Redemption (A NOVEL OF THE SEVEN SIGNS) (49 page)

Fluvium’s teeth grazed his throat, and the demon groaned, his stolen muscles swelling. Japheth’s eyes watered. Rose’s hair tangled on his face, drenching his nose with her scent. Her body strained upon his. Her thighs crushed him, her breasts pressed against his naked chest, her sweet lips tore at his throat…

Desire and hatred screamed burning discord in his blood. He knew it was Fluvium. He wanted it to be her. He wanted to surrender. Tear the rest of her clothes off, and drown himself in her. Suck her nipples into his mouth, let her sink those beautiful teeth into his throat and suck him hard. Thrust his straining
cock inside her and make her come screaming, while the sky split apart and died.

Fluvium banged his head into the catwalk, dizzying. The demon laughed, spitting fiery sparks. And he threw back his head and howled to hell.

The roiling storm clouds shuddered, and cracked asunder, and the fat blood-soaked moon grinned down, gloating like hellfire.

The sky shimmered in evil triumph. Japheth’s bones burned. Already, from a hundred floors below, he could hear the howling, the fighting, thousands of dying screams.

He yelled, and blue flames erupted from his fingers. But Fluvium batted them aside effortlessly. “Don’t fight me, angel,” he snarled with Rose’s bloody lips. “It’s over. You’re mine.”

His strength was failing. Desperately, he flexed his wings, trying to lever the demon away…and his feathers brushed cold silver.

His armor. The vial.
The power to scorch men with fire
…

His mind raced. They’d all die. Him. Rose. The vampires. The vial would be spilled. The End would begin again. For that, he’d never be forgiven.

But millions of humans might still be saved. He had no place. His life was over. Rose would never be his.

And he was sick to his fucking heart of all this death.

He flung out one weakened arm, scrabbling desperately for the vial.

Fluvium’s eyes—Rose’s eyes—fired scarlet in thirsty moonlight. “You’ll never do it, angel,” he taunted. “You’ll never end the world to stop me. You’re too damn scared of hell.”

And he curled back like a serpent, impossibly flexible. Rose’s naked body gleamed, and she bared her beautiful fangs to strike.

And then her eyes flashed black, the human spark blazing alive. “Do it!” she screamed, and the voice was hers.

Japheth’s fingers closed over the smooth vial. Golden flame burned him to the bone. He screamed, wings alight, and flung the vial skywards.

It cartwheeled, a flashing golden star. The demon moon shrieked. The storm clouds howled, and exploded in thunder. Light erupted, sweet and hot and impossibly bright…and the bleeding heavens rained fire.

CHAPTER 46

Rose groaned, and forced her eyes open.

The catwalk, coated in black charcoal. Ash drifted on swirling breeze, and she smelled wildfire. Radiant heat threatened her skin. The sky glowed orange, a crimson-fired sunrise. Below her, downtown Babylon burned.

Fuck, she ached all over. Wincing, she pushed to her knees. The edges of half-burned skyscrapers glowed red, flames twinkling like bloody stars. Debris littered the streets, twisted steel girders, the blackened shells of vehicles. Smoke rasped in her throat. She coughed, and whirled, fear spiking her nerves….

But Fluvium wasn’t there. Only a smoking heap of ash on the catwalk, black and stinking with corruption.

She wiped her hands on the demon’s coat that she still wore. It felt warm, sickly like skin under her palms. Beneath it, her clothes were torn and blackened, her naked skin exposed. But she wanted to tear the coat off, fling it over the edge, get the demon off her forever…

Her mouth firmed, and she buttoned the coat and stumbled to her feet, dizzy. Her eyes stung, blurry and dull. Something was wrong with her ears. She couldn’t hear properly.

She shook her head, trying to clear her ears. No heartbeats. No sighs, no screams, no slithering demon breath…

Oh, shit.
Her hand flew to her mouth, and found teeth, short and blunt. She stretched her jaw. No fangs popped out. She flexed her thighs, experimental. Still strong. Still flexible. But the evil preternatural strength was gone. Fluvium was dead. He had no power over her anymore.

She was free.

Holy motherfucker. It worked…but what about Japheth? Is he…?

“Auntie Rosie?”

Her heart leapt into her throat like a hot frog. She turned, breathless. Bridie tottered along the catwalk in her clown suit, screwing one little fist into her eye. She hiccupped. “Auntie Rosie, I’m tired.”

Stunned, Rose folded the little girl into her arms. No cruel heat. No sharp teeth. Even the blood in Bridie’s hair was gone.

Rose’s eyes misted, burning. Did this mean the innocent were all spared? She didn’t know. She didn’t care.

Thank you,
she whispered silently. She didn’t expect a response. She didn’t get one.

“Oh, honey. You okay?” Rose crushed Bridie tighter, tears flooding her cheeks. She never wanted to let go. But her heart ached, fearful. After what Bridie had been through, no telling what damage had been done…

But Bridie just sniffled, and wriggled. “You’re squeezing me,” she said indignantly. Her eyes shone clear. Untroubled. Like she’d forgotten everything.

