Gilded Inferno (The Helio Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  The demon croaks between heavy breaths, “Lars…de…de iana.”

  The language sounds as if he’s speaking Enochian, yet it’s more hideous than I’ve heard it spoken before. The timbre is revolting against my ears.

  I push Jack aside, slamming my palms against the demon’s chest. The rage that’s been building up since reading the reports releases through me. The demon’s screams pierce my ears before the familiar hum of my abilities drowns him out. I close my eyes, focusing on the vile essence corroding the soul within.

  I’m forced to open my empathy to feel for the emotions of the afflicted soul and cringe against the iniquity pouring from the demon. After differentiating the two, I begin to segregate the demon from the host. The demon shakes with uncontrollable violence as its essence squirms from its vessel. The tar-like mass wastes no time diving into my chest. My wings explode from my back, my screams echo between the alleyway, and I release the host as my entire body clinches in pain.

  Incapable of staying on my feet, Jack catches my fall and soars back to the parking garage. “I’ve got you.”

  Still weak, I battle the urge to pass out as my hood falls back and the wind caresses my face. The corner of my lips quirk, “You always do.”

  He kisses my forehead, seriousness entering his stern tone, “Because you’re mine, Sunshine.”

  Searching his darkened green eyes, there’s clearly something bothering him about what happened. “And you’re mine.”

  Jack brings me closer, kissing me with a fierce urgency. Unwilling to part from him as he lands on the rooftop of the parking garage, Jack eases my feet to the ground, walking me back a few steps. We hear Eric land behind him, then slip away from each other. Jack takes my hand and kisses my knuckles.

  Eric's wings fold back before disappearing, “Nicely done. How do you feel?”

  “Drained.” I don’t know how much longer I can keep my eyes open, and I haven’t eaten enough food to sustain my rapid metabolism. The emotional and physical toll of reaping an essence takes a lot out of me. I make a mental note to prepare better next time. I seriously need to start carrying some protein bars or something.

  Jack offers, “We should head back. We came to test a theory and it worked. We’ll be more prepared next time.”

  I worry, Shit. Next time? How often are we going to be doing this?

  Eric nods, leading us back down to the Charger, “Let’s get out of here then. We can come back on Saturday.”

  On the way home, I inquire, “What did the demon say to you, Jack?”

  He takes a long, deep breath and lets it out gradually. “He said that he would kill you… more or less.”

  “What exactly did he say?”

  “I’ll dispose of the Daughter of Light.”

  “Oh.” The silence lingers before I ask, “What is Teloch?”

  Eric’s eyes glance back at me through the rear view mirror and back to the road. “He said that?”

  I stare at him in the mirror, “Yeah. What does it mean?”

  Jack turns his attention outside of the passenger window. “Death. It’s your rank.” His worry and anger seep through his words.

  “I don’t understand why you’re mad. Nothing he said sounds that bad. He can threaten to kill me all he wants. We all know how that ended. And so what if he knew my rank? Does it matter?”

  Jack faces me, “It means that even the lowest demons know about you and your abilities. It means they know who you are and they’re ready to either fight or report you to someone who can take you down. It means you’re no longer a secret and Fallen will be coming after you left and right.”

  Eric adds, “At least we’ve got the wards up.”

  I sink back in my seat, contemplating how difficult it’s going to be to leave the house without a chaperone all the time. My phone vibrates with a text from Telly, instructing me on where to meet her. There’s no need for directions though. I know the place. It’s where Trey took me hiking before Beleth tried to kidnap me the first time.

  Chapter 9

  It’s taken six months to find myself in the position I’m in. Six months, and I’ve changed into this being I never imagined myself becoming. While I’m still my reckless self, now I’m an angel to be reckoned with. I don’t mind being feared, but I do mind being hunted. I’m hopeful that whatever angel is sent to train me for my duties will teach me how to turn the tables on the Fallen coming for me.

  I’m lucky to have found the family I have. They’re loving, loyal, and protective. But as much as they have my back, I can’t let them. I’ll do anything I can to keep them from the crossfire. Even if it means lying to them.

