The Four Horsemen(2)

I laugh at him. He doesn’t look a day over thirty. He is handsome in a way that makes me want to undress. Michelle too. I can tell when she looks at him. Mona gets a little overly excited sometimes too, even she can't fight what he is.

Wyatt sighs, “Not that I am against spending our time on Constantine’s wrinkles, but maybe we should spend a little more on the possibility that your mother might be the same as mine.”

I scowl, “What?” Oh God, what does that even mean? Could we be related? No, I know his mother is Gretel.

Mona nods, “Yeah, that’s probably true. That actually makes sense.”

I scowl, “No, it doesn’t. I know his mother is Gretel and I know mine is not.”

Mona sighs, “Your mom might be bad like his mom, Rayne. She might have let Lucifer impregnate her. She might have a plan.”

Their words burn a little, making me scowl, “She was tricked by my father. The nixie trust her, so I do too. She wrote me the letter telling me to kill the devils and then come and kill her. She is willing to die for me.”

Wyatt gives me his smirk, “The sea witches are not the pillars of goodness you are assuming they are.”

Constantine points at him, “I can't believe I am going to say this, but the young whippersnapper has a point. I think we should tread lightly where both of your parents are concerned, my love.”

I sigh, “You said you know my mom. You are the one who said that she was good.”

He nods, “Was, and I am a terrible judge of character. I have no soul. Your mother is a beautiful woman, that’s about all it takes for me to believe her. And I don’t know her currently. I knew her, past tense. I’ve not seen her in a long time. The communication I have with her now is through the fae only.”

Wyatt folds his arms, “She isn’t seeking you out either, Rayne. She is as much to blame for it all as your father is. I bet that’s why she hides with the fae—protection from God.”

Michelle frowns, “Why doesn’t God just smite them both?”

Wyatt shakes his head, “He can’t. He is impotent on this Earth. Why do you think he lets children starve and die? Why do think he lets sin happen? He is not almighty on this Earth, except in belief.”

Michelle shakes her head, “And you say you’re a Christian.”

Wyatt laughs, “I’m not a Christian, my faith is much older than that. Much older than Christ or man-made churches where tithes pay for worship and forgiveness. A building does not hold my beliefs and my power is from God directly. He can help us or hinder us through his angels. He may not reign over our physical bodies, but he has absolute power over our immortal souls.” Wyatt’s tone drops off, like he is heeding a warning.

Michelle cocks a perfectly-plucked and penciled brow, “Hmph, that sounds alarming, like blasphemy, for reals.”

Mona puts her hand up between them, “No, my God, stop. We don’t want to talk about church. Have you never heard the expression, Jesus save me from your followers? Like damn. No one wants to be churched to death on a jet. Let’s focus on the important stuff, like Rayne’s mom being evil.”

I feel injured by the mother I do not know, but I can't help the want to love her; she sent me to Willow. Willow was good. I clear my throat, “She tried to stop my father. She isn’t to blame for this. She got tricked, the same way Michelle did. That is all. The nixie love her and trust her—they wouldn’t help her if she was evil. She let Willow raise me. Willow was all goodness.”

Mona opens her mouth but the captain speaks over her words, “Fasten your seat belts. We are about to land in Switzerland.”

Constantine comes to me and sits next to me, placing his hand over mine. The feel of his skin against mine sparks memories. I think that is his goal, “I can't wait for you to see the chalet.”

Something about the sentence is familiar. I look towards the window and close my eyes. His touch sends chills up and down my spine. His body writhing against mine as his lips press into my throat, grazing my skin. His hot breath and strong body cover me, every inch of me.

I exhale roughly and look at him with desire taking over my face. He smiles sweetly, “Bit of a daydream, love?”

I laugh, headily, “You are cheating, sir.”

He growls, “I do like it when you call me sir.”

I wink at him, “I remember.”

He looks like he might ravish me any second but I shake my head, “We still have three devils and both my parents to kill. Don’t go getting any funny ideas about you and me. I don’t need the distraction.”

He leans in, brushing his lips against my cheek, “All I’m asking for is one night.” I see his eyes lower to the armrests and a slow smile creeps across his face, "You scared?"

