One Soul Book Two

Chapter Five

Zeev POV

“You need to leave.”  Cael growled.  “You’re more likely to hurt her because you won’t be able to control yourself.  And she still has a very high risk of miscarrying, so unless you want to be responsible for that mess when you finally come back to your senses, I suggest you shut down the link you share with Harlee, go feed, then return to the basement where it’s safe.  We were going to reintroduce her to you soon enough, we just haven’t figured out how to let her in on ‘us’ without sending her back into another spiral.  And you’re not helping.  Her mind is broken Zeev, Father, not just her body, and it has affected you too.”  Cael had edged his way between me and Harlee.  Harlee was sitting behind him looking completely bewildered, but then I saw a tentative hand raise.  She gently stroked Cael’s extended wing.  He jerked like she’d stabbed him, but then stilled under her caress as her face took on a faraway look.

I began to get flashes of memories.  Another pair of wings, a doubled set.  My wings.  A mix of emotions: fear, desire, love, hate, and then the image of a terrifying creature hovering over her, sharp teeth grinning, talons extended toward her face, and pain, so much pain blasted through the link.  Harlee closed her eyes and whimpered, the sound more or less a strangled scream.  Of course the first memory she would start to recover would be the night I attacked her in Demon Form.  I reached out a hand desperately, then froze as Cael locked my path.  With a growl, I stepped forward again, advancing on him.  I would never hurt him, but I could by all that was Holy and Fallen go around him.  He stood firm, and as I dodged to the side, I found my body frozen in place.  Internally I snarled, kicked and thrashed, but externally, my physical Form refused to move.

‘Is this truly how you want to introduce yourself?’  Cael showed me an image of what I looked like from his and Harlee’s perspective.  I was terrifying, crazed, bloodied, a monster in a new meaning of the word.  I thrashed harder in his grip, snapping my bodiless jaws at the hands that held me still.

‘Be still!’  He commanded harshly and I felt myself go limp.  The power he could wield was astronomical, especially over my own weakened Form.  I felt my ears pop and I was suddenly back in the basement, Cael in front of me.  He no longer held me bound.  He leaned against a wall, arms crossed, eyes squinted.

“Father, it’s time you and I had a talk.”  Cael stated seriously.

Harlee POV

Suddenly both men were gone and I was alone.  What the Hell was happening around here?  ‘Hell’.  I began to laugh-why was that so funny to me?  Why did it seem so freaking apropos?  What was that thing I saw in my memories?  Why did all of these men have wings?  There’s just no way.  They couldn’t actually be Angels, and whatever… could they?  I could feel my mind making dangerous slips towards hysteria.  Any second now I was going to flip out.  I felt like jumping out of my own skin, and found myself moving to the edge of the bed, intending to just.. Go.. do something.  I pulled on a pair of stretch pants that wouldn’t come up over my stomach and rummaged for a pair of shoes on the closet floor.  I was forced to sit, getting easily dizzy and winded, and I worried about the baby the whole time, even as my blasted stomach got in the way.  Getting the darn shoes on was just as much of a trial, and then I had to haul myself up using the wall, breathing hard for several minutes, clutching my stomach with worry.

Slowly and quietly, I rummaged for my purse.  If I was me, where would I have put the thing?  By the door, likely.  Which way was the door?  I peeked around the doorframe.  Holy s**t this place is huge!  But luckily it was just a straight shot from where I stood to the door.  There’s a cavernous expanse in front of me that I can’t even call a hall.  What I guess it’s supposed to be is a foyer maybe?  Whatever, there are a few more doors opening off this room before what I can clearly see is the front door based on the two tall and narrow frosted glass windows on either side of it.  Tall potted plants sit outside these windows, partly obscuring the view in, but I’m still able to see a cement sidewalk arching away from the door, and bonus: a coat rack hanging on the wall to my right.  There are a few men’s jackets, one of mine and a small child’s.  My purse sits on top and an assortment of shoes below.  The tiny kid’s shoes nearly choked me up, until I remembered my small baby turning into a tall, winged man in front of me.  I clutch my stomach.  Is this kid gonna be like that too?  Have I been part of some weird breeding experiment?  I grabbed my purse and sorted through my wallet, snatching several cards and a handful of cash.  I have no idea if any of the cards still work.  How long have I been unconscious?  I looked at my stomach again with a grimace and placed my purse back on the shelf and shoved the cash and cards in my pockets.  With a furtive glance around, I stepped out of the door.

