Crushed Seraphim (4 page)

More lightning flickered as an answer to her curses. Finally, with a huge boom of thunder, a slanted shaft of golden light punched through the clouds, stopping just inches from her bunnies’ noses.

“He’s such an ass. Who sends a ladder? Honestly, anyone could go up now. He flaunts his power and makes stupid choices.” She extended a bunny and the sunlight became a translucent step for her feet.

She looked over her shoulder to address him. “Hey, half-breed, sorry about your luck. For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re so bad.”

Jason watched as she ran up the stairs, dingy feathers now falling from her wings like magical rain. He replayed her words:
“Anyone could go up now.”

Anyone could go up the stairs…

Jason rushed up the stairs behind her. Despite his half-breed speed, the little slivers of see-through step were wiggling and unsteady. He knew going back down would lead to a hard fall, so he focused again on the path ahead. Rapidly fading into the distance, Emma seemed close to flying with her speed.

Finally, in a dizzying array of clouds, electricity, and blinding sunlight, Jason arrived at the top of the stairs. The clouds were still pulsating from where Emma had penetrated them, and he ran through to catch up.

Her angry voice stopped him. “You send me down, just to let me back up again? You can’t decide what the hell you want, can you?”

Jason stood still, and sure enough the clouds parted enough for him to see her as if through a sheer curtain. She remained in her pajamas, hands on her hips, scowling. The object of her hate stepped into view. He glowed like the sun, waxed and shined. His wings were easily the size of two cars. They trapped light like crystals and threw off rainbows in every direction. He was bare-chested, wearing only a pair of jeans. His rippling muscles flaunted his strength.

“Emma. Sweet Emma. You couldn’t turn down a chance to get a good look at me again, could you?” The angel trailed a finger from his neck to his abdomen, licking his lips as he looked at her.

Jason was jealous. The feeling seemed compounded by the altitude. His anger had him shaking.

“Everett. Asshole Everett,” Emma said, mocking him. “Looking at you makes me wish I could still work up a forceful puke.”

She didn’t look scared, but from this angle she did look dirty. These clouds were like cotton candy made from starlight. Emma was a grubby sock in a pile of bleached laundry. The vision that was Everett walked closer, and he made his pectoral muscles dance like a male stripper.

“How’s your redemption going?” He gave an elaborate pout.

Emma snorted. “About as good as your erections were on Earth.”

Everett flew toward her. Jason wanted to go to her side, fight for her, but the clouds that hid him had become a tight-fitting shroud. He struggled against them, but he couldn’t move, couldn’t help.

Emma tried beating her one floppy wing to gain some height, but it barely lifted her off her feet. Everett’s out-of-place smile grew more menacing as he swooped closer. Jason felt his mind cry as Emma gave up on her wing and squared her stance. She curled her hands into fists. Her defense looked like someone planning to blow out a forest fire with one breath.

Emma!

Her words came to him again as his concern escalated.
“I am as you perceive me. This is how you want me to be.”

Jason shook his head and channeled his mental distress into something useful. As he began to picture her, she transformed. The bunny slippers became thigh-high leather boots. Jason made her a gladiator. He was even able to picture her wing dyed jet black. Her hands were soon wrapped around two coal-colored swords, as sharp as he could imagine them.

Everett stopped his threatening approach and set his feet close to, but not quite touching, the cloud-covered ground support.

“Oh, we’re not alone?” Everett scanned the area in mock surprise, pretending to look for Jason. “Did your new boyfriend try to get in the backdoor of Heaven?”

Emma didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge the change in Everett’s demeanor. She dropped one blade and hoisted the other above her head. She charged at Everett, who merely snickered. A clear divider materialized to stop the blade’s downward motion. Emma tossed the weapon and pounded on the barrier with her hands.

Everett began laughing, a deep, false-sounding noise. “Did you really think I wanted to fight? Emma, Emma, Emma. I come in peace. I’m here to offer you guidance in your time of need. Tell me, precious girl, what can I do for you?”

Emma ran a hand through her hair. Jason wrapped her hair in a ponytail for her mentally, appreciating the soft curve in her neck.

