Whiskey Witches, F.J. Blooding [ap literature book list .TXT] 📗

“Repent? For what? For loving my daughter?” She took a step toward the angels.

Raphael staggered a step backward.

“For having morals?”

He raised his chin, losing more ground.

“For trying to use my gift for good?”

Raphael held up an open palm and surged forward. “As soon as you learned they were demons, you should have known you were wrong.”

“Bullshit,” Paige shouted, advancing another half-step. “They make more sense than you!”

“Of course they do.” Raphael flicked his hand.

An outside force swept across Paige’s mind like a blanket of calm. Was he seriously trying pull some sort of angel magick crap on her right now?

Raphael’s eyes widened minutely as he studied her, realization dawning along his features. “Demons are charming to sway you. That is what makes them so dangerous.”

“Demons do—”

“Did the Bible tell you nothing?”

“How much stock should I put—” Two more steps. “—in the mangled word of Man?”

The archangel raised his head as though he’d been slapped.

“Where’s God’s word in that? How many times has it been twisted to suit the needs of the power hungry? Where are the original texts? How do we even know what the Bible originally said?”

“We gave Man those words to—”

“—to seek power for yourselves,” Paige finished.

“We warned Man not to worship us.”

“That’s not what this conversation sounds like to me.”

“We’ve got company.” Xael straightened, his arms falling to his sides.

Paige twisted around. Lucius and Balnore stood on the other side of the invisible wall.

“It would do you well to leave us, vermin,” Raphael said.

“You’d do well to leave,” Balnore said. A cold smile slid across his face. “Unless you like it when I send you back.”

Xael folded his arms over his chest. “He’s the one who stopped you?”

Balnore’s smile widened and he flicked his dark eyebrows.

Xael stared at the demon with something akin to wonder. “Who are you?”

“I am her protector.”

“Interesting.”

The archangel flexed his shoulders. “You cannot send us back.”

“Give me one reason why—”

Raphael cut the demon off. “We are the only ones who can truly protect her.”

Balnore’s beady black gaze settled on Paige.

“She is broken and of no use to you.”

Paige glared at Balnore and shook her head.

His hands opened at his side, his eyes flaring.

“She is, however,” Raphael continued, “of use to us.”

Balnore turned his cold gaze to the archangel, standing at his full height.

“She cannot be around a lesser demon without sucking them into her body for possession.” Raphael clicked his tongue. “How many times do you think she can survive that?”

“As many as she has to.”

“I can protect her.” Lucius stepped forward. “Now, get out of here before I command my brethren to send you back.”

Raphael grinned lopsidedly. “What brethren? They’re all gone.”

“Found ‘em.” Lucius gave the angel a smug look.

The archangel focused on Paige, his expression sliding into disgust. “Repent.”

She released an explosive breath. “Like hell.”

“Repent and all will be forgiven.”

The nerve of this guy. “I don’t like your God if He even exists.”

“Leave.” Balnore lowered his chin, his expression darkening. “Now.”

“If you change your mind, sinner,” the archangel said, “pray. We will arrive.”

“Pray to who?” Paige asked.

“To God. Who else?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’d rather spend an eternity in Hell.”

Xael’s mouth quirked.

The invisible field around them disappeared. As did the angels.

Paige released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and clasped Dexx’s arms.

“We have a problem,” Balnore said.

Dexx snorted. “And the understatement award of the year goes to?”

The demon glared at the hunter.

Dexx sent him a cheeky grin. “So what’s the issue now?”

“Sven,” Lucius said, his mouth twisting.

Balnore rolled his eyes. “He’s been among the humans too long. He’s half human now.”

“Like Lucius?” Paige needed sleep. S.L.E.E.P. “How’s that a problem?”

“It means you can’t banish him, love,” Lucius said. “Even if we did get ya back in working order.”

“Great. We’ll just kill him.” Dexx took out his Smith and Wesson. “That means this works now.”

“Not so fast,” Lucius said. “He’s only half human.”

“So this—” Dexx said, waving his gun before stashing it back in his belt. “—won’t work.”

“It might wound him, but not kill him.”

Paige folded her arms over her chest. “Good news is, we have Lucius who we can use as a test subject.”

“I don’t find you humorous, love.”

She gave him a fuck-off expression and mocked his accent. “I don’t think I care, love.”

“Great,” Dexx said. “So how do we fight him?”

Lucius stared a hole in the back of Balnore’s head. “You do not.”

“Oh, come on,” Dexx said. “This guy’s gotta have weaknesses.”

Balnore looked up at him. “Paige.”

Paige bit her lip and shook her head, too tired and too overwhelmed to follow the conversation emotionally.

Dexx frowned in confusion. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

Paige raised her eyebrows. “Love notes via dead body. Come on, Dexx.”

“Also,” Lucius added, “the souls he has destroyed are now attached to him. I would guess he’s losing his nut. Blood magick does that to humans.”

They needed a miracle. “Insanity doesn’t help us.”

“He has the powers of a demon and a human.” Dexx held up his finger. “Like that of a demon talker. You—when you work right—are a very powerful person. Now, he’s like you, only not broken.”

“And insane. Awesome.” The sun left the sky, shooting pale rays above Dexx’s head. “So how do we stop him?”

“Stake through the heart?” Dexx asked. “If Lucius is like him, I vote we test-drive the stake theory right away.”

“It is unlikely he has a heart,” Lucius said. “And we are not practicing on me.”

“He was reborn before the first world war,” Paige said. “He regained his demon abilities when he died of natural causes.”

“And how do you know that?” Dexx demanded.

“Back in town.” Paige released a tired sigh. “We connected. A lot happened.”

“Beheading, then.” Dexx gestured to Balnore. “Fire?”

“I think,” Balnore said. “The demon hunter might be on to something.”

“Really?” Dexx asked. “I am?”

Balnore nodded.

Dexx snorted and gave Paige a cheap grin.

She jutted her chin to the side. “What are you thinking?”

“Chakras.” Balnore said.

Dexx frowned. “I don’t follow.”

“Chakras,” Paige said, letting her hands fall to her sides. “We could puncture one of his chakras with…” She trailed off and shook her head. “Nothing physical. That wouldn’t work.”

“Nothing wholly physical,” Balnore said, his eyes lighting on hers.

“Something physical to harm his body, and something magick to harm his demon soul.” Paige thumped her thumb against her leg. “That could work.”

“But it’d be a magick only you could perform,” Lucius said.

“Now, wait.” Paige pressed her fingers along her lips. “You walked out of that jail cell pretty cocky. Said you had my earth magick. Said we couldn’t touch you. That basically means you’re like me, too.”

“I’m not magickal. Yes. You gave me your earth magicks, but that just means I can’t be trapped. The only thing I’m good for is a fight. With my hands.”

Well, shit. She hadn’t cast in more than five years and she was their best chance?

They were so screwed.