Page 18 of Salvation
“Fuck you, fate!”
What did she do now? She wanted to go to Kentucky. While she loved Lilith, life here was lonely. Her routine was the same every damn day, and she contributed nothing to rebuilding society. In Kentucky, there were other humans and vampires. She could not only be guaranteed a meal, but maybe she could become useful.
Useful sounded good. All she did now was survive, and it left her hollow inside.
Aurora pushed to her feet and looked around her. She had been living in the lower level of a fucking church, which was funny if she thought about it since she was turned by a demon into one herself. She was surprised she hadn’t turned into a pile of ash the second she walked through the front door. It seemed God no longer cared what happened in this world, as evident by the shitstorm outside.
Still, if she went to the hotel, would she run into Michael, or Wolfe, as he now liked to call himself. Worse yet, she would be forced to watch Luna grow thicker with his baby. Did the two of them play house now? She had a lot to think about.
“You have a lot to think about.”
She startled at the unfamiliar voice invading her space. “What are you doing here?” She stared at the same angel that had been busy tossing fireballs at demons earlier.
“I’m Ashley.” The angel snapped her beautiful wings to her back, but this time, they didn’t disappear. She truly fit the Angel of Death persona dressed in a black tank and black leather pants topped off with knee-high boots. One wicked-as-hell blade was strapped to her thigh and for a second, Aurora was in awe.
“Are you here to send me to Hell?”
“No. What reason would I have to do that?”
She shrugged. “I thought that was what an Angel of Death did. At least, that’s what Lilith has told me. You take the souls from those who have sinned.”
“Not exactly correct. I rip the souls from those who have made a deal with Lucifer, or these days, it would be with his son Logan, since Lucifer is still missing. Reapers collect the souls of sinners when they die.”
“So I can expect a reaper on my deathbed.” She faced the angel head-on.
“You won’t be dying, Aurora. Besides, why do you think a reaper would want your soul?”
She laughed. “Seriously? You must know the number of people I murdered as a newbie vampire.”
“I do, but that was not your fault. Your sire did not care for you.”
Panic started at the back of her neck and raced down her spine until it reached her heart and set it to pounding in her chest. “Are you going to punish him?”
Ashley shook her head. “No. He was chosen for a greater good and he also had a difficult time turning.”
That the angel acknowledged Michael’s turning being difficult gave her pause. She had always been so caught up in her own problems, she never stopped to think about how it must have been for him. She didn’t even know for certain how it happened.
“Why are you here, then?”
“I must be careful what I say but trust your gut because it will not fail you. You are special, Aurora. You have not even reached your potential yet and they need someone like you.”
She blinked. “Are you telling me I should go with them? With him?”
“Yes, no, maybe?” Ashley gave a sheepish grin.
Her gaze narrowed. “I see. I don’t suppose you can elaborate on the special part?”
“I know what you did to those five men. You froze four in time and used mind control on the other.”
She cast her gaze to the floor. Embarrassed by her lack of knowledge. “Isn’t that something all vampires do?”
“Not even close. Yes, they can use mind control, but none have ever stopped time. You are the only one.”
“Why is that?”
“That, I don’t have an answer for. I suspect it comes from one of your demon ancestors. My point is, they could use your skills and you can use your sire’s help.”
The thought of Michael and being near him shredded her. How would she ever be able to watch him be with Luna? She looked at the mark on her wrist. “We seem to have different paths to follow, but I’m not so stubborn that I can’t admit I still love him. How can you ask me to do this?”
