The Angel of the Lighthouse by Lydia Fane

whites of his eyes.
    This time, Aries reacted; stepping close into Jack’s personal space, raising his hands to rest them on the other man’s shoulders. He channelled pure fire from his heart through his palms, letting it trickle through his shielding, to engulf the other man in angelic fire. Jack inhaled deeply and held his breath, eyes opening wide. The shadow that was far more than a shadow burned away and viciously. Aries burned every last speck of ash into nothingness.
    While it wasn’t as good as sending the demon scum back to hell, Aries felt happier for being able to help Jack. The roil of fire beneath his shields settled somewhat. The fire he had channelled guttered and died, and Aries was ready to catch him as Jack’s knees gave way.
    “Was that you being gentle?” Jack gasped out, once he found his voice again.
    “As gentle as fire can be,” Aries said. “Angels and demons... not a lot gentle about that combination. Sorry.”
    “It wasn’t painful, just overwhelming,” Jack said thoughtfully. “Is that how you feel all the time?”
    “I had to get you clear of the taint,” Aries dodged the question.
    Jack shuddered. “And I thank you. It was the weirdest feeling. All he did was shake my hand, and I knew that he was a decent guy who’d be great to share a drink with. That thought throbbed in my head while I was coming to find you to chew you out. My mind felt as if it was covered in oil.”
    “You have a very strong mind,” Aries complimented him. “Most can’t tell exactly what the demonic manipulation is.”
    “Could Skye?”
    “Likely not. She’s thralled too deeply, and it’ll be even worse this second time around. He won’t risk losing control of her again.”
    “So how do we save her?” Jack asked, and the faith in his face that they could do it was almost blinding.
    Aries took heart in the confidence that Jack had in him. Skye could be saved. Skye would be saved.
    “Where are they now?” he asked.
    “I showed them to the guest house. I wouldn’t like to guess what they’re doing.”
    Although Jack tried to make a joke of it, Aries still felt the fire within rage at the thought.
    “We need to...” Aries started to say, but cut himself off as he felt the world around him change.
    Dark demonic power blanketed the world in torrents of force, spinning around the lighthouse. The presence took Aries’ breath away, pressing down on him, a smothering, all-encompassing darkness that threatened to overpower him and steal away his control.
    “What’s wrong?” Jack said worriedly as Aries staggered.
    “Can’t you feel it?” Aries asked himself as he braced himself against the metal disc of the beacon.
    “Feel what?” Jack asked. “I can see some nasty-looking clouds on the horizon, but nothing else.”
    “The demon...” Aries closed his eyes, both to stabilise his balance and to find the words for what he was feeling. “He’s strong. He’s doing something.”
    Once more Aries rested his hand on Jack’s shoulder and channelled a gentle breath of fire to Jack’s eyes. Jack blinked, and Aries turned to look outside again. The dark energy was now becoming visible as strands that turned and tumbled in the air. They were growing thicker as Aries watched, reaching up to the sky, drawing in the clouds.
    “He’s calling a storm?” Jack asked.
    “He is,” Aries confirmed.
    “Can you do anything about it?”
    Aries reached out with his fire, gently testing the dark currents that flowed around him and the lighthouse, careful not to do anything too overt that would signal his angelic presence. Even though they were the work of a demon, the workmanship was admirable. The weave was close, and there was no way for him to burn out the corruption without releasing uncontrollable, powerful forces. The demon-summoned storm would be a picnic compared to what would be unleashed if he were to meddle.
    Aries relayed this all to Jack, who nodded. “Guess we just have to ride it out,” he