Hell's Angel: Guardian Angel Book 2

Keeping a secret from Randall and Cassi was hard, especially when Randall had seen me grow up. When we got back to Logan, I paced around in the room for an hour. It was childish to assume that whatever Aphrodite was planning would be quick. When more time passed, I started getting discouraged. It was stupid to think she’d be able to help me get my sister back.

When I couldn’t handle hiding out in the bedroom any longer, I grabbed Michael by his T-shirt from where he watched me on the bed and dragged him outside with me. Loki had been right about earlier when he had me punch him. I had too much nervous energy to just sit around and do nothing so I really needed to get a little swordplay in before I drove myself mad. Michael drew up a pair of swords and tossed one to me. I caught it by the hilt easily and gave it a few test swings before crouching into a defensive stance. He made a pass at me, which I blocked. The motions were becoming instinctual, which was good if I was going to fight the titans.

We kept at it until the sky started to darken. He didn’t take it easy on me, for which I was grateful, and my muscles screamed at me. My glowing blue shield blocked most of his strikes and I was slowly getting the hang of using my magic with the sword. Michael wiped his forehead after a blast of power sent him to the ground. “I almost hate to admit it, but Loki is a good teacher.”

I grinned and reached down to pull him to his feet. His warm hand engulfed mine. “Yeah, but you’re better.”

He didn’t let go when I helped him up. My stomach did flip flops as his gaze locked on my eyes. It was awful timing, but all I could think of was kissing him. I bit my lip as I attempted to keep my mouth to myself.

“Ahem.”

Annoyed with the interruption, I pulled away and narrowed my eyes. Loki, now in leather Viking armor, tapped his foot at us. “My mistress was able to orchestrate a meeting. She said we need to go to the window and they’ll be there soon. I assume you know where that is?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Just give me one sec and I’ll be right back.”

I made a quick pit stop to my room to retrieve the thick leather-bound book I kept under my pillow. The window was a pond where I used to watch the humans and imagine life among them. It was where all of this began and I felt like I needed my journal if we were going back to the beginning.

Michael wrapped his hunky arms around my waist and pulled me in close. Loki looked on with a slight frown before he vanished right before my eyes. I honestly couldn’t believe he could get so jealous at a time like this. I was so focused on my sister that my feelings for either man were barely even on my mind. I rolled my eyes and locked my hands behind Michael’s neck and we were off.

Like last time, the instantaneous ride made me lightheaded and Michael squeezed me a little more so I stayed on my feet. I waited a second for the wave of dizziness to pass and pushed away when I was sure I wouldn’t collapse. My eyes adjusted quickly to the blindingly bright light that warmed the meadow where Thor already waited. Emerald green grass tickled my ankles as it waved in a gentle breeze. Thousands of flowers gave the air a delicious fragrance and the bubbling of the small pond made the scene perfectly serene. The pool of water was circular, guarded by river rocks ranging in color from creamy white to a lovely watermelon pink. This place used to be my sanctuary from the duties of being the Goddess of Creation’s daughter. This was where I created the first modern humans about 200,000 years ago. There’d been more before that, like cavemen, but those first ones that I used to watch all the time had freedom that I never knew as a goddess princess.

They were able to fall in love. Sure, the City had marriages and things, but those were based off of alliances where no one really had any true feelings for their partners. Aphrodite had liked to play matchmaker back then, but even she couldn’t conjure up an emotion that didn’t exist in our world.

I dropped to the ground and dipped my feet into the crystal clear water, sandals and all. With the ancient book on my lap, I started flipping through pages. This was my past, one that had led us here. I found a page that talked about the contest easily enough.

Mother is losing her touch if she believes that I could possibly lead. She herself says I am impulsive, irresponsible, and spend far too much time observing the humans. Does she believe that will change if she tasks me with a job that should go to Vega? My sister would be all too willing to see me fail at Mother’s challenge so that she can continue making an army of titans. The only one that has faith in me is Michael. My angel gives me strength.

