At the sound of her name, Ellie turns toward Paul's cage. "Who said that?" The flashlight on her phone brightens the room as she takes a hesitant step toward him.
Now that the others have landed and are so near my prison, I can see that it's Levi, Odette, Arielle Knightly, and Ellie.
What the hell? These are the last people I expect to be part of my rescue mission except for Ellie. I'd hoped that despite what Jesse said before I left his office that he would have found a way to get me out. Why do I have to be such a damn romantic?
All we had together was a shower that one time and sex. Sure, both events were amazing and wonderful, but, ugh.
While I think my thoughts, my heart tightens. I want more from Jesse, like a lot more. But I messed everything up by getting caught. I'm always saying I'm a great thief, but my track record since meeting Jesse has proven otherwise.
And now, even if by some miracle I do escape, my life at the Academy is over. Hell, I'll be on the run forever. Always looking over my shoulder. Because if Michael is asshole enough to hold a grudge to the point that he'd kidnap a boy and leave him in this place for years, then I'm totally fucked.
"It's me, Ellie. It's your brother, Paul." Paul's words filter through the room and bring me out of my thoughts.
Odette gags again. Covers her nose as she lifts into the air, her brown and green wings sending dust and stench everywhere.
"Where are you going?" Arielle asks, turning on her flashlight and shining it in Odette's direction.
"Away. It's fucking freezing in this attic, and I can't deal with the stench."
"What a pussy," Arielle whispers, turning her gaze and the phone light back to the cages.
Levi grunts his response, but he's focused on Ellie and Paul.
I watch until Odette reaches the broken window and flies out of sight.
"Are they all dead?" Arielle asks, coming to stand beside Levi.
Levi says something, but I don't catch it.
Instead, I hear Ellie speaking and listen. I'm frantic to have her know where I am but also curious about what's happening between her and Paul.
"It can't be." Ellie takes another cautious step, her head tilted to one side as though she's trying to see her brother in the skeletal figure.
"Uh-huh," Paul says. "Remember the time you snuck out of the house to hang out with Bobby and mom found out? But I covered for you by saying you went to the gas station to get me some soup, and mom believed me."
Before now, I didn't know Ellie had a brother. We kept our pasts in the past and only focused on what we had as friends and roommates.
"Paul. It is you." Ellie runs to Paul's cage. Drops to her knees and grabs Paul's outstretched hands. "Paul," she cries, trying to hug her brother.
"It's me, Ellie. It's me." Paul is crying, too, but it rapidly becomes a cough.
I can't help the tears streaming down my face either.
"I can't believe it's you. I thought you were dead." She's laughing and crying at once.
I sniffle, wiping the wetness from my cheeks.
"We're going to get you out of here," Ellie says, shining the light around the bars. "Where's the opening?"
"Ellie, it's no use." Another cough rattles through Paul, and this time it sends him onto his side.
"It's just a cough. I'll get you out, and we can find someone to fix you up." Ellie stands and glances back at Levi. Then Arielle. Either she doesn't care or doesn't notice Odette is gone. "Help me find the latch," she says to them before searching Paul's iron prison.
Levi and Arielle look at each other like they aren't sure how to help.
"Ellie," Levi finally says, his voice hovering between worry and exasperation.
"Here it is." Ellie dries her face and then kneels. Tugs on the bars. "What is this? There's no lock, but it won't open."
The archangel, who looked like a statue moments ago, shifts her body, and my eyes fix on her.
"The only way out is with the touch of an archangel. And the only archangel who knows how to enter this forsaken place is Michael," she says.
As a group, the others turn in the archangel's direction.
"What are you saying?" Ellie stands, her hands on her head. She's close to losing it, I can tell. She mutters something and looks at Arielle. "Aren't you an archangel?"
As soon as Ellie asks, we all focus on the actress.
"I mean, both my parents are, but I don't think it's passed on," Arielle says, lacing her fingers together.
