When Angels Fall

Chapter 11

A cold shiver runs down my spine at Kuzo's words, but I know better than to react.

"Where?" I say instead, not looking at him as I start packing my clothes. I see him shaking his head, out of the corner of my eye.

"I don't know. Stay in here, I'm going to search the apartment." I glance at him as he first checks inside my bathroom, then heads back into the living room, closing the door behind him.

I finish packing my clothes and zip my case, then sigh. I feel like checking under my bed and in my closet, so I do, but thankfully don't find anything. I have no idea what I'd be looking for, anyway, but I might as well.

A few minutes later, Kuzo comes back in with a confused look and something small and black in his arms.

"Um...did you get a dog when I wasn't paying attention?" he asks, unsure. I sigh and take the bundle from his arms.

"Yes, this is Amber," I tell him with a small laugh. The ball of fluff yaps and chews on my fingers. "She's only about eight months old. My roommate and I have been taking care of her." I tilt my head at Kuzo when I see his shoulders slump in relief. "Is this what you thought was in my apartment?"

Kuzo shrugs, then smirks as he reaches out and scratches Amber behind her pointy ears. "I guess so."

I grin and set Amber down, grabbing my suitcase and lugging it out into the living room. Then I pause, remembering something.

"Did you check my roommate's room?" I ask. "I saw his hat and keys on the table by the door."

I don't like the way that Kuzo's eyes widen in alarm as he looks at the door to the spare room, and I certainly don't like the way he stalks closer to it. He reaches out and touches the door. It's not latched.

Kuzo glances at me, then pushes the door open. It's dark inside, as if the light from this room can't get in.

"Kuzo?" I question nervously. He looks at me and opens his mouth to speak, but doesn't get the chance.

Something roughly the size of my sofa barrels through the door, pinning him to the ground and snarling in his face. It's a huge dog, coming up almost to my shoulder. But it doesn't really look like a dog. With a hunched back and skin that glows like embers, I immediately know what it is without being told.

A hellhound.

I'm frozen, watching in stunned horror as the creature tries to bite Kuzo. But he grabs its jaws with his hands and holds its mouth open, kicking it as hard as he can from beneath. As if that does much good. The thing looks indestructible.

"Paris!" Kuzo yells at me, snapping me from my daze. "Lock yourself in your room!" When I don't respond right away, he snaps at me. "Now!"

I run to my room and slam the door, then stand, trembling, and listening to the snarling and growling coming from the living room. Amber, despite being tiny, is standing at my door barking her head off, and I try to quiet her down. But she ignores me, and keeps barking.

Against my better judgment, I grab the security bat from beside my bed, then inch the door open. Kuzo has managed to get the knife from his boot, and is stabbing the hellhound repeatedly in the side. But it doesn't seem to bother the beast, and the skin of Kuzo's arms is shredded from its claws. So I cock the bat over my shoulder and walk out, hitting it with enough force to score a home run in the Yankees.

The bat splinters on contact with the hellhound's head, and all that's left is the piece I'm holding in my hand.

I take a step back as the beast turns to me, snarling and snapping as it advances. With a bark, it lunges at me. But it doesn't reach me.

Kuzo has grabbed it by its hindquarters, throwing it against the wall. He's even stronger than I thought, that hound must weigh near as thousand pounds.

"Go hide!" Kuzo snaps at me, his eyes glowing and his wings unfurling. They crackle with blue electricity, tiny sparks and bolts shooting across the feathers. "Human weapons won't hurt it!" he continues. The hound is back on its feet, and it roars, barreling into Kuzo and taking him down, sinking its dripping fangs into his shoulder.

Kuzo lets out a groan of pain, trying to pry the hound off of him and slicing his hands open on the fangs. I steel myself and start kicking it, hard as I can. But it won't let him go.

A flash of light fills the room, and Abel is suddenly standing next to me. He's no longer dressed in jeans and a long coat, but is wearing leather everything, thick gauntlets on his arms and a belt of daggers. Oh yeah, and there's a huge broadsword in his hands.

With a yell, Abel raises the sword and brings it down on the hound, where its neck connects to its shoulders. There's a disgusting squelching noise, and the hound relaxes, its head falling off and rolling away. Kuzo grunts at the sudden weight of the body on his chest, then shoves it off and glares at Abel. Ichor is steadily pouring out of what's left of the hellhound, staining Kuzo's clothes and the carpet.

"You could have killed me!" Kuzo bellows, getting up. Abel shrugs with a smirk.

"But I didn't," he points out. "Matter of fact, I think I might even have saved your life..."

Kuzo ignores him, instead turning to me. "Are you okay?" he asks softly, looking my face over with worry. I nod shakily, taking deep, slow breaths.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But you're injured!" I exclaim, looking at the blood that's flowing from Kuzo's wounds. He looks down at himself and chuckles.

"Oh, yeah, I suppose I am," he smirks at me. I sigh and shake my head, smiling slightly.

"Thank you," I say. Kuzo grins mildly.

"You're welcome."

Abel has kicked the body of the hellhound a couple times, as if verifying that it's dead. To my surprise, it's slowly decomposing into a large pile of ash. At least that'll make it easier to clean up. Now Abel heads over to the door to my roommate's room and is peering in.

"Uh...hope you put in a down-payment..." he mumbles. My eyes widen, and I move behind him to look in. I immediately wish I hadn't.

My roommate was home. But now...there's blood spattered everywhere, no sight of an body, and the mattress and sheets are soaked with the red stuff. I gasp, hiding my face in my hands. The hellhound murdered him.

"Sorry, I shouldn't've told you..." Abel apologizes, gently pulling me away and closing the door so I can no longer see the mess inside.

I breathe shakily, trying to stop the tears from falling, but it doesn't work. I'm crying. I feel Abel rest a hand comfortingly on my shoulder, and I slowly calm down.

"I'm alright," I finally croak, sniffing. I look back at the door, the horrors within stained into my vision. There's a groan of pain from Kuzo, and I look over to see him stumbling, his eyes unfocused, before he collapses.

Abel is at his side in a second, checking his vitals and looking extremely worried. Kuzo's eyes are partially open, and he's wheezing, barely able to breathe.

"What's wrong?" I question fearfully, kneeling on his other side. Abel stays silent for a moment as he continues looking him over, finally poking at the bite on Kuzo's shoulder. When he pulls his hand away, there's a thick, honey-like substance that drips off his finger.

"Venom," he says with a frown, then hooks Kuzo's arm around his neck and pulls him upright. "I'll be right back, stay here."

"What's venom?" I ask, fearing the answer. Abel sighs tightly.

"It's a poison that, if left untreated, can turn an angel into a demon." With those words hanging in the air, he and Kuzo vanish, leaving me alone in the destroyed living room.