The Impact (Book II)

Three

No one moved. Zach stared at Orlene like she was a stranger. "You're a demon?"

He spat "demon" as if it left a sour taste in his mouth. Mikayla laughed, high and pleasant. "Oh, you poor boy! You didn't realize? Archangel, what have you been teaching your children? Aside from, of course, lying with their betters?"

Will lunged for Mikayla the same time Zach grabbed Orlene by her throat and hefted her into the air. Emily was on Zach, tugging at his arm and begging him to release Orlene. The blonde girl scrabbled at his hand, gasping. Mikayla danced out of Will's reach and grabbed Zach's arm, snapping it. He bellowed and dropped Orlene, who fell like a rock. Mikayla bent down to help Orlene up, then froze. While everyone else was distracted, Cole had moved and had his hand around the back of my sister's neck.

Slowly, she stood up and turned her head to look at Cole. She cooed, "My, my, aren't you a handsome one? But, your smell is off."

Her pleasant attitude dropped the moment I grabbed Orlene and placed her in a chokehold. Orlene offered no resistance, her arms limp at her sides. Mikayla bared her teeth. "Get your filthy traitor hands off her!"

Will stormed over, his nostrils flaring, but stopped when I gave him a sharp look. Carefully, I said, "Everyone needs to calm down. It would seem Orlene has a lot of explaining to do. So, instead of a Mexican standoff, how about we go inside and have a little chat?"

His arm having finished healing, Zach growled, "What's there to talk about? Orlene's a fucking demon!"

She whimpered, "I-I can explain! Please, just let me-"

"Why should I?! I can't believe I-" He cut himself off before I had a chance to intervene.

Keith, who had yet to move from his spot, looked alertly at me when I requested, "Darling, can you go into Daddy's suitcase and grab two pieces of what looks like glowing white cords and bring them out here?"

He hesitated for a second, before nodding and sprinted off. Will looked down at me in confusion. "How did you know I brought power neutralizers with me?"

Smiling mirthlessly, "I'm your wife; I know all your little habits."

Mikayla glared at me and sneered, "You don't have the nerve to hurt her or me. You were always too softhearted!"

My grip tightened around Orlene's neck. Raising an eyebrow at my sister, I asked, "Are you seriously willing to bargain your daughter's life to test that theory? You have no idea what I am capable of anymore."

Orlene's breath hitched. Rayi scoffed at the girl's cowardice, while I couldn't help but be reminded of my own craven behavior at that age. Imperceptibly, I relaxed my arm. Mikayla said no more and Keith returned with what I asked for.

"Good; now give one to Cole and the other to me," I ordered.

He did as he was told and Cole tightly bound Mikayla's wrists together while I did the same to Orlene. I shoved her toward Will. "Keep an eye on her for me; I'll be watching Mikayla."

Patting Mikayla's dress, I removed any throwing knives she had on her and passed them to Emily. The whole time, my sister cursed me in Latin, showing her fluency in the language.

"Right, let's bring these two inside," Will said, placing a hand on Orlene's shoulder while she walked toward the house.

I grabbed Mikayla's wrists and forced her to move, sometimes giving her a shove when she dug her heels in. "You won't get away with holding us captive; Lin will come and find us and when he does, you all will be destroyed!"

Nodding while she had her little hissy fit, I opened the door to the house and led Mikayla into the living room. She willingly sat down on the sofa and Orlene sat beside her. The rest of us stood before the two, the tension thick in the room. Absentmindedly, I said, "Zach, why don't you go outside and keep guard. I doubt the Demon Queen is wandering the Human World alone."