“That’s what you’re calling it?” I asked, avoiding the question.
“Stop being such a cocky son of a bitch,” he snapped and turned, expecting me to follow. He stopped at the top of the stairs and I got a hint of frustration. He wasn’t able to read me or command me like a normal human, the transfer of memories had been incidental, something he hadn’t intended, especially after ordering me to give him my gun and I didn’t comply.
Now he was even more wary of me and instead of pushing his buttons and taking advantage of his hostility, I followed him downstairs where CJ sat flipping through the television channels.
He tossed the remote onto the table and glared at me.
I didn’t give you permission to take any of my juice, he thought and I shrugged.
“Look, I didn’t plan on it either,” I said, taking the seat on the opposite couch.
“How did you do that?” Steve asked.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I felt the infusion of power when we shook hands and when it started to retreat, I guess I grabbed onto a piece of it.”
They exchanged a glance and I took a minute to study their histories. Steve had done something similar, but in his case, it was the full absorption of power and it wasn’t something he consciously chose to do.
When I refocused on the two of them, I had no more answers than they did.
“Maybe it’s the angel’s grace. Michael had said I had his and Naomi assumes I also have my father’s, so it could be... disrupting the natural order,” I said.
CJ burst out laughing. “Disrupting the natural order? Dude, your entire existence disrupts the natural order. We’ve dealt with a lot in our lifetimes, but the existence of vampires and demons and hellhounds and Lucifer isn’t anything we’re equipped to deal with.”
“CJ,” Steve said, his concentration focused on the back yard. “I’ve had to alter my beliefs more than once during my lifetime. This is just another window that’s opened up. A god-awful one, but if we sit in denial and turn our backs on Damian, we’re setting up the end of days.” He turned from the glass.
CJ sent a glare in his direction.
“We’ve dealt with angels and ghosts, along with some of the most evil bastards on earth, so what’s a few more.”
“All due respect, but after tonight, Naomi and I will find somewhere else to go.”
“Why?” Steve asked.
“Look closely at my memories, the ones with Lucifer,” I said, moving my gaze between the two of them, waiting as they did as I asked.
CJ blanched a little, but Steve just sighed and refocused on me.
“So?” he said.
“I was no match for him even in shadow form, so how do you expect to beat him?”
CJ stood and put his hand out, his mind commanding me to fly into the wall. Nothing happened and his face turned red with effort. He dropped his arm to his side, his eyes going wide as he stared at me. Jesus, you took it all.
“I didn’t. Try moving something else,” I said.
He glanced at the coffee table and it rose off the ground. The relief in his face made me smile. Then he turned his gaze to me.
“Are you consciously trying to stop me?” he asked, trying to dissect why his powers didn’t work on me.
“No,” I said and thought about it. “I mean I heard the command and felt what I would categorize as a breeze, but nothing like what you envisioned in your head.” I shifted my gaze to Steve. “When you demanded the gun, I did feel compelled to give it to you, so that was a conscious choice to ignore your request.”
“So you’re immune,” Steve ventured and traded a glance with CJ.
“If I’m immune, you can bet your ass Lucifer is too.”
“I’m not so sure. I’ve pulled Ty back down to the earth,” Steve said, triggering that memory.
“He’s not an archangel, is he?”
“No,” Ty’s voice boomed in the quiet room.
“Then we can’t assume your influence or powers or whatever you call it, will affect him in anyway. I’d rather err on the side of caution and assume that it can’t. If I’m wrong, then it will be a pleasant surprise for all of us, but if I’m right, at least we’ll be prepared with something else up our sleeves,” I said.
“What about trying to trap him,” Steve asked and even his guardian angel laughed.
“No. I don’t want him within a hundred miles of Naomi.”
The garage door swung open and the chill pulled my attention away from the conversation. Tom and Raven stood just beyond the door and they were not alone. The terror in their eyes pulled the air from my lungs; and when two demons stepped through the door holding knives to their throats, the horror of coming here slammed home.
“Put the knife down,” all three of us commanded, one voice, three wills and the knives tumbled from the demons hands.