Demons of Bourbon Street (43 page)

“
That is correct.” Jonathon smiled down at me.

I bit my lip to keep from yelling at him. This couldn’t end well. Snippets of my life flashed through my mind: Stolen moments with Kane, laughing with Kat, dancing with Pyper, making strawberry shortcake with Mom. Fun, special memories. They all started to slip away. The beginning of the end.

Endora asked Goodwin’s opinion, and he went on and on about God’s plan and how taking my soul to give to someone else wasn’t an angel’s job. God had the sole power to make such decisions. We served him, and all of us should get on our knees and pray for forgiveness. He actually gave quite the strong argument, albeit he did use the God card too many times.

Every time he brought up the Supreme Being, Endora became more and more agitated. “Your religious fanaticism is not welcome here, Jonathon. Please stick to the facts as you see them.”

I had to admit, her statement left me baffled. They were angels, for…well, God’s sake, were they not?

Jonathon fixed her with a disbelieving stare. “I was asked for my opinion. I’m giving it to you.”

“
I assure you, your beliefs will be discussed among the council.” Endora grimaced. “All of them. Before I release you, I’ll leave you with this piece of advice. If you wish to continue to be in good standing with the angel community, you’ll find a new form of employment among the humans.”

The color drained from Jonathon’s face. “Why?”

“
Angels are soul protectors, Mr. Goodwin.”

“
That is exactly what I’m trying to do.”

She fixed him with a disgusted look. “No,
Reverend
Goodwin, you are sitting in judgment over those you swore to protect. True men and women of the cloth are called to serve because they love mankind. You serve out of anger. Find a new career or your days as an agent of this organization are numbered.”

Jonathon’s face froze in a stunned expression.

Endora stalked back to her chair, keeping her stare straight ahead at the spectators.

Ouch.
I guess he hit a nerve.

“
You may step down now,” Davidson said, dismissing him.

Goodwin opened his mouth to speak, but the elder angel’s warning glance silenced him. He let out a frustrated sigh and moved to sit next to Lailah.

“
Dan Pearson Toller?”

What?
My two witnesses had already testified.

Realization dawned.

Dan was there for Meri.

Hot, angry tears burned my eyes. After everything we’d been through, he was willing to let my soul be given to someone else? What happened? Last time we’d been in front of the council, he’d defended me when he’d realized my soul was in danger.

I brushed the tears away and focused on Davidson.

He glanced at my ex and frowned. “You’re not an angel.”

Dan stood near the podium. “No, sir, I’m not.”

The head councilman turned to his underlings. “How did this mortal end up as a witness?”

A gaunt, pale angel on the very end stood. She pulled her mass of curly black hair back and tied it into a haphazard bun. “Mr. Toller is Philip’s biological son. He’s intimately connected to both the women on trial today.”

Intimately connected? What kind of relationship did he and Meri share?
Please, Goddess, don’t tell me Dan and Meri are involved.
Talk about twisted.

“
I see. Will you be questioning him, Selma?”

“
Yes, sir.”

“
Fine. Mr. Toller, please take a seat.” Davidson dropped back and sat with the council.

After Selma swore Dan in, she asked, “State for the record your relationship to Meri and Ms. Calhoun.”

He glanced at me, eyes full of sorrow. “Jade and I were childhood friends until we started dating. We were together for over four years and almost got engaged before our relationship fell apart.” He took a deep breath. “Meri possessed me as a demon and entrapped me in Hell as her minion. Jade managed to break her, almost destroy her completely, but somehow Meri survived and was no longer a demon. We took care of each other in Hell until Philip came for us.”

“
My notes indicate you’re a witness for Meri, correct?”

Dan swallowed. Opened his mouth. Then shut it. Finally he nodded. “Yes.”

My heart seized and threatened to crack into a million pieces. I stared down at my white-knuckled hands, knowing if I looked at him, I’d either scream or burst into tears. Neither seemed an effective strategy at the moment.

“
Tell us why you’d advocate for an ex-demon over someone who was obviously important in your life,” Selma said.

Dan cleared his throat. “That’s just it. Meri isn’t a demon anymore, is she? I want to make it clear I’m not advocating for Meri’s life over Jade’s. I just think Meri needs someone to speak for her.”

Frustration filled me to the point I was almost shaking.

“
And why is it you’ve taken on this role?”

Dan’s voice turned hard, angry. “Meri sacrificed herself for my father, and he left her in Hell. She. Saved. His. Life. And he left her there.”