"What? Who's your dad?" Ellie clenches her hands together.
Arielle rolls her eyes. "That is none of your business, Ellie."
My best friend rushes the actress. "Arielle, please. I must get my brother out. And you can't want him to stay in here. I mean, look at him. He needs medical attention, and he didn't do anything wrong." She is blabbering and repeating her words over and over, pleading like I've never seen her before. "Please."
"And Mira?" Arielle says, taking a step back.
Ellie shakes her head. "Shit, yes. Of course. Mira too." She calls my name. "Mira. Where are you?"
I debate whether to answer but decide I can't let her think I'm not here. "Ellie, I'm over here," I say.
The three of them walk over to my cage.
Levi scowls. It's obvious he wants to leave me right where I am. Asshole.
Arielle looks me over like I'm an exotic bird. "Aren't you lovely?" She swallows. "Though I don't think you'll last long." She squats, her eyes finding mine and holding them.
"The two of you could be sisters," Levi says.
I snort, as does Arielle.
"Right." She straightens and puts her hands on her hips. "Similar eye and hair colors don't make us relatives, Levi."
Ellie kneels and puts her hand inside the cage.
I take it into mine. Hers is warm, while mine is like ice.
"I'm so sorry," Ellie says.
I know she's talking about the last time we spoke. Emotion chokes me up, and I nod. "I'm sorry, too."
We laugh nervously, and I squeeze her hand. "Thanks for coming, Ellie."
"I didn't mean anything I said before. About you not being my family. You always will be," she says and wipes at her eyes.
"I know," I respond, wrapping my other hand around hers. "You'll always be my family too." I sniffle and dab my face on my shirt. "And you have a brother. Paul. He's very nice." I give her a watery smile.
"Yeah," she says, looking back over to him. I can tell she's torn. "We're going to save you both, somehow."
The archangel in the cage uses this opportunity to interrupt. "You with the archangel parents, I know you," she says, indicating Arielle. "Your mother is Rebekah, and your dad is…" She lets the sentence trail off as her eyes gleam even brighter. "I can't believe it. Your father is Michael."
Arielle's mouth drops open. "You knew my mom? But how? She isn't on Earth."
"We were friends a very long time ago," the archangel says.
My head is spinning. If Arielle was born before Heaven closed, that would mean she's super old. Yet, she looks my age.
"My name is Bianca. Release me, and I'll tell you all you want to know about her. Hell, I can even help you get back to Heaven."
Arielle steps closer to the cage. "You're lying. The only way back is with the seven CeleStones." She pauses. "Right?"
"Wrong. That's just what Michael wants everyone to think. Let me out, and I'll help you," Bianca says.
The desperation in Bianca's voice is thick, but it doesn't seem like anyone else notices.
"Careful. Bianca will say anything to be free," I say, even though I know next to nothing about angels. My gut says I'm right.
Arielle glances over at me. Then turns back to Bianca. "If you're an archangel, why can't you open your cage?"
"It doesn't work like that, Arielle. Once inside these damn things, regardless of a being's heritage, our powers are nullified."
Damn. Michael is a bastard but also brilliant.
"Why did he put you in here?" Arielle asks.
"Because your father is an asshole, that's why," she says and spits. "Just touch the fucking cage. That's all it takes." Bianca pushes her face between two top bars and one eye lasers in on the actress.
"Fine." Arielle's fingers brush against the steel. As soon as she connects, white lightning surrounds the cage, filling the room with intense light.
I shade my eyes against the brightness.
Paul screams like he's in pain.
The electric glow surrounds Arielle, too, so she appears to be made of light.
Fear fills Arielle's face, and she pulls back, using her wings to lift into the air.
The radiance fades, and the door to Bianca's cage swings open.
Before the rest of us comprehend what's happening, Bianca has escaped her cage and is in the air. Her dirty wings scatter grime in a flurry as she turns in a circle before heading toward the skylight. "So long, bitches!"
