The Wind-up Forest Read online

  By L.J. LABARTHE

  NOVELS

  City of Jade

  ARCHANGEL CHRONICLES

  Book 1: No Quarter

  Book 2: No Surrender, No Retreat

  Book 3: No Shadows Fall

  Book 4: The Wind-up Forest

  Coming in 2014

  Book 5: The Crystal Lake

  Book 6: The Bone Cup

  NOVELLAS

  The Body on the Beach

  part of the Under the Southern Cross anthology

  Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  Copyright

  Published by

  Dreamspinner Press

  5032 Capital Circle SW

  Suite 2, PMB# 279

  Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886

  USA

  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The Wind-up Forest

  © 2014 L.J. LaBarthe.

  Cover Art

  © 2014 Anne Cain.

  [email protected]

  Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

  All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/.

  ISBN: 978-1-62798-396-9

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-62798-395-2

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Edition

  February 2014

  As always, there are many people I need to thank. The Wind-up Forest would not be what it is without the help and support of the lovely Cate Ashwood and her red pen, and the red pens and keen eyes of the wonderful Lynn West and Erika Orrick. My thanks also go to Marina Pycroft, Shane Bevin, Tracy Bailey, Michelle Wauchope, Claire Clarke, Laura Osgood, Meredith Shayne, Ali Wilde, Zathyn Priest, Skylar Cates, Andrea Speed, my mum, my cousin Dr. Ian, my brother John, and Israel Bishop. You guys just rock the universe, each and every single one of you.

  My gratitude goes out to all of my readers. Without you, there would be no book, and you guys are integral to the whole process. So I hope you all stick with me on this new journey.

  Those who consider the Devil to be a partisan of Evil and angels to be warriors for Good accept the demagogy of the angels. Things are clearly more complicated.

  —Milan Kundera

  Dramatis Personae

  HEAVEN

  Michael: Chief Archangel, he is oldest of the Archangels and has the following titles: Prince of Heaven, Archangel of Repentance, Righteousness, Mercy and Sanctification, Tutelary Sar of Israel, Guardian of Jacob, Commander in Chief of the Armies of Heaven, Destroyer of Satan, Chief of the Sun, patron saint of policemen, a Grail angel. His power is gold, and he is bonded to Archangel Gabriel.

  Gabriel: Archangel of War, he is next in age and has the following titles: Mercy, Revelation and Annunciation, the Strength of God, God’s Rage and Jealousy, General of God’s Armies, Commander of the Seraphim, Left Hand of God, Destroyer of Sodom and Gommorah, Dictator of the Koran to Mohammed, Chief of the Moon, a Grail Angel. His power is silver, and he is bonded to Archangel Michael.

  Raphael: Archangel of Healing and Medicine, Prayer, Joy and Light, Overseer of the Evening Winds, Angel of the Sun. His power is white, and he is bonded to Israfel, Angel of Music.

  Uriel: Archangel of Sanctification, Fire, and Vengeance, and his titles are: Guardian of the Gates of Hell, Guardian of Eden, Fire of God, Angel of Thunder. His power is orange, and he is bonded to Archangel Raziel.

  Tzadkiel: Archangel of Judgment, and his titles are: Chief of God’s Secret Police, Commander of the Ophanim, Angel of Jupiter. His power is copper colored.

  Samael: Archangel of Death. His power is indigo.

  Remiel: Archangel of Mercy and Visions, and his titles are: Guide to Judgment, Angel of Thunder. His power is dark green, and he is in a long-term relationship with Ishtahar.

  Haniel: Archangel of Love, with the titles of: Guardian of Innocents, angel of Venus. His power is red.

  Metatron: Archangel of the Voice of God, and his titles are: Angel of the Covenant, Chancellor of Heaven, Scribe of God. His power is pale blue.

  Raziel: Archangel of Secrets and Mysteries and Science, Author and Keeper of the Sefer Raziel book of magic, angel of the Grail. His power is bronze, and he is bonded to Archangel Uriel.

  Israfel: Angel of Music. His power is blue, and he is bonded to Archangel Raphael.

