Quiet. But not silent.
Breathing. A heartbeat drumming. Blood rushing.
Riley Jacqueline Parra. She looked down at her hands, palms cupped and fingers splayed. She breathed deeply and closed her eyes. Oh, it felt strange. Good. But bizarre. She felt like she could do anything. She felt like she was standing in front of a tide of power and all she had to do was direct it. A flick of her wrist would tear down the walls, a twitch of her eyebrow would create a chasm that would close after swallowing her enemies. She could tear down No Man's Land and rebuild it as a shining beacon of light and hope and still make it home in time for supper.
She thought of people with power comparing themselves to God. But that was inaccurate. God wasn't the highest because God still had to follow the rules. For real power, you had to become the Devil.
Of course, to use even a fraction of her power, she had to escape the infernal Cell. She helped to choose the location, and she'd picked it specifically for the challenges it would present to a demon. Consecrated ground, surrounded by sacred markings... oh, yes, she and Priest had done an excellent job. Sariel had fortified it further, so it was one newborn demon versus the power of two angels. Riley flexed her arms, rolled her neck, and held her hands out in front of her to test her strength.
Strange. She could feel the energy coming off the walls. The secondary barrier she, the mortal she, had instructed Priest to erect was like a steel shell. There was no way she would get past that on her own. Fortunately she had been outside of the circle carved on the floor when she became a demon, but she was still trapped in the basement.
All that power and no way to tap it. Tantalus. Cursed forever to stand in water he couldn't reach. True torment. She lowered her hands and looked up at the ceiling. Very strange. She felt very strange indeed. Her gun was heavy in the shoulder holster and she took it out and peered at its polished body. She turned it around, pressed the barrel against her side, and used her thumb to pull the trigger.
She stumbled and pushed out her left hand to stop herself from falling. Pain caused her mind to whiteout, her senses blank for half a second before she realized it was already subsiding. She straightened slowly and looked down at the hole in her shirt. It was still smoking and she could see the wound within, but the flesh was knitting together. She watched the blood flow without concern, saw it stop like a clogged faucet, and then the blazing red scar tissue turned purple, red, pink, and then skin tone. There wasn't even a scar or a hint of evidence.
Daniel Falco's body was lying nearby, and Riley walked to it. She put her hand in the center of his chest. Her feelings about it were odd. Like an old suit that didn't fit anymore. She had absolutely no use for it, but she was still... sentimental. She put her hand on its chest and checked her new reserves of power. Hm. Not a lot. Barely any, really. But enough for a simple immolation. She directed it into Falco's corpse, and it was reduced to cinders and ash in a matter of seconds.
"Ha! Oh, that could come in handy." She looked at her palm and thought of the possibilities. The next time someone pulled a gun on her, the next time Detective Timbale said something misogynistic or racist, the next time someone cut her off in traffic... she would offer to settle everything with a simple, peaceful handshake and then...
"Poof," she whispered.
Riley smiled as the door to the surface crashed open. She glanced toward the foot of the stairs and aimed her gun where Priest's head would appear. The footsteps stopped just short of the door, and Riley smiled. "Knew you would be too smart for that, Zerachiel."
"What's your name?"
"You know my name." She holstered her weapon. "Same as it's always been. Riley Jacqueline Parra."
"No. That's not who you are anymore."
"The demon in Falco didn't possess me, Cait. That was never their plan. When Marchosias kidnapped me a while back, he said I would play on his side one way or the other. He said turning me into one of his followers was the easy way. I guess Falco was Plan B." She cupped her left hand inside her right and began to pace slowly around the edge of the room. When she got to the point where she could see Priest standing on the stairs, she tilted her head to the side and wagged her fingers.
"Hello, angel. Why don't you come down here so we can talk all civilized? Like real people." She smiled. "Although I guess neither of us are really people at the moment, right?"
Priest came down into the doorway of the basement. Riley smiled at her.
"So what were you doing up there while I got used to my new tricks? Did you call in the SWAT team? Is Chelsea setting up barricades so the big bad Riley Monster doesn't get out?"
"Kenzie and the Good Girls are on their way."
Riley rolled her eyes. "Great. You know, demons aren't actually affected by prayer, we just find them so tedious. And hymns? Don't get me started on those. Trite and untrue." She cracked her knuckles and nodded toward the door. "So... go ahead and knock down the barrier outside."
Priest furrowed her brow. "Why in the world would I do that?"
"So I can leave." When Priest still didn't react, Riley stepped toward her. Priest stepped to one side, avoiding Riley but at least entering the basement. "Priest, this is the holy hand grenade of Antioch, okay? The past three and a half years, I've been a mortal woman going up against demons. I didn't stand a chance without the tattoo. But now there's a level playing field. Now I can give back whatever they throw at me, and then some. We can go on the offensive."
"We? I can't... and won't... work alongside a demon."
"But it's me, Priest. It's really me. The tattoo... I can feel it working."
Priest shook her head. "No. You feel the tattoo, your shield, fighting the demon. But it will lose. The power will fade, and it will crumble. Then you will be truly lost to us. The tattoo is the only reason there's still a chance to save Riley."
"To save me, you mean?"
"No. I've known Riley Parra her entire life. I've held Riley in her sorrow, and I've listened to Riley while she slept. I know when I'm talking to Riley, and I know when Riley is standing in front of me. You wear her face, but you are not her."
Riley held her hands out. "We can change the rules, Priest. You were supposed to be dead last year, remember? Zerachiel flew the coop and you were just a shell. But you and I fought that. I kept you alive, and now you're an angel again. But you're also mortal. I can see it when you think I'm not watching you. The sad tilt of your head. You're not the angel you once were. But that makes you better. Don't you see? You have your angel and mortal sides, and I have my demon side. We can learn to control it."
Priest smiled without humor. "We can't do anything. If you're a demon, I can't have anything to do with you. Demons don't get guardian angels."
"But we can still be partners."
Priest sighed. "I suppose it would be possible, but I wouldn't want to be around you. You're evil, and that is disgusting to me. I can barely stand to be in the same room with you."
