“I’ll get him!”
Ryan. Imorean slowed slightly. His squad. They had been given direct orders to stay together. His eyes locked on Bethany again. The squad would be fine without him for just a few minutes. He wanted, he needed to get to Bethany. Imorean tightened his wings further between beats. Speed through the air increased. There was a loud cry from behind him, but this time, he didn’t look back.
Chapter 37
It was dark inside the ash cloud. Dark and terrifying. Incredibly hot and draining. The incarnate of hell itself. Even by angel standards this was hot. Nearly unbearable. Screams echoed through the debris, muffled and distant as though they came from another world. Imorean followed Bethany’s wake, his breathing ragged and heavy. Even through his mask, the ash was cloying in his lungs. Around him, the cloud billowed, as though it was a living being itself. Movement on either side of him was continuous. Imorean strained and stretched against his own body, willing it to move faster, to catch Bethany. The girl was just visible through the smog. Imorean blinked hard. It was hard to breathe. He blinked again. His vision was starting to blur. How long had he been here? How long had he been tailing Bethany? His grip on his sword handle slipped. White sparkled in his peripherals. Electricity crackled like fire in his veins. Imorean jerked himself back to his senses and fixed his eyes on Bethany. Mustering all his part Archangel strength, he flew forward and grabbed Bethany by the back of her helmet. He barely noticed as her sword sheared the tips of a few feathers away from his left wing. Instead, he spun, corkscrewing wildly through the dense cloud. Then he was in open air again. He could breathe. This was his ground.
Gathering himself, Imorean hurled Bethany forward. She righted herself in the air and glared at him.
“Didn’t like it in there?” she sneered.
Imorean didn’t reply, panting hard and waiting for her attack.
“You’re going to have one nasty surprise after this is over,” Bethany hissed.
“The only thing I’m expecting is you dead,” whispered Imorean. His voice was hoarse.
Bethany smiled and finally advanced. Imorean counter beat his wings, pushing air forward, desperate to keep his balance and stave off Bethany’s attacks. He cried out as her sword sliced through his vest and found skin. Blood rushed the wound. It was warm against his skin. Her laugh was the final straw. He spun. His sword glinted as he followed through a diagonal, upward cleave. A well-aimed boot to her right wrist sent her sword spinning wildly to the ground. Bethany’s hands flew to her chest, coming away covered in blood. Her mouth opened in disgust. Fury. Bright red trickled down the front of her jacket. Imorean took a deep breath and hovered out of her reach. Could he really kill her? After all she had done, could he really wipe her out?
“Is this it?” asked Bethany. “Is that all?”
Imorean inclined his head. He considered the weight of the weapon in his hand. He could end her here and now and he could move on to finish his business with Vortigern. A drop of scarlet clung to the blade.
“Can’t bear to take a life, can you?” grimaced Bethany. “Not even mine.”
A white fury burned in Imorean’s veins. He leveled his sword at her.
“Where’s your humanity?”
“What?”
“I want to know why you wiped out my family. How you could bring yourself to do it.”
“They were easy targets.”
The world threatened to film over in white. Imorean took a deep, heavy breath and pushed away his boiling Archangel blood.
“And you’re an easy target for me, Bethany. You deserve this.”
Bethany’s eyes widened in horror.
Imorean snarled and raced toward her, his sword leveled at her chest. Bethany screamed. At the last moment, he spun to the side and pulled up in a halt behind her.
“What…?” asked Bethany, turning.
“I’m giving you a chance,” hissed Imorean. Bethany’s brow furrowed in confusion for a moment, then she faltered in the air. She looked in horror at her right wing. Over half the limb was sheared away, bright blood pouring from the joint. Her face drained of color and Bethany fell, plunging, tumbling toward the ground.
Imorean swallowed hard, out of breath. He wanted to collapse. Exhaustion was starting to override the adrenaline now. His stomach turned against him. He wanted to vomit, but he had nowhere to land to ride out the nausea. The world began to spin around him. He wanted to land. He couldn’t breathe. The shouts of battle ensuing nearby were overpowering. Everything was too much.
Imorean wasn’t sure which came first, the ear-splitting noise or the hot sting of pain across his cheek. He snapped back to his senses as two heavy hands landed on his shoulders, shaking him hard. Tawny and green wings filled his vision.
“What in Father’s name are you doing here?!”
