Fall Into Darkness (10 page)

“Time’s up,” Lucifer stated.

Eli spun, strode toward the demon, and knelt on both knees at his feet. “You’re a piece of shit; you know that?”

The lord of the fallen laughed. “I aim for perfection, and I’ve waited a long time for you.” He placed his hand on Eli’s head, and Eli braced himself. Angels could fall on their own by succumbing to the darkness, and their souls becoming a prisoner of the devil. One could also take the direct route and let him simply take it.

Burning pain shot through him, and he bit back a howl.

“No! Stop, leave him alone!” Eli heard the rattle of the bars that confined her and knew she looked for an escape.

“Take mine instead,” she screamed. She sobbed and fell to her knees. God, he prayed she didn’t feel the same pain he did.

The sensation of someone reaching deep inside, grabbing his guts and pulling them out through a hole the size of a pinprick overcame him. Sweat beaded and rolled off him and Ashley’s cries became muffled. His light was being snuffed out and he fought to remain conscience. He tried to keep his focus on the woman who was his mate. His responsibility, at least until the markings faded. The only female in his life to ever brand his heart. She would carry a piece of it forever.

His.
The word repeated in his head.

A red veil dropped over his vision, and he knew his eye color had changed. Hunger coiled in his gut and struck like a viper, sending fire burning through his veins. Fangs dropped, and the points scraped his bottom lip. Cold seeped into the vacant hole where his soul once resided. How could one be both freezing and on fire at the same time?

It was done. Instead of finding his humanity, he’d given it to his mortal enemy. Eli rose to his feet and fought to control the urge to seek out a human host and take its soul. He’d never known hunger such as what racked his body.

I can beat this.

“You will now let me take Ashley to safety,” he commanded.

Lucifer lifted his shoulder; the look on his face spoke volumes. He was positive Ashley would never make it to safety before Eli either took her soul or tried to finish the bond, turning her into something as evil as he would become.
Not fucking happening!

The gate swung open, and Ashley rushed out and attempted to throw herself at Eli. He stepped back. “Don’t! Don’t touch me.” He stretched out his wings. Once beautiful white with black tips, they were now black as ink with blood red veins running through them.

“Look at me, Ashley. I’m not who you remember. Never trust me. Never turn your back to me.” The hurt she felt cut right through him as if it were his own and had him itching to shove a dagger deep into his black heart. With his soul gone, he’d also lost connection to his brethren. For some reason––unlike Gabriel––he was unable to call for help. In three days, he was supposed to rendezvous with Tegan. Somehow, he would have to keep Ashley safe while he waited. His home, deep in the backwaters of Minnesota, seemed like a good place to keep her. He stepped as close as he dared to his mate and pulled up his power to transport them the hell out of Lucifer’s sight.

I
f Ashley thought
she felt empty and alone before, she was sadly mistaken. When Lucifer had taken Eli’s soul, she’d tried not to cry out but had failed miserably. It wasn’t her own pain that had caused her tears, but Eli’s. Just as it was now his emptiness she felt, and her heart broke. She also knew he feared hurting her, but she refused to believe he was capable. Refused to believe that fate hadn’t meant them to be together.

He’d brought them to a small cabin, and looking out the window, she noticed they were surrounded by forest. He currently paced the floor, running his fingers through his hair.

“I can no longer connect with the others, so we must wait here until it’s time for me to meet up with Tegan.” He refused to make eye contact with her.

“Eli, you’re not evil. I can see your aura, and it hasn’t changed.” She’d noticed while in the company of Devon and the others, their aura had been coal black. While Eli still had the dark ring around his like before, the center was still pure white. There had to be a way to save him.

“It will. Right now I’m still able to resist my hunger, but not for long.”

“While I was locked up a woman came to me. She said she was the mate of Alex?” Eli simply shrugged so she continued. “She said when her mate fell, the others cast her out. Something about she needed to get his soul back before Lucifer sold it.”

That stopped Eli in his tracks. “Did she say how? What was her name? How do you know she wasn’t one of them trying to trick you?”

Ashley settled into a chair. “She didn’t say her name and her aura was pure white. She did say that Lucifer pretty much ignored them, the mates that is. I got the feeling there were more than just her. Oh, and she wanted me to tell Tegan about them.” Sharp pain jabbed her gut and she doubled over. Eli was bent down in front of her before she even realized he’d moved.

“I’m so sorry. It’s my hunger you feel.”

She stared into his eyes. The beautiful blue had faded, replaced with red. She reached out and touched his cheek. “I’m happy to share the pain. It’s because of me that this is happening to you. Again you saved me.”

