1
Brion
I jump off the sofa and run to the door, adding extra power to the armaments around the cabin. If what Gillian is saying is correct, every demon in Hell is going to be after her. We need to get downstairs so I can call the only two angels I trust for something this serious: Cas and Zakiel.
We .
I turn back to see my little scientist still sitting on the sofa, staring at me openmouthed.
“What are you doing?” Her voice is incredulous.
I stride over and grab her hand. “We need to hurry.”
She resists my attempt to pull her to her feet. “I thought you said this place is safe.”
Dammit. I sigh. “Gillian, this place is safe from a normal demon attack. But if you’ve found a way to close the portals from the underworld—and they know about it—this is not going to be a normal demon attack.”
“Why is it that when I’m with you, the entire world changes every few hours?”
“The world hasn’t changed,” I mutter, pulling her to her feet. “Only your perception of it.”
“Are you really trying to discuss metaphysical philosophy with me?” she asks exasperatedly. “You know I’m a scientist, right?”
I kiss her forehead. “Yes. You’re a scientist who feels black holes that open from the hell dimension. That alone should shake your scientific foundations.”
She puts up her hands in surrender. “Touché. What kind of demon attack is it going to be?”
I turn away. The kind where they open a humongous portal, suck the whole damn cabin into the hell dimension, and thousands of demons spend the rest of eternity figuring out how to get into it. “Don’t worry. I have backup.” I’m not about to lose her now.
She sways against me for a moment, then her nose wrinkles. “Are we on the run now? Because at some point I should probably stop by my house and get more clothing. And the rest of my research.”
“The rest of your research?” I can feel a headache coming on. I haven’t had one since I was human, but this little scientist may just bring one on yet.
“Yes. No one can recreate my research without the equipment in my lab, the USB I carry on me, and the research at my house.”
I rub my forehead. “Great.”
“It’s in the terms of my contract. I can’t keep all of the information and equipment in the same place.”
I pin her with my stare. “Really. I’m becoming very interested in who’s funding your research.”
“You know, if demons really are after me, we should probably go back to the lab and get my invention.”
I’m almost afraid to ask. “What invention?”
“The one that actually closes the portals.”
Can angels get migraines? I feel the edges of my vision start to waiver. “You not only found a way to close the portals, but you built a device to do it?”
For the first time, she looked smug. “Yes, I did. It took six months to get all of the pieces together, and I just completed it three days ago. It’s really big, so I didn’t ask you bring it earlier. I just brought the plans so I could re-create it. But it takes quite a few specialty parts to build it so if we have more angels and can use a portal, it might be best just to bring it with us.”
I grab her hand and spring toward the bookcase. “You know, Gillian, you and I are going to have to have a talk. About information that needs to be shared. And when.”
2
Gillian
Brion almost hurtles toward the bookcase, yanking the book out. The bookcase pops open and he ushers me inside before him. He shuts it behind us and places his hand on it. A green light seems to emanate from between his hand and the door. This time, the green light flashes out over the door in all directions, and I can feel the strange force again.
Brion might say that he has backup, but his actions are telling me this is a big deal. Very big.
He flips a switch at the top of the staircase and I’m surprised to see bright white light flooding the space below. I’m even more surprised when we reach the bottom of the
Brion
I jump off the sofa and run to the door, adding extra power to the armaments around the cabin. If what Gillian is saying is correct, every demon in Hell is going to be after her. We need to get downstairs so I can call the only two angels I trust for something this serious: Cas and Zakiel.
We .
I turn back to see my little scientist still sitting on the sofa, staring at me openmouthed.
“What are you doing?” Her voice is incredulous.
I stride over and grab her hand. “We need to hurry.”
She resists my attempt to pull her to her feet. “I thought you said this place is safe.”
Dammit. I sigh. “Gillian, this place is safe from a normal demon attack. But if you’ve found a way to close the portals from the underworld—and they know about it—this is not going to be a normal demon attack.”
“Why is it that when I’m with you, the entire world changes every few hours?”
“The world hasn’t changed,” I mutter, pulling her to her feet. “Only your perception of it.”
“Are you really trying to discuss metaphysical philosophy with me?” she asks exasperatedly. “You know I’m a scientist, right?”
I kiss her forehead. “Yes. You’re a scientist who feels black holes that open from the hell dimension. That alone should shake your scientific foundations.”
She puts up her hands in surrender. “Touché. What kind of demon attack is it going to be?”
I turn away. The kind where they open a humongous portal, suck the whole damn cabin into the hell dimension, and thousands of demons spend the rest of eternity figuring out how to get into it. “Don’t worry. I have backup.” I’m not about to lose her now.
She sways against me for a moment, then her nose wrinkles. “Are we on the run now? Because at some point I should probably stop by my house and get more clothing. And the rest of my research.”
“The rest of your research?” I can feel a headache coming on. I haven’t had one since I was human, but this little scientist may just bring one on yet.
“Yes. No one can recreate my research without the equipment in my lab, the USB I carry on me, and the research at my house.”
I rub my forehead. “Great.”
“It’s in the terms of my contract. I can’t keep all of the information and equipment in the same place.”
I pin her with my stare. “Really. I’m becoming very interested in who’s funding your research.”
“You know, if demons really are after me, we should probably go back to the lab and get my invention.”
I’m almost afraid to ask. “What invention?”
“The one that actually closes the portals.”
Can angels get migraines? I feel the edges of my vision start to waiver. “You not only found a way to close the portals, but you built a device to do it?”
For the first time, she looked smug. “Yes, I did. It took six months to get all of the pieces together, and I just completed it three days ago. It’s really big, so I didn’t ask you bring it earlier. I just brought the plans so I could re-create it. But it takes quite a few specialty parts to build it so if we have more angels and can use a portal, it might be best just to bring it with us.”
I grab her hand and spring toward the bookcase. “You know, Gillian, you and I are going to have to have a talk. About information that needs to be shared. And when.”
2
Gillian
Brion almost hurtles toward the bookcase, yanking the book out. The bookcase pops open and he ushers me inside before him. He shuts it behind us and places his hand on it. A green light seems to emanate from between his hand and the door. This time, the green light flashes out over the door in all directions, and I can feel the strange force again.
Brion might say that he has backup, but his actions are telling me this is a big deal. Very big.
He flips a switch at the top of the staircase and I’m surprised to see bright white light flooding the space below. I’m even more surprised when we reach the bottom of the
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