I swallow hard, "Just stop, okay?" I shudder and prepare to land. As odd as it sounds, I don’t like flying. Even though I have wings and a serious suspicion I can fly, I don’t like it.

As we land, I have the strangest sensation, like I have something brewing inside of me.

We walk as a group, a herd, a family. A broken and strange family, and all I have left in the whole world, besides a father who would let me die horribly and a mother who neglected me. Regardless of being her champion, I cannot forget that she left me. She always does.

The airport we land at is small and private. Being with Constantine has perks, avoiding customs is one of them. As we cross the small building, a woman in a stunning red dress meets us at the exit. She gives Constantine a smile that makes me nearly gag.

"Brother, you brought more guests than I anticipated."

He laughs, "Stella, this is Rayne. You, of course, recall her as my Ellie."

My jaw drops. Of course. She had black hair, not white-blonde, and she is tanned, not stark white, but the face is the same. The slim, strong body is identical. She beams at me, "Ellie, my precious sister. At last we have you back."

I leap at her, hugging her hard. "Stella!"

She wraps around me, "I have missed you, Ellie."

I could almost cry, I have missed her so badly and never even knew it.

When I let go of her, Wyatt steps closer to me. Her fangs drop and blue veins creep along the ashen skin under her bright eyes. She hisses, "You bring a present for me, Constantine?"

He laughs, "Oh how I wish I could leave him in your care, my fair sister, but alas the young Van Helsing is part of the cause this time."

Wyatt crosses his arms, "You couldn’t take me and we both know it, mistress of Satan."

Constantine rolls his eyes, "Did I mention he is also very humble? All about the cause, this one."

Her blood-red nails grow into claws as she points at him, "What about Vlad? What about Mother and Father? What about Stephan? You would side with one of his kind and betray our blood again?"

I cock an eyebrow and glance at Mona. What does she mean again? Mona interrupts my thoughts as she stifles a laugh, "This is like dinner theatre."

I laugh aloud but none of them even crack a smile. Wyatt takes the great offense as seriously as they do.

Michelle sighs loudly, "Okay, look. You guys can play this out in the courtyard of whatever mansion we're going to. It'll be epic, but like… I'm tired. I have a hankering for some Swiss loving and a sandwich, maybe tuna. Can we go?"

Mona nods, "Not to sound like Michelle on this one, but yeah. This is a bit intense."

Constantine walks over to his sister, "Stella, let's away to the car. We can discuss it there."

Her eyes land on me like bright-blue daggers attacking, "Ellie, do you not recall the way they held you captive? Filling you with poison and pain? How can you allow this? How can you be near him? He is one of Gretel’s, if my nose is not mistaken."

“He isn’t like them.” I shake my head, "I don’t know how else to explain it." My eyes are drawn to Wyatt's. I smile when I see his hardened and cocky face. "He isn’t the same as them."

Constantine sighs, almost exactly the way Michelle did, "He is half angel. He isn’t all Van Helsing. You will recall the indiscretion a certain someone had?"

Stella's mouth twitched, "That slut, I knew it. I knew it. I said it and everyone disagreed. He smells like her though, like old whore."

I snort, grabbing Wyatt's arm instantly. His muscles bulge under my hands as he nearly attacks. My hands burn and the nausea is awful, but holding him is better than letting the fight take place in a public place. I whisper, “Please, for me. Don’t do this.”

He growls, "Do not speak of my mother that way."

Stella looks down at her claws, menacingly, "I'll do as I wish, Van Helsing."

Mona grabs Wyatt's arm and drags him off to the side, "Let's go. This is ridiculous."

Constantine and his sister give each other glances. I know they're reading each other's thoughts, they always did. His whole family was able to do it. Now though, they are all that is left of the line.

I look at them both and turn to follow Mona, even though she has no idea where she is going. We both smile when we see the huge black Hummer out in front. She opens the door, "Come on, lover boy. We both know you have to calm down. Where better than the vamp Hummer, to find a nice place to sit and take a few breaths?"

Wyatt scowls at Mona, "You are so weird." Michelle rolls her eyes, "You don’t even know the half of it."