Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (134 page)

Forras had Alexander pinned to the ground, his long claws puncturing Alexander’s shoulder.

Bending to pick up the sword, she squared her shoulders then charged forward. Without thinking, she swung it over her head, the muscles in her back and shoulders flexing as the long metal blade became an extension of her body. With a smooth swing, as though she was hitting a homerun, the blade sliced through two horns then she spun around and chopped off the remaining two.

Forras screamed in agony as a yellow tar-like substance bubbled from his head and mouth. He fell to his knees, his guttural cries bellowing into the night. His eyes turned from fiery orange to a soft brown, his ashen skin snapping and popping as it blackened. Then, all at once, his body withered away into the Earth.

Hearing a twig snap, Gabby spotted Sammy and Grace land a few feet away with Bruce in tow. Her father stumbled and fell to his knees.

Dropping the sword, she raced to his side.

“Eliana,” he muttered, looking over her head into the graveyard.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Alexander’s skin crawled. The battle with the demons was over, but the smell of demon skin decomposing still lingered. And based on Bruce’s demented expression and the deep hatred for fallen angels he could sense emanating from the man, Alexander feared another battle would be forthcoming.

“Eliana,” Bruce whispered as he picked the sword up and staggered a few steps.

Alexander pushed the rising fear away and let go of his control. He refused to fight Bruce, not only for Gabby’s sake, but he’d come to care for the man. And if he was slain, he’d return to Heaven, or reincarnate in another body. Either way all would be right on Earth. Swallowing hard, he struggled to steady his trembling body.

Gabby threw herself into Alexander’s arms. He squeezed her once then stepped away from her. Whatever happened, Gabby wouldn’t be hurt. She’d been through enough because of him.

Dropping the sword, Bruce sank to his knees beside them. “Do you see her? Or is it another hallucination?”

Gabby and Alexander both turned to follow Bruce’s gaze.

A low, pulsating, daffodil yellow light approached from behind them. The dim glow intensified until the graveyard was lit as if by the mid-day sun. An outline of a small framed person emerged. A woman with a halo of golden curls floated a few feet from them.

“Bruce, my love. I’m sorry I never told you. I couldn’t. I volunteered to watch over and protect you on Earth. And as an angel, even earthbound, I couldn’t reveal myself.”

Alexander glanced at Gabby. She didn’t seem surprised to see her mother. He looked at Grace and the others, all of them with knowing smiles plastered on their faces.

As the aura of light faded, Eliana moved closer to Bruce. She cupped her hand to his cheek. “I never expected to fall in love with you.”

Bruce took a few shuddered breaths, but didn’t say anything.

“Someday, we’ll be together again, I promise you. But for now, there’s something you need to know.” She looked around the graveyard at each of them. “Something all of you need to know.” Eliana’s gaze rested lovingly on Gabby. “Gabby is special, a child of all worlds. Conceived by a Heavenly angel and earthbound hunter, but given powers by a demon of Hell.”

Her gaze once again skimmed over them. “A great war is coming. A war we lost a couple thousand years ago. Even now, Lucifer recruits lost souls and plans to ascend a great army to Earth.” She shot Gremory a harsh stare.

She glided to Gabby. “Heaven refuses to interfere with freewill, but will provide its own elite and special force to protect the innocent. Gabby is the key to stopping the war before it begins. She’s been granted divine powers which are only beginning to surface and should be left to develop without interference.”

Eliana brushed the matted light brown hair from Bruce’s forehead. “You have an important job to do, my love. In time, Gabby’s talents will increase. You must train her as a hunter. Grace, Sammy, and Alexander will help develop her angelic gifts, and Boon will help her understand the special skills gained from demon blood. Each one of you will play a part. Each one of you will fight. Not everyone will survive.”

Gabby wrapped her arms around Alexander and clung to him. He knew she feared losing him as he feared losing her.

