Hero stood, rubbing his already sore lower back. “Did you really have to do that?” he demanded, glaring at Hawk who continued to stare blankly back at Alerik. He turned back to the angel. “Hawk wasn’t a King.”
“No, he wasn’t,” Alerik agreed. “And he continually refused the position, even when it was handed to him by another. The name he was given was meant as a sign of respect for what he had accomplished up to that point. It was also meant as a threat to the other Devil Kings, including Lucifer, and a challenge to God. Specifically, that he would bathe the universe in a sea of blood. I, among other angels, supported him in the hope that at the very least he would come to rule Hell, to finally put an end to all the rebellion and in-fighting. After all, who would want to challenge a demon who killed two Devil Kings and nearly killed God?”
Hawk’s fists clenched and his lip curled in a snarl, his marks beginning to appear. Hero put a hand to his head, wincing as the cloud of hate rolled through the link. He tugged on Hawk’s shirt, sending wave after wave, desperately trying to get him to stop. Hawk pulled back his rage and the marks receded as he relaxed.
Alerik watched the entire exchange with great interest.
“Look,” Hero said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Regardless, that’s not who he is anymore. You both are in the same boat, trapped here among us pathetic humans with no way to get back. Trying to antagonize someone you once idolized does nothing but put you at the business end of the most dangerous gun in the universe, one you’ve seen in action.” He waved his hand around the devastated area. “Not to mention, there are bigger problems to deal with right now, don’t you think? Hawk believes an angel was responsible for this. If it wasn’t you, then who was it? And what does it want?”
The angel smiled. “Quite the diplomat you have on your side, my lord.”
“I told you not to call me that,” Hawk said. “Be lucky it’s him and not me that just settled this because you’d be a grease spot right about now.”
“Aw, and after everything I’ve done for you,” Alerik said, shaking his head.
“You cut my hours for three weeks, you prick.”
“You were getting distracted.” His gaze went to Hero.
Hawk put his arm in front of Hero out of instinct, taking hold of his outside arm and guiding Hero slightly behind him. He did not like that look at all; as if Hero was a threat that needed to be neutralized.
“Answer his questions,” Hawk said.
“I have none.”
“Excuse me?”
“Believe it or not, exiled angels don’t exactly meet up for brunch once a week to discuss our plans or commiserate our unhappy circumstances. If there are any other angels around here, I wouldn’t know. Hell, I’ve been unknowingly working with demons! That should tell you how dull my senses have become over the last millenia.”
“Why were you looking up at the sky during that last microtremor?” Hero asked.
Alerik narrowed his eyes. “You’re rather nosy for a human.”
“Alerik, if you want to not die in the next thirty seconds, you will answer any and all questions he asks you. And…” he stepped closer to the angel who didn’t flinch. “If you insist on calling me by some ridiculous title, then you’ll do as I tell you and not argue.” He grinned. “As it also happens, I do know some angels who would love to take apart any of their own kind who fought on our side during that pointless battle.”
“Most angels who were exiled were involved in that event were on your side, that’s not much of a threat, my lord.”
“Who said they were exiles? I didn’t.”
Alerik’s eyes widened and he gulped. “They wouldn’t do you any favors,” he said uncertainly.
“I’ve dealt with a lot of beings over the last thousand years, including angels who’ve either been redeemed or who just like to pop in every once in a while for a visit. Trust me when I tell you, they don’t like being indebted to a high ranking demon, least of all myself. Plus, if they learned you have been working with two well known and highly feared demons, and have said and done nothing to us, I’m sure they would be none too happy.” His grin became even more threatening. Hero warned him silently to be careful. “Don’t you think?”
Alerik sneered at him. “You would have made an incredible King, my lord. Do you know that?”
“I’m aware.” Hawk took a few steps back and crossed his arms.
Alerik sighed and glared at Hero. “I suppose as this fool’s mate, I must show you the same respect as I do him.” He looked to the side as he thought best on what information he would be willing to part with and what to keep. He also considered if staying loyal to the King he once desired was even a good idea. Since he was still alive after all this time, and he hadn’t once wavered in his belief, as futile as it might have been, that the Blood King would rise again to finish what he had begun, he decided it was best just to relent and tell what he knew.
Even if it was a pathetic human who was asking. A human who had won the heart and favor of the most imposing demon of all time.
He sighed. “A few weeks ago, I heard a rumor there was an angel in the area who was looking for someone.”
“Who?” Hero asked.
“I don’t know. I do know that he was adamant the person he was looking for was in this city, however. That he had been searching for him for a long time.”
“You think it may have been him that did this?” Hawk said, pointing at the ruins.
“I honestly couldn’t say,” Alerik said, shaking his head. “If, perhaps, he did find that person, perhaps he did it as a show of force, to let that person know he was here.”
Hero frowned. “Do you know who this angel is?”
“Yes,” Alerik said, grimacing. “And he’s not one I recommend ever coming into contact with. He has a bad temper and zero self control. He would make a good demon, actually.”
“Funny.”
“What’s his name?” Hawk demanded, getting annoyed.
Alerik gulped, obviously nervous. “Ciel,” he finally said softly, the name suggesting someone to truly fear. Hawk and Hero exchanged a glance. “As I said, my lord, he’s not someone you want to involve yourself with. If anything, you should avoid him as much as possible. Especially since he is not the biggest fan of the Blood King or your followers.”
“I’m not the Blood King anymore and I don’t want groupies,” Hawk said. “I just want to live my life with Hero, that’s it. If this Ciel guy has a grudge, he can take it elsewhere. He’s done plenty here.”
Alerik turned and they all took in the devastation around them, all of them wondering what they were supposed to do now.