Riley sneered. "I can't believe you're not seeing the opportunity here. Falco and Marchosias screwed up, Priest. They screwed up big time by giving me this power. Half the Five Families are gone, and there's a power vacuum in No Man's Land. All I have to do is waltz in and organize it all under my banner and then I'll take down Marchosias. If demons have to be represented in No Man's Land, then why not let me sit in the big chair? You can keep watch over the rest of the city and we'll keep it safe together."
"How does your tattoo feel?"
Riley had been ignoring the pain. It felt as if something sharp had been pressed into the muscle under her tattoo and was being twisted. A spiral of heat spread out from the initial contact point and radiated across her shoulder.
"That's the power of your protection fighting the demon. It can't hold out forever. It will succumb. Do you remember the demons in Marchosias' hotel, the first time you ever encountered them? They nearly tore you to shreds." She said something else after that, but the words slipped out of Riley's mind. "A concentrated attack can get through even your protections. Having a demon inside you is not survivable. The tattoo may be winning small battles, but it will lose the war. And you will become a corrupt, vile demon that wears the face of my friend. And that I cannot abide."
"Are you saying you'll kill me?"
Priest nodded without hesitation. "When it's clear to me that the woman I knew and loved is dead, I will murder the demon who took over her body."
"I would like to see you try."
Priest tilted her head to the side. "And who was that speaking? Because it certainly didn't sound like Riley."
Riley put the heels of her hands against her temples and rubbed in slow circles. "You're pissing me off, Zerachiel."
"You can't even decide what name to call me. Am I an angel? Your friend? Your partner? Which is it? You've called me all three. Priest, Zerachiel, Cait. Which is it?"
"I always call you all three, you dumb feathered bitch." Riley tightened her lips, hiding her teeth again as she turned and walked back toward the corner. "How am I supposed to know who you are? You don't even know? Guardian angel, cop, lesbian, bisexual, angel, mortal. What are you, Caitlin? Don't use my confusion against me until you've figured it out for yourself."
"I'm all of those things."
"Yeah?" Riley turned. The pain had faded slightly. "Not much of a guardian angel. You saw what was about to happen. You understood Falco's plan, and you ran out of the room with Chelsea. You left your ward behind. Odd behavior for a guardian angel, don't you think?"
"Riley told me to take her out. The only odd thing is that you don't remember it." The demon snorted. "And it was the right decision to make, a calculated choice. Chelsea was once again visually impaired and had no chance of getting out on her own. Had Falco's energy hit her, she would have become a demon with no hope of redemption. You, on the other hand, have the tattoo as protection. There was a chance you could be saved." Her face darkened. "I should have considered your stubbornness and the appeal of absolute power."
Riley said, "I think you're right. It was a calculated choice, but not the one you thought. The angel side of you understood the possibilities of having a demon working for good. That's why you abandoned me. Zerachiel made you, just like when she decided to help the Angel Maker and when she abandoned me for the trial. The difference is that I want this. I never considered it, but now that it's happened, let's embrace it! Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth."
The pain in her shoulder was now almost intolerable, a fireplace poker pushing into the muscle. She resisted the urge to massage the pain away; she wouldn't give Priest the satisfaction. She narrowed her eyes.
"That's it. You don't want me to be this powerful because then I wouldn't need you anymore." She smiled, then laughed. "Now that I'm as powerful as you... well, more powerful than you, probably... you're useless. Poor Priest. Left behind, discarded like yesterday's waste. And you've been tainted by your time as a mortal, so you probably won't be allowed back upstairs. So what's left? Staying down here with the rabble? Quite a ways to fall for an angel like Zerachiel.
"Would you grow old and gray? Would you die?" She tilted her head to the side. "Huh. What's to become of the poor half-mortal wing girl? Doomed to wander the Earth forever because she was a human for a day or two. Heck of a punishment." She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "But oh... there are other possibilities, Priest. You've lived as an angel, and as a mortal, but there's one flavor you haven't tried yet. I could make it happen. I could be your in, get a few of my old friends together and see if one of them wants to make history. Angel. Mortal. Demon. We'd have to think of a new name for you. Caitlin's the mortal, Zerachiel's the angel, and your demon would be--"
"Silence." Priest barked the word and immediately looked away. "I'm sorry. But listening to such blasphemy is--"
Riley scoffed. "Blasphemy. What's blasphemy? Just someone trying to ignore stuff they don't want to hear. Come on, Caitlin. A little dab'll do ya."
"You have two options now. Here they are, laid out before you." Priest kept her voice steady. "If you remain a demon, even if you claim you're still in control, you will no longer be the champion. The protection of your tattoo will vanish and you'll be completely taken over by the demon. At that point, I will join forces with Aissa, Kenzie, Chelsea, and," she said something else but Riley forgot it, "and we will stop at nothing to destroy you. If you think they'll hesitate... they won't. Because they'll only see you as the beast wearing the skin of a loved one who was taken away from them. And they will kill you."
Riley growled, "I'd like to see them try."
"You would kill them?"
Riley held up her hand. "I would rip Aissa's head from her scrawny neck. Do you think she'd honestly pose a challenge after everything I've done and seen? I'd tear her limb from limb. I'd take a torch to Kenzie's face so at least she would be symmetrical when they buried her--"
Priest's voice was choked. "Do you even hear what you're saying?"
"Yes." She hissed through her teeth and clutched her shoulder. "I'm just... frustrated. I, obviously, I would never do that. You're just... you call me stubborn, but will you stop and think about how this could be a good thing?"
"No. Because nothing good can come from demons. It's their nature to cause mayhem and strife. They feed on destruction and dismay."
"Said the angel. You know, demons have some ideas about angels. I bet they would be surprised to discover you and Sariel were lovers. Angels would never do something as base as making love. Fornication? Perish forbid."
Priest ignored the provocation. She began to pace along the perimeter of the room with her hands behind her back. "I said you had two options; here is the other. I need your help to save you. I need you to push when I pull, and together we can free you from the demon's grasp. It has to be soon... it has to be before it completely ensnares you. The tattoo is holding it back, and it's buying us time. But it's time that's measured in minutes, not hours. The chance to free you without permanent damage to your body is slipping away from us. Do you remember when Gillian showed us what happens to a body that has played host to a demon?"