He kissed her palm. “I wish things could be different for you, for us.”

“Tell me about it. What does the hunger mean?” she asked.

“I hunger for my soul back. It’s why the fallen become soul suckers. They gain temporary power when they take a soul, but the hunger never slacks.”

“So how do we fix this?”

He laughed and stood, moving away from her. She missed the feel of him. “There’s no fixing it unless a hunter kills me. Hopefully, when we meet Tegan in a couple of days, he will take care of that job.”

Oh, no way in hell. “I will not let him do that.”

“You have no say,” Eli snarled. He’d gone from soft spoken to almost unrecognizable in seconds.

Ashley shot out of her chair; fists clenched at her side. “You began a bond with me so I think I have a big say.” Yeah, it was a low blow but she was desperate.

“My mistake and I have no intention of finishing the bond. In a few months, you’ll be free to pursue another.”

“What if bonding with me will save you? Did you even consider that?” He moved to stand in front of her so fast she swallowed a gasp.

“No one has ever had their soul returned. You bond with me, and you’ll become as tainted as I am. You’ll have a life filled with nothing but pain. Lucifer holds my soul now, and he gives nothing back.”

She studied him and sensed his inner battle. He wanted her and she was going to take advantage of that. “Has anyone ever tried?” Before he could reply, she fisted his tee and pulled herself to him. Planting her lips on his.
Kiss me.

His resistance lasted only a moment before he gave in and melted against her. His tongue speared her mouth and darted in and out. His hands roamed to her hips and gripped, jerking her to his hard body. The heat in her core fired up several degrees, and she moaned.

Ashley blinked and tried to shake off the daze. One moment she’d been hot and heavy with Eli and the next she stood alone. He was on the other side of the room.

“Damn it, woman!” His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. She’d definitely gotten to him.

“Eli. Why do we have to deny ourselves each other’s company? Did you forget I can feel you in here?” She tapped the area over her heart. “Yes, you hunger and I can feel your battle, but you are strong enough to win it. Let me help you.”

He shook his head. “Stop! It’s the bond talking. No one can save me, Ashley.” Before she could reply, he stormed out the door and out of sight.

“You’re wrong, Eli. I might have once given up on my own life, but I refuse to give up on yours,” she whispered under her breath. It was then she realized she’d fallen in love with him.

F
or twenty-four hours
, Eli had stayed away from Ashley. He knew she was safe since there was plenty of food at the cabin, and it was remote enough she’d dare not venture off. Still, he’d kept a connection open to her in case she called for help. Her silence assured him he’d finally gotten through to her that he was a lost cause.

He threw a punch at the concrete wall with all the force he could muster. Cracks formed not only on the wall but also in his heart. Resting his forehead on the cool surface, he tried to calm his frenzied mind. Hunger and thirst gnawed at him. He fought every single minute to keep from killing, but soon he knew he’d lose the battle. He’d learned while hanging in the sewers of New York City that there were several others who had fallen, and like himself, they still clung to some of their true identity and fought the thirst. It seemed the older the angel the greater his strength and the ability to hold out. It was when Lucifer sold your soul, and it was absorbed by a demon, that you lost the internal war. He’d also watched several female angels wander aimlessly looking for their fallen mates. It seemed what Ashley had told him about the women being banned from their homes because their men had fallen was true. Things in his world were more messed up than he’d realized.

“Eli.” Another angel slipped in next to him and slid to his haunches. Eli turned toward the voice he recognized.

“Verek.” He lowered himself beside the angel. “I had no idea you were here.”

“Nor I you. I never thought you’d end up like the rest of us. How’d that happen to one as stubborn as you?”

Eli leaned his head back against the cold stone and closed his eyes. “A female. I willingly gave my soul to save her.”

“Shit. Your mate, I assume?”

He pulled in a deep breath. Her taste remained on his lips and it made his mouth water. “The bond was only in its first phase.”

“Damn. She feels your pain, no doubt. How the hell are you managing to stay away from her?”

A chuckle escaped Eli’s lips. Damn if he knew. He’d never desired something more in his existence than to complete the bond with her. To feel her soft body beneath his and witness the need in her eyes. Need for him that would soon be replaced for another.

“I only need to make it another day then her father can kill me.” Tegan would end his pain and suffering. First, he needed to make the archangel understand how dire the situation was. The Seven and their demand to bring the fallen before them was criminal on its own. With a first hand knowledge of how painful their existence was, he’d unknowingly performed mercy killings by taking their lives. There was no saving the damned.

