Night Rises Read online

  Michael starts laughing like something in what I just said was funny. I don’t think me and him are going to get along well. Since this should be our only meeting, I don't think that will be a problem.

  “You have been treating her with little kiddie gloves, Gabe. Just because you had a thing for her mom and she looks kind of like her shouldn't deter you from doing your job,” Michael states. “You don't have any choice as far as your trials go, sweet cheeks. Get over it now and let me show you some moves.”

  “Everything you just said was some kind of joke, right? I have met my mother and I look nothing like her.” I am still trying to process the tidbit about Gabe liking my mom. Actually, I think I will stop trying to make sense of that now because it is just too wrong.

  “The hair is the only thing really different. Angels have blonde hair; it is kind of a rule.”

  “I am pretty sure there was more than the hair that was different between us and if you haven't noticed you have black hair,” I point out.

  “It's dyed. I am trying out a different general complexion for a while. After eons of being blonde like everyone else around you, you sometimes want to be a little different. Anyway, if seeing your mother wasn't like looking into a mirror, living in Hell for the last umpteen years must be taking its toll. Plus, Gabe didn't just like your mom, they were a couple right up until the day she split for darker pastures.” It is obvious he can read my mind, like just about every other person I come in contact with these days. He should know that is information I didn't need to know.

  “Moving on. Why can't I go home?”

  “Michael, when will you learn that not everyone wants to know everything you know? Nyx doesn't need to hear all of this now. We need to prepare her and then she needs to get back to her destiny,” Gabe says.

  I don't think anyone is going to answer my question. The only good thing I currently see about becoming a full-blown angel is that I might be able to escape this inane conversation if I was able to zap my way out of here.

  “She is getting restless, let's just get on with this,” Michael says and then whips out a sword that would put every old school knight to shame.

  The thing is probably taller than I am. The base of the blade appears to be four or five inches and the freaking thing glows. If that is what Gabe showed up with to fight off Candace, it is no surprise that she ran away.

  “Call your sword,” Michael instructs.

  I look back wanting to get a look at Gabe's, but he is just staring at me. The look of anticipation on his face has me a little excited and a whole lot of worried.

  “You think I can just call a sword twice the size of me to my hand and actually be able to wield it?” I ask. I would love for that to be a reality, but I won’t even try to fool myself into thinking it is a possibility.

  Michael starts laughing again. If he keeps this up I am going to start thinking I should become a comedian instead of a private investigator. It is not a career move I want to make, so he better knock it off.

  “Each angel's sword is made for the person in charge of it. I highly doubt yours is going to be the same size as mine. Even Gabe's isn't that big.”

  People with dirty minds might come upon this conversation and think of sword as a euphemism for something else, but of course, my mind is squeaky clean so there isn't a worry about what just appeared in my melon.

  “That is large too, but I will try to keep my pants up so you don't get scarred by its brilliance. We don't need you going home thinking your mates aren't enough anymore. Now, call your sword.”

  Yuck. Definitely no Christmas cards for Mike.

  “I don't know if you realized, but I have no idea how to call my sword. How about you give some better instructions? So far, you suck as a teacher,” I reply, but just as the last syllable escapes my lips, he takes a swipe at me with his sword.

  Holy crap. Two weeks of not cussing still has me trained to hold my four-letter words. Right now, I could really use them. The fact that not a single one is coming to mind bothers me.

  I dive out of the way as fast as I can. Mike isn't kidding around and he is looking for blood. I reach down where my knife sheaths should be and come back empty. I don't know if sleeping with them on would help in situations like this, but I think I should probably start.

  Mike's blade comes at me again and I am already tired of this craziness. I said I didn't want to do the trials and as cool as having a sword I can just call to me would be, I don't think I really want it, even in an instance like this. Okay, maybe that is a lie because any weapon right now would be really useful, but I would end up having to name the thing and after taking forever to choose a baby name, I am spent in that department.

  “That's a good idea,” Gabe yells. “Think of a name. Fast.”

  I can understand why he would say fast because Michael is not relenting. Thankfully, I am quick and I am pretty sure he is going easy on me. Either way, I don't see me being able to last five more minutes. By that time, I will probably collapse to the ground praying he just stabs me.

  “Aphrodite,” I say not totally aware of what I am saying. My other weapons tend to be named after people from Greek mythology, so why not add another.

  Michael stops his assault and starts chuckling again. “Seriously? The Goddess of Love? You couldn't think of something better to name your sword?”

  It's not like he gave me a ton of time to really think it over. I go ahead and collapse to the ground to catch my breath. He is too busy finding amusement in me to continue trying to kill me.

  Before I can fall all the way down, I find there is something in my hand. I don't remember grabbing a hold of it, which I don't enjoy at all. I bring the sword out in front of me to get a good look at it.

  It is more of a katana than a sword. I have a few in my collection already. None of them glow and have a look about them like they are still being forged. The metal continues to glow, but the flames that seem to be licking at it diminish and I am left with a black handled, beauty of a weapon.

  Now the only question is, if I don’t go through the trial, do I have to give it back?

