Rage and Redemption Page 22

  There. He sensed Domieno’s imprint, felt his echo, recognized a kindred spirit.

  Gideon’s angelic nature surfaced, containing his evil. He infused the beast with purpose and focused on the task. He didn’t want to experience the memory but it flashed before him, impossible to ignore. Domieno clutched Frederick, bending him backward so Midge could see exactly what he was doing. Frederick flailed and screamed. Domieno ignored his struggles. He grinned at the child, his demonic nature surfacing as he bit into Frederick’s throat. Ripping and tearing, he savaged the human’s flesh until his face was covered in blood and torrents of red streamed into the mud at their feet.

  Gideon meticulously gathered every fragment of the memory, every trace and fiber until there was nothing left. Then he withdrew from her mind, taking the images with him.

  He shot to his feet, fighting for breath. Naomi stood beside Gabriel and they stared at him expectantly. Turning to face the night, he allowed his mouth to open and ran his tongue over his fangs.

  “Were you successful?” Naomi asked carefully. “What’s the matter?”

  “Give him a moment, Naomi,” Gabriel cautioned.

  Gideon surrounded the beast within him with angelic energy, tightening the containment by degrees. The beast struggled, writhing and twisting, but it was no match for Heaven’s power.

  Slowly the darkness submitted. He felt his fangs retract and he was able to relax.

  He turned to face his companions. “She will remember nothing.”

  They quickly gathered the children and Gideon took them to the castle. Jack said not a word and accepted his directives without argument.

  Gideon released the orphans into Kruthers’ capable hands and returned to the ruins.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  Naomi nodded and stood by his side.

  Gabriel joined them, his head bowed in prayer.

  Gideon lifted his face to the sky. Spreading his arms wide, he summoned Domieno.

  Naomi’s scream jarred Gideon from his trance. His eyes snapped open and he lunged, but even his preternatural speed was not enough. Domieno held Naomi tightly, his arm wrapped around her waist, trapping her arms to her sides. His skeletal hand grasped her throat, one claw pressed against the throbbing vein in her neck.

  Heaven’s light radiated from Gabriel, but he too seemed paralyzed by Naomi’s peril.

  Gideon glanced around the ruins, scanning with his power as well as his senses. Had Domieno actually come alone? Unlikely.

  “Let her go,” Gideon said.

  “Or what?” the demon mocked him. “If I spill her blood, will you tear me limb from limb?”

  Gideon’s dark nature seethed, drawn by the proximity of the demon and the violence he described. Gabriel’s hand came to rest on his shoulder, giving him strength, calming him.

  “Nothing you can do will change the outcome, Domieno,” Gideon said. “I will not Fall. Recruit someone else.”

  “Well, you see, therein lies the problem. Either I return with you or I am no longer welcome. As you know, the only thing that can destroy a demon is to be kept too long from Hell.”

  “Speak the words and I will disperse your energy quickly and painlessly,” Gabriel volunteered.

  Domieno laughed, his breath stirring Naomi’s hair. Gideon saw her shudder and felt the need to strike twist within him again.

  “Or I can press just a bit harder and we can watch Naomi’s blood drain from her body. I’ve heard that it’s painless.” His pointed claw scratched her skin, creating a distinct, red line. “If I take her to the very edge, Gideon, will you corrupt her soul to save her life?”

  “Never!”

  Gideon launched himself into the air, catching Domieno in the face with his foot. For just an instant the demon’s hold wavered and Gabriel snatched Naomi out of his grasp.

  Landing in a threatening crouch, Gideon growled and glared at his enemy.

  Domieno faced him, his manner calm and unafraid. “Did you enjoy my surprise? I know the little girl did.”

  Naomi came to life within Gabriel’s arms. She kicked out at the demon and cried, “You vile, hideous—”

  “Listen, human, you’re beneath contempt. If it weren’t for your connection to Gideon—”

  “Go back to the castle, Naomi,” Gideon said.

  “Oh, we can continue this there if you like,” Domieno taunted. “I thought you would appreciate the privacy.”

  Gabriel still held Naomi so Gideon put himself between them and the demon. “Naomi has nothing to do with this. She need not be here.”

