Azrael landed in Hyde Park, the wind whipping around his head. His wings disappeared in the next instant. Standing by the Joy of Life fountain, looking up at the statue was his brother. It had been centuries since they’d seen each other. There was something deadly about the figure in front of him.
“Azrael.”
His voice was soft and measured. His dark hair ruffled. His tanned skin reflecting in the glow of the streetlights. He was the Morningstar. Azrael remembered the time when he’d been kind, but the Lucifer before him was a different angel altogether. Twisted by his time ruling over Hell. Locked out of Heaven, just like his brother. It made him long for the days when they’d been brothers in arms, not the strangers they were now.
“Lucifer.”
“Earth hasn’t been kind to you.”
“I could say the same of Hell.”
There was a ghost of a smile on Lucifer’s lips. Neither of them could deny being away from their home had done them any favours. Lucifer had become angry and dark, whilst Azrael was disillusioned and lonely.
“You found the girl.”
Azrael was silent. This was the reason Lucifer was here. The demon had delivered his message. He wished things between them were different, but he knew Lucifer placed part of the blame on him for their exile from Heaven. Azrael knew better. He knew their father had kicked them out for more than just their rebellion against him. It had everything to do with the Darkness and the end.
“And how exactly do you know about her?”
“Did you think I haven’t been keeping an eye on you? She’s important. He knows you have her. I do wonder if this was part of His plan. Were you meant to find her? I suppose it doesn’t matter now.”
Lucifer keeping tabs on him wasn’t surprising in the slightest. He imagined the King of Hell made sure he knew what all the angels on Earth were up to.
“What is your point?”
He wasn’t in the mood for cryptic conversation, but Lucifer was never one for straight talking. Perhaps it would never have come to this if he was. It made no difference. They couldn’t change the past. The future was a different matter altogether.
“What did He tell you, Azrael?”
“What makes you think I’m amenable to telling you anything? Hundreds of years and I hear nothing from you. Has Hell really kept you so busy that you couldn’t even say hello to your own brother?”
Lucifer turned to him, his dark eyes icy. When had he become so cold? What has Hell really done to him? Did Father really think forcing his son to punish souls was going to make him any less angry?
“Hell is none of your concern. Father said it would come, the Darkness. He warned me it would arrive in an unexpected form. She can see us, can she not? All of our glory laid bare at her feet.”
There was no point denying such a thing. If Alice was ever to meet Lucifer, she’d see him for what he was.
What did he mean by the Darkness coming in an unexpected form? Was he talking about Alice? Was she at the centre of all of this?
“Again, what is your point?”
“She will bring ruin to us. You should give her to me so I can end it.”
He stiffened. He wasn’t going to give Alice to his brother even if she was mixed up in this. His chest tightened at the thought. Lucifer wanted to take her away from him. To kill her before the end started. He couldn’t even entertain the idea. She was far too important to him.
“No.”
Lucifer ignored him, taking a few steps off to the side. His eyes rested on the fountain again. His shoulders were tense, his brow furrowed.
“Do you know what our brothers and sisters decided to do when they discovered His plan? They colluded with demons.”
That isn’t possible. Angels would never work with demons.
“They’ve been experimenting with His human creations, trying to give humanity a fighting chance against the Darkness. I hear they succeeded.”
“Experiments?”
“Yes, creating beings who possess both demon and angel souls. You should seek them out. I’m told a pair of them live in the city.”
He frowned. This was troubling. Why would his brothers and sisters go to such lengths? There had to be more to this. He needed to know why they’d taken this course of action.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Since you won’t give her to me, you’ve sealed our fate. Even you won’t stand by idly when it comes. You might have sided with me against Him, but Father sent you here for a reason. Make no mistake, brother, I will find out what He told you.”
Good luck with that. I’m not telling you anything now you’ve admitted you’ll kill her.
Lucifer raised his head to the sky, a smile appearing on his face.
“Oh, Azrael. It seems your human girl isn’t as well hidden as you like to think.”
And with that, his brother took to the skies. Azrael stood for a moment.
Alice. I told you not to leave.
His wings unfurled and he was airborne. He tried to home in on her, but there were so many humans in this city. The sound of their chatter blared in his head. He growled, soaring towards the penthouse. She couldn’t have gone far. He could sense his brother was still on Earth.
If he so much as lays a hand on Alice… I will not hesitate to end him. She is mine. I won’t let anyone else have her.
He landed on the roof of his building, balancing on the edge. His wings fluttered in the wind. He felt for her. There was nothing. He cursed. This was the last thing he needed. He’d kept her safe for weeks.
It was Lucifer’s fault. If he hadn’t called to him, Azrael would be with her now. He’d be touching her in all the places he wanted to. In all the ways he’d imagined. The thought of it stirred his senses. He couldn’t hold back any longer. Not when he wanted her like nothing else in this world.
He’d have to deal with what his brother told him later. It troubled him greatly. How was she involved in this? Had it been what his father meant by him bringing the end? Lucifer said she would bring ruin, but he didn’t know the last words their father had said to Azrael.
The Darkness will come in an unexpected form.
It couldn’t be her, could it? That was ridiculous. Their father would never have hidden the Darkness inside one of his precious human beings.
