Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades) (27 page)

I lifted the jewelry from the case letting the gems
sparkle and glimmer as I turned my hand, examining it
from every angle. I gasped, the beauty of it causing me to
hold my breath while I admired it. A small piece of paper
sat in the box, my name neatly scrolled across it. I
unfolded the paper, reading the words written on it.

Dearest Britt,
I wanted you to feel special tonight. Please do me
the honor of wearing this, although it will pale next to
your beauty.

I smiled while tears welled up. I did feel special
with Gabe. He made me feel very special. My heart hurt
as I wished I could give him more of it. Yet how could I
give him something someone already possessed? I dried
my tears and turned back to the bathroom to get ready.

An hour later I slid the bedroom doors open. Gabe
waited before a fire burning in the fireplace. He wore a
beautiful tux, cut to fit perfectly. The dark fabric
shimmered with faint pinstripes and his cuff links bore
diamonds nearly as big as a nickel.

“You’re ravishing,” Gabe smiled at me with sad
eyes. He walked over to take my hand, helping me down
the stairs to the sunken living room where he’d waited.

“Thank you.” I blushed. “You’re very sharp
yourself.”
“If you live forever you find out what works for
you and what doesn’t.” He grinned, flashing stunningly
white teeth at my compliment.
“Good to know I can get better at this.”
“You nailed it the first time, I’d say. Shall we go?”
He held his arm up so I could lace mine through his and
we walked to the private elevator. As the door slid open
to the garage, a limousine waited for us, door open,
chauffeur standing by ready to receive us.
“This is crazy.” I couldn’t help giggling.
“This is the way it could be every day,” Gabe said
simply. Both of us hearing what he wasn’t saying.
If I was
with him this would be our life.
I averted my eyes, getting into the limo and
sliding over. He slid in next to me, glancing at me,
expectant. Not wanting to take this away from him, I
looked out the far window and said nothing. We rode
through Winnipeg in strained silence. I kept staring out
the window trying to feign interest in the sights, really not
wanting to look into Gabe’s hurt eyes again.
The car stopped in front of a grand old theatre, lit
up for the evening. Gabe stepped out first, taking my
hand and helping me from the limo. We walked arm in
arm up to the entrance where the doorman bowed and
pulled the door open for us to enter. An usher checked our
tickets and led us upstairs to the balcony level. He then
turned down an isolated hallway to a row of doors.
Stopping at the very end, he nodded to Gabe.
Gabe smiled and placed some money in the man’s
outstretched hand.
The usher stepped back bowing his head and
opened the door for us to enter.
Inside, the scene from countless movies lay before
me. The curtains, fine silks; luxurious upholsteries
covered everything. The ornate carvings along the walls
and outlining the stage with its acres of fabric
overwhelmed me. I stood gawking, taking it all until
Gabe chuckled behind me.
“All very impressive, huh?” he whispered.
I nodded dumbly, unable to speak as my eyes
scanned the huge theatre, trying hard not to miss even the
slightest detail. Our seats were incredible, just off the
stage but far enough back to see the entire panorama
clearly.
“These seats are awesome.” I turned to Gabe, my
eyes shining with excitement.
“Nothing but the best.” Though he downplayed it,
his pride at my reaction was evident.
The lights flickered and I looked to Gabe,
confused.
“They’re about to start, we should sit down.” He
motioned me towards the chairs and I stepped over,
sliding my hands along the back of my legs to smooth my
dress before sitting.
Gabe moved next to me, taking his seat
gracefully. Leaning on the arm rest between us, he
unbuttoned his jacket as he edged closer.
The lights went dim and the curtain came up. I
turned to Gabe, my mouth opening with delight. His face
was mere inches from mine and he stared at me, ignoring
the production getting underway.
I forced myself to turn away from him and
concentrate on the play. It proved harder than I expected.
The play was wonderful, exhilarating beyond anything I
might have imagined, but Gabe’s attention to me made
me feel self-conscious. I shifted my weight nervously,
trying to keep his glimmering eyes, reflecting the lights
from the stage, out of my mind.
When I finally started to relax, I glanced into the