  “I disagree.” He strolled forward, accompanied by a cold rush of air. “Did you not understand my message? If you continue to resist, I will destroy her. I will destroy you both. I will take lives in plain sight of the children until you agree to Fall. I will take on your shape as I do it. I will rip out Naomi’s throat and paint Jack with her blood. I will—”

  “Then I will Fall,” Gideon shouted. “If it means no more will die, I will Fall.”

  Naomi tore away from Gabriel and threw herself in front of Gideon. “Nay! It is not the same.” Panic choked her. Anguish squeezed her chest. She could hardly breathe, could barely speak. “He offers to sacrifice himself to save others. That is not the same as Falling!”

  “She’s right,” Gabriel said. “You cannot deny it.”

  Domieno just stood there, eyes blazing, chest heaving.

  Too terrified to hope they had won so easily, Naomi held her breath.

  “Then we fight,” Domieno shouted.

  The demon leapt but Gideon was prepared. He pushed Naomi toward Gabriel and accepted the demon’s challenge. They collided in midair, the impact shaking the ground. Naomi stumbled back, horrified and fascinated by the spectacle. She had to do something, but she had never felt so helpless or so useless in her life.

  “Pray, Naomi,” Gabriel directed her. “Pray.”

  She fell to her knees and folded her hands. The air crackled and hummed. Evil pulsed all around her. The acrid smell was unmistakable. The hairs along her arms and at the nape of her neck prickled and her mouth went dry.

  With every fiber of her being she prayed.

  Eerie green light flared each time the demon touched Gideon. He flinched and grunted, obviously in pain. Gideon formed Heaven’s light in the palm of his hand and hurled it at Domieno. The demon shrieked and flailed as his body absorbed the golden glow.

  The creature collapsed onto his hands and knees, his head dangling limply, his lank hair covering his face. Naomi inched forward. Had Gideon drained his strength?

  Domieno began muttering phrases, repeating syllables she couldn’t understand. His voice grew louder and more rhythmic. Gideon and Gabriel both covered their ears, moaning and shaking their heads.

  The earth beneath her rumbled and vibrated. Streaks of light shot along the ruined walls, sparking and dancing with hypnotic beauty. If it had been golden, Naomi would have enjoyed the phenomenon, but the light was green—demonic.

  Gideon staggered, nearly falling to his knees. The darkness inside him reared and bucked, stimulated by Domieno’s chant. His fangs shot out so suddenly they pierced his lip. The taste of blood provoked him further. Roaring and panting, he released his ears and searched his mind for the angelic counterpart to the demon’s words.

  Gabriel grasped his hand and began the nearly forgotten song. Gideon let the melody wash over him, soothe him, comfort him. His fangs receded and his raging spirit calmed. Each note, each phrase renewed his strength and pushed away the night.

  A dense shadow formed in the center of the clearing. It rippled and undulated. Gideon knew what would happen next. Tension gripped him, pummeling his hard-won composure and demanding he focus on the light.

  The shadow unfolded, growing taller and broader. Domieno’s chant ended abruptly and the shadow came to life. It took on shape and definition, twisting and forming a hideous creature—part man, part monster.

  It extended a claw-like hand and helped Domieno t
o his feet. Then together they faced Gideon and Gabriel. Legion roared, stomping with thick, muscular legs. Each word it uttered was profane. The stench of its breath fouled the air.

  “They are evil, Gideon,” Gabriel spoke urgently. “Your dark nature will only make them stronger. They can only be destroyed with Heaven’s light.”

  Gideon nodded, acknowledging the wisdom and the warning. “Keep Domieno occupied.”

  He launched himself at Legion, connecting violently, but the demon shook him aside like a leaf on the wind. Gideon landed with a grunt against the stone wall then quickly scrambled to his feet. Domieno stalked toward him. Legion uncoiled a thick, spiked tail and Gideon braced himself for the attack.

  A flash of light illuminated the darkness. For just a moment everything paused. Gabriel’s earthly garments fell away, revealing his heavenly glory. His wings unfurled and Gideon ached at their beauty. In that instant he fully realized all he had lost, all his pride had cost him and what he had nearly become.