"This is different. I'm not a host."
"But your body is still suffering under tremendous strain. A demon is worming its way into you, and your body is fighting it tooth and nail. The longer your tattoo holds it off without winning, the weaker you'll become. If it takes me an hour to free you from the demon's grasp, you won't survive. You'll go to the hospital with complete organ failure. You will die."
Riley smiled. "So there's a time limit. All I have to do is wait an hour, and your choice will be letting me live as a demon or watching me die tonight."
"I'll let you die as yourself than live as... this. So would..."
Riley didn't know why Priest suddenly trailed off, but it didn't matter. She rolled her shoulders. The pain was ebbing and flowing. She wished the tattoo was in a more convenient place, somewhere she could get at it with her fingernails. Maybe if she could scratch around the edge, she could rip it off her skin like a bumper sticker. The demon would heal her just like it had healed the bullet wound. She looked down and saw blood drying on her shirt and pants. That trick alone was worth being a demon.
"Neither of us is going to back down. So why don't we just save each other some trouble and end this now." Riley took out her gun and aimed it as Priest. "An angel and a demon walk into a Cell. Only one can leave alive. Is that how it is?"
"You don't want that. I've been an angel much longer than you've been a demon."
"So?"
Priest feinted right. Riley was distracted enough to move her weapon in that direction as Priest lifted into the air. Her wings flashed out to either side and caught a breeze Riley couldn't feel, carrying her farther than any human could jump. She closed her hand around Riley's and plucked the gun away, breaking her grip along with all four fingers on Riley's right hand. Riley cried out in surprise, and Priest twisted. Riley's forearm snapped and her weapon was taken from her. Priest landed lightly on the ground behind Riley, removed the gun's clip, and tossed the pieces to opposite sides of the room.
Riley chuckled and worked her muscles, warming them up for the fight to come. "Something familiar about this. I seem to remember I kicked your ass when we were high on U4IC. Care to try for round two?"
Before Riley could answer, Priest launched herself up until she touched the ceiling, then dived with her right fist extended. The punch connected with Riley's chin and her head was knocked violently to the side. She knew her jaw was disconnected, and she flopped weakly to the floor on her broken arm.
"Best three out of four?"
"Get off of me."
Priest walked away, recreating the space between them. She crossed her arms over her chest as Riley twisted and propped herself up, and felt her body beginning to mend. Priest was eyeing the ground, and Riley saw the moisture of tears shining on her cheeks. She scoffed and, when her jaw was healed enough to speak, she said, "Pathetic. You really believe you could kill me if you weep because you caused me pain?"
"If I have to, yes. I'm glad I'm weeping. It means that Riley is still somewhere inside of you. I could feel myself hurting her, and it hurt me."
Riley flexed her fingers. The middle one was a little cockeyed, so she broke it again so it would heal right. She got up onto one knee and looked at Priest.
"How long are we going to do this, Zerachiel? City's falling apart out there. Marchosias could choose a new champion while we're down here having a pissing contest. 'My deity can kick your dark lord's butt.' It's childish. Things aren't black and white in the real world. Never. There is an excuse for anything under the sun."
"Child abuse?"
"Cycle of violence." Riley rolled her shoulder. Her hand and jaw were better, but the damned tattoo was still like a million bee stings. "Go back far enough, you can find a reason for anything. Angels aren't all good, demons aren't all bad, and ninety percent of the bad things that happen to people are caused by other people. Angels and demons don't come into it. Some guy hits his wife because he had a shitty day at work, because his boss was stressed because his boss is breathing down his neck. Ask me, we oughta just wipe out the whole lot of them."
Priest said something, and then continued, "You have to know how that sounds, Riley. That's the demon talking."
"Then maybe your dear sweet Riley isn't so much in control anymore. Maybe she welcomed the chance to give in and hand over control to someone stronger for a change." She smiled, showing her teeth. "You think of that? Maybe you give your little champion a little too much credit." She realized she was insulting herself, but that didn't stop her. She felt like it was true. She wanted to say it. So if--
No.
She was just trying to stir Priest up enough so she would end this ridiculous standoff and drop the barrier.
"Let me out of here, Zerachiel. I'll show you what we can do together. Forget just protecting this city. We can be so much more than what we've been. We can change everything. We don't have to be detectives. We can just be partners."
"Rule together." Priest's voice was flat.
Riley smiled. "Yes. No more angels, no more demons, there would just be us and them. Good needs evil to exist, and vice versa. We can balance each other out. Between us we can keep everybody else in line."
Priest shook her head sadly. "The Riley I knew would never want to rule. She would want peace--"
"I'm offering peace! I'm offering unity. No angel would ever trust a demon, and a demon would never willingly join with an angel. Until now. You and me, Cait. We can change... everything. Because you love me, and I trust you. Demon, angel, it doesn't matter. What matters is that we're together, and we have the power to make people do what we want."
Priest nodded slowly, sadly. "And if they don't do what we want?"
Riley growled, "Then we burn them to the ground and spread the ashes to the wind."
"How's your tattoo?"
"Will you forget the goddamn tattoo?" Riley pushed her hands into her hair and pulled. The pain distracted her from the burning in her shoulder. "I don't need you. I can rule it all alone." She closed her eyes and began to pace in a tight circle.
Priest stepped closer. "We're running out of time. The tattoo won't stem the tide forever. Soon the demon will overpower it and you'll be left with a scar on your shoulder. Not that you'll mind, because by that point you'll be a completely different entity. It's destroying you from the inside out, and that tattoo is the only thing holding it back. Choosing to let the demon win is not a sane choice. It's not the choice Riley would have made."
"You're not calling me Riley. Since you've come down here, you haven't referred to me by... anything."
Priest shook her head. "I won't tarnish her name by using it to refer to a demon."
Riley straightened her shoulders. "Get used to it. From here on, I'm the only Riley you have. And you're wrong. This is exactly the choice I would make. To have this level of power? As a mortal, I was weak. I was a victim who put on a badge and carried a gun because I was terrified of what was in the shadows. It gave me a fighting chance against the monsters. How many men came into my bedroom when I was a defenseless girl? Do you know how many times I prayed for help? For strength?"
