“You think they knew you were coming?” Bath-Kol asked. She sat beside Cam on a sofa. The early morning light streamed into the room, growing increasingly warmer.

Cam shook his head and felt a dull throbbing. Not the sensation of a demon’s presence, but a headache from lack of sleep—a necessity of his human side.

“I don’t know,” Cam said. “I don’t think so. Think we surprised them.”

In the far corner, Rathanael stood quietly, looking out the large windows, taking in one of his preferred moments of silence. While age had no relevance to angels, his appearance was older than the others, perhaps middle-aged for a human. His powerful, muscular frame still contained an infinite amount of energy, however; the source of Light that never waned.

“We’ll have Sarak on Zuriea’s team speak to the Prime Minister’s people,” Bath said. “Hopefully he can dampen some of the fallout.”

Cam sighed. He had given enough excuses in the past about why a battle had escalated and caused public destruction.

Bath looked over the heavy notebook in her lap. “What do you make of this?” she asked, her voice careful, delicate.

“It’s definitely Balthiour’s,” Cam said. “I was looking over it last night.”

Bath’s eyes softened. “Did you sleep at all?”

Cam turned away and stood up, facing the large windows. Their apartment looked over the River Liffey, high-rise glass buildings around them reflecting the rising sun.

“It goes a while back,” Cam said. “From when he was infected. Maybe he wanted to document his findings.” He turned to face her. “But Bal told me that he didn’t know he had been scratched until it was too late, and then was too afraid to tell anyone. This book says otherwise. He knew he was scratched, the demon’s darkness infecting him, and he allowed it to happen. He wanted it to happen.”

Bath sighed and stood up, stepping towards him. “Balthiour was a coward. He could have sought help, but he chose to go down the path he did.”

Cam rubbed his eyes, then met Bath’s careful gaze. “How is Nathanael?”

She nodded. “He will be fine. Duma and Haziel are looking over him. You brought him back to me in time to administer the healing. But he will be out for days, maybe weeks.”

Cam nodded, looking down. All it took was a scratch from a demon to infect an angel, corrupting them with a darkness that slowly seeped into their light. Balthiour was the last of them to have been corrupted.

A door opened and Lahabiel entered, carrying a tray with cups and a pot, followed by Chayyliel.

“Morning, Camael,” Lahabiel said softly, laying the tray on a table beside the sofa. Her movements were careful and elegant, with a grace that only an angel could wield.

Cam smiled at her approach. Whenever he was around Bath and Lahabiel he felt a calm sort of protection, like home. Likely because the two of them were always present in their hideouts—a constant support—administering aid to injured brethren or looking through old tomes, never entering battles themselves. As a Mystic Angel, Bath was well versed in their history and had the ability to tap into holier, spiritual sources that aided the angels and helped direct their work in the world. Lahabiel was also a Mystic, but mostly supported Bath as a secondary.

Chayyliel sat on a large chair beside the sofa and reached for the tray. For a giant, overly-muscled man, bald and bearded, he almost looked comical pouring a little teapot.

“How are you?” Lahabiel asked Cam, smoothing out her dress.

“Empowered by the sun,” Cam said, giving her a smile.

Lahabiel frowned with mock sternness. “Aren’t we all, today.” She rubbed his arm. “Tea is ready. Come.”

Cam sat with them, stretching the ache in his muscles, and allowed the others to talk. There was a lot to discuss and plan on the Summer Solstice. Rathanael eventually joined them after Lahabiel sternly insisted. Bath played with her long braid—currently coloured purple and red—her fidgeting a sign of worry.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Balthiour. His tainted memory still lingered over them all.

Their once-leader had been such a source of respect and guidance for Cam, for all of them, for so long. His fall had led him down a path that summoned a great demon to Earth. Even greater than a pure demon. Cam had not seen Sephiaza since she first manifested, a year ago today, taking the form of the woman he had fallen in love with, Alyssa. Balthiour said that Alyssa’s lineage traced back to a source of demonic power, and that the true essence of her soul was Sephiaza, but Cam could never believe that. He only knew Alyssa for a short time, but still… he knew her.

The front door opened. Cam startled but then he saw Sean come in.

“All looking nice and rosy,” Sean said in his usual light tone. And as usual, his eyes were hard and serious. “Kalaziel and Mihr are set up keeping watch over Sephiaza’s stronghold, just come back meself.”

