"Aw, I'm sorry, Parker. I know you liked her a lot."

"Eh, it's okay. We both knew it wasn't true love. She moved on, no biggie," he said, shrugging away my sympathy.

Did Remiel have anything to do with that moving on?

"I'm still sorry, boss." I wrapped an arm around his waist, leaning my head on his shoulder. "You want me to help you liquor up one of the girls here tonight? Just take your pick and I'll start sending her double shots until she looks your way."

"Wow, your confidence in me is overwhelming." He patted my hand. "That's okay, angel. I'm taking a break from dating for a while."

"You are?" I'd never heard him say that before.

"Yeah, I think I might wait around for something better."

"What could be better than a willing girl with a low tolerance for alcohol?" I teased, but he didn't smile. Instead his blue eyes met mine and I knew...

"Excuse me." A flat, unfriendly voice cut through the club's music, breaking the moment. Our heads swiveled to find Detective Anna Santiago on the other side of the bar, her features pinched with annoyance. Or maybe that's just the way she looks all the time. So far I hadn't seen her with any other expression, unless you counted flat out anger.

"Oh good, just in time for happy hour. What can I get you, Detective?" I asked, refusing to let her shake me. I had nothing to hide.

"I'm not here to drink. I came to ask you a few questions."

"Are you sure? Cops always drink half off." Parker threw her a dazzling smile, but she didn't go for it.

"Are the two of you on again? What happened to Mr. Anderson?" Her brows drew together and I failed to see how that could possibly be police business, but I didn't see the harm in answering.

"No, we're just friends. Adam is... away on business again."

"And you have no idea what he does."

It was easy to hear the skepticism in her voice, she made no effort to mask it, but I kept my smile. "That's right."

"How can I get ahold of him?

"I honestly don't know, he said he might not be back again." Strangely enough, it didn't hurt so much to say it out loud.

"What is this about?" Parker asked before I could.

"Detective Gates is missing again."

"You really should stop letting him out without a leash if he's gonna keep running away like that," Parker quipped, and I stepped on his foot to tell him to cool it. Detective Santiago ignored him, waiting for my response.

"I seriously don't know where Ben is. The last time I saw him was the night of my brother's rehearsal dinner."

"You did?" Parker's brows came up in surprise and I tried to downplay it, not wanting to go into the story with her present.

"I'll tell you about it later."

"I'd like to hear about it now." The detective's tone brooked no argument, and I gave myself a mental kick for having brought it up in the first place.

"Alright..." I reached for the gla.s.s of diet soda I kept behind the bar, needing a few extra seconds to come up with a convincing lie. "Ben came to see me at the restaurant, that was at the end of January. He wanted to talk about getting back together since Adam's gone for the time being. I left with him so we could talk in private, but I made it very clear I'm not interested in hooking up again."

"And that's it?" She didn't look convinced.

"He didn't want to take no for an answer at first, but I'm pretty sure I got the message across by the time I left." Not a lie...

"You haven't seen him since?"

"Haven't heard a peep. I went back to check on him later to make sure he was alright, but he wasn't around. I a.s.sumed he made it home alright. How long has he been missing?" A kernel of worry started to grow in the pit of my stomach. Maybe I shouldn't have left him with Lucifer after all? After he'd gone through all that trouble to purge him of the evil, why would he do something to hurt Ben?

"Long enough to warrant investigation," she replied, offering no more details.

"I wish I could help you, I really do. If I see or hear from him I'll let you know, I promise," I offered earnestly and Parker echoed the sentiment. Detective Santiago didn't look satisfied, but left anyway, hopefully for good. Maybe I'd ask Luz later about slipping her cousin a little something to mellow her out.

I could tell Parker had more questions for me, but there wasn't time to talk about it because the crowd picked up and we both had our hands full keeping people from getting thirsty. Then it was time for breaks and by the time it died down, he'd moved into his office.

It was late when we chased out the last customers and my feet were killing me. I was going to have to break down and buy some of those fancy orthotics they sold at the drugstore next to the machine that scanned your feet. Daphne and I couldn't resist standing on it every time we pa.s.sed one.

Untying my ap.r.o.n, I tossed it in the hamper and stopped in Parker's office to pick up my purse. "G'night, boss," I smiled, stifling a yawn behind my hand as I pulled on my light jacket (it's gorgeous, all the colors of spring and waterproof to boot, so necessary in Seattle!).

"You want me to give you a ride home? You look pretty beat," he offered, looking up from his computer spreadsheet.

"Nah, I'll be fine to drive. I don't want to stick around while you finish the paperwork."

"I could take you home then come back to finish up," Parker suggested, but I waved him back down into his seat.

"Don't be silly, I told you I'll be fine. I've been way more tired than this before. I'll see you tomorrow night, okay?" I got out of there before he offered to call me a cab, for Pete's sake. Ever since it got obvious to the naked eye I was pregnant I'd catch him doing things like that. He spent more time behind the bar too, so I didn't have to hustle as fast. It was sweet, except I really didn't need him coddling me. I was pregnant, not crippled. I still got sore and tired, but thanks to my angelic healing I'd be pain-free within an hour, tops.