  Tabbris: Angel of Free Will. His power is purple.

  Agrat bat Mahlat: Angel of Prostitution and Sex and Procreation. She is one of the four Holy Succubi, called the Whore of God. Her power is red, and she is married/bonded to Shateiel, Angel of Silence and Soldiers.

  Shateiel: Angel of Silence and Soldiers. The most trusted lieutenant of Gabriel, he is mute, communicates solely by telepathy. His power is light blue, and he is married/bonded to Agrat, Angel of Prostitution, Sex and Procreation.

  Camael: An Angel of War under the command of Gabriel. His power is silver-blue.

  Sophiel: Intelligence of Jupiter (corresponding to Tzadkiel), Angel of the Moon. Her power is blue.

  Brieus: Angel of Demon Hunting. His power is silver-blue.

  EARTH

  John: Adopted son of Gabriel, killed during the Seventy Years War.

  Mira: Adopted daughter of Gabriel, killed during the Seventy Years War.

  Lia Darguill: Operative of evil who worked out of a textbook warehouse in Atlanta, Georgia, devoted to Bob Taytton and his planned new world order.

  Bob Taytton: Megalomaniac who believed himself to be the reincarnation of a French saint named Secaire. Opened the portals to Hell that sparked the Seventy Years War, and was killed at the outset of that war.

  Ishtahar: High Priestess of Semjaza, Prince of the Grigori. Born in the city of Eden at the dawn of Creation. Forced to bear children to Semjaza, mother of the first Nephilim—half human, half angel hybrids. She is in a long-term relationship with Remiel.

  Hiwa: Elder son of Ishtahar, hates his father, Semjaza and feels nothing but loathing for him. Has spent most of his life living as an assassin, working predominantly for the Russian mafia.

  Ahijah: Younger son of Ishtahar, also hates his father, Semjaza. Has devoted his life to God, living and working as a priest, finally settling in Brazil.

  Eleanora: A French witch, living in Provence.

  Jihu: A shaman, living in North Korea in a communal farm with his family, hides his talents from prying eyes and ears.

  Sorella: A wise-woman, living in the Congo, in the slums. She is also an herbalist and healer.

  Frank: A former Cistercian monk, now a Hermit. He lives on the island of St. Kilda, off the north coast of Scotland.

  Khenbish: A shaman and a Buddhist, living in Mongolia, his name means “Nobody,” which confuses evil spirits.

  Iolana: A shamaness living in Hawaii, very shy but kind and cheerful, she lives with her
girlfriend and loves to surf. Her name means “to soar like an eagle.”

  Wilara: A Wajarri Elder living on the traditional tribal lands of the Wajarri People in Western Australia.

  Lyudmila: Queen of the Eastern Bloc Weres and has two shifter shapes—a wolf and a mink. Has talent with magic and with visions. Is Russian but now lives in Yerevan, capital of Armenia.

  Piotr: Lyudmila’s consort. Is Russian, but lives in Yerevan with Lyudmila. His shifter shape is that of an eagle.

  Arkady: A Russian shifter. Has dubious motives and questionable loyalties not known until too late.

  Olga: A Russian shifter.

  Vasily: A Russian shifter.

  Larissa: An Armenian shifter.

  Minnie: An Australian witch. Formerly a thief, known as No-Hands Minnie.

  Max/Mobius: Extremely talented hacker known for being able to dig up hidden information. His partner is Minnie. He lives with her and their cat.

  Horace: A member of the Order of Midnight, an extremely expensive group of assassins.

  Chloe: A young woman working for the British Library in London in the rare books and manuscripts department. Good friends with Penemuel, the Grigori.

  Susan: Chloe’s mother and Penemuel’s landlady.

  Angelique: Alpha of a Venatores pack. Formerly US Air Force and is of Mexican descent, raised in Texas. Her shifter shape is a dark gray wolf.

  Lily: Beta of Angelique’s pack, is an Englishwoman, formerly of the British Army. Her shifter is a gray wolf, and she is married to Danny, another member of the pack.

  Baxter: Kappa of Angelique’s pack. Formerly a US Marine, suffering PTSD. His shifter shape is an Arctic white wolf.

