Free Her Black Wings (The Dark Amulet Series Book 1) by A.J. Norris

‘holy’? He inched forward three steps into the room, breaking the seal.
    The female crouched on her knees. Black feathered wings straightened and stretched out from her back, the wing span nearly ten feet wide. Considering how petite her form, he surmised they were meant for flying. But could she? And why did he even care? Well, except, he knew humans didn’t just grow wings in Netherworld. Some of the harem had developed leathery wings too small for flight with Aba’s intervention, although none had feathers.
    Feathers.
    Jumping back so fast, he struck his elbow on the door jamb. The winged female jerked her head in his direction.
    “Oh sorry. I—”
    She attempted to stand, the weight of the new wings throwing her off balance. She listed a few steps to the left and then to the right.
    “Don’t come near me,” she finally said.
    “Uh uh. Don’t worry. I won’t.”
    She lost her balance again, then regained it by putting her hands out. “Whoa,” she said.
    Aza’zel stayed in the lee of the doorway with his mouth open, watching her flutter her wings. The feathers were slick with bodily fluids and the mess splattered all over. Globules hit his face and chest. He grunted and spat the goo out of his mouth.
    While he was hawking, she spun around with a sour expression on her face and again he tried to apologize. “I’m sorry…I—”
    “Get outta here.”
    Aza’zel, hornless and wingless, walked backward until his hocks struck the wall out in the hallway. She appeared in the entrance of the room before the door slammed. This wasn’t good. Not good at all. Now more than ever he had to find that angel. The demon took off running.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER
    TWENTY-SIX
     
     
    Abaddon
     
    A trotting half goat slave clip-clopped down a tunnel out of Aba’s view. He could tell by their distinct gait which of his lesser demons it was. Needing this one in particular, he ran in the direction of the clamor. The Devil produced a leather cord with an amulet hanging from it, and stuck the pendant into his mouth, getting the metal well covered in his venomous slobber. He pulled the necklace from his mouth and put it around his neck. The spit dried almost instantly in the dry air.
    The Devil halted when the noise of the demon’s footfalls changed and altered its course. He listened to the sounds to determine the new path. The goat was headed right for him now. A blur of fur and dusty red skin ducked down another tunnel, probably because he sensed his master wasn’t far. Moving mutely, Aba closed in on him.
    “Aza’zel. Stop.”
    The demon shrugged up his shoulders. His master was behind him. Busted. Aba watched the idiot turn around slowly. He stared at the top of his head. The formally jagged bone had been filed down.
    “Y-yes?”
    “Where are you running off to, ol’ friend?”
    “Some freshies came in, Sire. I was just going—”
    Aba knew this was a lie. “They can wait.”
    “Ah, yeah I suppose they can. How can I serve you?”
    “You have served me well.”
    Aza’zel looked at him with a creased brow. Aba chuckled low under his breath. “I would like to give you a gift.”
    “Gift, Your Darkness?” Aza’zel’s brow rose. Aba could tell his slave was suspicious.
    “Do you refuse my offering?”
    “No, Sire.”
    Aba paced around his underling for effect. “Good.” He removed the necklace from his neck. The talisman at the end of the leather cord was shiny metal, platinum, polished to a high sheen. He dangled the pendant in front of Aza’zel’s face.
    “For me…Master?”
    “Yes, go ahead, take it.”
    Aza’zel reluctantly took the necklace.
    “Now give me one of your daggers,” Aba commanded.
    Aza’zel handed a blade over without question from out of his pouch, the puzzlement evident in his expression. Aba put his hand up to pat him on the head. The lesser demon stiffened but stood his ground. When he touched him, the goat-legged demon shrunk down and blinked repeatedly