Out of the ash, his skin grayed over from the vapor, Gabriel had appeared.
Chapter 38
“Where is your squad?” shouted Gabriel, making himself heard over the roar of the volcano.
“I—I don’t know.”
“Did Michael not tell you to stay together?!”
Imorean looked away and cringed. “Yes.”
Gabriel ran his hands along the top of his helmet. “What are you… It doesn’t matter. We have a problem.”
“What’s going on?”
“Uriel was never given orders to advance. We have no reserve unit. The eruption is getting out of hand. Soon enough Michael won’t be able to contain it. We have to retreat.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I would rather you went to your squad and retreated with them, but that isn’t an option right now. It’s not safe. Stay with me. We have to get to Michael.”
“Where is he?”
Gabriel looked up, hazel eyes fixed on the very top of the volcano’s cloud. Imorean followed his gaze. Through the ash, he could see the tiniest flashes of green.
“Is Vortigern up there, too?” asked Imorean, his voice shaking very slightly.
“Yes. You should never have entered the battle, Imorean. Seems now though that you have no choice. On me.”
Hands shaking, Imorean moved to slide his sword back into his scabbard.
“Don’t,” said Gabriel. “You’ll need it. Let’s go.”
With those two words, Gabriel tucked his wings tight up against his sides and soared upward. A tremble racked through Imorean’s body and he snapped his wings down, staying on Gabriel’s tail. His breath tore at his throat. He was tired. He didn’t know how much energy he had left in him. He clenched his teeth and ignored his exhaustion. He had to keep up. Something told him that if he fell behind now, Gabriel would leave him.
Nerves jangling, Imorean looked over his shoulder. The earth was nothing more than a patchwork of white snow and brown rock below. Nothing was in detail. And they still had higher to go. He looked up. The top of the plume was drawing closer. The flashes of green bigger. Thunder rumbled from inside. Imorean tapped his goggles to make sure they were still covering his eyes. He saw Gabriel tap the back of his helmet and readjust his grip on his sword. They were nearly at the top. A hand landed on Imorean’s boot. He cried out and looked down. Digits that were more claw than finger had wrapped around his foot like a vise. A terrible, pale, leering face snarled up at him. A sword swung, glinting in the sun. Something about the creature was so very nearly human. Imorean froze. Nearly human. He couldn’t kill. He couldn’t. Jaws containing yellow, longer than natural teeth opened and Imorean screamed. A blade flashed down. Blood spattered Imorean’s boot. The clawed hand spasmed as it fell toward the ground. With a shriek, the demon retreated into the ash cloud. A sword hilt rapped Imorean hard on the top of his helmet. Gabriel.
“Do not hesitate! They will kill you if you let them! No mercy, Imorean!”
With that, Gabriel flew upward again, the top of the plume so very nearly there. Shaking, Imorean followed. He hadn’t expected this. All the sparring in the world couldn’t have prepared him. With
a sharp twist of his wings, Gabriel turned and corkscrewed into the very top of the ash cloud. Heart thundering in his chest, Imorean traced Gabriel’s path.
Chapter 39
Imorean balked a moment as the darkness of the cloud closed in around him again. He felt as though he had stepped into hell itself. The ash tore at his throat and stung his exposed skin. It was dark in the cloud. Red and white flashes tore through the blackened air at random intervals. There were other angels and other demons in here as well. The air was alive with electricity. It was murky. Screams indistinct. Light flashed all around him. Green, purple, brilliant white. Thunder roared within the ash, vibrating within Imorean’s chest. There was a blast of air nearby and the ash cleared for a moment. Imorean spotted Michael in the very center of the fray. One sword gripped in each hand, eyes glowing such a vibrant green they looked white. Imorean stopped. Michael’s entire body was glowing with an ethereal light, not four, but six huge wings flared from his back. He was massive. Bigger and less human than Imorean had ever seen him. Waves of pure green billowed around him. Imorean couldn’t look. There was something overpowering about seeing Michael like this.
Brown eyes opened as Imorean heard Michael’s voice in his head. ‘Come on!’
Imorean looked over. Michael had faded to the Archangel he knew. Panic clawing at the inside of his chest, he tore through the cloud to his commander’s side.
“Gabriel says we have to fall back!” shouted Imorean.
“I know!” replied Michael, left hand falling to block an attack Imorean hadn’t seen coming. “Wits about you!”
