Two electric blue wings spread out across her shoulders. “What?” Anya turns to look in the mirror on Katie’s dresser and as she watches, the tattoos dim, before fading completely from sight. “Da said my other gifts would need to be unlocked.” She jerks her clean clothes on, going still and looks into her friend’s eyes. “Too bad they did not help save him.”
“Christian didn’t deserve to die like this. It’s my fault. I will make them pay,” Anya promises jerking open the door and storms out of the bedroom, back into the living room.
“They have the book now. A book they’ve killed and betrayed each other for, why? What is this damned book!” she angrily asks. Anya turns to look at her best friend and realizes for the first time that she may lose her too.
“It holds the location of the four gates, I think. Now they have it. Morgan must be told, and I have some questions for him.” Anya snarls as she pulls her tablet out of her suitcase. She sits to type and looks up an address.
“Katie, I need you to go get my Father from the hospital and take him to see this man. I believe he will keep you both safe, hopefully. I don’t have time to explain everything. Can you do this for me?” She begs.
“No! I need to see Morgan. I… a wall collapsed on him, Anya. I have to know…”
A sound and flash of light outside draw their attention. Anya growls and bares her teeth.
“What now?” She hisses. Moving to the window she is surprised to see a cab pull up. Footsteps sound out and the door bangs open.
“Anya,” Katie’s father bursts into the house.
“Da? What are you doing here?” Anya is incredulous. “You’re supposed to be in the hospital.”
“I need to be with you, not laying around in some hospital. Now where is Chris? Did he find the book?”
“Oh, Da…” Anya starts to weep, and the tears seem to rip from her soul. He pulls her into his chest.
“Katie?” He asks.
“He was protecting me, Uncle Keane, it’s all my fault,” and Katie begins to sob. “Morgan is dead, and they have the book!” He pulls Katie into his chest and sighs.
“It’s going to be alright. Take me to Christian.”
Chapter 9
Balthial flies towards the stronghold where Caius waits. Carrying the book that holds the answers to everything, he wonders why? Why should he give this kind of power to this weak creature? Caius is clearly not as powerful as he believes himself to be. With the secrets of this book, he would no longer have to answer to his brethren or to heaven, and certainly not to some blood sucking demon.
Decision made, he turns to fly away when he is struck from below. A searing pain wraps around his ankle, melting through his clothes and into his skin. He roars in agony and rage as he looks down, struggling to free himself. A snare of iron links is wrapped around his leg and he can’t break free!
Swiftly he draws his sword and swings it, but it only glances off the strong metal and sinks the iron deeper into his leg. More snares shoot out, wrapping around each wrist, both wings, and one even circles his neck. Balthial is jerked from the air and flung into the earth below with a great thud. The book falls to the ground beside him.
“No!!!” He screams and fights to break loose. The iron is scorching the skin everywhere it touches, but his screams of pain are not falling on deaf ears. The vampire horde holds tightly to the shackles of his prison and Caius steps forward with a laugh.
Caius. One side of his face is burned, melted by the flame of a past battle. “I am shocked at your stupidity, Balthial. You are, after all, one of the protectors of the gates. Did you really think that I would not assume that you would betray me after you betrayed your own brothers?” He strokes his children. Six vampire creatures, all newly designed by Caius hold down the fallen angel. They stare at the treat he has provided, and one whimpers, fighting the urge to feast on him.
“Release me!” Balthial demands. His teeth have lengthened, and his eyes are almost completely black now.
“Balthial, you have provided me with two things I needed the most. The blood of an immortal archangel and the Book of the Herald. I thank you for both.”
“I am not the fool, Caius! You should understand that the moment I fell, my virtuous blood was tarnished. It will do you no good, and I did as you asked. I brought you the book. I should be rewarded for that, not punished.”
Caius listens and decides to test the theory about his blood. He steps closer and jerks his wrist up to his mouth and hisses at the vampire holding the restraint when he attempts to join his master. “Not yet,” he tells him. His fangs seek deep into Balthials wrist, and as he drinks the burns on his face heal. The wrinkled puckered skin puffs and smooths out. His vision becomes clear as the melted portion of his eye pulls back tight, as though it never existed. The powerful elixir of life courses through his body. He drinks until he is completely rejuvenated from his bout with the human girl.
When he releases the wrist, Balthial sneers at him. “You will see, it will only last for a few weeks. I am not what you seek, but I can tell you where to get more.” Caius laughs as he stomps away.
“I do not need another demon, especially one I cannot trust.”
“Wait! I can help you access the gates!” Balthial calls out.
Caius pauses and turns back. “Why would I do that?” He
