Lawrence walked in; the screams must have woken him. He sat beside the fire. “Hello, young man, what appears to be the problem?” he asked with a look of grave concern etched over his face.
Eli cried as I filled Lawrence in.
“Hmm...” he said, scratching his head. “These bubbles you saw, what colour were they?”
“Green.”
“Oh dear.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“The green bubbles Eli has spoken of are acidic in nature.”
My jaw dropped. “What! How do you know?”
“Because I saw this pot of acid over a month ago, but I didn’t know what it meant until today.”
“What does it mean?” I asked, shuddering. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t? He was like a son to her. Surely, she wouldn’t.
“It means our beloved Lucian may have fallen to his death,” Lawrence said, his voice sombre.
“No!” I yelled. “That’s impossible. She would never do that.”
“The Lilith you knew, Elisha, has changed.”
“But why?”
“I don’t know. All I’ve been able to see is a darkness behind her, pushing her forward, directing her. There’s something or someone else in charge now.”
“Who?” I asked.
“God,” Nic said, walking in. “It has to be.”
“No, he’s been vacant for years. No-one’s seen him.”
“It must be, he has to be back. Lilith would never kill Lucian unless someone forced her hand.”
“Are you sure?” Nic asked.
“Yes, well... yes.” I thought, I hoped.
Eli cried. I kept him close, swept his wispy brown hair from his eyes, and kissed the top of his head. Tears dropped onto his hair as I found my face drained with the reality of the situation. Could Lucian really be gone? He had saved me, he had kept me safe all those years. We were family. He had always been a big brother to me, and now, well now he was gone. I couldn’t hold back, a gut-wrenching howl blasted from my vocal chords. The chandelier rattled, roses died in their vase as my nature took heat and killed the small blooms of life around me. Eli stopped crying suddenly, turned to look at my swollen face, lifted his finger to my temple, and said, “He’s okay now, Elisha, don’t cry... he’s okay.”
CHAPTER 68: Julian
How could she? Did she not remember what she meant to me? To us? She may have been their creator, but she had my heart. I couldn't engage in this war, I couldn't pick a side. How could I go against her? I still loved her. This isn’t who she is, who she was. What happened to her? When did she change so much? I understood that she’d always been evil. Seriously, we were all capable of it. We just chose to embrace our nature. I missed her. Was that possible? To miss the woman who was trying to have you killed? Could it be Cain? Was he pushing her buttons? Was he the one behind all of this? It would make sense, but then he didn't have the ball sack to stand up to her, let alone engage in a huge war against mankind. What was all that about? I knew she always hated her family, but she would never have taken it so far. Someone had something on her, but who, and why?
Slipping through the portal unseen was easy. Not many of them knew the back routes into Enoch, or out of it. Enoch was built as a place with gateways to all the planets, not just Earth. It would be simple getting back there, building my own army. All I needed was a little magic, a few thousand frozen corpses, and there you have it. An army of ice demons, ready to be led again. I’d take down her guards, that wasn't a problem. Even if they were now enhanced. But I couldn't take her down, I wouldn't do it. I needed the truth first. I needed to ask her face to face, why?
The first step was to find Magdalena, the first of her kind and the most powerful witch out there. She owed me a favour or two. Seriously, though, she owed me her life. If I hadn’t smuggled her out, she’d be dead and buried in a thousand different places by now. I hoped she'd taken my advice and headed over to Aesteriah. It was a planet quite like Earth; the same ecological system, just untouched by the human parasites that inhabit this place. Don’t get me wrong, humans had a right to live, but they had a knack of shitting on everything they touched. There were some rare exceptions, Taylor, for example. But then again, she wasn’t quite human after all.
Seriously, the place was overgrown. Those immature tadpoles had best stay clear of me. Then again, I think I’ll just avoid the ocean. Probably best. Last time I encountered one of the creatures, they had pulled me under. Freezing the ocean wasn’t the best idea, especially when I was in it at the time.
