Cam led his brethren farther south, down to the Portobello area of the city. Balthiour’s notebook hadn’t revealed much from what Cam had read so far; some of his insights about the demon’s darkness slowly infecting him, and how he felt it connected him to his old lover, who had not been healed in time and had to be put down before the darkness took her over.

The streets had generally cleared of the morning commuters, leaving mostly tourists and older couples, along with a few buggy pushers and children enjoying the sunshine. Cam studied the bright sky, scrutinising over the dark clouds building up from the east. The angels didn’t need direct contact with the sun to draw from the light, their power came from a much holier source, but still… a nice day was a nice day.

“How are you, Camael?” Chayy asked, walking beside him.

Cam had noticed him looking but managed to avoid talk up to this point. “Glorious, on a day like this.”

Rathanael and Layla walked across the street, almost parallel. They had learned it was best not to group together in public, from an incident a few months back. Seeing several hugely built men and tall, powerful women together—not to mention their widely considered attractive, flawless appearances—tended to draw too much unwanted attention.

“I understand this day must be hard for you,” Chayy said. “More so than it usually is for us. I wasn’t with you last year, and have not seen this Sephiaza that we seek, but I heard about what happened.”

Cam regarded the man. He had only known Chayyliel for a few months now, but had begun to see both softer sides and tougher sides to the man. At over seven feet tall, powerfully built, full beard and serious dark eyes, he could have been intimidating to see, even for an angel. In some ways he reminded Cam of Sablo, one of his closest friends, who was killed by Balthiour. They both had that balance of seriousness and playfulness, although not many people could match Sablo’s friendly, amiable manner.

“It was hard to handle,” Cam admitted. “At first. But I am fine, now.”

“The others have been worried about you,” Chayy said without pretence. “Some don’t like to talk about it, but their concern is clear. Bath seems to think you are doing well, however.”

“Bath is very wise,” Cam said. He met Chayy’s eyes. “The focus must always be on the balance of the world. Minor things like ex-lover demons who want to kill you pale in significance.”

Chayy smiled beneath his beard. “The balance must ever be shifted in our favour,” he said. “But I’m sure this isn’t easy for you, regardless. I am here for you, brother, if you need me.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you’re here with me.”

“Well, I’d rather be walking with Laylah,” Chayy said, nodding across the street. “Nicer scenery, at least.”

Cam smiled, suppressing a chuckle. “She is.”

The remark made him think of the humanity inside them all; not just the flesh and bones, but the emotions and flaws that tainted their heavenly bodies. Angels did not procreate or have relationships, and they viewed each other as brothers and sisters, but there had been occurrences of angels forming relationships together. Cam had been the first to fall for a human—but then Alyssa turned out to be a little more than that.

Their destination was a penthouse apartment overlooking the Portobello Canal. Cam asked them to stay in two groups and enter the building from different angels. Balthiour had called the place a safe house, one that he didn’t like to visit but that Sephiaza insisted on keeping. Cam needed to know why he didn’t like the place.

They found a cobblestoned alley away from the canal and jumped up off the walls to the top floor. Rathanael and Laylah reached the roof and entered the building through a fire exit.

Cam saw a slightly opened window and jumped to it. He hung on the windowsill and peeked in, seeing an open-plan room within. Long sofas and chairs made up the majority of the room, with an open kitchen area in the corner; all modern and clean. The blinds were drawn and little light reached into the dimly lit room.

On the sofa, watching a big screen TV, were two demons. They were in their human forms—gaunt, lanky frames, pockmarked skin, thin hair—and wearing their usual loose clothing. Cam turned to Chayy, hanging on the opposite wall, and gave him a severe look that was understood.

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Cam pushed the window open and jumped in.

The two demons startled and jumped up as Cam rushed to them, igniting his light sword. Ideally, he didn’t want to kill them, not right away, before getting answers from them, but demons weren’t the types for conversation.

The nearest one lunged at Cam as it began to transform. It ducked away from his swiping sword while it bulged and convulsed, growing twice its size, its skin breaking away to reveal black scales. Cam followed a swipe with a spinning kick, knocking the demon back over a chair.

The second one also shifted to its demonic form, becoming a huge black creature with a broad upper body, narrow waist and long, thin legs. Its head distorted to a grotesque version of its human form, fiery red eyes and sharply pointed chin.