“Eliana, my love. Please stay. We could fight as a family. The three of us would be unstoppable. I can’t do it without you. Please stay with me.” Bruce clutched her hands and pulled her into him.

“I cannot. But someday, we will be reunited and blessed for all we have given.”

Golden sunlight blinded them all for a moment as her aura brightened and hid her human form. Then it dimmed. “Bruce, your parents wanted me to tell you they are proud of you, and when the time is right, they will see you again in Heaven.”

Bruce dropped his head to the ground, sobbing as Eliana disappeared, leaving them in the moonlit graveyard.

Gremory jerked free of Grace and fled into the woods.

Alexander’s heart twisted with indecision but ultimately, he let the demon go. With Forras dead, their clan would scatter.

Gabby released Alexander and rushed to Bruce’s side. Dropping to her knees beside him, she rested her hand on his shoulder. “Daddy, it’s okay. We’ll fight together. No more secrets.” She lifted her hand and examined it. “In a way, it all makes sense. And now I know how Mom cured all my aches and pains.”

She lifted her gaze to Grace. “What powers will I possess?”

“I don’t know, child. While I have been granted knowledge of many things, you are unique. We won’t know what or how your powers will develop until they do.”

After everything that had happened, Alexander longed to hold Gabby, to confirm with all his senses that she was alive and safe. But things were different now. With the power she now possessed, the divine gifts blessed upon her from Heaven, she’d never want a fallen angel like him.

He thrust his hands in his pockets and shifted his feet, trying to keep himself from whisking her away in his arms. He wanted a moment alone together to hold her and brush his lips against hers one last time. Remembering her sweet cherry taste, the corners of his mouth rose, but he quickly shook his head to clear the grin.

Bruce climbed to his feet and, with shaking hands, lifted the sword and walked to Alexander.

Alexander stiffened.

“It’s okay, son. I’m not goin’ to use this.” Bruce held the sword out to him. “Take it. Do with it what you will. Gabby will give you the pistol as well.”

She retrieved the gun from where it lay on the ground then placed it in Alexander’s hands, running her fingertips along his thumb. Every nerve in his body stood at attention. How pathetic was that? A simple touch and his body went on high alert. He wanted to grab her hand, yet he stepped back as she turned toward Bruce. This was the way it was supposed to be. She had her father back.

Alexander faced Boon at his sister’s side, the love in the demon’s gaze almost bringing him to his knees.

Boon pulled Sammy’s tiny frame against him. “I thought we were going to lose you there for a minute.”

“Wow,” Bruce said, staring at the happy couple. “I thought I’d seen everythin’ in my line of work, but this?”

If only Alexander had the honor of being an ancient angel who had sacrificed himself for the good of the world—then maybe Gabby would look at him the way Sammy looked at Boon. He forced down the lump in his throat and placed the sword and gun near Boon, knowing he’d have a better idea of what to do with them. He turned and headed for the path to the beach.

A hand rested on his shoulder. He didn’t need to look to know who it was. His body only responded to one person that way.

“Alex.” Gabby’s voice caressed his ears and danced in his head. “Where are you going?”

He took in a long breath and steadied himself. “Away.”

She raced in front of him, blocking the path. “What? But why?” she asked, her voice cracking.

Dear God, could she still care for him?

He blinked, fearing the water in his eyes would betray him. “I thought…I thought you wouldn’t—”

“My crazy brother’s trying to tell you he still doesn’t think he’s good enough for you.” Sammy’s voice rang out across the graveyard, loud and obnoxious as always. But she was right.

“Is that true?” Gabby cupped his cheek, her touch erupting a fire inside that still scared him.

She rested her forehead against his and whispered, “Alex…I love you.”

Unable to restrain himself, Alexander wrapped his arms around Gabby. He pressed his body against hers and their lips met. His wings fluttered out as they rose toward the sky. Lost in the wonder of her, he forgot all about her father, his sister and Boon, and Grace. Wrapping his wings around her body in a feathery cocoon, a dull pulse echoed through him.

