"Did you find out anything more about Elizabeth Mulgrady?" John asked once he and Bobby got settled in his living room. "Something that might suggest what she might have been into? Or that might have gotten her summoned as some demon's servant?"
"No." Bobby got up to get a book off a shelf. "But I did remember reading something that coincides with what the kid told you about the hellhound protecting her."
"Yeah?" John reached for his mug of coffee. "What's that?"
"Well, there's a story in this book of myths about four women created by God to guard the elements."
"Elements?" He had a vague idea what Bobby meant. "As in...?"
"Earth, air, wind and fire," Bobby confirmed as he walked over to his desk. "The cosmic elements that explain nature and the complexity of things like matter by breaking them into smaller substances."
A few books he picked up mentioned the cosmic elements. Mostly in relation to cosmologies and mythology. John frowned as he swallowed a mouthful of coffee.
"Don't the Chinese believe in there being something like five elements?"
"They add metal and wood to their list," Bobby said with a nod. "To them, the elements are different types of energy that are in constant interaction with one another."
"Yin and Yang."
"Basically."
John set his mug on his knee and leaned back in his chair.
"So, we're talking about a sort of cosmic balance here that might be held by four women created by God?"
"Pretty much."
John heard Aydan laugh, a low and warm sound that drained away his lingering tension. He turned his head to look at her. She stood at the stove with Sammy, alternating between flipping pancakes, and stirring something in a pan on the back burner. Her face brightened at something Sammy said.
No, not just brightened, he realized. She positively glowed. Almost as if someone placed a flashlight beneath her skin and turned it on. Is Bobby onto something with this guardian bit? Could Aydan be a descendant of one of these women? He shrugged the thought off. Aydan was an ordinary little girl. A pretty little angel who shouldn't be worrying about anything other than what she's getting from Santa.
"How does any of this fit with her having a hellhound as her personal protector?"
"Well." Bobby flipped some pages in the book. "According to this, God assigned his most trusted angels to watch over and protect these women."
"His most trusted angels?" One of John's brows lifted. "As in harps and wings and halos?"
"As in his fiercest and strongest." Bobby turned the book so he could see the images on the page. "Archangels. Considered the Navy SEALs of Heaven."
"You're telling me that angels are real." John couldn't hide his skepticism. He just didn't believe in angels. No more than he really thought there were demons. "C'mon, Bobby. Even you gotta know there's no such thing as angels."
"Ain't never seen one," he admitted gruffly. "But that don't mean they don't exist."
"Doesn't mean they're real, either."
"You didn't think vampires were real until you met Elkins."
"I didn't think any of this was real until whatever broke into my house and killed Mary." John ran a hand over his face. "You were saying, though?"
Bobby set the book on the desk in front of him.
"Take a look at what angels were assigned to which guardian."
John's eyebrows shot up to his hairline as he looked down at where Bobby pointed.
"Are you shitting me?"
"Fraid not." Bobby shut the book. "And it gets worse."
"Lemme guess." He set his mug on the floor and reached for the book. "One of them has a hellhound?"
"Care to guess what its damn name is?"
"Ramsey."
"Earned yourself a beer."
John blew out a heavy breath. "Why would an angel send a hellhound to protect Aydan?"
It made no sense. Angels were from Heaven. Hellhounds were from, well, Hell. A kernel of suspicion swirled through his confusion. Brought a heavy dose of doubt and unease. He stifled both. Waited for Bobby to answer.
"Well." Bobby looked to where Aydan was showing Sammy how to make pancakes. "I'd say it's cause the kid's a descendant of one of the guardians."
"What guardian, though?" He had a clue but wanted Bobby to confirm it. "Book give you any clue?"
"Given her name means little fire," Bobby said slowly. "I'd say she's a descendant of the guardian of fire."
"Who was assigned to protect the guardian of fire?"
He already suspected the answer but figured he'd give Bobby the chance to twist the knives in his gut, anyway.
"Says the care of the guardian of fire was given to his most trusted son." Bobby looked at him, his expression grim. "Lucifer."
A/N: Hello, all! Hope this finds you well!
I want to thank Sharzdah and umbrella0326 for their wonderful reviews!