it away from her soul. He couldn’t be distracted by the physical realm. He had to focus on his own battle and hope Zoe would win hers.
Andrew regained control and now took the offensive. Holding his sword and dagger out in front of him, he charged at the demon, aiming for its chest. The beast swung both of its swords out and locked the Angel’s blades between them. Still gripping the hilts tightly, Andrew flipped over its head and yanked his weapons free. A demon blade pulled loose, too, flying back and carving a gash into Andrew’s thigh. He grimaced as gold blood spurted from the wound. The sweet scent threw the demon into a frenzy.
The two flew at each other and became a blur of tangled limbs and clashing blades. The demon bit with fangs, slashed with talons and sliced with swords, shredding the Angel’s form. Andrew had never faced such a powerful opponent—tonight he might suffer his first loss in two millennia—but he refused to give up easily. He tore into the demon’s thick hide with every swing of his weapons. Splatters of both black blood and gold dotted their faces and bodies.
When Zoe’s screams fell silent, the Angel glanced into the physical realm. Her still body lay on the ground, her dark hair and eyes—staring blind and empty—contrasting with the new paleness of her face. The three figures stood over her with blood-stained lips. At the neckline of Zoe’s tunic, a tiny crimson flower bloomed with the smallest trickle of blood leaking from her throat. They had consumed the rest.
Andrew screamed a protest and his face contorted with rage as he turned to the demon. The evil one lifted the corners of its mouth as if in a grin. Andrew crossed his blades over his head. His wings beat a hard rhythm against the air as he gathered his power and channeled it to the swords. Then with all his might and energy, he swung the blades down and out, slicing through the demon’s neck. Black blood rained over the Angel as the head fell from its body.
Andrew wished he could have killed the evil beast, ended its existence forever, but that was no more possible than the demon being able to kill him. They could be injured to the point of incapacitation, ending that particular battle, but neither would ever die. They were spirits, denizens of the Otherworld since the beginning of time and into eternity. With a growl of defeat, the beast collapsed over its head and its physical form disintegrated into nothing.
Andrew returned his attention to Zoe. He’d saved her soul, but those creatures still appeared intent on taking what remained of her life. Through the veil, he heard them discussing whether to let her die or to turn her into one of them, the vile beasts that were no better than the demons themselves. One lifted Zoe off the ground by her neck, her head hanging unnaturally to the side.
Andrew bellowed with rage and flew at the men.
He knocked into their stone-like, inhuman bodies and they tumbled onto each other in a heap. Zoe fell and Andrew dove out to catch her. The men stared at him with wide eyes the same color as the blood that still pooled around their teeth as their mouths gaped open.
The Angel
had crossed
the veil.
He’d left the Otherworld and entered the physical realm. Terror filled the men’s eyes and they disappeared with three popping sounds.
Alone, Andrew lowered Zoe’s lifeless body to the ground and cradled her head in his lap. His now solid form ached and throbbed with its many cuts and gashes. He needed to return to the Otherworld, to the Heavens, to heal, but looking down at Zoe’s still face, he had no thought for himself. Pearl-like tears dropped onto her pale cheek. She’d lost much blood, probably too much to survive, but her precious heart still beat, the sound slow and faint.
I can save her.
It was a dangerous thought. One he shouldn’t even be considering. But Andrew couldn’t bear a future without his beloved Zoe to watch over anymore. And the Higher Angels had told him to guard her life at all costs. If he didn’t do this, she would surely die.
With that justification, he pulled a small knife from his belt. The demon-inflicted wounds were tainted with the beast’s essence, so Andrew gripped the blade and slashed across his wrist, opening a clean wound. Then he held his arm to Zoe’s mouth, letting the gold liquid pour into her body. Within a moment, her lips parted on their own.
“Sweet, like honey,” she mumbled between swallows, her voice distant and her eyes still closed.
When he felt her essence strengthen, he pulled his wrist away. He knew a taste of his blood would heal her completely. Any more than that, however, he didn’t know the potential consequences. Indeed, Angels weren’t supposed to share their blood with humans. In fact, they weren’t supposed to expose themselves at all unless ordered, which was rare.
Yet … here he was.
Zoe’s eyes fluttered open and filled with wonder as she gazed up at him, a thrill that made his physical heart pound in his chest. The corners of her full lips pulled into a vague smile. She reached her hand up toward his face.
“So beautiful,” she murmured, her voice soft and pure. Aching for her touch, he leaned closer to her fingers, anticipating their caress. But just as her fingertips brushed his skin, he was yanked away from her, out of her realm.
Andrew lost his physical form as he was pulled deeper and deeper through the Otherworld and into the Heavens.
They had no need for words here, unlike the humans. Communication passed through their spirits and Andrew could feel the others’ disappointed shock as he soared past them. His spirit came to an abrupt halt when he reached those who’d summoned him: the Higher Angels. They were more than disappointed and surprised. Anger filled their energies.
“You broke several of our laws,” came one accusation pulsing through his spirit.
“You let yourself be seen,” said another.
“You shared your blood with a human!” This reverberation shook the Heavens with a ferociousness rarely felt here.
“You told me to protect her at all costs,” Andrew protested. “She would have died!”
He didn’t know if his justification was enough to satisfy them, but it was all he had. The Higher Angels’ energy quieted around him, growing into a deafening silence.
“That is the only reason you will be forgiven,” a Higher Angel finally said. “This woman is important to our Lord’s plans. We can overlook this blasphemy. However … ”
And the accusation that came next pierced Andrew’s soul.
“You love this woman. Not an Angel’s love, not spiritual, but a physical love.”
He couldn’t deny it. He couldn’t excuse it. It was true.
“For this you must leave.”
“No!” Andrew cried out.
“Your love for her has already caused you to break our laws. What else would you sacrifice for this woman? Who would you sacrifice for her?”
Andrew had no response. He didn’t know how far he would go for Zoe, but he’d just proven he would violate his commandments. He was a warrior and an Angel—he should have been above such human emotions and rash decisions. His energy swirled as his love for Zoe battled against the shame he felt.
“You cannot stay!” a Higher Angel bellowed. “You must pay for your sin! OUT!”
Sovereign energy blasted at him and he felt the finality of the command. The realization of what it meant swept through him: Fallen Angels were no longer Angels at all.
“Please, no,” he implored. “I cannot be a demon. Please don’t send me to Satan. I beg of you!”
The energy surrounding him slowed and quieted as the anger dissipated once again. Whispers filled the space as the Higher Angels considered his plea, discussing among themselves. He felt a sense of excitement pass through them, as if an answer they’d been seeking had finally come. He dared to hope this meant they would save him.
“No, you are not of demon essence,” the main speaker finally said. “Your sin is love—not hate, not pride, not greed or worse. You are not cursed to the demon world.”
