Black Wings

Chapter 17

Carver stood on the stage nervously as convention goers crowded in front of the stage.

"So, um, questions?"

Someone dressed as Rachel stood up.

"Everyone wants to see more of Gabriel, is Gabriel ever going to team up with the group?"

"Umm, well no. Not, um, with the group, but with Michael later on, yes."

"Why is that? Why just Michael?"

"Only one question please. Who's next?"

The person sat down and another, dressed as a scarecrow, stood up.

"Hypothetically, if the group were real, is it possible to summon angels?"

Carver looked at us for an answer. I shook my head and put my fingers up to show little horns.

"No, just demons."

Another person stood up.

"I know it's a silly question, but how tall are the group?"

"Actually, I can answer that one." Michael said, stepping forward. "Rachel is 5'6, Michael is 6'2, and Rina is 5'9 even though she insists she's 5'10."

"And who are you?"

"We help Carver. Who do you think the characters are based on?" Michael said, tilting his head towards Rachel and I.

"What's next for Michael and Rina?" Someone shouted out.

"Excuse me? You'll have to be a little more specific."

"Their relationship."

"Um, I really shouldn't say, there are some people here today that could reacted very negatively to the answer. And I'm talking no more books negatively. And no one likes spoilers."

I raised my hand from the side wall, where we ended up after Carver had been pulled away.

"Yes?"

"Rina's plans, what's going to happen? If you know what I mean."

There were murmurs among the crowd, as if they all wanted to know the asnwer too.

"Well, her and Rachel are going to go through with them. They'll get answers, but at a cost. Something she vowed never to do to another. But I won't say anything about the answers she gets, it's not my place."

"I have one more thing to say. This is to certain members in the audience, I don't how many or who, but I believe you know who I am and that this is for you. We know you're here, so stop hiding."

Three members of the audience jumped up and made a dash for the stage. One of them was immediately shot down by a devil's trap engraved bullet fired from Rachel's semi-automatic Taurus PT92. It didn't kill him, but rendered him immobile. Michael and I went to go deal with the other two making their way towards a frozen Carver. I knocked Carver out of the way and slashed upwards with the blade that came out of my sleeve. Michael and I ended up back to back with Carver between us.

"You take the left, I'll take the right?"

"Sounds fair. Don't have too much fun without me." Michael said.

"Never!" I shouted back, lunging at a demon.

A firm kick to the gut sent it sprawling on the floor. The demon, using a woman as its vessel, just laughed. She sat up, smiling.

"It's a shame you had to cut up this poor woman's body, I really liked this meat suit. She's from Maine, woman named Joan. Oh well, she's dead now. But it's so nice seeing you again."