That this tiny fluff of nothing so easily dismissed him was baffling.
Before he could decide how best to handle this, Thane walked through the far wall. Fury crackled over his expression the moment he spotted the girl. He did not question Zacharel, however. A small blessing.
The demons have been eliminated, Majesty, and the one you requested has been taken to your cloud. Alive. His smoky voice contained the same treacherous crackles.
Slowly the female turned her head, hunks of that tangled hair falling over her forehead and shielding her eyes. She blew the strands away and studied Thane.
Im certainly popular tonight. Are you an angel, too? she asked, her gaze stroking over the mans still-black wings.
Zacharel noticed Thane did not elicit the doubt that he had. Why?
Yes. Thane sniffed the air, frowned and whipped his gaze to Zacharel. You plan to free her?
No. Why would he think that?
The frown deepened. But why Never mind. If you have changed your mind about her, I will take her with me.
When they did not know why she was here or what she had done? No, he repeated.
Thane bowed, as though he were a slave humbled by his master. Of course not, Majesty. How dare I entertain such a silly desire. No one in such a place as this deserves compassion, correct?
Would his men ever simply obey him without question? Were any humans harmed during the battle? he asked. The girl was not the only one whose queries he would disregard.
Head held high, Thane replied through clenched teeth, One of the guards. A sword of fire sliced through his middle.
Zacharel found his hands tightening into fists for the second time that day. Direct disobedienceagain. A sword of fire does not slice through a human by accident. While angels operated on the spiritual plane, not even their weapons could be sensedor feltby the humans. Therefore, the angel whod done this deed had deliberately entered the mortal realm.
The guard was demon possessed and needed to die, Thane said.
And yet he was still human. Who disobeyed my orders?
Thane ran his tongue over his teeth. Perhaps it was I.
Familiar with the tricks that could be used to circumvent the ring of truth, Zacharel knew Thane was not the culprit. Who? You will tell me or you will watch me penalize Bjorn and Xerxes. Truth. He would do it without a single qualm.
Another pause, this one several beats longer. Jamila.
Jamila. One of four females in his army, but the one he had trusted most. She was the only one who had never challenged his authority. Yet now, because of her, he would receive another whipping.
You, the female on the bed said, her timbre shaded with irritation. New guy. Angel Boy. Colonel Curls, or whatever you want to be called. Im done asking, so now Im commanding. Free me.
Zacharel actually had to fight an urge not to smile. Him. Smile. The absurdity was staggering. But shed just called his warrior by several insulting names, the same way that warrior often called Zacharel by insulting names.
Thane relaxed, a soft chuckle escaping him. Colonel Curls. I like that. But, my beautiful human, you asked me to save you, not to free you.
Same thing, she said, exasperated.
They are quite different, I assure you. But what will you do if I fail to heed your command, hmm?
She uttered a silky, Believe me, you dont want to know.
Zacharel pursed his lips, no longer amused. Was this flirting? This had better not be flirting. He and Thane were on a mission.
Because knowing will not deter me? Thane asked just as silkily.
Because its so horrible even hearing it will make you puke.
Thane coughedor covered up a snort. It was too difficult to tell. Did you hear that? he asked Zacharel, speaking to him as if they were friends for the first time in their acquaintance, as if they were sharing a moment of understanding. She just ordered me to obey her will, then threatened to hurt me if I failed to comply.
I have ears, he replied drily. I heard. But why hadnt she done the same to Zacharel?
And she actually believes in her success, Thane continued, bewildered.
You do not have to sound so impressed, Zacharel said, not liking the idea on any level. Impressed, Thane would desire the female perhaps stop at nothing to have her.
Thane frowned at him. Im simply curious. And, very well, I will ask what is not my business. Why have you claimed her as your own if you plan to leave her here?
I have not claimed her. Zacharel could not get the words out fast enough.
Then why have you spread your essentia all over her?
I have not touched her.
And yet her skin bears your tinge.
Not mine. Essentia, a substance that swirled inside each of their bodies, sometimes seeping through the pores of their hands to become a fine powder, allowing them to claim any object they considered their exclusive property. Demons produced a similar substance, only theirs was tainted.
Zacharels attention whipped to the female. I have never claimed a human. Hed never had so much as a yearning to do so. She does not glow. He saw nothing out of the ordinary about her skin.
She watched him unabashedly, and he nearly shifted on his feet. Him. Shifting. Inconceivable!
I promise you, Thane said, the gleam is very dull but there, and its a definite warning to other males not to touch what belongs to you.
Him? Impossible. You are mistaken, thats all.
Argh! the girl interrupted. Im done listening to this meaningless jabber. Team Winger sucks! Just forget that Im here. Oh, wait. You already have. So heres an idealeave.
She had more mettle than even Zacharel had realized, and he was trying not to be impressed, or baffled, himself. Go, he said to his warrior. I want you and my other advisors which included Jamila waiting in my cloud. No, strike that. Not you. Go and find every detail about this human that you can. A need to learn more about her kept pricking at him. Better to heed it than to regret not doing it.
Whatever you say, glorious leader. Thane stalked from the room. Just before he vanished, he cast the girl one final glance, causing Zacharels hands to clench into fists. How many times would the action happen in a single day, when before hed gone years without doing it once?
If you want to know about me, she snapped the moment she was alone with Zacharel, you could have just asked me.
And give you the chance to lie?
Hurt cascaded over her features, but only for a second. Pride took its place, and remained. Youre right. Im a no-good liar, and youre Mr. Truth. So why are you here, Mr. Truth? Im pretty clear on the fact that its not to save or free me.
