Page 112 of Angel Betrayed

“Let me in!” he yelled.

No one answered his cry.

The doors stayed shut.

He’d served in heaven. Punished in hell and on earth.

Served…

“No!”

His blood stained the doors.

But they wouldn’t open.

Sam knew where to find Mateo. He always did. Find the nearest crossroads, light a match and whisper a quick incantation, then all he had to do was wait for Mateo to appear.

Mateo wasn’t exactly a witch, no matter how hard he might try to claim otherwise. There was more than just witch blood flowing through his veins.

Mateo was a caller, too—one from a very long and dark line. Summon him at the crossroads, and he had to appear. Bind him, and he had to do your bidding.

“Sam?” Seline’s hand was in his. “What are we doing here?”

“Calling a friend.” Sort of a friend. “Now stand back.” Things were about to get even uglier than they had been, but he wouldn’t block her out. She’d be there for the end game and the freedom she wanted so badly.

She stepped back. Their fingers slid apart.

Tomas paced nervously near the edge of the road. “No, Sam, you are not doing a crossroads call. Don’t you know that you can’t trust whatever freak comes when you do this crap? These are the monsters! They slipped out of hell, they?—”

Sam used a blade to slice over his wrist. Blood dropped right onto the middle of the crossroads. He whispered the summoning chant once more, then said simply, “Mateo.”

The sky above them darkened. A crack of lightning slammed into the ground, and with a scream, Mateo appeared.

Mateo’s shoulders hunched. His breath wheezed out. Coming to a crossroads was never easy for a caller. A caller had to slip past hell each time the crossroads beckoned. “Fucking asshole,” Mateo muttered. He raised his head to glare at Sam.

“No! Not him!” Tomas snarled as he recognized Mateo. “He’s working with Rogziel! I told you—aw, dammit, now we’re dead!”

Sam didn’t look at Tomas. “Guess Rogziel figured out how to summon you, huh?” His mixed blood was Mateo’s closest secret. His mother, Aviana, had been a crossroads spirit. Summon her and she’d grant your wish. Once she granted your wish, she’d make you wish again—only this time, you’d be wishing for death.

Crossroad spirits had no remorse. No guilt. With every life they took, their strength increased.

Once upon a long time ago, a male witch had come to Aviana. He’d wanted a child. He’d gotten one.

One wish granted.

Mateo lifted his head. His cheeks were hollowed. His eyes flat and cold. “Rogziel didn’t summon me, not at first. He called her. ”

Sam had no doubt as to the her in question. There was no more powerful crossroad spirit than Mateo’s mother.

“Guess I know what he wished for.” Sam’s lips tightened in disgust

“I don’t!” Seline rushed forward. “What did he want?”

“A way to trap Fallen.”

Tomas whistled. “You’re a crossroads spirit? Oh, that is bad.”

“He got his wish.” Sam studied Mateo in the sunlight. Mateo had always hated what he was. Abomination. Yes, Rogziel would call him that—and it was the way Sam knew Mateo saw himself.

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