  Gabriel launched into a series of movements, arcs of light following in his wake. He grabbed Domieno and wrestled him away from Gideon. Slamming the demon against the wall, he trapped him there with his wings.

  Confident that Gabriel protected his back, Gideon planted his feet far apart and studied Legion. The demon swung his tail. Gideon jumped and spun, barely missing the lethal-looking spikes. Fear rippled through him. How could he ever hope to subdue such a creature?

  “Unfurl your wings,” Gabriel shouted.

  Regret choked him.

  “I don’t remember how,” Gideon admitted in an anguished cry. He ducked under Legion’s tail and drove himself headfirst into the demon’s belly.

  The momentum knocked Legion over but Gideon went tumbling with him. They rolled. Gideon kicked and punched but Legion hardly noticed the blows.

  “Unfurl your wings,” Gabriel shouted again.

  The battle raging within Gideon suddenly eclipsed the physical fray. His dark nature grappled with his angelic and Gideon understood. The war must be won within his soul!

  He grasped the darkness by the throat and enveloped it within the memory of Gabriel’s unconditional love. He bound it with Naomi’s whispered words—I love you, Gideon. Come what may, I love you. Then he sealed it with the warmth and tenderness the orphans had released within his heart.

  Holding the bundle toward Heaven, he whispered two simple words.

  “Forgive me.”

  Light infused his soul.

  With one mighty buck, Gideon flipped Legion off him. He jumped to his feet and warmth spread along his spine.

  “You can do it.” He heard Naomi’s call. “I know you can.”

  The tingle intensified, burning and searing until he felt his flesh separate. Brilliant, shimmering wings unfurled, supporting and stabilizing him. Gingerly he moved his wings in a rather unsteady flap. Then again more confidently.

  Legion roared, swinging at Gideon with his tail. Gideon turned to the side and deflected the tail with a powerful sweep of one wing.

  Naomi cheered and Gabriel sang a song of praise.

  Legion shouted profanity, swinging his tail again and again. Gideon blocked his blows with the power of his radiant wings.

  Gabriel cried out and Gideon turned to see Domieno break free. He flew through the air and Legion caught him, absorbed his energy.

  Stunned for a moment, no one moved. Silence filled the ruins. Then Legion screamed, its shape fluctuating grotesquely. The demon split right down the middle, rolling back until it was two separate shapes. Each shape changed into a distinct creature, similar yet different from the other.

  A soft swishing sound filled the air and Naomi smelled the spicy scent of incense. Gideon and Gabriel flapped their wings, causing the sound and increasing the golden illumination surrounding them.

  Legion stirred restlessly, stomping and snorting. Gabriel took flight, gliding through the night with preternatural grace. Naomi felt humbled to witness such beauty. He dove suddenly, purposefully, planting his feet in the center of Legion’s chest and knocking him backward.

  Gideon’s flight was less graceful yet faster, more forceful. He attacked the other demon with several violent kicks and one massive slap from his powerful wing. The demon hit the wall, stunned and senseless.

  “Gideon!”

  Gabriel’s sharp cry drew Naomi’s attention as well. His half of Legion had split again and trapped him between the two. One had its tail wrapped around his ankle, preventing him from flying away.

  Naomi quickly snapped a branch off a nearby tree and smacked the demon’s tail with all the force she could muster. The tail recoiled and Gideon blocked the demon’s frantic lunge for her.

  Gabriel drove the demons back while Gideon repositioned. Naomi glanced back at the demon Gideon had left against the wall. Just as she feared, it had split into two.

  Thunder shook the earth, rattling the ruin. Naomi screamed but Gabriel shot Gideon a speculative glance. A blinding flash of light split the darkness, forcing the demons to look away.

  Michael stood before them, his golden armor illuminated from within. His flowing hair fanned out behind him as he tossed a long, flaming sword to Gabriel and another to Gideon.

  Naomi trembled, shaken by the significance of the gesture. Michael and Gideon fighting side by side.

