Luciel woke with a start.
He was gone!
She let out her power to locate his life force and sighed with relief when she realized he was close, only to tense up again sensing he was in severe pain. Snarling a vicious curse, she teleported to where he was.
There was an empty aircraft hangar in the were-tigri compound that had been converted into a high-tech training hall. She'd taken to honing her fighting skills there every morning.
In the very center of the training area, Davariel lay bleeding and broken once more amidst a circle of reapers.
"What the hell are you all doing?" Her shriek of rage echoed throughout the large training hall as she rushed to Dava's side.
The reapers sprang away from her approach.
"He said he needed to practice sparring," one of them answered in a small, timid voice.
She knelt down and flicked away the bloodied hair that covered Davariel's face. He was a mess. Blood oozed from his nose, half of his face was black and blue, and his arms looked deformed—most likely broken. "I should just leave you this way to teach you a lesson. You're barely ready for sex, Davariel, much less sparring."
"I need to be ready." He closed his eyes in apparent agony.
"Well then let your body heal completely, you moron!" She raked her fingers through her hair, growling in frustration as she tallied all the scans he'd need now to repair all the new damage.
One of the reapers leaned over to another and asked, "What is moron?"
The other just shrugged with a perplexed expression on his face.
Luciel scowled at them. "Why the hell don't you idiots use the holographic weapons in here?" Surely they'll understand idiot. She barked out a series of numbers and codes and a bright sword appeared before each one of the reapers. Black wings ruffled and silver-grey eyes looked at her in surprise. "Go on. Take them. You'll find they feel real enough." She also grasped one, testing its weight.
******
Davariel felt embarrassed that she'd discovered him beaten and defeated, but wondered why she didn't heal him and let him participate in the sparring now. "What about me?"
Luciel's eyes flashed to him with an angry snarl. They had the same cold predatory look she had when he'd first engaged her in battle in the Edenian Science building. It came as no surprise to him when she swung her blade and sent it through his throat. Still, he couldn't help but stare up at her with wide eyes. Had his arms not been broken in several places, he would have touched his neck to see if his head was still attached to it. Luciel grinned triumphantly at him. Heaven help him, he loved her.
"You can virtually fight for real without actually killing anyone." She said withdrawing her virtual-blade.
Luciel's lithe form turned toward the six black-winged death angels, then crouched down into a ready stance as she beckoned them to advance.
The reapers smiled and approached, spreading out around her, their wings opening up.
"No. Don't use your wings. You'll kill her," Davariel snarled.
"Shut up, Blondie," Luciel spat, her eyes never leaving the targets circling her. "Alright, you bunch of feathered sissies. Let's see what you've got."
He watched, terrified, as Abdiel approached her. The golden haired reaper was still a chickling, only fifteen sun orbits. Baby-down covering his wings, but he'd been the one that had slapped Davariel clear up to the ceiling of the training hall with his wing. Had it not been for Eriel, who'd intercepted his fall, he'd have been nothing more than a bloody smear on the cement floor right now.
Abdiel swiped at her with his wing, making Davariel cringe, but, to his relief, Luciel spun agilely over the moving wing, her arm spinning in a complete circle. The virtual blade flashed, apparently severing the wing completely off. Abdiel cried out in surprise when his wing drooped limply behind him. Luciel took advantage of his shock and sliced the blade through his neck, beheading him. He fell to his knees, stunned, before toppling back, his eyes round.
"Game over for you, kiddo. Now who the hell's next?"
Abdiel began to wail. "I can't feel my wing. I can't move my body."
The other reapers looked dubious.
"Oh, don't be such a baby," Luciel chastised. "The numbness will wear off in a few minutes." She turned up her nose at the others. "So, that's it? You bunch of morons give?" When they looked blankly at her, she rolled her eyes. "Do you surrender?"
They all tensed and scowled, finally understanding.
"Reapers surrender only to death or lust," Eriel hissed.
They attacked and were wiped out with the same ease as Abdiel.
Davariel watched, memorizing every move.
*******
Davariel felt livid. Luciel had healed him, but kept him in a semi-conscious stupor believing he needed rest. He learned how to communicate with her telepathically and constantly begged and argued with her to let him awaken fully. The headstrong woman wouldn't listen to him. He wanted to scream in frustration, but his present state wouldn't even allow for that simple release of anger.
He began to refuse her attempts at feeding him, clamping his teeth tight so she couldn't get the spoon of broth into his mouth.
Release me—he demanded into her mind.