“You can go screw yourself, for starters.” She paced behind the barrier, her eyes scanning the clouds and pausing on the spot where Jason was hidden.

“You know, I was listening the other day, and it seems there might be some development down on the rocks of Croton,” Everett said. “Shame, the eagles will lose their habitat. Such is the way of the world.”

Emma became a statue. This seemingly innocuous information about eagles had terrified her. “You won’t touch him. You will
not
put your filthy hands on him.”

Everett’s voice went up an octave, as if he was talking to an infant. “Sammy-poo? Now, Emma I don’t need to tell you what my job up here entails. You did it for so many years.”

Everett approached the divider and placed a hand flat against it, offering his palm for her viewing.

Her voice came again — quiet and tremendously more threatening than when she’d been cursing. “Mention his name one more time, and I swear on your dirty soul I’ll — ”

Everett interrupted. “You can’t do anything. Please. You have to save the soul of a morose half-breed. Good luck with that. I’m untouchable, and you know it.” Everett put his mouth closer to the divider. “If
Sam’s
time is up, then I do my job,” he whispered. “And if his time is up in his next form, I’ll
keep
doing my job.”

Emma placed her hand against Everett’s palm, then curled it into a fist and punched the divider.

Everett winked and blew her a kiss. “Reincarnation is crazy, isn’t it? You die again and
again
and
again
and
again.”

“You’re a vicious bastard. I’ll get up here soon. And I
will
rip your black heart out and deliver it to Hell where it belongs.” Emma stepped away from Everett.

Only another man would see the longing in his eyes, the want. Jason’s eyes widened as he registered Everett’s buried feelings.

Everett pulled his hand away from their almost-touch and ran his fingers across his lips. “Your pain tastes like honey. I want more.” His angel wings flared vibrant red.

He threw his arms above his head in a vicious cheer. “Run, pretty Emma! Try to fly! Save them all. I’ll be waiting.”

Everett smiled and twitched his head in the exact direction of Jason’s cloud coffin. The bottom fell out and Jason started a breakneck fall to Earth.

Emma dove almost immediately after him, ignoring Everett’s rising cackle of volcanic laughter. Jason’s remaining cloud confines unwrapped, leaving him free to flail as he hurtled to Earth.

Emma was glad to see him provide resistance to the wind while she maintained her perfect diver’s form, her wing tucked so she’d be aerodynamic. When she drew even with him, she wrapped her arm around his waist. He looked worried as she glanced down to gauge their speed.

“Do me a favor, half-breed, when I loosen my wing, grab the end and hang on.” Emma concentrated as the wind filled in all the space around them.

Will it hurt you?
Thinking was easier than yelling.

“No. Quit being thoughtful — it pisses me off.” She sounded tough, but she had a hint of a smile.

Jason took a firm grip on the end of her wing. Her black feathers arched into a parachute above them and
their drop slowed considerably. Emma tilted her head back to glare at the clouds above their heads.

“I wouldn’t put a tornado or hurricane past that asshole.” She was still angry, ready to fight.

Jason readjusted his hand, trying to find a softer way to hang on to her.

It’s a long way down. Why don’t you tell me why someone so evil is allowed in the gates of Heaven, and you’re tossed out?

She focused on him, finally. “Everett knows how to work the system. Always has, always will.”

Jason watched as the ground grew closer, more tangible. The morning light had gone from pink to light blue, brightening with its effort of bringing a new day. Emma’s lips were so close to his, her body pressed so tightly against him, it was mind-numbing. She smelled like a honeysuckle and clouds. Thankfully she seemed to be ignoring his thoughts, or was completely immersed in her own.

“I hate him. There’s nowhere in the world I can go to get away from him. I wish…” She seemed to remember to have a tough exterior as the ground got closer.

Jason’s feet prepared for the impact. They were two wishes blowing back down to the land.

He thought in her direction.
Tell me what you wish. Please?

Then Emma and Jason landed gently. He released her wing, hating how hard he’d had to hold on to make their impromptu landing gear successful. A bouquet of her feathers had come loose in his hand.

“I’m fine, half-breed. Really.” She stretched her arms and wing at the same time.

She looked dispassionately at her leather battle armor. He quickly pictured her in a long, white-velvet dress. Simple and warm.

