Fallen by Suzanne Wright

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

She darted out of reach and hurled an orb of hellfire at him. It struck his chest, burning through his tee and blistering the skin beneath. He didn’t even wince. He just pinned her with that cobra stare again. Raini conjured another orb. “Stay the fuck back.”

He pounced again.

She tossed the orb at his head and moved out of range, almost colliding with a statue. Slipping behind it, she shoved it hard. It fell to the ground, missing him by mere inches. He hadn’t jerked back to avoid it, as if his attention was focused so wholly on her that he saw nothing else. If he was aware of the hellfire eating at his face and scalp, he didn’t show it; didn’t exhibit any sign of being in pain.

“Snap out of it!” she yelled.

He snarled, exposing his teeth, and then charged her like a goddamn bull.

Raini backpedaled fast, slowing him down by hitting him with hellfire orb after hellfire orb and—

She tripped over something and fell back, landing hard on her butt. The fucker leapt at her. She skidded back fast on her elbows. She wasn’t fast enough. He landed between her legs and savagely sank his teeth into her thigh.

Crying out, she struck with a low blast of psychic hellfire. Power shimmered through the air like waves of heat and rushed up his nostrils and down his ears. He sat up with a gurgling sound, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he toppled to the side. She again used her elbows and heels to swiftly shuffle backwards. Breathing hard, she almost jumped out of her damn skin when Maddox appeared beside her.

He took in the scene and cursed a blue streak. Some sort of forcefield popped up around the other demon, surrounding him like a bubble.

Maddox crouched at her side. “Raini? Raini, look at me.”

Blinking hard, she gave him a cursory glance, not yet comfortable with taking her eyes off her attacker, who didn’t appear to be moving. “I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not.” Maddox put his palm flat against hers.

She winced as his power crackled through her system, heading straight to the cut on her upper arm and then down to the bite on her thigh. “Is he dead? I tried not to kill him.”

“He’s alive, just unconscious.” Maddox helped her stand. “How did you get here?”

She licked her lips, still watching his demon. “Someone dumped me here—I didn’t see them, they grabbed me from behind, dropped me on the floor, sliced my arm, and then disappeared. It happened so damn fast. I called out to you and several other people over and over.”

“I’d have come if I’d heard you. This place is shielded; it prevents telepathic contact.”

She frowned. “Why? And what is this place?”

A place Maddox had never meant for her to ever know existed. Fuck. There was no way he could easily explain any of this away. No way he could convince her that nothing was wrong with the demon who’d attacked her. Which left him only one choice. He’d need to take it all from her mind.

Regret churned in his belly. The thought of stealing her memories made him feel ill. It seemed wrong. A betrayal. And he hated that he had no other option. “A mausoleum near my home.”

Raini slid her gaze back to the demon on the floor. “He used to walk me from my car to your club. He’s one of yours.”

“Yes,” Maddox confirmed, his voice sounding flat even to him. “His name is Gunther.”

“Something’s wrong with him. He licked my blood from the floor. He bit me. He … It was like he was crazy. There was a kind of … bloodlust in his eyes.”

Since she’d very soon forget it all, Maddox admitted, “That’s because he’s going through a haze.”

She blinked. “A haze?”

“That’s what we call it. It’s like a fog in your brain. A red mist. It takes hold of you. Buries everything that makes you you. Takes away your reason, rationality, and control.” He paused. “It happens to descendants sometimes, even if we answer our cravings.”

“Cravings?”

“The madness, bloodlust, is usually short-term. It tends to last about a week. Then it passes. But during that time, we will feed from anyone. We will gorge and gorge until we make ourselves ill. That’s why a descendant in a haze is isolated. We shield the building because otherwise they’d telepathically scream at us day and night.”

Raini stared at him. “When you say ‘feed,’ you mean … ”

“I mean descendants drink blood, Raini,” he said, his voice toneless. “We need it. It’s the curse of every fallen angel, and that curse was passed on to us. We don’t need to feed every day. Most of us can go at least a month without feeding. I can go approximately three months without it. But no matter how consistent the feeds are, a haze can still take us. I didn’t name the club ‘the Damned’ because I liked it. We are damned. Every one of my kind.”