"You said nineteen hundred and forty-two prayers. Eighty-five of them were out loud. Six hundred of them were muttered and barely understandable. Three hundred were just a single word. Nineteen hundred and forty-two exactly."
Riley blinked. "What?"
"Who do you think heard those prayers?" Priest's voice was tight. "Who do you think begged for a chance to intervene and was told to stand down? I heard your prayers, Riley. Every nineteen hundred and forty-two prayers for someone to do something. And all I could do was grant you sleep when it was over, and what forgetfulness was possible. I've lied to you in the past, Riley. Everyone does get a guardian angel, but I was assigned to you because of how loudly you prayed. I couldn't help you every time, but your prayers didn't go unanswered."
The walls darkened behind Priest, and Riley saw a street in No Man's Land stretching out behind her. She stepped around Priest and into the sepia-toned memory. Only a few things seemed real, seemed static, and she watched as a slender Hispanic teen dropped from a fire escape and brushed off the legs of her torn and faded jeans. Priest stepped forward to stand beside Riley and directed her attention to the convenience store on the corner.
Two young teenagers were lounging on the sidewalk. One spotted the younger Riley and nudged his friend. He communicated without speaking what he was thinking and started to rise up. He watched Riley start down a blind alley before he started walking. His friend unbent and followed without a word.
Priest spoke quietly. "Their intent was robbery, but I'm sure you would have fought. The bigger one, the leader, eventually went to prison for breaking someone's skull with a brick. They had sixty dollars in their wallet but he was hoping for eighty. Little disappointments. The little one is a pervert who works in a shoe store and does unspeakable things to their shoes. You never bought any there because it always gave you an uneasy feeling. You thought the store was dirty, but you could never quite explain where the feeling came from. Me. It came from me."
The boys were almost to the alley.
"You would have fought, and the big one would have hurt you. Badly. He would have held you down so the little one could do whatever he wanted. And he had ideas. Wicked ideas."
A police car turned the corner. The leader stopped and turned, signaling his partner with a slight shake of his head. They walked away. In the alley, Riley saw herself scale a fence and drop to the other side as the car slowly rolled on. Riley and Priest stepped out of its way, although Riley knew it wasn't really there.
"He wasn't looking for anything or anyone in particular. He was sent out on patrol, and he decided to check out this neighborhood on a whim. 'Haven't been down this way in a while. Might as well see what's going on.' I whispered in his ear, because I knew what those boys had planned for you. You focus on the times I wasn't there for you because you don't know about all the times I was."
Riley turned to face Priest. They were back in the Cell, closed in by inscribed stone walls. Riley could feel their hold even stronger now, and she reached to scratch at her tattoo through her clothes. Priest saw her and dropped her hand to her side. She sneered and turned away.
"Bad things happen to good people. Deep. But I'm not a people anymore. Bad things don't have to happen to me anymore. I'm going to stay like this, Priest. You can either accept that things have changed, or you can become my enemy."
"Oh, you don't want me as your enemy."
Riley turned. "Try me."
"I broke your jaw, your arm, and your fingers. What else would you like me to break? Or maybe..." She faked a jab. Riley ducked, but that was Priest's intention. She lifted up on her toes, guided Riley past her, and slapped her palm down on Riley's shoulder over her tattoo. She extended her wings as she wrestled Riley to the floor and pinned her to the concrete. The space between Priest's hand and Riley's tattoo glowed with holy light, and infernal smoke began to rise through her fingers. Riley howled.
"How does your tattoo feel?" Priest growled.
"Get off of me!"
Riley could feel the intense heat spreading through her body, and some vestige of her brain reminded her that fevers came from the body fighting off an infection. A fever, heat, was a sign of healing. Riley howled and tried to buck Priest off, but the angel suddenly seemed to weigh twice as much as before. She forced Riley's head down against the pavement as the holy light washed through her body, pushing back the tide of demonic energy.
"Bitch! You'll pay for this, angel whore!"
"I love you, Riley. If you're in there somewhere, know that I'm doing this for you."
Riley's lips were pulled back to expose her teeth, showing her gums as she flattened her hands to the concrete and shoved up with all her strength. To her surprise, it was enough to topple Priest. The searing pain coming from her tattoo faded to a more manageable level, and Riley turned to face Priest.
"I will slaughter you, angel."
Priest, sprawled a few feet away on the concrete, sat up and flexed her wings. "Now we're getting somewhere." She stood up and said, "What shall I call you?"
"Call me what you like."
They circled each other, keeping the prison in the center of the room between them.
"It doesn't work like that. But I know names are power to a demon, so you'll want to keep yours close to the vest. I refuse to call you by Riley's name. How about I call you Contrariel?"
Riley laughed. "Whatever pleases you, milady."
The door above opened and Riley cringed. She turned her head away from the stairs and made quiet, almost unintelligible noises of irritation until the doors were shut.
"Good Girls are here," she grunted.
By the time she straightened up, Aissa had reached the bottom of the stairs. She wore a hooded sweatshirt over a rust-colored T shirt, a black skirt, and charcoal-colored stockings. Her curly blonde hair was loose, and a scarf was loosely draped over her shoulders to hang down in front of her. Riley ran her eyes up and down the girl before her lips curled into a smile.
"Kicked the habit and decided to slut it up a little, eh? You've got the body for it. Are you still a virgin, or have you gotten a little experience?"
Priest ignored Riley and focused on Aissa. "You shouldn't be here."
"She's my mentor. I should be here if this is when she falls."
"How sweet. C'mere and give me a kiss."
Aissa backed up a step and Riley laughed.
Priest put a hand on Aissa's shoulder. "I admire the strength it took for you to come here, Aissa. To face her. But this is not your challenge. It's not your fight." She looked at Riley again and said, "The Good Girls are praying for Riley. Can you feel it, Contrariel?"
Riley walked away. "They're wasting their breath."
