Darkened (13 page)

“News flash, Jared. I’m a trained detective. I deal with danger every
day.”

“Not like Jael. I have given my word that I will protect you
, and that is what I will do.”

“Oh, goody,” I said sarcastically as I went into my room and shut my door.

Initiate plan “sneak out”.

I waited several minutes to give Jared enough t
ime to get in the shower then went to the window in my room and felt the ward. It was just like the one in his office. I pulled my shield over me and flipped the latch. Nothing happened so I pulled the window up slightly. I would think his ward was set to do something like electrocute me or put a spell that would make me lose my mind or some other kind of bad thing, and since it didn’t, I figure I’m free to go. I slid through the window and landed in a rose bush outside. Now that hurt. I reached up and pulled the window closed. Hopefully the ward wouldn’t start going off as soon as I was away from the window. In case it did, I kept my hand on the window while I took a look around. The house was in an upper class suburb. It looked like most of the houses were in the million dollar range, and most had huge yards. Jared’s was no exception.

There were a few trees that were spotted across the front yard so I made a break for them. Once I reached them, I ran for the gate that surrounded the property. I hadn’t let my shield drop so it was no problem when I went to climb the fence and found there was a ward on it as well. When I made it over the fence, I took off running. I went through people’s yards and jumped their fences, avoided their dogs, and kept running until I had finally made it out of the neighborhood. There was more housing outside of the subdivision so I continued at a jog until I finally hit some commercial property. One of the first things I came to, that was open, was an all-night diner. I went inside and ordered a coffee then I called a local cab company, and sat down to wait. 

A few minutes after I sat down, the bell over the door rang, and I turned expecting to see Jared. Instead, Jael walked in and sat next to me.

“Long time no see. You stalking me?” I said.

“Would you like it if I was?”

“Uh, not so much. No.”

“Then I was definitely not stalking you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe it was nerves since I know he’s a serial killer or maybe it was just funny.

“So what brings you to a diner at three in the morning?” I asked.

“Why, you of course.”

“I thought you weren’t following me?”

He just looked at me.

“Of course you were following me. What, were you standing outside Jared’s house hoping I would sneak out?”

He just smiled.

“I guess you got lucky tonight,” I said.

“I have not gotten lucky yet, b
ut I plan to.”

“Are you going to kill her like you did the last one?”

“That Human should have considered herself lucky I shared my seed with her. I would not have had the want to if she did not look so much like you.”

Okay, that’s creepy.

“So I take it you hope to get lucky with me? ‘Cause I gotta say, I’m not really feeling it. And, since your mind control won’t work on me, I don’t see that happening.”

He smiled at me.

“I do not have to use mind control to get you to leave with me.”

“
I don’t see any other way. Unless you are ready to confess to your sins, in which case I will be putting you to death for the murder of Stephen Wilkins and Amber Lambert.”

He laughed. “Those Humans are not worth any punishment. They barely took any effort to kill at all. I even gave them a fighting chance by killing them without magic
, and still they were useless.”

“Well, I hope you don’t mind
, but I’m still going to kill you for murdering them, whether you confess or not.”

“Avery, my Sweetness. Why do you waste
your time with these creatures? They are not worthy of wiping off your shoes let alone protecting.”

“Someone needs to protect them from psychos like you.”

“Is that why you teamed up with Jared and his band of fools? So that together you can protect the Humans?”

I shrugged. “Jared offered protection. I took it.”

“And, he couldn’t even do that right. It is no matter. You are with me now. I will kill Jared, and have you as my lover. Then I will be able to heal from the wound that Fallen caused.”

“Jared managed to wound you? Is that what happened to you?”

I pointed to my face and made a circle incorporating it all. Jared didn’t mention being the one to do that.

“It is the wound of my only child’s death. This,” he pointed to his face. “
Was caused by the Angel Bartholomew many years ago, but do not worry yourself. I have returned that favor.”

“You killed Bart?”

“No, I am sure he will heal from his wounds once he has spent enough time in the Kingdom. I will not allow Jared to be so lucky. He will not continue to get away with murdering my child.”

“From what I heard
, he had it coming. I was told he was a nutjob who was going around killing Humans. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

“He was a beautiful Angel
, and Jared murdered him at the command of our Lord. Jared did not care that he was innocent. He killed him in cold blood. The First Lord’s enforcer. Look where it got him. Now, he has fallen too.”

Jared was one of the F
irst Lord’s enforcers like Bart? I wonder what he did to get kicked out. Okay, let’s get the conversation off of Jared. I need to get him out of here, and kill him before anyone else gets hurt. The only problem is that I don’t know if I actually can kill him. I mean, he’s a full blooded Angel. I’m good with a sword and all, but he’s probably got at least five hundred years on me, and he’s probably as fast as Jared.

