I can’t breathe.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t breathe.
Still, I run through the smoke and debris, racing towards the fiery blaze that engulfs my sister’s building. Eyes burning, lungs wheezing, I fight through the crowd, navigating through the concrete obstacle course littered with charred chunks of wood and crumbled brick.
“Ma’am, we need you to stay back!” a policeman calls out, rushing to block my advance.
“My sister…” I croak, my throat raw. “My sister lives here.” I try to duck under his outstretched arms, but he catches me by the arm.
“Let us do our job. It’s not safe to enter.”
I fight to yank my arm out of his grasp and move to sidestep him. The moment I feel his hands wrap around my waist, I snap. My eyes narrowed in fierce concentration, I push my mind out as far as it will go, quicker than I’ve ever flung it out before. I penetrate skin and skull, and sink my vicious claws into his frontal lobe, rendering him completely helpless and under my control.
“Let go of me,” I grit, my voice as dark as my glare.
His hands drop to his sides.
“Let me through.”
The policeman immediately steps out of my path.
I simultaneously retract my hold as I hurriedly brush past him, but before I can clear him completely, an arm snakes around my waist and lifts me clear off the ground.
“Get off me!” I screech, as I’m heaved several feet away from the stunned officer.
“Easy, Eden, easy. It’s me. I’ve got you.” Legion crushes me to his chest and pulls farther from the wreckage, away from prying eyes. “Thank the Almighty. I thought you were…I thought I had lost you.”
“My sister…” Through the cloud of smoke and the sheer dread of what’s occurred, I can barely get the words out. “She’s…she’s… I don’t know where she is.”
“I know, baby. We’re on it. Was she upstairs when you left?”
Shit.
In my terrified haste to wade through the carnage, of course keeping my lies straight were no longer a priority.
I pull away from L and divert my eyes.
“I was just about to head back to the apartment.”
“Good,” he nods. “I need you to do that now for me. Until we find the source of the explosion, we’re on high alert.” He lifts his head, his eyes darting around the devastating ruin before her calls out, “Lil!”
Oh. Hell. No.
The slender blonde demon jogs over to us, stopping just a foot away. She takes one look at me, her bright blue eyes taking in my wild appearance. “You found her.” She even has the nerve to sound relieved.
“Yes. I need you to get her home safely. Jinn will go with you. Go now.”
“I’m not leaving,” I protest. “Not until we find her.”
“There’s nothing you can do here, Eden. It’s too dangerous. And it’s not like you can just waltz into a building that’s still on fire. I’ve got Cain and Phenex in there under the guise of firefighters. Toyol is on his way. We’ll find her, ok?”
I shake my head and start to turn back towards the concrete inferno. “I need to stay. I need to find her.”
“And we will,” he states in earnest, grasping my shoulders. “But for now, I need to know you’re out of harm’s way so I can focus on finding Mary. If I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, I could miss something. Can you do that for me? Please?”
I don’t want to, but I nod. I honestly don’t know where Sister is, and he’s right—if he’s preoccupied with my safety, he could easily overlook something that could lead to finding her. “Fine. But call me every half hour. I need to know what’s going on.”
“I will.” He presses his warm lips to my forehead before releasing me, then looks to Lilith. “Take her straight home. If I hear of one single—”
“I’ll protect her with my life, L. I swear,” she vows solemnly. “No harm will come to her.”
Legion takes one last look at me, and before I can reattach myself to his frame, he turns and jogs away, rejoining the rescue efforts.
Leaving me alone with the psycho, backstabbing bitch that set me up.
“Eden…” She reaches out to lead me away from the chaos, but I pull away.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” I spit, venom dropping from every word. “Nothing has changed. You’re still a two-faced bitch, and nothing you can do or say will make up for what you’ve done.”
I stomp off in the other direction, brushing past nosy bystanders and fear-stricken neighbors.
“Don’t you think I know that?” she snaps back. “I’m trying to make things right here. I know I messed up, but you have to believe me when I say I’m sorry.”
I keep trudging through the crowd, Lilith right on my heels. “Why are you even here anyway? Don’t you have some babies to murder? Or some husbands to steal?”
“That isn’t fair, Eden. I knew Lucifer wouldn’t have hurt you. The true threat was never him.”
I spin around so quickly that she nearly collides with my chest. “Are you fucking kidding me? I went to Hell, Lilith. Hell. He wants to make little devil babies with me that will rule the world. How is that not a threat?” I resume my trek through the mob without giving her the chance to explain.