Aissa frowned. "She wants to remain like this?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Riley said. "These past four years I've been fighting the demons with my hands tied behind my back. The only way I would ever win was if I got lucky. Well..." She gestured at herself and stepped closer to Aissa. "I got lucky. You know, I could do the same for you. All you have to do is let me in. I know you're thinking it's a bad thing now. This morning I would have said the same thing. But until you feel the power for yourself you just can't know." She held out her hand. She was just barely out of reach. "Let me show you."
Aissa took Riley's hand. Riley smiled, then hissed as the blade concealed by Aissa's fingers sliced through her palm.
"Little fucking sprite!" Her face became red, her eyes wide and spittle flying as she spoke. "I'll tear your goddamn head off for that."
Priest stepped between Riley and Aissa. Her uppercut glanced off Riley's chin, and Riley's feet were lifted off the ground before she landed in a heap.
"That was unwise, Aissa," Priest said. "But nicely done."
"The blade was dipped in holy water."
Priest nodded. "Go. Add your prayers to the others'."
"Are you sure you're all right alone?"
"I'll be fine. Go. Now, please."
Aissa looked at Riley. "If you kill Riley Parra, I won't rest until I've hunted you down and killed you."
Riley was still lying on her back, arms spread out to either side. "Good. I look forward to the rematch. Hide all the blades you want, little mouse. You have no idea what horrors I can hide. Run away, run away and pray."
Aissa backed away, not taking her eyes off Riley until she reached the stairs. Priest listened to her sneakers slapping the stone, waiting for the door to slam shut before she began to pace again. Riley's hand was dripping blood, healing slowly.
"How does that holy blood feel, Demon? Aissa believes in the sacraments, so she can use that sort of thing. Not like you."
Riley laughed. It was a hollow sound, echoed off the stones. "Such a heathen, right?"
"This world is full of heathens. It matters not how low you've fallen, so long as you keep your face turned toward Heaven."
Riley rolled onto her stomach. "Yeah, but if you're always looking up, you make it real easy for people to slit your throat. Trust is weakness."
Priest shook her head. "Trust is strength. When all else has failed you, when you can count on nothing else, you have to trust others. You trust me. You trust Kenzie. When the chips are down, the only weapon you have is the knowledge someone is watching your back. Are you really prepared to throw that away?"
"I don't need it anymore. I don't need anyone in my corner."
Priest said, "What about Gillian? Are you going to just throw her aside?"
Riley brushed the wound in her palm. "I'll do just fine on my own."
"Answer my question."
Riley looked up and frowned. "What question?"
"I'm willing to accept you're ready to turn your back on me, Kenzie, Chelsea, even Aissa. But Gillian? How can you do that to her? How can you forget the love you have for her?" Riley looked down at her palm again. "Demons can't love."
"What?" She looked up as if startled. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Priest furrowed her brow. "Are you questioning Gillian's importance?"
Riley laughed and shook her head. "I had no idea it would be so easy. You're not even trying now. Say something, Zerachiel."
"I... I've been..." Priest recalled several other instances where she'd mentioned Gillian's name, but the thing inside Riley had never acknowledged it. "I want to try something. Word association."
"Oh, for the love of..."
"Humor me."
Riley growled and motioned for Priest to get on with it.
Priest said, "Love."
"Weakness."
"Strength."
Riley rolled her shoulders back. "Me."
Priest ignored the posing. "Amusement."
Riley grinned. "You."
"Aissa."
"Child. No, victim."
Priest said, "Gillian."
"Are we done?"
"Briggs."
"Crooked."
"Orgasm."
Riley laughed. "Fun."
"Gillian."
Riley looked at the wall over Priest's shoulder, then looked down at her hands. Priest stepped closer. "Gillian." Riley brushed her thumb over her knuckles.
"Romance."
Riley looked up. "Oh, what is the point of this?" She waved her hand dismissively. "Fine, romance. Uh, distraction."
"Marriage."
Riley rolled her eyes. "Convenience. This is--"
"What about the ring?"
"A-ding-ding."
Priest said, "We're not playing now. I mean your ring, on your hand."
Riley looked at her right hand and raised her eyebrow, as if to imply Priest had lost her mind. Priest grabbed Riley's left hand, lifting it so Riley could see the gold ring on the third finger. "Your ring. Your wedding ring with--"
Riley snatched her hand away. "Don't touch me, angel."
Priest grabbed Riley's head with both hands and forced eye contact. "Gillian Hunt. Your wife. Acknowledge her, demon."
Riley cried out in pain and pulled away, punching Priest until she was released. She turned, nearly fell, and caught her hand against the wall to stay upright. "No. I... it's not... no. It's not important."
"Not important?" Priest backed up again, giving Riley room to pace. She was furious with herself for not following this thread earlier. "Gillian Hunt is the single most important person in Riley's life. They exchanged a vow to one another, life and death and sickness and health. But this travesty will break that. If you turn Riley into something else, you'll break that bond. Their marriage will shatter. Do you hear me, Riley? Can you hear me through whatever veil this demon is using on you?" She watched Riley closely for a reaction. "Your marriage will be destroyed, and Gillian will once again be free. With a heart as big as hers, as deeply as she feels love, do you believe she will remain single for very long? She'll find someone else."
Riley spun on Priest. "Stop it." Her face was a dangerous shade of purple, and spit flew when she spoke. The voice was barely recognizable. "Stop talking now, angel, or I shall pluck your wings apart one feather at a time."
"She will find love. And someone else will hold her at night. Someone else will kiss her lips. Another person will make love to her. And when Gillian's heart feels love, it will be for someone else. Riley will just be her first wife. A memory that she mourns. For a while, anyway."
Sweat poured down Riley's face and she swiped at it with her sleeve. "It won't work. Fine. Let her find someone else. Probably... safer in the long run."
"It won't happen like that." Priest began to move in a circle. "This demonic force has tainted Riley Parra, but you were right. It's not a possession; it's a mingling of energies. The demon is overwhelming Riley, and it will win, but the shell will still be Riley's. The demon will have her thoughts and her needs and her love. Riley is tainting the demon with mortality, just like I was tainted with the idea of Caitlin Priest, a human who had been formed out of whole cloth. Imagine how much worse the taint will be with a living, breathing human being..."
Riley was almost panting now. Sweat dripped off her chin as she tracked Priest with her eyes.