Tell me
.

Emma liked her new outfit. He could tell by the way she ran her hand over the fabric.

“I wish I had a forgiving heart.” She turned her back on him.

Her scar now looked more silver, like it might start to bleed again. He began to pray.
God, she needs strength.

The wound became more like a tattoo again, healing.

She sighed and hugged herself. “I can’t even pretend to forgive him. I should do better. I know I should.”

Jason had no words or thoughts to help her. He couldn’t imagine forgiving Everett for a damn thing.

Emma turned to face him, rubbing her temples. “Okay. Let me think here…I need to get you to the next event.”

“Aren’t we going to help Sam?” Jason stepped closer, imagining her in a downy white jacket and pair of mittens.

She shook her head. “I need to get back up there.” She jabbed what looked like her knit-covered middle finger in the direction of her last confrontation. “To do that I need to get my wing back. So we have to fix you. Quick.”

Emma began hover-walking in the direction of his house. “How the hell can I show a half-breed something he doesn’t already know?” She directed her question to no one in particular.

Jason stopped in his tracks. She continued a few more paces until she registered his resistance. Sighing, Emma came back to where he stood.

“It would really help if you could minimize the diva moments here.” She tapped her angel foot, and Jason put the bunny slipper back on it.

She looked at the bouncing ears and almost smiled.

Do I get any input here?

“You’re not supposed to. I’m supposed to show you your past, present, and future. Then you suck it up and enjoy your freaking life.” She pulled her hair out of its ponytail.

It tumbled over her shoulders. Jason wanted to curl his fist around it.

There’s nothing you can show me, angel. I’m going to Croton to find an eagle.
Jason stepped in the direction of the town.
You can either come with me or wait here for me to have some sort of massive personal revelation that’ll launch you home for your battle.

She let him get a good distance away before she followed, but she caught up quickly, gliding by his side.

“So are you just planning to stalk birds and look for one in danger?” She glanced at him, batting her eyelashes. When she heard the alarms go off in his head, she blew a kiss his way, playing with him.

Why don’t you tell me a little about what we’re looking for? I’m not sure I even understand what’s happened to Sam.
Jason gave her a sidelong glance, proving two could play the flirting game.

“Sam’s my love. My best friend. Everett killed him a long time ago.”

Jason wanted to think comforting thoughts, but he could only come up with rage.

Everett? From the clouds? With the wings? He’s a murderer?

Emma clenched her teeth as she nodded. “He was a murderer before he was an angel. Begging for forgiveness is a powerful tool. God cleans many slates, including Everett’s.” Emma’s mittened fists were tight balls. “When Sam died, he was given the option, as we all are, of reincarnation or Heaven. He chose to return to Earth in another form.” Emma’s voice was flat, like she was reciting a script she knew by heart.

Will he know you now? Like this?

Pain stabbed through her eyes, and she blinked to tune him out of her agony. “No. He’s an eagle. He retains none of his human vestiges.”

And you’re saving him because…?

She turned to face him fully, stopping their trek.

“Because he still
is.
As long as I know
what
he is, I will do my damndest to protect him.” She looked at the sky again, calculating, dreading.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve been more sensitive. Please accept my apology.” Jason held a hand out in peace.

She nodded and resumed their march to Croton. She’d ignored his hand, but accepted his apology.

Why isn’t God rebuking Everett for his obviously evil behavior?
Jason had so many questions for this ethereal girl.

“God’s in Hell.” Emma finally reached for Jason’s hand, and soon he hovered next to her. They were moving faster than a car on the highway, but exerting no effort at all.

“Are we starting the Apocalypse? Did I miss something?” Jason squeezed her hand.

Emma scanned the tops of the trees, looking for some
one
who’d become some
thing
. Their path ended at a huge, high cliff. The view of the sea was extraordinary.

She was distracted as she answered. “No, don’t be silly. God goes to Hell to parlay for souls every great once in a while. He faces down the Devil for any being he feels has a scrap of goodness.” Suddenly Emma whipped her head to the left.

Jason followed her gaze to a slowly circling eagle. It seemed to be hovering, using the strong wind off the cliffs to remain like a miracle in the sky.