And it’s a good thing he was in the hallway when the peris arrived earlier.
“Well done, Bertie.” The malakim’s voice was sweet as a song and soft as down. “I’ve come to take you home.”
“I don’t— I don’t understand.”
“Is it not written, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”?
The malakim’s attention was drawn away from Hinge when Kerry groaned and tipped onto his side. I moved in front of Kerry and crossed my arms, sure to keep my face blank. You could never predict what an angel of any class would do. They were otherworldly in more than appearance, and not endowed with humanity.
I’d have to distract him—or take him down. A malakim was only about as powerful as a djinni, so it wasn’t an issue ofcouldI. It was an issue ofshouldI. It would not go unnoticed in the sight of Heaven, and relations between nephilim and angels were never better than tense.
Let’s try the distraction first.
“What drew your attention to Hin— Um, Bertie? Surely the gaze of the guardians is far too lofty for mere nephilim to catch one’s eye.”
“His mother prayed for his soul every day of her devout life.” The malakim’s passionless eyes settled on me. “It is also written, ‘If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.’ For one sofaithful, I vowed to fulfill her final wish, which was to save the soul of her son.”
“My mother?” Hinge’s voice was thick. “I can barely— No, I do. I remember. I remember her face. She prayed for me?”
The malakim returned his attention to the tousle-haired lad dressed in Victorian short pants and stockings, stiff linen shirt and high-heeled shoes.
“She did. Now you will reap the reward of her faith.”
Kerry writhed on the floor and, as much as we would all miss Hinge, I wanted the malakim to take him and go.
If only Mira were here! She was fearless and quick-thinking, and she would have instinctively known to drag Kerry away from the malakim’s interest. Unfortunately, she wasn’t, and the malakim wasveryinterested, especially when Kerry tugged on my pant leg.
“That one.” He cut his eyes at me, then to Kerry. “Is he in need of mercy?”
I glanced down at Kerry. He tried to speak, but the pain reduced him to gesturing with one hand. What was he trying to tell me?
“Yes and no,” I answered the malakim. “Look deeper to the root of the taint.”
The malakim took a moment, but nodded.
“Ah. I see. A pity.”
Kerry whacked my calf hard and choked out, “Aspen.”
Oh. Right. Good idea.
“Malakim, we harrowed Hell and have a soul you can take along with Hinge. I mean, Bertie.” I reached into my back pocket for the pyx, then held it out. “Here. Aspen Abernathy. Her enthraller made her kill herself when she began to break his hold.”
“You found a righteous soul in Hell?” The malakim’s voice dripped with disbelief. “Nephilim, if you’re lying—”
“I have no reason to.” I looked down my nose at him. “I suggest you investigate things onyourend of Heaven. It may be that one of your brethren is deceived.”
The malakim’s eyelids flew up and his nostrils flared as he snatched the pyx from my hand. Holy light blazed in a sudden halo around him, Kerry fell face down on the floor, and I called up my blades. The malakim would die before Kerry did, and to the Devil with the fallout.
But the light faded in a blink and with it went both Hinge and the malakim. I waited a minute, swords up and ready, but it seemed the Divine was done with us.
Good. That got rid of him.
I dissolved the blades and knelt next to Kerry. He was sweated wet and panting like a parched hound.
“You okay, buddy?”
“They … didn’t … even … say … goodbye.” Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes, and I did him the courtesy of ignoring them.