"The demon will win. And when it wins, the little part of Riley that is left behind will go to Gillian."
"No."
"And when Gillian rejects this abomination, the demon will have no other recourse but to murder her to keep her from moving on."
Riley screamed wordlessly.
"Unless you stop it. Right now. Unless you fight it, Riley. Fight this God damned thing."
Riley opened her eyes and turned toward Priest. "Cait..."
Priest braced herself for another onslaught. "Yes?"
"Tell... me how... to stop... it." Each word was forced, erupting from her mouth like bullets. She wobbled a bit, almost dropping before she corrected herself. Her face was a dangerous shade of violet, and her eyes rolled back as she finally hit her knees. Priest knelt in front of her, hands shaking, and cupped the back of Riley's head with both hands.
"You'll feel the demon fighting when I begin to pull. Imagine an ocean with an oil slick. When the oil begins to recede, you need to keep it from flowing back in. Can you do that?"
Riley closed her eyes.
"Riley! You have to answer me, Riley."
"Yeah-huh. Uh-huh." She pressed her lips together and nodded. "Hurry."
Priest spread her wings to their full span. Each feather was spread apart from the others, and light glowed from each vein. The room filled with light, and Riley shrunk in on herself with a weak whimper of pain.
"Hold, Riley."
"Glah..." Riley choked on the sound and shook her head. "Mine. Eyes. Have seen. The... glory of... the... coming..." She cried out in pain before she could voice the next words. "The Lord. He... is... dun duh dun... duh duh... grapes of wrath are... stored."
"What are you doing?"
"Praise... makes you stronger." She growled and thrashed her head from side to side. "Need you strong. Glory. Glory..."
"Battle Hymn," Priest said. "Apt."
Riley smiled weakly. "Be better if I knew the words."
"Focus on the chorus."
Riley grimaced. "His truth is... march...ing... on... Glory, glory, hallelujah."
As Riley sang, her voice became stronger. Sweat flowed down either side of her face, and then she suddenly pushed away from Priest.
"No!" She fell onto her back, and Priest retreated.
Riley's body was shrouded in the only darkness that remained in the otherwise shining basement. She rolled onto her front and crawled on her elbows to the trap painted in the middle of the space. She recoiled but continued on until she was entirely inside. Priest stood and guided her divinity into the barrier to reinforce its strength. It snapped up, and Riley convulsed in pain. She held her stomach and began to shake, and Priest's eyes filled with tears as she watched Riley writhe.
"Fight it," Priest whispered. "You're stronger than it is, Riley. You always have been."
Dust began raining down from the ceiling and Priest looked up. The Good Girls had increased their prayers, and they rained down on the ensnared evil like a cyclone.
"Demon. Leave my friend. Return to the depths from which you were spawned. You will not have her soul today, nor will you ever hold her in your sway. Egressens necessos victavi voceramus empto exerrimum." She pushed her hand against the barrier, as solid to her as if it was brick, and concentrated her power through it. Priest's eyes darkened. "Get the fuck out of my friend."
Riley howled, the veins in her neck standing out as she directed her shouts at the ceiling. Her voice slowly faded to a croak, and she clutched an arm to her stomach as she crumpled inside the barrier. She was still panting when Priest lowered her hand. The barrier was still up.
"Riley... crawl out."
"I can't."
"Yes, you can. Crawl out."
Riley lifted her head to gauge the distance and shook her head in denial of her abilities, but she began to crawl. Her hand passed through the barrier, and Priest took it in hers. She pulled, and Riley crawled the rest of the way through the barrier. It sizzled slightly as she passed through. Priest looked past Riley and saw a shimmering shroud of darkness remained behind her. It was all that remained of Falco's essence, his demonic energy reduced to a haze.
"Be gone."
The air inside the trap flared golden-white and, when it faded, the barrier collapsed. There was no more threat. Priest sat down on the concrete floor and pulled Riley onto her lap. She cradled her friend's head, brushed the hair out of her face, and smiled at the familiar person looking back at her.
"Riley. Nice to see you again."
"Hi." She grunted and looked down at her hand. The knife wound was still there, ugly and red, and Priest took off her tie to wrap it.
"How is your tattoo?"
"Feels fine, now." Riley looked at her left hand. "I kept grabbing for my ring. Trying to hold onto it. I think it and the tattoo both played a part in keeping me around."
"I wouldn't be surprised." Riley's eyelids dropped and then snapped open. "You must be exhausted."
"I... it's..."
Riley's voice cut off as she went limp, and Priest tightened her grip to prevent her from slumping to the floor. She held Riley tight and twisted to look toward the stairs. "Aissa! Chelsea, Kenzie, I need help." She looked down at Riley, confirmed she was just sleeping, and smiled when she heard them descending the stone steps to help her carry Riley home.
#
Gillian was waiting at the top of the stairs when they got Riley home. She was leaning on her cane, but she let it drop and took Kenzie's position under Riley's right arm. With Priest on the other side, they ushered the semi-conscious Riley into the apartment. Gillian put her hand on Riley's stomach and looked at Priest for an explanation. Priest exhaled and shook her head. "It's an incredibly long story. Which I will tell you after you have bathed Riley and put her to bed. If you don't mind, of course."
"Mind?" Gillian said. "Help me get her into the bathroom. Is she okay?"
"She's been fighting hard all day. Her body has been forced to do things a mortal body isn't equipped for. She's strong, though, and I helped where I could. She just needs sleep."
They took her into the bathroom and Gillian sat her on the edge of the tub. Priest excused herself to get food, and shut the door behind her. Gillian knelt in front of Riley, who had again dozed off. She brushed Riley's cheek, and her eyes opened. She smiled weakly.
"Hey."
Gillian smiled. "Hi, there. I'm trying not to be offended by the fact you're falling asleep while I'm undressing you."
"I'll try to pay closer attention."
"That's all I ask." She looked at Riley's shirt once she had it off. She slipped her finger through a ragged tear, then looked at the corresponding smear of blood on her abdomen. She could smell a slight hint of burnt gunpowder, and the edges of the tear were scorched. A contact burn. She looked up at Riley without condemnation. "This looks like a bullet hole. I've seen a couple of them in this particular area. Usually they're on corpses I'm autopsying."