Stepping out into the parking lot, I loosened my coat when I found it wasn't all that cold out there after all. A nice clear night, in the eighties for most of the afternoon, though rain was predicted for later in the week. Distracted by my coat b.u.t.tons, I almost didn't notice the tall figure leaning against the side of my car until I was less than five feet from it.

"Raziel!" I cried in happy surprise after I got over the tiny buzz of adrenaline at finding myself not alone and the bigger shock of finding him standing before me. Raziel offered me a solemn bow, just the hint of a smile on his lips as he picked up my hands and bent to kiss the air above my wrists.

"Good evening, Mercy. I trust you are well."

He said it like I'd only seen him the day before, not the entire time it had been for him in Midian, trapped as a chew toy to the demon lord, Raum. Dressed in casual elegance, his goatee neatly trimmed and shoulder length hair tamed, he looked no worse for wear for surviving the experience. His courtly manner and dark, good looks always reminded me of an Arabian Prince from the times of Scheherazade.

"Oh my G.o.d, how are you?" I laughed, still floored to see him back in the world. "Are you okay? When did you get out?"

"Not long ago. I am well enough."

"How was it, was it awful in Midian? Do you have a place to stay? Or are you just stopping by to say hi?" The questions tumbled out fast and furious, but Raziel drew himself up stiffly, ignoring them.

"Sadly, this is not a social call."

"It's not?" I blinked. Then why else come and see me? Did he have a message to deliver? Was there a new prophecy afoot?

"We both knew this day might come." He shook his head, voice tinged with regret.

"What?" I took a half step backwards as another possibility occurred to me. Confirming my suspicions, a glowing sword appeared in his hand and he advanced, filling the s.p.a.ce I'd just vacated. "Oh c.r.a.p..."

Chapter Eleven.

"I'm truly sorry, but I am the sword of G.o.d, I must do his bidding." Raziel advanced another step and I backed away, glowing faintly as I faced off against the Angel of Death.

"Wait... there has to be some kind of a mistake. The Big Guy can't really want to kill me. There was that whole prophecy talking about me, it never mentioned anything about being a.s.sa.s.sinated."

"My orders were most specific," he said sadly. "You can not be allowed to carry that abomination into the world."

My hands curved protectively around my belly, he wanted to take my baby? "Well... you can't have it."

"That isn't the only sentence. You have been judged for your crimes, and the penalty is death."

"What crimes? Are you people insane?" I would have laughed if he hadn't looked so deadly serious. "How can I be judged? I didn't even have a trial! I insist on talking to the boss."

"That isn't possible."

"Oh, yes it is. I want to see him judge me himself." None of that pa.s.sing sentence without having to see the direct effect of his arbitrary judgments. I wanted to see the whites of his eyes. If he had eyes. Did G.o.d look like Zeus in the movies or was he a giant ball of energy like on Star Trek? Either way, I wanted to meet the guy who signed my death warrant.

"You don't get to dictate the law. His word has already been spoken, the rest is a formality." Raziel shook his head and I couldn't help but give a short bark of laughter.

"You'll pardon me if I cling to a little formality where my life is concerned, won't you?" I edged around the side of the car. So far he hadn't done anything with the sword but I felt better with a couple tons of steel between us. "Raziel... you know me, you know I haven't committed any crimes. Or if I have, I didn't know I was doing it at the time. There must be a mistake."

"I wish it were so," he said sadly, and I believed him. Not that it would stop him from gutting me like a fish if ordered to. "If it helps, I promise to make it as painless as possible."

"No, it d.a.m.n well doesn't help!" I called my own sword to hand with an angry hiss. "And I'm not making any such promises." Did he expect me to lie down and accept it? He so didn't know me...

"Mercy, it won't do you any good to fight it, His will must be done. If not by me then by another."

"Then bring it on because I'm not going down without a fight. Whatever problem He has with me, I won't let you kill this innocent baby."

"So be it." He inclined his head gracefully, taking on a fighting stance.

"It's on..." I breathed, trying to project more confidence than I felt, my Grace betraying me by the soft nimbus of fear surrounding me.

We circled each other warily, moving away from the car once the trash talk was over. I tried to remember every lesson Sam ever taught me, wishing like h.e.l.l he was there to have my back. Would he side with me against Raziel? I'd like to think so, but after a moment's thought, I wasn't so sure with the way he'd been acting lately.

Raziel took the first shot, his sword flashing out lightning fast to draw me out, I suppose. It was so fast I couldn't counter it, but I did manage to dodge out of the way in time. I felt clumsy and out of practice, the baby throwing me off balance a little. It had been a long time since those sword lessons, and Raziel had thousands of years of experience behind his arm. Still, I held my own as he drove me backwards, away from the car and into the shadowy corner of the parking lot, away from prying eyes.

While my moves were slower, there was an edge of desperation to my actions that lent me just enough to keep my head attached to my body. Eventually his skill won out over my lack of finesse and I felt his blade slice the side of my shoulder. My eyes dropped to stare at the blood welling through the hole in my pretty jacket and his sword flashed out again to slash against the back of my hand, making me drop my sword. The glowing blade winked out of existence, but in the next breath I called it forth again.

