Page 12

CHAPTER 12

A melia's entire body throbbed as Camael carried her through the mansion's ornate front doors. The marble floors beneath his boots were still scarred from their previous battles. She tried to focus on that rather than the fact that every step sent fresh waves of agony through her. The corrupted ley lines had fought back harder than anyone expected. Thankfully, she'd been the only one to pay the price, so they weren’t down any more witches.

Her blood had dried on her clothes, leaving dark stains that would never wash out. That should be the least of her worries, but it was her favorite top. "Put me down," she insisted as they reached the foyer. The chandelier above cast dancing shadows across his face as he frowned down at her. "I can walk."

His ice-blue eyes narrowed. "You can barely stand." His massive frame radiated tension. Was it horrible that she got a little thrill over the thought of him turning into an alpha male wanting to protect and care for his mate? Not that they were mated. It seemed too early for that, but she couldn’t deny she saw him as hers .

"Then I'll lean on something." She needed to move under her own power, to prove to herself that she wasn't as broken as she felt. Her hands gripped his shoulders as she tried to steady herself. "The dining room. We need to check the tracking spells."

"Stubborn witch," he muttered. There was something like pride in his voice as he set her on her feet with infinite care. His massive frame stayed close as she took her first wobbly steps.

"I learned from the best," she fired back, managing a weak smile despite the pain that made her want to curl into a ball and cry. Neither was an option. Not when Lucifer was still out there, plotting whatever horror show he had planned next.

The mansion buzzed with activity as the Angels of Retribution regrouped. Rami was coordinating with the Dark Warriors. His phone was grafted to his ear as he issued rapid-fire orders. She saw Jo and Az through the window. They had to be securing the perimeter.

She paused in the dining room where the Rowan sisters had taken over their tactical command center. Pema looked up and scanned Amelia from head to toe as she leaned heavily on the doorframe. "I was about to tell you that the seeds are holding but something was wrong with the cemeteries. The energy’s chaotic readings don’t seem as important given how you look. What do you need? You don’t look good."

Amelia's head bobbed in a weak nod, but Camael wasn't having any of that shit. "You are not okay," he growled. "The ley lines nearly shredded her. She needs real healing."

"I’ll call for help." Pema had pulled out her phone. Her fingers flew over the screen. "Jace, we need you at the mansion. Now. It's Amelia." She listened for a moment. "Yeah, Luke can set up the portal. No, it can't wait... Because she tried to take on corrupted ley lines by herself." She rolled her eyes at whatever he said. "Just get your ass here."

"I'm fine," Amelia protested weakly. "We don't need to bother-"

"Shut it," Camael ordered. His ice-blue eyes blazed when they looked at her. "You're about ten seconds from collapse."

Before she could get another word out, Luke materialized beside them like a shadow coming to life. The sorcerer's expression was pure don't-fuck-with-me. "Clear the space. This shit's about to get real."

With a twist of his wrist, his seven-foot staff appeared in his grip. The alder wood hummed with enough stored power to make her skin tingle. Ancient runes carved into its surface began to glow as he channeled energy through the weapon. "Time to open a door," he muttered. His hands danced through the air gracefully. Power crackled around the staff's tip. It threw off sparks that painted the marble floors with patterns that made her think of the Aurora Borealis.

"The wards are going to fight this," he warned. "Amelia, can you tell them to play nice?"

“No problem,” she said at the same time Camael growled. Before he could stop her, she reached out with what little power she had left and touched the mansion's protective barriers. The wards hummed in response and accepted Luke's magic as he established the connection.

The portal bloomed in the center of the room like someone had captured the northern lights and taught them to dance. Waves of emerald and violet energy rippled through the air. They painted the walls with otherworldly light.

"Show-off," Pema muttered at Luke's dramatic display.

"Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it," he fired back with a grin.

The scent of sage and sweetgrass filled the space as Jace stepped through. The Native American sorcerer's long black hair was pulled back in a tight braid that hung down the middle of his back. His dark eyes took in the scene. They landed first on Amelia, then moved to Camael's protective stance beside her.

"What did you do this time?" he asked as he moved toward them. "And why is there an archangel hovering like you're about to break?"

"Long story," Amelia managed. "My citywide spell to cleanse the corrupted ley lines didn’t go off as planned. Lucifer fought back"

"Jesus Christ on a cracker." Jace shook his head. "You couldn't start with something simple? Maybe a nice protection ward or two?"

"You know me," she tried for a smile. "Go big or go home."

"Going home in a body bag isn't the goal here." He pressed his hands to her temples. "This is going to hurt at first. Try not to punch me."

"You don’t have to worry about me,” she replied. “I make no promises about him, though." She jerked her thumb to Camael who had his hands fisted at his sides.

Jace shared a knowing look with her archangel. "Just let me work." Healing energy flowed from his palms. His warmth seeped into her battered system. She sucked in a breath when her discomfort tripled. "Holy shit, woman. The ley lines didn't just rough you up. They tried to turn you inside out."