"I'm a little livelier than that."
"Barely." She put aside the shirt and helped Riley out of her bloodstained pants. She refused to ask any questions. Riley was in no shape to be interrogated, and she knew Priest would fill her in after she finished. She helped Riley into the tub and let it finish filling with water. She took a sponge and began to wash away the more obvious bloodstains. She scanned Riley's arms and legs, her torso and face. Her relief at finding no wounds other than the cut on her palm was overwhelmed by her curiosity.
"Usually when you come home like this, I have to change bandages for a week or two."
"The thing I was fighting healed my wounds."
Gillian raised an eyebrow. "Really. Well, that's a nice enemy."
"It wanted my body."
"I can't really fault him for that." She ran the sponge over Riley's chest and squeezed. Water followed the shape of her breasts and Riley murmured in approval. Though her physical wounds were minor, there were bags under her eyes. She looked more exhausted than Gillian was comfortable with. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I will be. Thanks to Priest. She saved my life. Again."
"Then I owe her a nice bottle of wine." She finished washing Riley and gestured for her right hand. "Let me clean that for you." The bloody tie was undone, and Gillian hissed through her teeth at the sight of it. "God. The thing you were fighting didn't heal this one?"
"Aissa did that."
Gillian narrowed her eyes. "Aissa? Why...?"
Riley shook her head. "It was good. I was glad she did it. Made me proud of her."
Gillian washed away the dried blood and briefly left the bathroom to get the first-aid kit from the kitchen. When she returned, she cleaned and dressed the wound in a way that allowed Riley the use of her hand.
"Can you at least tell me who you were fighting?"
"Priest."
"And Aissa?"
"She was Priest's backup."
Gillian glanced toward the closed door. "Is it... safe with her here?"
Riley nodded without hesitation. "She saved my life."
Gillian sighed. "This had better be one hell of an explanation."
"Heh." Riley coughed and sank lower in the tub. She furrowed her brow as if the cough hurt her, then turned her head and looked at Gillian. "Hey. Get in here with me."
Gillian grinned. "This is not the time, Detective Parra."
"I don't want sex. I just want you as close as possible."
Gillian looked for signs Riley was being prurient and found none. She put the sponge on the side of the tub and stood up. She was already barefoot, so she slipped out of her jeans and underwear. She draped her sweater over the towel rod, but left her undershirt and bra on as she stepped into the water. She lowered herself, her knees under Riley's arms, and Riley crossed her wrists under Gillian's shirt. The hem of the shirt floated around her waist like a water lily.
"Sure you're okay?"
Riley smiled and nodded. "I'll survive. It was a close thing. I'm not even going to lie about it. If Priest hadn't been there, and if she hadn't done everything in her power, I wouldn't be here right now."
"I'm really glad you have her back. Would Sariel have gone--"
"No. Sariel wouldn't even have fought." She ran her wet hands down Gillian's back and cupped her ass with both hands. "The woman I work with is now definitely more Priest than Zerachiel. She traded up. The power of an angel with the heart of a mortal. It's a really good trade as far as I'm concerned."
Gillian nodded. "Me too." She bent down and kissed Riley, then retrieved the sponge and resumed her bath. When she was finished, Riley felt strong enough to walk to the bedroom under her own power. Gillian stayed by her side as a crutch, both of them dressed in robes for the short walk from the bathroom to the bed. Riley went down without a protest, allowed Gillian to tuck her in, and drifted off quickly.
Gillian dressed in a pair of old jeans and a T shirt before she went to rejoin the group in the kitchen. Kenzie, Chelsea and Priest were at the kitchen table, and Aissa was sitting on the counter with her feet dangling. Gillian snapped her fingers and pointed at the floor, and Aissa hopped down with an apology. A pizza box was standing open on the table. Everyone had paper towels with slices on them, but no one seemed interested in eating.
Priest stood up as Gillian joined them. Gillian crossed her arms over her chest, her relief and gratitude at finding Riley in one piece replaced by anger and confusion.
"Someone... start talking. Now."
"We were wrong about Falco's master plan," Priest said, indicating Gillian should take her seat.
By the time Priest finished talking, all but two slices of the pizza had been consumed. Gillian had no appetite, and the others were only picking at their food. Finally Gillian leaned back and, despite not eating much, took the time to wipe her hands and lips with a napkin. Priest was leaning against the counter between the stove and fridge, and Aissa had sunk down to sit cross-legged on the floor. Kenzie and Chelsea were holding hands. Gillian watched them, knowing that despite their concern for Riley, they were still recovering from the brief gift of sight Priest had bestowed on them.
Priest said, "I didn't anticipate how far Falco and Marchosias were willing to go in order to get Riley in their pocket. The Five Families have been all but wiped out, and there's a power vacuum in No Man's Land. Marchosias is now most likely going to focus on filling those positions with new and improved acolytes. And now that Riley's slipped out of his grip for a second time, he's going to stop going after her as his new champion."
Kenzie said, "Well, that's a good thing, right?"
Priest shrugged. "In the short run, of course. But our brief peace will most likely be at an end. Marchosias will choose a new champion, one who is more likely to accept his terms than Riley was. Riley's going to have a new enemy within the month. Maybe even within the next two weeks." She had been avoiding Gillian's gaze. "I'm sorry, Gillian. I should have been thinking long term, I should have looked--"
"Shut up." Gillian pushed her chair back, the legs scraping on the tile as she stood up and stepped around the table. Priest straightened and braced to be struck, but Gillian embraced her. Priest relaxed and returned the hug. "Thank you, Caitlin. You keep bringing her back to me."
"It's my job."
"No, it's not. Not exactly. And that's why I'm grateful." She stepped back and rubbed Priest's shoulders, then looked at Kenzie and Chelsea. "Will you two take this woman home and fuck her until she can't stand up straight?"
Kenzie grinned. "I think that could be arranged."
Priest blushed and squeezed Gillian's arm. "Are you certain Riley is okay?"
"She's in one piece. She's in her own bed. She's about to be cuddled by me all night. I think she'll be okay."