Raini felt her pulse kick up. Blood. They drank blood. Went through fucking hazes. She slid Gunther a quick look. “Has that ever happened to you?”

Maddox gave a slow shake of the head.

“But it could?”

He only nodded.

“Okay.” Reeling from all he’d told her, she pulled in a long breath through her nose. Jesus, it was no wonder descendants kept to themselves; they had a lot to hide.

As he watched her closely with a cold distance in his eyes, she could tell that he was expecting judgment, revulsion, and fear. He thought she’d turn away from him; that she’d be repulsed. And that was plain insulting. He couldn’t help what he was. None of them could. They were making the best out of a bad situation.

“If you’d asked me to guess what you were keeping from me,” began Raini, “I wouldn’t have said this. I suppose it could be worse.”

His brows dropped. “Could it?”

“Things can always be worse.” She bit her lip. “You’re going to take these memories from me, aren’t you?” There was only one reason he’d be so forthcoming—he intended to make her forget it all.

He didn’t respond, he just watched her steadily. Yeah, he was going to wipe away the memories. The thought made her stomach roll, but it was hard to judge him for it. Hard to judge him for protecting himself and his kind as a whole, even as it hurt that he didn’t trust her.

“Someone put me in here with him,” she said. “They wounded me so he’d smell the blood. They left me here to die. Who would do that?”

“Probably the halo-bearers that attacked my club around the same time,” replied Maddox, flitting his gaze over her face, seeing none of the disgust he’d expected. His demon was surprised by her easy acceptance but had no problem trusting it was real. Maddox, however, wondered if maybe she was in shock after her ordeal with Gunther.

“The angels know about this place, about your curse, as you call it?”

“They definitely know about the latter, and they’ve probably watched us while waiting for an opportunity to strike, so they’ll have noticed we isolate those in a haze. They tried taking out the club with holy fire; they intended to kill me. I think they thought that if you were brought here, you’d telepathically call one of your lair for help when I didn’t come. They would then find Gunther, and my kind’s secrets would be exposed.”

“In which case, my lair would forget about siding with yours against halo-bearers, especially if Gunther managed to harm me.”

“It’s a guess but, yes, that’s what I believe. The halo-bearers need a way to get Jolene off their ass so no wars break out. They couldn’t have known that this place was shielded to prevent telepathic contact, so they had no reason to think you wouldn’t be able to call out for help.”

She only nodded, her expression pensive.

“I don’t like how well you’re taking all this.”

Her brows lowered. “Why not?”

He towered over her. “Raini, I’m telling you I drink blood. Crave it. Need it. I’m telling you I could be taken over by a haze that would make me all but insane.”

“I know. It’s a doozy. But I grew up around imps. I’ve heard weirder shit than this.”

He could actually believe that. Still … “You’re missing the bigger picture. Remember all those bites my demon gave you? The only thing that stopped it from breaking the skin and drinking your blood was that the entity thought you’d loathe it for doing so—that’s all. So show a little loathing, Raini, or I can’t guarantee it won’t bite you for real one day. It wants to taste you. So do I.”

She sniffed, haughty. “I’d be a little offended if you didn’t. I don’t see why my blood would be less appealing than anyone else’s.”

His demon chuckled, delighted and making all sorts of erotic plans. Maddox? He did not understand her. He just didn’t.

A groan came from Gunther. He lifted his head and looked at them through eyes that—what the fuck?—no longer held a red glow. “Maddox?” he croaked. He squinted at Raini and then closed his eyes. “Shit, I think I bit her. Is she okay?”

For a long moment, Maddox could only stare at him. “Yes,” he slowly replied. “As are you, apparently.” Which made absolutely no fucking sense.

Gunther blinked at Raini. “What did you do?” he asked, curious and confused. “It felt like my head was on fire. Like an insane amount of heat blew through my mind, and then the haze suddenly … cleared, but then I passed out. Seriously, what did you do?”