A
shley watched
the clock tick by and racked her brain, but she was still left with no ideas. All she’d accomplished was a headache when she heard a tap at the door. Without a thought, she rushed forward and swung the door open. A woman, clad in a soft lemon sweater, dark jeans and black leather boots that fit snug on her slim calves, stared back at her with cocoa eyes. Her skin, a warm caramel, glowed as if it had been kissed by the Maker herself. There was no doubt she was an angel.

“Hello,” her soft voice greeted. “You must be Ashley.”

“Yes.”

The woman smiled. “I’m Evangeline, but my friends call me Eva.”

“Eva.” Ashley shook her head and cleared the fog. “I’m sorry, please come in.” She stepped aside to allow the angel room to enter.

Eva glided past then turned to face her. “Where is Eli? We’ve been worried since losing contact with him. He didn’t tell us he found you.”

“He gave his soul to Lucifer,” she blurted out. Within seconds, three men popped into the room. Ashley recognized Tegan but didn’t know who the other two were.

“Tell us what happened?” Tegan approached and guided Ashley to a seat.

She recounted the tale of Devon and his original plans, which had backfired since she couldn't use her gift on an immortal. How Eli had found her, and negotiated her release in exchange for his soul, as well as the meeting with the angel who’d been cast out of her home. Everyone sat silent and gave their undivided attention.

“He left yesterday. He’s afraid he’ll finish the bond, which according to him will turn me evil. He planned to meet you, Tegan, in hopes you’ll end him.”

“That is exactly what I intend to do,” Tegan replied.

Ashley jumped from her seat. “No. He’s still in there, you can’t kill him. Besides, I thought as a hunter your job was to take the fallen for judgment?”

Her father––the idea was difficult to digest since he looked to be the same age as her––shook his head. “Daughter.” His features softened. “I’m starting to believe there is no saving a fallen angel, and I’ve never seen one who still clung to their sanity.” He cocked his head in thought. “Though Eli insisted Gabriel retained some of his rationality.”

“I refuse to believe he can’t be saved. There has to be a way.”

Eva crossed her arms over her chest. “Pardon me, but I’m still stuck on the fact that angels have been cast out only because of who they are mated to.” Her brows pinched down. “I’m beginning to see why Eli disliked the Seven. Something is terribly wrong.”

“Maybe they can answer all our questions.”

Ashley faced the one with long, blonde hair. “Who are you?”

He rose and stood nearly as tall as Tegan. “I’m Lyzander. A warrior in The Maker’s army.” He turned to Tegan. “It can’t hurt to ask the Seven. After all, he made the ultimate sacrifice to save his mate.”

She looked between the two men. “Who are the Seven? Aren’t they the ones who condemned Eli and took his wings in the first place?”

“Yes, they are the enforcers of our laws,” Tegan answered.

“Good, then I wish to speak with them. The sooner the better.”

“We will go, and I will make your request myself.” Tegan held out his hand to her, and she reached but then hesitated.

“You must promise not to kill him,” she begged.

The man in front of her sighed. “But you suffer with him and will do so until the bond wears off in five months. I’m not sure if he will remain strong enough to stay away from you.”

“That’s my burden to bear. I owe him my life, and I intend to give him back his. Besides, you owe me at least this much. You could have chosen to be a father and help me understand who I was.” She took a step back. “Have you any idea the deaths I’ve seen? How frightened and confused I’ve been? Still am, but at least now I feel as if my life has some purpose other than being a freak of nature. Help me do this. Help me save the man I love.”

Eva stepped in beside her. “She’s right, Tegan. It’s time you men started being fathers instead of sperm donors. At least I had a mother to help me. Ashley had no one.” She faced Ashley. “I’m a guardian, and while it’s not customary for us to watch over another angel, Eli has been like a brother to me. I will keep an eye on him and be sure he remains safe.”

The other angel who’d remained quiet the entire time finally spoke up. “Mate, you’ll call for help if Eli gets in trouble. Don’t try to handle any problems yourself.”

“Ashley, this is my love, Sephtis,” Eva smiled.

“Pleasure to meet you. My friends call me Seph and so shall you.”

“Thank you. So are you a hunter or a warrior?”

He grinned. “Neither. I’m a reaper, and I escort the damned to their purgatory.”

“Oh.” Boy did she have a lot to learn. Eva elbowed her.

“I’ll help you,” she whispered.

Ashley breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks. I need to go back home for some things. A change of clothes would be really nice.” She was still wearing what she’d had on when she left with Devon. A shower too. She really needed a hot shower.

“I’ll take you. We can meet up with the guys later,” Eva replied.