“I’m going to try and influence you. When you start to feel it, try to wrap the energy around yourself as protection.”
I shut my eyes again and reached deep down until I felt that odd cool sensation once more within my grasp. When the warmth tried to reach me, I concentrated on twisting the energy around me. It began to seep through the cracks so I raised my hand, which seemed to give my power more physicality. The heat receded after a moment or two, leaving goosebumps on my bare arms.
“Good. I’m impressed.” Michael smiled, his voice genuine instead of teasing like usual. “From now on, we’ll practice this every morning until you’ve got the hang of it.”
I pouted. “Aw. When do I get to do the cool stuff like shooting mind bullets?”
He grinned again. “You have much to learn, young Padawan.”
“If you start in on the Star Wars quotes, I am leaving.”
“Fair enough. Now that you’ve got the basic feeling down, we can start on defense incantations. Before you say anything, you have to have drawn the energy around you, much like you did just a moment ago, and say ‘In the name of the Father, I reject.’ This causes a metaphysical barrier between you and whatever’s coming at you. It’s not going to be very strong the first time you do it, but the more you practice, the stronger the barrier becomes. Give it a try.”
I cleared my throat, feeling vaguely silly as I repeated his words. “In the name of the Father, I reject.”
After I spoke, I felt the cool, invisible energy crystallizing around me.
Michael nodded. “Good. If done properly, it can buy you enough time to fight back, retreat, or come up with another plan. You have to remember that it’s not permanent. The only person who can sustain one for long is Gabriel.”
“If he can do that, why didn’t he form one to protect me when Belial attacked?”
“You can’t form shields for others because the energy doesn’t work that way.”
“That sucks.”
He smirked again. “Yeah, it does.”
“Are you any good at shielding?”
Michael shook his head. “That’s why I got my ass kicked by Mulciber.”
A shudder went down my spine at the mention of her name. Evil soul-sucking bitch. I hoped she was rotting in Hell where she belonged. “Why didn’t attacking her with your energy work?”
“The weapons she had been using on me were resistant to those kinds of attacks. They pretty much bounced right off of her. You have to understand that there’s sort of a hierarchy of demons. Mulciber is among the most powerful. Belial is the so-called favorite of their little ‘family,’ but she’s the brains of the outfit.”
“What can you tell me about…Belial?” His name left my mouth like a whisper. Part of me still felt hesitant about saying his name, as if he’d hear it and appear. I may have been a brave fool at times, but I did not want to see him ever again.
The archangel paused, thinking. “Not much. You read Paradise Lost, right?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s pretty accurate on that account.”
I shivered a little, rubbing my arms. “‘Belial, in act more graceful and humane; a fairer person lost not Heav’n; he seemed for dignity compos’d and high exploit: but all was false and hollow; though his Tongue dropt Manna, and could make worse appear the better reason, to perplex and dash maturest counsels. Book II.’”
His eyes softened their gaze on me. All at once, I felt my shield crumbling because of my lack of concentration. Calming waves of emotion flowed out of Michael into me. For once, I didn’t mind. I honestly needed it.
He opened his mouth to say something sympathetic, but I interrupted. “What can I use to attack?”
Michael shook his head. “Your power is too raw for that right now. It could be dangerous.”
“To whom? You’re an archangel,” I pointed out.
“No, that’s not why. Attacks take more energy out of you than defense or healing. If you use too much, you’ll end up drained. I’d rather not carry your unconscious body out of the park,” he added, arching an eyebrow.
I fought the urge to frown. “Alright, good point. Let’s keep going with the defense, then. But the mind bullets had better happen eventually or I’m calling shenanigans.”
“One more comment about ‘mind bullets’ and I’m taking away all your Tenacious D CDs.”
“You’re no fun.”
“We’re here.”
Michael’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and I realized that my mind had drifted off to memories of the past during our silent car ride back to the hotel. After we collected Marianne, we’d be heading to the orphanage for a meeting with Jameson. That would at least be a step in the right direction to solving the mystery of where all these ghosts had come from.