Page 62 of Wicked Angel
Rhodes's expression darkened, his own attacks becoming more vicious, less controlled. We were both fighting on pure emotion now, technique abandoned in favor of raw power and speed.
Across the library, I heard Haines let out a cry of pain. Risking a glance, I saw that Levi had partially transformed—not the full, terrifying change I'd witnessed before, but enough to give him an edge. His skin had darkened, his eyes glowed with inner fire, and his wings had extended to nearly twice their normal size.
It was working—Haines was on the defensive now, bleeding from several wounds, his perfect composure finally cracking in the face of Levi's relentless assault.
“Haines!” Rhodes called, concern flashing across his face for the first time.
That momentary distraction was all I needed. I feinted left, then struck right, my sword slicing across Rhodes's sword arm. He hissed in pain, his grip on his weapon faltering for a crucial second.
I pressed my advantage, my boot connecting with his chest in a kick that sent him staggering backward into a bookshelf. It collapsed under his weight, ancient tomes raining down on him as he struggled to regain his footing.
“It's over, Rhodes,” I said, my sword leveled at his throat. “Surrender.”
“Never,” he spat, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “I'd rather die than see Elysium fall back into weakness and mediocrity.”
Before I could respond, the library doors burst open once more. Lacey and Abbie rushed in, both looking disheveled but determined.
“The binding spell,” Abbie said, her hands already moving in complex patterns. “We can use it now.”
Rhodes tried to lunge at me, but I dodged, keeping my sword trained on him as Lacey and Abbie positioned themselves on either side of the ruined library. They began to chant in unison, a language older than Elysium itself, their fingers tracing glowing sigils in the air.
Across the room, Levi had Haines cornered, darkfire crackling around both hands as he forced the archangel to retreat. “Now would be good,” he called to the witches, never taking his eyes off his opponent.
The air in the library grew heavy, charged with the sisters' magic. Glowing chains of energy began to materialize, snaking toward Rhodes and Haines with purposeful intent.
“No!” Rhodes shouted, his wings flaring as he tried to take flight again, but the magical chains were faster, wrapping around his arms and torso, binding his wings tightly against his back. Beside him, Haines suffered the same fate, the magical bindings forcing him to his knees.
“It won't hold them for long,” Lacey warned, sweat beading on her forehead from the exertion of maintaining such powerful magic. “Their power is too great.”
I looked around frantically, searching for something more permanent than magical bindings. My eyes landed on two Guardian angels who had been hiding behind the toppled bookshelves, clearly having fled there when Adona began her rampage.
“You,” I commanded, pointing my sword at them. “The cuffs. Like the ones they put on me. Now.”
They hesitated, exchanging nervous glances.
“NOW!” Levi roared, his partially transformed state making him even more intimidating than usual.
The Guardians quickly fumbled with their belts, producing two sets of shackles identical to the ones that had bound me earlier. They slid them across the floor toward us, clearly not wanting to approach any closer.
I snatched up the cuffs and moved toward Rhodes, whose face contorted with fury as he struggled against the magical bindings. “You won't get away with this,” he snarled. “Elysium will never follow you.”
“I don't want them to follow me,” I replied, snapping the cuffs around his wrists as Lacey and Abbie's spell began to waver. “I want them to think for themselves, to remember what being an angel truly means.”
Levi secured the second set of cuffs on Haines, who remained silent, his expression one of cold disdain despite his defeat. With both archangels properly restrained, Lacey and Abbie released their spell, sagging slightly from the exertion.
“The dagger,” Lacey reminded me, gesturing toward Rhodes.
“Right.” I walked closer to Rhodes. “Where is it?”
He didn’t say anything, just held my stare, impassive and angry. Levi grabbed hold of Rhodes and started looking for the dagger. Rhodes didn’t make it easy, by jerking and moving away from the prying hands, but ten seconds later, Levi pulled the dagger from a back pocket in Rhodes’ jacket.
Rhodes opened his mouth, but shut it, his eyes full of even more fury than before.
“Here you go.” Levi handed me the dagger.
I took it, the light weight almost painful in my palm. This damn dagger had caused so much trouble.
“We need to reverse whatever he did on Adona,” Abbie said. “Before she creates more damage.”
