Chapter 23

I almost laughedin Duncan's face. "You're joking, right? These can't be mine. They are black!"

"Sure they are." Duncan walked into the room and stood beside the display. It was easily twice his size. "Once the wings are ripped, they turn black." A proud smile adorned his lips. "Do you know how rare it is to see black wings?"

Which meant, they cost a lot more than I first thought and his security around them was probably tighter too.

My stomach dropped. It might be difficult, it might cost my life, but I wasn't walking out of here without my wings, even if they were black.

I turned to Levi. "You knew they were black, and you didn't tell me."

"I thought you knew," was all he said.

Really? Did he think I was an angel with black wings? That was insane. I knew of only one angel with black wings and that was because he spent twenty years being tortured in the underworld.

Regardless, these were my wings. My eyes fixed on them, and in a trance, I walked toward the display and reached toward it.

"No, no." Duncan pushed my hand away. "If you touch the glass, the alarm will sound and the doors will lock instantly."

I glanced back at the archway. "What doors?"

He pointed to the thin opening on the top of the archway. "An enchanted metal sheet drops from that fissure." He gestured to the ceiling where there were six round openings, the size of golf balls. "We can suck out all the air from this room or fill it with poisonous gas." He winked at me. "You wouldn't want that, would you?"

By the light, how was I getting my wings back?

My heart pounded against my ribs, the need to punch this glass greater by the second. I faced Duncan, desperate. "What is your price? Name it."

It would be millions, billions, and I had no idea how I would get that money. Did Levi have that much? Would he accept my soul if he got my wings back for me? Right now, I didn't care if he was a vicious higher demon. I would do anything!

"Some things are priceless, darling."

I whirled to the new voice and felt a punch to the gut.

Molraz.

"Oh, I forgot to mention I have a guest?" Duncan said. "Silly me. Ariella, I think you already met Molraz, the one who ripped your wings off."

"And destroyed her Celestial Sword, don't forget that," Molraz said, so casually, almost joking, as he walked under the archway and approached us.

Levi stood still as a statue, his eyes wide as he stared at Molraz. Levi took a couple of steps back, until he was right by my side.

He grabbed my hand. "We need to go."

I pulled my hand from his and hissed, "Don't touch me!"

"Don't leave yet." Molraz halted a handful of feet away from us. He looked like I remembered, and yet, he was different. His black hair was longer now, to his shoulders. Back then, he had a short beard and now his face was shaved. But his intense blue eyes still shone the same. "The party is just starting. Now, you mentioned something about a price, darling."

The blood in my veins boiled. I couldn't believe I was facing Molraz again. I had dreamed of this moment so many times, envisioned it in my mind what I would do to him if I ever got a chance … here he was and I was petrified in place.

"This will be fun," Duncan said, suddenly excited.

"The price for your wings is the Scarlet Hex Blade," Molraz said.

Of course it was. Why had I expected any less from him? From any demon for that matter?

"I don't have the dagger." It wasn't a lie. I hid it.

"That's a shame," Molraz said, his tone fake-dejected. Were all demons great actors? "Everyone here wants the dagger. I know Duncan would pay a great price for it." He stared at Levi. "How about you, son?"

It took me a moment to register what he said.

Everyone … and son.

I stilled.

Levi turned to me, his blue eyes pleading. "Ariella …"

"He's not just saying that, is he?" I must be going crazy. "Like when a person calls me child or dear. No, you're really his son."

"You didn't know?" Molraz laughed. "Oh my. Yes, he's my son and I believe you also met my daughter, Lacey."

So, he was the horrible father who had tortured his children. The one Levi had hated most of his life, and yet, ended up being just like him. Unless that was a lie too.

But it was true. I knew it; I could see it. The same black hair, the same straight nose, the same strong chin, the same tall and wide frame. Even the eyes were the same shade of shocking blue.

Wait … how did he know I had met Lacey?

"Now the best part," Duncan muttered.

"I know something else," Molraz said, sounding awfully proud. "My son here is only helping you so you can lead him to the Scarlet Hex Blade. Isn't that right?"

The air whooshed out of my chest, and I took a large step back. I stared at Levi, my eyes round, my heart hurting. I had let him trick me from the beginning.

"Ariella, it isn't like that," Levi said, coming toward me.

I raised a finger. "Are you his son?"

He stopped and let his head drop. "Yes."

"Do you want the dagger?"

"Yes, but?—"

I screamed. My heart raced, my blood boiled, my mind spun. I couldn't think, I couldn't act. I was in a room full of enemies, and the worst one was the demon I had let get close.

I rounded the glass display and went to the other side of the room, where I had a little more space for myself. I needed space, I needed time, I needed to think.

