“Take your time,” Professor Mortimer suggested. “If it doesn’t work this time, you can always try again.”
It was a very typical response from a scholar. The flat look Durin was giving the professor behind his back said otherwise. Over the past two days, demon activity around Seraphina had increased. Time was slipping through our fingers.
Not wishing to tap out more energy than I had, I said, “Can you please trace the Angelical on her skin for me?”
Trading places with them, I went to stand at the base of the bed while they stood one each on either side of Professor McKenna. They picked up her hands.
Jacqueline tried to offer me her seat, but I shook my head. Nervous energy ate up my resolve. Max came up behind me. His arm curled around my waist to lay flat against my stomach. He pulled me into his chest, and I leaned back into him, taking strength from his love.
“You can do this,” he said in my ear. “It just wants release. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be hiding away instead of fighting to destroy us like the other malachim.”
It was only when he said it that I realised it must be true. Unlike the malachim that was so terrified inside Durin’s body and was sucking life essence, even though it didn’t need it, this malachim wasn’t out of its mind. It was just there hiding.
Swallowing, I pulled the Ley sight over my vision and gasped. Max’s arm tightened around me, but he didn’t react, because through the link he’d sensed my absolute wonder.
I saw Professor Mortimer and Professor Suleiman raise their hands as though to trace the Angelical and flagged them down. There was no need. Transposed over Professor McKenna’s soul was one of pure, blinding white light muddled with darkness. It hadn’t wanted to be detected before but now it wasn’t hiding anymore. The malachim raised itself up using her body.
Everyone in the room tensed.
You know why I’m here, I asked in my mind. Somehow, I knew it would prefer this to physical speech. Max’s fingers drew small circles against my belly. Inside my head, a golden lion flecked with blue and pink entered my field of vision. The red in his aura was so saturated in the glow of my magic that it almost appeared black.
The malachim turned its head to the side.
You wish me to leave, the malachim thought. Its mental voice was ancient and wondrous against my mind. It was a voice no human was every supposed to hear. I flinched at the weight of it. The malachim glanced at the two professors and nodded.
“Can you please just place a dampening word on him?” I asked them aloud.
They each drew the same symbol on Professor McKenna’s palms. The pressure in my mind eased a little.
What are you? the malachim asked me.
Human, I thought back.
Its head inched forward. Yes, it thought. Very human. But also...different.
How so?
It reached out a hand and I felt a finger poke me in the chest. My brother has touched you. My mind filled with the weighted sigh of the first malachim whose soul I had transmuted. I could only nod.
No human should be able to touch the soul of a malachim and live. He kept staring at me like he was peeling away parts of me to uncover my secrets. She has marked you.
Who?
Lucifer’s scion.
I clutched at Max’s hand. His fingers intertwined with mine. I did it myself.
Why? the malachim asked, a boundless curiosity in its thoughts.
Because I need to.
It will kill you. A certainty. Her power is corrupt. It comes from the Morning Star.
I know. But I have to try. She’s my friend.
He – his essence was distinctly male –was quiet for a moment as though trying to remember what friendship meant. Finally, after a long stretch, the malachim nodded.
A human construct. His head turned upwards slightly, and I could swear I felt him smile. Friendship. Yes. I remember now.
I had a question of my own. Why are you not like the others? The ones who obey Apollyon?
The sound of his captor’s name made the malachim shrink in on himself. Apollyon was weakened when the Morning Star was contained. They called him the Corrupter, but after Lucifer lost, Raphael’s influence on the dimension provided it with protection. Even free of our guidance, the humans didn’t fall as easily to Apollyon’s influence. Not with the supernaturals protecting them from the worst that Apollyon could throw at them. He needs power and he wants to take it from you. From the promise your great-grandfather made.
I suspected as much. How can we stop him?
There was a longer silence as he considered his next thoughts carefully. His head turned and he inspected those who were in the room one by one before turning back to me. You are not strong enough, he thought. You were not made for conflict with the Hell dimension. And then his gaze shifted behind me. But he is.
My heart constricted. The lion beside me in my thoughts opened its mouth and flashed its fangs.
You are not ready for the war that Apollyon is about to bring to your door. But I can help you.
Why would you do that? I asked.
He was quiet for a moment. Friendship.
In my mind, I saw the quiet bonds that connected this malachim to the ones that were still in the Abyss. The ones whose souls were being tormented and corrupted by being forced to act against their very natures.
Why hide then? I wanted to know. Why did you pick Professor McKenna?
He raised a hand and feathered it across Professor McKenna’s throat. She holds the key.
What key?
Kai appeared in front of us, and the golden lion beside me tried to lunge. Around me, Max became a wall of agitated fury. I sank my hand into the lion’s mane, petting it until its aggression eased into soft growling.
Deal, I heard Max’s voice say in my head.
Wait, I thought.
I’ll do it.
Throwing the Ley sight
