ANGEL. ❪ Theo Raeken ❫ ✓

two

"You're bringing him back?" Faye softly asked through the phone. "Really?"

"Really," Liam answered through the phone.

Faye licked her dry lips. "I don't have a good feeling about this."

Hayden stared at Liam and flailed her arms around. "Even Faye doesn't think this is a good idea, and she's the one that loved him!"

"I didn't say it was a bad idea. I just don't have a good feeling. And what do you mean loved? I still love him," Faye murmured. "Did you freaking put me on speaker, Liam?"

Liam chuckled. "Yeah, you're on speaker. Anyway, I hope you're doing well with your quest. I believe I'm doing the right thing, Faye. I'll see you when everything is solved, okay?"

"If Theo doesn't kill us all," Hayden muttered.

Liam shot her a look.

"Okay, Liam. Stay safe, you two. If you ever need help, I'm a call away."

"Thank you, Faye. Good luck."

"Good luck."

Liam hung up as Noshiko Yukimura, Kira's mother, showed up. Noshiko held the sword that trapped Theo underground in her hands.

"Kira entrusted me with her sword while she's with the Skinwalkers," Noshiko said. "And now, I'm trusting you, because I believe she would want me to. Do not mistake this for me agreeing with your decision."

Liam gulped nervously and nodded. "I understand." He gestured toward the same spot Kira trapped Theo. "Kira just stabbed her sword into the ground," he stated, almost like he was asking a question.

"If you want to do this, you'll have to do this yourself," Noshiko said, almost offended that Liam would imply for her to do what her daughter did months ago. She bowed her head respectfully, extending the sword out with her arms.

Liam awkwardly cleared his throat as he took the sword from her hands.

"Once it's done, whatever happens will be your responsibility," Noshiko said, as if she knew something horrible would happen.

Liam gripped the sword nervously. He wasn't thinking straight. Liam knew there was one way to getting what they needed to stop the Ghost Riders. Even if Hayden didn't agree with him, he had to do it. Either way, he was technically doing Faye a favor. She would get to see Theo again.

Liam raised the sword above his head.

"Liam, wait!" Hayden shouted.

But the momentum was too much. Liam couldn't stop. The sword punctured into the ground. Even if he could have stopped, he wasn't sure if he really would have. The ground cracked like an earthquake splitting the earth in half. Liam and Hayden backed away in fright, waiting for Theo to come out.

Theo's fist broke through the ground as more cracks appeared. His claws flicked out, his hand holding his body up as he climbed out of the hole he made. He flashed his yellow eyes, then saw Liam. The expression on Theo's face was resentful and angry as he rammed into Liam. He roared in Liam's face as he cornered him into the wall.

"Theo, we're not trying to hurt you. We're the ones that brought you back," Hayden said, glancing worriedly at her boyfriend.

Theo took in a deep breath, almost like he was smelling Liam as if he was a wild animal. "Where's my sister?"

"Your sister's dead," Liam declared. "She was dead a long time ago."

"You killed her, remember?" Hayden asked.

Theo growled at her. The truth always hurt, no matter how long ago it was. "I'm gonna kill you too. I'm gonna kill all of you!"

Hayden winced. "Send him back," she ordered Liam. She looked at Liam with wide eyes, signaling her distaste for Theo.

Liam raised the sword, glaring at Theo through the blade of the sword. "You know what this does?"

Theo stared at the sword, his glance going between Liam and the sword. He released Liam after a thoughtful debate with himself.

"We need your power to help us, and you can kill whoever you want. But, if you do kill us, you're gonna end up worse off than ever."

Theo nodded. "There's nothing worse than what I've been through," he rasped out.

"Have you heard about the Ghost Riders?" Liam asked.

Theo narrowed his eyes in confusion, then realization. He knew about the Ghost Riders.