crowd scanning the faces all turned to the stage enjoying
the show. I smiled at the expressions of enjoyment, the
enthralled looks as they peered at the actors, whisking
them away to another place, an escape from their
burdensome lives.
As I perused the audience I skimmed over faces
not watching the stage, but focused on me. I stopped,
frowning at such an absurd thought, then, when I went
back, the glaring eyes of Bastion and his men stared back
at me.
My heart didn’t skip a beat; it stopped completely.
I watched Bastion, my recognition seemed to bring him
pleasure and he slowly came to his feet. He moved to the
aisle, his men sliding in front of the disturbed audience
members right after him. The group rushed up the aisle to
the rear exits and disappeared into the lobby.
I turned to Gabe, my heart stuttering to gain its
rhythm again. He stared at me, ignoring all else.
“They’re here,” I whispered frantically.
“What?” Gabe eyes flew open wide.
“Bastion,” I repeated. “They’re heading up here
now.”
Gabe took hold of my arm, pulling me along as
we hurried to the exit. He swung the door open and we
burst into the hallway. Taking two steps back the way we
entered, Bastion and his men rumbled into the hall as
well, the old theatre structure echoing under their
footfalls.
We jerked to a stop staring at the only other
people not inside, watching the production.
“We should have guessed you had help Britt...but
an angel, very impressive.” Bastion said.
“She is under my protection,” Gabe stated
definitely, taking a step in front of me.
“That matters little, angel,” Bastion replied
unaffected. “We have orders and the authority to take her
to Greece for questioning.”
“What crime has she committed to warrant
Eternals sending their bounty hunter to retrieve her?”
Gabe asked, not politely.
“Her very existence is a crime,” Bastion hissed.
“Surely you can do better than that.” Gabe
chuckled.
“She was created by an Eternal from a person
already gone. It is the highest crime an Eternal can
commit. She is to be taken to Greece as evidence to the
Eternal’s crimes and then destroyed.”
“Hmm.” Gabe placed his hand to his mouth in
thought. “But if she is under my protection now, I guess
you must defer to my authority.”
“Your authority does not have any jurisdiction
over Eternals, angel. Now go before we are forced to
destroy you and take the girl.” Bastion took two steps
towards us, his men right at his heels.
Gabe raised his hand, halting their advance. “I
guess if you feel you need to threaten me, you should
know who you threaten.” Even standing behind Gabe, I
could feel his smile spread across his face as he finished
speaking.
“And what angel are we to rid ourselves of
tonight?” Bastion laughed.
“I am Gabriel,” Gabe told them calmly and the
Eternals began muttering behind Bastion, whose face
turned ghastly white.
As the Eternals hesitated Gabe reached back,
taking my hand, and the theatre changed to the living
room in our hotel suite.
“Oh my God,” I shouted, dropping to a knee on
the carpeting.
“Are you alright?” Gabe turned and knelt beside
me, his concern for me almost painful.
“I thought we were dead,” I gasped, struggling to
regain control over my breathing.
“They had us, but their hesitation gave me the
time to visualize and get us out of there.”
“You need time to travel?” I asked, still confused
at how it worked.
“Concentration is the key. Remember, we always
concentrate first and
then
travel. If they had rushed us
without giving me time to concentrate on this suite, we
could have been in trouble.”
“They seemed like they’re afraid of you.” I looked
over at him as he stood up and moved towards the
mantle, the fire was still burning in the fireplace.
“Being an Archangel does give one some street
credit.” He turned, smiling down at me.
“And…?” I knew there was more. There was
always more with him.
“During a battle with some rebellious Eternals
many years ago, I might have taken out an entire
regiment myself.” He shrugged nonchalantly, blushing a
little.
“They must consider you the Eternal slayer then.”
I got up and sat on the couch.
“Why do you think they charged me with
eliminating Kendal?”
“Makes sense.” I nodded.
“Would you care for some wine?” He asked.
“Sure, I think I earned a drink,” I sighed.
He poured two glasses of wine out of a decanter
sitting on the coffee table, handing me one as he took a
long drink.
A buzzing in my clutch purse made me scurry for
my phone inside. I pulled it out and looked at the text,
from Angelina.