There may have been doubts about allowing a human to join their cause, but Sean McMurphy had proven himself a valuable ally. While he was strongly built, for a human, he paled in stature compared to the average seven foot, bulky angel.

“Thank you, Sean,” Bath said gently.

“So what’s the plan?” Sean asked, walking to them.

Bath turned to Rathanael. “Would you bring Laylah from her room? And please apologise for interrupting her prayers.”

Rathanael nodded and made his way into a side room. He soon returned with Laylah, who was tying her long hair back.

“You look well, sister,” Bath said to her.

“I am well,” Laylah said. She smiled, though her eyes were tense, her features a little gaunt and pale.

Bath placed the book on the table and looked over them all. “I would have liked for Duma and Haziel to be a part of the discussion, but I don’t think I can remove them from Nathanael’s side. As you all know, today we will be confronting Sephiaza, in her stronghold in the Sandymount area just outside of town.”

“Confronting…” Sean said. “You can call it what it is: a full-scale assault.”

“It may become that,” Bath said, “but that is not our intention. We need to overpower her, and we’ll need all the help we can get not to turn this into a catastrophe.”

“I know how it works,” Sean said. “The Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, is when you guys are at your strongest.”

“And our best chance of shifting the balance of the world,” Rathanael said. He sat forward with a severe look. “We do not act lightly, Sean. This is your first Solstice with us. Let us do what we’ve been doing for millennia.”

Sean sighed, shaking his head, but he appeared composed and understanding. Cam noticed something dark flash behind Sean’s eyes—memories of his lost family both angering and calming him. Cam was familiar with the look.

“I know,” Sean said, his voice softening. “I’m just anxious, I think.” He met Bath’s concerned, penetrating eyes and added, “I’m grand.”

“Zuriea’s team will meet us at the stronghold,” Bath went on. “If anything changes there, we will be contacted by Kalaziel and Mihr.”

“Actually,” Cam said. He felt eyes on him and paused, wondering how he should proceed. “I found something in Bal’s notebook last night. It mentions a location, here in Dublin. I don’t know what it is, but I think it’s something we should look into.” He kept his expression neutral, avoiding Bath’s eyes.

“I’ll go on my own,” Cam added. “Now. Just to see what’s there, and I’ll be back as soon as I can. It won’t disrupt our plans.”

“I understand,” Bath said.

Cam had expected her to object, but was surprised to see warmth in Bath’s eyes when he finally turned to her. She had the same concerned look whenever they spoke of his time with Alyssa. She knew what he was thinking: maybe there was more information about Sephiaza there.

“If you feel it’s of importance,” Bath said, “then we will certainly look into it. Perhaps it isn’t coincidence that you discovered the location today. But not on your own, Camael.”

“Right,” Rathanael said. “I’ll go with you.”

“As will I,” Laylah said. “It’s time I left this place.”

Bath nodded. Laylah’s demon infection had been removed several months back, and even with a swift and healthy recovery, the other angel’s felt it best that she take some time away from battle.

“And I,” Chayy said.

Bath looked as though she would speak.

“I’ve never been one to sit idle,” Chayy went on. “Beats waiting around here, anyway.”

Bath eventually nodded. “That is well.”

“Thank you, all,” Cam said. “Your support will be welcomed.” He turned to Bath. “The book. Would you look over it, while I’m away?”

“Of course,” Bath said. “I will let you know my findings when you return. Lahabiel can continue my studies.”

“Right,” Cam said, remembering. “I’m sorry, I forgot you were busy. Have you learned anything more about bringing pure angels to Earth?”

Bath’s mouth tightened. “I have not. We’re still gathering information of the processes they used to summon a pure demon.”

“I don’t get that,” Chayy said, shaking his head. “By all accounts, pure versions of us shouldn’t be possible on this plane. That’s the reason why we’re all part human, right? But, a fully pure angel or demon…”

“It should not be possible,” Lahabiel said. “I agree. But this is what we’re dealing with. Nothing seems to go according to what we believe, any more.”

A silence came over them until Cam stood.

“Right,” he said. “We’ll be back shortly.

Bath stood up, smoothing out her dress. “Return to us safely, all of you. And keep your phones on you.”

“We’ll hold the fort, as they say,” Sean said, giving Cam a respectful nod.

“And Camael,” Bath added. “Try not to bring any buildings down.”

Cam managed a smile. He looked over them all and nodded, fighting back a dreaded feeling, deep inside, that he couldn’t place.