Harlee POV
Sands had his hand on my forehead, and it was soothing as his gentle voice murmured something I didn't understand. I jerked awake. The baby!
"Everything is fine. It's a lot harder to kill a Nephilim than that." Sands said softly. I relaxed against Zeev's feathers. "I have to go, I'm afraid my fight was quite interrupted. You should be fully healed shortly. Please be more cautious Harlee." I blushed under Sands' gentle scolding. I noticed I was back in human Form.
"It's your True Form, at this point, so when you were seriously injured, you reverted." Zeev murmured to me softly.
"Oh." I replied.
"Your cat Form is quite lovely though." He nudged me with his large head. I blushed.
"I like the speed." I muttered. Zeev laughed.
"I could tell." He replied. Josh came trotting up to us, panting.
"Harlee! Oh-" Josh blushed. I looked down at myself and realized I was still in only a T-shirt and panties.
"Ah get over it Josh, I'm all covered in gore-you seriously can't find this attractive." I griped.
"You seriously underestimate the male libido." Zeev laughed. I craned my head around.
"You too?" I complained.
"If I had a sex in this Form, I'd be having issues controlling my excitement about now." Zeev said smugly.
"Ugh, men and Demons. I'm convinced there's not much difference between them." I groaned.
"Probably not." Zeev replied, resting his large head on mine.
"I uh.. just wanted to see if you were ok.." Josh finally stammered. "Ash and I took out that group that attacked you." He said proudly.
"Thanks." I replied. "You guys wanna help me up? I think Ash and friends could use a little help yet." Josh offered me his hand and Zeev pushed me up with his head. I wobbled.
"I don't think I can change back yet." I huffed, holding my side.
"Then don't." Zeev replied, snagging my shirt and placing me onto his feathered back. "Let's go Josh, you can protect her."
"Alright!" Josh yelled, scrambling up behind me.
"You're all crazy idiots, you know that?" I complained. Josh let out a loud whoop as Zeev drove himself up from the ground.
Zeev POV
I was still in pain myself, but it was nothing I couldn't handle, and nothing compared to Harlee's. We barreled into a group of Angels surrounding a Half Demon, I could tell by scent and the appearance of the Core that it was one of Ash's children.
"Thanks." They gasped at us as they were able to recover for a moment. Harlee swung a clawed hand at an Angel trying to creep too close to my side. Josh struck it with a bolt of lightning. Then the Cambion bolted off, attacking another Angel from behind, taking its head clean off. The battle progressed like this for more than an hour. If it hadn't been for Sands, our small group of four would have had more than one casualty. Ash was the last victim Harlee called upon Sands to aid.
"But Harlee.. he is an Incubus." Sands objected.
"They are an Incubus, and tied to me." She corrected with a small growl. "Ash's pain is my own. I cannot allow Ash to die and if you refuse to help, I will let Ash drain me of as much power as they can right here and now so you're forced to save me and let Ash do that again and again until they're healed, forcing your hand. So either way, it would just be EASIER if you do as I ask." Harlee demanded.
"Harlee, I swore to protect you." Sands murmured.
"Ash, can you shift back for me sweetie? How far do you need to go to get the energy you need from me? Would it just be better if I gave you my blood?" Harlee extended her claws and slashed long furrows down her wrist, placing her wrist to Ash's mouth. Sands leapt into action, grabbing her arm and healing it before healing Ash with a sigh. He rubbed his forehead.
"What have I gotten myself into?" He asked himself. I looped an arm around him with a wicked grin.
"Welcome to the family." I teased.
Harlee POV
"Brother! This is not over! How dare you continue to distract me and leave our fight to meddle with these Abominations?!" The Arch Angel roared. He was in bad shape. Sands flicked a finger and the Angel was suddenly bound in place.
"What did you do?" I asked curiously.
"Because I am an intermediary between Heaven and Hell, we sometimes have to be able to neutralize conflicts when they arise over a soul. I would prefer not to kill him, so I continue to restrain him and only defend myself when necessary." Sands shrugged. I laughed, then clapped a hand over my mouth. It was too ridiculous. I couldn't stop laughing though, and soon the laughter turned to sobs.
