“Whoa.” I throw out my hands, steadying myself. It’s the second time I’ve flown, if that’s what you can call it. It’s more like my insides twist in knots and I was hurled through time and space.
Just seconds ago, I was standing in my foyer. I quickly did my hair and make-up, put on shoes, and grabbed my purse. And then Julian took my hand and now we’re here, standing next to a fountain at a fancy-shmancy country club.
“There are people around,” I say, still trying to get my bearings. I felt dizzy after Michael took me to the beach in Australia too. “And we just appeared.”
“They won’t notice.”
“What about security camera footage?”
“It will appear as a glitch, similar to the way your glamours work.”
“Interesting,” I say and reach into my pure for my sunglasses. It’s warm today, but a cool breeze is blowing in from the lake. “Okay…I have to find Scott and question him.”
“He’s over there.” Julian points to a few people gathered around a golf cart. Scott is holding a brandy glass in his hand, talking and laughing with a pretty redhead who is so not his fiancée. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if she wised up and ran far, far away.
“Angels are fierce warriors, right?” I ask as Julian and I make our way over.
“Yes. We are.”
“Want to show me your skills and beat the shit out of Scott?”
“That man was cruel to you,” he says. “I know.” He looks at me sympathetically. “It is against the rules for me to attack a human.”
“Isn’t it against the rules to be here with me right now?”
“Yes, though I will argue trying to keep you alive is worth breaking the rules for.”
“What if I summon a demon that possesses him? Then can you beat him up?”
“Yes.” Julian looks at me sideways. “Don’t do that.”
“You’re no fun.”
“I’m lots of fun,” he immediately counters.
“Really? Name one thing you like to do for fun.”
Julian’s mouth opens only to snap closed again.
“Exactly. Though if you hang out on earth with me a bit longer, I’ll make sure you have some fun.”
“Angels aren’t meant to have fun. We are servants of the Lord.”
“Well, my dad seemed to have some fun.” I shudder and make a face. I don’t know my mother at all, and I’ve met my father once, yet making jokes about them hooking up still skeeves me out.
The redhead turns and checks Julian out. Scott follows her gaze, seemingly annoyed, and then notices me.
“Hey, brother!” I yell, waving obnoxiously. “It’s me, Callie, your sister!” I smile like a goon and bring my other hand up, waving them both in the air.
Scott looks around, desperate for an escape. I half expect him to jump in the golf cart and drive away. I’d slowly jog behind him, feeling like the Big Bad in a classic horror film.
I shouldn’t imagine him driving into a lake. I’m not evil. I’m not like my uncle.
“This is your sister?” the redhead asks, and I realize she’s a reporter when I see a little recorder in her hand. Hell fucking yeah. Go ahead and spin a lie now, Scott.
“Yes,” I answer for him. “I am. Callie Martin, the youngest of the three Martin children. It’s so nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand for her to shake. “Sorry if I interrupted a meeting or an interview or something.”
“I’m Kate Andrews.” She has surprisingly soft hands. “And we hadn’t started yet.” She looks at Julian again and blushes slightly. “Who’s this?”
“I am Julian. Her cousin.”
“Oh, so you’d be cousins too?” Kate asks, looking at Scott.
“No, he’s, a, uh cousin through marriage.” I force another smile. “Could I talk to my brother for a quick second?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. I need to grab a quick drink anyway. I talk so much my throat is dry.” She laughs and walks away, doing an impressive job keeping her heels from sinking into the soft ground. The two others who were gathered around leave with her.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Scott makes a move to grab my wrist, but Julian catches his hand.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warns and Scott tries to jerk away, but Julian is too strong.
“The fuck?” Panic takes over his face. “It’s daylight. It’s not possible.”
“I am not a vampire,” Julian releases Scott’s hand, eyes flashing bright blue. I smile smugly and inch forward. Scott is pressed up against the golf cart, and his only option now is to actually get in and drive away, or crawl through and make a run for it.