  Chapter 3

  Trials aren't what they used to be

  “Boy am I glad that idea worked. You cannot always be sure what it will take to get a sword assigned to you, but we have found it is easier for it to appear if you are under duress,” Gabe says coming closer to get a better look at my new weapon. “Michael, I think we are done with you, if you have places you would rather be.”

  “I am good. I want to be around when you tell her what she has to do. I figure smoke will start coming out of her ears by then.”

  “Go play in a busy street, Michael,” I say looking up from my toy. “I am sure there are babies out there somewhere that need kicked. Is me claiming my sword all we needed to accomplish here?”

  “We have to go over the rules and what you are going to be tasked with,” Gabe instructs. Rules and me don’t always compute, but I don’t seem to have a choice in at least hearing him out.

  “Seriously, Gabe? You haven’t even gone over the rules yet? Dude, you need to get over Lucy. She made her choice and you being weird around her daughter isn’t going to help,” Michael says.

  For the most part, Gabe has seemed pretty normal to me, so I have no clue what the evil angel is talking about. I would have never guessed he had some secret crush on my mom if humongous angel hadn’t have opened his big mouth.

  “If you are going to stick around, shut your trap. Nyx, your angel sword is something you have to protect. It will remain hidden unless you call to it or are in need of it, so the majority of the time you shouldn’t have any problems.

  “When you are using it is where others have made mistakes. Many partial angels, like you, have lost their swords in battle and have had them used against them. A painful death is a kind way of saying what happens to an angel stabbed by their own sword.”

  “It is more like the most excruciating death imaginable,” Michael adds. “We are
talking being coated with sugar and stung by thousands of bees, then rolled through a bed of nails, followed by one of hot coals, and topped off with being run over by one of those steel drum machines they use to level a street.”

  That sounds like a great time. I am all for signing up for two sessions of that bliss. Since they are bringing this up, it sounds like I get to keep the sword, so that is good news.

  “We are going to do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen to you, though. You have already been trained to fight and against most beings you are a step above the rest. Your problem is going to lie in demons and other angels. Your beau with fangs won’t be much of a challenge for you when the process is complete,” Gabe states.

  There is some more good news. The small part of me that is old-fashioned thinks that the male in the relationship should be able to protect the female, but that part is probably under a percentage point. I think when me and Sebastian officially first got together and the guards started showing up, we had a little bet that if I could beat him in a fight, the guards would be no more. The guards are family now, but I wouldn’t mind being allowed out every once in a while without someone following close behind.

  “What does this process entail? I am guessing the trial is a part of that.” It is sad that the promise of being able to beat Sebastian in a sparring match has me considering jumping through their hoops.

  “Correct. Usually the trials are a bunch of moral tests followed by some skill tests, but we are satisfied that you won’t use your powers for evil and after a little more training, you should be good to go on the physical front. Your task should incorporate both of those things for good measure and at the end of it you may be able to keep your prize. That is still being discussed,” Gabe informs me.

  “And the task needs to be done within a week and I have to, at the same time, bond with my newborn baby and bring a war that has been brewing for decades to an end. That sounds about like a normal week for me,” I muse. It is so sad that the statement is true.

  “Just wait until he tells you what you have to do. You are going to be so excited. I hope you have a passport ready,” Michael says.

  “Let me finish with some guidelines. You cannot kill anyone during this mission. You will only be successful if you accomplish that and return with the item you are sent to find. I know that sounds simple, but you don’t see any of the other angels rushing to sign up,” Gabe explains.

  So, I am being sent on a task no one wants to do. What do I have to retrieve, a warm pile of elephant poop? He said something about being able to potentially keep the item and I bet that is all they would allow me to hold onto.

  “If you would let me finish before going on one of your mind ramblings, you will see it isn’t that bad of a treasure hunt. Your task, whether you choose to accept it or not, is to find the Seal of Solomon and return with it.”

  “I am guessing it isn’t something you have a nice, little GPS unit attached to. What is so special about it anyway? I figure it is a relic from the days of the king bearing the same name.” I don't know more than King Solomon supposedly existed. I keep Sebastian around to fill in those types of blanks. I am sure he has encyclopedias full on this subject matter.

  “Correct. The Seal is rumored to be a ring, but I don't know of anyone that has actually seen it,” Gabe replies. “It is supposed to have a six-pointed star as its main feature and potentially be able to control demons.”

  “That has to be a toy any angel would love to find in their collection. Why hasn't anyone gone after it before now? You guys are pretty sturdy and if you are sending me on the mission, I don't believe for a second one of you would die from trying the task.”

  The ideas floating through my mind of what I could do with a demon controlling item are endless. I wonder if it works on Hellhounds. Clyde might actually have to do what I tell him. That would make my life a lot easier.

  “Its true powers are not known. Some say it can control any paranorm, others think it contains the true name of God, and, of course, it could just be some gaudy trinket Solomon picked up in a poker game,” Michael offers.

  “Part of the lore surrounding the talisman is that a true angel cannot find nor take possession of it, unless it is given to them by another. That is the only thing we have confirmed from the stories based on the fact that we haven't found it, yet,” Gabe asserts.