Several more entries were about the competition until the goddess I used to be decided her best bet was to become human. Every page mentioned Michael and I was so thankful to have him in my life- in all of my lives- even if now I was confused about Loki coming into the picture. I closed the heavy tome with a sigh and leaned back on my elbows to wait.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the air across the pond shimmered. I jumped to my feet as Aphrodite, Vega and Max appeared. My breath stopped. My sister looked pale with huge purple bags under her hazel eyes. Her lips when chapped white and she looked tired, but alive. “Lyra!” she called out taking a step. Before she could get far, a snake hissed and wrapped around her legs. Snakes were her kryptonite and she shivered at the brown anaconda-type monster.

Vega chuckled. “Easy, Lucy. I’m sure there will be no need for that. My little sister will agree to any bargain to get back the human.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but she was right that I’d do just about anything. “What do you want?”

Aphrodite stepped forward with a calm smile. “I have negotiated a trade. Your guardian for your mortal. It was the best I could do.”

My brain completely shut off and darkness teased at the edges of my vision. There’s no way I could have heard that correctly. It took a minute to form a coherent thought, let alone a sentence. “No freaking way.”

Vega smirked. “Oh darling little sister. Do you know why mother is so adamant the Council have a leader before the impending darkness? Do you know what happens to the souls of one of your humans if they die a second time? Living humans go to the valley upon death. But for the dead or immortals, death means going to the abyss. That’s the world of absolute nothingness. It will be as if they never existed. Shall I send lovely Maxine there now? You can be responsible for both of her deaths.”

Bile worked its way up my throat and my knees shook at her threat. My eyes filled with moisture, which I barely held back. “Please, Vega, don’t do this. I’ve already agreed to take the seat Thesis offered. I’m giving up the humans to their own devices, even the ones in Arcadia. You’ve won. There’s no need for war.”

Her turquoise eyes, almost the exact shape of my blue ones, narrowed dangerously at me. “You really think this is still about the Council? You cannot be that stupid. You think just because everyone loves you so much more that I will just roll over and forgive you? After everything we have been through, I will not be so accommodating toward what you want. There will be war, Princess Lyra. And you get to decide if your mortal sister will be the first casualty.”

Icy blue fire erupted in her palm and she held it under Max’s chin. The snake, Lucy, still held her in place and I could see the way that the flame singed her flesh from across the pool. She whimpered in pain and fear at the same time my heart threated to break out of my ribcage.

“Vega, stop this,” Michael commanded, taking a step closer to her side of the pond.

Vega’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked the guardian angel up and down and she smirked. I’d seen that look once before in a memory. She still lusted after him and the small part of my brain that wasn’t worried for my sister felt a twinge of annoyance. “I’m going to have my fun, one way or another.”

“I accept your bargain. Release the girl,” Michael said with absolutely no inflection in his tone.

My eyes widened so they took up the majority of my face and my body shook. “What?! NO!!”

Michael turned to me and held my shoulders in his powerful grip. His stormy grey eyes locked onto mine. He tried to hide his thoughts and emotions from me, but I could see them swirling around in his gaze. He didn’t want to acquiesce to Vega, but he was doing this for me. “Do not worry about me. I will be fine.” And I will find a way to return to you, he added silently.

I was going to be sick. Who knew what Vega would do to him? Plus, without my warrior, I wasn’t all that much of a threat. She and her titan army would bulldoze right over us. I can’t do this without you.

“She is your sister.”

For just a second, I thought he was talking about Vega, but then I realized that he was telling me that he knew how much it would kill me if Max’s soul was sent to the abyss. He wasn’t just trying to protect me.

Michael turned and faced the older goddess with no fear. Her glee was obvious as she waved her hand for the snake to unravel from Max. Aphrodite nodded toward Thor, who moved quickly to scoop her up and bring her around to our side of the pond. Before I could make a break for it with both of the most important people in my life, that damn snake darted out, flying right over the water, to strike Michael in the chest. He cried out, falling to one knee. I screamed and moved toward him, but Loki held me back so I could do nothing but watch the snake wrap around the base of his magnificent wings.

“Get her out of here,” Michael groaned.

I fought desperately against Loki, screaming with tears running in rivulets down my face. I was a writhing mess in Loki’s arms, but I couldn’t break Loki’s hold around my waist. He squeezed me tight as he teleported us to the manor in Arcadia that I’d shared with Michael; I guess Andromeda had been able to open a gate. My legs crumpled from under me and I hit the ground hard, but I hardly felt a thing. My heartbreak from losing Michael trumped everything else. I cried so hard that my throat hurt and only had time to run to the bathroom before I puked into the porcelain throne. I didn’t usually cry myself sick.

