Shooting a glance at Lycaon, Anthony whispered, “Here, take him. I’ll help the others.”
“Why?”
Sucking in his cheeks, Anthony shook his head. “Just do it!”
Hakon barged past Lycaon and took the creature whilst Anthony, using both hands, one on each of the others, placed his palm to their foreheads and chanted softly.
They swooned, but started to regain consciousness as the other with Hakon, blinked rapidly before rasping then pushed the vampire away.
I spoke quietly, “We’re not with Adara, we’re in disguise. We’re here to rescue you. Can you walk?”
Mistrust in his eyes, his brows furrowed, “Rescue? Are you mad, what...” his legs wobbled, but he pushed Anthony away.“What, you lot? Rescue us, I was an angel, what the hell am I going to do if I get out of here?”
I sighed and stepped forward. “I don’t know but I do know that you’ll die if you stay here. If that’s what you want, then we’ll leave.”
One of the other demon-angels coughed, then spluttered, “We were all angels, they injected something into us. I’m not ready to die, I’ll come. Brothers?”
His face, like the others, dimpled chin, hooded eyes that held both innocence and sadness, a tumble of dark gold curls. They were toned, and very tall, in fact towering over the vampires.
“I am Sariel, these are my brothers, Remiel and Joel.” He grimaced as he moved his wings, flinching as he saw them. Scarlet and black leathery, then his gaze fell to the few pure white feathers on the floor. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the enormity of the situation taking hold of him.
I spoke louder, “Look, they have done this to you, it’s not totally implausible that it could be reversed. We should search for clues as we go. We need to move.”
Sariel helped to hold his brother, Joel, who looked older. Scornful eyes burned into me. Tutting, Lycaon left the room, chatting to Jax who raised her shoulders, looking on through the glass with a questioning stare.
Mumbling, Joel clung to his younger brother, “What have they done to us? I can hardly breathe... My mind is twisted. I feel pain, but...”
“I know, brother, we need to get out.”
Anthony was trying to get Remiel to walk, but the hybrid hugged himself, biting his bottom lip until a trickle of blood ran down his chin. Gently, I held out my hand, standing to Remiel's side. “I know what it is like to be touched by darkness, but we might be able to find a way back for you. Look, already, your angel side is stronger, fighting the darkness within. I’m sure ifwe can get a way out, there are those that will help you. Let us help you?”
Scolding, he spat, “You’re a witch, and a Godforsaken vampire is misleading me. I am damned, touched by evil, there’s nothing anyone can do. Heaven will condemn us, we are forsaken! Stay away!”
“I’m not leaving you. You’re not forsaken, you’ve been violated by an evil society. Heaven protects its own. This vampire has fought evil alongside angels, and the Nephilim. He is not without remorse and he, too, is touched by evil, perhaps his soul is damned, but none of that was his choosing. Surely if you fall, if you’re touched by evil, your God is forgiving. Isn’t that what you believe, your faith is stronger than this. Your mind is confused right now by the horror of your situation. Give it time. Let us help you regain your salvation.”
He snarled, “Why should you care, you’re no friend to Heaven?”
“And I’m no enemy, either. We all deserve a hand, help. I am different from you, but I want similar things. Freedom, justice. Fairness and good.”
He eyed me, not looking convinced, then his shoulder twitched and he caught the sight of his leathery, clawed wings. I picked up a feather. It was like silk, so soft, the edges shimmered with silver.
“Here, take this as a reminder of who you are. You are a child of Heaven, don’t let this infection define you.”
He held out a shaky hand, and forcing a smile he said, “I will try. For the sake of my brothers.”
As we left the room,Lycaon let out a sigh. But I ignored it. I couldn’t let these men, angel or demon, suffer at the hands of Adara, that was just who I was. I was aware that we risked a lot,they could turn on us and we’d spent longer already than we’d planned, but if we got them out safely and had some help, well, that was worth it.
Who or what we would find next, I couldn’t imagine. So far there were no rooms with cameras in them, but perhaps Adara, or rather their lackey’s had set up portal camera’s for their sick auctions.
My legs were like lead. I was tired for sure; my breathing was tighter, like I was coming down with a cold. A pain pierced through my head.
Remiel stopped dead, turning around, “What’s behind us, can we get out, is that the way you came in?”
I nodded. “Jax, would you escort them out, or Hakon?”
“Good idea. I’ll take them, I can phone Aaron, he can call Michael, or one of his brothers to collect them?” Austin piped in.
Screwing his face up, Remiel questioned the mage, “You don’t mean Michael, the Archangel Michael? Who is Aaron?”
