The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)

I THINK A FEW MORE DAYS PASSED, BUT I HAD LOST COUNT AND WITH NO WINDOWS, ONLY THE DIMMING OF THE LIGHTS TOLD ME WHEN NIGHT HAD FALLEN. Peter, or should I say Alistair’s puppet, did not come back, nor had I expected him to. Liam and The Hand didn’t make an appearance either. Only the celestial guards stopped by, checking to make sure I hadn’t died and to see if I had eaten any of the food they’d brought. I’d rather starve than accept anything from them, so I stayed in the corner and slept. I dreamed of simpler times before the fall. When I had a home, a family, and the world made sense.

The lights came on in my cell, startling me from my dream. I raised my hand to cover my eyes as a group of celestials stomped inside. All were dressed from head to toe in what looked like their normal tactical gear, but as they drew closer, I saw the padded parts were fireproof. Smart.

I thought we were going for another round of interrogation, and I had no strength to even attempt to fight as they placed those burning cuffs on my wrists and ankles. They hoisted me up by my arms, and I realized all the ones in my cell were regular guards. Liam and the members of The Hand were not in attendance. Maybe my interrogation was officially over, and they were finally going to kill me. At that point, I would have welcomed it.

My feet dragged on the floor. There was no strength left in my body. They hauled me through the underground prison, and as they pulled me through the doors, I heard people talking and chattering. Maybe he had decided to make a show of it when he burned me for the final time. I tried to focus, blinking blearily, and was surprised when we turned down a small hall. A double set of sliding glass doors opened, and the noise intensified as they pulled me over the threshold.

Light hit my face, causing me to squint and look away. Concrete met my gaze as I looked down. I had a moment to wonder what was happening before I saw all the vehicles. I looked around, hungry for the sunlight and trying to see where it was spilling from. A large opening on my right showed that we were in an underground garage.

Were they transporting me? Where? I didn’t get a chance to worry about it any further as the men carried me to the back of a large armored truck. One of the celestials reached forward, twisting some lock that lit a light blue before opening. Damn, they were serious.

They hoisted me up, and I groaned as they sat me on one of the long benches. The cold metal nipped at my exposed skin. Two loud clunks and my arms and feet were secured with more chains imbued with magic. I looked behind the guard as he bent to secure my feet. The vehicle reminded me of an iron cage on wheels. The two behind were similar, and I would bet that the two in front were the same. It was a common tactic. It disguised the location of whatever cargo you were transporting, making rescue more difficult. Smart man, Liam, but it was a wasted effort. I knew no one was coming.

The book is what matters. Not you.

I would be lying if I said those words didn’t sting. I felt the kiss of the now familiar power that preceded a member of The Hand and lowered my head. A chill ran up my spine as I peered through the tangled mass of hair veiling my face. The truck shifted beneath Logan’s weight, and he spoke in that language I didn’t know. The other celestials looked from me to him and back. They shook their heads before closing and sealing the door. It was another smart move not to let me overhear whatever they were planning.

‘Taking me out on a date, lover boy?’ My voice was a crackling mess.

Logan sat down across from me, his gear sleeker and less bulky than the others. I looked him over as he crossed his arms and rested one ankle on his opposite knee. He wore no weapons that I could see, not that he needed them. He was a member of The Hand. He was a weapon.

‘You know, I have not killed an Ig’Morruthen in ages, so please make a mistake. Liam said that if you try to escape or do anything that could endanger the team or me, I have permission to make you a footnote in history.’

I forced a fake pout on my lips, the effort painful. ‘Aw, do you always do what Daddy says?’

I didn’t have a moment to savor my smart quip before he punched me so hard that my head hit the metal wall, and I blacked out.

That burning pinched my wrists and ankles as my body bounced, once more pulling me from my dreams. It stopped, then happened once more. I squinted and bit back a groan as I pulled my head up. My neck hurt from being slumped over. I rested my head against the metal wall behind me, my nose throbbing. Someone was talking, and I slowly opened my eyes, expecting to see the white walls of my little cell. I focused on Logan, and memories washed over me, another bump rattling my aching body and proving their veracity. Logan sat in front of me with a phone pressed to his ear as he spoke with that beast he called a wife.