"You know that won't work," I winced, trying to ignore the sting.

"I don't wish to cause you any more pain. Let us end this, Mercy." I could see it pained him to hurt me. Well, I didn't care how awful he felt about it, I wasn't about to give up yet.

"The only way this ends is with you walking away, or one of us on the end of a sword," I replied with as much menace as I could muster, my sword flashing out for emphasis. To my surprise, I managed to nick the side of his neck and the wound bled quickly onto his pristine collar.

His jaw twitched, but Raziel said nothing as he drove me backwards with renewed fervor. "Why do you not yield?" he scowled in frustration. "Adamiel and Samael have both left you to your doom. You are alone in your fate."

I wondered why he dared to say their names aloud, knowing they could hear him, wherever they were. And then I remembered... "I am such a moron... I'm not alone!" I crowed in triumph. "Remiel!"

Raziel's eyes widened in surprise, and I followed up with another attack, driving him backwards for a change. We fought without words, and I was too busy trying to keep from dying long enough for the cavalry to arrive. If I could just hold him off... Raziel seemed to realize his time was short as well, his moves grew more desperate.

"Remiel!" I yelled again, feinting to one side, following up with a quick slash to the abdomen that brought another rent in his clothes as my sword bit into his skin again. "If you leave now, maybe he won't kill you," I taunted, pressing harder, buoyed by the taste of success.

"I know my duty," Raziel said softly, thrusting from the shoulder, his actions slow, almost clumsy. I took the opening, my sword piercing his shoulder. Barely flinching, he came at me again, staggering a little. As I brought up my sword, he neatly stepped into it, his movement fluid and in complete control.

"Raziel!" I screamed as my sword pierced his heart and he caught hold of me, losing his own sword as he clung to my arms to stay aloft. I never in a million years thought I would kill him. I guess, maybe I thought he'd give up after a while, or he'd run off after Remiel got there, or he'd kill me first. But there wasn't any shock or surprise on his face as he held tight to me.

"Wait..." I let go of the sword, and it disappeared, causing the blood to gush from his chest at an alarming rate. "I didn't mean to... I..."

Raziel fell to his knees, his hands falling away weakly and I helped him lie back on the pavement, my hands cupping over the wound.

"Lie still, I can fix this, I know I can." I took a shuddering breath, trying to gather my Grace to heal him before it was too late.

Raziel's hands covered mine. "It is too late for me, I've made my choice."

"What...?" My brow crumpled as I realized the full import of his sacrifice. "I can fix you and then you'll just be Fallen. It's not that bad, you might even like it." I smiled encouragingly, my hands starting to glow as I pushed my healing Grace into his wound, not bothering to try to ground myself, there wasn't time.

Raziel grimaced in pain as the wound started to knit together, but slowly... too slowly. "Merceline..." he groaned, letting go of my hand to place it over my heart. "I choose... another path."

"No..." I pushed harder, but his Grace flowed into me faster than I could give mine to him. I felt it suffuse my entire body, more Grace than I'd ever absorbed before, and it made me dizzy. I tried to pull away from the flow, but it was too overwhelming.

I couldn't move. In a paralyzed stupor as Raziel poured his lifeforce into me, my head swam, and I fought to stay conscious.

And then it eased and I could breathe again, the world spinning in a kaleidoscope of color as my body absorbed the Grace. I became aware of a soft nimbus of golden light suffusing my skin, bright in the darkened parking lot.

At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, my head still too spinny to hold a coherent thought in my brain, but I realized Raziel's dying body started to crumble as though made of ash. Even as Raziel's hand fell away, it broke apart into chunks of glowing cinders, and I could do nothing but stare stupidly at him fading away into nothingness. In mere seconds, the angel was nothing more than a pile of ash, the dying embers of his Grace winking out at last.

"What's all the ruckus about?"

I heard Remiel's drawl as he arrived on the scene, but I was too numb to so much as turn my head in his direction. All I could do was stare at the smudge on the ground where Raziel had lain.

"Hey, you alright?" Remy crouched down in front of me, waving his fingers in front of my face when I didn't reply. "What's goin' on?"

Tears slipped down the sides of my face as I tried to say the words that wouldn't come. I'd killed a man. Not just a man, an angel. My own guardian angel, in a way. Hadn't he been looking out for me? Hadn't he spent a year in a h.e.l.l dimension for me? And what had he done? Given me the last of his Grace, sacrificing himself for me. How could I live with myself?

"Hey... answer me." Remiel grabbed me by the shoulders and shook, drawing a soft cry of pain from my lips as he pressed on the cut at my shoulder.

"What the h.e.l.l do you think you're doing?" Parker yelled, keys in hand as he spotted us in the parking lot. "Get away from her."

"Hey, she called me, Cochise," Remy scowled, making no move away from me in the slightest, though he did let go of my wounded shoulder.

"I said leave her alone." Parker's voice grew low and threatening as he approached, but Remiel ignored him, patting me lightly on the cheek.