When Heaven And Hell Aligned

Chapter Five

On steady legs, Bahram slunk through the streets. His head was held erect on his tall body, poised in perfect form as he carried himself across the pavement. Sliding and weaving through the large crowd in the street, he walked with conduct and intent. People skirting him at the sight of his sword at his hip and people ignorant of it and his presence alike were navigated flawlessly. Find Carter, the isolated, concentrated thought pulsed through his mind like a coded message, vital and unrelenting. Find Carter. Get on the train, and Find Carter.

  Bahram made his way to the large stonework front of a building, its masonry bordered by pillars and adorned with sculptures. Walking inside, Bahram entered a train station. He waved his hand over the hilt of his sword, spreading his glamour to conceal it. He knew with his glamour already damaged that he was taking a risk, but he was also aware that he wouldn't be permitted onto the train with it visible. And this train is my fastest way to Carter. He reflected. 

  Just as he was reworking his glamour to cover his sword, a small teenaged boy with mousy hair walked into him with force, hitting his head on his chest with a noise of surprise and pouring steaming hot coffee down the front of Bahram's forearm. "Sorry!" The boy cried, staring at Bahram's arm as the liquid seethed and boiled on his flesh, sending steam rising from it. "Oh, God, I'm sorry." His apologies heightened as he looked up into Bahram's smouldering eyes glaring silently down at him.

  Bahram pulled away instantly, staring at his arm and clenching his fist. The young boy ran on, but Bahram ignored him. His focus on his glamour had been broken, just for a moment. He had managed to cover his sword, but he could feel the darkness of his eyes beginning to kindle into a light that he knew was close to being irrepressible. And with the painful damage done to his skin, his every instinct was fighting him to break forth his scintillating wings and heal his wounds with skin aglow. "No," He breathed, his arms shaking as his fists tightened yet more. "Not yet." Pushing on his tremouring legs, Bahram continued on through the train station unsteadily, the strain of holding his glamour bearing down on him with new force.

* * *

In a blur, Curtis was rushing round the flat in a frenzy, grabbing anything close to him and forcing it into the backpack Carter had brought with him when he'd arrived. Carter saw some clothes, food, and the first aid kit vanish into it, the clothes unfolded and disorganised, the food crushed. 

  "Curtis! Calm down," He exclaimed, chasing him round the flat as he tried to catch his shoulder to soothe him. "Talk to me; what's going on?"

  Curtis hurried forward out of his reach, seizing more items and refusing to slow down. "I can't, Carter. We have to get out of here as soon as possible."

  Carter's face dropped. "We're leaving?" 

  Curtis became a little more hesitant, reaching for things more carefully. "I'm sorry, Carter," He said softly, looking at him for a moment. "But Hecate knows you're here. If we stay, I won't be able to protect you from her."

  "She knew I was here before we found out I'm half Demon," Carter frowned. "What's changed? Surely it's a good thing; why would she want to kill another Demon?"

  "She doesn't want to kill you. It's worse." Curtis sighed and stopped packing as he saw Carter's eyes skirting anxiously. "Half Angels, half Demons - you're known as the Seraphim - are much more powerful than either one alone. She wants to use you in her attack on Heaven. With your power, she could do enormous damage, and she's willing to go to even worse lengths to get you. I can't let her do that to you, Carter."

  Carter inhaled slowly, then lowered his eyes and nodded. "So where do we go?" He asked quietly.

  "There's a safehouse, in the country," Curtis reported. "We'll have to take a train to get there. That might help to hide our tracks."