A gentle hand rubbed along my back as my muscles contracted violently and the other held my hair out of the way. The comfort I got from them was familiar enough to tell me that it was my sister taking care of me while I barfed up my guts. When I had nothing left, she handed me a few tissues to wipe my eyes and mouth.

“I am so sorry, Ly.”

A fresh wave of tears pricked my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them fall. I threw my arms around Max and squeezed her desperately. “No, I’m sorry. This wouldn’t’ve have happened to you if it weren’t for me.”

She pushed me to arm’s distance and glared fiercely into my eyes. “I would never rat you out to that psycho bitch. I accepted that. I hate the fact that she took me from our family, but don’t you go thinking that any of this is your fault. We’ve all made the choices that have led us here. You got me back at the expense of Michael, and I know how much that hurts you.”

“I see that you two are doing well,” Aphrodite said as she unexpectedly popped into my bedroom. Loki still stood against the wall of the large master bathroom, giving me space with my sister while still standing guard. “I’m sorry about the guardian, but it was the only deal I could work out where everyone got what they wanted. Right Loki?”

His dark eyes widened a little and he shot her a look. “I think that maybe something of a stretch, mistress.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that this is how negotiations work. Not everyone will be completely satisfied, but you did all leave with something you wanted. Vega got the guardian, he got to protect you, and you got your sister’s soul back. Everyone wins. See, Loki? I always told you that I would follow through.”

I turned bloodshot eyes accusingly at the trickster. He didn’t look so carefree with his gaze downcast. I hiccupped and my breath caught; at least I wasn’t a sobbing mess anymore. “You did this?”

“No, Lyra! I swear.” His desperation verified that he was telling the truth, but he wasn’t telling me everything.

I looked back to where the goddess of love had been just a second ago to find her gone. Loki received the full weight of my age. “If that’s the case, what did she mean about following through?”

I could see the guilt that ate at him. He absolutely refused to meet my eyes and his brother stood stoically by the bathroom door. Finally, he sighed. “Please, let’s go into the bedroom so you can rest.”

I wanted to refuse, wanted to tell him to go to hell and I wouldn’t go anywhere he said, but Max’s gentle voice cut me off. “Go sit down. I’ll bring you some water in just a sec.”

Thankfully, she didn’t go on an adventure to find the kitchen. She used the cup on my bathroom sink that I used to rinse after brushing my teeth. I was glad she didn’t leave because I wasn’t sure I could handle being alone with Thor and especially Loki. She handed me the water and I took a greedy sip before glaring at my date just last night. “Start talking.”

Loki rubbed his fingers through his hair nervously. “You asked me before how we ended up with Freya.”

“Who?” My sister interrupted. I couldn’t blame her. It had to be one hell of a trip to go from being dead to now being an immortal in Arcadia with no room between to breathe, and now getting thrown into a conversation of name dropping.

I squeezed her hand, almost afraid she’d vanish on me if I let her go. “It’s the Norse name for the goddess of love. That bitch that was just here.”

Loki continued, “Thor and I guarded you until the day you died. You were young and died a warrior’s death in battle. I knew you’d return, but I didn’t know how to go about seeing you again because you wouldn’t remember me. Freya knew how I felt about you and made a bargain.”

“How you felt about me?”

Glittering black eyes locked onto mine and peered so deeply it was like he was trying to read my very soul. But he’d never be able to achieve the silent communication like Michael could. That was just all around a depressing thought. “I’ve been in love with you for a thousand years. I’m still in love, even though you hate me right now. Freya knew this and offered to help me win you if I’d serve her until she could accomplish it. Thor is a good brother and shared in my burden of working for the goddess. You have to believe that I never thought she’d get rid of your guardian.”

I sniffled and wiped furiously at the steady stream of tears that flowed down my cheeks. “It’s not the first time she’s thrown her chips in with Vega. What else do I need to know about Freya? Is she even going to help me in this damn war?”