Gaping at him, Raini paled. “I didn’t try to kill you,” she answered vaguely.

Insane amount of heat? Only one thing could truly heat a person’s psyche in any way. Maddox looked down at her, his eyes narrowed. “But you could have killed him, couldn’t you?” He hummed. “It’s little wonder your demon is so confident you could take me on and win. Psychic hellfire is a very potent weapon. A full-on blast of it can consume the mind completely.”

She swallowed and looked away.

His demon, warped as it was, found it a turn-on that she could so easily destroy it. Maddox didn’t understand the entity any more than he understood his anchor.

Gunther frowned, struggling to his feet. “That’s what it was? Jesus, no wonder it felt like it was going to blow off the top of my head.”

“Instead, it literally consumed the haze,” Maddox mused, dropping the containment forcefield. “Interesting.”

Gunther cricked his neck. “Celia okay?” he asked, referring to his mate.

“She will be now that you’re back with us. She’s been worried. Go to her. I want you both in the cathedral in twenty minutes, though. I’ll be calling everyone there for a meeting. Tell no one other than Celia what happened here until afterward.” Maddox had a little something to deal with before beginning the meeting, but he wasn’t about to leave Raini in the cathedral or anywhere else alone. He wanted her where he could see her, which meant taking her with him. His demon, still wound tight on discovering she’d been taken again, would accept nothing else.

“Understood.” Gunther nodded at Raini and then teleported away.

She frowned. “Wait, why didn’t he teleport out of here earlier? And what do you mean by cathedral?”

“We can’t call on our abilities when in a haze. We can still use telepathy, but I suspect that’s because it’s such a basic gift. Very few don’t possess it. Plus, it doesn’t require the same level of concentration that it does to access other abilities. Even babies can do it.” People were trained to call on and control their gifts, but no one really needed help to use telepathy—it was too instinctive for demons, perhaps because they were predominantly psychic creatures. “And by cathedral, I meant cathedral.”

Maddox closed his hand around her wrist and teleported back to the club. The descendants who’d fought alongside him earlier were still there, doing their best to put the place to rights. The club was in no state to open for business tonight, though.

The traces of ashes on the floor told him that the dead halo-bearers had been incinerated. The only angel left was still trapped in the forcefield, shivering, his lips blue, his cheeks red.

Um, Maddox, Raini began, I’ve got a lot of people telepathically calling out to me. They noticed I was missing. I’ve assured them that I’m okay, but they’re wanting answers, and I’m guessing I can’t give them the full truth.

No, she definitely couldn’t. Tell them you couldn’t respond to their calls because you’ve been unconscious until now. Say we’ll meet them at the penthouse in an hour, where we’ll then explain the rest. There are a few things we need to do first.

They won’t be happy about the wait, but okay.

Releasing her wrist, Maddox stalked toward the angel. “So, the plan was to set my lair against my anchor’s. Another divide-and-conquer strategy. Your archangel is sort of a one-trick pony, isn’t he?”

The halo-bearer averted his gaze, tense as a bow, braced for impact.

What happened?Hector asked. Duncan just called saying the women Raini works with seem to be a little frantic right now. He and Hoyt are barreling into the studio as we speak.

His gaze still on the angel, Maddox replied, Someone took her, but she didn’t see who. It could even be our guest here. Maddox narrowed his eyes on their captive. “I need you to pass on a message to your precious archangel. Can I trust you to relay it, word for word?”

The halo-bearer’s upper lip curled. “I will do nothing for you.”

“Thought as much.” Maddox telekinetically flipped him over and split open his robe to bare the skin of his back. Pinning the angel still with power alone, Maddox lowered the forcefield. “Now let’s see … I’d like to say a great many things to your leader, but I only have a small canvas, so I’ll have to keep it short and succinct.”

Maddox raised his hand and released a stream of icy energy from the tip of his index finger, focusing it on the flesh of the angel’s back, and then he began to write. The halo-bearer screamed through his teeth, and those screams soon turned into pitiful whimpers—every sound was like music to his demon’s ears.