Something close to hatred streamed from Dan. I glanced up, watching him try to calm himself.

He met my gaze and when he spoke, his words were for me. “Meri deserves a second chance. She paid the ultimate sacrifice. I hope the council can spare them both.”

I couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t that I didn’t agree with him. Meri did deserve a chance at life, but I didn’t see how his plea was possible. I stood, my chair scraping loudly on the tile floor.

The pressure of the hearing, and my ultimate fate, made me snap. “But there’s only one soul! Mine. What do you propose they do? Take someone else’s? Condemn some poor innocent? You can’t have it both ways. Damn it, Dan, you have to choose. Meri or me?”

A tiny burst of magic collected at my fingertips with my emotional outburst. The entire room let out a collective gasp. I tamped the magic down instantly, but I was too late. Davidson gave a command, and two guards closed in on me. Lailah jumped to my side. Jonathon followed, sliding to a stop right in front of her.

Dan stood in the witness box, his face contorted with a mix of confusion and horror. “Of course not. I don’t want to condemn anyone.” He turned to the dais. “You’re angels. Surely you can do
something
to save them both.” Apparently he hadn’t been filled in on the rules of this particular game.

No one answered him.

“
Stop right there,” Lailah ordered the guards.

They ignored her and closed in tighter.

Jonathon took a step toward them. “There’s no need for this. I’m sure Jade will calm down.”

“
Seize her,” Davidson demanded.

The guards grabbed Lailah and Jonathon, bodily removing them.

I held my hands up. “Now, wait a minute. I just lost my cool with Dan. Not the entire council. Let’s all take a moment to calm down.”

“
Ms. Calhoun, outbursts are not permitted in the sanctuary from anyone. Especially not a witch. You’ll be taken to your room to await our decision.”

“
The time warp room?” I gasped. “No—”

Dan appeared just behind the guards. “That isn’t necessary. Jade would never hurt anyone.”

Meri pushed her way through the small crowd and nudged Dan to the side. “I humbly request Ms. Calhoun stay for the remainder of the inquiry. I’m sure she’ll give her word she won’t wield any magic during this trial.” She turned to me. “Right, Jade?”

“
Yeah, yeah. Of course. It isn’t my wish to harm anyone.”

The sixth member of the council stepped forward. She was so beautiful, light seemed to radiate from within her. Her skin glowed, and the only thing I felt from her was love, an oddity in the room full of seemingly emotionless and political angels. She placed a soft hand on Davidson’s arm. “Ms. Calhoun may stay.”

A hush fell over the crowd. This angel must be important. And while I was grateful, the command she had of all the other angels made me uneasy. I fought the urge to wrap my arms around myself in a protective nature.

“
Please, everyone be seated,” the beautiful one said, and everyone except Lailah returned to their seats.

“
If it pleases the council, I’d like to chaperone Ms. Calhoun for the remainder of the proceedings,” she said.

Davidson sent her a look of exasperation. “Fine. We’ve heard from Ms. Calhoun. It’s time to hear from Meri.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Lailah nudged me with an elbow and gave me a slight shake of her head.

Meri stood. “Thank you.”

“
Former Angel Meri, please tell us why we should award you Ms. Calhoun’s soul.”

She stared right into Davidson’s eyes and with a strong voice said, “You shouldn’t.”

Chapter 29

I gaped at Meri. Her words hit me hard, leaving an aching guilt in the pit of my stomach. She’d sacrificed herself for my sake. Something she didn’t have to do.

The gorgeous angel of light held her hand up to stop Davidson’s response and stepped back up to the podium. “Would you care to elaborate, Meri?”

“
If you wish.”

The angel nodded. “Please.”

“
It’s clear to me after the memory extraction that Ms. Calhoun is a good person. She loves those around her and regularly puts herself on the line for those in need. Angels aren’t the only ones who can save souls. I’ve had my chance. It’s not fair to take hers away.”

The air vanished from my lungs. She’d forfeited her last chance at having her life back because she wasn’t willing to take mine. A raw ache of grief overwhelmed me. I wished with every inch of my heart I could find a way to spare us both.

“
I see.” The angel of light turned and said something to Davidson.

A second later, he announced, “The council will now convene in chambers to make our decision.”

Together, the six of them disappeared through the golden door behind the dais.

The place erupted with chatter.

Philip scowled and strode over to Meri, clearly upset with her statement.

Dan ran up to me, grabbed my arm, and yanked me to him in a possessive hug.