Angelfire (27 page)

“They won't track you there?” I asked skeptically. “Ragnuk tracked us to the warehouse.”

“If Bastian's vir were around, we'd already be dead and they'd have the Enshi,” he said. “They won't sit around in the shadows and stalk us. What they want is right here.”

I felt that was the cue to get the hell out. “So then the sarcophagus
shouldn't
be right here.”

Will nodded. “Let's get going. It's suicide hanging around.”

Will and I followed the van in my car. He didn't say anything, and neither did I. The van pulled onto a quiet street with houses spaced far apart. We followed it up a long wooded driveway to a beautiful house overlooking a lake. Nathaniel opened the doors of a three-car garage, and Will jumped out
of the van to help him unload the sarcophagus.

“Is this your house, Nathaniel?” I asked, admiring the view of the lake.

“Yes,” Nathaniel said, and closed the garage door. I remembered Will had said he lived here, and I imagined him sitting in his room, playing the guitar. I couldn't stop myself from glancing at him and feeling a rush of warmth at the memory of our kiss. For a moment it was hard to breathe.

“You'd better have food,” Will said with a grin.

Lauren laughed, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Check the kitchen.”

He jogged inside the house.

“Don't clean out the pantry, though!” she called after him. “Or the fridge! Please don't make me go grocery shopping twice in one week.”

“I'll make sure,” Nathaniel offered, and followed Will inside.

“So do you live with Nathaniel too?” I asked Lauren as we went in the house.

She shook her head. “No, I just make sure these boys eat right and take care of themselves. I have a condo near campus. My parents are helping me rent it while I'm in school.”

“Are you a professional psychic? Do you do readings and stuff?”

She laughed. “Oh, no. I'm a nursing student.”

I imagined she'd make a very kind nurse someday. “How do you know Nathaniel?”

She smiled sweetly. “Reapers don't like it when you can see them. Nathaniel saved my life. I owe a lot to him, and I care about him deeply.”

Before I could ask her what had happened, she took my hand and led me into the kitchen, where Will was making a sandwich. Nathaniel was scolding him about destroying yet another shirt.

“I'll be right back,” Lauren said.

I stared at Will as he devoured his sandwich. “You weren't kidding about needing to eat, were you?”

He shook his head and wolfed down another bite. “Nope.”

Lauren returned and held out a clean red T-shirt. “Put this on,” she said. “You look disgusting.”

He laughed and took it from her hand without setting his sandwich on the counter. “Thanks, Lauren.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “Be grateful that I'm so generous. I almost brought you down a pink one.”

Will laughed. “Must be one of Nathaniel's. I don't own a pink shirt.”

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. “What makes you think
I
do?”

Lauren lifted a finger. “Behave. You, finish that sandwich.”

Will grinned through his last bite, pulled on the shirt, and went to make a second sandwich. I stepped up to help him, and when his eye caught mine, I smiled warmly at
him. He touched my arm tenderly, letting his hand slide down my skin. Another hot rush went through me, and I fought the urge to lean into him.

“I'll stay here and guard the Enshi and Lauren,” Nathaniel said. “I'll have our flight itinerary tomorrow. We'll probably have to ship the sarcophagus on a separate cargo plane.”

“Right,” I agreed.

“I'll be in touch.” Nathaniel smiled.

WILL AND I DIDN'T SAY MUCH ON THE WAY HOME. I got out of my car and he vanished, I presumed to the roof. The first thing I did when I got inside, after rushing up to my room, was call Kate. A shower could wait.

“Kate?” I asked when she answered.

“Hey,” she responded quickly. “What's up?”

I braced myself. “I need you to do an enormous favor for me on an epic, life-changing scale.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Are you going up north for Thanksgiving?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I'm going with you.”

She paused. “You…are?”

“Not really. I need you to cover for me.” I winced.

“For…?”

“If my parents ask you about where I am, or just
anything
, please, please can you tell them that we're up north until Friday?”

She paused. “Why? Where are you
really
going to be?”

I knew what I had to say to get her to vouch for me. “I'm going to be with Will.”

“Oh my
God
!” she squealed. “I knew it.”

I pulled my cell away from my ear as she freaked out.

“Are you going away on some romantic getaway?” She was far too excited. “I
knew
he was your boyfriend. Ellie Marie, I can't believe you lied to me, you hooker!”

“I'm really sorry, Kate,” I said honestly. “I just didn't want it getting back to my parents. He's older, you know, and they'd freak. Especially if they knew I was going out of town with him. So if my parents happen to not believe me for whatever reason, can you please cover for me?”

She snorted something incomprehensible. “Uh, yeah. You're my girl. I'd lie for you anytime.”

I let out a long sigh of relief and a short, uncomfortable laugh. “Thanks a lot.”

“You had better tell me
everything
!” she chirped. Her voice suddenly grew low and serious. “Do you think you guys will…you know?”

My eyes bulged. “Probably not.”

“Five bucks says you do.”