I hope so. Oh, God, I hope so.
“I’m so sorry, honey. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Bridie pointed. “Is that man okay?”

Rose turned, fearful, holding Bridie’s hand.

Japheth lay on the scorched catwalk. Flat on his back, wings flung wide. His feathers were gone, only charred golden stumps remaining. His shirt was torn, burned to rags, and his beautiful hair had singed away, his skin burned to raw flesh.

In one blackened hand, he clutched a dirty, empty golden vial.

Sick, Rose dived to her knees at his side. Cradled his head on her lap. His ruined flesh felt hot in her hands. Her throat lumped. “Wake up, angel. C’mon. It’s done. You won.”

He didn’t. Not moving. Not breathing.

Fresh tears spilled, acidic with injustice.
Why keep me, and let him die? So he spilled your stupid vial. He’s just one man. He can’t save everyone.

Anger poured heat into her veins…but it was weary, defeated anger. Not the violent rage of denial.
You’re all-powerful, aren’t you? So you go ahead and stop the end of the world, if that’s what you want. Just leave us be.

She pressed her face to Japheth’s scorched cheek. Kissed his burned lips. They still tasted of him, fire and rage and sweet sorrow. Tears slipped into her mouth, and she forced them back.

Maybe he didn’t save the world. But he saved us.

He saved me.

“You did good, baby,” she whispered, stroking his charred face. “Them and their stupid rules? Fuck ’em. I see you. And you did real good.”

Warmth coalesced, and surrounded her with light.

She gasped, energized. A golden aura rippled over Japheth’s body, shimmering, healing his ravaged skin. His feathers glimmered, and sparkled, renewed. His hair gleamed fresh and golden, alight with gentle flame.

And he heaved in a choking breath, and opened his eyes.

Rose stared, speechless. So green, her angel’s gaze. No violet-dark flame to spoil his glory. He was healed. Un-cursed.

Forgiven.

Japheth stared up at her. Pushed up on his elbows, arms bulging, and scratched his hair with the edge of one bewildered wing. “What the hell just happened?”

Tears and laughter choked her at the same time. Her chest ached inside. But it was a good pain. “You happened, angel.” She played her fingers through his magnificent hair. Damn, he looked fine shirtless. “God fucking help us.”

Beside her, Bridie giggled, and covered her mouth. “Auntie said a naughty word.”

Japheth looked at Bridie. Glanced at Rose, a hint of an enchanted smile. And he hopped up onto his haunches, elbows on knees and wings swept back. “And who are you?”

“I’m Bridie. I’m six.”

“Hello, Bridie-who’s-six.” He offered his hand. “I’m Japheth.”

She shook it gravely. “Are you an angel?”

He touched her chin softly, and Rose felt an irrational urge to burst into tears. “I am that. How would you like to fly with me? If it’s okay with your auntie, of course.”

“Awesome!” Bridie tugged Rose’s arm. “Can I?”

Rose laughed, delirious. Right now, she’d agree to anything…

But cold spidery legs scuttled down her spine. What now? Surely, he was just being kind to her. She had no home. No job. Nowhere to go. If he left her alone, she’d have…

Nothing.

The stray thought fired her anger. No, that wasn’t true. She had Bridie. They’d manage, just the two of them, like before…

Japheth scooped up his armor. The silver gleamed, newly spotless. His wings shimmered, and disappeared, and swiftly he buckled the armor over his bare chest. He flashed his wings back, and golden feathers sparkled, catching the glorious light of dawn.

Rose’s breath caught. Beautiful devil, this angel. Too beautiful to be real, and alive, and hers.

She forced a smile, shivering both cold and warm. “Sure you can, honey. Where are we going?”

Japheth picked up the empty golden vial. Hesitated, his gaze shadowed. And then he tightened resolute fingers around it, and held out his arm to embrace her. “Home.”

*   *   *

Deep in endless black oblivion, light poured into Jadzia’s eyes.

She screamed, reaching for it, clawing through the darkness. Light.
Sensation. Feeling. Not this awful nothingness. Anything but that…

“Jadzia.” Shax’s dark velvety voice pierced the silence. “Come back, Jadzia.”

She grasped for the sound, frantic.
Yes. I’m alive. Something’s out there. Someone… I’m not alone.

Not alone!

“Jadzia, come to me.” Commanding, remorseless. Dragging her from the emptiness.

Air slammed into her lungs, and her lifeless heart started beating.

The world exploded around her, relighting her consciousness like fireworks. Broken rock scraped her face. Dirt crumbled under her nails. Her skin warmed, brightened, glistening with glory. Her feathers sprang taut. She exulted. Sensation. Feeling. Life.

She gasped in shuddering release, and her eyes flickered open.

CHAPTER 47