  As I lock my bedroom door and turn out the lights, I justify my actions with the determination to keep them safe. Finding Solas is my problem, not theirs. I secure my weapons beneath the hooded duster before sneaking out the balcony. The sound of nature is the only moving life. I take a deep breath of courage before taking off in the sky. My bond to Jack weakens the further I fly, and I hope he doesn’t sense me leaving. I pull the black opal pendant from beneath my cloak, hold it tight, and trust that it’ll protect me from harm while I’m in Sheol.

  On top of the mountain, Telly’s angelic silhouette comes into view. I hover above her, “Hey.”

  She flies up to meet me, her wings as dark as my own in the night, “Ready?”

  “How far are we going?”

  Her voice is confident, “Not far. Follow me.”

  She veers left over the landscape of forest and mountains away from town. We reach a smaller peak, and Telly stops. I fall in next to her and wonder, “Why are we stopping?”

  Pointing to the base of the mountain, she announces, “We’re here.”

  I follow her line of sight, finding a soft glow. “That’s it?”

  She gestures with the tilt of her head, “Come on.”

  Descending further, I realize it’s a cave. No way. My mouth goes dry, and I fight against the urge to curse aloud. We fly deeper into the cave. The stench of minerals in the air are strong enough to taste on my tongue. The soft glow swells brighter, giving the cavern an eerie green glimmer as it reflects the damp surfaces around us.

  The narrow passage opens up to a large chamber filled with columns and draperies of stalactites and stalagmites. Steam rises from the surface of a green, glowing pool in the center of the cave. I land next to the still water and conceal my wings. Shaking my head, I cross my arms over my chest. “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is it? This is the portal into Sheol?”

  Telly gives me a sidelong glance, “Uh, yes. Problem?”

  I drop my arms, letting my hands slap my thighs, “Nope. No problem. Just the fact that I’ve been here before and no one thought it was pertinent enough to tell me how close I was to being dragged into Hell!”

  “When where you here before?”

  I take a step forward, unable to see my reflection in the clouded pool, the steam warming my face. “During the beginning of my transition. Trey brought me to the mountain where we just met, and we were ambushed by a Duke of Sheol.”

  Her eyes widen, “A Duke?”

  “Beleth. He kidnapped me and dropped me off here. Makes me wonder if he planned on taking me in,” I ponder.

  She steps up to join me at the edge of the portal, “How did you escape?”

  “Trey saved me.”

  A smile grows on her lips, her tone brittle, “Sounds like him.”

  I give her a reassuring grin. “So, how does this work?”

  Taking a knee, Telly hovers her hand over the water, “It’s not too hot today. The jump shouldn’t be so bad.”

  “Jump? How deep is it?” I kneel down beside her, intent on feeling the water’s temperature. As my fingers meet the surface, an electric pulse explodes from me. I’m thrown into a stalagmite across the cave. The column explodes as the air’s knocked out of my lungs with the collision. I cough through the cloud of dust choking my airways. Telly’s by my side in an instant. I grate, “What the fuck was
that?”

  She reaches out to help me up. When I’m on my feet, she grabs the pendant from Jack with her gloved hand. “Where did you get this?”

  I slap her hand away with possessive aggression, “It was a gift.”

  Her voice raises, “Do you know what this is? Surely you don’t or you wouldn’t have brought it!”

  “It’s an Enochian opal! Of course I know what it is! It’s supposed to keep me from harm!”

  Telly’s chittering laughter echoes off the chamber walls. “Who gave that to you?”

  My brows furrow, “Jack.”

  She chuckles, “I’m guessing he didn’t tell you that it also keeps you from harming yourself?”

  Irritation compels my face to fall slack. “No. He didn’t.”

  “Well, you can’t get in with it,” she shrugs.

  Without a second thought, I unclasp the necklace and hold it out to her. “Here.” Telly takes it from me, shaking her head in amusement. “Keep it safe for me?”

  She nods, “Just let me know when you’re ready to have it back.”