I smiled, unable to contain the joy at having saved
Allister’s life. I looked to Gabe, his eyes turned down to
me, glazed and staring.

“Gabe.” I jumped to my feet just as he fell into
my arms. I eased him down to the floor and knelt beside
him, his head resting on my lap.

“Poison,” he whispered, barely audible.
“What?” I stared down at him, confused. I didn’t
think you could kill an angel so easily. “Gabe,” I cried as
the elevator doors slid open.
Bastion strode out of the elevator. The butler, Kurt
walked alongside with another half dozen men. I quickly
grabbed my phone and tucked it under my dress, into my
underwear.
“You were right.” Bastion shot a glance at Kurt,
“the first thing he likes to do is have a good glass of
wine.”
He moved over to me as I cradled Gabe’s head
and gave a nod to one of his men. The man, as huge a
man as ever I saw, strode over to me and raised his hand
above me. The last thing I remember is that enormous
hand coming down and then black.

I woke rocking back and forth between two men
in the back of a limo. I suddenly had an enormous dislike
for limos. I kept my eyes open as slits to avoid alerting
them of my consciousness. What should I do? My mind,
still cloudy from the blow to my head, didn’t make it
easier to concentrate on my options. ‘Concentrate’ echoed
in my head as Gabe explained the need when trying to
travel.

Gabe. I forced back the tears at the thought of my
loss. He did nothing but try to protect me from all of this
and now he was gone too.

Allister. I needed to find a way to escape.
Otherwise I sentenced him to death. I focused on the one
thing I could with all my heart. The interior of the car
blurred and I sat on Trish’s bed.

I turned just as Trish came awake. Seeing me
sitting on the edge of her bed she let out a scream. I
screamed back at her reaction and we sat screaming at
each other for another second or two.

Finally regaining our wits, we looked at each
other in shock and flung ourselves into a tight embrace.
“Where the hell did you come from?” Trish
gasped.
“Winnipeg,” I said, hesitant to tell her too much.
“Britt, I mean how did you get here?”
“I can do a few things now,” I said with a shrug.
“You don’t say,” Trish sighed and glanced down
at the floor. “Britt, what’s that?”
I followed Trish’s gaze down to the floor and then
to my foot resting on the carpet. A soft green light blinked
every few seconds in the dark around the vicinity of my
foot.
Trish clicked her nightstand light on and we stared
with surprise at the clunky black box attached to my
ankle.
“Tracking device.” Trish stated.
“I screwed up,” I cried, lowering my head into my
hands.
“It’ll be okay.” Trish pulled me into her arms.
“How could you think that?” I pulled away to
look at her. “I just lead Bastion to all of you.”
My phone pinged as a text came in and I dug it
out from under my dress. I lifted it and opened the
message from Angelina.

“Who was that?” Trish scrunched up her brows.
“Angelina.” My relief at having Allister’s life
spared was tempered by the blinking green light on my
ankle. “I think I stayed away from Bastion long enough to
save his life at least.
“That’s great, isn’t that what you wanted?” Trish
asked, seeing my tears.
“Yeah,” I cried. “But the reality of never seeing
him again just hit me.”
Trish pulled me into her arms, holding me tight as
I sobbed.
A ping sounded on my phone and I pulled away to
read another message from Angelina.
Bastion sent video evidence. The council sentenced
Allister to death.

