Infernal Read online

  “No sign of Nehemiah?”

  Caleb shook his head. “Not yet. I think I know where he’ll go eventually, once his fear subsides.”

  “I hope Michael doesn’t do anything to him. Nehemiah has a good heart.”

  “He truly does. I need to reach him and make sure he is all right.”

  “You’ll find him. Then we can put this behind us, finally.” He leaned in to kiss Caleb again when Nick entered the room.

  “I still can’t reach Jake. He isn’t at home either.” He paced around the kitchen, rubbing his hands together rapidly. “This is bad, guys. He needs our help. Why are you just standing around? We need to find him.”

  “Nick, buddy, we will. We need to find Nehemiah first.”

  “I’m so worried about him. This wasn’t his fault, you know? He’s being coerced and tempted.”

  “Jake can free himself, Nick,” Caleb said to him. “He has to want to. He can resist the whispers.”

  “No, he can’t. Not right now. He’s too vulnerable and alone. He doesn’t have anyone. What if he does something crazy? What if he hurts himself? I need to find him. He needs me.”

  Micah left Caleb’s warm embrace and halted Nick. “Hey…hey… look at me. We’ll find him. He’ll be okay. I swear it. You need to calm down so we can make a plan. Okay?”

  “All right.”

  “Good. Why don’t you get some rest while I make dinner.”

  “Right.” Nick headed down the hall to his room.

  Caleb took Micah’s hand and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll begin my search for Nehemiah again in the morning.”

  “You got it. Maybe you can ask him about Jake.”

  “Do you really want me to?”

  “I promised Nick.”

  “I suspect that Nehemiah will tell us much the same. He can only chase away the tempter. More will return to meddle. Jake has to want them to go away. If he is not willing… then…”

  “I know. I’m afraid we all know the answer to this one. Everyone except Nick.”

  12.

  Caleb’s thoughts were split between Micah and Nehemiah. He longed to be back home with Micah, in his arms, warm and secured but his heart broke for Nehemiah. He felt the fear in the angel as he fled Nicki’s condo.

  He approached river that was so familiar now. It was like a second home, not only to Caleb but to Nehemiah as well. Caleb walked over to the river’s edge and looked out over the peaceful water.

  “Brother, I know you are here.”

  The water rippled and moments later, Nehemiah rose from beneath the river. The water rolled off of him, leaving his glowing blond-white hair and sleek body untouched.

  “Caleb, why do you seek me out?”

  “I worry about you. We just made amends and I feel the fear in you.”

  “The Arch Demon was right. Michael will punish me. I will suffer his wrath for my betrayal.”

  “It was not a betrayal. It was love.”

  Nehemiah cracked a smile. “My actions will not be taken as such. My failure to smite you will be seen as traitorous. I cannot escape Heaven’s sight.”

  “Yes, you can. Come with me. We will protect you until Michael can be convinced to forgive you.”

  “Protect me? Caleb, he will send others in my place to destroy you and I will be pulled back to Heaven and probably stripped of my command, lose my wings or worse. What can you—”

  “I eluded you all this time. And beat you in combat.”

  “You did not beat me. You touched me.”

  “What is the difference?” Caleb smiled slyly.

  Nehemiah laughed.

  “We can protect you,” Caleb continued. “Micah and I have been through much and fought the forces of Hell. We will set up barriers to hide you from all the other angels’ eyes. We will let no harm come to you. Trust us. Please.”

  Nehemiah walked slowly out of the water and made his way to Caleb. He stared into the fallen angel’s eyes. Caleb felt Nehemiah’s vulnerability, his burning love, his terror and his hope. They embraced. Caleb felt the soul of his brother surge through his fleshly shell.

  “You are still surprising me with your nature. You are unlike any fallen that came out of Hell.”

  “I never belonged there in first place.”

  Caleb took Nehemiah’s hand. “Come to our home. After what you have done for us we would be honored.”

  Nehemiah could only nod. He shifted to a more human form to blend in and walked away from the river with Caleb, back to Micah’s home.

  ###

  “More flowers,” Nicki said as he face lit up with a smile. “I’m a lucky girl.”

  Rick put them on her beside table and sat in the chair next to her bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “A lot better, thank you. Did you watch over me too? I can’t really remember a lot. Only bits and pieces.”

  “Yes. I took turns with the others. I never left during my shift not for a second.”

  “Thank you, Rick. I really don’t know what to say. Everyone was so amazing to me. Really.”

  “Forget it. It was nothing.”

  “It wasn’t nothing. A lot of people would have just gotten as far away from me as they could. Most would have been scared shitless. Not all of you guys. You are my best friends in the entire world.”

  He reached out and took her hand. His heart suddenly started beating faster. A tingling tripped up his arm and down his spine like chills. To be honest, he loved every moment of it. He stared into her eyes for moment before looking away.

  “Everyone loves you.”

  “I love you guys. More than I can say.”

  Tell her. Just tell her. Tell her how you feel dammit.

  Rick wanted to tell her more but the words wouldn’t come. Instead he sat there, feeling awkward as he held her hand.