  Taking a deep breath, I pace to the edge of the portal again. Staring down, I psych myself up, Just jump. He’s waiting for me. He’ll be there. I’ll get him out. In and out. In and out.

  “I’ll wait for you here,” she voices.

  Taking a preparatory step back, I dive over the water, closing my eyes and holding my breath.

  I hear Telly yell, “Good luck!”

  The portal seems never ending, and I open my eyes to discern what direction I’m moving. The clouded water becomes thicker with every stroke, making it harder to progress. My wings emerge, folding and pushing to get me through. As my lungs begin to burn, I’m reminded of the familiar ache of drowning. I thrust harder, kicking my feet faster.

  The green illumination of the water becomes a bright yellow as the temperature becomes scalding. I bite back a scream, then finally touch air. My head pops out of another pool of water, but this one is thick like melted gold, burning my skin. With no time to assess my surroundings, I lurch out of the water. Gasping for breath, I roll to my side in another empty cavern. This one is much smaller with a narrow corridor just big enough for me to stand.

  The pungent stench of sulfur sticks to every surface as I make my way, dripping gold droplets through the dark passageway. With every step, I lose the illumination of the portal. My eyes adjust to the darkness as shadows develop to mark my route. The path splits, and I make a measured decision to veer left.

  Tracing my hand along the wall as I slink forward, my palms are met with a sticky dampness. They jerk away with blood coating them, and the chilling growl of a hellhound vibrates the corridor. Sasha.

  My vision from scrying becomes reality as Sasha’s red eyes smolder ahead of me. Instead of letting her pummel me, I turn back and sprint into the other corridor. Her broken barks ring out behind me, and another set of red eyes shine before me. With wide eyes, I realize there’s nowhere for me to run.

  I grip my sai from their sheaths, whirling back the way I came. I've fought Sasha before, but I wasn't yet at my full strength then. The split in the pathway is blocked with her enormous body. She crouches low as her leathery skin ripples and her jackal-like ears pin back. When she bares her sharp teeth, I run the walls to vault over her clawing paws. I hit the ground running, then hear the pads of her feet charging behind me.

  I’ve got to get out of here! I can’t get through!

  The warm glow of the portal emerges, and I have no time to fear the burning liquid. I dive in head first. The immediate shock of the searing, thick water takes my breath away. I push and kick as powerfully as my angelic strength allows. The water begins to thin out, changing from a golden light to a clouded green glow. As much as I don’t want to, my mortal instincts kick in, and I gulp for a breath. The water fills my lungs, crushing my insides. I choke, cough, and swallow until my world goes black.

  A thundering crack resounds around me with a pressuring sting encompassing my chest. My eyes spring open as I rise with abrupt consciousness. A vicious force purges the water in my lungs and I fall forward.

  Telly pushes me to my side, helping me purify my airways. I gasp for breath, pain radiating through my body. She muses, “Well, that was a short trip. What happened?”

  I glare at her, my voice gruff and hoarse, “There were hellhounds guarding the passageways.”

  Telly glances away to hide her guilty countenance, “I thought that was a no-brainer.” She continues, “They really haven’t been teaching you anything about who you are, have they?”

  My frustration grows into an imperceptible rage as I stand. Telly holds out my Enochian opal necklace, and I push her hand away, “Keep it. I’m not giving up. Now that I know the hounds are there, I’ll be more prepared next time.”

  Putting the pendant in her pocket, she jests, “You know you’re insane, right?”

  I nod with a shameful grin as I turn towards the mouth of the cave, “I know, but it’s worth it.”

  “I would wait to go home if I were you,” she announces.

  Turning back to face her, I challenge, “Why’s that?”

  “Your ribs are bleeding. Looks like one of the hounds got you.”

  I look down at my duster to find a tear in the side. Opening the front, blood runs down my side from three, long lacerations. “Damn it,” I mumble.

  She adds, “Your chest is cracked from me punching it to get the water out of your lungs as well. Not to mention how bloodshot your eyes are and how bad you smell.”

  “Great,” I roll my eyes. “I’ve got somewhere I can go.” I make my way back out of the cave, and Telly follows me out.

