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Chapter Sixteen

Asha

T hanatos turned sharply, keeping me firmly behind him so I couldn’t see who had called out. But when I stepped a little to the left, I was surprised to find a tall woman in a vest top and fitted pair of dress pants standing next to the red door.

Her short, silky white hair was brushed off to the right while the other side was shaved. I’d seen the hairstyle before, but no one had ever made it look half as good as she did. Let’s just say that she gave off all the devastating vibes of an androgenous babe out to conquer the world.

But holy shit, she had to be at least six or so feet tall. I envied how perfect she looked in everything she’d chosen to wear. She could easily be a model or a high-powered executive with the vibes she put out. Worse, she looked almost exactly like Charlize Theron. I’d never been so sexually confused looking at another woman until that moment.

Charlize Theron’s doppelganger cut her blue-eyed gaze from Thanatos to me, then her shapely lips rose sarcastically. “A human, Dead? Really? I would’ve never thought you’d stoop so low.”

Ouch. Did she have to say that with me standing right here? What was she, Regina George’s supernatural mentor?

It didn’t take a genius to figure out she was likely an angel. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the Devil, either. My sexual confusion would make way more sense if I could blame the worst demon of them all for it. But the light around her had taken the shape of wings. It wasn’t solid and there weren’t feathers like I expected, just fluorescence, but the outline was there. It pretty much confirmed my theory she was an angel. To be fair, I could still blame the reason I was presently falling in love with a stranger on her being a heavenly creature.

I was surprised when Thanatos didn’t say anything, just stared at her. And when she sighed loud enough to make a statement, I wondered if they were having a conversation telepathically.

“Fine. Have it your way. But ten minutes. That’s all you get, Dead. I’m only humoring you because I owe you a favor,” she growled before the red door opened. Brilliant light spilled onto the asphalt. “Keep her close. There’s a few in there I wouldn’t put it past to disregard the rules to make sure you do your bleeding job.” Her eyes caught mine, her pupils dilating until all of the blue was gone. “Or make it so you can’t.” Then she disappeared into the white light.

Not sure what I expected when we followed her in, but walking into blinding light before everything disappeared into an endless sea of stars and galaxies wasn’t it.

The gleam of sparkly black marble stretched out farther than the eye could see, but every wall to our left and right was a shiny line of glass that exposed nothing but glimmering stars and far-off galaxies beyond it. Like I’d stepped right onto a bridge across the universe. Were we even on Earth anymore? Was this another dimension? A portal to the Heavens? The afterlife? Were we free-floating somewhere impossible? I couldn’t be certain.

I nearly tripped over my own feet trying to process what I was looking at. It didn’t make sense. The walls weren’t clever illusions produced by some kind of television that I could see. Everything looked too three-dimensional and solid to be an image projected behind the glass.

But the scattered tables and luminous eyes of what I figured had to be angels caught my wide-eyed stare next, interrupting my head’s epic unraveling to comprehend the impossible. I studied the people seated and wandering everywhere with no real purpose or destination.

I expected celebrities, and no surprise, that was exactly what I got. I just didn’t expect there to be so many. Hundreds. No, thousands. Every single one had the fluorescent outline of wings behind them. They were in different states of dress, some showing more skin than others, but those who did sparkled every time a stray beam of light would catch their skin.

I barely caught myself before muttering, “This is the skin of a killer, Bella” from Twilight because I’d break down laughing like I always did anytime I said it to Emily. I wasn’t sure if that was allowed here. Definitely didn’t feel like the time to be cracking jokes. Did angels get jokes? Would I be killed on sight for making one?

Thanatos led my arm through his and jerked his eyes over to a few angels that started to get up, their expressions darkly ominous. The two went visibly stiff, all but stopping the second his glowing gaze sliced over to them. But just as quickly, his eyes dropped to mine when I peered up at him in open confusion.

Were we about to pull a full-blown musical moment from West Side Story and battle it out dance style, or would there be weapons? I couldn’t fathom fighting people this beautiful, let alone beautiful people who were also badass birds. I didn’t bring my brass knuckles with me. I’d left those treasures on my bedside table for Emily to remember me by. I mean, how did one even defend themselves against shimmering flocks of angels?