I sat frozen on Trish’s bed as the phone fell from
my hands, clattering to the floor.
“What, what is it?” Trish asked, then leaned over
to retrieve the phone when I didn’t. I could only stare off
into space. She read the message, gasped, then typed
back.
I heard another ping on my phone as Angelina
responded to Trish’s message. “Britt,” she said her voice
low. “Britt,” she repeated when I didn’t respond the first
time.
“What?” I turned to her, my eyes unable to focus
on her face, still staring at something distant.
“They’re going to execute him…now.” Even
though she whispered, the words drove into my mind
with such force, I snapped back to reality as jarring as if
I’d been thrown. I stared at her and she leaned back, her
fear clear on her face.
“No,” I whispered, the sound echoing hollow in
my brain. “No, no, no, no,” I shouted, coming to my feet.
I concentrated on Allister with every cell in my
body; focusing on his face, his smile, his hair, his touch,
his smell, his kiss. I pulled his image and memories to me
bringing them to life, bringing them to the here and now;
insisting they come to me and demanding they obey.
Trish’s room melted in front of me as stone,
granite, and marble took its place. I knelt on the hard
white floor on one knee. My hands touched the cold
surface next to my feet as my head bowed and steam rose
from my body. My dress smoked, some had burned away
exposing skin underneath while other parts still survived.
The tracking device on my ankle fell away, smoking
A gasp rose around me as I raised my head, the
smoke dissipating and my eyes clearing. Not more than a
few feet in front of me stood Allister, hands bound behind
his back as a man held each of his arms at the elbow. A
third man stood in front of Allister, his arm pulled back as
if to punch him.
The three men stared at me in disbelief as I got to
my feet, easing myself to my full height. The man in front
of Allister lowered his arm. Anger enveloped me as I
surveyed the room, causing my vision to blur pure red.
Seven people, men and women, sat at the large
stone table Allister faced. My rage rose; the council, I
sneered. Galleries on either side of us and also behind
caught my glance as I searched for other threats to
Allister and myself.
I noted Victor, Jennavia, and Angelina, phone still
in her hand, staring at me in astonishment. I turned my
gaze upon the men beginning to gather around us, closing
a circle cautiously. I held out both arms, hands up,
stopping their approach, as I looked to the front table.
“So…the vile creation has come forward to face
judgment.”
I turned my gaze to the man standing near the
table who broke the silence and he shrank back.
“How dare you intrude on these proceedings,” a
man seated at the table spoke up. “How did she shimmer
in here, the chambers are blocked from shimmering?”
“No matter,” the woman beside him said, “we can
close this matter completely now.”
“Who do you think you are?” I heard my voice
coming in an unfamiliar deep, gravely tone. “None of you
has the authority to condemn me.” The memory of
Gabe’s words resounded clearly in my thoughts.
“Wait your turn.” The man standing by the table
tried again. “We will take care of you in a minute.”
My eyes sought him out again, but this time, he
only shook and didn’t retreat. He looked to one side of
me and two men move forward.
With the slightest thought, a bright energy burst
from my hands, hitting the men and throwing them across
the room. They landed, smoking in a heap. I sensed they
still lived, a part of me was relieved, but the larger part
remained focused on the council.
Cries of shock rose from the galleries and the
looks on the council members’ faces turned to terror.
“I come here to speak for Allister Parks and
demand his release.” I glanced at Allister as he looked
over his shoulder; his face white.
“He has already been sentenced for his crime,” the
man standing at the table advised haughtily.
“How can he be sentenced when more evidence
can be presented?” I rasped.
“Your existence is more evidence of his guilt, it
will do no good if your hope is to stay his execution,” the
man replied.
“Aw, but you seem to be missing the point.” I
smiled unpleasantly sending a rumble of murmurs
through the gallery.
“And what would that be?” another woman on the
council queried.
