Free Ash & Flame: Season One by Wilson Geiger Page B

become ash and flame..."
    "You protect these people. You have blessed us, provided for us, and taught us how to fight back," Kevin hissed, angry now. "You are God's instrument—"
    "God is not here!" The Malakhi's shout echoed throughout the chamber, the shock of it reverberating through Kevin like a tremor. A tear trailed down Ithuriel's cheek, his eyes wild, scaring Kevin worse than anything. "God has fled, and He has taken my strength, and my faith with Him!"
    Kevin reacted without thinking, grabbing the pendant at his neck. He hissed its name, and Lahat flamed into existence, the sword gleaming under a strip of sunlight, blue fire racing along the length of the blade.
    " This is faith, Ithuriel! This is strength!" The words spurted from Kevin's lips, and he kept going, afraid if he stopped that he would fall, too. "You're the Spear, the hunter of the dark. You are strength, Ithuriel. You are faith."
    "This," he shook the blade in his hand, "is nothing without the Malakhi that gave it to me."
    Ithuriel's lips curled into a weak smile, and he ran his fingers over the dancing flames. Blue fire enveloped his fingers, darted over his hand.
    "There are so few Malakhi left, so few of us that have not fallen into corruption or despair," the angel said, his eyes staring into the flames of the Blessed blade. "I am tired, Kevin. So tired that I want to close my eyes and fade away."
    He closed his eyes as he spoke, lifting his head towards the dome's ceiling. "Do you understand this?"
    Kevin released his hold on Lahat , the blade sparking out of sight, the flames leaving the slightest curls of faint, bluish smoke.
    "Understand?" Kevin more than understood. When he lost his only child to the ravaging fires, he'd wanted to tuck himself into a ball and gibber away, wished that he'd go mad and lose himself. He didn't want to think, didn't want to feel. More than once he'd found himself staring into the murky green waters of the Mississippi, wondering what it would feel like if he swam to the bottom and never came back up.
    And there were reasons, reasons that he kept to himself, why he never carried a gun anymore. The same reasons he never wanted to go back to that dark place. He'd fight, kick, scratch, bite if he had to. Never again.
    "I do understand," he said, the anger draining away. He let himself smile. "Being tired and desperate is all just part of the human experience."
    Ithuriel nodded and wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. He glanced down at the damp spot, his brow furrowed, and took a deep breath.
    "I must talk with my brothers," he said, wiping his wet hand with the other. "Those that would still hear me."
    Kevin opened his mouth, pausing in uncertain confusion. "You mean right now?"
    "Yes. I have...questions." Ithuriel's wings stretched out wide, and, with a powerful thrust, his feet left the ground, his beating wings sending motes of dust swirling through a staggered shaft of sunlight. "Keep an eye on them. Post a Blessed to Ren and his daughter at all times, until I find the answers I seek."
    And then? he thought, not sure he liked the idea of answering that himself. He hoped Ithuriel found the answers before it was too late, before the Grigori had what they wanted. Whatever that was. "Roger that."
    He nodded, and turned back towards the entrance, running a hand over his head. The Blessed, the handful that remained, were already taxed. He had tasked Brad and Rachel for another scavenging run, and Sam was still dealing with Jackson's death. Logan was so young, and Anderson wasn't getting any younger.
    Kevin felt like he'd been up for hours, checking in on folks, walking the perimeter. But the survivors of Haven had enough on their plate, so what was one more thing?
    "Kevin."
    Kevin, nearly to the door, paused and glanced back over his shoulder. "Yeah, boss?"
    The angel skimmed a few feet off the ground, his wings beating gracefully, powerfully over his shoulders. He hovered for a moment, his eyes focused on