Brushing his knuckles across my cheek, Thanatos leveled his luminous gaze on the men behind me again. Even I could sense the uncomfortable tension and warning lingering in the air. With a little nod the way we were walking, he urged me to keep going. “Ignore them, little raven. Anyone who so much as thinks of harming you will be devoured by my shadows, and they know it. So let the bastards try.”

“That doesn’t sound like a good time.”

His haunting gaze seemed to glow brighter. “Oh, I assure you it isn’t. Even angels can’t handle the inescapable dread of being lost to nothing but darkness.”

I stole a look at the two who’d been warned with a single glance, and it was clear Thanatos wasn’t exaggerating. Whatever happened after being devoured by his shadows, it was enough to put off powerful creatures like these sparkly badass birds.

“Glad I’m on your good side, then,” I mumbled, terrified to think what would’ve happened if he decided to kill me the night we met. Would I have been devoured by his shadows, too?

When Thanatos laughed out loud, the room seemed to freeze in stunned silence. I got the distinct feeling they were under the impression he never laughed, and with a quick scan of the angels I could see, several had taken to whispering to others nearby.

But Charlize Theron’s doppelganger cleared her throat, agitated by our limited progress. “Can your human walk any slower, Dead?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when his fingers interlocked with mine, and he picked up the pace. “Forgive me, little raven. Michael’s had a stick up her ass since she was banished to your world for—”

“You’re playing with fire, Dead. I won’t bother to hear you out if you’re going to be a fucking ass.”

I bit my lip and tried not to smile when Thanatos rolled his eyes and offered me a sneaky grin. Swallowing, I tried not to stare at anyone else for the five minutes we walked through a galaxy landscape, but someone caught my eye before we reached a bright red door standing on its own, attached to nothing and apparently going nowhere. Our ungracious host opened the door with a sigh and beckoned the two of us inside with a finger.

But not before I’d gotten a good look at the familiar woman standing nearby, acting as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was the same gorgeous woman from the club who’d whispered someone was looking for me. You know, the one who helped me take a shower in my drink. Was she an angel, then? Who was she warning me away from? The guys who attacked me? So…did that make us friends already?

Fuck yeah it did.

I gave her a little smile and wave, but the chick looked outright spooked to see me. Her eyes went from me to Thanatos until she caught herself and licked her lips. Mouthing something I couldn’t figure out, she motioned to the door we’d entered that led back out to the street. But as soon as Thanatos turned his head to see why I’d slowed down, she looked away and brushed back her silky blonde hair.

“Thought I saw something.” Which wasn’t untrue. I had seen something. Well, someone.

He scanned the crowd. “Other than angels and a universe of stars?”

“Right? Who are they fooling? This looks nothing like the real thing,” I joked, stealing a glance at the blonde still miming something I couldn’t even pretend to understand.

Thankfully, I’d managed to distract Thanatos because he started to walk again as if nothing was amiss. “Odd. Because it is exactly what you think it is.”

“Beg your pardon?” I demanded louder than I intended, and he couldn’t hide his smile.

“Eight minutes, Dead. Time is ticking.”

“Come on, little raven,” he commanded with a tug.

I picked up the pace but stole another look back at my angel friend who had moved with us, apparently trying to get my attention again, stopping only when our very irritated host called out to her.

“Amidya, you come, too,” Charlize Theron’s doppelganger ordered.

The blonde, Amidya apparently, visibly paled, instantly looking a little green around the gills. It actually comforted me to know that angels weren’t very different from humans. They showed emotion the same way we did and reacted in ways I could decipher. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t worried about why she might be so hellbent on getting my attention, or why she was clearly concerned when her eyes tracked back over to where I was. I knew that look of fear that dripped from her expression. It was the same one I wore the night Emily got into an accident.

Amidya was afraid I’d get hurt.

Her heels clacked as she hurried through the red door, and with one last fleeting glance at the room full of angels, stars, and galaxies, I followed Thanatos into the white light beaming from the open red door.

It was disorienting to go from a galaxy-scape to a cozy living space with a fireplace and desk situated in the corner of the room, but the silent man at my side made sure I kept walking. He helped me into a seat and then took his. Charlize Theron’s doppelganger grabbed something from the desk before turning and crossing her arms. Amidya took her place beside the dangerously gorgeous woman, fidgeting in place but no longer looking at me.

“I’m guessing whatever you’ve come for, it has something to do with that mark on her wrist,” the angel said, getting straight to the point. “But you know why I can’t help you.”