Thor ventured away from the door until he stood before me. At my side, Max’s eyes raked over him appreciatively and she let out a low whistle. “My lady, we have long seen the lengths at which Frey would go, but she truly does not wish for Vega’s titans to rule. Without humans, her reason for being is gone, and she is too vain to allow that. You can be certain that she will defend the humans, but do not confuse that with her being on your side.”

I nodded. From what I knew about the traitorous love goddess, that made absolute sense. “Thank you, Thor. I appreciate your honesty. There seems to be a shortage of honor around here, so I’m glad you told me the truth.”

Loki’s already crestfallen face fell even more and his shoulders drooped A tiny part of me that had been hoping that something could happen between him and me felt bad, but I wasn’t going to have any guilt over hurting his feelings. He might not have handed Michael over, but he was part of the reason my angel was gone. “We’ll just leave you to rest. Thor and I will keep close in case you need anything. And Lyra, I really am sorry about how this happened.”

I had no more tears to shed as the two men walked out. Once we were alone, Max made herself comfortable at the head of my bed, arranging the pillows so that they cradled her body like clouds. She pulled me from the edge when she was settled and gently made me lay down with my head resting on her thigh. Her long, sure fingers combed through my hair slowly and the tension, if not the sorrow, melted away from my body. I was still heartbroken, but at least the comfort from my sister made it possible to manage my emotions.

“He’ll be okay,” she muttered. “Michael’s a strong guy. He can handle her.”

I choked on a strange sob/snort noise that escaped my throat. “Hopefully. But I’m so scared about what she might be doing to him. And I’m sick to my stomach afraid to ask what she did to you.”

Her methodic rhythm on my scalp faltered for just a second. If I didn’t know my sister so well, I might have missed it. “I’m here with you now, Lyra. That’s all that matters.”

I sat up and studied her closely. Her hazel eyes looked haunted and big bags discolored the skin under them. She was still pale, but some of her normal healthy glow was returning. Vega had already done quite the number on her in just the day she’d been dead. I tucked a limp strand of hair behind her ear. “I love you, sister. I know I don’t say it enough, but I love you.”

She placed her hand over mine against her cheek. “I know, Lyra. I love you, too.

“Anyway, let’s chance that subject. Tell me more about where we are. You said it’s called Arcadia, right?”

I took my hair out of its messy ponytail only to yank in back up in a slightly more orderly style. I could understand Max not wanting to talk about whatever Vega had done to her. “Yeah, it’s Arcadia. This is where true warrior souls go when they die. Everyone here proved during their lives that I could trust them and they’d fight against Vega and the titans.”

“So it’s like Valhalla.”

I scrunched my forehead up in confusion and she laughed. “What?”

“It’s a warrior’s heaven in Norse myth. I did some reading up on it after you came over to talk about Loki.”

I was impressed. As I journalist, I’d always done my background research for stories, but my life had become so hectic that I sort of just took everything in stride without really thinking about what the old legends entailed. She must really have wanted to get to know my date. “Oh. Then, yeah. Anyway, a lot of the heroes here have been in Arcadia for centuries. Other than you, I think the most recent is Amelia Earhart.”

One immaculately plucked eyebrow sir up to her hairline. “Amelia Earhart the pilot?”

“The one and only. I guess she knew about the coming war and everything, and Cetus, a water serpent, got to her during her trip around the world. That’s why she was never found.”

My sister let out a low whistle. “That’s kinda cool. Except for the fact that I guess I’m one of them now, too. She really killed me.”

Tears burned my eyes again. “Everyone already misses you. Dad was being strong for Mom, but it was hard on everyone.”

“Mackenzie?”

I flinched at the mention is my niece. “She doesn’t fully understand. When I was there, she kept asking where her mommy was. I don’t think she would have known anything was wrong if she hadn’t been picking up on all of our vibes. Ethan got the worst of it, though. He’s the one that found your body.”

A delicate shiver raced along her body and she hugged herself tightly. A morbidly curious expression flickered across her face as she subtly punched one arm. “God, that just sounds weird. All of this afterlife stuff is giving me the creeps. So there two of me?”

I thought about how to answer that one. The difference between a human body and the spiritual one she had now was hard to explain. I’d gotten so used to being around Cassiopeia and the others that I sometimes forgot that they were technically dead. And besides, no one knew then now to be freaked out if they suddenly reappear

“For now, let’s just focus on this you. Your soul’s become an immortal now. I know it’s a lot to take in.”