‘Look, it’s simple. We’re dropping her off and heading to the Silver City of Hadramiel for the meeting. Just meet me there, babe,’ he said into the phone.

Her response was simple and sweet. ‘Please, just be careful. We believed them to be extinct, and now there are at least three. I’m just worried about another surprise.’

I rolled my eyes. If I had to listen to this the whole ride, I would vomit. Logan turned, realizing I was awake, and his eyes narrowed in disdain. He ended the call with a promise to return to her. Logan gave me a look of pure contempt. I knew he felt they had won and taken care of the problem. He was a fool, not only in love but in that he didn’t recognize the threat looming over him and his precious friends. He was so mistaken if he thought I was the worst he would face. Compared to Kaden, I was damned near angelic.

‘What? It’s probably strange for you to hear someone care?’ He smirked. ‘I doubt anyone loves you,’ he said, folding his arms. Ouch. Logan was right. Kaden didn’t love me. I doubt he’d ever used the word. What would it be like to truly be loved? I wondered what it would be like to be wanted for me and not my powers of destruction. I gave Gabby a hard time about the silly movies she loved so much, but I think a part of me craved it deep down.

In the small amount of time I had been held captive, I had seen the members of the Guild show signs of caring for each other. I didn’t know why, but a part of me hungered for that connection, and I was afraid Kaden knew it. My kin and I weren’t big on feelings and emotions. I blamed it on our intense need for blood and sex. I felt less mortal the more I fed, and the more I drank and killed, the happier Kaden was. Those were the only times I felt he truly cared for me. ‘No sassy comeback? Come on, where is the brazen woman who blew up an entire building and then threatened the king of this realm and the next?’

I glared and slid forward as much as my bindings would allow. ‘Pop open an artery, and I’ll introduce you again.’

I mustered as much power as I could, given my circumstances, and knew my eyes flashed red. The energy in the van changed, the tension prickling at my nerves. Logan may seem sweet to those he loved, but he was part of The Hand for a reason. I half expected him to punch me again, or maybe he would kill me and claim it was an accident. I didn’t know why I always put myself in situations that could result in my death. Call me crazy, wild, impulsive, or all of the above, but one thing I could say for myself was that no matter what, I was a fighter first and foremost.

I may have been weak and starving, but I wouldn’t let him see it. I would keep my facade as long as I could. If he moved closer, I knew I could use what strength I had left to strangle him with the chains, but if he managed to draw any weapon from his holster, it was all over for me. He must have gauged my thought process or come to the same realization because his only response was a small chuckle. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly relieved. I didn’t feel like fighting right now. My entire being still hurt from the power Liam had slammed through me over these last few weeks, and my hunger strike was affecting my healing.

Time passed, and Logan answered more calls, but he switched to that beautiful language I didn’t know. When he wasn’t on the phone, the ride was filled with silence, neither of us interested in another exchange. Why would we? Our species had been mortal enemies since the dawn of time, or so they say. Yes, the good guys are always straight and true. They sacrifice themselves for the ones they love and save the day at the last minute. In contrast, my kin and I were always subjugated as the villains. History portrayed us as merciless, cruel, vile creatures who sometimes oozed slime. I didn’t know anyone who did, but I had heard stories of Ig’Morruthens that had in the past.

Gabby was right. I was a monster.

‘So,’ I probed, ‘where exactly are you taking me?’

He didn’t answer.

I sighed. ‘What’s the point of keeping me alive? You all know I won’t talk.’

‘You are talking just fine right now.’

I nodded, relaxing my head against the back of the vehicle. ‘Ah, so it’s the big boss who decided then. Because I get the feeling, you and the rest would gladly have me roasted and toasted.’

He smiled. ‘Oh, absolutely. After what you did to Zekiel, you’ll be lucky to be free ever again.’

The sound of his name made me look away. I still had nightmares about his last moments. The way he fought for that blade with all his strength. The look on his face. Damn that look. He’d known that everything was—

‘Hopeless.’

‘What?’ Logan’s brow rose.