Thanatos sighed. “I thought that you out of everyone might understand wanting someone you shouldn’t, Michael.”

I’d wondered since he first mentioned her name if she was who I thought she was. It was a common enough name, but something told me she was the Michael. Didn’t take a genius to put it together, but I stayed quiet. The way her eyes flashed silver and her body tensed made me obscenely uncomfortable.

Michael brushed back her hair, laughing without amusement for a second. “That’s low, even for you. But I guess we all have our moments, don’t we?”

Walking over to us, the angel eyed me with caution. The killer next to me tracked her movements like she was the greatest threat we’d faced yet, and from the way she looked at me, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was.

“What are you willing to risk to persuade my help, I wonder? What soul are you willing to take?”

Thanatos seemed to understand what she was getting at. I, on the other hand, was totally lost. Whose soul? Mine? Someone else’s? Whatever it meant, I got the distinct feeling that if he agreed, he’d be breaking some major supernatural rules. I needed to tell him he shouldn’t. It wasn’t worth throwing the world out of balance to save one soul. It wasn’t even clear why he would.

“Than—”

His icy tone cut me off. “If you promise to remove it, I’ll collect her for you.”

Amidya’s eyes went impossibly wide. “But that—”

Michael threw her head back and laughed. “I never thought it’d be that easy. I’m a little annoyed that I didn’t think of it first. But I guess we’re all fools when it comes to—” She trailed off, and I waited with bated breath for her to finish. “If you can do it before the human falls into a coma, then I’ll remove the mark. But…” Her smile disappeared. “You’re better off doing your duty, Horseman. Being on the wrong side of both God and Hades is…well, I’d be curious to know how you think you could manage it after you got what you wanted.”

Holy fuck. On the wrong side of two unbelievable names, and for what? Me? Why?

I stood up, decided. “I don’t know what the two of you are talking about, but I think I’ve heard enough.” Looking down, I stared at the impossible man on the couch. “It’s not worth it, Than. Taking someone else’s soul for mine goes against everything I believe in. I won’t let you, so you’re better off just doing what you came to do. I’m not afraid to die, especially not if it’s you who’s the one who collects.”

I hadn’t expected Michael to bark a laugh before dropping an arm around my shoulders, but when she did, Thanatos’s stare narrowed. “You know what, human, I like you. If only you knew what you were asking him to do, you might change your tune there a bit. But I admire your courage. I can see how you’d be chosen as a Counter Soul.”

Counter Soul?

Before I could ask what the hell that was, Thanatos was on his feet, shadows crawling angrily across the walls and floor, attempting to ensnare the angel with her arm around my shoulder. Michael clicked her tongue and flicked her wrist. A sword was suddenly clutched in her hand, and without knowing how it happened, its sharp edge was already against my throat.

The couch went skirting back until it hit the wall with powerful force, cratering the plaster. Shadows lifted from the floor, whipping out, but Michael easily deflected them. Though how, I couldn’t figure out. With the wind? Invisible light? I was still having a lot of trouble following what was happening. My eyes couldn’t track anything. But large, black veins were already growing down Thanatos’s cheeks. His true face. The monster beneath.

He'd never looked so terrifying.

Death closed his eyes, exhaled a breath, and then fixed his gaze on Michael again. “You have my word. Two days. I’ll deliver her soul to you, and you’ll remove Asha’s mark.”

I couldn’t see Michael’s expression, but the way her blade pressed against my neck felt like a warning. I couldn’t breathe without worrying it’d cut into my flesh. But for some reason, Thanatos appeared more worried about what she’d do to me than I was. His eyes dropped to the blade at my throat several times, his jaw working. His shadows moved around him in growing agitation.

But after several torturous seconds, Michael removed her blade and released me. “Two days, Dead. I don’t get why you’d risk so much for some human, but if it means I can have her back, then I’m willing to remove the mark as promised. But the consequences are yours. Remember it.”

I was already in his arms, the shadows creating a barrier between us and the two other angels. “You don’t have to tell me that. But as always, you underestimate my power and relationship with Hades.”

She smirked and shrugged. “In this case, I certainly hope so.”

But that was it. The shadows eclipsed us before we were somewhere I didn’t recognize. All I knew was that it didn’t feel like I’d gone back to the human world. No, if anything, I’d crawled deeper into the supernatural realm.