Julian holds up his hand and Scott’s body stiffens. “Ask him, Callie. He has to answer.”
“Did you hire a hitman to kill me?”
“No.”
“Did your father?”
“No.”
“Nancy?”
“No.”
Dammit. I purse my lips and look at Julian. He still has his hand up, keeping the hold on Scott.
“Does the name Order of the Mystic Realm mean anything to you?”
“No.”
“Is he lying?” I ask Julian.
“He’s not,” Julian tells me. “He’s telling the truth and he is terrified of you. In fact, he’s hoping he doesn’t piss his pants, whatever that means.”
“You can read minds too?”
“No, but I can hear prayers.” Julian lowers his hand and Scott lets out a ragged breath.
“Dammit,” I sigh. “There goes my lead, and my excuse to turn Scott into a cat again.”
“I didn’t see that,” Julian says, lips curving into a smile. “But I would have liked to. From what I’ve heard about your mother, she would have found it amusing.”
Scott’s jaw falls open. “You…you know.”
“That I’m not really your sister?” I finish. “Yes. I do know. And this—” I sweep my hand out to Julian. “—Is my cousin. My real cousin. I’ve also met my father, my real father, and let me warn you that whatever you think I’m capable of, he can do ten times over. Mess with me or my friends ever again, and I’ll tell my father. Then you’ll get to deal with him.”
I narrow my eyes and smile once more. “Have a great day, Scott. Let’s go, Julian.”
I whirl around and walk away, knowing all eyes are on us. If anyone watched the exchange, they’d be confused as hell. That, and I don’t quite fit in with the preppy pastel country club-styled clothing everyone is wearing. I wonder if there was a theme to this event or if everyone dresses like they’re on a Ralph Lauren magazine cover.
We walk around a large hedge and Julian takes my arm. In a rustle of feathers, he transports me back into my living room.
“That was fast.” Lucas rushes over, taking my hand to steady me.
“It wasn’t him,” I say. “Or Nancy or William.” I let out a sigh. “So I have no idea who hired the Order.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Lucas pulls me to him. “Thank you for keeping her safe.”
“It is my duty,” Julian replies.
“What else happened?” Lucas slides his hand up and down my back. “You weren’t gone very long at all.”
“I questioned Scott and then might have dropped a very Draco Malfoy line and told him if he messed with me again he’d have to deal with my father.”
Lucas laughs. “I wish I could have seen his face.”
“Oh, he was scared of us both.” I smile. “I almost feel sorry for him, actually. He’s just such a loser.”
“You’re too kind, Callie.” He gives me one more squeeze and then lets go, turning his attention back to Julian. “The last time we saw you, you told us the Gates of Hell had been opened. Then you took off and nothing has happened.”
“Nothing yet,” Julian says.
“Yet?”
He nods. “I was sent here again by Michael under the orders to follow up on the disturbance we felt. That’s how I was able to stop by. I’ve heard your prayers, Callie, but I couldn’t come and risk my travel being noticed, as I was assigned to a different part of the world before Michael was able to reassign me here again, and it’s a good thing he did.”
“Why?” I ask.
“I was following up on the demon that came from Hell, and it appears it may have had assistance in opening the Gates.”
“Assistance?” I echo, not sure what that means. “Like someone opened the Gates for it?”
“Exactly like someone opened the Gates for it.”
“But…who could do that? When Varrador was after me, I thought I could open the Gates and shove him inside but couldn’t figure out how.”
“There is an ancient and complicated spell, but it requires multiple witches, if not an entire coven, to perform. Though I suppose if a witch were able to tap into the power of the Ley line, it might only take a few working together to open the Gates.” He shakes his head. “Other demons are able to pass through the Gates and…and…” He drops his gaze from my eyes to the floor.
“And?” Lucas hooks his arm around my waist, protectively pulling me against his body.
“Nephilim,” Julian finally says. “Nephilim possess the power to open the Gates of Hell.”