There was no reason not to tell her. I was told to destroy the horde of demons trying to get inside the building.
A beat of panic. Horde, as in army?
Yes, but they are no longer any type of threat. My army was successful against them.
Slowly she exhaled. They wanted me, right?
Yes.
Another beat of panic before she sagged against the bed. But why me?
She had no idea what had been done to her. None at all. Yet she would have remembered being tricked or seduced. So how had the demon managed to mark her?
Well? she demanded.
Ignoring her, Zacharel claimed the folder still lying on the floor, the one the doctor had dropped, and riffled through the pages.
She banged her head against her pillow once, twice. Fine. Pretend Im not speaking. Whatever. Im used to it. But please, glorious leader, allow me to save you the trouble of digging through the little details, since even a liar like me would have no need to fudge those. Without pausing to allow him to respond, she added, To start, my name is Annabelle Miller.
The truth, confirmed in the notes. Annabelle. Latin for loveable. I am called Zacharel. Not that it mattered.
Well, Zachie, I
Glorious leader, he rushed out. You may call me glorious leader.
Theres no way Im calling you that, she said, despite the fact that she had already done so, but enough about your exalted opinion of yourself. Im here because I killed my parents. I stabbed them to death, or so Im told.
He glanced up, watched another of those tremors rock her. Perhaps he should fetch her a blanket.
Fetch her a blanket? Seriously? His frown returned. Her comfort did not concern him. So you were told? You do not remember? he asked, remaining in place.
Oh, I remember. The bitterness returned to her voice, thicker now. I watched a creature a demon do it, tried to stop him, tried to save them, and when I told the authorities what had really happened, I was deemed criminally insane and locked here for the rest of my life.
Again, he knew she spoke truthfully. Not just because the details she mentioned were typed, scribbled and repeated throughout the pages in the folderthough none of her doctors had believed herbut because he tasted only the rose and bergamot, both fragile, delicate flavors he liked. Odd. Hed never cared for scents or tastes before. They were what they were, and hed had no preference.
Why have these demons targeted me? she asked again. Why? And just so you know, telling me is the only way to stop me from pestering you about it.
Thats not exactly true. I could leave, and then you would not be able to pester me about anything. Rather than ignore her yet again, however, he decided there was no reason not to give her this information, either. Her reaction interested him.
Fires of hell, but something must be wrong with him. Nothing interested him.
Sometime before your parents were killed, he stated, you invited a demon into your life.
No. No way. Violently she shook her head, tangling those blue-black strands around her temples. I would never invite one of those things anywhere. Except, maybe, a house-burning party.
How was she expressing such undeniable doubt about something he had said, with the ring of truth as ripe as ever in his tone? Yes, there were humans who possessed doubts more powerful than that ring, but Annabelle did not fit the type.
Humans fail to realize how easy demons are to welcome. The negative words you speak, the detestable things you do. Utter a lie, meditate on hate, entertain the urge to commit violence, and you might as well sound the dinner bell.
I dont care what you say. I never welcomed a demon.
How could he make her understand? Demons are the equivalent of spiritual deliverymen. Your words and actions can be a request for a package. In other words, a curse. They come to your door, knock. Its your choice whether or not you open that door and accept. You did.
No, she insisted.
Have you ever played the Ouija? he asked, trying to reach her stubborn core from a different angle.
No.
Visited a psychic?
No.
Cast a spell? Any spell?
No, okay? No!
Lied, cheated or stolen from a neighbor? Hated someone, anyone? Feared something, anything?
The next tremor to slide the length of her body proved stronger than the others, locking her jaw, silencing her and rattling the entire bed. By the time she stilled, her anger had drained and she radiated a bleakness that somehow widened the fissure in his chest by the minutest degree.
Im done talking to you, she said quietly.
Meaning yes, she had. He had seen proof of hatred and fear already. But I am not done talking to you. Spiritually, all of the things I mentioned grant your enemy permission to attack you.
But how can a person stop feeling fear?
It is not what you feel that truly matters but what you say and how you act while feeling that way.
A moment passed as she absorbed his words. Ultimately, she sighed. Okay, look. Im tired, and you were kind enough to ensure Fitzpervert wouldnt be coming back. This will be my only chance to rest without someone sneaking up on me. Will you just go already?
If you cannot do what I need, then leave me here. I hate that youre seeing me like this. Go, please. For once, listen to me and obey. Go!
He gritted his teeth. No more thinking about his brother.
I will go, yes, he said, but you? What will you do?
The same as always. Her tone was as emotionless as his own, and he wasnt sure he liked that. He much preferred her mettle. Ill survive.
But for how much longer?
For several minutes, Zacharel debated what to do with herand reeled over the fact that a debate was needed at all. Were he to take her with him, she would cause problems. Of that, there was no doubt. He would have interfered in a humans life, many human lives, and he would surely be chastised. Right now, he already had one whipping looming over his head. Jamilas. But were he to leave Annabelle behind, she would eventually break. The thought of her crying and begging as his brother had done disturbed him.
He could visit her once a week, he supposed. Check on her, guard her. Unless he was called to battle, of course. Or injured. And in the meantime, while he was gone? What would happen to her?
A counterargument sparked to life. If he aided her, he would not be interfering. Not really. He would be protecting her fully, and thats why he was here, after all. Thats what his Deity wanted him to do: protect the humans at any cost. Zacharel would be rewarded, not reprimanded. Surely.
Well, then, decision made.
When he closed the distance between them, he at last discerned the glow Thane had mentioned. A soft, gentle light the same shade as Zacharels eyes seeped from her, washing over her, bathing her with a subtle radiance.