Zeev POV

I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

“She’s running.”  I said to my son.

“I know.  Ash, Sands and Sam will take care of it.”  Cael replied.  I gritted my teeth.

“Why won’t you allow me to take care of it?  She’s mine first and foremost.  Shares my soul.  I’ve given her my Heart.”  I slammed a fist into the concrete wall, denting it and bloodying my knuckles.  I searched along the link to Harlee to make sure she didn’t suffer the same injury and sighed in relief as I realized she’s only experiencing the pain, plus some mild cramping.  I don’t know what’s dulled our connection since she woke, but at least she’s not suffering everything I am right now while not understanding why.  Maybe it has something to do with my madness.

“It’s not safe to let you out of here.”  Cael finally answered me.  I have the suspicion he’s been listening to my thoughts.

“The cage won’t hold me anymore.”  I snarled, pivoting to pace.

“No.”  Cael agreed cautiously.

“Then what do you intend to do with me?”  I sneered, pacing back.

“What are you going to force me to do, father?”  Cael asked solemnly.  His eyes betrayed a sadness I was not expecting and I paused.  “Please don’t force my hand.”  He murmured.  I am not a proud Demon, I will admit my son outclasses me in strength.  The combination of Angelic Grace and Human Soul, what was never meant to be, lends him extraordinary power.  He could hand me my ass if he wanted to.  I tilted my head.

“Why are you holding back?”  I demanded suddenly and Cael sighed.

“Because of mother.”  Cael responded softly.  I twitched.  He’s right of course.  I should be thinking more about Harlee.

“Damn.”  I turned on a heel and began pacing again.

Harlee POV

As I neared the end of the drive, I looked up and down the street desperately.  What’s my next move?  The nearest neighbors are actually further away than I expected, but since we’re on a hill, and I’m already feeling a little winded and crampy, I figure the path of least resistance has to be best, right?  So I turned to my left and started down the sidewalk.  As I neared the next house, huffing and puffing and holding my back, I saw an elderly gentleman out washing his car.  Could I trust him?  How would he react if I just walked up and…

“Howdy neighbor!”  The man called, shutting off his garden hose and waving to me.  “I’ve seen the menfolk coming and going from next door, but they said you were sick.  You must be the lady of the house!  Is ‘sick’ the new term for ‘bout to pop’?”  He laughed heartily and I shook my head, waddling up his drive.

“No, unfortunately, I’ve been on bedrest.”  I sighed, resting a hand on my stomach and the man frowned.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”  He murmured the apology, but I waved him off.

“It’s alright, but unfortunately, I need to get into town and the guys are gone.  I think of them accidentally picked up my phone, I can’t seem to find it.  I really hate to ask, but could you maybe direct me to the nearest bus stop or maybe call me a cab?”  I looked down like I’m ashamed and heard the man’s quick intake of breath.

“The nearest bus stop?  Sweetie, even if you weren’t ill, that’s much too far for a pregnant lady to walk, especially by herself.”  The man crossed his arms.  “How about I let you borrow my cell instead?  You can call whoever you need.  Have somebody come get you.  Or whatever.”  The man waved a hand and I slumped with relief.

“Would you do that please?  If it’s ok, I’d like to call a cab and a friend to let them know I’m coming.”  I looked at him gratefully and he nodded.

“Let me go inside and get that.”  He stated.  “Heaven knows I’d be a scoundrel if I let a lady in distress suffer.  Especially a pregnant one.”  As he turned to leave, I relaxed slightly.  This was going a lot better than I had anticipated.  I turned a slow circle while I waited, rubbing my stomach.  The baby moved, startling me.

“Miss?”  I could tell by the way he said it, he’d called me several times.  I jumped and turned around to see the man extending a phone in my direction.  I gave him a shallow smile and gratefully accepted it with thanks.  My first call was to Kayla.  Maybe she could tell me what the Hell was really going on.