"Narush´kai Chapter 2" by Sharon *Blackstaff* Black

            I woke up in a cold, bare room with no clothes, a splitting headache, and a series of curses running through my head, none quite appropriate for the feelings contained within my breast.  Within seconds, I knew where I was, but I couldn’t quite recall why. 

            I heard angels and humans.  The last thing I heard was a large crack.  I tasted clean air and freshness, but before there had been blood on my tongue.  I felt cool marble beneath my naked body- there had been asphalt and warm blood. 

            I wasn’t in Kansas any more. 

            This was the Holy Golden City, land of angels and Knights.  How had I gotten here? 

            The world crashed in around me and I remembered. 

            “Arkael!”  I shouted, putting every ounce of fury into the scream, trying to get up from the table.  Something tightened around my neck and I was slammed back against the table, opening up newly healed scratches. 

            “You really should relax,” someone said from behind me. 

            I turned my head and met a pair of green-gold eyes.  Daniel- an angel, one of the little brothers of the cherubim- looked back at me with a warm smile and a playful gleam in his eyes.  I stuck out my tongue and tried to sit up again.  The chain tightened. 

            “I really thought you’d be out still,” Daniel said cheerfully, holding up my torn shirt and poking his fingers through some of the holes. 

            “What can I say?’ I snarled.  “Arkael’s getting soft.”  I wriggled and tested the chain again.  “Any chance you’ll just let me go?” 

            “None,” Daniel said, just as cheerfully as before.  In this form, he was impressive- tall, blond, and strong featured.  His wings shimmered through Reality, a pearly grey pair that arched well above his head and brush the floor.  His halo was a silver color as well.  A healer and guardian angel rather than a warrior or demon slayer.  They were annoying.  Always cheerful.  Always happy.  Sort of a constant sitcom.  “Now, lie back and I’ll patch you up.” 

            The chain tightened again and I let it pull me back, deciding it would be a useless waste of energy to attempt defiance.  Daniel looked mildly surprised at my compliance.  I gave him a charming smile, giving him something else to ponder. 

            His hands settled on my body- one on my head and one on my belly. 

            “Watch where you put those hands,” I said.  He chuckled. 

            “Now, Narush’kai, you know your body holds no appeal for me, even if I could do something about it,” he said. 

            He was right.  Angels are genderless when in the Other or in Heaven.  It is only when they assume a corporeal form that they become male or female.  No one could even begin to understand why each chose one gender over the other, but it did seem to be fairly equal, even amongst the seraphim and cherubim. 

            Whichever gender they chose, they remained sexless.  Mating with humans held little or no appeal to them.  I found that hard to believe; but then again, I was part demon.  Demons don’t really fornicate with humans, but they can have a lot of fun finding ways for humans to indulge in said activity- rituals, rape, lust…  Humans could be fun that way.

            Something buzzed in my skull.  Arkael was drawing near.  I closed my eyes and extended tendrils of awareness.  Three archangels and one seraphim outside the door with five humans.  Arkael was walking with two more humans, both of which seemed vaguely familiar. 

I felt mentally along the chain, testing it for weakness.  This wasn’t the one Arkael had used- it was solely meant to restrain demons.  Good.  I just needed to keep the angel busy for a few seconds while I made a few changes.  I pulled my tendrils back to myself and opened my eyes to meet Daniel’s. 

            “So, Danny, where can a girl get some decent clothes around here- and not like yours,” I said, eying the crisp grey uniform most of the angels favored while in the Golden City.  “I mean the good stuff- like mine.” 

            “Your… garments…” Daniel said, his eyes half lidded as he concentrated on healing me, “would hardly qualify as decent.  I should destroy them.” 

            I sat up, knocking him backwards.

            “What?  Destroy a hundred dollar jacket and fifty dollar jeans?  Those were on sale, too!”  I exclaimed. 

            He looked from me to the chain, obviously curious how I’d managed to sit up.  I grinned. 

            “Say good night, Danny,” I said.  Daniel’s eyes widened as I punched him in the jaw.  As he staggered back I pulled the chain free and wrapped it around my wrist, leaving one end to swing nonchalantly. 

            Daniel recovered, switching into Angeltongue as he rubbed his jaw. 