“But he wouldn’t have hurt you. The alternative was much worse. Who do you think supplied him with the angel venom? It wasn’t supposed to be used to trap you. It was supposed to be used to kill us, then ultimately kill you. He betrayed someone—something—much more dangerous to save your life and take you to the one place they couldn’t find you.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. Bullshit. “And you know this how?”
“Why do you think I agreed to help him? To keep my brothers and you safe.”
“Your brothers,” I snort. “Is it normal to want to fuck your brothers?”
I hear her heave out an exasperated breath behind me. “Look, I’ll admit—I’ve been in love with Legion for as long as I can remember. But nothing has ever come of it, and nothing ever will. He’s my leader, that’s all. And after what I did, we may never be the same. I would do anything to regain his trust and respect. Plus…I have nowhere else to go.”
I don’t want to believe her. I want to continue hating her, and credit her vehement remorse to getting caught and rejected by L. But what she’s saying…about Lucifer…it makes sense. He didn’t hurt me. Even now, after I’ve escaped, he hasn’t sent anyone after us. If anything, it seems as if he’s laying low. It could mean he’s planning something even more devious. Or it could mean he’s in deep shit with the one he betrayed. Which would explain why he didn’t fight to keep me; he had second thoughts, and wanted to save his own skin.
“Whatever,” I grumble, refusing to give her the satisfaction of being right. “Let’s find Jinn and get the fuck out of here.”
As expected, the street is blocked off for several blocks, so we walk past the barricades to find Jinn. He’s in a black SUV waiting for us as if L called and informed him of the plan. I’m not surprised. If Lilith did take this opportunity to get rid of me once and for all, Jinn would know something was up when I didn’t show. I can’t see them forgiving her a second time, and I truly believe she wouldn’t jeopardize her own survival.
Traffic is a mess, and we’re gridlocked for over an hour. By the time we make it to the apartment, L has already sent three status updates: at least six dead, twelve people injured, and no sign of Sister. They even checked the hospital, just in case she was called in. There’s still a lot to sift through, and it’s early, so they’re expecting to recover many more victims. However, firefighters were able to get most of the fire contained, so that’s one plus. Still, I can’t find it in my heart to feel optimistic.
“Why don’t you get a shower and lie down,” Lilith suggests after watching me pace the floor all afternoon, my eyes flicking from the news to my phone.
Why don’t you eat shit and die?
“I’m fine,” I insist, even though I’m covered in soot and debris. Even Jinn insisted I rest, but there’s no way I could sit on my ass while my sister and the rest of Se7en are out there. And Crysis…he ran off so quickly, I didn’t even have a chance to question him.
I head into L’s room and pull out the small cell phone hidden away in my purse. Surprisingly, there are half a dozen text messages.
Did you make it out ok?
Where are you?
I need to speak with you. Call me.
Eden, we need to talk.
Tell me you’re ok.
WHERE ARE YOU?
I close the bedroom door and press the only number programmed into the phone.
“For fuck’s sake, Eden. Answer me when I text! I was about to say fuck it, and approach fucking Legion just to see if he had seen you.”
“Sorry. I’m fine. Have you heard anything?”
It’s loud wherever he is, but I don’t hear any sirens or car alarms. That’s a good sign…I hope.
“No new updates at the moment.”
“You’re not there?” Strange. I mean, I know my sister means nothing to him, and he just played nice to get to me. And it’s not like he owes me anything. Still…
“I was for a bit, but once I spotted the Se7en, I had to pull back. I can’t blow my cover. But there are Alliance agents in there.”
“And they’re looking for her?”
“They are. Rev knows how important she is to you. Still, with the Se7en there, search and rescue is limited. Not the time and the place for a showdown.”
I try to feel some modicum of relief with that bit of grace, but I can’t exhale. Not yet. Not until she is found safe and sound.
“Can you…can you feel her?”
“It’s not like that, Eden,” he explains, his voice going quiet. “I can feel the presence of new life. I can feel the shadow of death. I can’t determine if someone is dead.”
“But can you at least try?” I beg, not giving a fuck about pride.
“I did. I got as close to the wreckage as I could. I felt death all around me, but I can’t feel the who, just the what.”
“But—”
“Eden. There’s nothing I can do right now. I’m sorry.”
I close my eyes for a beat and take a deep breath, saying a silent prayer for patience. “I know. Thanks for trying.”
