The Book of the Watchers

Chapter Six

 The barrage of images and sounds continued. I saw the snaking black tendrils that had attacked me in my dream, pulling a baby from its mother’s arms as she screamed and tried to fight them off. I saw a procession of women, from what seemed to be the dawn of time, and at the end of the line was me, staring solemnly with a gaze filled with despair. I saw the world burning, and a flock of creatures with huge black wings. But the worst things were the screams. They filled my ears with terror and sorrow, like the screams of families burning alive. I saw the same image, repeated over and over again; the image from the Book, of the bad angel sacrificing the sorceress. And suddenly, my eyes flew open, and tears tumbled down my cheeks. I was gasping in fear and exhaustion, and my heart felt ready to leap out of my chest.

Danny was still on the bed, sitting up now; staring at me with wide, dark eyes. There was something vulnerable about his expression that made me want to hold him, to whisper soothing words to him until he fell asleep. But that was absurd. This was Danny; badass fallen angel. And he had a gun, somewhere.

“You,” He whispered hoarsely, gazing at me with something akin to fear. “You’re one of them.”

“Danny, lie down. You’ll make the poison spread faster if you move about.” I took a step towards him, but he cringed away.

“You did this to me.” He hissed, dragging himself to his feet. “You’re trying to kill me because I work for Saxon. I don’t know what you’re hoping to accomplish. He wouldn’t care if I died.”

My heart seemed to stop beating. I’d thought that was all an act; something to catch Saxon off guard, so we could escape. Clearly, I should have thought more about that incident. “You work for him?” My voice came out harsh with betrayal. “Why? What does he want with me?”

“He wants your blood.” Danny snapped. His eyes were wary, and he seemed to be looking around for an escape, but trying to keep me distracted too. “He wants your power.”

“So what? I can make plants grow and play with the weather. What does he hope to achieve with that?” He was going mad. I could see it in his eyes. The poison must have reached his brain. But I was going to wring him for every piece of unbiased information I could before it was too late.

“You have no idea what it is you have access to. The power of Heaven is in your hands. Saxon wants it to take back our rightful home. He wants war.” Danny was backed into a corner of the room, glancing around himself as if looking for a weapon.

“I can fix you, Danny. I know how to make you well again.” I whispered. “Do you want that?”

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “At what cost?”

“I want you to swear fealty to me.” I had no idea where the words were coming from. “From now you answer to me, not Saxon, and you will never betray me. Understand?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, and I noticed he was trembling slightly. I remembered the images of the angel in my mind, and realised the intense pain he was trying to hide. Against my will, I felt a tug of pity.

“Fine.” He agreed, but there was a twinkle in his eye. He planned on playing me.

“Swear it. Say the words.” I demanded.

“I swear upon…upon what shall I swear?” He smirked. “My mother’s grave? My heavenly soul?”

“Swear upon the Sword.” Again, I had no idea what any of what I was saying meant, but my words seemed to hit home with Danny. His eyes widened in fear and surprise.

“How do you know of the Sword?” He snapped.

“Do it.” I commanded him. “Or I swear I will leave you here to burn and die.”