Dark Wings Descending (13 page)

“You were kind of out of it the first time,” Ashley said.

“Yes, I was, but not the second time. I was in your shabby apartment being blinded by his rays of light. He’s not just a glamour man like you, is he?”

“No.”

“Then what is he that I could see him too? And then there’s the fact he’s a healer like you, only different. Retooling the brain different.”

“You know we asked your team not to ask questions?” Ashley said, squirming in her seat.

“Questions about you. I’m asking about Eli. Mr. All Dressed in White, the man who is as straight-backed as an English butler.” Rafe thought for a moment, her head filled with memories and flashes she vaguely recalled. She tried to remember the light without bringing to mind all the pain that was associated with that moment in time. “Could Eli have been in the alley that night I was demon bait?”

“Rafe, please…”

“It was the same light. You forget, Ashley, he’s been in my head; he re-jigged my brain to turn down the brightness. And yet I never felt threatened, just like I didn’t with you. I just lay there and let you do whatever you wanted.”

“I wish,” Ashley muttered.

“I felt safe and protected and at peace with you. The same with Eli.” She stared at her empty plate, trying desperately to piece the clues together. Her head shot up. “Fuck me! He’s a goddamned
angel
!”

Ashley grimaced at her choice of words. “Not so much of the damned, Rafe.”

Rafe’s jaw dropped open. “Seriously? He’s an angel?”

“One kind, yes.”

“One kind? Like different degrees of demons?” Rafe couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So angels really do walk among us?”

“Some do, some just pop in and out at specific occasions.”

“Like when a detective is getting her head caved in by a demon? Could that be a specific enough occasion?”

“Maybe,” Ashley hedged. “You’d have to ask Eli.”

Rafe didn’t know whether to be angry or elated. “Oh, you bet I will.” Her mind was spinning trying to control all the new evidence swarming inside it. “Angels and demons, eh?” She waved over the waitress. “I think that calls for another beer.” She added under her breath as the realization of her discovery hit her, “Or five.”

Ashley had to admit she was impressed by how calm Rafe was, considering how her safe world had been turned upside down and inside out over the course of dinner. They’d walked back to Rafe’s house in a strangely companionable silence. “You’re taking this incredibly well.”

“I’m figuring it can’t get any bigger than this, right? There’s nothing that can top it for the most fantastical state of how this planet runs.” Rafe opened her front door and ushered Ashley inside. “I’ve had too many beers to drive you home, so I am either calling you a taxi or I can gallantly offer to sleep on the couch while you take my bed.”

“Why can’t we sleep together?” Ashley enjoyed seeing Rafe’s forehead pucker as she thought this over.

“Because I have had too many beers and I don’t put out on the first date. I need to get to know someone first.”

Ashley chuckled at Rafe’s reasoning. “What else is left for you to know about me? You’ve already uncovered the biggest secret I carry around.”

“What’s your favorite film?” Rafe asked out of the blue, and Ashley answered without hesitation.

“Titanic.”

Rafe frowned. “What a heartbreaking story. Where were the angels in that situation, Ashley?”

“Probably getting the survivors into what few lifeboats they did have,” she replied.

“Was Eli there, or should I save that question for him too?”

“Geez, you’re remarkably goofy on just three beers.”

“I don’t usually drink a lot, but tonight seemed to call for it.” Rafe tried to step over the cat twisting around her legs and threatening to topple her to the ground. “Trinity!”

Ashley picked the cat up and cuddled her. “I’ll see to the cat. Why don’t you go and sit down?” She carried the cat into the kitchen and began preparing her food as if she’d always done so. She called through the doorway to Rafe. “What’s your favorite film?”

“The Matrix Reloaded.”

“You like the second one over the first?” Ashley scooped out some dry food for the cat and refilled her water bowl, then left her to it. Ashley found Rafe sprawled on the couch, still in her coat.

“The second one had more action and it had a love scene.”

“Forgive me for sounding so surprised, but you really are a closet romantic, aren’t you?”

