Unchained (Nephilim Rising 1)

“Shut up,” Lily said, turning back to the minion. “We can make this hard or harder. Cooperate with me and that’s the difference between a painful death and a really painful death.”

It took quite a bit of convincing, and by the time the minion had started to talk, his throat looked like hamburger meat, and she’d lost count of how many times Julian had hit Baal.

“Okay. Okay,” the minion gasped. Little bubbles of blood frothed on his lips. Thank God he was starting to talk, because it was really grossing her out. “I don’t know who the Nephilim is. Wait! Wait.” He gasped, staring up at her with transparent eyes. “All I know is that he’s arrogant. He’s been…he’s been meeting with other minions, passing the info along. He ends up killing half the minions after they deliver the information.”

Lily’s eyes met Julian’s. Excitement bubbled in her. They were getting somewhere. “At least now we know it’s a guy.”

Julian arched a brow. “We knew that.”

“Party pooper,” she muttered, turning back to the minion. “What else do you know?”

“You stupid, fucking minion,” Baal growled.

“I’m growing weary of your mouth.” Julian sounded bored. “Keep it up, and I will rip out your tongue.”

“But not before I beg for her forgiveness?” asked Baal. He spat out a mouthful of blood. “Right?”

“So this Nephilim has been killing half of his contacts?” When the minion didn’t answer, she shook him. He was fading. The poison of the silver blade was doing its job slowly but surely. “Answer me!”

“Yes,” he gasped. “He thinks he’s…better than us, but the stupid shit doesn’t realize he’s turned.” A raspy, guttural laugh rose up through the minion. “All I’ve heard is that it’s a personal thing.”

All of this sounded like it could be Micah, except the personal thing. Arrogance was Micah’s middle name. “Details?”

The minion laughed again. “Don’t know any, but…that pisshead over there probably knows, goddamn Fallen.”

No honor among evil creatures of the damned. She almost laughed. “Who are the contacts running the information back to?”

There was pause, and the minion shuddered. “Asmodeus.”

“Christ,” Lily muttered. This was worse than she had originally thought.

“That’s all I know,” the minion said. “Now finish it.”

She’d never really tortured a minion for information before. Julian had dealt with the last one. She sent him a questioning look. He nodded.

“All right then, good night.” She slammed the blade through the minion’s chest. There was a gasp, and then he was no more.

“How’s the arm?” Julian asked.

She waved dismissively at the bite marks on her forearm. “I’ll live.”

“Why don’t you come over here and let me kiss it?” Baal suggested with a leer.

Wiping her hands on her pants, she slowly approached the two creatures. Eagerness crept over Baal’s face. His tongue darted out through his bloodied lips. Without stopping, she ignored Julian’s curious gaze and kicked Baal between the legs.

“Damn it!” Baal roared, doubling over as far as Julian allowed.

Julian chuckled. “That’s my girl.”

Lily knelt in front of Baal, careful to stay out of his grasp. “I think next time I’ll use my blade down there.”

Baal laughed harshly. “Then how will we be able to consummate our relationship?”

Bile rose in her throat. “You’re sick.”

“And your skin feels like Heaven when I mark it.”

She didn’t have a chance to react. Julian spun Baal around and coldcocked him in the face. Julian’s face contorted in rage as he pulled Baal up by his shirt and slammed him back down. This went on until she stepped forward, placing a hand on Julian.

“That’s enough,” she said quietly. “I know he can prove that it’s Micah betraying us.”

“He’s not going to tell you anything. Baal is Asmodeus’s little bitch now.” He flipped Baal back around, clasping his arms behind his back. “Believe it or not, but he is loyal to Asmodeus. I am curious as to how that happened.”

“Oh, you know how Asmodeus is. He asks for one goddamned favor and you’re stuck with him. He got me about four years ago. Haven’t quit him yet,” Baal said, as if they were discussing the weather and he wasn’t bleeding all over the place. “You’d know how that is, Julian. Huh?”

Julian stiffened.

Grinning, Baal looked up at Lily. “But I…have something even better to tell you.”

“If you can’t tell me who’s been betraying the Sanctuary, then you have nothing I want to hear.”

Baal laughed. “You’re so naïve. It’s sexy.”

Her hands curled into fists. “Tell me who is betraying the Sanctuary. Is it Micah?”

“Micah?” Baal tried to stand, but Julian pressed on his back more. “I don’t know who the fuck that is, and I don’t care. And why do you care, little Lily pad? From what I hear, they’ve tossed you on your ass for shacking up with this one.” He jerked his head back at Julian. “Screwing the enemy? How deliciously cliché. You’re not the first, but you know that. That pretty blonde had spread her legs, too.”

“Do not talk about Anna,” she spat.