Hector whistled once Maddox was done and read it aloud. “You really think you’re worthy of being one of the Seven, Castiel? Then stop sending minions and face me yourself—I dare you.” Hector chuckled.

Maddox reopened the hole in their preternatural security and released his telekinetic hold on the halo-bearer. “Go.” The angel instantly wavered away. Maddox then once again closed the hole.

“That taunt will make good bait,” said Hector. “Do you think Castiel will rise to it?”

“I think his ego will. Whether or not he’ll come face me is another thing altogether.” Maddox swept his gaze over every descendant in the room as he said, “I’m holding a lair meeting in the cathedral in ten minutes. Everyone is to attend. Spread the word.”

Hector flicked a look at Raini. “What did the halo-bearers do to her this time?”

“I’ll explain at the meeting.”

Just then, Jolene’s mind touched his. Maddox, I do not know what you deem more important than bringing Raini to me, but making me wait isn’t acceptable.

He inwardly sighed. He understood that Jolene needed to see Raini with her own eyes, but he couldn’t delay this meeting, and he certainly couldn’t invite Jolene to it. You’ll see her soon. You’ve spoken to her telepathically. You know that she’s fine.

Not good enough.

It’ll have to be, because we have business to take care of before we can meet with you and the others.

I amher Prime, Maddox.

And I’m her anchor. I need her at my side right now—I refuse to justify why or to argue with you about it.Maddox broke the connection and turned to Raini, who was glancing around the club, taking in the damage. If she was at all bothered by what he’d done to the halo-bearer, she gave no indication of it. Then again, she was probably as pissed at those fuckers as he was.

Maddox stalked to her. “Time to go.”

“Where?” she asked.

In answer, he teleported her to the raised altar within the cathedral.

Raini felt her mouth drop open as she gazed around. The cathedral had an old world medieval feel. Vaulted ceilings. Mosaic floors. Exquisite artwork. Broad beams. Stone arches. It was like something out of a gothic fairytale. “Wow. Why are we here?”

“It’s where we often hold our meetings.” Turning toward one of the stained-glass windows, Maddox pointed to the nearby building. “That’s where we live.”

She blinked. “You … you all live in a monastery?”

He shrugged. “Private joke.” Tilting his head, he added, “I wouldn’t have thought that psychic hellfire could obliterate a haze. It’s always been portrayed as a negative ability. I wonder if there are other constructive things you could do with it.”

She was equally surprised by what had happened, but it made sense that the hellfire’s heat could consume the fog clogging their brain—like hellfire itself, the heat was potent. “I wouldn’t know. I use it very rarely.”

“That’s how you killed the halo-bearers in your kitchen.”

“Yes.” Feeling a little exposed now that he knew her secrets, Raini folded her arms. At least he wasn’t exhibiting any of the wariness that her lair members would for sure feel if they knew. “So, what false memory are you going to plant in my brain? What am I going to believe actually happened tonight? For the record, it doesn’t seem fair that I’ll forget the skeletons in your closet but you and your friend will remember mine.”

Hinges creaked as one of the heavy wooden doors were heaved open. A cluster of descendants strode inside, their steps faltering when they noticed Raini.

“What is she doing here?” one asked Maddox, though not unkindly.

“All will be revealed shortly,” Maddox told them. “Take a seat.” Turning back to Raini, he guided her to a stool near the wall on her left. “You should sit and conserve your energy. We’ll be meeting with your people next.”

Yeah, and that might not go so well. Jolene was particularly furious with him for not taking Raini straight to her. Jolene wasn’t happy with her either, since Raini—knowing the Prime would send Ciaran to retrieve her—refused to say where she was.

As the minutes went by, more and more people filed inside the cathedral. Some asked why Raini was present. Others simply cast her confused looks. All appeared uncomfortable with having an outsider there. Now that she knew the secrets they protected, she could completely understand.

Gunther and a slender brunette who had to be Celia entered last. She gave Raini a tentative smile, so Gunther must have given her the full story. Hector then closed the door and took up a position near Raini. The woman who often guarded her— who Raini heard another demon refer to as Carmen—stood opposite them.

