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner. I’ve heard having holy water in your lungs is excruciating.”

I didn’t answer but wondered why it hadn’t hurt me. I had felt the water in my lungs, but it hadn’t been sore – not the way it should have been. And even though it had choked me, I hadn’t felt like I’d pass out or die. Maybe I did have a little more angel in me than I’d thought.

“How did you know that the angels were coming?” I asked.

“Rhinsel Grosstreet told me that they had asked his permission.”

Volgrun had walked over Rhinsel, so it was hardly surprising that Rhinsel wanted to get rid of him. “He is forming an alliance with you – he wants you to be the leader of The Risen.”

Dev nodded. “Volgrun is taking things too far. He should never have killed Rhain.”

I understood his need for vengeance, just as I understood his need to bring back his father. “Are you sure you can beat Volgrun?”

Dev bit his lip. “I have hell fire; he doesn’t. I can shift in shadow form; he can’t.”

Volgrun could turn into smoke momentarily, to possess someone. He couldn’t change into shadow-form into particles and move around with that incredible speed.

Devton’s father had been the leader of The Risen when he was still on Testatha. “Did you get the hell fire from your dad?”

Dev shook his head. “My father doesn’t have it – no one I know does – but I was born with it. I’ve been told it’s a true gift from Ento.”

“It’s rare – almost as rare as heavenly fire,” I said.

“The only archangel with heavenly fire was Hockmael – and he died in the fall from Heaven.”

“So, I’ve heard,” I replied. “The angels say it was a big loss.”

The topic died there, and Devton tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “How’s your head?”

“Quiet.”

“Are you taking your meds?” he asked.

“No,” I admitted. “I haven’t taken my meds or anything and somehow…”

I didn’t finish my sentence because I couldn’t explain why the voices in my mind had disappeared.