Another hoarse, wheezing laugh escaped him. “Tell me, was it worth being kicked out of the Sanctuary for him?”

Anger snapped along her skin. “I wasn’t kicked out.”

“Yet,” Baal murmured, lifting his head again to pierce her with the same vibrant, blue eyes Julian had. “Is his cock so good that it’s worth losing everything?”

“That’s it,” Julian snarled as he brought Baal to his feet. He looked at Lily. “He’s not going to tell you anything. You want to do the honors?”

Part of her wanted nothing more than to shove the blade deep into Baal’s throat, but there would never be another chance to capture a Fallen. A tiny flame of hope ignited in her that she could get him to talk. And if she just had to deal with his insults, she could live with that.

“Give me a few more minutes,” she said, drawing in a deep breath. “Do you know who the Nephilim is, Baal?”

His bloodied lips twisted into a smirk. “Yes. So do you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Then it’s Micah?”

Baal sneered. “How about I make you a deal? I’ll tell you who it is if you let me tell you a secret.”

“Lily,” Julian warned. His powerful muscles bunched around Baal’s neck, surely choking him. “This isn’t wise.”

Maybe not, but she couldn’t care less what his secret was. “I need something that links Micah to you all. Just his name won’t work. I need evidence.”

“Sure. I can do that for you,” he said.

Hands clenching, she waited for him to continue.

“You have to come a little closer, darling.” Pain and anger flickered across his face when Julian’s arm tightened. “It’s kind of hard to talk with…this asshole choking me.”

“Don’t come any closer,” Julian warned, eyeing Baal. “He’s up to something.”

Lily took a cautious step forward anyway. “He’s always up to something.”

Baal sneered through the blood. “Do you know I’ve killed every dark-haired, green-eyed woman I’ve come across in the last eight years? Hundreds of them. And very slowly. They reminded me of you, sweetheart. And all of them—every last one of them—screamed for mercy. Just like you screamed.” His eyes drifted shut, and he groaned low in his throat. “They begged, and I heard you begging each—”

Moving inhumanly fast, Julian spun Baal around and slammed him into the cement beam. “Shut up,” Julian snarled. “Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” Each word punctuated with a brutal jab to the face.

Lily felt sick as images of faceless and nameless women assaulted her. That was Baal’s secret? She realized then he wouldn’t give her any information on Micah. He wanted to taunt her with his cruelty and sickness.

“That’s not all,” Baal gasped. A mouthful of blood ran down his chin. “I fucked—”

His words were cut off by a wet, sickening crunching sound. All these years Lily dreamed of the moment when she’d be able to watch the life go out of Baal’s eyes, but when it finally happened, she turned away. She felt hot and cold all at once. Nausea rose sharply.

Then there was silence, and all she could hear was the sound of her own ragged breathing. Seconds later, a flare of intense white light lit up the parking garage. Baal was no more. Her shoulders slumped as his words went on replay.

Strong arms surrounded her, turning her and holding her close. Lily tipped her head back. “Do…do you think he was telling the truth?”

Julian smoothed a hand down her cheek as he stared over her head. He didn’t answer.

Lily sighed. “All those women—”

“It’s not your fault,” he said, looking at her. “None of what Baal did is your fault.”

She knew it wasn’t, but it didn’t make it easier to swallow. “I guess I should’ve listened to you.”

Julian laughed, but there wasn’t any humor. “You’re Lily. I really didn’t expect you to listen to me, but I wish you had.” He bent, brushing his lips over her forehead. “At least it wasn’t a total waste. Baal is dead, and the information the minion provided may turn out valuable. And we now know it’s Asmodeus pulling the strings. That’s something.”

“Damn it. I know Baal knew who it was.”

“He would never tell you if he did. Many would rather face an eternity in Hell with Him instead of betraying Asmodeus.” Julian kissed the top of her head as he clasped her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “It’s late. Let’s go.”

She let him pull her away, but she couldn’t help but look back. A black mark seared the cement beam that Baal had been against, the only reminder of the fallen angel. Shuddering, she thought of those women, and how she would have been one of them if it hadn’t been for Julian all those years ago.

Chapter Twenty-six

Sunday should have consisted of more hunting and sleuthing, but instead it involved eating in bed and bad action movies.

And sex, lots of sex.

“I’ll never let you out of this bed,” Julian murmured. “I think I could keep you here forever.”

She climbed on top of him. “Haven’t you had enough?”

He grasped her hips, sliding her toward his erection. “I’ll never have enough.”

Really, she believed him. He had been insatiable. Not that she was complaining. It was nice to forget everything for a little while, especially after the night before. Hovering above him, she clasped his hands to the mattress. “I have to go back to the Sanctuary tomorrow.”