Unless she is the vessel…
He shook himself. Now was not the time. She was in danger. He tried to listen for her again.
Come on, Alice, think about me. Please.
Moments ticked by, but he could only hear the idle chatter of humanity. He cursed again, wishing she’d listened to him about staying in the penthouse.
“Az…”
That one single thought was all it took. She was so close. He flew straight towards where he’d heard her. A dark alley loomed below him. He rushed down, landing with a thump.
“Get off me,” she shouted, struggling with a blonde-haired man.
Azrael frowned taking in the scene.
Who is this trying to assault her? It better not be who I think it is.
“I love you.”
“No, you don’t.”
The man pushed her against the wall, trying to hold Alice still. They hadn’t noticed he was there.
“Let go of me, Jason!”
She kicked out at the man, but he managed to narrowly avoid her leg.
“Stop struggling.”
This was the cheating ex. She’d been right about one thing. He wasn’t worth her tears. Anger burnt in Azrael’s chest. Enough was enough. This man needed to be stopped.
“Let her go.”
“Az! Oh… fuck.”
Jason and Alice looked over at him.
“Who the hell are you?” Jason asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
“You’ve made a mistake touching her, Jason.”
“How… How do you know my name?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I left.”
He could hear her reaching out to him, but his focus was on Jason. He’d been trying to force her. He was in no mood for this. He’d already been interrupted by his brother when all he wanted to do was show Alice exactly how much he desired her. Now, her ex was touching her. There would be little chance of him granting the man mercy at this rate.
“I know a lot about you, mortal.”
Jason moved away slightly from Alice before pressing her behind him.
“Stay away from us.”
“Funny little man. Do you think you’re a match for me?”
“I don’t know who you are. This is between me and her.”
Alice tried to move away from him, but he reached out, holding her arm in an iron grip.
“Jason, let go of me. You don’t want to do this.”
Her grey eyes met Azrael’s, full of regret. He wasn’t angry with her, but with Lucifer and Jason.
She tried to wrench out of her ex’s grasp.
“We don’t even know you,” Jason said. “Mind your own business.”
His eyes darkened and narrowed. This human was sorely trying his patience.
“Don’t know me? Oh, you’re mistaken, young man.”
“Jason, please. Stop,” Alice said, still trying to tug her arm away. “Just stop.”
“Az, help me.”
The plea in her mind almost broke him. His irritation with the cheating bastard flared. He put his arms out.
“You asked for this, Jason.”
The air shimmered, wings appearing at his back as he donned his angelic armour. Alice’s eyes widened to saucers. Smooth metal lay across his chest, covering his legs and arms. A huge sword appeared in his hand. A halo of light glowed softly above his head.
“Oh, holy, shit… You’re… Az… Fuck. He’s like the most incredible, magnificent being and he’s saving me. Oh, heart, please stop pounding so hard! Seeing him hurts my eyes.”
Jason dropped Alice’s arm, blood draining from his face. He took a step back.
“What… What the fuck are you?” he said, his voice high pitched and squeaky.
“Azrael, the Angel of Death,” Alice whispered.
Jason turned to her, eyes wide. His mouth dropped open.
“Angel? Have you lost your mind?”
“No, Jason.” She stepped away from him. “You didn’t listen to me. I told you we’re over and I meant it.” She backed away further, towards Azrael. “Stay away from me… from us.”
“Wait, you know him?”
She reached Azrael, turning her face up towards him. There was no fear in her expression. Affection, admiration, but not fear.
“Yes. He’s my angel.”
His heart jolted at her words. Her angel. He supposed he was. He’d tried to keep her safe. And he wanted to make her his.
No, she is mine already. I’m going to make sure she knows it.
“Alice… What the fuck have you got yourself wrapped up in? Do you really expect me to believe he’s an angel?”
“She doesn’t expect anything from you. She has me,” Azrael said. “She told me what you did. You don’t deserve her.”
He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. The sword in his hand disappeared. He cupped her cheek. She was safe. He’d reached her before Lucifer.
“You’re… Let her go!”
“Az, take me home, please,” she whispered.
He turned his head towards Jason one last time.
“If you come near her again, I will not hesitate to break you, human.”
“Alice, you cannot expect me to believe you want to go with him? Is this where you’ve been all this time? With… with an angel?”
Alice huddled closer to him, resting her cheek on the metal plate of his armour.
“Yes. This is where I’ve been, with him,” she said.
“Where I belong. I can’t breathe without you near me.”
“Alice,” he whispered. “This isn’t a conversation we should have with an audience. We’ll talk about it at the penthouse.”
She nodded against his chest.
“Alice, please, you can’t be serious,” Jason said.
She turned to him.
“I’m perfectly serious. I don’t want to see you again. We’re done. I think we were over long before I even moved here. I was stupid enough to think you cared, but you never did. The only person you care about is yourself. Don’t ever contact me again.”
She looked back up at Azrael. Her eyes bright with unshed tears. It tore at him. Jason hadn’t treated her right. He hadn’t seen what was in front of him. A girl who deserved so much more. He was determined to be her everything.
“Alice!”
Neither of them looked at Jason. Azrael wrapped his other arm around her, taking off into the skies. Alice’s face buried in his shoulder. He could feel her crying softly.
Alice. Sweet, innocent, Alice. I will burn for you.