Her Accidental Angel (18 page)

 
 
  There was a stir in the crowd now, and some murmuring. Samuel gestured toward Kari and her mother. “Thank you, ladies, you may be seated.”

 
 
  Kari sank gratefully onto the couch. She didn’t think the Angeli seemed pleased to have humans in their meeting.

 
 
  “As many of you might recall,” Samuel continued, “Kaphawn was defeated long ago, before we left Earth, by Rahmiel and the Guardians. Rahmiel was recently pulled out of the ice dimension to fight Kaphawn. So far the kills have been small in number, but we know how Kaphawn works. If we do not stop him, whole cities will die. He could kill the entire population of the Earth in less than a year. If he does this, he will be immensely strong.”

 
 
  Samuel paused and looked around the Assembly. “Do you think he will leave the Overland alone? Remember, all of us have human relations on many levels. Many of us sitting here have Human blood in our veins. My own grandmother, Mara, was human.”

 
 
  “Rahmiel has not had the support of the Guardians. In fact, Lemuel placed him in custody, leaving the Earth with no defense against Kaphawn. The Assembly must intervene and allow Rahmiel to do his work. And after this pressing need is met, we as a people need to question our decision to remain separate from our human family.”

 
 
  There was a rumble of low voices throughout the Assembly.

 
 
  “Do you think they will side with Lemuel?” Kari whispered to Rahmiel.

 
 
  “I do not know,“ he murmured in her ear. “Lemuel is from an old and powerful family. But Samuel is on our side, and he is well respected.”

 
 
  “I have another concern.” Samuel held up Kari’s book. “A young Earth girl found this book, which included a ritual to be thinner. She prepared for and completed the ritual, which unleashed Kaphawn. Where did the ritual come from? Back in the days Kaphawn was terrorizing the Earth, there was no such ritual. Someone, a mage or sorcerer, developed this ritual to summon Kaphawn. Why? To decimate Earth populations? What would be the purpose of that?

 
 
  “Is this the only summoning ritual unleashed on Earth? I fear there may be more.

 
 
  The book contains Angeli symbols.” Samuel put the book down and paused looking down at Kari for a moment. “I fear we have abandoned too many of our old ways. Our Guardians no longer rove the Earth. This leaves not only Earth vulnerable, but also the Overland. Let us send Rahmiel to defeat Kaphawn, and let us consider a new direction for our Guardians and for the Overland. Now the Assembly may speak.” Samuel left the stage.

 
 
  There was a roar from the crowd as dozens of Angeli leapt up and the orderly room descended into chaos. Several Angels Kari recognized as Guardians flew in front of the stage and called for order. “What’s going on?” she asked Rahmiel.

 
 
  “They will discuss and argue for hours now, even days. Returning Guardians to the Earth means great change for the Overland.”

 
 
  “There’s Lemuel,” Kari said, indicating an Angel striding toward them. Was he coming to arrest Rahmiel? She clutched Rahmiel’s arm and looked at him. “Take me with you. If you have to go to the Ether to avoid arrest.”

 
 
  Rahmiel drew a finger along her cheek. “If there is a need, I will take you with me.”

 
 
  He stood. “Lemuel, why do you seek me out?”

 
 
  “The Guardians will not hinder your actions against Kaphawn.” Lemuel spoke in a terse tone. “I know that some of my men have sought you out. They will not be disciplined for their involvement in this matter.” He turned abruptly and left.

 
 
  “They will not vote until all discussion, all points, have been brought out. It will soon be sunset,” Rahmiel said. ” Let us return to Kaliel’s for a meal and preparations.”

 
 
  Kari’s heart rate sped up. It was almost sundown, time to go back home.

 
 
  “What’s going on, honey?” Mom asked as they left the Assembly chamber.

 
 
  “Rahmiel and some of the others need to leave, Mom. They want to try and fight Kaphawn tonight.”

 
 
  “Oh. When will I get to return home? I have to be at work on Monday.”

 
 
  “I know. Hopefully it will all be over tonight.”

 
 
  Others from the Assembly hall followed them, but Rahmiel refused their help for the night. “If we do not defeat him tonight we will contact you for special training tomorrow. There is not time now to teach you our plan.”

 
 
  “Mom, why don’t you visit with Amber? I’m sure she would enjoy the company,”

 
 
  Kari suggested as Tehmuel and Rahmiel got them to the correct corridor.

 
 
  “Aren’t you coming with me?”

 
 
  “I can’t, Mom. I need to be with Rahmiel.”

 
 
  “I don’t understand. You’re gong to the battle?”

 
 
  Kari nodded. “But I’ll be all right, okay? I’ve gone through the binding, so I am much stronger than I was.”

 
 
  “I don’t like this Kari. I think you should stay with me.” Her mom was beginning to panic.

 
 
  “I can’t, Mom. Please be okay with this. I’ll come see you later tonight.” Kari was beginning to panic a little herself. It was hard to tear herself away and leave the room.

 
 
  “Are you ready?” Rahmiel asked her.

 
 
  She nodded. He gave her a quick hug. “I’ll be there.”

 
 
  “I know,” she whispered.

 
 
  Rahmiel handed her a plate of food, and she ate without tasting any of it.

 
 
  After the light meal, they phased to Kari’s home.

 
 
  “We are going to the Ether now. We will wait for Kaphawn’s appearance.”

 
 
  Kari swallowed hard and nodded. Her mouth was dry, her palms wet. Rahmiel gave her a swift hug, and the Angels vanished.

 
 
  The living room smelled musty. Kari wondered if it was the stench of dried blood.

 
 
  She gagged at the thought. She got a diet cola from the fridge, hoping it would settle her stomach. She eased her way back to the living room, and peered around the corner.