  Danny: Kappa of Angelique’s pack. Also a former US Marine, born and raised in Georgia. His shifter shape is a gray wolf, and he is married to Lily, another member of the pack.

  Riley: Omega of Angelique’s pack and the pack medic. Formerly a US Navy Corpsman working with the United States Marine Corps. His shifter shape is a red rock wolf.

  Declan Jones: Shifter and older brother of Liam. Raised in Puerto Rico, worked for some years in the US Army.

  Liam Jones: Necromancer and younger brother of Declan. Worked as a police officer before he and Declan set out together to work as demon trackers.

  Anna: Venatores, Russian, lives in the building owned by Michael in Oregon. She is a wolf shifter, mother to two young children, and married to Robert.

  Robert: Venatores, American, lives in the building owned by Michael in Oregon. He is a fox shifter, father to Anna’s children, and married to Anna.

  Sebastian Bloome: Individual involved in the kidnap and sale of angels on the black market.

  HELL

  Lucifer: King of Hell. A Fallen Angel, the first Fallen Angel. Is very good friends with the Archdemon Adramelek, one of the first angels to Fall. His titles are: King of Hell, Lightbringer, The Morningstar, Lucifer, Prince of Lies, Lord of Deceit, Lord of the Flies, The Devil, Satan. Is almost omniscient, nearly as much as God. His power is white, and he is in an open relationship with Lilith and is sometimes involved with Adramelek.

  Adramelek: Fallen Angel and unquestionably loyal to Lucifer. Formerly a member of the choir of angels called the Thrones. His titles are: Archdemon of Fire, Great Minister and Chancellor of the Order of the Fly, President of Satan’s Private Council, the High Council of Devils, President of the Order of Glass Knives. Power is silver-black. He is Lucifer’s sometime lover.

  Ondrass: One of the first demons created, born out of Lucifer’s fury just after his fall into Hell. His titles are: Archdemon of Discord, Grand Marquis of Hell, Lucifer’s personal hitman, member of the Order of Glass Knives. His power is black, and he is in a relationship with his personal assistant, Markus.

  Melcherisa: Archdemon of Darkness, Governor of the Base Natures of Hell, member of the Guild of Glass Knives. His power is dark gray.

  Lix Tetrax: Duchess of Whirlwinds, High Priestess of Fevers and Member of the Order of the Fly, member of the Guild of Knives. Her power is silver-gray.

  Ba’al: Seneschal to Lucifer and butler to Lucifer. Absolutely loyal to Lucifer and loves him as a father-figure. His power is gray.

  Sprite: Adramelek’s hell-cat, ginger colored, with a fondness for tuna and fresh fish.

  Uphir: Archdemon of Medicine and Science, Hell’s Physician. His power is muddy-brown.

  Marchosias: Marquis of Wolves. His power is khaki-green.

  Markus: Personal Assistant to Ondrass, the Archdemon of Discord. His power is gray, and he is in a relationship with Ondrass.

  Lilith: The first wife of Adam, and prior to that, the consort of God Himself, Lilith is the first scorned woman and the first strong woman to say no to a man. After she left Adam, she wandered in the wilderness and mothered giants, the monsters of ancient mythology. Originally named Lilitu, she met Lucifer in the desert and they spent a long time in conversation. Lilith is the oldest of the four sisters of the succubi. Agrat, Eisheth, and Naamah are her sisters. Her titles are: Consort of Lucifer, Eater of Infants, The First Adulteress, Consort of Yahweh, Mother of Giants.

  Her power is red.

  OTHER

  Shamsiel: A Fallen Angel of the choir of the Grigori. Formerly the Grigori of Astrology. Made a deal with Bob Taytton and they sold feathers from his wings to demons to hide them from angelic sight in the build-up to the Seventy Years War. Was killed by Lucifer for his actions.

  Semjaza: Prince of the Grigori, imprisoned in the constellation of Aquila by Gabriel in the last days of Eden. His punishment was for corrupting humanity and breeding with human women, most notably his high priestess, Ishtahar, whom he forced to be his wife. Is the father of Hiwa and Ahijah. He is a talented magician. Was pulled down to Hell and now suffers in the Lake of Frozen Souls, tortured personally by Lucifer.