“What do we do?”
“Hold Vortigern and his lieutenants until the majority have retreated. Stay with me!”
Imorean nodded. A silver flash above him caught his eye.
“Look out!” he shouted, wings sweeping down as he tore upward, deflecting an attack on Michael from overhead.
“Nicely done!”
Michael sheathed both his swords. White wings snapped down and Imorean descended. Michael’s hand landed hard on his head, pushing him further down and a flash of the brightest green split the ash. A burning stench filled the air. Imorean looked up to see Michael lowering his other hand. A few sparks still lingered on his fingers.
‘Lightning.’
Imorean’s mouth fell open. Of course! Michael could control lightning. The angel of natural disasters.
Gabriel soared back up through the ash, blood running from a gash in his sleeve.
“We need to start retreating,” he panted, taking up a position on Michael’s other side.
“You are injured. Retreat, Gabriel!” shouted Michael.
“I won’t leave you!”
Michael looked ready to argue, but he had suddenly gone rigid. Imorean followed his line of sight. Hovering in the bottom of the cleared smog, black wings looking as though they had just been oiled clean, head tilted like an inquisitive puppy, was Vortigern. A sharp smile leaped to the commander’s face. A group of lieutenants appeared behind him like wraiths.
Imorean trembled as Michael leaned close, his voice oddly quiet.
“Be ready to kill.”
With those four words, Michael opened his mouth and screamed, tearing down toward Vortigern like a monstrous spear. Gabriel was on his brother’s heels. Imorean gathered his courage. This was it. Only a few feet behind, he caught Gabriel’s wake and followed his brothers down.
Chapter 40
Imorean matched Gabriel and Michael wingbeat for wingbeat as they dove toward Vortigern’s line. A quick glance told Imorean all he needed to know. Michael’s eyes were fixed on Vortigern. The demon commander and Chief Archangel were ready to clash. Imorean saw a twitch of movement. Gabriel had tilted his wings. Not knowing quite why, Imorean did the same. Not a moment too soon. Michael and Vortigern met with a blast of power that sent Imorean tumbling through the air. Green blinded the air. A crash of thunder split the sky. Shaking his head, Imorean gathered himself back together. He swept his sword up just in time. One of Vortigern’s lieutenants was on him. A large, powerful looking creature. More human than demon. Only the feline traits remained. Blond hair was just visible beneath the rim of the helmet. Imorean’s arms shook as he blocked a downward cleave. His sword would surely shatter! With a yell, Imorean dropped. He couldn’t win. Not like that. With a laugh, his opponent fell too, hot on his tail. Speed his advantage, Imorean swung around, angling himself toward the lieutenant. He tilted his wings to the right. The demon grinned, teeth long and sharp. Then Imorean spun to the left. He felt his sword tear through flesh and knew he had hit his mark. The demon had taken his feint to the right. Imorean wanted to pull up, to see if he had done any final damage, but he didn’t. He was afraid. He wanted to find Michael.
A sword flashed in Imorean’s peripherals. He was too slow to block. The very tip tore through his cheek, ripping through skin. Imorean gasped as his helmet’s chinstrap fell open, the nylon sheared through. He ducked down, moving in just enough time to avoid an attack that would have jabbed straight through his skull. His headgear fell and tumbled to the earth, exposing his white hair. Below, Imorean felt eyes on him. A stillness fell over the air. Slowly, he turned. Michael was engaged with three lieutenants, fighting his way to Vortigern. Gabriel was nowhere to be seen. Through the ash, Imorean spotted a pair of gray eyes fixed on him. Then Gabriel flashed through the gloom. Three of Vortigern’s demons were behind him.
‘Help him!’ sounded Michael’s voice. Imorean shook himself and swept down after the column of demons behind Gabriel. He dropped like a stone, his sword held close to his chest. They would never see him coming. From the back of the column, he flew forward, outstripping them all. Three loud screams shredded the air as Gabriel’s pursuers fell one by one. All were missing one wing, cut off at the first joint. Spatters of blood stood out like murder spots on Imorean’s sleeves. He was glad his gloves were black. Gabriel wheeled in the air, a bright but surprised grin on his face. Imorean started to move toward him, when it happened. A sword was hurled from the darkness, striking Gabriel in the right wing joint. Gabriel juddered to a halt in midair. He clawed at his chest, as though looking for the source of his pain and hovered unsteadily. He locked eyes with Imorean and the white-haired teenager saw terror in Gabriel’s eyes. Slowly, Gabriel pitched backward and began to fall from the sky. Imorean took off after Gabriel. His friend was falling. His brother was being killed! He flew downward, shooting out of the ash cloud and into open sky. He couldn’t draw level with Gabriel. He was falling too fast!