“
What?
You're putting wagers on my virginity?” Actually, I wasn't that shocked. “You're going to Hell, you know.”

“I wouldn't doubt it.”

“It's nice that you've accepted your fate so graciously.”

“Come
on
,” she groaned. “I assume by now you've finally kissed him since he's your boyfriend, and you're a total loser for not telling me, but whatever. You're going to be alone with him for three days doing God only knows what—okay, hopefully God doesn't really know
what
….”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well,
you
never told me everything.”

She didn't answer right away. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

I laughed. “Oh, yeah, you do. You and Landon?”

“Ellie, I swear nothing happened.”

“Don't get me wrong,” I insisted. “It's cool with me if you guys are…together.”

“I didn't sleep with him,” she said. “Nothing happened. We just kissed, that's all. I was too drunk to know what I was doing.”

“Do you like him?” I tried not to sound too curious, in case she got the impression I hoped she'd say no.

“I'm not really sure,” she confessed. “Kind of. Maybe. I don't know. I'm really happy nothing happened on Halloween, though. If I'm glad nothing happened, then it has to mean I'm not into him, right?”

I smiled even if she couldn't see me. “If you admitted it, I think you'd feel better.”

She laughed. “There's nothing to admit, trust me.”

I took a step back and bumped into a warm body and yelped. I turned to see Will standing there, frowning down at me.

“Ell?” Kate asked. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I thought I saw a spider.” I shook my fist at Will and scowled. “A big,
really
ugly one. Sorry.”

“Understandable,” she said. “I'll see you in school tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay, bye!” I glared up at Will, fearing what he might have heard of my phone conversation. “Why the ninja stealth? Is it really necessary?”

“I thought you knew I was in here,” he said. The apologetic, defensive look in his green eyes made me forget how irritated I was.

“It's okay. Just try to be a little more noisy next time.”

He laughed softly. “I don't think I could make a lot of noise if I tried. You should be a little more perceptive.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You're a boy. You're all noisy when it gets down to it. You'll figure it out. What are you doing in here, anyway?”

“I wanted to see how you're doing.”

“Ha!” I shouted, immediately clamping my hand over my mouth, embarrassed by how loud I had just been. I lowered my voice to a harsh whisper. “You're a liar. You got bored sitting up there on my roof all alone. Admit it.”

He frowned. He looked shockingly vulnerable at that moment. “I've never lied to you.”

Regret grew in my throat. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”

“Don't worry about it.” He gave me a sideways look. “Are you going to take a shower?”

I flushed scarlet and gave a nervous laugh. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Just reading your mind.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Don't scare me and say that. I just might believe you.”

He laughed. “I know you well enough to know that a shower is your highest priority right now.”

I huffed at him for being right as usual, and I grabbed my robe off its hook and walked to the bathroom, where I took an obscenely long shower. The hot water ran over me, washing away the dirt, dust, and dried blood. I wished the water would wash away the ache in my heart, but it only soothed my aching muscles. For now, that would have to do. I leaned my head against the glass shower door and closed my eyes, lost in thought. Ragnuk's half-burned-away face haunted me in the darkness behind my eyelids, flashing gnarled flesh and white bone. I tried to will the image away, but that was useless.

I knew I had to get past him. There were scarier things to worry about now, like losing my soul forever. And the Apocalypse.

I finished, dried off, dressed in my robe, and blow-dried my hair before heading back to my room. Will was sitting
on the end of my bed, leaning forward with his hands folded together. I self-consciously pulled my robe a little tighter and flashed a small smile. “You okay?”

His gaze met mine. “Isn't that my line?” he asked, his voice weak and tired.

“Usually.” I plopped down next to him. “I guess it's my turn now.”

He didn't immediately respond. We sat in silence for some time. I didn't feel confident enough to say anything at all. So I waited.

“What's ahead is going to be difficult,” he said gently. “Not simply this week but in the coming weeks. If we don't destroy the Enshi off Puerto Rico, then I'm not sure what will happen. We can't fail.”

I made a slow nod. “It's our only option, unless we blow it up.”

He shrugged. “I don't know how effective that would be. If it's an angel, then I have no idea how to kill it. If it's at the bottom of the ocean, at least nothing else can get to it to wake it up. Nothing can survive thirty thousand feet below the ocean's surface. Nothing is absolutely indestructible.”

“What if Bastian intercepts?” I asked.

His voice grew dark. “Then we'll have to fight him. I want to avoid him until the Enshi is at the bottom of that trench. We can't risk running into him or Geir and the others before then. We
can't
.” The desperation in that last word sent a spark of fear through me.

I didn't want to think of the possible results of something like that happening. We had to get it out of the city—out of the
state
—as soon as possible. Will wasn't the only one who didn't want to fight Bastian's vir. I knew I wasn't ready. They'd mop the floor with me, and I knew only the half of it. I'd seen none of what Ivar could do and only a little bit of Geir's power. We'd been lucky when we'd gotten away. I couldn't even fathom what the rest of them were truly capable of.