-*-
The earthquake destroyed nearly the entirety of the lower west side of the city, upending vehicles, felling trees and powerlines, tearing houses apart, turning buildings into rubble, and breaking apart the road. The worst of it centered around the store where Hawk and his friends worked, with the seismologists confirming it to be the epicenter of the quake. The aftershocks went on for another two days, but nothing more was really damaged. The road leading to Hawk’s house was blocked off due to fallen trees and major breakage so he stayed with Hero at his apartment.
Toji shifted to a hawk and joined them, reporting all the damage that had occurred to their home, though it wasn’t as extensive. He shifted into a cat and got comfortable.
“It’s nothing I can’t fix,” Hawk said, sitting at the table with Hero drinking coffee while Hero ate breakfast.
“You can fix pipes and all that?” Hero asked.
Hawk shrugged. “I’ve been around a long time, my dear, I’ve learned a thing or two.”
“He’s going to use his powers,” Toji tattled.
“Traitor.”
Hero smiled at Toji and petted his head, the cat responding with a loud purr. “May as well since it’s not like you can get much up there anyway. All the supplies are probably backordered at this point.”
“It’s also a priority thing,” Hawk said. “Now that all the rubble is cleared away, they’re going to want to focus on reconnecting the city’s utilities before the individual’s. If I want to do it myself, I either wait in line, or just do it my way. I’ve had to do it this way before so it’s no big deal.”
Hero frowned. “You’re sure Charlotte wiped everyone’s memory that was there?”
“As sure as I can be,” Hawk nodded. “The only ones she should have left alone are you three. If she left anyone else, that would spell more trouble for her since she’s the one that was more exposed. Alerik, too.”
Hero shook his head. “The way he was after he changed, he was never like that before. Grouchy and aloof, but not like…that.”
Hawk sat back and folded his arms. “He had to have been an advisor or something back then. If he was a supporter of mine, then it was behind the scenes, not on the field. Don’t get me wrong, he can fight, we saw that with Charlotte, but he probably didn’t do much of it. But then again, I didn’t exactly keep a head count. Nor did I pay much attention to who I killed half the time.” He looked away, ashamed.
“Angels stick out, though, don’t they?”
“Not when they’re covered in as much blood and grime as the rest of us. Angels are warriors, and fierce fighters at that. They also have more than just one set of wings. Alerik is no different. He wasn’t in battle so his armor wings weren’t needed. The bird-like ones are more for speed and agility and basic movement. Handy for rescuing people, but pretty useless otherwise.”
“He used feathers against her.”
“That’s true, he did,” Hawk admitted, thoughtfully. “I wonder if he…” he shook his head. “No, that’s impossible.”
“What?”
“Well,” Hawk sighed, gazing up at the ceiling. “There was a small platoon of angels that served under me at one point near the end, deadly fighters that fought without mercy. They were known as the Angels of Death because their attacks were so quick and meticulous, no one ever saw them coming. They also were good at stealth attacks, including the use of feathers as weapons. I can’t say I remember Alerik’s face, but I do know that move.”
“Why would it be impossible for him to be one of them?”
“Because they were obliterated by both God and Lucifer. Unless he managed to escape, there’s none left at all.”
Hero tilted his head. “If they were obliterated, wouldn’t you have forgotten about them?”
Hawk’s eyes went dark. “The Divine don’t ever forget. It’s only mortals that do.”
Hero leaned forward, resting his forehead on Hawk’s arm. “Well, that time is all over now and you’re no longer the Blood King and you don’t have an army to command. Just me and Toji.”
“And Charlotte,” Toji added. “And Alerik now, apparently.”
Hawk ignored him and wrapped Hero in his arms. “I don’t command you, Hero. If anything, you’re my equal. If I did still have advisors and soldiers and the whole thing, they’d have to respect and treat you the same way they do me. If they didn’t, they would face death.”
“Wow, how special am I,” Hero laughed. “You mean, even Toji and Charlotte would have to answer to me?”
“You’re the mate to the commanding officer of the Fourth Devil King’s army, we wouldn’t have a choice,” Toji said from where he sat on Hero’s lap, his new favorite spot. He looked up at Hawk. “Of course, you never had a consort or anything like that, did you?”
Hawk shook his head. “Never wanted one. Plenty of people to fuck, none I cared to keep.” He shifted in his chair uncomfortably, sipping at his coffee as he averted his gaze from Hero.
Hero reached up and turned Hawk’s face toward him, his red eyes catching the light from the morning sun. “You’re mine, Hawk Helman. None of that matters to me.”
“I know,” he muttered. “I just…sometimes it bothers me to remember the person I used to be. I was never the good guy, I never cared about anyone else, just my own ambitions and those of the King I served. I killed indiscriminately, fucked around in every possible way, did what I wanted to whomever I wanted, and damn the consequences. I was a true villain.”
“You’re definitely not one now,” Hero said. “You guys saved a lot of people the other night and you risked exposure doing so.”
“I only saved them because I had to. I was trying to get to you.”
“If I wasn’t there, and you knew I was safe, would you still save them?”
Hawk didn’t know how to answer. It wasn’t that their lives didn’t matter to him, they just weren’t as important to him as Hero’s. Even then, he had ordered Charlotte to save the people in the dairy cooler, and even made her change in order to save everyone. He lowered his head to Hero’s.
“You still matter more to me than any of them.”
“My point is still valid,” Hero said, his lips close to Hawk’s.
“Hero, if you didn’t exist, neither would they.” He took Hero’s chin in his fingers, gazing deep into his eyes. “If you had died during that whole thing, I would have let the building fall on the rest of them and not given it a second thought.” Hero didn’t even have to verify that through their link, he could see the truth of it in his eyes.
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