All around me the trees whispered through the violent breath of Aesteriah’s shrill winds. Artic temperatures reigned over that part of the planet. That side of the world was set amidst its crisp winter blizzards, shrouding the sight before me with harsh hailstones the size of baseballs. It was a good job Lilith gave me a tough outer shell, else they would have ripped right through me. Was it wrong to miss her? My brow drooped as I felt her touch over my ice-cold skin. She would have enjoyed seeing this world with me, exploring something new. If only she had let her vengeance go, we could have explored the universe together, created a new home, just she and I. Perhaps our love wasn’t strong enough, her taste for revenge was stronger. I understood it, I did. I knew what he did to her. But that was precisely it; he did it, God, not them. It was her father who had banished her, not her family. From what I gathered, Eve had created the humans to keep her company, instead she saw them as her slaves. What happened to her to change her into this? Where was the Lilith I remembered? The love, the desire, the hope and dreams? It was gone, she was gone, and something else had replaced her. Or, perhaps, someone else was pulling the strings. Cain? No, he wasn't clever enough. It had to be him, he had to be back. Seriously, God was home and ready to cause Hell on Earth.
How was I supposed to know which way to go? I couldn't see anything in front of me. There had to be a better way than this. Hmm... I smiled. It felt good when an idea sprung to mind. Raising my hands, I blasted out a shroud of ice above me, creating a shelter for as far as the eye could see. Perfect. Now when I walked, I walked under the cover of ice protecting me from the Siberian winter outside. I could see out and from what I saw, I had a long way to go. Duel mountains clambered up high before me; it looked a hell of a long way up. The problem was, they weren’t average mountains. They were like those from my home planet. Mountains of ice, slippery buggers with a knack of throwing down icicles at you. Extremely dangerous and full of death-defying fun. I remembered my first date as a tiny adolescent with Vesta, the girl from the other cavern. We were both mortals, both Icemanes, and first met when I had slid down the mountain and fell on top of her. I was there with my gang, taunting and daring each other just as any mortal teen would. Then there she was, there I was after I slipped and launched into the air, landing on top of her. I could still remember her shocked face as I jumped up and held out my hand. She laughed, an innocent resonating sound that has forever stayed etched in my mind. That and her screams, the scream when one of Lilith’s mutations devoured her. In wasn’t my fault, I know that now. We had ventured into a field unknown, deep into a darkened cavern, past the realms of reality and the pain of non-existence. Because as we passed through that cavern, we entered a forgotten time, a pathway into Enoch. It was a place only just created by Lilith and Cain, an area of endless possibilities, dashed hopes, and unknown dreams. If only Lilith had found us sooner, Vesta could have been saved. Our first date ended in a tragedy. Lilith found me crying frozen tears over the body of my first young love. She promised me vengeance and enforced immortality onto my bones, strengthening my own true skills and enveloping my body with the ability to wield the icy nature of my own heart, blasting through life one frozen touch at a time.
The faint memories of Vesta's smile washed over my mind as I reached the top of the mountain. Before me, an endless array of bristling green trees, oceans of colour, sand dunes of vast beaches, and lava filled volcanos trumpeting their smoke signals lay. I’d forgotten how beautiful all of I was
. It’d been a long time since I’d stepped foot onto this planet. I’d been exploring the depths of Enoch when I had come across the gateway. But knowing Cain, I didn’t want to entrust the beauty of this world with his endless need to savage, rape, and destroy. I’d seen what he’d done to Earth's humans, and it wasn’t what I wanted for any other race.
She had to be there, seriously, she must be. I just hoped the Darkwaters could hold off the army before everything I knew and loved was destroyed.
CHAPTER 69: Lucian
How was it possible to die a thousand deaths in one lifetime? Be an immortal in a pot of acid. There was a punch line in there somewhere, I was sure of it.
Fuck this shit. Melting skin and sloshy tissue. Burgh, I must look like a congealed mess. My body couldn't sustain in it for much longer. I needed blood by the bucket load and I couldn't see that happening anytime soon, can you? Shit. I'm talking to myself. That must be my perishable persona, it was dissolving into the abyss, and then what? I ended up a pool of piss on the floor, living my life as a cell incapable of dying. Damn, the world gets rosier. I couldn't hold off the pain for much longer. But to feel it... Euff, no thanks. There had to be a way out of the pot. I just couldn't reach it, or swim up high enough to try. That'd require stamina, and that had disappeared hours ago.
