whiskey witches 01 - whisky witches (37 page)

She frowned at him in question.

“We wished for some luck.”

“It could be anyone.” She leaned her hands against the dashboard, getting as close as she could, hoping for a better view point.

A man stepped out of the bushes, tall and muscular in his black jeans and raggedy t-shirt. His blonde, short hair shone in the brilliant sun as he stood before them. A sick smile graced his lips as he mouthed something she couldn’t understand.

“That’s Sven.”

D
EXX’S EYEBROWS ROSE
in alarm. “You’re kidding me. Sven? That’s him?”

Not that Paige really recalled what his human form looked like, but her soul rang with his name. “Yeah.”

“Okay. Time for your plan. Bring on the earth magick.”

It had been more a theory. Less a plan.

Dexx started for the door.

Sven raised his arms high over his head, his voice almost audible as he called out to them.

Dizziness attacked Paige. Time stilled. Brown leaves swirled in a spiraling dance in front of her. A piece of construction paper slowly sailed on the wind. Dexx moved in snail-like motion as he pushed his door open.

Paige tried to yell at him.

No sound emerged.

She tried to move, to grab him.

Her body wouldn’t budge.

Energy shot through the windshield, vaporizing it as though it were nothing but water. The glass rippled, then reformed unharmed. The power wrapped around her, dark and damp, with a musty tang. What the hell?

With a force of iron will, she grabbed Dexx’s hand and pulled him back in the car. “Go.”

Sven tipped his blonde head, a sick smile sliding into place.

The world blanked as the energies pulsed.

“What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Taking a step toward her, Sven’s expression turning feral.

Her eyes hurt. “We. Have. To. Go.”

Dexx brought Jackie to roaring life.

Paige allowed herself to sag in relief. Her shields slipped. Her gift leapt, clawing, ripping, tearing its way out of her, reaching, grasping, stretching toward the stranger. It pulled. It called. A single name issued forth.

Sven took a staggered step forward.

She had his true name and with it came a plethora of information. After being slain two hundred years before, he’d been born again after the first world war. He’d grown up in Queens. He’d had friends, watched them all die. Then on the eve of his own death as an old man, a knowledge had blossomed within him.

He was a demon and a very dangerous one.

Something seeped into her, pushing at her, shredding her soul, her very existence. A thick oily sludge blanketed her. Her breath quickened as she put more effort into staying in her body, maintaining control. Sweat broke out on her brow. She folded in her seat, concentrating on just staying . . . her

She gritted her teeth. “Dexx. Go.”

He put Jackie in gear, her tires squealing.

Sven lowered his head, his arms spread as his lip curled.

Smoke rolled around them. Jackie struggled to break free. She rumbled and roared, but didn’t move.

Let me in. Let me see him.

Paige dug her nails into the leather seat.

Jackie roared in pain.

Something pushed at Paige, like someone’s hand inside her chest.

She deflected it with every ounce of will she had.

The foreign force stopped.

Sven’s beautiful face shown.

Her gift flared. Names rose to her lips.

“Mammon, Shax, Abaddon.” Her voice was so distant. “Rise. I need you.”

From the smoke from Jackie’s tires, three bodies materialized.

Jackie ceased her struggle, her motor purring as she faced off against the demons.

Dexx’s chest rose and fell as he wrung the steering wheel. “Pea, what’s going—”

One of the demons stumbled forward, his arms flung wide. Surprise and shock raced across his expression.

Sven watched through narrowed eyes.

Dexx pushed himself as far back in his seat as he could manage.

Something inside her slid, went sideways.

A stick crashed against Jackie’s door.

Then the demon flew toward the car, crashing into Jackie’s windshield, his face plastered against the cracked glass. His fingers stretched. His bloodied mouth moved. His black eyes glazed.

His soul permeated her existence. He pushed at her, tearing at her, making room for him within her body.

A wild roar burst from her.

The body plastered to the windshield disappeared, leaving only smears of blood in its place. Molten heat sizzled along the glass, melting the cracked edges back together.

She stared through eyes that weren’t her own, fought for control of lips that refused to obey her commands. One thought shot through her.

Not again.

Names flew from her mouth, names she didn’t know.

Bodies appeared around them. Men, flexing hands, hopping in place, preparing for battle.

Shit. Shit.

“Hey, demon,” Dexx shouted.

Paige—the demon—turned to him and snarled.

Dexx retrieved a canteen from the driver’s side door, and splashed water onto her.

The demon screamed, releasing an ethereal roar from Paige’s throat.

Now was her chance. She had to move. She gathered her strength and pushed.

The damned demon didn’t even budge.

“Come on, Pea.”

Strong fingers wrapped around her, raising her out of her pained existence. A sword of light slammed through her. The demon screamed, shrinking away from the pain, his presence shriveling. Her soul stretched, filled her fingers, filled her toes. She opened her eyes.

What the fuck?

A blinding light erupted over the scene, cascading around them.

The demons roared as one.

Shivers ran down Paige’s spine. She stood outside of the car, her legs wobbly.

What in the hell was going on? How had she gotten out of the car?

Dexx stared at her through the passenger window. He reached for the door.

She waved him away.

He ignored her, pulling at the handle, pushing at the door.

It didn’t move.

She felt the presence of another, someone large and awe inspiring. She looked around.

A man stood immediately behind her, wearing a white suit with a blue tie.

