Her Black Heart (The Dark Amulet Series Book 2) (24 page)

CHAPTER

SIXTY-ONE

Julia

Slate blue. That was the color of Raz’s eyes. Oh God, he was staring at her. Julia looked away. “Why are you staring at me like that?” She curled in her shoulders.

“Julia.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the black feather.

“Huh?” She scanned the area around her until she caught sight of the plume.

Shane splashed around the tub, his hands making squeaking noises under the water.

Raz pulled the plug. “Don’t make me punch you. Stay put,” he told him then looked at her. Julia stared back at him. She traced the outline of his features. Memorized them.

I’m sorry.
Julia looked at the draining water and Shane. He had a tuft of black fine feather stuck to his face. She reached out and plucked it from his chin. She stood and stepped over the lip of the tub. The feather fell from her hand.

“Ra’zael? What in Netherworld is going on here?” A dark-haired female, with black—no raven-colored—wings appeared. Startled, Julia slipped on the slick tile, her ass landing on the tub’s rim then she dropped backward onto Shane’s lap. He swore.

Raz scooted backward toward the door so quickly Julia had trouble tracking him. The look on his face wasn’t fear—no wild eyes or ashen face. His reaction was more like,
don’t touch me
.

“Oh relax, Guardian,” the newcomer said. “I’m not going to tell anyone if you accidently touch me. And I’m sorry about before, Elliott told me what happened.”

“What is with you angels and your touch phobia?” Julia heaved herself out of the tub. Now that she was on her feet and not in shock, she couldn’t take her eyes off the female angel’s wings.

The other female giggled. “I’m Amalya. Male angels are crazy if you haven’t noticed. There’s a lot you have to know and I’m still learning.”

Julia snorted. “Great. So they’re all like him?”

Amalya nodded. “You’re Julia.”

Julia’s eyes widened. “How did you—”

“Lucky guess.” She weaved her hand into the folds of her silky dress and pulled out a cell phone. She tapped on the screen before putting it up to her ear. Julia heard a deep male voice answer. Amalya’s face lit with a smile. “Hey, you, that’s not why I called. I need you to come to me…long story…all right…bye.” She put the cell away. “Raz, Elliott’s on his way.”

“Ter
rif
ic.”

“It’s fine. He’s not going to kick your ass again.”

Julia’s mouth fell open. “Elliott’s the one who—”

“Yeah,” Amalya said. “It’s because we’re mated.”

“Oh, well
that
explains everything.”

“It does,” Amalya and Raz said together.

The white-haired angel appeared moments later. Julia shrank away from him. The last time she’d seen him she had jumped onto his back. The dude’s brilliant white wings made Raz’s look off-white. And they were pure white. Elliott jerked his chin in Shane’s direction. “Who’s the wet human handcuffed in the tub?”

“A murderer. Accomplice. Asshole,” Raz said.

“He’s why I called you,” Amalya said. “Can you help Raz get rid of him while I talk to Julia?”

“Anything for you, female.”

“Aw, you’re so smart,” Amalya said. Elliott winked, then pulled her close for a peck on the lips.

Okaaay.
Angels were all nuts, male and female.

Elliott and Raz lifted wet Shane out of the tub. He shivered as water dripped off of him. “What’d ’ya think, my brethren, a flying lesson?” the white-haired angel asked Raz.

“Sounds good.”

“Excellent.” Elliott clapped Shane on the back so hard he pitched forward. Raz caught him before he went down. All the males shuffled out of the bathroom as Shane sobbed. Julia heard the suite door shut a couple seconds later.

“What are they going to do with him?” Julia asked.

“Oh, I don’t know, drop him off a tall building. Who cares? He’s dead anyway.”

Julia gaped at the female with an open mouth. “But I spared his life.”

“Good for you, that’s a start. Now you’re going to earn those wings.” Amalya shrugged. “Or not.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It
means
you have a whole lot of Taint in your system. Shit gets harder to overcome every day. Not looking good. You’re still obsessed with the amulet.”

“Am
not
.”

“Then why are you so defensive?”

“I’m not!”

Amalya sighed. “Do you know what I am?”

“A bitch?”