Through the bubbling of Lilith’s cauldron, the familiar sound of a beatboxing retard filled my ears. No, it can't be. I wasn't that lucky.
"Yo mate, what ya doing in there?" The sound of laughter rippled through the air. I was saved!
"Swim then. I ain't putting my hand in that shit."
I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, my bones no longer worked and the flesh was clinging on for dear life.
"Luci, fucking hurry up. She may not be home right now, but I don't wanna be bumping into any of her henchmen." He yelled, pounding on the pot. The sound resonated through that thick gloopy acid as the remainder of my last supper dissolved around me.
Bubbles stewed as Joey yelped, grunting a barrel load of swear words. Above me, the fluid swished and splashed. Fuming words echoed through the air as Joey's molten hand reached in and pulled me out.
My liquefied bones and skin slopped onto the floor beside a raging Joey Luchazey. "Shit, mate, she's done a number on you this time. Come on, let's get you back to the pissy angel before he beats down Enoch to pull your ass out." He paused. "I take it your girl weren't in there with you?" He said, eyeing my gooey corpse over. "I shall take it that, by your silence, that that's a no."
My old mate, Joey Luchazey, picked up my withering bones, threw my melted body over his shoulder, and hot tailed us out of there, across the sand dunes, and into the passageway back to life as it was on Earth.
CHAPTER 70: Joey
Stepping through the passage was a walk in the park. I’d done that shit countless times. But... not while hauling the heavy ass of ol’ Luci.
“Shit, mate,” I said, dropping Lucian's fleshy bones into a pile on the floor. “You’re fucking heavy.” Lucian squirmed in his puddle. “When your voice comes back, me and you are gonna have words, mate. Love ain’t worth shit if it does this to you.”
“Love is in the eye of the beholder,” Gabriel said as he landed beside the pile of ol’ Luci on the floor.
“Fuck, man, you made me jump.” He bloody did, too. My bones were quaking in their boots. Pissy angel, I’d done what he wanted, he had best kept his end of the bargain up.
Gabriel frowned. “Where is Eve?” he said, looking over Lucian's withered body.
“Nowhere to be seen, mate. There was only Luci in the pot of acidic shit.”
“Acid! She wouldn’t have?”
“What? Like pushed the girl in there? You bet she bloody would have.”
“When I find Lilith, I will make her pay. Let us hope that Eve’s light has transferred back to the Celestial Rose in Elysium.”
“The what now?” What’s he on about?
Lucian groaned, spluttering vile fluid across Gabriel’s tanned boots.
“Sodding vampires,” Gabriel said.
“Oi mate, we ain’t no fluffy bunnies. We are Dark Ones and you know ol’ Luci is the first of our kind. ‘Ave some respect.”
“Your friend Lucian may be the first of your kind, but he isn’t looking worthy of any respect right now, Joey.” Gabriel said as he leapt into the air, taking flight.
“Wait!” He couldn't go. What was I supposed to do with Luci? “He might know where she is!”
Gabriel stopped mid-flight, turned and landed back beside us. “Pick him up, then. We had better hear what he has to say.”
“He ain’t exactly talking right now, mate. He needs blood.”
“Well, he isn’t drinking mine.”
“Fine. Watch him, I’ll be back soon.” I said, turning and running off at full speed to find an unsuspecting human. Stupid, bloody angel. What’s with barking orders at me? Do I look like his slave? Shit me. Those demons really look angry. Err... I best stay clear of that battle there. Damn it. They had a hoard of humans. I could seriously do with one of them at the moment. I wondered if they’d give me one if I asked ever so nicely. Ha, yeah right. They’d rather eat me themselves than trade off their dinner for, well, nothing. I mean, what did I have to offer? Bloody nothing. Hmm. Except, perhaps... yeah, that could work. A pissy angel would make the perfect celestial sandwich. Here goes nothing.