            “How did you-“ 

            “Tribreed, dork.  Three breeds for the price of one.  Why is that so difficult to remember?”  I asked, swinging my legs down.  “The chains don’t work on your own kind.  Sort of sorry mistake on your part.” 

            I wrapped the chain around my wrist. 

            “My belongings, if you please,” I said, pointing to where my bloodied clothes, boots, and other paraphenelia lay- except for my guns, I noticed. 

            Daniel looked ready to run- which probably meant he was. 

            “You’ll never get free.  The Council has commanded that you stay.” 

            “Ah, and while it’s so lovely here this time of year, I’m afraid I can’t,” I said.  “Now, angel, I really have to know where my guns are.” 

            Daniel’s lips pressed closed. 

            “I already had one accident today because someone wouldn’t divulge information,” I said, getting off the table.  “I’d rather not have a second.” 

            There was noise outside- Arkael and the humans had arrived, which was going to make things more complicated.  In the second my eyes took to flicker towards the door and back, Daniel flung himself at me.

            I caught his arm, twisted and locked his elbow, spun him around to face me, and smiled darkly. 

            “What did I tell you about your hands?” I asked.  His eyes narrowed.  I brought my foot up and used all of the force of my leg to kick him backwards, channeling fury into the gesture to give the blow extra strength.  He took the door with him as he went.  I sat on the table and faced away from the door, pulling a cigarette from a split in Reality and lighting it with a spell. It wouldn’t be as powerful as if I’d used the lighter, but it would do in a pinch. 

            The angels and humans poured in.  I gave them a good look at my backside, knowing full well that they could just see the curve of my breasts from this position.  They stopped and stared- especially the humans. 

            “I told him to watch where he put his hands,” I said.  I swung the chain from the arm holding the cigarette, letting them know I was free. 

            “You broke the restraint,” Arkael said. 

            “It clashed with my outfit,” I said.  “I’m thinking about trying to get a refund.” 

            I turned onto my stomach, putting one wrist over the other in a feline position, and faced the newcomers. 

            My stomach hit the floor.  First I saw that Siminael was one of the Knights.  Siminael Justicebringer.  Even at forty-odd years old, she was damned impressive.  So was the sword she held- not the rapier I was used to, but some other pointy piece that was just as likely to put holes in me.  She looked like she’d been in a fight recently, but that was no reason to assume she wouldn’t still put said holes in me. She was deaf, but had an ability to hear Demonspeak and Angeltongue that bordered on uncanny.  She and I have a history, too, and while it’s not nearly as long as the one I share with Arkael, it’s just as complicated.  If she was here, the Council definitely wanted me to stay.  Damn. 

            That wasn’t the only thing.  I turned my head slightly and saw my master. 

            No, not my master. 

            Yes, my master.

            No. 

            Yes. 

            I shook my head and focused on the human.  It looked like Sam- exactly like him, from the dark brown hair and pale eyes to the set look in his jaw.  He looked confident with the blade in his hand, something that was distinctly not like my master.  He was wearing the uniform of the Knights, too. 

            I looked at Arkael, then at my master/ not my master.  My eyes closed in on the clean skin of his neck. 

            No tattoo.  Sam had a tattoo- one of those macho dragon type of things with the symbol of his family- on his back that reached up to the side and back of his neck.  This man- Sam/ Not Sam- had no tattoo.

            I spoke in Angeltongue. 

            “Arkael, who-“

            “Stick around, and I’ll explain.” 

            “He’s not my master.”

            “No.” 

            “Then who-“

            “We have much to discuss.” 

            I noticed the man’s eyes on the vial that swung above the table.  Well, either on the vial or on the flesh just behind it.  With that, the spell was broken.  I wasn’t going to stay here.  Whoever this man was, he wasn’t my master.  Which meant that I didn’t have to stick around. 

            “Take a picture,” I purred in his direction.  “It’ll last longer.” 

            Not Sam blushed and looked at the ground.  I winked at Siminael. 

            “It’s been a long time, Siminael,” I said. 

            “It has, Narush’kai,” Siminael agreed, tilting her head slightly.  “How difficult are you going to make this?” 

            “I’m naked, weaponless and I have this chain around my neck,” I said, indicating the vial.  “How difficult can I make this?” 

            The Knights and angels stared at me, clearly expecting me to do something significant.  Even Not Sam’s eyes drifted back to me and there was a determination there that was definitely not my master’s.  The look when he glanced at my chest again, however, was.  Way to make things complicated, Not Sam. 