“Nice. Well…okay, maybe sometimes. Anyway. Raz can’t save you. It’s your job and you’re not doing so hot. I took the liberty of doing some of your dirty work for you. And that museum curator was very helpful too.”

Julia gasped. “You have it,” she gushed.

“Had.”

Julia rushed the female and gripped her biceps. Amalya wrenched out of her grasp and Julia tumbled into the wall. The woman’s strength wasn’t something to mess with. She envied her.

“Watch it! I’m pregnant.”

“I’m sorry. I—”

“Just don’t do it again.”

Her eyes found the floor.
Sorry
. Another feather fluttered to her feet. Then another.

“You shouldn’t be losing your feathers like that. Keep that up and you’ll be bald.” Amalya shook her head. “Julia, you have a chance to make this right, but it’s up to you.”

A tear streaked down Julia’s cheek, dripping off her chin. “How?”

“These amulets give you a false sense of yourself. I’ve been told they affect everyone in different ways. For me, I thought everyone around me was an idiot. Every negative emotion I felt about myself was compounded. Once the cycle started, I couldn’t stop it. Even after I lost the damn thing, the crap stayed with me.”

Julia looked at her. “Did you destroy the amulet?”

“No. I hid it in Maurice’s room. Bastard almost caught me too.”

The blood drained out of Julia’s head. “What?”

“Julia!”

CHAPTER

SIXTY-TWO

Ra’zael

Far below the rooftop of the hotel at street level, police lingered behind yellow caution tape. An ambulance had taken the body of Julia’s attacker to the morgue. Raz scratched his head while he looked over the edge. He glanced at Elliott. “We just wanna drop the human from here?”

“No. No. No. Uh uh. No, you don’t,” Shane said.

“Shut up,” Elliott said. “Naw, let’s take him higher.” Both angels seized Shane—one in the front and one at his back, each grabbing an arm. They soared straight into the air. With dusk settling over the city, coupled with the clouds, their ascent was masked. Oh, and humans rarely looked heavenward. Shane screamed but a conk to the back of the head silenced him. When he woke up they were as high as they could go without the human passing out.

Raz hoped the idiot wouldn’t start hollering again. He didn’t; he smiled instead. “Are you taking me to Heaven?”

“We just told you we were going to drop you.” Elliott laughed. “Did you hear that? He thinks he could get into Arcadia.”

“Yeah. I heard.” Raz snorted. “Here’s good.”

“Now?” Elliott asked. The angels released Shane over Lake Michigan. He dropped like a missile, hands still cuffed.

Raz looped toward the lake’s choppy surface. Shane barely made a splash when he smacked the water head first.

He never resurfaced. Well, at least not in one piece.

Raz listened to the whitecaps crest and fall, the flapping of his wings, and the seagulls screeching. He skimmed the water, dipping a hand along the way. Flying was better than he remembered. Never again would he Fall. Abaddon could kiss his ass.

Look at me now, bitch
.

He’d been in that prison for many Earth decades. It seemed like forever and a day.

Annoying music played nearby. Raz barrel-rolled to his back. Elliott talked on his phone above him and frowned. “Gotta get back, don’t we?”

Elliott nodded then changed direction, heading toward shore.

***

Julia

Amalya had stashed the amulet in Maurice’s room.
Her
amulet. She raced down the hallway. Forget teleporting. Her mind was too scattered. To her surprise, the dark-haired angel hadn’t followed her. Julia banged hard on the door.

“Open up!”

If she’d paused for a minute before running down to the asshole’s suite, she might have reconsidered her tactic. All rational thought left her mind the second Amalya told her she’d hidden the amulet in Maurice’s room. At least asking where to look would’ve been helpful. She pounded both fists on the panel.

“Open up, Maurice! I know you’re in there!”

I can smell you
.

The door creaked open a couple of inches, the security latch still in place. A sliver of Maurice’s face filled the narrow gap. He jerked his head back when she stuck her face in his. The door slammed, almost lopping off the tip of her nose.

“You coward!” she shouted.

Raz’s words echoed in her head.
You’re stronger than you know.

Julia took a deep breath. Time to put her personal karate kick into action. She backed away from the door to get a running start, jumped, and slammed into the door with both feet.

“Kiai!”

Crack!
Boom!