Levi had tricked me. He played me from the beginning. It probably wasn't in his plan to be bonded to me, but it had turned out in his favor, because with the bond, I would never suspect a thing … why he was coming with me, why he was willing to help me. But the first time I went to him …

"You knew who I was when I met you at that club," I said, my voice low. Levi stared at me. "But I didn't agree to your terms. I left. What would you have done if I hadn't summoned you?" He remained quiet. "Answer me!"

"I knew you were desperate and would come back."

"And if I didn't?" Again, he hesitated. "Don't lie to me!"

"I would have created an opportunity." He stared at me, his eyes pained. "I would have bumped into you outside Sylvie's house."

I pressed a hand to my chest. "You went to Sylvie looking for me."

Levi nodded. "Yes."

"Was she in on it?" She had been the one to tell me about him.

"No, she wasn't."

That didn't make any of this better.

Holy shit, it was all there. All the clues. I even remembered now how he mentioned a magical weapon, as if giving me an opportunity to confess about the dagger. The way he looked at me when that angel mentioned the dagger.

My knees weakened and I crouched down, breathing hard.

From the beginning, he knew who I was and all he wanted was the damn dagger.

Molraz had brought the Scarlet Hex Blade to Archangel Rhodes. We all had seen it, but we didn't know what the dagger was for, what it could do. Except Archangel Soren. He must have known because he paled when Rhodes held the dagger, and he called him traitor and attacked him.

Soren was able to take the dagger from Rhodes and throw it to me right before Rhodes killed him. "Run," was the last thing he said.

Rhodes charged at me but Jeremiah and Rachel stepped in his way. Jeremiah and Rachel told me to run while they fought Rhodes. Shocked, I started running. It had felt like a betrayal to leave them behind, but if Soren had died to get this dagger out of Rhodes's hands, then I couldn't let him have it.

No one could have it.

I ran, but I heard Rachel's screams when Rhodes killed Jeremiah, and then she went silent.

I didn't get far, though. Molraz caught up with me. In our battle, he destroyed my sword and ripped my wings. Hurt and bleeding but still holding the dagger, I blinded him momentarily with my light magic and ran again.

I ran until I faced a cliff. I turned and saw Molraz, Rhodes, and all of the demons coming for me. I didn't think. I stashed the dagger inside my pants and jumped.

I thought I would die, but better to die from the fall, from drowning, than being caught by them.

Thankfully, I survived the fall and was able to get away.

I hid the dagger so no one would be able to get it.

Somehow, Levi learned I had the dagger before I even met him.

This hurt too much.

But I couldn't let it get to me. What was I going to do? Let them win? I hadn't given up the first time without a fight, and I wouldn't give up now either.

To hell with all of them. I might not have my wings and my powers, but I was a damn good angel, a strong one, and I was going to take them all down.

Even if I died trying.

Taking a deep breath, I stood and faced Duncan. "You never intended to keep me here; you sold me to Molraz." Then I looked at the monster who had taken my wings from me. "And you? What are you going to do? Sell me to the angels?"

Molraz showed me a dazzling smile that reminded me of his son's. It twisted my stomach. "You're smart, darling." He stopped right beside the glass case and looked at my wings. "And a great warrior. I still remember our fight. For a Cherubin, you were strong. Shame you chose the wrong side."

"And who is on that side? Rhodes is the leader?" My stomach tensed. "Did he take over Elysium already? Is that his plan? Or is Adona in on this too? If so, then to what end?" I shouldn't have asked but I didn't know anything about what was happening up there.

"Aren't you a curious angel," Molraz said. "I would love to answer all of that, darling, but soon, it won't matter. The angels have been contacted, and they are on their way to take you. You'll be tortured, and once they squeeze the location of the dagger from you—and trust me, they will—you'll be killed. No trial or other bullshit. Or … you could spare yourself the suffering and tell me where the dagger is. I'll hold you until my demons retrieve it. Once I have it, I'll give you a quick, painless death."

Levi growled. "Don't tell him anything."

"Stay out of this, son. You're making a fool of yourself." Molraz's smile widened. "Did he tell you why he wants the dagger? Oh, wait, you didn't even know he wanted it."

"Stop it," I hissed. It didn't matter why he wanted it. He wasn't getting it and that was all that mattered.

"But it's such a happy story. Even if you're way out of your league, son."

"How did you know?" Levi asked, his voice trembling with rage. "How did you find out I was looking for the dagger?"

"Do you think all of your demons are loyal, son?" Molraz chuckled. "What's that line humans love to use in movies … I have spies everywhere. It's true, you know. At least for me."

Levi's eyes darkened, and he clenched his jaw and hands, turning his knuckles white.