Chelsea said, "With the two of you in her corner, there's nothing she can't overcome." She stood up. "Cait, Kenzie and I didn't have a chance to properly thank you for the gift you gave us. I think we'll take Gillian's suggestion if you'd like to come home with us. Riley's not the only one who had a tough day today."
Priest's weary smile made her look more human than she had since she was reunited with Zerachiel. "I think that would be very nice. Thank you." She kissed Gillian's cheek. "Let me know if you need anything else tonight."
"I think you've gone above and beyond today, Caitlin. Go home. Reap the benefits of being good on the mortal plane."
She nodded. Kenzie and Chelsea led the way out, with Kenzie slipping an arm around Priest's waist as they left the apartment. Aissa stood, and Gillian smiled at her.
"Do you need a ride somewhere?"
"No... you should stay with Riley. Thank you, though." She glanced toward the bedroom, and for a brief moment Gillian was reminded of how painfully young the girl was. Too young to deal with the reality of the job she had been recruited for.
"Do you want to talk?"
Aissa looked at her and looked ready to refuse, but then looked down at her feet. "How can she do this to you?"
Gillian was thrown by the question. "Pardon?"
"How could she marry you, knowing that she'll constantly be in danger?" She looked at Gillian. "It's selfish."
Gillian said, "She loves me."
"If she really loved you, she would keep you as far away from Marchosias and his minions as possible."
"That's wrong. Being the champion doesn't make you a machine, Aissa. It doesn't shut down your heart. And if it did... if it did, it would make you a lesser person. You would just be a weapon waiting for the next time you needed to be implemented. Riley needs a real life. She needs a home. She needs something to come back to. She needs someone to fight for. It's what makes her so formidable. And when she does come home, and she's been beaten and battered, she needs someone to hold her, which is what I'm going to do tonight. When she has nightmares about what that damned demon was doing in her brain, I'll be there to tell her it's all right. Priest and the tattoo keep her alive. I keep her sane."
Aissa looked down at her shoes.
"Don't pass up on... anything... just because of that tattoo Riley gave you. Don't pass up love or friendship just because you're worried about the one day you don't come home. You'll be glad they are every single night you do make it home." She looked into the living room and gestured with her chin. "You can crash on the couch if you want. I have blankets and a pillow..."
Aissa shook her head. "No, thank you. I'll walk. I've been out of No Man's Land all afternoon, and I'm getting anxious." She smiled apologetically. "I shouldn't have said anything about you and Riley's marriage..."
"I'm glad you did. I've been thinking those things for a while now, but saying them out loud makes them more real to me." She looked at the remaining pizza and picked up the paper towel roll. She wrapped the leftovers and handed them over. "Here... I'm not going to send you out into the night empty handed."
"Thank you, Dr. Hunt."
"Gillian. And don't be afraid to ask me whatever you want."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Gillian walked her to the door. "Are you sure you're okay getting home on your own?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm really starting to learn the streets." She looked back at the bedroom. "Apologize to Riley for the knife, please?"
"She said that made her proud."
Aissa smiled and looked at her feet. "She said that?"
"Riley's never doubted making you her successor. But I think what you did today showed her that she definitely made the right choice."
"Well." She shuffled her feet shyly. "I should go. They'll be expecting me at the shelter."
"Okay." Gillian fought down the urge to tell Aissa to call when she got there so they wouldn't worry. "Have a good night, Aissa."
"You too, Dr. Hunt."
Gillian considered correcting her again, but she let it drop. Aissa turned and Gillian closed the door. It was still relatively early, but she wasn't going to stay up while Riley was alone. She took the time to toss the greasy paper towels and turn off the lights, and she undressed except for her T shirt before she joined Riley under the blankets. Riley murmured and rolled onto her back, and Gillian embraced her.
"Sh. Go back to sleep. It's me."
Riley turned toward Gillian and burrowed against her. Gillian stroked Riley's hair, which was damp from sweat due to some nightmare. Gillian kissed Riley's temple and resigned herself to not getting much sleep. She didn't stay up all night very often, but she still technically had convalescent leave coming up so she could sleep late. Besides, a little weariness was a small price to pay to be awake when Riley needed her. Riley had her fights, and Gillian had hers. She was happy to do her part.
She settled in for a long night.
#
Kenzie left Chelsea panting on the bed, wrapped herself in a sheet, and went in search of their errant third member. Priest was sitting on the window seat, naked with her knees pulled up to her chest, bathed in moonlight that made her sweat sparkle. She heard Kenzie's bare feet on the hardwood floor and turned, smiled, and swept her hair behind her ear before looking out the window again.
"There you are. You're not tired already, are you?"
"No. Is Chelsea...?"
"She's spent for now. I was hoping you and I could entice her to go another round." The sheet fell off Kenzie's shoulder, nearly exposing one nipple. She tilted her head and noticed how melancholy Priest seemed. "You okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I forgot how lovely you two were." She smiled. "And how insatiable."
"Well, we're ladies of taste and refinement. You can't expect us to be happy with some quick wham-bam." She stood near the edge of the window seat and stroked Priest's hair. "What's wrong, little angel?"
Priest angled her head into Kenzie's embrace, her eyes closed like a cat being petted. "I'm concerned about Riley."
"Well, she has Gillian. She's home, and she's safe."
"Right. But today I saved Riley from becoming a demon by reminding her that Gillian as at home waiting for her. I tried everything else in my power, I tried coercion and arguing, I tried physical violence, and none of it worked. Gillian was the key, and only Gillian was strong enough to break the demon's hold and make Riley fight."
Kenzie was confused. "That's a good thing, right?"
"I suppose. I don't know." She looked out the window. "It concerns me. Gillian has been possessed by demons twice, and she once left town for a year without any of us knowing when or if she would return. That accident in the ambulance could have been far more tragic than it was. Gillian is Riley's heart and soul, and she's an anchor that keeps Riley grounded. If anything ever does happen and she loses Gillian... I'm afraid that not even I will be powerful enough to save Riley from the darkness."
Kenzie put her arms around Priest's shoulders, and Priest rested her head against Kenzie's chest as she sat in the moonlight and worried.