Walking over to the demonic kindred crew, I felt confident. Superior, even. That was until they turned to face me. Damn, those buggers were big. The whole perspective thing back there had thrown me for six. Jeez. I hoped they were in the bartering mood, else it’d be one darkened sandwich for the night’s tea.
“Hey there, friends.” I hollered.
“Now, what do we have here?” the larger one snarled.
“Oh, I’m a nobody, but I have something to offer you that will not only quench your thirst, but keep you satisfied for many moons to come.”
“Well, you will do nicely as my next meal.” He said, clearly ignoring what I said and stomping over to tear off my head.
I whizzed past them. Being a Dark One had its benefits.
“Huh, where’d he go?” the middle sized one asked.
“Now, that’s no way to treat a guest,” I said, smirking as I stood behind them.
“Get him!” The larger idiot demanded.
Hmm, this wasn’t going as well as I’d hoped. Time for a quick getaway. I picked up speed, sped past the small chubby one, and picked up an unsuspecting female from the crowd of shaking citizens. As quick as a flash, I was gone, hot tailing it out of there with my new blood bottle in the shape of an exquisite female form.
Arriving back beside Luci, he stunk. I wasn’t sure if it was piss or shit, but damn man, he stunk. It had to be his melted gut piecing itself back together. I shuddered. Damn, that Lilith really did a number on him this time.
“Oi, mate,” I shouted at the angel. “Here’s your meal, now can we get the fuck outta here?” I said, dropping the shaking girl on the ground.
“Please, please don’t hurt me,” she begged, clearly not understanding the nature of the situation. I did, in fact, save her life and she should've, therefore, given me payment. I was sure I could come up with a tasty sum.
“I saved your ass, now shut it.”
“What he meant to say was, he brought you here so we could borrow a little of your blood,” the pissy angel said.
“My blood?” she cried.
“Yeah, now keep still or he’ll bite your head off.” I grinned, pointing at ol’ stinking Luci on the floor.
She screamed.
“Sodding hell, you trying to get us killed?” I said, looking around. “Keep your voice down or them demons will be back.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let Lucian take too much. You’re safe with me.” The angel said with a charming smile. Bloody angels.
Gabriel knelt beside her, cupped her head, and lowered her to the floor. Her neck was on full show as she lay beside the
melted corpse of the stinking, old vampire.
Lucian groaned, slithering his bones over to her. The girl shook violently.
“It’ll be okay,” the angel said. “What’s your name?”
“V... Violet.”
“Well, Violet, stay perfectly still. I have heard the bite can be quite enticing.” He smiled, flashing his bright, white pearlers. A feeble smile formed on her fearful face as she closed her eyes and muttered the lord’s prayer under her breath.
“Shit, girl, you wouldn’t want the almighty saving you. He’s worse than the rest of us.”
She cried. “You have a way with words, Joey.” The pissy angel said. I frowned.
“I happen to think my vocabulary is more modern than most.”
Gabriel raised his eyebrows.
Lucian's fangs protruded as he rattled about, trying to locate the vein. The girl cried harder. Then snap, his fangs broke skin and the girl fell silent. Not silent as in dead as a doornail, but silent as in that she seemed to be squirming about, pleasured by the fact Lucian was draining her life away. It was a funny ol’ thing, really. It was like she wanted to die. Lucian kept drinking, he wasn't going to stop anytime soon. But her blood knitted his skinsuit back together as he writhed over her, drinking her to death.
“That’s enough, now Lucian,” Gabriel said. But he kept on drinking, clearly not in his right mind as he wasn’t too bothered about killing the girl below him. Then again, when were we ever? It wasn't like we weren’t actually doing them a favour like. I mean, they got to go upstairs and play in the happy place for all of eternity. Who wouldn’t want that?
The girl’s limbs dropped, her breathing faltered as she sank down into the ground, threatening to take her last breath. “Lucian, stop!” The angel demanded, pulling him off and flinging him across the ground with ease.
Lucian picked himself up, blood dripping from his fangs as he hurtled towards the girl that the angel was trying to heal.
“Shit. No, mate. You don’t wanna be taking on the angel right now.” I said.
The Celestial Rose BoxSet Page 50