“I can cheer for the straight couple to get it on. Especially when one is as amazing-looking as Carrie Anne Moss is in that.” Rafe shifted a little on the couch as Ashley joined her. “Can God really see everything?”

Ashley tried not to be surprised by Rafe’s question. “So I’m told. I’ve never actually met him myself.”

“I don’t think I can ever take you to bed knowing that.”

Rafe sounded so mournful that Ashley couldn’t help her reaction. She burst out laughing and got a dirty look for her amusement. “Contrary to what most fanatical God-fearing folk would have you believe, God rarely could give a damn about what anyone does in their bedroom, gay or straight. He’s got a small matter of the universe to run. We’re really just a small fraction of what he can devote his time to.”

“Does he speak to Eli?”

“Eli gets his messages from all sorts of carriers. He then sends me out to investigate.”

“But one of the carriers might know who the killer is, right? I mean, we may only be a fraction of God’s attention, but he could focus in on the killer and tell us who it is, right?”

“Did you ever read your Bible, Rafe?”

“I got lost somewhere in the endless
begats
early on.”

“God gave humans free will. Free will to follow a righteous path or free will to kill and cause havoc. He won’t step in, not yet.”

“But why send you to investigate? Why are you necessary?”

“I’m a demon hunter, a human one, even given my glamour gene. Demons aren’t supposed to have free rein on earth, Rafe. I’m one of those who have to stop them from being here.”

“Someone obviously forgot to send the demons the memo,” Rafe said a touch too seriously.

Ashley smiled as Rafe closed her eyes. “You’re a cheap drunk, Detective. Three beers and you’re out of it.”

“Probably shouldn’t have taken the pain pills either. I think I took them, not so sure now. Not too sure how many I took either. My side hurt like a mother earlier.”

“Oh great,” Ashley grumbled. She pulled Rafe upright and steadied her with her arms about her waist. “Let me get you to bed before you fall down.”

“I can sleep on the couch,” Rafe said, heel-toeing her shoes off as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Ashley helped her out of her jacket then carefully guided her upstairs.

“Booze and pills don’t mix, Rafe.”

“I forgot to take them earlier and then the day got so busy and I was in so much pain I just took them first chance I got. I never thought to consider that a beer would react with them.”

“You needed to take the recommended dosage, not pop them like candy, either. God, you need someone watching over you twenty-four seven.” Ashley huffed as she waited for Rafe to point out which was her room.

“I’m sorry,” Rafe said quietly.

“Why are you sorry?”

“That you’re having to take care of me again. You shouldn’t have to keep doing that.” Rafe laid her head on top of Ashley’s and hugged her. “Call a cab and take the money from my wallet. I won’t be a bother. I think I’ll just flake out.”

Ashley was worried for a whole other set of reasons if Rafe did indeed pass out. She guided her toward the bed. She began to undo Rafe’s shirt and their fingers clashed over the buttons.

“I can take my own shirt off, thank you. I’m not that far gone.” With a slow, methodical seriousness, Rafe fumbled with each button until she could tug the shirt free from her pants. With Rafe clad in just her bra, Ashley got to see her scar from the knife injury for the first time. Her gasp caused Rafe’s head to jerk up and she wobbled a little as her balance shifted. “Whoa, head rush,” she moaned and sat on the side of the bed.

Ashley couldn’t help herself. She touched the vicious looking wound that was healing but still stood out painfully vivid against Rafe’s pale skin. “Shouldn’t this still be bandaged?”

“It itched, so I pulled it off.”

Ashley tried not to shake her head at Rafe’s obstinate reply. She ran her finger over the length of the scar.

“You can’t heal that. He used his knife for it.” Rafe looked down at her side dispassionately. “No demon poison in there, just a fucking huge knife wound.” She began pulling at her socks. “I hope he rots in hell.”

Ashley knelt to assist Rafe. “He will.”

“Did you know he was here?”

“No, he wasn’t showing up on our radar yet. It looks like you found him first.”