She twirled a lock of hair around her finger and leaned into my comfy pillows. “It’s weird, for sure, but I think being your sister’s sort of prepared me for the paranormal crap that has apparently become my life.”

I knew she didn’t blame me, but a guilty ball fisted in my gut. I nibbled my bottom lip. “Well you’re definitely taking this all better than I did. I thought I was going crazy. And when I gave up my humanity, damn, that was a kick in the ass. And to think, a year ago, we were normal.”

I leaned my head on her shoulder and drew comfort from the familiarity. We used to sit together like this whenever one of us has a personal crisis. It was a peaceful moment, that unfortunately was interrupted far too soon.

“Dammit, Thor, move!”

I recognized Cassi’s voice easily. She was gutsy to be yelling at the Norse god of thunder. But she’d been a queen in her past life and was still used to people following her orders.

“She’s not feeling well,” Loki replied.

“All the more reason for us to check on her, don’t you think?” Randall’s response was full of ice.

I swung my legs off the bed and the thick carpet swallowed up my bare feet as I walked to the door. I ripped it open and my strawberry blonde eyebrows shot up to my hairline. Cassi’s chocolate brown eyes were full of fury, her slim hands were balled into fists, her hair had escaped its normal up-do so that she looked almost crazy in her anger. Randall, next to her, looked calmer with one hand on her slender wrist and the other wrapped around his cupid bow, and his cool blue eyes more calculating. Standing opposite, Loki and Thor stood sentry, blocking them from my room.

“What the hell is going on out here?”

The murderous intent drained from Cassiopeia’s face and was replaced by relief. She shoved past my self-appointed guards and engulfed me in a giant hug. “Where did you go? We’ve been looking all over for you!”

She pulled away and looked over me almost as if to reassure herself I was really okay. Back in Ancient Greece, she had been old enough to be my mother and since I’d been friends with her daughter Andromeda, some of those maternal instincts were still evident.

I opened the bedroom door wider and gestured them in. Randall froze as he caught sight of my sister. “Aphrodite helped me broker a trade with Vega. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you, but it was kind of a long shot going into it.”

“But it worked,” Cassi exclaimed joyfully. “You and Michael- Wait, where is he?”

Max sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and a look of guilt washed over her. It wasn’t her fault; I’m the one that trusted Loki and his mistress. “That was the trade. Michael took my place. I am so sorry. I never meant for him to sacrifice himself for me. I didn’t even know that two-timing bitch Aphrodite would barter his life like that. Vega didn’t really leave Michael and Lyra much choice and the stupid love goddess seemed a little too eager for the lose-lose situation.”

Randall sat on the edge if the bed and flipped a lock of silky blonde hair off of his forehead. “Yeah. She’s cagey like that. She’s certainly not winning any mother of the century awards from me.”

My sister’s hazel eyes widened. “Oh, crap. Sorry, Randall. I didn’t know. I swear I wouldn’t have been talking crap if I did.”

He shrugged it off. I guess he still wasn’t happy with how she’d treated his wife. “It’s not a problem, Max. Anyway, Ly, how are you holding up?”

I shook my head. “I’m not. You guys just missed my complete breakdown.”

On her knees, my sister crawled across the bed to where I was sitting at the edge and wrapped her and around me. Her chin jutted into my shoulder as dark eyes watched me carefully for another breakdown. Cassi gasped and covered her mouth with her hands in terror and even Randall’s normalky calm features were marred with worry. Great. Now my friends probably thought I was a loon.

“Oh, Lyra, if there’s anything we can do, just let us know.”

I nodded. “I will, Cassi. But I think for now, I just need to sleep this nightmare off.”

She offered me a small smile and squeezed my hands in hers. “We’ll get out of your way, then. And I’m kicking out the Norsemen, too. You and Max try to have a good night.”

“Thanks, Cassiopeia,” my sister mumbled. Randall made sure the door closed soundly, but I could still hear the petite brunette ripping the titans a new one. There was a lot of arguing, especially from Loki, but they eventually succumbed to the fireball that was Cassi. The manor settled into silence in no time and I soon felt myself drifting off to sleep.