Facing the people seated in the pews, Maddox planted his feet. “I’m sure you’ve all already heard by now that halo-bearers launched an attack at the club. I’m sure you’re also wondering why my anchor is here. I found her in the mausoleum about twenty minutes ago. Seems like a halo-bearer dumped her there, leaving her with Gunther, no doubt counting on her reaching out for help.”

“And, out of my mind with bloodlust, I tried to kill her,” admitted Gunther. Wincing, he shot Raini an apologetic look. “Sorry about that.”

“Will you be careful of the terminology you use around her?” one descendant complained at Gunther, scowling. He then turned to Maddox. “You cannot let her remember any of it.”

“On the contrary, Euan, I think it’s to our benefit that we allow her to remember,” said Maddox.

Surprise gripped Raini’s gut. The same emotion flashed on many faces.

Euan’s head jerked back. “What? How the hell could that be to our benefit?”

“You heard what Gunther said. He was out of his mind with bloodlust. Now he’s not.” Maddox’s brow inched up. “You haven’t wondered why that is?”

Silence fell, and people exchanged confused glances.

“Raini did something to him?” asked Hector, sparing her a quick look.

“She hit him with a low blast of psychic hellfire to knock him unconscious,” Maddox explained. “The blazing heat burned away the haze of bloodlust.”

“Burned it away?” asked the female sentinel.

Maddox nodded. “I don’t have to tell any of you just how deadly psychic hellfire is. Raini could have killed Gunther. She didn’t, despite his intention to kill her, because she knew he was one of us, and she knew something was wrong with him. You want me to repay her for that by removing the memories from her brain?”

Celia cleared her throat and offered Raini another tentative smile. “Thank you for not killing him. He told me he bit you. It would have been easy for you to take him out there and then, but you didn’t.”

“And while I’m sure we all appreciate that,” began Marcella, “it’s not a good reason to let her remember. Our secret—”

“I’ll keep yours if you keep mine,” Raini cut in, sweeping her gaze along the pews. “No one is all that fond of psychic hellfire for obvious reasons, so you can understand why I don’t advertise that I can use it. Very few people knew until tonight. If you agree to say nothing about it, I’ll agree to say nothing of your own secrets.”

Marcella’s expression was a pure challenge. “How do we know you’ll keep your word?”

“How do I know you’ll keep yours?” Raini shot back. “Let me ask another question. You’re all eager for me to have these memories yanked from my brain. Would any of you be so easy about having yours taken from you, especially if you’d given your word that you wouldn’t share what you didn’t ask to discover?”

“I say we take a vote,” Euan piped up, standing. “Those in favor of her having her mind wiped raise your hand.” He lifted his own, far too fucking pompous to live in her demon’s opinion.

“This isn’t a democracy,” stated Maddox, his voice hard and deep. “Sit the fuck down or get the fuck out.”

Euan’s face flushed, but he stiffly sat. Raini’s inner entity snickered.

A descendant in the front row sighed at Raini. “I get that you didn’t ask to be put in this situation; that it isn’t your fault that you know too much. But the fact is that you do know too much.”

“I do,” Raini allowed. “I get why you’d fear an outsider possessing your secrets. I don’t much like the feeling either. But you’d be fools to ask that Maddox erase my memories, and you know it. Because you also know you could use me; that no more of your lair would have to suffer through another haze if I was on hand.”

“And you’d be fine with us using you?” challenged Marcella.

Raini wouldn’t piss on the woman if she was on fire, but … “I’d be fine with doing my anchor a favor. I don’t really much care about any of you, purely because I don’t know you. But if Maddox asked me to spare someone the torment of a haze, I’d do it.”

A pretty redhead spoke up. “How can we trust that you won’t … ”

“Destroy your anchor bonds? I guess you can’t.” And that was why no one liked being around someone with Raini’s ability. Not only could a huge blast of psychic hellfire liquefy a person’s brain, a simple well-aimed zap of it could do the very thing that no other demonic power could do. It could incinerate an anchor bond.