Camael's wings popped out of his back, and his weapon appeared in his hand. "Can you fix it?"

"Can I fix it, he asks," Jace muttered. "Like I haven't been patching up supernatural warriors for centuries. Yes, I can fix it. But she needs to learn the word 'restraint' before she tries something like this again."

"I'll work on that," Amelia promised as strength began returning to her limbs .

"Sure, you will. Right after Hell freezes over and demons start doing community service." When Jace finally stepped back, satisfaction glinted in his eyes. "That should do it. Try not to let the ley lines use you as a chew toy next time. And you-" he pointed at Camael, "keep a better eye on your witch. She's got more power than sense."

"Thank you," Camael said. Amelia did a double take when she heard the genuine gratitude in his voice.

"That’s what I’m here for. In fact, I’m going to stick around until this is resolved. Zander and a few others, including my mate, will be joining us later at Les Auger,” Jace replied.

"Are Mom and Dad bringing Cian? What about Liam? They won’t be safe here,” Izzy interjected as she got up and crossed to Jace. She stuck to the far wall, well away from the sun shining through the window.

Jace placed a hand on her shoulder. “No, Cian and Liam are both staying with Breslin and Rhett. Your mom and Aunt Cailyn will go back and forth. The boys tend to push the boundaries when their mothers aren’t around.”

"Our kids are giving Bhric and Alex a run for their money. Your parents will be lucky if Zeum is still standing when they get back.” Isis gestured to their tactical display where red lines pulsed like infected veins. “Now that we’re sure the kids are as safe as possible and the medical drama is over, Lucifer’s power is trying to find new paths. It's targeting places where the veil between worlds is thinnest."

"Shit," Amelia cursed and walked over to the table. She cocked her head and studied what was happening. “The Cities of the Dead. He's going after the ancestral power stored in the tombs.”

“Of course he is,” Suvi muttered as she adjusted one of their tracking crystals. “Trying to corrupt the living wasn't enough of a challenge. ”

Amelia made her way to her grandmother's trunk. Camael had dropped it in the corner of the room when they’d returned from her house with it days ago. The artifacts they'd retrieved hummed with recognition as she approached. The crystal that had awakened her powers sang to her blood while the ancient book's pages rustled without wind.

"What are you thinking?" Suvi asked as she joined her by the trunk. The youngest Rowan sister's designer heels clicked against the marble as she moved. Amelia didn’t understand how she walked in those death traps.

"These were with the Key," Amelia replied as she lifted the crystal. Its surface was warm against her palm, and it felt like it had been waiting for her. "They're important to understanding how the original power worked. How it was meant to work."

The crystal warmed in her grip as the same images flooded her mind of how light and shadow had danced together before the separation. She shut out the chatter around her and listened to what she needed to do. All she was getting was that it wasn't about forcing them to merge. It was about letting them remember their natural harmony. Like lovers reuniting after a long absence. They needed only to recognize each other again.

A crash outside made the mansion's windows rattle. Something that sounded distinctly like moaning followed. Before anyone could investigate, Rami burst through the doors, his phone in hand and his wings half-spread with tension. "We've got major activity all over the city," he reported, his voice tight. "Dark Warriors are tracking multiple supernatural signatures converging on St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Az and Jo just called in. Lafayette Cemetery and St. Louis No. 2 are being hit simultaneously."

"Why hit one ancient burial ground when you can go for the whole set?" Malachi said as he materialized in the doorway. Demon blood still smoked on his blade. "The dead are walking. And they ain't looking for brunch."

Camael's massive frame radiated tension as another crash echoed from outside. His white wings manifested and filled the space with deadly grace. "Report from the ground teams."

"Dark Warriors have eyes on all three locations," Rami confirmed as he checked messages on his phone. "Aison's pack is running interference at Lafayette while our aerial units maintain surveillance."

Amelia's hands shook as she reached for the crystal again. "He's corrupting the dead. Their spirits are pure power. They’re neither light nor shadow. If he turns them..."

"The whole city becomes his playground," Isis finished grimly. "We need to move. Now."

"You should sit this one out," Camael told Amelia. His massive frame vibrated with protective instincts.

"Not going to happen, big guy." She met his gaze with steel in her own. "This is what I was born for. It’s why I’ve been tortured the past few days. What my ancestors prepared me for. And if you think I'm sitting this one out, you clearly haven't been paying attention."

His curse would have made a sailor blush, but he didn't try to stop her as she checked her magical arsenal. The crystal went into one pocket while the Key remained at her throat. "I'll coordinate from here," Izzy offered from her position by the tactical displays. The vampire princess's sapphire eyes tracked movement on the screens with lethal focus. "The Dark Warriors are already in position. I can direct them where you need them."

Camael nodded sharply before turning to his crew. "Move out. Formation Delta." His wings spread wide as his Sword of Light blazed to life.