"Wait," Arielle says, flying after Bianca. "I want to know about my mom. You promised."
Bianca cackles and tucks her wings briefly. They are no longer gray but the color of ripened tomatoes. She darts up through the opening and vanishes out of sight.
"Don't go," Arielle cries and hurries after her.
I make a mental note that Arielle's wings are navy with white tips.
"Stop. Arielle. You have to free my brother and Mira," Ellie cries. One hand reaches into the air like that will slow Arielle's progress.
It doesn't, and the angelic actress is gone in an instant.
"Shit," Ellie swears, clenching and unclenching her fists. "What about you, Levi?" She faces him, and I see the misery in her features. "Touch the cage and open it." It's a command, and I watch Levi to see how he'll react. I don't know the guy at all, but I can tell he doesn't appreciate taking orders.
To my surprise, he agrees without a word and goes over to Paul's cage.
I can't figure the guy out. One second, he acts like a menacing bouncer in a club, and the next, he seems to care for Ellie. Which is it, Levi? Make up your damn mind.
It doesn't escape my notice that even though he's closer to my cage, he walks over to Paul's instead.
Carefully, he lays a hand on it. Red sparks flicker from his palm and fingers, and Ellie yelps with glee. But her excitement is short-lived. The flashing light fades, and the cage is still locked.
"I'm sorry, Ellie," Levi says, rubbing his hands together.
"No." Ellie drops to her knees, her hands covering her face.
"It's okay, Ellie," Paul says, brushing her hair with his bony appendages. "I'm just so glad I got to see you one more time before—"
"Don't say it," Ellie snaps, her sorrow replaced by angry fear. She faces Paul and takes both of his hands in hers. "Paul Leopold Lore, you will not die today. Do you understand?" She shakes them as she speaks as though she can force her will into him.
Paul turns away and coughs, and then smiles. "You always did use my full name when you're pissed."
"Yeah, and she still does," I say, knowing from experience Paul is speaking the truth. I can't help but smile as well.
Ellie stands and puts her hands on her hips, focusing her attention on Levi. "We need a plan to get them out, but first, I need you to change my brother." Her chin is lifted in resolve as though daring him to deny her.
Levi cocks an eyebrow. "Into a vampire?"
"Yes, damn you. Change him into a vampire. That way, he can survive until we figure out how to get him out."
That's not a bad idea.
But Levi shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest. "Changing someone into a vampire without consent goes against the human and supernatural accords." He runs a hand through his hair like he hates that he has to share the regulation aloud.
"So fucking what. You're in the supernatural mafia. Rules don't apply to you. Now do it." She rises on her tiptoes as she speaks and jabs him in the chest with a finger. "Or I won't steal the gem for you."
He tosses his head back in a mirthless laugh. "I think that is a moot point, don't you?" His eyes turn serious. "Mira tried and look at her." He looks at me for confirmation.
I reluctantly nod even though I don't want to agree with him on anything. "Yeah, Ellie. I failed."
"See? There's no point remaining here to steal the CeleStone. We need to get the hell out of this icebox of an attic, leave the Academy, and return to the Halo so I can speak with my dad." Levi's voice is soft like he doesn't want to hurt her. But it's insistent too.
"Paul," Ellie tries again.
"I can't turn Paul into a vampire." Levi's shoulders sag. "There are some laws that even the supernatural mafia can't break."
Ellie's anger vanishes. "Levi, please. I'm begging you. I'll do whatever you want for however long you want, just don't let my brother—"
Before she can finish, Levi puts a hand over her mouth. "Someone is coming." He doesn't wait for her to respond or resist. Just wraps his arms around her and soars into the air and out the damned window.
Thank you for reading Midnight Wings, volume one in the series. Next read Midnight Bites to get Ellie’s point of view as well as find out about her and Levi. Not to mention what she’s going to do with Levi when he puts her down.
Get it today.