“I’m not just an Eternal, I’m more.”
“We feel you are an Eternal,” the woman replied.
“That’s all that matters to this council.”
“Is it?” I raised an eyebrow.
The galleries and the council began whispering
amongst each other and finally the woman spoke again.
“What are you getting at?”
“Your law states an Eternal cannot touch someone
whose soul has left them.” I stated, crossing my arms.
The woman nodded an affirmative.
“Then how do you explain my soul?”
The crowd began murmuring again and the
woman council member stood, hushing them with raised
hands.
“I can see that you are confused.” She stared
down at me. “You have no soul.” Her words were
measured, deliberately slow for effect.
“Don’t you have someone here who can see souls
or guardian angels?” I asked, knowing Jennavia had such
powers, though I doubted they would allow her to attest
to the presence of my soul.
“Yes, we do,” the woman acknowledged, glancing
down the table to a slender woman with long dark hair
staring at me with horror filled eyes. The woman turned
to the speaker, who nodded.
Bowing her head slightly, the woman rose,
coming out from behind the table and walked cautiously
in front of me.
“I will not harm you,” she told me.
“Me either,” I replied with a brief nod.
The woman, much smaller than I, reached up to
place her hands on my face. Her fingers spread wide as
she leaned her head close and closed her eyes in
concentration. The hall became still as all eyes fell on the
two of us.
The woman let out a small gasp, her eyes opening
wide as she leaned back. Still holding my face in her
hands, she gazed at me, amazement distorting her face.
She stepped back, letting her hands lower as she turned to
face the council.
“She has a soul…” her words echoed through the
chamber.
The entire room burst into chaos as cheers and
protests arose from every direction.
“And an angel’s essence.” She finished, barely
audible over the noise.
“Order, order,” a male council member shouted
and the room quieted. “I’m not sure I heard that last part
Celia,” the man frowned.
“She has a soul
and
an angel’s essence,” Celia
repeated, looking uncomfortable.
This time, not a sound echoed in the chambers.
Not a gasp, not a breath, nothing. All eyes locked on me.
“Celia, we can sense her as an Eternal,” the man
pointed out.
“Tis true.” She nodded. “Yet the more
overwhelming part of her is angel.”
“Then what are we to conclude?” the man asked,
concerned. First looking at Celia, then down first one side
of the table and then the other at the members of the
council he clearly was assessing the possible fallout of
this complication.
No answer came to break the silence.
“I place myself as evidence in Allister’s defense.”
I said again. “He touched me while I still lived.” They
had no way to disprove it now.
“Impossible,” the man by the table shouted, his
face turning red.
“May I speak.” A deep voice came from the
gallery as Victor stepped forward.
“The council recognizes Victor Parks,” a council
man spoke up.
“I believe the reason for this anomaly is that the
Eternal, Kendal, attacked the girl’s guardian angel. My
son interrupted Kendal’s attempt on the angel and thus
the angel only partially separated from the girl. With the
angel present, the girl’s soul still survived, albeit not
strong enough to keep the transformation into an Eternal
from occurring completely.” Victor stopped, eyeing me
curiously.
“May I?” I raised my hand.
The council nodded in unison.
“When Gabe killed Kendal…” I started.
“Who is Gabe?” A council man interrupted.
“Gabriel, an Avenging Angel,” I said, drawing
gasps from the chamber.
“They sent an Avenging Angel to kill the Eternal
Kendal?” A council woman asked.
“Yes, and when Gabe killed Kendal, the
remaining portion of my angel returned to me, turning me
into what you see before you now.” I extended my arms
out from my sides.
“Amazing,” the council woman gasped.
“You see.” Victor stepped forward, “Allister
didn’t commit a crime here. He is merely another victim
of Kendal as much as this girl.”
“No,” the man by the table shouted. “Allister’s
intent says he didn’t care about the law and acted in
violation of that law. It doesn’t matter what else
happened; he believed her dead.”
“Did he?” I asked.
“Of course he did,” the man screamed, his face
turning red.