  Azazel: Closest friend and ally of Semjaza. Grigori of Weaponry and Makeup.

  Penemuel: A Grigori, has a pet cat and his best friends are Chloe and her mother, Susan, and the two Grigori named Baraqiel and Kokabiel. Was the Grigori of Writing and Reading.

  Baraqiel: Grigori of Astronomy and Astrology, escaped with Kokabiel and Penemuel. In the modern world, he works as an astrophysicist at the Belgian Observatory, and lives with Kokabiel, with whom he is in a relationship.

  Kokabiel: Grigori of Astronomy and Astrology, escaped with Baraqiel and Penemuel. In the modern world, he works as an astrophysicist at the Belgian Observatory and lives with Baraqiel, with whom he is in a relationship.

  Eisheth: Youngest of the Four Succubi Sisters, spent her time living among the stars, comforting those who fell to earth as they died.

  Naamah: One of the Four Succubi Sisters, she used to live in the seas of the Earth, but moved to Purgatory during the Seventy Years War. Has two children, twins, whose father is unknown. Her twin children are named Arthur and Morgana, after the Arthurian legends.

  Chapter One

  LYUDMILA SAT in the cramped train compartment with Piotr at her side. Opposite them sat Arkady and Vasily, both red fox shifters. It was not the most ideal way to travel, squashed into this narrow space on an ancient train that had seen better days, but they were bound for Paris, and the distance between Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and Paris was far too long for even the most experienced shifter to run.

  “At least we are on the sleeper train,” Arkady remarked, moving his long legs in a fruitless attempt to get comfortable. “It would be worse if we were in the Obshi class.”

  “Small comfort,” Piotr replied with a snort. He was watching Lyudmila, as he had been since they’d boarded the train. They were a contingent of nine shifters, the other five wandering up and down to make sure nothing went awry. This being Armenia in the late evening, Piotr was expecting all manner of things to go awry. Lyudmila knew this; they were connected through their mating link. She also knew he would know that she was tense as a rock.

  “Stop staring,” Lyudmila said without turning away from the window. “I can feel your gaze boring
holes in my spine.”

  Piotr chuckled quietly. “Forgive me. I am worried.”

  “We all are,” Vasily added. He sat beside Arkady, a man of medium build with bright auburn hair, a light dusting of freckles on his nose and cheeks. He held Arkady’s hand in his own, and Lyudmila sighed as she turned away from the view of the night-shrouded Armenian countryside.

  “I am as well. It is strange that we received this summons to Council. And in Paris! If it is difficult for us to get there, how will it be for the King of the Chinese Weres? Or the Queen Regent of Southeast Asia? Or the King of the Australian–New Zealand Weres?”

  “Or the American delegates or those in the Pacific, yes, we know.” Piotr shook his head. “I am suspicious, my love. I did not mean to affect you with it.”

  Lyudmila waved that off, continuing as if he hadn’t spoken at all. “The Council has not convened like this in hundreds of years. If there was ever a time to do so, it would have been during the Angel-Demon War. Why now, when it is a time of peace? I am disquieted.” She drew one leg up beneath her on the uncomfortable seat. “Has anyone heard from any of the other kingdoms?”

  There was a murmur in the negative. Lyudmila swore. “I do not like this,” she said again. “And yet, we must go.”

  “Yes, we must go.” Piotr stood up and grabbed a threadbare blanket from the bunk above Arkady and Vasily. “With the four of us in here and our five companions in the corridor, we will be all right.” He sat down again, draping the blanket around Lyudmila’s shoulders.

  They fell silent, listening to the sound of the train as it rumbled over the tracks, the muted noise of steel clacking against steel. Lyudmila allowed herself to drift into a doze, letting her thoughts wander as she rested her cheek against the cool glass of the window. The moon was waning, slowly losing signs of her pregnancy as she moved across the night sky. The stars were bright, and here and there were thick gray clouds, shimmering with the strange luminescence that only moonlight could give.