Redemption

Chapter 33

The rare Naphil causing fear among the ranks is a half mortal, half Angel being who retains the power of her Angelic father while retaining the mortality of her mortal mother. Her emotions are human ones; her need for earthly things is human; her heart is human. But, in the end, her strength, her soul, her death is and will be an Angelic one.
~Bezaliel~

Drawing cautiously closer to the three of us, Monroe whispered, "Dayton?" The look I gave her was a blank one, a mix of shock and overwhelming emotions. The sun hung low behind her back. "They've spotted the Demons," she announced. "It will be soon."

Her gaze scanned the area, the questions in her eyes left unasked. I think she knew what had happened. A petulant Luther, a shirtless Marcas, and a black stain on the grass between them didn't leave much to the imagination.

Monroe's gaze locked with Luther's, a look passing between them, before she turned to me. "We need to move. I'm assuming you two still plan to go after the ring."

Marcas and Luther made their way over to us.

Pulling Marcas' shirt away from my neck, I handed it back to him, and he took it gingerly before suddenly making it disappear. Another shirt, a clean one, appeared in his hand and he pulled it over his head.

"You know about the ring?" I asked.

"I told her," Luther answered. "She can help us."

My wary gaze found Monroe's. That, I didn't doubt. I was more worried about the connection I'd seen pass between the two of them. I'd had my fill of Demon-related problems.

As a group, we started for the house, but Luther paused abruptly, his gaze passing from Monroe's to Marcas.' "I take my leave here, brother. This isn't my fight. Not yet." Turning to us, he bowed, his lips quirking. "Ladies, it's been a pleasure."

He was lying, but it was no less charming.

Reaching out, I touched his hand. "Thank you." He may be a Demon, but he'd helped us, and I'd killed his sister. I wanted to apologize but there were no words big enough.

He backed away, his eyes finding Monroe's.

"Walk," Marcas ordered.

We obeyed. A whooshing noise sounded behind us as Luther took flight. I started to reach for Monroe, but she surprised me by taking my hand firmly in hers.

"Take this," she said, her voice shaking. I knew she'd not wanted to see Luther go, but she brushed it aside with a cool composure only Monroe could pull off. She handed me a necklace made of twine with a small piece of clear quartz hanging from its center. "It's charmed."

Accepting it, I smiled. I'd never believed much in charms, spells, or potions but the experiences I'd had recently vastly changed my opinion. Anything seemed possible at this point. I fastened it carefully around my neck, the quartz warm as it met my skin.

We stepped into the manor to Ethan Jacobs yelling, "They're approaching."

Mrs. Jacobs was gathered with her Coven in the foyer, a piece of chalk in her hands as she drew a circle at the foot of the grand staircase. People ran everywhere.

"There's at least a hundred," a man yelled.

My gaze flew to Marcas. A hundred? The Demon ranks had grown.

An Italian order filtered down the stairs, and I looked up to find Alessandro rushing down the steps, his hand gesturing at the blonde woman we'd met the night before. At his whispered command, she went running.

Alessandro glanced up, his eyes catching ours. "You will stay on these grounds within sight of my people, Demonio. You and the Angel."

Everyone was ready for a fight; excitement, fear, and anticipation filled the manor. I just wanted to hide.