I looked at Allister as he stared at me. My eyes
urged him to speak in his own defense. Seeing hope at
last, he nodded and turned to the council for the first time
since I’d arrived.
“May I speak?” Allister asked humbly.
“The council recognizes the accused, Allister
Parks,” a council woman said.
“I found Britt on the riverbank, no sign of life and
a shell of a human being. Something about her spoke to
me, urging me to reach out and touch her. I had to save
her.” He turned back to me as the men holding him let go.
“I didn’t care if she was here, or gone. I only knew I
wanted her, no, needed her with me, more than I’d
needed anything before. So if you say I am guilty for
touching her knowing she may be dead, then I am guilty.”
A roar of outrage erupted from the chamber.
“No,” I cried in shock.
It took a moment, before the noise finally ceased
and Allister, still holding my gaze, continued. “I saw the
beauty in her and knew that if by my touch I could bring
back something to this world as glorious as she, it was
worth any price.”
Tears ran down my cheeks as he spoke, the words
touching deep within me.
“He’s guilty,” the haughty man repeated. “He
admitted it, he is guilty. Carry out the sentence.” He
motioned to the men flanking Allister. The two men
grabbed his arms once more and the third reared back to
remove Allister’s heart.
“No,” I screamed, leaping between Allister and
the Eternal poised to kill him.
Cries flew up around us, although I couldn’t tell if
they were in protest or approval. The hand, seeming to
move in slow motion, drove forward as I stood in front of
Allister. The executioner couldn’t or wouldn’t stay his
strike and hit my chest with his full force, driving the air
from me and pushing me back into Allister and the two
men holding him. We tumbled backwards to the floor as I
landed on top of Allister with him safely behind me.
The other men were upon us at once, pulling us
apart and lifting us to our feet. They stared in shock as I
stood between them with the two holding my arms, not a
scratch on me.
Another group of men surrounding Victor jostled
with the others for better vantage points.
“This is outrageous,” Victor shouted over the
chaos. “The council needs to rule based on the new
findings and not allow Prosecutor Hamlin to act as both
judge and executioner.”
“Agreed,” a voice said from the vicinity of the
council though I couldn’t see over the mass of Eternals
now surrounding us.
“No,” Hamlin shouted. “It is time for the council
to realize they are no longer ruling in the best interests of
the Eternals. Cowering before Victor Parks is no way to
govern. Now is the time for a new order to take control.
Men!” His last was spoken as an order.
A rush of hundreds erupted from the gallery
thrusting the Eternals into a coup, a full blown coup.
“Victor, Angelina, Jennavia,” I shouted as I sidled
up and took hold of Allister.
The three Parks pushed through the crowd as
Eternal fought Eternal; those who supported the council
and Victor against Hamlin’s Eternals supporting the coup.
Victor pressed Angelina and Jennavia next to me.
“Take them to safety,” he ordered.
“I need to stay and fight,” I protested wanting to
use my new strength.
“This is not your fight,” Victor pointed out.
“Please, take them out of here. You’re the only one who
can travel through these walls.”
Allister stood next to me, his hands freed from
their constraints and wrapped his arms around me.
Without any sort of ceremony he kissed me hard and
passionate, then stepped back, beaming.
“Please, take them out, Britt,” he shouted over the
chaos. “We’ll catch up with you later.”
I leaned in and kissed him hard then pulled away
with a nod. I extended my hands and each woman took
hold of one. Everything before me blurred and pain
erupted in my head. I tilted my face to the sky and
screamed as I thought my head would burst from the
pressure. I forced my mind to concentrate on the study
even as my arms and legs began to burn.
“Britt, Britt don’t go. Stay here with us, fight
Britt. We love you, don’t go,” Jennavia and Angelina’s
words reached me from far away.
“Britt, please, my love. Stay with me forever, stay
with me,” Allister pleaded.
I couldn’t open my eyes to see him. The pain, so
intense, I begged for it to end. Nothing hurt like this
before and I just wanted it over.