I hadn’t realized I’d spoken aloud and quickly changed the subject. I shook my head, turning my attention back to him. ‘So if the big guy wants me alive, I’m assuming it’s not to ask me out on a date?’

‘If by date you mean, keep you alive by any means necessary since you are the only lead we have, then yes, a date. At this point, I am sure he is ready to force –feed you.’

‘I’m wet just thinking about it.’

He shook his head, his lip curling. ‘I don’t get the crass attitude and jokes. You know there is no way out of this for you. There is no happy ending, yet you refuse to speak. Who has that much of a hold over you?’

I had no intention of revealing that information because if they knew what Kaden held over me, they would use it too. Gabby was the one thing that kept me in line. ‘I gave up on happy endings a long time ago.’ My eyes dropped to the symbol on his finger, and I nodded toward it. ‘Speaking of which, how did you two murderous little love birds meet?’

He didn’t answer.

‘She is beautiful. I see what you see in her. I’m sure others do too. She must mean a lot, especially if you guys performed the Ritual of Dhihsin.’

The Ritual of Dhihsin originated with the Goddess Dhihsin. It consisted of a ceremony that bound soulmates irrevocably. They were left with a stylized runic symbol with beautiful flourishes on the third finger of the male’s left hand and the right of the female’s. When they pressed their palms together, the symbols met. The marks were unique to each couple, and once they were complete, there was no divorce and no leaving. The bond was forever and one of the most precious forms of love you could give to another person. It was one of the things Gabby absolutely loved about celestial culture. It was what she’d wanted with Rick, and I’d taken it from her.

Logan’s eyes glowed bright blue before he answered. ‘I have strict orders to make sure you make it to Silver City, but if you mention my wife again, I will make your death look like a bad accident.’

A cold smirk formed on my lips. Gotcha. ‘Silver City, huh? Oh, I am special. That’s in Ecanus. So that’s where we are going.’

Silver City was exactly that, and it made the rest of the world look pathetic. I had heard it was one of the celestial’s famed locations, not that I or anyone I knew had ever been there. Legend said those that entered never made it out.

He realized what I’d said, and his eyes widened slightly. ‘Say something else, and I’ll knock you out again. I have no problem doing it for the rest of the ride.’ He sat back, his eyes narrowed into slits, and folded his arms.

‘Don’t worry. I think I prefer to nap willingly.’

There were no windows in the truck we were in, but we both looked in opposite directions to avoid eye contact. I decided to tilt my head back to try and get some sleep. He did say this ride would be a few hours, and trying to talk with him wouldn’t get me anywhere. The hard floor I had been sleeping on was not comfortable, and for some reason, this metal bench felt better. I shut my eyes and drifted off.

I was jarred awake as the truck rocked violently. My eyes snapped open, and my senses went on alert when I heard the stress in Logan’s voice.

‘Convey Two, do you read me?!’ Logan yelled. ‘Convey One, repeat what you said. Come in, come in!’

Logan was shaking me, one hand on my shoulder, the other on a black handheld radio. ‘Dianna, this isn’t time for fucking beauty sleep!’

‘I’m awake, you idiot. Calm down!’ I shrugged his hand off me, but he didn’t even notice. His eyes were alight again as he lowered the radio and shook it. Static burst from the speaker, followed by screams and a loud whooshing sound. He looked at me, fear plain and simple across his features.

‘What’s goi—’ My sentence was abruptly cut off as the truck slammed to the right. We tumbled inside, bouncing off each other as we flipped several times. I tried to stabilize myself by holding on to anything I could reach, but the chains were too constricting. Suddenly, the truck stopped rolling, coming to a screeching halt. I pushed myself up and looked at Logan, both of us bruised and bloody.

The vehicle lurched forward again as if something kicked us like a child would a ball. The truck rolled twice and then came to an abrupt halt, hitting something with a loud crunch. Logan’s full body weight crashed into me, and the edges of my vision went dark as I gasped for air. I tried to blink myself out of the gray haze.

The back door was ripped off, tearing like a sheet of paper. A dark figure stood silhouetted in the opening. I felt Logan’s body tense, but I knew he was already too late. The monster reached forward and dragged him out at rapid speed. The last thing I heard before I blacked out was his scream.