 
 
  Was Kaphawn there yet? Then she remembered what Rahmiel had told her about pressure in her ears. Her hands shook so hard she could barely open the can. She sat on the couch, on the edge as far from the blood stain as she could get.

 
 
  The light in the room began to dim as the sun set. She tried to turn on the remaining lamp, but even that was an effort. Her sweaty fingers had a hard time gripping the small knob.

 
 
 
What if Rahmiel doesn’t arrive in time? What if the binding didn’t work right andKaphawn drains me? What if I die tonight?

 
 
  She thought of her Mom, returning to the house, knowing her only child died in the living room. A tear slid down her cheek.

 
 
  It wasn’t worth it. Being thin wasn’t worth this. She felt pressure in her ears, the same pressure she had felt during the ritual. Her stomach rolled with nausea and she swallowed hard. Her heart began to skitter.

 
 
  Kaphawn was there, right in front of her. He was huge, but no longer skeletal. This time, tight brown skin stretched over his bones. His mouth widened into a frightening open-toothed grin and sharp black eyes seemed to pull at her.

 
 
  She watched in frozen horror as Kaphawn reached out one huge hand covered in taut leathery brown skin. The nails were long and yellowed, with brown stains.

 
 
  Blood! The brown stains are blood. Amber’s—or Auriel’s—or Rahmiel’s.

 
 
  She heard a sound, and realized it was her own scream.

 
 
  Kaphawn reached for her slowly at first then his fingers suddenly shot out, striking her abdomen.

 
 
  She screamed a high piercing screech.

 
 
  His fingernails scratched her and she could feel warm blood trickle down her skin toward her waistband, but he couldn’t stab into her abdomen and impale her. The binding worked.

 
 
  Kaphawn grabbed her around the waist and lifted her.
He can still kill me
. She tried to scramble away, but he held her effortlessly and laughed into her face.

 
 
  His breath was foul. She gagged.

 
 
  Kaphawn roared louder. He raised his arm back as if to strike her. She fought to get away in panic, clawing and hitting at him. A blow from his huge hand could easily break her neck.

 
 
  Then Rahmiel was there with a flash of sword. From behind the demon, Rahmiel stuck Kaphawn’s raised arm.

 
 
  Tehmuel and Auriel and three other Angels she hadn’t met appeared, swords drawn.

 
 
  Kaphawn dropped her to the floor to slice at Rahmiel. Kari crawled under the dining table. Her job was to stay out of the way. She scrambled back toward the wall.

 
 
  A large hard hand reached under the table. She couldn’t get away fast enough. The walls and chairs hampered her retreat. Steel strong fingers bit into her as Kaphawn hauled her out from under the table. She covered her head with her arms, but he crashed her against the table as he yanked, and she cried out in pain. Her arm flared with pain and fell limply to her side. She looked in surprise at the odd red lump in her forearm, and realized her arm was broken. Kaphawn swung her into the air. The pain as her arm flailed helplessly nearly caused her to pass out. She managed to grab her broken arm and hold it to her stomach.

 
 
  Rahmiel gazed at her in horror.

 
 
  “She is mine,” Kaphawn spoke in a low throbbing voice. It hurt her ears. He was holding her so tight she could barely breathe. She wondered if he intended to snap her spine.

 
 
  Other Guardians were all around, slicing at the demon with their swords when they could, careful not to hurt her. Kaphawn laughed at their efforts. They weren’t getting near him.

 
 
  “Auriel,” Rahmiel yelled. “I need to get close, get her out of here.”

 
 
  Kaphawn shoved her against the wall. She covered her face with her good arm, but her wrist smashed against the wall. “No,” she screamed.

 
 
  Kaphawn slashed at one of the swordsmen. He crashed back against the dining table, shattering it with a tremendous crash. The Angel didn’t jump right back up as she expected. She watched in horror as blood flowed from his chest and stomach onto the shattered remains of the table.

 
 
  Auriel and Rahmiel both came closer, trying to reach her, trying to get Kaphawn with their swords while avoiding her.

 
 
  Kaphawn held the sword of the fallen Angel.

 
 
  “I’m going in. You get her,” Rahmiel grunted as he slashed at Kaphawn’s sword.

 
 
  He rushed in close, and Kari screamed as the shining sword in Kaphawn’s fist came down hard on Rahmiel’s shoulder. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see Rahmiel die. Gasping sobs, plus Kaphawn’s grip, made it hard to breathe.

 
 
 
I’m going to pass out.
 Kari forced herself to calm down, and take deep breaths.

 
 
  Just as a strong hand encircled her arm, Kaphawn sliced at Auriel. He, too, went down. Kaphawn roared with laughter, but Kari grabbed for Auriel’s sword. Her wrist screamed with pain, but she could still move it.

 
 
  Rahmiel climbed back up, swaying, blood pouring from a gash on his forehead and another from high on his shoulder.

 
 
  Kaphawn swung her around. Her sprained wrist throbbed with pain, but she gripped the sword and stabbed down, through Kaphawn’s instep.

 
 
  Kaphawn roared in surprise and pain, and his foot was pinned to the floor. Rahmiel charged him from the other side. The remaining Angels regrouped and closed in from the back.

 
 
  “Get Kari!” Rahmiel shouted. One of the Angels grabbed her arm then all was white Ether.

 
 
  Without a word to her, the Angel disappeared, leaving her in the quiet, soft whiteness.

 
 
  Kari groaned and swallowed back the bile that kept moving up her throat. She sank back into the Ether and closed her eyes. Both her arms throbbed with pain and she was bleeding from small cuts on her abdomen and a cut on her broken arm she couldn’t remember receiving.