Chayyliel appeared and barged into the second demon, his flying fists covered in balls of light. A final uppercut sent the demon crashing into the counter by the kitchen.

The first demon had fully transformed and stood facing Cam, huffing and growling, shaking with aggression. They ran for each other. Cam ducked under a swiping claw, bringing his sword round in a tight spin and slicing it through the waist. He jumped away from a backhand, pressing against the wall and then pushed back towards the demon. He caught it by the shoulder and hung on, bringing his sword up to attack. The demon keeled over and jerked Cam forward, sending him to the ground.

A pillar by the kitchen collapsed as Chayy fought the other demon.

Cam rolled to his feet. His head throbbed and he pushed a part of the sofa away to keep the approaching demon back.

The front door burst open. Rathanael and Laylah barrelled in, their light swords igniting. Laylah flipped through the air and attacked the demon approaching Cam.

Cam spun, fighting through a pulsing sensation in his head, and saw Rathanael fighting another angel. No, not an angel, a demon, still in human form. The man was tall and broad shouldered, with a small frame, dressed all in black. Cam’s heart jumped the moment he saw him; at first he thought he was looking at Balthiour—an angel with a dark energy—but this person was younger, barely in his twenties by human standards.

Readying his light sword, Cam sprinted towards Rathanael and this new demon.

He found an opening and swung at the man, followed by a series of attacks from Rathanael, but this new demon was fast. Very fast. He darted between their attacks in a blur of motion, as if made of smoke. He caught sight of Cam and paused, his brows rising. Cam found himself lost for a moment, time seeming to still as they locked eyes. He knew those eyes…

The demon jerked away from Rathanael’s attack and spun, closing the gap between them in an instant and pushing out with both fists. Rathanael shot across the room and hit the open doorway at an awkward angle, collapsing to the ground.

Something flashed behind the demon’s grey-blue eyes when he turned to Cam, a hint of a smile curling his lips. Demon’s only had black eyes.

In an instant he was on Cam, throwing punches and elbows, quick knees and kicks in a succession of close quarter attacks. Cam blocked and lashed out but the man was relentless, pushing him further back. Around him, his brethren battled the two demons in their larger forms, crashing through the kitchen area and knocking through a wall. Cam pressed back against the sofa. The man unleashed a flurry of attacks that ended with a fierce backhand that flipped him over the sofa and crashing through a glass table.

Regaining his senses, Cam lifted his head and saw the man looking down at him with glee. He was enjoying the fight.

“Catch me if you can,” the demon said, and darted towards the window.

Cam got up as the man’s dark form flew out, pushing off the opposite wall and shooting upwards. Cam did the same, flipping up to the roof. He cursed himself as he looked over the empty roof—suddenly surrounded by a quiet, whispering air and warm sun—feeling that he should stay with his brethren. But this man was important, somehow. They were led to this location for a reason, and this new demon could be it.

Movement came from behind a shuddering air vent as the demon jumped out. Cam dodged but a second swinging foot caught him in the shoulder and he staggered sideways, catching himself before he fell.

He turned but the demon was gone again, and then he came from the side. He was so fast. A blow caught Cam in the ribs and he keeled over, pain flaring through him. A boot struck him on his back and he dropped fully to the roof, coughing as dust and dirt clouded over his face.

The same boot rolled Cam over and the man stood over him. He was a dark shadow against the powerful sun overhead, but he leaned closer, blocking the sun and revealing his face.

Fighting through the pain and throbbing still in his head, Cam looked upon the man with watery eyes.

“Recognise me?” the demon said, grinning triumphantly.

Cam tried to speak but couldn’t find any words. Was he another angel infected and turned to darkness? Something about him… those eyes.

Rough hands picked Cam up, lifting him overhead. Disorientated, he realised they were moving to the roof edge. He forced himself to focus, willing strength back to him and began to struggle, but the man’s hold was too strong.

He was swung down and found his face suddenly close to his adversary’s.

“Who are you?” Cam managed to ask.

The man grinned, bringing him even closer. “Your son.”

Cam froze, a numbing chill running through him.

The man almost laughed. “Hi, Dad.”

He pushed Cam back and a hand shot out. Black light ignited and pain exploded in Cam’s shoulder. He looked down and saw a stream of dark light extending from the man’s fist. A white glow flickered from the wound as the dark blade retracted.

Cam’s vision blurred. The world spun. Wind rushed over him. The building flew past him before he hit the water and was swallowed into its dark depths.