She craned her neck, taking a step back. His head blotted the sun, rays of light streaming around him like a crown.

He gripped her arm, holding her close, engulfing her in warmth. Hope attacked her defenses. “Call Xael.”

“Who?” Her voice came out in a squeak.

The man surveyed the gathering crowd. “I cannot call him and cannot deal with these as should be done.” His heavy gaze landed on her. “Call Xael.”

“No.”

He shook her. “Call him.”

“Who is he?” She knew. Xael. She’d heard the name before. An angel. A damned angel. No. She wasn’t playing. No.

Sven popped his neck and flexed his fingers.

“He can fight these vermin.”

Paige attempted to step away. Rachel played with angels. Paige wanted no part of them.

He didn’t allow it. “I offer protection, guidance—”

“I don’t want help from an angel.”

Sven reached out with his hand and twisted.

Paige crumpled to the ground with the force of his power.

The angel knelt beside her. “I cannot fight them and defend you. You must call Xael.”

Three demons attacked Jackie.

The car let out a battle cry as Dexx mashed his foot on the accelerator.

“He’s better versed at this type of battle. Paige.”

Paige struggled to rise to her feet, to help Dexx. Her legs wouldn’t obey. Something pressed against her, demanding entrance.

The angel’s jaw ticked. “Please.”

She didn’t have much more time to think about it. Sven was nearly in and once there, he could push her out, take control of her gifts. She reached toward her power, grabbed hold and called. “Xael. I need you.”

The moment stilled. Jackie paused, one tire raised. A demon crouched, preparing to toss her. Dexx froze midair, his legs sprawled, his arms reaching toward his opponent. Sven’s head tipped to the side, watching her with keen interest. The other demons froze in various poses of battle.

A blinding white light enveloped the scene. If Paige could have moved, she would have shielded her eyes, but she was just as frozen as everyone else. A crash of thunder cracked across the residential street.

And a man appeared, kneeling in the middle of a shallow crater. He stood, his arms flexing and for one moment, Paige could see the shadow of his wings against the light.

He turned toward her, realigning his gray, pinstriped suit jacket and red tie. “Raphael,” he said, nodding toward the angel beside her.

She had one glorious oh-shit moment before the time freeze relented. Chaos ensued. A gunshot rent the air. A demon roared in pain. Another grunted. Dexx hit the hood of his car with a metallic clank.

The demons stopped mid-action and turned to Paige, the archangel, and the newcomer.

“What did you do?” Sven asked, straightening.

Paige didn’t even get a chance to shake her head.

Xael reached inside her chest, grabbed hold of her gift, and sent the demons back one at a time.

Sven retreated several steps as the angel’s attention turned to him. “I have the key.”

Xael’s lips twisted along with the hand in Paige’s chest. “I care not, vermin.”

Power raced from her. She couldn’t breathe through the overwhelming pain.

Sven didn’t budge.

Xael squeezed harder.

Her head fell back. A scream of silence issued forth.

Sven took a step back. A shocked smile graced his lips. “Next time, boys.” He disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.

Xael released her with a curse, and said something she couldn’t comprehend.

Strong arms caught her, held her close. Soft words whispered against her ear.

Darkness overtook her.

B
LOOD BOILING NAUSEA
woke her. Stumbling, she managed not to fall. She fought the urge to throw up. Or scream. Either one sounded great at the moment.

Raphael.

She closed her eyes and tried to pull away.

“Do not fight me, child,” the archangel said. A chair slid across linoleum. “Here. Sit down. Your stomach will be fine in a little while.”

Paige sagged into the wooden chair. “Where are—” The smells, the bright, cheery interior brought back childhood memories. Realization halted her words.

“We thought to bring you to a place you felt safe.” Raphael kept his attention focused straight ahead of him. “You feel safe here.”

Alma’s kitchen. Pain knocked on her heart, reminding her of the times before the betrayal. “Used to feel safe here.” She rose. “I need to get back.”

“There are too many.”

Xael leaned against the wooden island. He took a green apple from the silver pot sitting beside him. “You worry too much, Raphael.”

The archangel’s jaw clenched.

“Les?” Alma called from the front of the house. “Is that you?”

“Oh, crap.” Paige kept her eye on the door. “That’s my grandmother.”

Raphael frowned at her. “I know who she is, child.”

“Don’t ‘child’ me,” Paige snapped. “Get us out of here!”

Xael raised a single eyebrow, taking a step toward her.

Alma stepped into the room. She halted, her white gaze bewildered. “Paige, what are—”

The kitchen disappeared and pain took its place. Paige’s blood boiled. Her limbs threatened to split from her body. A new setting materialized around her.

This time, she did throw up.

“Xael.” Raphael’s tone dripped in condescension. “What have you done?”

The other angel held up a hand and munched on his apple. “You might want to look after your charge.”

Paige looked up at them both from the grass. They’d materialized on the shore near Fanny’s inn. The sun sank toward the horizon, setting the world around her in a wash of reds and pinks. “Please.” She wiped her mouth. Her stomach told her it was empty. Awesome. “Continue to ignore me.”

“Why have you brought us here?” Raphael reached for her arm.

Paige scrambled away from him on all fours. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet a safe distance away. “I’ve had enough with the angel bus. We’re not going anywhere unless there’s a different form of ‘ranspor’ation.”