Gilded Wings (13 page)

The tree shook, almost releasing my grip and knocking me down from my perch.

I held my breath.

A few branches down, a Fallen had landed. He was huge and muscular. I watched him sniff the air, and then raise his head as if he were looking at me. I froze. Every cell in my body was weighted, then I felt a tingle in my right arm as it released from the tree and grasped the handle of my dagger. I didn’t want to unsheathe it because I feared it was glowing and would give away my location.

He knew I was here though. He could smell me, and he was only about ten feet below. He crawled around the branches like he weighed nothing, using his wings to balance. Then he stopped directly below me, and his head snapped back. His evil black eyes locked onto me, but I knew he couldn’t see me. Could he?

He sniffed again, and before I could unsheathe the dagger, he reached up and grabbed my leg. I screamed and tried to kick away, but when he realized he had me, he tightened his grip. I couldn’t let go of the branch because if I did, I would go crashing to the ground, or into his unwelcoming arms. So I held on, struggling to stay on the branch.

“Ethon!” I screamed.

“You’re mine, bitch,” the Fallen threatened. There was nothing I could do, and I could hear Ethon in a fight for his life against the Hellhounds.

The Fallen placed both hands on my leg and flapped upward. I had to let go or his strength would have ripped my arms from their sockets. I was in the air, upside down, hanging by one leg. I screamed and tried to kick free. Unexpectedly, he released me. I hit a tree and spun, being tossed around like a rag doll, trying to grasp at anything that could break my fall. Branches scratched my hands and my face, but I couldn’t get a grip on anyone of them.

I hit the ground and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes, I felt pain and could hear growls in the distance. I was on the ground lying in between a bunch of trees, out in the open. I wondered how long I was out. Hoping I hadn’t broken anything, I slowly moved. I didn’t feel like anything was broken, but my back and neck were aching. Sitting up, I quickly pressed myself back against the biggest spruce tree. I could hear the Hellhounds and Ethon, but I couldn’t see them.

Then I caught a scent in the breeze and it made my body stiffen.

About twenty yards away, the same Fallen who’d grabbed me, dropped down out of the sky. He sniffed the air, looking for me. I needed to get out of here. The thought being captured threatened to freeze my limbs. But I wouldn’t allow it. I would fight.

I quietly made my way around the tree, out from his view. My pulse raced as I reached for my dagger and unsheathed it. Thank God I still had it with me.

I figured that if I ran toward the Hellhounds maybe I could lose him. I’d rather be in the middle of the Hellhounds than dragged away to who knows where and have who knows what done to me. At least if I was near Ethon, he would know if I was taken and he could try and rescue me if I was captured.

It was a huge risk, but the only one that made sense at this very moment, so I sucked in a deep breath and took off in his direction. I ran as fast as I could toward the sounds of growling. When I was about fifty yards away, I stopped and turned back. The Fallen wasn’t there, but I knew he must have been close by.

There was a crack to the side of me, and when I turned there were two burning red eyes and sharp teeth standing about ten feet away, fixed directly on me.

Glancing down, I noticed I was still invisible. There was no place for me to run. I would have to fight the Hellhound, and readied myself, holding my dagger out in front of me.

Before I could blink, it crouched and pounced. I thrust my blade forward, and covered my face with the other arm, preparing for pain. Instead, I heard a horrifying scream. The Hellhound had leapt over me, attacking the Fallen who had captured me earlier.

The Hellhound sunk its sharp into the Fallen’s shoulder, then thrashing its head, it severed his arm. With another whipping movement, the detached limb flew over and hit me in the leg.

I internally screamed and jumped back.
Eww!

Agonizing cries filled the air as the Hellhound mauled its prey. Another Fallen dropped from the sky with a sword held above his head. As soon as he landed, he thrust his weapon down and severed the Hellhound’s head. He then reached down and picked up his Fallen friend, who was on the brink of death.

“Do it,” the injured man yelled. He was fatally marred and covered in blood; shredded flesh hung from his severed arm.

His partner helped him to his knees, and then he leaned forward bowing his head. In an instant the other Fallen lifted his sword and beheaded him. His lifeless body toppled over to the ground. The Fallen began to speak a few angelic words, and within seconds his friend’s body began to burn. I knew he would be coming for me next.

The only reason they knew I was here was because they could catch my scent. I glanced down at the severed arm at my feet and had a flashback. When I was near a riverbank and being chased by Darkling, I covered myself with mud and they couldn’t smell me. But I didn’t have mud this time. The only thing I had now was that disgusting severed arm.

I bent down and picked it up, fighting the overwhelming urge to puke. I could feel the burning bile creeping up my chest, but I held it down. The limb disappeared as soon as I touched it, and not being able to see it helped. I was out of options. If I didn’t do this, he would find and capture me.

I held my breath, and clasped my eyes shut tight. Then I began to rub the bloody stump all over my exposed skin. Head, face, neck, and hands. I gagged and clasped my lips shut as thick blood trickled down them. The strong smell of iron was almost too much to bear. I dry heaved a few times, then began to breathe from my mouth.

This better freaking work.

The Fallen sniffed the air, trying to catch a scent. I took the arm and tossed it away from me. As soon as it left my hand, it became visible and hit the ground. In a flash, the Fallen shot toward the area. I was safe for now, but didn’t know for how much longer.

In the distance, I saw Ethon battling with the Hellhounds and a few Fallen. It seemed like he had everything under control. His advantage was his wings and speed. He was maneuvering quickly from the mouths of the Hellhounds and trying to fight off Fallen which were airborne.

I watched in horror as one leapt up, snapping at his wing, but he twirled out of the way, while blocking an incoming sword at the same time.

