“We don’t have to do this by committee,” Altair complained.
“How about you order me then,” Mia suggested.
“You, go and flirt with him, pretend he’s Roumain.”
“You suck!” Mia cursed.
Altair laughed. “Go on. Just be glad you’re not ovulating, or he’d already be on you.”
Mia flew closer to the Nephilim. He rolled over on his back and displayed himself like a Hollywood producer. Mia was gobsmacked. “Whoa, big fella, what’s the hurry?”
The Nephilim reared back and looked down at Mia.
“Wanna go for a swim? I know a dandy island where we won’t be disturbed,” she said.
“Can’t.”
“Why?”
“Work.”
“K. Maybe later then,” she said and flew away, taking a slightly higher elevation.
The Nephilim looked down and didn’t see anything in his airspace before he followed her higher.
She turned and flew upside down as he cruised above her. His eyes looked down to study her.
“What are you?” he asked.
“That’s a good question. I have a Nephilim uncle, but I must say you’re larger. Who were your parents?”
“Doesn’t matter. Who were your parents?” he asked back.
“Amanda and Charles. They are academics. Are you looking for a dowry from me?” Mia asked.
The Nephilim blushed.
“Are you courting me?” she asked.
“No. I’m looking for birdmen to kill and a girl named Mia. What’s your name?”
“Serilda.”
“I think you’re lying to me.”
“No lie, the Countess just called me Serilda not but five minutes ago. She said ‘Serilda, you live up to your name, now.’”
“What’s Serilda mean?”
“Ah, that’s the problem. It means a maiden in battle armor, Handsome.” The sword appeared, and Mia drove it deep in to the Nephilim’s chest and pulled it out and took off skyward.
Daskalov was shocked.
Altair, who was drafting behind him, stayed in his blind spot as the enraged Nephilim chased Mia.
Mia called for her knives and flipped around and sent them sailing into the base of one wing.
The Nephilim twisted around and clawed at the pain. Mia recalled the knives.
“I’m going to split you in two!” he roared.
“With what? Where’s your sword?” Mia asked, still climbing higher. “Or are you still courting me?”
The Nephilim shot upwards and swiped a claw at Mia. It barely touched her wing, but it spun her around. The Nephilim was on top of her. He cradled her back with one clawed hand and looked down at her. “I should crush you now, but I think we’ll have a little fun first.”
Mia reached up and caressed the Nephilim’s cheek. With her other hand, she slid the hatpin out. She plunged it into the Nephilim’s eye.
“Don’t worry, you’re still Handsome.”
The angel steel penetrated his face. Mia pulled the sword sideways and sliced off his horn. She wiggled out of his grasp, tearing the side of her clothes with his claw. She called for her daggers and used them to climb his stunned body and get on his back.
Altair took a swipe at the base of one of the wings while Mia straddled the monster’s neck, securing herself with her legs. She pushed down on his head to change the direction in which he still flew. He twisted around and sent his tail forward to try and knock Mia off. Altair severed it before the barb reached Mia. He worked on weakening the other wing.
Daskalov lost momentum and stalled. He was slipping down when Mia pushed harder on his neck to have him fall head first. Altair slid behind Mia to increase the weight on the monster’s neck. They found themselves heads down, their bodies plastered to the long neck of the creature. Altair held on to her as the beast started to spin. They traveled downward with the beast. Mia feared that they’d crash the thing into a home or a traffic-laden street. But Altair had taken it all into account, and they headed for the old gravel pit. Altair put his hands on Mia, pulling her hard into his chest, pushing back with his legs at the same time to let the spin fling them away from Daskalov. The Nephilim hit the ground so hard the giant granite shelf cracked.
Mia and Altair tumbled in the air for a while until Altair righted them. He slowly turned Mia around and looked into her eyes. “I know you didn’t want to do that, but there is too much at stake. Brian, Varden, and Luke. Think of them.”
Mia nodded her head slowly. “I know. I just think all of this is unnecessary. Why can’t we talk the Cynosura out of their madness?”
“It’s been tried. They are staunch believers. No voice of reason is heard above the bombastic comments of their leaders.”
“It’s not the world of twenty years ago,” Mia said. “The problems then were small in comparison to now.”
“But we can’t go back in time. We must surge forward. Right now, we’re missing out on a hell of a fight. Your Stephen is vulnerable without you.”
“I doubt it.”
“He’s used to working with a partner. Now get back. I’ll take care of cleaning this mess up.”
Mia rose and looked down at Altair a moment. He drew a flask from his wing, took a hit, and then flew down into the pit.
Murphy stood guard until Nicholai landed. He had skirted the edges of the between until he saw two archangels lure the Nephilim away.
“The flock is massing,” he told Murphy.
“Did you see Mia and Altair up there? Are they safe?” he asked.
“Mia? No, I saw two archangels.”
“Different wings,” Murphy said, tapping his back with his axe.
“Why? Those were damn fine wings.”
“They were a little big for her,” Murphy said. “But it wasn’t Mia’s choice, so don’t get mad.”
“It’s not me she has to explain the change in wings to. Victor is going to be pissed.”
“I’m pissed,” Mia