I grabbed my pajamas from a wad of clothing on the floor and went into my closet to change. When I came back out, Will hadn't moved. The furious concentration in his expression had furrowed his brow and tightened his lips. He stared at the floor.

“Did you eat enough at Nathaniel's?” I asked him, lifting his hair away from his eyes.

He didn't answer.

“Guess not. I know you needed to eat after the fight tonight.”

“I really don't want to eat right now.”

I smiled. “Don't move.” I went to the kitchen and explored my fridge. I was lucky to find a half-empty two-liter bottle of root beer in there, and a carton of vanilla ice cream in the freezer. I made a float, smiling fondly to myself as I stuck a spoon and straw into the glass and I took the sugary concoction upstairs.

Will still hadn't moved.

I stopped in front of him and held out the float. He looked
up at me, his eyes flashing, and he grinned.

“Ellie…”

“You aren't going to pass up a fabulous root beer float, are you?” I winked playfully.

He gave a gentle laugh and took the glass. I sat down on the bed beside him and watched him eat.

“Since I made it,” I said, “I get a sip and a bite.”

That beautiful smile widened. “Agreed.”

He gave me the spoon, and I took a bite of ice cream and then sipped a gulp of root beer to wash it down. “Mmm, that had better be the best damn root beer float you've ever had.”

“It is, trust me.” He watched me for a moment before he took the straw back and stirred. “However, it's even better when the ice cream melts. Just a little trick for you.”

He stirred until most of the ice cream was dissolved and the root beer had turned a milky brown color, like hot cocoa. “Try it now.”

He held the straw still while I took another sip. The root beer was softened with creamy vanilla and the carbonation was almost all gone. The result might have been the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted.

“It's amazing,” I said, and took another sip.

“Told you.”

We shared the last of it and I set the empty, frothy glass on a coaster on my nightstand. My heart pounded as I turned around to him, feeling the heat of his eyes on my back.

“Thank you,” he said. “I feel a lot better.”

“You couldn't fool me.” I eased up to him, and my heart sank when the worried expression returned to his face. “Will, do you regret it all? The fighting? Killing the demonic reaper?”

“I don't regret it, no.”

“But it bothers you,” I said. “That's why you wear the crucifix your mother gave you. And because you miss her.”

He looked up at me and his brow softened. “I guess you can read people better than I thought.”

I smiled warmly at him and smoothed my hand over his hair. “Only you. Hard as you try, you can never fool me.”

“I suppose not.”

My smile faded. “You know there are higher powers and Heaven and Hell out there, but you don't seem very religious.”

“I think religion is based on faith,” he said. “I don't need faith to know what I deal with every day. I know that there is a God and that Lucifer challenges Him. I know that there are the Fallen and there are angels who fight them. I know that there are creatures who drag innocent human souls to Hell to prepare for the Apocalypse and that I was designed to fight those creatures. Faith has nothing to do with my existence, but yes. You're right. I don't like killing, but I have to do it because it's my duty. Protecting human souls is the duty of any angelic reaper. Protecting you is my duty. I'm a soldier in a war, and the only difference between our war and the ones between humans is that this fight has been going on since
time began and it's not likely to be over any time soon.”

“Why would your mother give you a crucifix if reapers aren't very religious?”

He did that lip thing again, and my stomach flipped. “My mother was very devout in her belief that what we're doing is the right thing. She fought hard against the demonic, and I think wearing a cross made her feel closer to the archangels she served and to God. We get very lonely sometimes, and we lose track of our goals after so many centuries of fighting. I think it kept her grounded.”

“Does it keep you grounded too?”

“
You
keep me grounded,” he said. “And this crucifix reminds me that there are bigger things happening out there than just you and me. That there is a world beyond protecting you, even though you're all I really know. You asked me if I regretted any of it, and the answer, truthfully, is yes. The only thing I ever regret is failing you, letting you die.”

I continued to stroke his hair and said nothing. To be honest, I didn't really know what to say.

“And yes,” he continued, “I do miss my mother.”

“Do you think she's watching over you in Heaven?”

He tensed and didn't answer me right away. “Reapers don't have an afterlife. Heaven and Hell are for human souls. When a reaper dies, that's it. So, no. My mother is gone.”

My heart kicked in my chest and sadness blanketed me like heavy, freezing cold snow as the blood drained from my face. I'd always felt a small comfort knowing that when
I died, my soul would be safe. Nothing frightened me more than the possibility of the Enshi destroying my soul so that after my death, I would disappear. And here, this entire time, for Will's entire life, he knew that if he were ever killed, he would end the same way I would if my soul were eaten. My Guardians before him had all died for me and ended their existences. Will had known all along that his ultimate sacrifice for me would only bring him eternal nothingness, and despite knowing this, he still risked his life for me every night, every battle. If he died protecting me, fighting for me, he'd give up everything. There'd be no Heaven for him to rest and find peace in. All he would ever know was war and death and loss and sadness.