What did I care if Levi was mad? I needed to figure out how to get my wings and flee. I wouldn't be able to kill Molraz, but there was no time for that. I wouldn't win a fight against him and the angels were coming. I had to go before they arrived.

Live to fight another day.

Duncan leaned against the archway's pillar. "Such a good show. I should order caviar and champagne."

What a sick bastard.

"Your time is up, darling." Molraz's grin turned vicious. "Where's the dagger?"

"I'll tell you if you tell me what it does," I said.

Because there had to be something special about that dagger, otherwise why were demons after me to get to it?

Molraz chuckled. "Good one, darling. Nice try."

I glanced at Levi. "Do you know?"

Levi shook his head. "I know it's powerful."

I frowned. He had tricked me for a dagger. Why?

Shadows crackled around Molraz's hands. "Where's the dagger, darling?"

I shrugged. "Just kill me now, because I'll never tell you. I'll never tell anyone."

"So be it."

He threw his hand forward.

I took a step back and bumped into Levi, who wrapped one arm around my shoulder and the other was outstretched, forming a shadow shield in front of us.

Molraz's darkfire exploded against the shield, sending tiny bolts of shadow everywhere. The bolts hit the glass case, breaking it into a million pieces.

The alarm echoed through the room and the metal door rolled down.

Molraz rushed out of the room, but Duncan pressed his hands against his ears and lost precious seconds.

The door closed, locking us inside this room.

Duncan took a sword from a display in the corner and pointed at us. "Stay back!"

Levi let his shield fade and lunged at Duncan like a bull. He easily sidestepped the sword's swipe, knocked it out of Duncan's grip, then wrapped his hand around the demon's neck.

"This is on you," he said with a snarl.

Shadows curled around Levi's hand and the demon's throat. He gasped for air for a few seconds, until his eyes closed and his head lolled forward.

Levi dropped him and his body fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Then he turned to me.

I glanced around me, searching for a weapon. Then I remembered the pouch Lacey had given me. I slowly slid my hand inside my jacket's pocket.

He lifted both his hands, palms to me. "I won't hurt you."

"Says a demon who tricked me and just killed someone," I almost shouted, trying to be heard over the blaring alarm.

Levi shook his head once. "Look, we don't have much time. I bet my father is going to the security room right now to check the cameras and maybe even use the gas Duncan mentioned."

Shit, he was right.

I wanted to strangle him, but I had to be alive to do that. "I declare a truce until we're out of here."

"I'll take it." He turned to the wall and started patting it. "Now help me find a way out of here."

I wanted to, but the moment I looked at the broken glass case, I fell into a trance.

It was my wings. My damn, black wings. I hated that they had turned that color, but I had to admit, they looked so beautiful. Around me, the room disappeared, the alarm faded … there were only my wings and me.

I walked to them and brushed my fingers against the soft feathers.

A current jolted through me and the next thing I knew, light magic swirled around my wings like twinkling stars, lifting them from their pedestal. On instinct, I turned and took off my shirt.

The wings wrapped around me and I sighed in relief.

Then they stabbed through my back and I screamed in pain. I fell to my knees as the pain spread and the wings attached to me once more.

"Ariella!" Levi skidded to me and knelt right in front of me. He reached for me. "What can I do?"

"Don't touch me," I rasped. I never again wanted him to touch me, and he was ruining this moment for me.

Yes, it hurt almost as much as when I lost them, but this moment … I had lived for it for the last five years. It was all I wanted, all I dreamed about. I would endure this pain another one hundred times if it meant my wings were back and no one could take them from me again.

The pain lessened, but I knew it wouldn't go anywhere for a while, not until I got used to them again.

With a deep breath, I stood and spread my wings—they stretched ten feet wide. It barely fit inside this room.

Oh, my beautiful wings!

Tears blurred my vision and I wrapped them around myself once more, like a long-waited hug.

Levi's lips curled up in a small smile, the first one of this kind I had seen from him. "Beautiful."

I glared at him. "I didn't ask for your opinion." I folded my wings behind me and picked up my shirt. With effort—I hadn't done this in a while—I retracted my wings, until only two big, bloody gashes covered my shoulder blades. These too would heal with time, and the slashes would look like scars. I put on my shirt and turned away from Levi. "Getting out of here, remember?"

"Right," he mumbled.

I searched the walls, like Levi had done, looking for a switch or a hidden passage, while the alarm continued blaring.

"My father must be at the security room by now," Levi said. "The sick bastard must be watching us."

I stopped. "The security room … like a control room." An idea came to mind. "Like a control." I knelt beside Duncan's body and checked his pockets. I fished a small rectangular remote control from inside his suit jacket. "Bingo."