            “So subltety’s not your strong point,” I said, pulling my feet around so I could sit on the edge of the table and looking directly at him.  “It would have been nice if you’d taken the hint.” 

            He blushed again and looked away. 

            “It would have been nice if you hadn’t thrown Daniel through the dooor,” Siminael said, irony in her voice.  I had to smile. 

            “I was aiming for Arkael,” I said, reaching for my left ear.  Before the angels could react, I ripped the second earing out, shouted the appropriate word, and snapped.  Darkness settled over the eyes of each Knight and angel.  The Knights cried out, but the angels were unfazed.  Arkael, in particular, stayed calm, her staff settling at her side. 

            “Cheap trick,” Siminael muttered. 

            I shrugged and picked up my clothing, examining each piece.  The shirt would have to be discarded- too bloody.  Guess my sports bra would have to do for now, under the jacket. 

            “What in God’s name did you do to them?”  asked one of the Knights. 

            I turned.  Not Sam’s eyes were clear.  Okay, so he had Wizard blood.  I could have slapped myself.  I switched into Angeltongue.

            “He’s Sam’s twin brother.” 

            Arkael nodded. 

            “Great- um, since when does Sam have a twin brother?” 

            “What did you do?” Not Sam demanded. 

            I gave him a long look and returned to dressing, pulling on my pants and bra. 

            “I don’t work for your boss, so nothing I did was in His name,” I said.  “And if Arkael hadn’t brought friends to play without asking permission, I wouldn’t have had to have done anything.  Besides, you’re apparently unaffected, so what do you care?” 

            “Undo it,” he said, his knuckles white on his sword. 

            “When I’m ready,” I said, shaking out my hair.  My ears were tender- it was going to be a long day.  “Sit back and enjoy the show.” 

            “I said, undo it.”  He was begging to gain confidence, now that I was semi clothed.  I slung my jacket around my shoulders, grateful that Daniel had, at least, mostly healed the scratches on my back.  I knew Not Sam was going to move soon. 

            “Ah, no,” I said, provoking him. 

            He started to swing his sword towards my throat.  By the time it was there, I wasn’t.  I dropped to one knee and sent a sweeping kick towards his legs.  His sword dropped smoothly, as if it knew my intentions.  I stopped my leg a hairsbreadth from the sharp edge. 

            “You’re fast,” I said, slightly impressed. 

            He arched his blade up, trying to catch me as I’d tried to catch him.  I leapt over the blade easily, landed on one knee, and hit his gut hard enough to make him step back.  My fist connected with solid muscle- definitely not Sam.  Before he recovered, I drew a sing in the air, said the appropriate word, and smiled as his sword hit the barrier and bounced off.  A pale imitation of what I’d used with Arkael, but it would keep Not Sam at bay for a few seconds. 

            “I do believe this is becoming my favorite spell,” I said cheerfully.  “I may not be able to work on you, but I can work on the area around you.” 

            He hit the invisible wall with his fist, obviously frustrated, which earned him a rolled eye and a rude gesture. 

            I threaded a belt onto my pants, pulled on my fingerless gloves, picked up my cigarette, and snapped my fingers.  The Knights and angels could see again. 

            “Happy?” I said to Not Sam.  He snarled. 

            The group moved forward at once.  I waggled a finger of warning at them and indicated the cigarette.  Siminal and Arkael stopped short and halted the others.  Not sam moved past their restraining arms. 

            “You’re going to regret trying something heroic- so don’t.  Leave that to the professionals,” I said. 

            “I’m a Holy Knight.  I am a professional,” he said. 

            “I’m sure you are,” I said.  “Now, does anyone here have a suggestion as to where I might find my weapons- and, before you suggest anything anatomically impossible or difficult, might I remind you that there are in fact children present?” 

            “Acting like a child doesn’t make you one,” Arkael said. 

            “Another joke, Arkael?” I said.  “Keep this up and I’ll start to think you have a sense of humor.”  The seraphim smiled coldly. “And, actually, I meant the pet humans.” 

            Siminael was the only one who didn’t stiffen with anger at the comment.  Not Sam, in particular, looked aggravated.  I indicated him with a jerk of my thumb. 

            “You might consider sending that one to obedience school,” I offered.  “Until then, might I suggest a leash?” 