“Gabriel!” shouted Michael from above. Imorean was winded and blown off course as Michael tore past him, an emerald trail blazing behind him. Imorean was just getting his bearings back when Michael was struck from the side by a black blur. There was a catlike yowl as the blur collided with Michael. Imorean realized at the last moment that it had been Vortigern. There was no mistaking the raven, black feathers. Vortigern and Michael spun around each other, locked in a deadly embrace. Each time their swords met, there was a rumble of thunder and a quake of the air around them. Imorean dove down, hoping to reach Gabriel. He followed Gabriel down, down, down, out of the clouds and into the clearing melee below. Imorean’s heart lifted to see that there were more angels fighting than demons. In spite of the retreat order, they seemed to be winning. Imorean was slowly closing the distance between himself and Gabriel, when a familiar black head of hair and pair of wire rimmed glasses rose up from below, catching Gabriel and stopping his fall. Raphael.
Chapter 41
Imorean dodged around Raphael, going too fast to be able to stop. He swung around in a hairpin bend. Raphael was descending once again, flanked by a team of two medical angels. Imorean was too far away to tell, but he felt that he recognized them. Imorean ascended again, his tired wings starting to protest. He scoured around, searching for any clusters of angels that may need help. His heart lifted. He couldn’t see any. The retreat was underway. Gabriel was in good hands. All that had to happen was the inevitable; M
ichael had to deal with Vortigern. Imorean started to smile, when an emerald feather fluttered past his nose. Imorean’s heart skipped a beat. A second feather, then a third. Imorean looked up and his blood chilled in his veins.
Michael was a few hundred meters above, opposed by more than ten demons. All of Vortigern’s lieutenants. The attack on Gabriel had been a distraction. Two were ripping at the plumage in his wings, two more holding his boots and dragging him down, two more were holding his arms out to his sides, one of which was ripping his sword from his grip. All of them were growling and snarling and shouting, the remaining demons looking to injure Michael. Vortigern hovered above, lazily spinning his sword in one hand. Imorean knew that Michael was fighting for his life. He had to reach his commander! Wings kicked into action once more and Imorean sprinted upward. Despite his overwhelming odds, Michael seemed to be very slowly overpowering his aggressors. A kick to the face here. A well-placed punch there. Lightning. The very air felt alive. Charged. Two of the demons holding him fell back, unable to overpower the Chief Archangel. Imorean adjusted the angle of his wings and turned back to Michael. He couldn’t repress a cry of horror as Michael’s primary sword was ripped from his hands and sent spinning down to the earth below. The second was still in its sheath. The lieutenants fell back, leaving open air around Michael. The Chief Archangel righted himself in the air. Unarmed, exhausted and weak, but alive. Imorean was certain that his blood turned to ice as he spotted Vortigern diving down from the clouds, his sword poised to strike.
“No!” shouted Imorean, pushing himself faster. Everything turned into a blur as he flew. He had to get to Michael. This could happen to anyone but Michael. Without Michael, this would all crumble. Vortigern would win. Michael hovered, chest heaving. Imorean caught sight of his commander looking at him from the corner of his eye and all time seemed to slow. Imorean was going to make it. He was closer to Michael than Vortigern. He could get in the way of Vortigern’s blow. He could block it. He could sacrifice himself and make sure Michael was able to keep everything going. Time slowed down and seconds passed like years. Imorean could see Michael blink ever so slowly and behind his eyes, a decision was being made. Vortigern changed tack ever so slightly and Imorean realized the commander was barreling toward him now. He pulled up slightly. Better him than Michael. Vortigern showed no signs of slowing. Imorean blinked. A heavy arm slammed into his stomach, shoving him out of the way. At the same time, a pulse split the air. Imorean was knocked fully off course, flat spinning, falling without control. Imorean fought his way out of his flat spin, looking up in just enough time to see Vortigern plunge his sword clear through Michael’s chest.
Angels Defying (Angels Rising Book 3) Page 27