The door hit the floor with Julia riding it like a surfboard. Maurice scooted backward on his ass, his eyes wide as saucers. “Ju-Ju-Julia?” He swallowed. “This…can’t be!”

“Well it is.” She stalked toward him, fists clenched at her sides.

“B-But Bryant k-killed you.” He backed himself against the wall.

“Yes. Thank you for that.” She willed her wings visible and flared them.

He shook his head swiftly, his body trembling. “What are you—”

“Dark angel to match my
black
heart.” She didn’t know what she was, but Amalya was an angel, so why not her?

“Stop!” Amalya yelled. “Julia, quit it!”

She looked at Maurice and realized that her hands were around his throat, crushing his larynx.

“What are you doing? No!” Raz was in the room now. Julia locked gazes with him for a moment. Tears glistened in his eyes.

What
am
I doing?

Revenge wouldn’t save her. She let go. Maurice slumped to the floor gasping and rubbing his neck. Her Guardian wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her to his chest. She went limp and sobbed in his arms. “Let go, my female. Let it all go,” he whispered in her ear.

“I’m trying.” Julia finally composed herself. “Where’s the amulet?” she asked Amalya. The other female walked across the room to the mini-bar. She dug inside the freezer compartment. Julia came over, wiping tears from beneath her eyes. Amalya peeled back the tissue covering the pendant. They stared at the stupid life destroyer.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. What a disappointment,” Abaddon said from over by the expansive window.

Maurice screamed and passed out.

Julia stiffened with her back to the Demon Ruler, grabbed the amulet from Amalya, and swallowed it.

No!
Amalya mouthed, horrified.

Julia winced as the amulet slid down into her stomach. She wasn’t going to let Abaddon get his hands on the sigil.

“I thought you might have killed Ra’zael like I asked. Guess I’ll have to enslave you instead,” he said.

Raz lunged at his former master. “No!” Julia shouted and sprung forward. Amalya batted her away with a wing. She landed on her knees in front of the door, someone popped back up between the jambs. Elliott had a red-flamed sword in both hands.

The beastly demon and Raz grappled on the floor. She heard something snap and Raz cried out. Abaddon pinned him down. Elliott jumped in the air and sank the blade into the ebony skinned creature. The demon bellowed. The flame sizzled then extinguished itself.

Abaddon reared back, reaching over his shoulder. Elliott leapt out of the way of the clawed hand. The monster yanked the sword through his chest and tossed the blade aside. “My strength grows.” He returned his attention on Raz who was crawling away, a wing bent and hanging in an awful position.

Julia’s heart thundered behind her sternum. She couldn’t breathe. She and Amalya huddled together on the floor. She didn’t blame Amalya for protecting her baby. She watched in horror as Abaddon twisted Raz’s ankle until it fractured.

A new sword somehow formed in Elliott’s hand. He charged the demon, slashing at his chest, neck, and arms. Abaddon tried to catch the blade with one hand and hold Raz off the floor by the throat with the other. His nostrils flared and he flung the Guardian across the room. Raz crashed into Maurice with a loud thud. Elliott cut a deep gash across Abaddon’s abdomen. The beast curled his head with the intent of ramming Elliott with his horns. The angel flew back and out of the strike zone.

Julia focused on Raz. He lay crumpled against the wall on top of Maurice, who also looked dead. Elliott tried another angle to get at the beast. The demon counteracted all his moves until Elliott was forced stop his attack.

“Arghhh! Where’s my amulet?” When no one answered, he stomped toward Raz.

“No one has your stupid piece of shit!” Julia shouted. The beast halted and pivoted. “But I know where it is.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Not unless you leave us alone. And un-Taint me.” Julia had no plan, she only knew she wanted the mayhem to end. There were two reasons she’d swallowed the amulet. First, a part of her wanted to keep it, and second, she didn’t want anyone else to have it either. But in this moment, nothing was more important than her angel. Her decision suddenly became clear. She couldn’t have both. Raz for the amulet seemed like a fair trade considering Abaddon seemed desperate to get it back.

“Un-Taint? Purify? Hmm…I’ll have to think about it.” He paced with heavy hoof-steps.

Julia’s heart clutched.

Come on
.

He stopped and stared at her for a long pause.