I pressed a button and the alarm stopped. Jeez, that was so much better. Then I pressed another and the door rolled up.

"Well done, sweetheart," Levi said as he approached the door.

"Don't call me that." I put the remote in my pocket, in case we needed it again, and stood beside him.

As I suspected, a dozen demons stood right behind the door, probably sent by Molraz in case we were able to escape.

Knowing I couldn't fight them all, I threw the pouch Lacey had given me and it landed at their feet. White powder spread fast and the demons seemed drunk, wobbling on their feet.

I looked at Levi and gestured to the demons. "They are all yours."

He showed me his trademark grin and launched himself at the demons. For a full minute, Levi had his fun with the demons, taking out half of them before the time was up.

When the powder's effect was gone, one of them came at me. All right, I could handle one.

If I had my magic, though, I would kick all of their asses myself.

The demon rushed me. Remembering my training, I moved fluidly, spinning out of his swipes with grace. He lunged at me again, and I sidestepped him, entering one of the gallery rooms flanking the hallway. A bronze sword lay on a pedestal, just inside the opening.

I grabbed it, and when the demon came at me again, I swept it far, nearly tearing off one of his claws. He let out a roar that made the hairs on my neck rise. He went berserk. With his clunky movements, I ducked under his arm and pierced the sword deep into his chest.

The demon stilled, his eyes wide in surprise, and then he went down, sword and all.

Of course, by the time I was done with one, Levi had killed the others. And he had his phone to his ear. "Break in," he ordered. "Break into the house and attack anyone who crosses your path." He turned off and looked at me. "That should help us."

If his demons took care of the guards, we might have a chance of leaving this place alive.

As we ran toward the stairs, I remembered. "If you have traitors, your father might know they are coming in."

"I know, but it's all we have." He paused at the edge of the stairs. "Ariella, I?—"

I shook my head. "Don't say anything. Let's get out of here."

His eyes stayed on mine briefly, then he nodded. We ran down the stairs, slowing at the landing when we saw Molraz in the middle of the foyer, on the way toward the front doors.

"Leaving already?" Molraz asked. "But the party just started."

Levi positioned himself in front of me as we climbed down the rest of the stairs. "Get out of the way."

"Or what?" His father chuckled. "Do you think you can hurt me, son? Kill me? I'm much stronger than you are."

Levi nodded. "That's what I wanted you to believe."

Molraz's smile faltered. "What are you talking about?"

"I hid the extent of my magic from you all of my life," he said. Molraz frowned. "I didn't want you getting any ideas of me joining you, becoming one of your lackeys, or worse, your associate. I didn't want anything to do with you then, and I don't want anything to do with you now."

"I'm impressed," Molraz said, sounding genuine. "A master's trick. I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Unfortunately, it doesn't." Shadows covered Levi's arms. "Now let us go before I kill you."

Molraz tsked. "See, despite your pretty speech, I still think you're lying. And there's only way to know the truth."

Shadows surged up from the ground and flew at Levi like angry bees.

Levi grabbed my hand, jumping out of the way and taking me with him. We stumbled on the last step, and I let go of his hand, landing on my knees on the right side of the stairs, while Levi was five feet to the left.

Molraz didn't waste time. He created a shadow wall between us and wrapped a shadow snake around my arms and feet, picking me up from the floor and floating me toward him.

I struggled against his magic but couldn't move.

"Such a beautiful angel." I floated to his side and he reached up, twirled a finger around a lock of my hair. "It's a shame to kill you."

"Go back to hell," I said with a bark.

"And feisty. Darling, I like it." It sickened me how much Levi was like him. He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled it back. "I promise, I'll make this painless."

"Let her go!" A roar shook the windows and the chandelier. Levi, in his full demon form, broke through the shadow wall and growled at his father. "Hurt her and I'll make you wish you were dead."

Molraz twisted me around, pressing my back to his chest and put a transformed claw around my throat and the other on my stomach. "Like this." He pressed his claws against my skin, and I swallowed a scream as his nails broke the skin.

A jet of darkfire bolts flew toward our feet, exploding into smoke upon contact, and making Molraz step back. In doing so, he loosened his grip on me.

I elbowed him hard in the stomach and then his chin. Groaning in surprise, he let me go and I fell hard on my hands and knees.

With a roar, Molraz cast a bolt of darkfire and pulled his arm back, ready to throw it at me.

I stilled, knowing this was it, and faced him. I wouldn't cower from death.

Levi rammed into his father, pushed him against the wall, and plunged his claws into his father's chest. "Good riddance," he said with his demon voice.

Then he pulled his father's heart out.