  “Vinegar,” she says. I give her a quizzical look. She advises, “It gets rid of the smell.”

  “Thanks. I’ll let you know when I’m successful in finding my friend.” Telly nods once, and I take off for my house off campus.

  I. Hate. Vinegar. After washing my body, hair, and clothes with it, my nose burns with the stench. It took three hours to get cleaned up and let my body heal itself. I glance at the time before I head back to the Roe’s estate and realize I have thirty minutes before sunrise. Without my car, I have no choice but to fly back and hope no one sees me.

  The bond between Jack and I grows stronger with my progression. As the manor comes into view, I’m thankful all the lights are still out and nobody’s awake yet. I land on my balcony with silent movements, then head straight for the closet. Discarding my coat, weapons, and tattered clothes, I change into a pair of jeans and a fitted, long sleeve shirt.

  Making my way downstairs to the kitchen, I almost groan with pleasure at the sight of the coffee machine. Hunger strikes, and I make enough breakfast for three people. It’s gone before I have the first taste of my coffee. I come to realize that neglecting my increased metabolism has become a perilous habit. I’ve got to start eating more.

  Jack’s bond pulls tightly as he enters the kitchen and wraps his arms around my waist. He kisses my neck, then mumbles against my skin, “Good morning, Sunshine.”

  “Hey,” I reply in a despondent tone, wrapping my arms around his neck.

  Speaking between kisses, his lips trail down my neck, “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything,” I whisper, my body tingling with want for him to take me upstairs.

  “What is that smell?”

  I pull away, wide-eyed to see his wrinkled nose and pray he doesn’t smell the stench of Sheol on my skin. “Vinegar,” I say in more of a question than answer.

  “And why do you smell like vinegar?” he chuckles low and deep, sending chills of desire down my spine.

  I fear he won’t believe my lie as I laugh it off, “New beauty regimen. It’s supposed to get all the excess gunk out of my hair that shampoo misses.”

  He sighs, turning for the refrigerator. “Six hundred and thirty one years old, and I still don’t understand why women put themselves through so much torture,” he mutters.

  Relief floods o
ver me that he doesn’t see through the lie. I haven’t been able to lie to him effectively in the past. He’s always seen right through me. When he came back from Paradise, he told me that I’ve changed. He’s right; I have. I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been. Maybe my ability to lie has become superior as well.

  Jack closes the refrigerator, turning around with a mound of ingredients, “Hungry?”

  I shake my head, “No, I just ate enough to feed Beckett. Plus, I’ve got training with Cass in a few minutes.”

  Setting the ingredients on the countertop, he retorts, “Suit yourself. I’m making those omelets you love.”

  I kiss him on the cheek before heading down to the training room. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

  Cassius enters the basement with his shoulder length brunette hair pulled back. His white shirt over his broad frame brings a lightness to his gray eyes. “Good morning.”

  “We’ll have to see about that,” I counter with a tired grin.

  “You seem weary. Is everything alright?”

  Turning away from his gaze to appear busy cleaning my sai, I lift a blade to the light, inspecting it over thoroughly. “Rough night. Didn’t get much sleep, I guess.”

  He comes to stand beside me at the table against the far wall, “Is it your dreams again?”

  “No. Just my thoughts,” I sigh, twirling the sai with a flick of my wrist.

  Before I can spin it again, Cass seizes my wrist. “Let’s go for a stroll.”

  I look to him in question, “What about training?”

  “It can wait. If your mind is not clear, it hinders your abilities.”

  Nervous anticipation expands in my chest, a balloon pushing on my lungs. I agree, following him upstairs through the kitchen bustling with angelic energy of breakfast conversation. We trail through the foyer, making our way outside, and I fall in beside him as we meander past the barn to the fields beyond.

  “I thought you may require some privacy from the others,” Cass offers.

  I brush it off, “Why? I’m fine.”

  His hands slide into the front pockets of his jeans, letting his thumbs rest outside of them. “You’re not,” he states with stern certainty.