Page 17 of Silent Knight

Gun fire began ringing out behind us and I knew something or someone had breached the station and the police were attacking. My heart ached at the thought of the police falling, not realizing the reason this was happening was because of me and Senon. They had families…it was Christmas.

“Senon.” I stopped, his body jerking to a halt.

“Ezra, we can’t slow or stop, we?—”

“We can’t leave them. They’ll all die.”

“And so will you if we stay.”

My vision became watery. “No one life is more important than another.”

Senon’s gaze flicked over my shoulder and then met mine again, I could see the conflict resting there.

“I promised your mother.” A tear slipped from his beautiful eyes and in that moment, I knew this was likely our last moment together.

I pulled him to me and pressed my lips to his. Cement and dust rained around us but for a few breaths I pretended Senon and I were alone, flying through the clouds, swirling with the air, not a care in the world.

“I love you too, Senon,” I whispered against his lips.

“Ezra,” he sobbed. “You will die.”

I smiled and stepped back. “I won’t have anyone else die for me.” I couldn’t bear to look at the anguish in his eyes any longer, I spun and raced toward the mayhem, toward the screams and gunfire.

I came to a screeching halt when I turned into the main area of the station. Police were hunkered down behind their desks shooting in one direction. I followed their aim, eyes widening at the sight before me.

A demon for sure. Black as the dead of night, blood red eyes, teeth the shape and size of swords, and so tall the roof no longer existed.

He was going to kill them all.

“No!” I shouted as loud as I could. “Take me, Abaddon, I’m who you want!”

The demon spun, eyes like slits, a grin as evil as sin itself.

“Ezra.” Abaddon’s voice shook the floor. “Son of Sylvia the Great Divine.”

“Yes, leave them be and you can have me.”

He chuckled darkly. “I was going to have you regardless, they were just appetizers.” He motioned toward the police who had ceased firing but had their guns aimed at the demon. I knew the moment Abaddon took a step toward me they’d try and defend my life. I couldn’t let them do that.

“But you wouldn’t have gotten me as well.”

I turned at the same time Abaddon did. Senon, his dark wings spread wide, armor I’d never seen adorning his entire body.

“Son,” Abaddon hummed.

“Leave these humans alone and I will stand at your side.”

“Senon, no?—”

“And let Ezra live.”

“Senon, I don’t allow you to do that.”

A small tug on Senon’s lips told me he intended to honor my mother’s promise. “Ezra, go toward the police officers, now.”

Abaddon wasn’t taking his attention off Senon and I was torn between running toward the cops and wrapping my body around Senon and begging him not to do this.

“Senon, please,” I cried.

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