The Rowan sisters, their mates, and the remaining Dark Warriors went to their vehicles. The angels hit the mansion's courtyard and didn’t hesitate. Wings snapped out in perfect formation as weapons materialized. The pre-dawn air crackled with power as the Angels of Retribution launched skyward. Camael's massive arm wrapped around Amelia's waist as he lifted her into the sky. The city spread out beneath them. Its streets empty except for things that shouldn't be walking. Three minutes of flight that made her stomach rebel, and they were there.

They hit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 under Camael’s cloak. The Cities of the Dead had become exactly that. The spirits of the deceased were being twisted by Lucifer's power into weapons against the living. Amelia moved through the ancient tombs with the crystal in one hand and the Key around her neck.

The first wave of corrupted spirits manifested like someone had given darkness a physical form. They moved through centuries-old stone with impossible grace. Their essence was twisted by Lucifer's power into something that would have given him nightmares.

But Amelia saw them differently now. The crystal revealed their true nature - neither light nor shadow but pure potential. She didn't try to fight them with either force. Instead, she reached for the harmony she’d been hearing during each of the visions. Power surged through her as she coaxed the energies to dance together. She allowed it to happen naturally.

"Holy shit," Remi breathed as he watched her work. His blade hung forgotten at his side. "She's reminding them what they used to be."

"Now that's some serious mojo," Malachi added as he took out a demon trying to flank them. "Think you can teach that trick to the rest of us?"

Amelia shook her head while remaining focused on her work. Camael moved like her shadow. His Sword of Light kept physical threats at bay while she dealt with the spiritual ones. The Angels of Retribution spread through the cemetery in perfect formation. This wasn't a battle they could win with celestial steel alone.

A particularly nasty spirit manifested between the Dupree family crypt and the restored tomb of Marie Laveau. It moved like oil on water and carried traces of power that made Amelia's magical core shiver in recognition. "Now that's interesting," the thing said in a voice that sounded like gravel in a blender. "The Key-bearer thinks she understands the old ways."

"I understand enough," Amelia countered as she gathered power that felt more natural with each passing moment. The crystal in her hand pulsed like a second heartbeat. "You're not behind these spirits. You're trying to awaken something. Something that should stay buried."

The thing's laugh could have stripped paint. "Very good, little witch. But you're too late. The Prince of Lies nearly has enough power to punch holes in the barriers between worlds."

"He can try, but he won’t succeed,” Amelia replied through gritted teeth as she tried to send the thing back to its resting place.

"Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. There's nothing you can do to stop it." The spirit lunged for her with tendrils of pure evil.

Amelia didn't try to fight it with light or shadow. Instead, she reached for the harmony she now understood had always existed. The crystal in her hand blazed with power as she touched the spirit's essence with the energy. Its scream echoed across dimensions as the corruption burned away from it. The spirit’s eyes went wide and then softened in understanding. It showed Amelia exactly what Lucifer had planned before it dissipated.

As she expected, the plan was loaded with demonic horrors. Barriers between worlds shattered like glass. Creatures that had been locked away crawled through the cracks. And the world began to unravel as it lost the threads that held it together.

Amelia gathered her power and faced the corrupted zombies. The Key at her throat blazed with ancient energy as she reached for something deeper than battle magic. She touched their essences with peace. With rest. With the quiet that should have been theirs. One by one, they stilled. They faded and turned to ash as they returned to their eternal slumber. The last one dissolved with a sigh that sounded almost grateful.

"We need to regroup," she said, turning to Camael. Her legs felt like overcooked pasta. Exhaustion hit her hard. She stayed upright through sheer stubbornness. "This was just a test run. He's going to keep doing shit like this unless we find him and stop him."

"Back to the mansion," Camael ordered as he gathered her close. "We need a new strategy."

They landed a few minutes later and headed for the war room. Izzy was eating some gumbo while the tactical displays lit up three screens behind her. "That was quick,” she told them around a mouthful.

"The zombies were easy for Amelia to deal with, and there weren’t many demons. He’s keeping us busy, so we can’t get ahead of him," Rami said as he cleaned demon goo off his blade. "We need to figure out where he’s holing up."

"We need to track his energy signature," Amelia corrected as she spread her grandmother's maps across the table. "He's using massive amounts of power to wake the dead. That has to leave a trail we can follow. "

"The Dark Warriors have been monitoring supernatural hotspots," Izzy reported without looking up from her screens. "There's a pattern to his movements, but it's like he's deliberately leaving false trails."

"What if we're thinking about this wrong?" Malachi suggested as he studied the map. "Instead of chasing where he's been, we predict where he's going. There have to be places in the city with more spiritual juice than others."

"Places where the power runs deeper," Amelia agreed as her mind raced. "Ancient crossroads, convergence points..." She pulled out her grandmother's journal. "Nana mapped all the major locations in New Orleans. If we overlay that with recent activity..."

"We can triangulate his most likely targets," Camael finished. His ice-blue eyes blazed with battle light. "And set up an ambush."

"It's going to take serious coordination," Rami warned. "We'll need eyes on every possible location."

"Then it's a good thing we've got the best tactical team in the Tehrex Realm," Izzy said with a predator's smile. "Let's make this bastard regret ever setting foot in our realm."