“Well, I don’t see what any of this has to do with me. I have a cab coming so if you could get to the point I’d appreciate it.”

He ignored me. “I saw the signet at your apartment. Why do you have an Angel’s insignia stored away in your jewelry box?”

“That would be my business, wouldn’t it? I don’t recall inviting you in my apartment let alone to go through my stuff.”

“You had no wards on your apartment. I assumed that meant you wished me to enter.”

I rolled my eyes. “Didn’t you notice the door was locked? Why do you think that was?”

He waved his hand like it meant nothing. “Those were merely for the Humans. Those plagues would just a soon kill their neighbors as call them brother. I had hoped they would have all killed each other centuries ago
, but yet they reproduce. The only thing they like to do more than kill is fuck. I cannot see how you can stand them.”

“You know I’m half
Human. I would think you would hate me too.”

“You are too much like your father for that.”

A cab pulled into the parking lot.

“Well, there’s my ride. It was good talking with you. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

The cab pulled away. I couldn’t do anything
since Jael was on the outside of the booth.

“I am afraid you will be accompanying me home tonight.”

“And, what makes you think I’m going to go with you?”

He smiled and it made him look even crazier.

“If you do not leave with me, I will take over the minds of the five Humans in this diner, and you can watch as they kill each other.”

Holy shit. He meant it too.

“Very well, Jael.”

“I’m glad you see things my way.”

He slid out of the booth then held his hand out for me. I slid out without taking it. If he got a hold on me, he could go into hyper speed
, and I could find myself five miles away before I know it. He shrugged it off, walked to the door, and opened it for me. I walked outside and turned to watch him as he walked through the door and toward a sedan. Really? He drove a car here? I know that doesn’t sound too weird, but I just figured he would have flown or something. Not driven a Lincoln.

He walked to the passenger side and opened the door. Nuh uh, there is no way I’m getting in that car. Instead, I attacked while his back was turned. I pulled my katana from my back sheath and came at him low. Most would expect an over handed attack or even a lunge but most wouldn’t expect an upwards sweep. He saw it coming though and moved at the last moment. I followed with a lunge and he dodged it too. He was just too fast.

“Silly, child. You have yet to come into yourself and you still try to attack me. I am over two thousand years old,” he said with indignation.

Damn, that was old even in Angel age.

“Older means slower.”

“You have been around Humans too long.”

He pulled his own sword. From where, I don’t know because I sure didn’t see one moments ago. Then he was attacking and I could barely move fast enough to block.

“You need some work on your sword fighting child. I will add that to the list of things I will teach you.”

He swung at me and I caught his blade on my own. We were locked in that position for a moment and I saw Jael studying the katana I fought with. It was rather beautiful with engravings all the way down the blade. I don’t know if they actually had any meaning but they were pretty to look at, and the blade was the sharpest weapon I have ever used. The first time I cleaned it I cut my thumb and the engravings actually lit up for a moment. I took that to mean that it liked blood, and I was going to give it more. I pushed against his sword and broke away. He smiled at me.

“Would you mind telling me how you obtained Lucifer’s sword?” Jael asked.

“This isn’t Lucifer’s. It’s mine.”

“Oh, it is most definitely Lucifer’s. I would know that blade anywhere. He never fought without it. Did he give it to you?”

“I bought it.”

He looked surprised. Well, I’m sure he wasn’t nearly as surprised as I was. How did Lucifer’s personal blade get to the flea market? I had found it almost ten years ago when I first started working on the HR task force. The guy had a whole display of swords, but this one was by far the most beautiful.

“Lucifer sold you his weapon?” Jael asked incredulously.

“I didn’t buy if from Lucifer.”

He looked confused. I bet he’s wondering how someone managed to get Lucifer’s sword from him then sell it to me because that’s exactly what I’m wondering. Oh well, I can think about that later. I attacked Jael again. This time coming in from the left and, again, he blocked then pulled his blade back toward the left, swiping it across my stomach as he did. Damn, that hurt. Blood immediately started to flood out. It wasn’t deep enough to allow my innards to fall out, but it was going to cause me to lose a lot of blood. I needed to end this as quickly as possible so I played the pity card. After all, he thought I was so much weaker than him.

I slumped forward holding my stomach.

“I warned you that I was stronger. Now, we will stop this
, and you will accompany me. I will tend to your wound at my home.”

