Page 99 of Galen

“Hey, Simon,” Clara answered.

“Clara.”

A pause. “Angel boy?”

“I need your help.”

***

Clara exited Gray’s bedroom, wiping her red-stained hands on a rag. A smear of blood was on her cheek, but she smiled when she saw us in the hall.

“The five of you are a crazy sight,” she said. “Like giants.”

“How is he?” Raiden asked, stepping forward.

“Stable.” Clara softly shut the door behind her. “The elixir stopped the bleeding, and the salve will help the stitches knit the wound closed. I’m glad you called me when you did. Any longer and I wouldn’t have been able to help him.”

“Thank you,” Alastair told her, bowing his head.

Her green eyes studied each of us. “Mind telling me what’s going on? Why didn’t your healing powers work on him?”

“The demons used a celestial blade,” I answered. “It counteracts our healing abilities. Higher-level angels use them to punish those beneath them who disobey orders.”

“How did the demons have one, then?” she asked.

“Belphegor, as well as other fallen angels in the demonic ranks, took them from the celestial realm during the Fall. More angels joined those ranks recently. I’m sure they have a whole goddamn arsenal of them now.”

“Why are we telling her all of this?” Daman glared at Clara. “She’s a filthy witch.”

“A filthy witch who just saved your brother’s life,” she snapped.

“I trust her,” I said. Surprise flickered across her face. I was a bit surprised at myself too. But Simon trusted her. He considered her a friend. It was why I’d thought to call her. And thank god I did.

“You trust her.” Daman scoffed. “We can’t afford to trust outsiders, Galen, especially witches.”

“We’ll need more allies if we hope to win this fight,” I said.

“Galen’s right,” Alastair said before looking at Clara. “We’re in your debt, Ms. Locksley.”

“Oh god. Don’t call me that. You can call me Clara.” She draped the bloody rag over her shoulder. “Those demon bastards not only took the ring, but they took Simon too. Tell me what I need to do to help you get him back.”

Rescuing Simon and Castor was the one thing holding me together. I envisioned Castor’s life force. The yellow thread flickered when I focused on it, which meant he was too far for me to get a proper read on. But at least he was alive. It gave me hope that Simon was alive too.

He had to be.

“Can we see him?” Raiden asked, gaze on Gray’s bedroom door.

Clara nodded and stepped aside. “Just don’t overwhelm him. He needs to rest.”

Raiden visited Gray first, then Bellamy. As Alastair and Daman went in together, I stood outside in the hall with Clara. She asked for more details about what happened earlier that night, and I told her.

“The ring possessed him?” She frowned.

“The entity said something about wanting its true body,” I added. “Phoenix told me the power would tear Simon’s mortal body apart.”

“Makes sense. I’ve heard of lower-level demons possessing humans, but the power in that ring was more powerful than anything I’ve ever known. No human could withstand it for long.” Clara cursed under her breath. “This is all my fault. If I would’ve been here when my grandmother passed, I could’ve ensured the ring stayed hidden. Simon would’ve never had the thing come through his shop, and he wouldn’t have been kidnapped and god knows what else.”

If the ring would’ve never left Ravenwood Mansion, shades wouldn’t have been ordered to search the town for it. I would’ve never been drawn to Simon’s shop, would’ve never seen that adorable blush in his cheeks as he looked up at me.