            “Like yours?” Not Sam offered.  He really was quick, and not just with the sword.  But I’d had many years to refine my sense of sarcasm. 

            “Yes, but smaller.  You’re not quite the bit-“

            “Watch your language,” Arkael said. 

            Not Sam’s face was flushed with anger. 

            “Aw, did I hurt his feelings?  Well, all right- you’re the bigger b-“

            “Narush’kai…” 

            “And if you’re good, I’ll let you follow me home,” I finished with a wink.  I recognized the blush he now had- anger at the comment and mild shame for liking it.  Not Sam certainly smelled of discipline.  I would have bet a steak dinner that he spent at least two hours a day with extra weapons practice, and I would have bet dessert that he also spent extra time in the Word.  After this, he’d probably go sweat out his thoughts and berate himself for having even looked at my womanly charms.  I almost felt sorry for him.  Not enough to keep me from winking at him again, but enough to prevent myself from offering a suggestion of what I’d do to and with him if he followed me home. 

            “Make this easy, Narush’kai,” Arkael said.  “I’ve broken one shield already.  I can do it again, but it would be easier if you just pulled it down.” 

            “And let you and your friends in?”  I asked.  “Not even if you huff and puff.  Besides, seeing as how the odds stand at ten to one right now, I’d rather not make this any easier on you.” 

            “Be a good girl and come out,” Arkael said. 

            “I’m agorophobic- you come in,” I said.  Arkael pulled her chain out and swung it slowly.  I gritted my teeth.  “Tell you what- give me back my guns and we’ll call it even.” 

            “So you can shoot everyone?” Not Sam said. 

            “Hardly,” I said, not looking at him.  “I wouldn’t waste a bullet on you.” 

            “You’re pretty sure of yourself, considering Arkael dragged you in bleeding and unconscious,” he said. 

            “She cheated,” I replied, pretending to pout. 

            “I’ll bet you always say that when you lose,” he said, “so you must say it a lot.” 

            I chuckled, ignoring the flash in his eyes. 

            “Well, it has been a lovely visit, Arkael and friends, and I’d love to stay, but…”  I shrugged.  “Actually, I don’t really like putting forth the effort to make up a polite lie, so I’ll just say, ‘up yours’, and be on my way.” 

            “You’ll have to put the shield down,” Not Sam said. 

            “Look how bright you are,” I said wryly.  “I thank you for pointing that out.  But you didn’t think I was going to make it that easy, did you?” 

            I drew a symbol in the air, said its name, and snapped.  As a reincarnation of my blinding spell, it would only work for a few seconds.  I only needed a few. 

            The angels rushed forward, but I slid between them to reach the defenseless humans.  Disarming them was easy- I removed their weapons and gave them a hard enough tap to the head to make sure they stayed down.  The angels were slow to respond- probably because the humans were in the way.  Once they were gone, however… 

            I wasn’t about to stick around and see how pissed off the angels were.  I ran for the door. 

            A hand fell on my shoulder and I knew instantly it was Not Sam.  How I had managed to miss him while dealing with the other Knights was a mystery, but I had no intention of slowing down to find out. 

            Less than a few milleseconds after grabbing me, he was flying over my shoulder and through the door.  He hit the wall with his back and fell on top of a crumpled Daniel. He tried to rise as I passed. 

            “Stay down,” I warned, and not just to make my life easier.  The angels tackled me from behind.  I rolled with them, ending in a crouch that allowed me to kick one in the head and the other in the chest.  They slid backwards.  The third wasn’t far behind.  He tried to hit me at a run, hoping to overpower me.  I stepped to the side of his charge, stuck my foot out, and gave him a flippant, “Ole,” when he fell. 

            Arms pinned me.  Arkael and the seraphim.   I waited until the other angels were up before arching my back, pulling one foot up to kick the first in the chest.  That gave me enough support to kick the second, spin my body in the air, free myself from the seraphim, and hit Arkael in the nose with my head.  Arkael dropped me.  I flipped so I landed on all fours, found a discarded sword, and brought it up to block the staff that came from nowhere.

            Arkael flipped the chain towards me.  I used my free hand to send the silver chain’s end to block it.  The chains clashed and wound around one another, locking us together. 