  “So how do you like the food here?” Idiot. Idiot!

  “It sucks but I couldn’t happier to eat it. I’m glad I can even eat food again after all of this.”

  “Right? I’m so sorry you went through that, Nicki.” He brushed his thumb across her hand.

  “Thanks. I’m okay now. Really.” She slipped her hand from his. She stared at all of the flowers in her room and smiled.

  “Good. I’m so glad to see you smiling again.”

  “You’re sweet, Rick.”

  “Yeah well…I should probably get going. I’ll come by again tomorrow.”

  “Sure. I’d love to see you.”

  He smiled. She’d love to see me! “Great. Get some rest.”

  “I will thanks.”

  Rick left the hospital room and walked down the hall with a spring in his step. She’ love to see me. What am I waiting for? All of these years of keeping it to myself. Tell her. Just tell her!

  “Not today.”

  ###

  Starlight winked in between the clouds. A strong breeze blew through the city. A light came on in Micah’s bedroom.

  “Thank you for letting Nehemiah take refuge with us,” Caleb said to Micah.

  “How is he?”

  “He is resting on the couch.”

  “Good. I’m glad he decided to come back with you. At least for now he can feel safe. Maybe even sleep.”

  “Angels never sleep. Even when resting their human bodies they are aware.”

  “Of course.” Micah shook his head and grinned.

  Caleb expression confusion but pushed it aside. He went up to Micah put his arms around him. He nuzzled Micah’s neck and ear before sliding his lips to Micah’s and kissing him. “It has been so long since I’ve even been able to hold you.”

  “I’ve missed this too.” Micah tugged at Caleb’s black t-shirt then pulled it slowly over his head. He ran his hands over his lover’s heaving chest and kissed him gently.

  Caleb unbuttoned Micah’s shirt and opened it wide. He bent to his chest and kissed it, caressing both of his nipples with his tongue. Micah pulled Caleb closer to him and onto the bed.

  They undressed each other
slowly, folding into each other’s naked bodies. Micah stretched across the bed and held Caleb his arms. He kissed and kissed him, savoring the touch of his lips, slipping his tongue in and out of Caleb’s mouth, sliding his hands over Caleb’s muscular back and broad shoulders.

  Micah opened his legs and Caleb climbed between them. The heat grew between the two of them and Micah’s heart raced. His body quivered with the utter pleasure that Caleb showered him in. He sighed, looking deep into Caleb’s eyes and ran his hand through his lover’s hair.

  “We can finally stop looking over our shoulders,” Micah said. “Now we can get back to us.”

  “I think that would be really nice.”

  “Me too.” Micah wrapped his arms around him and held him tight. He closed his eyes and enjoyed their closeness, their warmth and love, and the quiet for the moment.

  ###

  Outside the house and across the street, Tom sat in his rental car smoking. He stared at the single light on at the back of the house.

  “Finally found you Micah,” he said under his breath, taking another drag from his cigarette. I think it’s time we met. The war is definitely coming.”

  He started his car back up and put it into gear. He couldn’t take his eyes off of the house and the window. All of his senses were suddenly on high alert. Something stirred in the pit of his stomach and it wasn’t the cheap dinner he had an hour ago.

  “It’s coming and you’re the key to it all.”

  Tom stepped on the gas and slowly rolled down the street. Before he turned off to his right he heard whispering in the car. He glanced up in his rearview mirror and saw a shadowy, hooded figure sitting in the backseat.

  Leave Blackstone now!

  Tom screamed out loud and the gas pedal slammed to the car floor. He veered off of the road and headed straight for a tree. “No! I command you to release my car! I demand you flee before I burn your soul!”

  The car came to a screeching halt inches away from the tree. Tom’s heart was in his throat. Sweat drooled down his face. He turned swiftly and looked into his backseat. Nothing was there.

  He wiped his hand across his forehead and caught his breath. “Shit. It’s worse than I thought.”

  ###

  The clouds parted over the old part of the city. Moonlight shimmered over a crossroads not far from Micah’s brother’s home. A sliver of this moonlight tore open the fabric of the night, the veil of reality.

  A doorway opened and a naked woman with long raven tresses stepped through. A serpent appeared over shoulders and coiled the length of her body. She walked down the purple-hued street and smiled up at the moon.

  Lilith was the first to step back into the Earth and behind her a few of the other fallen ones that sought redemption and escape followed shortly after. Tom Arson was right. It had already started.

  The Warring Heart Trilogy continues with Book 3: Scorched.

  Also by J. Ashburn

  The Warring Hearts Trilogy

  Bedeviled

  Infernal

  Scorched

  The Boys of Raven Cove

  That Old Black Magic

  Under His Spell

  Raven Ascending

  The Beast Within Trilogy

  Book 1: Man and the Beast

  Book 2: Lure of the Beast

  Book 3: Moon of the Beast

  Short Stories

  Matt’s Story-A Beast Within Short

  The Sons of Loki

  Connect with J. Ashburn

  Website: http://jashburnfiction.wordpress.com/

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jashburnfiction

  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jashburnfiction/

  Email: [email protected]