"Harlee, are you alright?" Josh asked with worry, coming over to hug my shoulders. I nodded then shook my head. Sands reached out a hand but I backed away.
"I think she needs to feel this one Sands." Zeev said softly. He was back in his human Form and came over to hold me against his chest, cradling the back of my head as he always did. I sobbed harder. "How many losses?" I heard Zeev's voice rumble through his chest.
"About eight." Ash replied quietly.
"How many were your offspring?" Zeev asked, his arms tightening around me.
"Four." Ash answered. I sobbed harder. I turned and Zeev let me go, sensing what I wanted and threw myself against Ash's cool, thin chest. Ash froze for a moment, arms up, and then I felt the wall between us crumble and Ash's arms wrapped around me as they buried their face in my shoulder. I felt Ash's tears soak my shirt.
"I'm sorry Ash." I sniffled. "I know Demons may not feel exactly the same way humans do-but those were your children and.." I clutched Ash tighter and bit my lip to suppress my wail. Maybe I was just being overly sensitive because of the Nephilim I was carrying, but.. Ash gripped me tightly and sniffed and then released me, a small smile on their face.
"Mistress, I think this is the first time you've ever hugged me freely." Ash said.
"Well I'm not done with you yet. I expect you, Zeev and Sands to stick to me like glue the next few days." I sniffed again, rubbing my face angrily and taking Zeev's and Ash's hands. Sands placed a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. I saw the remaining Angels gathering behind their frozen leader. There were only a handful remaining.
"I suggest you take your commander and go. This girl has powerful allies in Heaven and Hell. And on earth." Sands spoke, briefly looking at Josh with a proud look before addressing the Angels again. "May I remind you: I have not lifted a finger against any of you.. yet. I have only assisted my Contracted as per her needs and requests. I have not begun to fight." A small smile played across Sands' lips. The Angels took an involuntary step back. "However, should my Contracted request it, I may not be able to stay out of the battle much longer..."
"He won't come with us." One of the Angels spoke up quickly. Sands sighed.
"That's probably true. Then this is your last opportunity: Do you wish to stay and die along with him?" Sands asked. They looked at each other nervously. One by one they began to vanish until there was no one left but the Arch Angel.
"Is everyone ready?" Sands asked, preparing to free him. Josh stepped in front of me with Sword at the ready, and there was a scattering of affirmative responses. Sands snapped his fingers and the Angel charged us.
Zeev POV
Letting go of Harlee's hand, I let my Form revert to Demon Form. I felt Ash do the same. Sands moved to stand directly behind Harlee, hands on her shoulders, opening his wings. He looked every bit the guardian Angel, although all it would take is a quick outfit change and he would also easily resemble his namesake. An Angel of Death stood before us, and none of us had any impressions otherwise. Josh struck first, aiming at the ground in front of the Angel. The ground opened up in front of him, suddenly, and the Angel stumbled, not expecting the attack to strike against something other than him. I took advantage of the Angel's surprise to rush the Angel and clamp my jaws on his exposed side. I shook my head and the Angel roared, bringing his Sword down towards my face. I dodged as Ash attacked the Angel's exposed back with sharp claws. The Angel howled in protest and turned to face Ash as I skittered away, which once again gave me an opening for attack.
Wising up, he faced between us, backing up, not daring to put his back to either of us. I grinned. He forgot Josh.
Josh aimed a series of jagged ice shards at the Angel from below, impaling the Angel from behind as he backed up, pinning his legs in place. The Angel screamed, swinging wildly at the ice with the sword. Ash and I nodded at each other and struck together. I got the sword end, chomping down on the Angel's shoulder to immobilize him, while Ash went directly for the head. Josh held the ice for us as Ash gripped the Angel by the torso and ripped the Angel's head off his shoulders, swallowing it with a gulp.
"Agh-he tastes gross." Ash coughed and stuck out their tongue. Josh suddenly let out a strangled gasp and collapsed, the ice melted from around the Angel's legs and the headless body toppled limply to the ground.