A Vampire for Christmas(88)
The silver in the weapon seared Damien. His heart, pumping futilely against the damage, sent miniscule bits of the poisonous metal throughout his body. It was a wound he would not survive with the silver contaminating his system so quickly.
Damien huffed in surprise as the pain of the injury slowly faded and the chill of death arrived. Almost in slow motion his knees gave way.
Angelina’s arms immediately encircled him, gently lowering him to the ground. She supported him in her arms and tried to draw the knife from his chest, but only partially succeeded since it was buried so deep.
Do…not…fret,” he said, awkwardly patting her hand, movement growing more difficult with each passing second.
I do not want to lose you,” she cried, tears running down her face and spilling onto his, their warmth a vivid contrast to the cold seizing his body.
I love you,” he said, wanting her to know that he understood this time. That the power of their love had saved her and him. The right choice, painful as it was, had kept him from killing Ramirez and losing his immortal soul.
She bent her head to his and kissed him. “I will love you forever,” she vowed and shifted her face to drop a kiss on his cheek, across his temple.
From the corner of his eye, Damien saw Ramirez grab a larger sword from one of his men. Wild-eyed at his defeat, the vampire captain rushed toward them, raising the sword high above his head, determined to do more harm.
Damien reached deep and collected the last of his waning strength. He grabbed the handle of the knife and ripped it from his chest. With his last ounce of power, he flung it in Ramirez’s direction.
As if some unseen hand guided the knife, it bit true, high up and deep in the vampire captain’s shoulder.
Ramirez screamed and dropped his sword as the silver burned his body. Aware of the risk if the dagger stayed for too long, he yanked the knife out quickly and began to advance again, his intent clear.
Ramirez wanted Angelina’s wings so he could keep her in this realm. So she would be his captive.
Save yourself,” Damien said, feebly pushing at her to leave his side.
Angelina sensed the threat, but it took all her willpower to release Damien and rise up. Inside her, righteous anger ignited at the last futile beats of Damien’s heart and his body went limp at her feet.
She stretched out her wings to a spectacular and frightening span. Her body began to glow brightly with the heat of her fury, driving back Ramirez and his two men. They had to shield their eyes against the brilliance of her power and the furious flap of her wings.
She had never felt such strength and realized then that Damien’s sacrifice had fulfilled her mission as his Guardian Angel and moved her to another level. But the pain in her heart sought justice.
She wanted to lash out at the vampires and seek vengeance, but she had no desire to become an Avenging Angel. Her only wish was to be reunited with Damien.
As that thought formed in her mind, a low drone filled the space of the room and was soon followed by the sound of dozens of rushing wings. So powerful was the clamor that it pummeled her body, making her tuck her wings tight around herself protectively. As she did so, a brilliant light suffused her, and the room, forcing her to shield her eyes against its strength.
The screams came a heartbeat later, loud and fearful.
Angelina peeked from behind the shelter of one wing. Vicious flames rose up from the ground and engulfed Ramirez and his two crewmen. Skin and meat fell from their bodies and became ash even before the gore hit the floor. The cries of the vampires continued until they were nothing more than skeletons. Then they disappeared from sight as the flames and light completed their gruesome task, obliterating all traces of the three demons.
The low drone rose up higher with the disappearance of the flames. Now she recognized the voices of the Herald Angels, singing brightly. Their clear, strong notes entered deep into her soul and offered unexpected hope with their joyous chorus. Their song provided her the strength to battle back the anger and pain that might have consumed her and led her on a path to the Devil.
From within that gleeful sound boomed a powerful voice. Raphael, she thought, as his words filled her head and heart, trying to heal her of the anger threatening to consume her soul.
Believe in the power of love.
She thought of Damien, a good man who had persevered even when trapped in a demon’s body. She thought of his sacrifice and his love even as he lay dying in her arms.
I believe, she confirmed to Raphael, driving the rage out of herself.
The song of the Herald Angels grew even more powerful with her admission as did the beating of their feathered appendages against her body. The heavenly wings thrashed wildly, almost painfully. They lifted her up, high off the ground, before suddenly releasing her.