His tongue caressed hers and she quivered. As their kiss deepened, a wave of heat covered him from the tip of a white wing to the depths of his soul. He forced himself to bring them back to Earth, afraid he’d lose control and be found guilty of behavior unacceptable for even a demon.

When their feet touched the ground, they glanced around the graveyard, but everyone was gone. Holding each other, Alexander took off again for home, the taste of her cherry lips still teasing his tongue.

They landed on the beach in front of the house. Everyone sat on the front porch including Patronus, who was stretched out on a stair, snoring.

“Nice of you to join us,” Sammy giggled, curled in a white wicker chair.

Grace lifted a crystal pitcher of lemonade from a silver tray and poured some into ice-filled goblets. As she passed the glasses around, Alexander let go of Gabby’s hand and went to sit next to her.

“Mom, I have to tell you something.” His insides twisted with guilt and he wasn’t sure how to say it. He looked into her eyes, barely able to face the pain he was about to cause her. She was the woman who’d taken him in when he’d fallen from Heaven. She had guided him through the transition, and kept him from making more grave errors in judgment since being on Earth.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Forras, the young angel you told me about, the one I kept cursing and wanting to send to Hell…” His eyes cast down.

Grace stroked his face and lifted his chin. “It’s all right, Dear. He’s at peace.”

“How do you know?”

She looked up at the hint of light breaking through the darkness overhead. “I just do.”

Bruce looked between them, his eyes laden with guilt. “I think I played a role in him becomin’ a demon. You see, I thought I was protecting the world by hunting earthbound creatures. The people I work for will stop at nothing to annihilate all supernatural beings. There was never a thought that one creature could differ from another. Now I know there are difference between you and demons.”

Alexander winced. He’d be dealing with these people in the future. Were they the same people Bruce worked for? Would they come after Bruce or Gabby when they learned he’d quit?

Bruce nodded at Boon. “I, too, followed orders like a good soldier and when I chased him down, he lost control. That’s why the young woman died.” He looked down at his hands clutching the goblet. “It was my fault.”

“No, Bruce. It wasn’t your fault.” Grace patted his hand. “You did what you felt was necessary. We each make our own choices in life. Things happen that will help us grow and hopefully prevent future mistakes. Maybe Forras, in a way, saved Alexander. All of these events have brought us together for a reason. Only Heaven truly understands our purpose. You don’t think it’s a coincidence we all ended up in this small town together, do you?” Grace’s eyebrow lifted.

“I’m so confused.” He leaned forward and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Boon, you said somethin’ when we were back at the boathouse. Somethin’ about you once being an angel, but you didn’t fall?”

“I’ve been on Earth a long time,” Boon said. “I was sent to fight a human who had gained so much power he threatened both Heaven and Hell. An army of angels fought, but few survived. Some were cursed to remain in death between two worlds, others to remain on Earth as demons.” He paused, the furrows between his eyes deepening. “After all seemed lost, a special angel came to me and helped provide insight. She’s an incredible angel, who sees the good in everyone.”

Good in everyone
, Alexander repeated the words in his head. Grace. That was how she knew Herak and Boon. No one on Earth or in Heaven thought like Grace.

“The fight was lost but a new tactic emerged,” Boon continued. “I went and reasoned with the human and convinced him to give away his powers. When he agreed, and I placed him in a land under a curse of his own making, Earth was saved. However, the damage had been done, the curse unbreakable. Those who knew us back then voluntarily came to Earth to support us. We pray that someday we can free the ones stuck in the dark realm of death.” Boon squeezed Sammy’s hand. “The angels that returned to Heaven never forgot us. Their love is as strong now as it was before the war.”

Alexander’s heart ached at the realization of what Boon had been through, how he, himself, had treated him, and how Sammy loved him. How could he remain cursed and not display an ounce of anger toward the man who’d ruined him?

“But why doesn’t Heaven break the curse, enabling you to return and free the ones in darkness?” Bruce inquired.