Wanted Angel - Sadie Moss Page 0,72
some instructions from Isaac so that when there was an unusual spike in demonic activity on Earth, we would sense it. Another demon portal, for instance. I can feel demonic portals if they’re nearby, but not if they’re far away. And since we’re out in the middle of nowhere right now, I highly doubt that we’re going to see Anderson and Salinas attacking the middle of the forest just south of the Canadian border. I mean, it’s possible, but it sure doesn’t seem likely.
But with this long-range alarm system we set up, we’re alerted the moment a large amount of demonic power tries to break through into the human, mortal world.
Apparently, given the loud blaring noise that’s sounding through the entire cabin-slash-mansion, our alarm system has worked.
Everyone jolts awake and scrambles. Ford, always the most energetic, is out of bed first, clamoring down the stairs still in just his underwear, and I can literally hear him skid to a halt in front of the system. “Hawaii!” he yells back up the stairs.
Beck and Sawyer are down the stairs next as I finish struggling into my clothes, then the rest of us follow.
“It’s Mauna Kea,” Beck announces. I hurry the last few steps down the stairs with the other men behind me, all of us bumping into each other like a bunch of lemmings. “It’s a volcanic mountain.”
Ah, crap sandwich. A volcano? Of course they would pick something like that for their portal location. It will aid the hellfire and make it more powerful.
“We have to get over there,” I say breathlessly.
“Bless the fucking witches,” Sawyer says, pulling out the package that Valentina sent to us a couple days ago.
It contains charmed objects that she and several other powerful witches created. I know Sawyer was reluctant to ask her for help with the bounty on my head, but things seemed much less tense between them when we asked for her assistance this time.
“Containment charms, everyone,” Ryland orders, taking the charms that Sawyer’s pulling out of the box and passing them around to each of us.
I take mine. It’s a small silver cube, and it’s cool to the touch. I shove it into my back pocket, praying it’ll work when the time comes.
Beckett draws a quick chalk circle on the floor, then puts down one of the strange pieces of paper that will cast a group transportation spell.
We all gather inside the circle, and he activates the spell to deliver us to Mauna Kea.
I don’t think I’m ever really going to like being magically transported. I much prefer to get around via my legs or my wings. That’s why I have them, after all. But even I couldn’t fly fast enough to get to Hawaii in time.
“Fucking hell.” Beck curses under his breath, and I open my eyes, fighting off the dizziness as I look around.
Shit. A bunch of demons are already here, including Salinas. They’re up ahead toward the top of the volcano, working their twisted, corrupted magic.
“They’re going to use the volcano as a conduit,” Ryland says, his voice hard. “Create an explosion and make the lava carry the hellfire up into the air where the heavenly light can reflect it.”
It’s a clever plan, I have to admit that. It’s simple, but it’s going to be nearly impossible to stop.
Well, unless our plan works.
“Hey!” I yell, in case Salinas hasn’t noticed us yet. If we can stop him and the rest of the corrupted from finishing their little spell-thing, then we might not have to use our full plan at all. “I don’t think we ever finished our fight, you asshole! I’m not fucking done with you!”
Okay, so it’s not a very angelic sounding challenge, but there’s something fortifying in curse words. I feel strong, empowered, and ready for battle.
Salinas whips around, snarling and glaring at me. “You—you’re supposed to be—”
“Locked up and docile?” I shoot back, unfurling my wings as a burst of powerful energy shoots through me. I don’t have to look down at myself to know that I’m glowing with my angelic light. I’m filled with that same righteousness that I felt last time, and it carries me forward as I storm toward Salinas. “Yeah, you wish.”
“You’re a bit more powerful than we gave you credit for,” the demon acknowledges, a trace of his former elegance returning before his inhuman, terrifying face shows up again. “If you really want me to kill you this time, then by all means. Anderson will understand you’ve lived out your usefulness.”
Right,