            “Well, crap,” I said.  Arkael grinned and pulled her end.  I pulled back.  We were evenly matched.  Time to cheat.  I felt Not Sam behind me and knew he would be preparing to strike.  There are only a few things that can break a holy binding.  One of them is the Knight’s choice of weapon.  A blade, forged in the Golden City, and enhanced with the power of a Holy object, that would do it. 

            I bent backwards, pulling Arkael off balance.  The Knight’s sword sliced between us, hitting the chains and snapping them so that we were freed.  I moved my hands so that when I fell, I landed on them instead, and used them as a springboard to strike backwards.  The Knight managed to only fall to his knees as my boot hit his jaw.  That was a good position for my next tactic, however.  I put my borrowed blade at his throat and faced Arkael.  She froze. 

            Not Sam glared at me.  I winked at him. 

            “Now who’s cheating?” he said. 

            “Didn’t I tell you to stay down?” I asked.

            “My worst marks were in obedience,” he said. 

            “My kind of boy,” I said. 

            “You can’t kill him.  He’s part of the Wizard’s family.” 

            Arkael was speaking in Angeltongue, which meant she didn’t want the human to hear.  I returned the favor. 

            “I know that, and you know that, but does he?” 

            “No.” 

            “Of course not.”

            My, my- this was an interesting development.  I leaned down to meet Not Sam’s eyes. 

            “She’s being quite smart, that Arkael.  Which is inconvenient for me, you understand,” I said. 

            “Why?  Because you’re not that bright?”  he asked. 

            “Ignorance is bliss, young man,” I replied, looking back at the angels, who were gathering to attack again.  “Are you a gambler?” 

            “That depends,” he said. 

            “What odds would you lay that I’d make it out of this building before they caught up with me?”  I asked. 

            “A hundred to one- in their favor,” he said without hesitation. 

            “Flatterer,” I said.  “I would have said a thousand.”  I rose and looked at the angels again.  “You know- I think I’ll take those odds.”  I dropped the sword and started to turn. 

            Something snaked around my ankle and tripped me.  I stared at Not Sam’s offending hand and his smug grin. 

            “You are a quick little bastard, aren’t you?”  I said.  He smiled.  I aimed for the row of shiny white teeth with my boot, just hard enough to free myself.  By then, then angels were on me.  I rolled onto my back, flipped onto my feet, dodged one sword and then another.  My advantages were that the angels had to avoid hitting each other and that I was desperate.  My disadvantages were far greater. 

            It was a good thing I hadn’t bet anything important. 

            I used the remainder of the silver chain to block the swords.  Sparks flew as I blocked and spun away.  They were trying to push me against the wall.  I let them, also letting my demon half give me claws.  Using the wall as a springboard, I launched myself at the angels, rolling with the first one I caught, rolling with both feet tucked under so I could kick them off.  The angel- Arkael, as luck had it- hit the wall hard enough to make the stone shake. 

            “Now you know how I felt,” I muttered, rolling back onto my feet and grabbing the blade of the next angel with my toughened hand.  I was losing.  Time to cheat.  Again. 

            I whispered the appropriate word and snapped.  The cigarette exploded, knocking everyone off their feet.  I dug my claws into the wall to hold my place, then began to run.  Not Sam was suddenly in my way.  Again. 

            “You really are becoming a pain in my backside,” I said.  “You’re between me and the door.” 

            “I’m not letting you go, demon,” he said, looking at my hands. “I may not have scored well in obedience, but my highest marks were in demon hunting.” 

            I laughed at his bravery.  If only he knew- his brother would have received the same marks, but for far different reasons. 

            “If I had more time, I’d spank some sense into you,” I said.  Before he could recover from his blush, I sprang, hitting his solar plexus with my fist.  He gasped, wheezed, and fell.  “For now, human, I guess that will have to do.” 

            I started to run.  I should have suspected something when there were no more obstacles. 

            I burst through the front door of the building and faced bright light, making me slide to a stop.  For a few seconds, I blinked fiercely as my eyes burned.  The world came back into focus. 

            I cursed.  And cursed loudly. 

            Twelve angels- seraphim and cherubim- stood before me, looking alternately amused and annoyed. 

            The angels and Knights caught up with me a few moments later, after I’d already lit a cigarette and was leaning against the doorway.  Not Sam was first.  He looked at the assembled Council, then at me.  I blew a ring of smoke in his direction as I asked one more flippant question. 

            “Care to lay odds now?”