Zeev POV
I watched helplessly as Harlee took on Demon Form. As much Corruption as now weighed down her soul from Ash, Sam and I, I should have been expecting this, but it still broke my heart to see another stage of her humanity crumbling. Now we would need to teach her about keeping her Form during emotional crisis.
"You know, I agree with you about that Feline Form.." Panted Ash, clutching the bleeding stump of their arm. "Sexy as Hell."
"Good thing you're a lizard-that'll grow back." I observed wryly.
"Dragon!" Ash snapped, eyes still on Harlee. As Harlee's haunches crouched, Ash and I started yelling her name.
"Don't do it Harlee, please. I promised I wouldn't let your morals slip like this." I whispered. "I always keep my promises." Harlee's ears flicked back as if she heard me.
Harlee POV
"They didn't tell us your soul was this Corrupted either." Said the Mage in the doorway. Screaming and shouting could be heard outside. It was obvious Sam and Sands were tearing their way through the group of Magicians who had appeared.
"If all of you would leave. me. alone. It wouldn't be! But no-you keep forcing me into more and more dangerous situations and more and more beings keep sacrificing themselves for me. So whose fault is it-dickhead?" Harlee snarled. The sound ripped out of her chest cavity like a chainsaw roaring to life. The man's jaw tensed.
"Well then, come along little Demoness. I'll grant you and your mates freedom should you win against me." The man sneered. I lunged forward.
"Harlee no! Remember words have power!" Zeev roared. I barely managed to readjust my leap and bounce off the door, landing back where I started. I swung a paw angrily.
"No Contracts! No Deals!" I shrieked, the sound close to a wildcat's scream. That had been terribly close. The man chuckled.
"There won'd be a need for one anyway Mistress." Sam's voice reported harshly and then a Sword protruded from the man's chest. "Sorry if I ruined your fun." The man gaped at the Sword's point as blood poured down his chest. Sam withdrew the blade and walked into the house, eyes completely black, a set of large black wings dragging the ground, making a trail through the blood as the man slipped to the floor, gasping for air. Sam eyed him with disdain as the man stared at him in his final moments.
"You're.." The man began.
"Never fuck with an Angel of Death. Especially a Fallen one." Sam growled, cleanly removing the man's head from his shoulders. The head rolled out the door. I sank to my knees, my body shifting Form back to normal, the uncomfortable tugging of hair and feathers being pulled back under my skin as bones and muscles shifted, being dwarfed only by the craziness that had just happened. I sobbed, then covered my mouth, trying to stifle the sound. The wall separating me from Zeev and Ash had vanished and Zeev quickly scooped me up. I felt Ash's hand in my hair as Ash murmured soothing things, kissing my temple.
Zeev POV
"Sands my friend." I called gently. "The boy on the sofa could use your aid."
"Hey, me too!" Ash cried.
"Again?" Sands grumbled as he appeared beside Josh. "What's with you people? You can't stay in one piece for five whole minutes!" The complaining continued behind me as I placed Harlee in Ash's care.
"Thank you, Brother." I said, placing a gentle hand on Sam's shoulder. He shrugged out from under it.
"As if I had a choice. I pledged my service. I'm Bound to protect her." The Sword in his hand vanished as he turned away. Though Sam would never admit it, there was a certain fierceness there in his eyes that I recognized and knew we all felt where it came to Harlee. I could see her softness was working on him. I nodded to myself. It wouldn't be long. A few more months perhaps, and he'd begin to break. I wonder if he felt it yet. That softening around the edges. I grinned.
"Stop grinning like an idiot and help me clean up these bodies before some human sends the police!" Sam snapped.
"Yessir!" I answered, saluting.
Harlee POV
"..no three of them were merely wounded and got away." Sands was saying in the next room. When had I fallen asleep?
"They have my dad." Josh answered, a hitch in his voice. "Well, technically, my dad went to them once he found out he couldn't handle you guys on his own anymore. And when they heard about the Nephilim..." Josh sniffed.
"It was game over." Zeev's voice rumbled.
"They beat him 'til they found out he didn't know where you lived-only I did, sorta. Then they beat me until they realized Zeev always brought me here, so.." Josh breathed in swiftly several times.
"They used spellwork on you didn't they son?" Sands' kind voice broke in.
"And.. and then.." Josh's voice broke completely and I heard Ash, Sands and Zeev inhale sharply.
"Who was it?" Sam demanded coldly.
"I don't recognize them. Looks to be Contracted to one of the Mages." Zeev sounded like he was frowning.
"I do." Ash said softly. "It was an Incubus. That's why there were able to extract Josh's memory and get here so easily. He used lust, seduction, basically raped Josh into submission in body and mind. Josh, I'm so sorry. Our kind, we were never meant for that." Josh's sobbing could be heard clearly echoing around the kitchen. I winced and hugged my pillow, crying silent tears for Josh.
Zeev POV
'Ash, Harlee-' I sent mentally as I became aware she was awake. Ash rose from the stool they were perched on, thought about giving Josh a hug, leaning towards him and everything, then hesitated, unsure of themself and withdrew from the room silently. Sands touched the boy lightly on the arm and Josh flinched. I could almost feel Sands trying to help balance Josh's brain chemistry, trying to help him process his grief.
"I'm very sorry this happened to you, my child." Sands said softly. "How would you like our help? Would you like us to help you recover your father?" Sands asked gently. Josh sobbed again and nodded. I ran a hand over my face. And here Sands was just complaining about us getting injured all the time...
Harlee POV
I nearly flung myself at Ash when they appeared by the bed. Ash shushed me and sat down on the bed, pulling me with them and onto their lap. I felt like I should crush this delicate thin creature, but Ash's appearance deceptively hid their strength. Ash rocked me gently, kissing my hair, cheeks and brow til I calmed.
"Your arm's better." I murmured. Ash hummed a reply.
"You tend to keep me rather well fed, and with a little help from Sands..." Ash said softly.
"You heard us talking?" It was more a statement than a question. I nodded.
"Poor Josh." I whispered hoarsely. Ash nodded against my hair and kissed the side of my head again.
Zeev POV
"You're not going." I growled at Harlee for the thousandth time. She stubbornly crossed her arms above her bulging stomach.
"Yes. I. AM. I could always order you." Harlee glared at me angrily. Ash came to my rescue. Calmly, Ash pulled Harlee into their lap on the couch.
"Harlee, Josh needs somebody here with him right now. Someone.. a little more human than the rest of us." Ash said quietly.
"But-"
"Harlee, honestly, Josh said there was only one or two left to guard his father, and they weren't even powerful sorcerers. Which is why they got left behind." Ash rolled their eyes. Tears were running down Harlee's face. "And look, Sam walked right through their wards, and they sent the best.."
"Yeah, after he stabbed the main guy!" Harlee objected.
"Harlee..." Ash sighed.
"Zeev, Ash, Sands." She held out her hands and we crowded around her. Since Ash was holding her around the waist while she sat on their lap, she gripped Sands' and my arm, pulling us closer, rubbing her face on our arms. "Be careful. All of you. Come back to me. Watch out for Devil's traps and warding and..." She took a steadying breath. "I love you all. Come back to me." She kissed first my hand, then Sands', then Ash's forehead. It was a command, but also a blessing. A silvery outline of a rose appeared on all three of our skin and then disappeared. A Binding. I inhaled swiftly.
"Harlee-did you-"
"He taught me." She settled her hand on her stomach. "Everything you know.." Harlee grinned lightly. "Now you have no choice, you'll find your way back to me, no matter what. Some how, some way.." I blinked back tears of my own.