“There is something…”
“What is it?”
“We found—”
I hit End and stuff the phone into my pocket just as the bedroom door swings opens. Legion stands there, his expression weary, face smudged with soot, and dark clothing dusted with ash. Still, I rush to wrap my arms around him, seeking comfort in his presence.
“Oh my God. I’ve been worried out of my mind. Please tell me you found her. Please tell me she’s safe.”
Legion places a hesitant kiss on the top of my head and holds me tight to his body. “We found her.”
“Is she ok? Where is she? She must be freaking out. I need to go to her.”
L stills my frenzied rambling by grasping me firmly by the shoulders. “Eden…I need you to sit down so we can talk.”
“No,” I rasp, shaking my head frantically and backing away from him. “No. No. Don’t tell me…” The words are smothered by the growing knot in my throat. Tears well in my wide, terrified eyes. “No. Don’t tell me. Don’t tell me she’s…”
“She’s alive,” he asserts. Slowly, with his palms raised, he steps toward me and cups my tear-streaked face. “She’s alive, Eden. Cain is at the hospital with her now. She’s suffered some burns, broken bones and lung damage from smoke inhalation, but she’ll live.”
“Well…why didn’t you say so? Let’s go!” I try to struggle out of his grasp, but he holds me still.
“Eden, there’s something else…” I watch as a dozen shades of sorrow darken his gaze. “Ben is dead.”
I suck in a sharp breath and touch a trembling hand to my lips. “Ben? Oh my God, Ben. Sister… She has to be devastated.”
“She doesn’t know yet. She’s still in surgery, and with her condition, it’s probably best to get her healthy first.”
I nod, completely understanding. Sister has to be completely traumatized, and learning that her boyfriend was killed could stall her recovery.
“You’re right,” I acquiesce, turning for the door. “I won’t say anything. Let me just grab my coat and we’ll—”
“You’re not going to the hospital.”
I spin around so fast that I give myself whiplash. “What? Yes, I am.”
“No, Eden.” L flexes his fists at his sides, his jaw tight with irritation. “The news is reporting this as a gas leak, but we have reason to believe that this was a premeditated attack. We were able to retrieve what appears to be parts of a bomb. Toyol and Phenex are analyzing it now.”
My gaze goes wide. “A bomb?”
Legion nods solemnly. “That’s what it looks like.”
“And…and they wanted to kill me?”
“That part is unclear. But if that was the goal, then we can’t risk you being out in public. Whoever did this was so bold—so vile—that they would kill innocents without thought. They wouldn’t hesitate to try it again.”
“Lucifer?” I whisper, inwardly hoping that he couldn’t be capable of such evil. He told me that he got off on punishing the guilty, and has no desire to hurt those that do not deserve his wrath. And while he did kidnap and humiliate Sister, he didn’t hurt her. It was all a sham to get to me…to protect me, as insane as that sounds. Still, that doesn’t explain the use of the Called. He influenced humans to do his bidding. Mass shootings and bombings that claimed thousands of innocent lives. Was he in the driver’s seat? Or did he simply provide the vehicle that drove those people to unforgivable malice?
When Legion shakes his head, I huff out my relief. “I don’t think so. He wouldn’t risk hurting you. Even if he hates that he can’t have you, he knows you’re much too valuable.”
“Then who? Who would do something like this? And why? What would they have to gain from slaughtering humans in such a vicious, disgusting way?”
L rakes a hand through his hair, sending bits of ash raining down onto his shoulders. “Eden, the bomb used…we’ve seen something like it before. It was years ago, but we tend to keep tabs on our enemies.”
“Enemies. If it’s not Lucifer, then who else could it be? Who would have the manpower—the balls—to go up against demons?”
The answer punches me in the gut before it even leaves his lips.
“The Alliance.”
With simmering rage coursing through my veins, I reach into my back pocket.
I did this.
I did this.
Ben’s blood is on my hands. All those innocent people…Sister…I’m responsible for their fate. I didn’t trust Crysis, but I wanted to. And my father…how could I have been so stupid. Am I really that desperate for love? That weak for some false sense of family?
How could I have fucked up this badly?
“We need to get washed up and get ready to go.”
“Huh?” L questions. He frowns when his eyes fall on the cell phone gripped tight in my palm.
“We need to get ready,” I repeat.
“For what?”
I tap out a quick message with fingers shaking with fury. “There’s someone you need to meet.”