  Each time they swung their swords the metal sizzled and sparks exploded into the night. Clutching the stick to her chest, Naomi watched the battle. They fought in a circle, protecting each other’s backs. The demons attacked in pairs but the flaming swords pierced their flesh effortlessly, dispersing their energy into the darkness. The angels arched their wings in unison as one demon attacked from above. Michael batted it away as one would flick a fly and Gideon skewered it with his sword.

  When only one demon remained, Gideon stepped out of formation and angled his sword to strike. “Now and forever, I stand for the light!” He drove the sword into the creature. It shrieked and flailed as energy spewed forth, scattered forever on the night wind.

  Naomi dropped the branch and ran to Gideon. He tossed his sword to Gabriel and closed his arms around her. She kissed his mouth, filling her head with his scent and his taste. “Is it over, my love? Is it really over?”

  He eased her away and kissed her brow. “Forever, it is over.”

  “Forever?” Michael challenged. “We must talk about forever.”

  Their radiance hurt her eyes but Naomi couldn’t look away. Michael had the power to take Gideon from her. She trembled all the harder when Gideon bowed his head and furled his wings. He appeared human again, devastatingly handsome but human. Naomi wanted to shake Michael. Why was he making this so difficult?

  “What will become of me, sir?” Gideon asked respectfully.

  “You cannot return to Heaven. Your angelic nature is irreversibly tainted.”

  “That is not my wish.” He dared a glance at the archangel.

  “What is your wish, Gideon? Speak.”

  Straightening his shoulders, he looked directly at Michael. “I wish to stay with Naomi.”

  Michael smiled and Naomi felt her heart leap within her breast. Without his grave expression the archangel was even more beautiful than Gabriel.

  “Enough to sacrifice your immortality?” Michael asked, but his tone was almost playful.

  “Of course,” he said without hesitation. “That is no sacrifice.”

  “Perhaps not a sacrifice but an exchange. Tomorrow with the dawn you will be transformed. Your angelic nature will be made—human.” He chuckled at the irony. “You may reenter the daylight, but you will have no power. And your immortality will be restored in another form.”

  “Children?” Gideon whispered, his voice husky and unsteady.

  “Aye. You will live on through your children.” Michael smiled at Naomi. “You did well. We thank you.”

  Shocked and humbled by his praise, Naomi quickly bowed her head. “It was my pleasure, sir.”

  He turned to Gabriel. �
�Say your farewells, Gabriel. Your assignment here is finished but we have battles yet to fight.”

  “I will be with you directly.”

  Michael flashed out of sight and Naomi could contain her emotions no longer. She cried out happily and flung herself into Gideon’s arms. Laughing and crying, she clutched him tightly and vowed to never let go. Gideon spun her around and around, laughing and kissing her face.

  “Well, this ended rather well,” Gabriel chuckled. When Gideon finally set her back on her feet, Gabriel took her hand and kissed her fingers. “As you grew to be a woman, I often tried to imagine your husband. Never once did I picture Gideon.”

  She laughed.

  “I will make her happy,” Gideon vowed. “You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I know,” he said, “because I will visit from time to time just to be sure.”

  * * * * *

  Gideon wrapped his arms around Naomi, pressing her back against his chest. They stood on the ramparts, waiting for the rising sun.

  “I have the special license,” Gideon told her. “We can be married on the morrow.”

  “With the danger gone, there is no real hurry.”

  He pinched her bottom lightly and Naomi laughed.

  “I do not want our first child to be conceived until we are lawfully wed,” he said.

  She rested her head against his shoulder. “Then Father Thomas had better wed us tomorrow. I have no intention of spending another night without you.”

  “Or another day?”

  She turned in his arms, needing to see his face. “Oh, to stroll through a sun-drenched meadow with you by my side.”

  “We will do that and more.”

  Smiling into his eyes, she asked, “Do you think Father Thomas will mind if I make a few changes to the parish church?”

  Gideon tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his gaze caressing her upturned face. “What changes are needed?”

  “Just the paintings on the walls. They are flat and lifeless. I would like to replace them with scenes of angels with glorious wings and flaming swords.”

  Gideon glanced at the horizon. “You do realize in a moment or two, I will no longer have wings.”