“Lucky me.” Rafe fell back on the bed, then scrambled up the sheets while Ashley tugged off her pants. “I can’t have beer again for a while,” she said as she burrowed under the covers.

“You might want to take your bra off,” Ashley said. Rafe fumbled under the covers, then threw the offending item over onto a chair. Ashley was charmed by Rafe’s obvious modesty. “I’m going to sit with you for a while to make sure you’re okay.”

“Okay,” Rafe mumbled, already sinking. “Thank you.” She turned her head to gaze at Ashley. “Don’t let Trinity smother you on the couch. If she sees you lying down, she believes you’re fair game to be laid on.”

“I’ll consider myself warned.”

“Blythe gave her to me.”

“Did she now?” Ashley wondered if she should be jealous over the brilliant profiler who obviously had a personal connection with Rafe.

“She said she didn’t want me coming home to an empty house every night.”

“That was very sweet of her.”

“She’s a good girl. She needs a good woman to look after her. Take her mind off all the bad things she sees.”

“And what about you, Rafe?”

“I’ve seen worse things. Things that I don’t think will ever be erased from my mind. I’ve seen demons, Sparky, out in the world, living among us.”

Ashley ran her hand over the stubble of Rafe’s hair; it was soft under her palm. “Get some sleep now. I’ll be right here if you need me.”

“What if Eli needs you?”

“He knows where I am if he does. Don’t worry about anything. Just sleep.” Rafe turned over and was pretty much asleep within seconds. Ashley held up the bottle of painkillers she’d slipped from Rafe’s jacket. She grimaced as she realized how lucky Rafe was that she hadn’t been out on a job alone carelessly taking medication of that strength.
You really are the most stubborn woman I have ever met
, she thought, laying the pills down on the small bedside table and watching Rafe sleep.
You need someone to look after you too, whether you think you need it or not
. She bent forward to check that Rafe was still breathing. She slipped her shoes off and placed her jacket over a chair. Slowly, so as not to disturb her, Ashley snuggled down on the bed to listen to the steady breathing coming from Rafe under the sheets. She felt the bed shift as Trinity jumped up and strode purposely up Ashley’s body to settle in between them. Ashley rubbed at the cat’s ears affectionately, enjoying the contented purr that rumbled through her furry chest.

“You’re easy to please,” Ashley whispered, settling back against a pillow and basking in the luxury of being on a comfortable bed with two warm bodies keeping her company. “Ahh, Rafe. You don’t know what you’re missing out on tonight.” She pulled up the sheet over a shoulder that had escaped from under the covers. Ashley moved a little closer, breathing in Rafe’s unique scent from her naked skin and relishing the intimacy of snuggling on her sheets. She peered at the cat asleep between them, half of her furry body draped over Ashley’s stomach. “Guess I’m not using that couch any time soon.” She wasn’t exactly disappointed as she settled in to watch over Rafe.

Rafe opened an eye cautiously when she realized there was someone other than the usual feline sharing her bed. She squinted at the clock beside her bed. It read 6:05 a.m. She cautiously ran her tongue over her teeth, tasting the remnants of the previous night’s beer. She turned her head on the pillow and came face-to-face with Ashley, who was leaning up on an elbow watching her.

“You do realize how creepy that is, right?” Rafe’s voice was scratchy. Ashley just smiled at her.

“I’ve been keeping watch over you to make sure you didn’t suffer any ill effects from mixing medication with alcohol.”

Rafe groaned softly as her stupidity came back to her. “I still can’t believe I did that. I’m sorry you got stuck baby-sitting someone who should know better.”

“That’s okay. It’s had its perks.” She lowered her gaze and Rafe looked down too. The sheets had slipped sometime during the morning and her naked breasts were now exposed. Rafe figured it was way too late to cover up and instead tried to brazen it out.

“You can’t begin to know how much I’d like to kiss you senseless right now, but you have beer breath, and at the moment, that ranks right up there with the tuna kibble breath your cat shared with me all night.”