  “I am sure that I am not the first partial angel to come along since King Solomon ruled. Why haven't you just sent one of your other students after the ring?”

  “One of these days you will need to come Upstairs for a visit. You can see what the others are like. I am sure it wouldn't take long for you to understand,” Michael says shaking his head. I take it he isn't a big fan of the mixed DNA. “It helps that you have been seen wearing the ring by the Oracle herself. Most of the time we don't go all of the way to the top to find the future. Every angel has a little bit of precognition in them, but if you want to know for certain, you ask her.” Interesting. I must be a jewelry magnet these days, or maybe I have an unconscious obsession with rings.

  “Well, that is nice. Did she happen to say on what continent I could find the blasted thing?” I know I won't have time to find it if I am starting from scratch.

  “That is what makes this all perfect. While you are fighting your war, you will come across the keeper of the ring. You just have to convince him to give it up.”

  Michael sighs dramatically. “You aren't going to tell her the fun parts, are you? I cannot watch her ears start smoking unless you do.”

  I tend to think the fun parts should be given right up front, but I know Gabe well enough to know it isn't going to happen. You would think Mike would be privy to the same knowledge. I think he is exaggerating a little. They don’t seem to know anything about the ring itself, so he probably doesn’t really know what is in store for me.

  “You know as well as I do that the challenge needs to be met with an open mind. She cannot be aware of any dilemmas before they are posed to her.”

  Really, Mikey. It is Send Nyx into a Battle Blindfolded 101. He has known me ten minutes; he should know that fact as well. “I thought you guys didn't know anything for sure about the ring. It sounds like you are a little more in the loop than you indicated.”

  “Hearsay and conjecture mainly. Nothing to worry your pretty little head over,” Gabe responds. “Do what the man you meet says and you will be one step closer to getting your parking validated. You have your angel sword now. Handle it with care and use it only if necessary. It isn't a weapon to take lightly.”

  “Just what can it do?” We better cover that before I use it in a sparring match and accidentally nick my opponent causing them to die or transform into a newt.

  “It isn't as powerful as your Panoptic knife, but against a weak opponent it would be lethal. Most of the people you hang around would need to be stabbed a few times before you had to go into panic mode.”

  “What kind of effect would it have on a demon? I don’t want to think I am going to do a bunch of damage and then only inflict paper cuts.”

  “An angel blade will cause permanent harm to anyone that originates from Hell. That includes your Hellhound, just so you know,” Michael says.

  “Does permanent harm mean a gnarly scar or those cute little X eyes I have seen in comic books?”

  “What comics were you reading?” Gabe asks. The look on his face says he is starting to doubt my ability to even breathe air. “Looney Tunes? Hello Kitty? The analogy will work well enough. I doubt you will see your little X eyes, but, yes, if a demon is stabbed with your new blade they will be dead.”

  “And yet you think some of the guys I hang around with will live through it? I got the Panoptic knife specifically to kill a demon. Why didn't you just scare my angel sword thingy out of me back then?”

  “You weren't ready for it. You had just found out about being part angel. Giving you access to it back then would have been like arming a baby with a flamethrower. I bet even you
would agree that is a little overkill,” Gabe says.

  I don't know. If the baby can lift it and is able to do more than goo and gaa, I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to use it if they are trained. I should check to see if they have a mini version. It might make a good first birthday present for Sophia.

  “You are a trip, Nyx. It was a pleasure meeting you, but I think we better get you home. I sense a little trouble brewing and you aren't going to want to be away much longer,” Michael says and bows his head slightly before disappearing in front of my eyes. I don't know Michael well enough to know what he considers trouble, but it is probably just time for a diaper change. Sebastian can take care of that without me.

  “It is a bit more than a diaper issue. Try to keep your head and remember Sophia is in the room, so try to not make too big of a mess. A little blood won't scare her too much. Take your time finding the Seal. You have a few days and using them to plan your actions against the Collective is a good decision on your part. I will see you before the week is out. Be safe.” Gabe smiles and then fades away.

  I have decided I want my angel powers for that ability alone. I can run fast enough it almost seems like I disappear, but it isn't as cool as the real thing. I concentrate real quick on putting Aphrodite in her own little closet. Appearing in bed with her might be a little awkward. She vanishes from my hand and I am ready to get back home. Now, if I can just find someone nice enough to send me.

  Chapter 4

  Mommy instincts activated

  Strawberries. The smell hits me instantly. It is strong, annoying, and needs to be dealt with immediately. Son of a donkey's uncle. I feel Sebastian and Alex both in the bed next to me and I waste no time springing over Sebastian to jump out of bed.

  I don't bother grabbing a weapon because of my new secret one. That will be really handy to make people think I am defenseless.

  Sophia's door is open and I can hear Ben speaking. “Don't tell your mother, but I think you might grow to be even prettier than she is and we both know she is something to look at. She will try to convince you otherwise with all of her scars, but your mother has the biggest heart in the world and wouldn't think of stabbing a guy in his back. Good morning, Nyx. The grapevine is a flutter with news of Sophia's birth and I couldn't help stopping by to get a look for myself, even if that meant leaving your mother in a rather irate mood.”