When Angels Fall

Chapter 25

We both doze off and sleep for several hours. It's comfy and nice, being in Kuzo's arms. But it doesn't keep the nightmares away.

I'm once again pulled into a strange dream, in which I'm standing on the streets of Boston. It's a cool day, sunny, but something is very off. The streets are flooded, cars on their sides or backs like huge, ugly beetles. I slosh through the water, looking for something.

I spot Kuzo, not far away, but it's the version where he's different. White suit, red eyes, white hair, all seeming to look wrong on him. He smiles at me, appearing to flicker in and out of view before vanishing altogether.

I'm still in the city, the water gone, and it's night. I'm running, something after me and closing in as its howls ring through the air. It's a hellhound the size of a bus, and I'm not fast enough, even though the buildings are whipping by at insane speeds. A burning pain hits my back, and I wake up panting.

Kuzo is awake in a split second, holding me and pushing my hair out of my face.

"What? What is it?" he asks, anxiety and worry open on his face. I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm my thundering heart.

"It's nothing. Just a dream."

Kuzo frowns. "It's not nothing to me. Tell me, please."

I sigh, stretching out and letting Kuzo hold me. "Um...I was in Boston. The city part. And the streets were totally swamped, like nothing I've seen before. You were there, too, and then I was getting chased by a hellhound."

Kuzo looks over my face, lifting a hand and tracing his fingers over my cheek, which does wonders to help me relax. I manage a smile.

"I'm okay now, it's just a dream," I say, placing my hand on top of Kuzo's. He nods, though he doesn't seem to believe me, kissing my nose and cheek.

"Okay. Let me know if you ever have more nightmares, okay?" he asks in a whisper. I nod, kissing him before looking at the clock. It's five 'til eight.

"We should get up," I mutter, though I don't want to. Kuzo looks at the clock, as well, and nods.

"We should," he agrees. "If you're still coming with, we need to get you some armor." I raise an eyebrow, giving him a look.

"I am coming, and that's that," I say, a bit too harshly. Kuzo smiles and nods, kissing me.

"Okay. Looks like you're coming with, then."

Kuzo rolls out of bed, pulling on his boots, and I follow suit. I'm so used to sleeping in my day clothes that I haven't really bothered to change. My sleeping schedule is messed up, anyway.

Together, we head downstairs. All the angels are in the training room, gearing up for our big hullabaloo. It's humorous to me how each of their weapons matches their personality. Maxmillian's is a double-bladed staff, whereas Azi's are two nunchaku with nasty-looking spikes on the end.

"Armor," Kuzo says, pointing me toward the neat rows of thick leather vests, arm and shin guards, and boots. He helps me get them on, and I find they're surprisingly comfortable and breathable, very flexible.

"Do I look like a badass?" I ask jokingly. Kuzo chuckles, nodding as he pulls on his own armor.

"An adorable badass."

I roll my eyes and nudge him, but I'm smiling. Iathoth comes back into the training room a moment later, having gone to get his personal weapon from his room. I see it now, and recognize it as a massive battle axe, almost as tall as Iathoth, himself.

"Ready?" Kuzo asks me, still looking worried. I doubt that'll leave his appearance until this is over. I nod, grabbing a leather satchel of throwing knives and strapping it to my hip. Whenever I got angry as a child, I'd steal kitchen knives and throw them at trees in the backyard. That might be useful, today, since I became very good at it.

Once everyone has their armor and weapons, they leave one by one, heading to the alley. Kuzo and I are the last ones here, but he doesn't move, holding my hand tightly. I look up at him in confusion, and he pulls me into a tight hug. I force a chuckle, even though I'm just as scared.

"It's okay," I say, hugging him just as tightly and kissing his cheek. "It's not like this is the end of the world. We're just going to get Mara back."

Kuzo sighs, lifting me a few inches off the ground. "I know. Doesn't mean I can't worry." I smile.

"When we get back, let's stay in your room for a week," I say, trying to lighten the mood. Kuzo chuckles, kissing me, but I know it didn't work to help.

We finally head to the alley. Everyone is taking their places around the portal, which is dimmer, though still visible. Abel walks over as soon as he sees us, still looking exhausted.

"Ready?" he asks. I nod, taking a deep breath.

"Yeah. Let's get Mara back."

Kuzo hands me a piece of parchment with a summoning spell on it, then vanishes from sight. The other angels disappear, as well, and the alley falls into an ominous silence. But I feel Kuzo take my hand and give it a squeeze, so I know I'm not alone.

I begin reading the spell, the words foreign to me, but also simple and easy to say. Wind rages up around the portal as I speak, throwing the trash around and rising to a roar. When I say the final words, the air column collapses, almost throwing me backward.

For a moment, through the dust and foul smoke, I don't think it worked. Maybe I read it wrong. But then I see a form take place in the middle of the portal.

"Well, well, well," the demon cackles. "Looks like someone got desperate..."