I stepped to the side and my foot landed on a branch, which cracked loudly. I gasped and was slammed from behind. A Fallen had run into me, and when he realized it, he wrapped his arms tightly around me, constricting my chest.

“Ethon,” I screamed, but as soon as I yelled, the Fallen took to flight. In seconds I was being carried further and further up and away, with all hope of being found, quickly diminishing.

I tried to reach for the dagger but with my arms pinned it required some effort. I finally had it, and with all my might I thrust it deep into the Fallen’s thigh. He screamed and grabbed for his wound, letting go of me. I was falling fast, screaming and watching the tree line get closer and closer. I clenched my eyes just as I was about to hit.

In midair, someone grabbed me. Screaming, I attempted to thrust the blade into whoever it was, but he caught my hand.

“Don’t,” he said in a familiar gruff voice.

“Bane?”

He responded with, “You stink.”

It was him alright, and for some odd reason, I felt safe.

“You need to go back and help Ethon. There are too many evil things down there.”

“Azzah is assisting. Ethon ordered me to take you back to safety.”

That was the most words I’d ever heard Bane speak… ever.

“But they need your help. They can’t do it alone.”

“They are more than capable of protecting themselves. I cannot return, unless you give me permission.”

“Why would you need
my
permission?” I questioned.

“Because you will soon be Ethon’s mate, and I have been ordered to protect the line of Lucifer. I take orders from them alone.”

“Well, I order you to turn around and help them. Besides, we’re still a long way from home.”

Bane nodded and slowly turned around.

“You don’t like me do you?”

He shrugged his shoulders, confirming what I already felt.

“Why?”

“It’s not that I don’t like you. I am sorrowful for you.”

“Sorrowful?” I questioned.

“Yes, and don’t ask me to tell you why,” he replied.

“What if I ordered you to tell me?” His eyes narrowed and I swore he growled at me a bit. “Or not,” I quickly added.

He huffed. “If I tell you, I could be severely punished or killed.”

“I promise to God, or to Lucifer – whatever fancies you – that I will not speak a word to anyone. There is no one to tell anyway. Besides, I need to know things before I make my final decision.”

“You made a deal with Lucifer. You have no choice,” he said roughly.

“We’ll see about that. I need to know, Bane. Why are you sad for me?”

He shook his head them paused for a moment.

“There are two sides to him, and right now you have only experienced his good side. But what you and the others don’t know is there is a very dark and evil side to him, which is almost identical to his father.

“He has killed countless Fallen and mortals alike. If they look at him the wrong way, they die.”

“And you’re scared of him?” I asked. He didn’t answer, but I could see it in his eyes. “How can someone so big and powerful be scared of him?”

“Because he has much more power than anyone thinks. There are secrets only a select few know, and we have been sworn to silence. But since you are going to become one of them, I think it’s time you know what you’re bonding into.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” I asked. He, of all people, was the last person I ever thought would share any information with me.

“Because I see how innocent you are. You remind me of my daughter.”

“You have a daughter?”

“I had a daughter, but not anymore,” he said sadly.

“What happened to her?”

“When I was chosen for service, they murdered my family so I could serve without barriers. They did the same to all Lucifer’s personal guards.”

My heart broke, and I felt my eyes well with pain for him.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,” I breathed.

He shook his head. “It was a long time ago. My heart has grown calloused, and I’ve learned to become numb to everything around me. With my work you have to be hard, or you die.”

“I wish there were something I could do,” I breathed, seeing Bane for the first time in a whole new light. Yes, he had a very rough exterior, but he was hurt inside. I couldn’t imagine the pain he had to endure when his family was murdered. I wondered if he had to watch. Just the thought of it made me sick inside. No wonder they were so submissive to Lucifer. He’d stripped them of everything, and made them slaves.

That was the same thing he had done to me, only not completely yet. He never gave me a choice, and knew what I would do to save those I loved. He knew I’d submit if they were involved. But I had a sinking feeling that even though I made the pact, their lives would still be in danger. He just better keep his end of the bargain, or so help me God.

“It’s too late for me,” he said with a bit of sadness in his voice. “I am dammed. A slave for all eternity.”

I didn’t know what else to tell him. My heart broke with his words. We were quickly approaching Ethon and I knew because I could feel him.

“Wait,” I said, placing my hand on Bane’s chest. He stopped in mid-air. “I want to know Ethon’s secret.”

He closed his eyes then sighed. “You have to swear to me you will never tell a living soul.”

“I swear,” I said with confidence.

He exhaled loudly. “Ethon is Lucifer’s
true
son.”

Gasping, I shook my head. “I thought Lucifer’s brother was his father, and after he was caught and killed, Lucifer took him in?”

Bane shook his head. “That’s what they want everyone to believe, but Lucifer was the one who impregnated Ethon’s birth mother. Then Lucian found out. If Lucifer had been found guilty, he would have been stripped of all authority and executed. Lucifer blamed his brother and made him plead guilty to his transgression. He had no choice. Lucifer threatened to kill his bonded in front of him. So, when Lucian came to Lucifer, he charged his brother. His brother was taken and murdered for a transgression he never committed.”

“
That
is seriously screwed up. How could he live with himself? He blamed and killed his brother for something he did.”

“Bottom line, Ethon is Lucifer’s son and Prince of the Underworld. It is Lucifer’s blood that flows through him, which is why he has more power than any other Nephilim, and is also stronger and faster than any of the Fallen around him. He was trained by the Fallen’s best warriors, and thus, nearly undefeatable.”

“Holy crap,” was all I could say. His words painted Ethon to be a monster in training, and made me want to get back into the safety and protection of Alaine’s home. “I think I’ve changed my mind. Could you please take me back home?”