Come on.

Tears streamed down her face. She forced herself not to stomp her feet like an impatient child.

“All right,” he closed his eyes briefly, “it is done.”

Julia furrowed her brow. Maybe he wasn’t as strong as he wanted everyone to believe. Why give in so easily?

High-pitched squeals filled the room. Julia covered her ears and hunkered down on her knees. As another screech resounded, she toppled to her side. Raz wasn’t moving. She watched his rib cage for movement.

Breathe!

His chest expanded after what seemed too long, and she sagged with relief.

Abaddon fell to his knees next to her, his hands over his ears.

He was weaker than when she’d first seen him.

The room darkened but sunlight still shone in from the window. Shadows crept along the floor and walls.

She knew the sound of the shadow demons.
They were
coming for…not Raz. Maurice. The force of her angel’s landing had crushed the weaker man to death. She needed to pull Raz away from the human before the shadows reached them. The noise grew louder yet and further weakened her. Getting to her hands and knees proved unattainable. She dragged herself along the floor using her arms. She wheezed. She coughed. Something choked her from the inside out. More coughing, wheezing, then gagging. She pawed at her throat. An object was stuck in her windpipe.

Can’t…breathe
.

Her face heated, sweat poured down her temples. The dry heaving raged on. She was suffocating on the amulet.

Julia forced her eyes upon Raz. Shadow demons tore at his clothing. Elliott stood over him and slashed at the inky translucent blobs. Amalya tugged at his legs, arms, anything she could grab. Maurice’s soul thrashed.

Something hit her between the wings. Abaddon lay beside her. “Cough it up!” he bellowed over the screaming demons and beat her back again. The amulet came up and landed under her chin. A charcoal taste filled her mouth. She retched and black smoke billowed around her. She patted the carpet for the sigil blindly. Her hand felt the metal and she palmed the amulet. She started to roll away but the beast stopped her.

“Let me go!”

Abaddon lifted her off the floor by her pants waist and grabbed one of her wings. “You’re not going anywhere.” He laughed while she flailed around. She stopped struggling, deciding it would be a good idea to conserve her energy.

He released her wing then she dropped. She glanced behind her as she crawled away. The ebony, horned beast battled the male angels. Elliott jumped and caught Abaddon around the neck from behind. Raz stabbed the creature’s torso until he sank to his knees. Amalya pulled her to her feet and handed her a tin cylinder. Julia read the label, Revoking Powder.

“It’s salt,” Amalya said, “make a circle around them. Hurry.”

The females poured a salt line around them, starting on opposite sides of the fighters. Elliott and Raz flapped twice and flew backward. They chanted in a language Julia didn’t understand. She figured, given the salt, the incantation was meant to send Abaddon back to Netherworld.

“Enough!” Abaddon screamed and everything went still, including the shadow demons. The demons hissed in protest. “Silence!”

The Demon Ruler jumped to his cloven hooves and spun around. He chuckled and walked to the line. His hoof poised mid-air to step over the white grains. The muscles in his legs strained as he tried to breach the barrier. He tried again with his hand and hit an invisible wall.

The beast tromped around and took a running start. Met with resistance. When he circled around again for another attempt, Julia noticed the shiny round amulet inside the salt revoking circle. She’d dropped it.

No!

Abaddon huffed, expelling gray smoke from his nostrils. Julia held her breath, praying he didn’t step backward onto the amulet or he’d just leave, defeated. And why hadn’t the Revoking Powder gotten rid of him anyway? Raz moved on her right. Her eyes focused on him. He continued to cite the foreign-sounding chant.

Julia looked back in time to see Abaddon pick up the amulet. She launched at him but Raz blocked her from entering the circle. He marched her backward holding her close to his chest.

“Sorry. You know how much I hate you,” she said.

His brows knitted together. “What?” She gripped him below the waist and twisted. “Ow! Fuck!”

Julia slipped through his arms and strode toward the beast.

“You want this?” He dangled the pendant, now hanging from a leather cord. She crossed the threshold without a plan, only a need to make sure the amulet got destroyed. He smacked her away and she flew across the room. She hit the wall above the headboard, bounced on the bed, and onto the floor. Her entire body ached as she writhed.