He came to me and tried to wrap his arm around me. I stabbed him with the stiletto. I wasn’t sure if it would actually hurt him but it’s made from part of the Hell dimension
, and I would think Hell wouldn’t feel too good being inside an Angel. He looked down at the knife, and looked more disappointed than anything. Then his eyes widened and he took a step back. I held onto the stiletto, and as it came out of him, I heard that it was sizzling. Looking at it, I saw Jael’s blood turning black and smoking. The blood pooling on Jael’s side was also a black color. Jared’s blood earlier looked a normal red color so I’m pretty sure Jael’s shouldn’t be black.

He started to stagger away. “W-what have you done to me? How...?”

He back up to the sedan
, and looked at his hand that he had been holding to the wound then he looked at me, and his eyes narrowed. Then he was gone. I searched the parking lot, but he was nowhere to be seen. He probably went home to lick his wound. Talking about wounds, I looked at my own, and saw there was blood covering the lower half of my shirt. I need to get somewhere quick. Where can I go that I know Jael won’t come and kidnap me while I’m healing? Well damn, it looks like my freedom was short lived.

I walked into Jared’s house. The door had been unlocked so I didn’t bother knocking. I started toward the bathroom to clean my wound when Jared came out of the game room with the phone pressed to his ear.

“She’s back. Yeah, she just walked through the front door.” He paused. “Not if I do first
. I’ll see you in a few.” He hung up the phone, and shot me a dirty look. “Did you have fun on your little trip? Everyone has been going crazy looking for you. You could have been captured by Jael.”

I was going to tell him to go fuck himself
, but my body chose that moment to shut down from blood loss.

I woke up in bed. I looked around, but didn’t recognize anything other than Jared sitting in a chair close by.

“Where am I?”

“You’re in my room. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

I waved my hand. “I was fine. I just needed to take a break
, and let the wound heal. It was the lack of blood that had me passing out.”

Jared looked like he was praying for patience.

“You were injured by an Angelic weapon. There would be no healing without intervention.”

“Oh, well then I guess it’s a good thing I came here instead of that bar I was thinking about hanging out in.”

“Jael stabbed you with his weapon and you thought about going to a bar?”

“He didn’t stab me. He just sliced open my stomach. It was all done in the name of love. If I would have just went with him, it never would have happened. You know me though. Always gotta do things the hard way.”

“That is true. The question is, why didn’t he take you with him once you were injured?”

“Oh, he tried. I stabbed him with this.”

I pulled the stiletto out, and showed him. Jared moved closer to look at it and started to reach for it when his eyes widened, and he jumped back into the chair.

“What are you doing with that?!”

“This? It’s a little trinket my mom left me. Guess she didn’t want any Demon harming me. Apparently, it works well on Angels too.”

“You stabbed Jael with that?”

“Yep. He didn’t seem to like it too much.”

He barked out a laugh. “I’m sure he didn’t. Did you see what happened afterward?”

“He didn’t seem to be bothered by it at first. More pissed off than hurt, but then it started to sizzle, and he pulled back to find his blood was black then he kinda had a freak out. A second later, he was gone. Do you think I killed him?”

“Where did you stab him?”

“In his side.”

“Probably not. It would take being stabbed in the heart or perhaps the brain to kill him quickly. But
, it’s likely the wound will never fully heal. It will instead fester until it eventually does kill him. That could take centuries.”

“That doesn’t sound very good, but
given what he did to Amber, he deserves it.”

I realized Luke was standing in the doorway.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Like a million bucks.”

He smiled. “Did he happen to give you any information?”

“You mean like ‘I’m going to take you back to my place at two fifteen Apple St. You’ll like it there it’s a red brick house with a black roof, and we’ll be arriving there in my Lincoln Continental. Tag number UF56243.’ Whoa, wait a minute. That last part wasn’t made up. He really was driving a Lincoln and that was the tag number, but he left it at the diner when I stabbed him.”

“I’ll have Zach pick it up on their way back,” Luke said as he pulled his cell out
, and walked away.

“I’ll call Cop and have him run the tag. I need to check on Davis anyway,” I said as I started to push up from the bed.

“Oh, no you won’t. You’ll lay right there and rest. Luke can look up the information on the car, and I’ve already called the hospital. Davis has been moved to stable condition,” Jared said as he pushed me back down.

It didn’t take much effort on his part. I just didn’t have the energy to fight him.

“How is Luke going to find the information? You would need access to the DMV’s records,” I said.

“He can find it. Just rest. I could join you if it would help you sleep better.”

“Actually, you not being in here would help me sleep.”

“Having trouble resisting my boyish charms?”

“It’s more like, you watching me sleep creeps me out.”

He smiled. “You’ll get used to it.”

“Ha. That’s not going to happen.”

“We’ll see. I’ll let you be alone for now though.”

He leaned over and kissed my forehead then straightened and walked out of the room closing the door behind him.