Angels Defying (Angels Rising Book 3)

by Harriet Carlton

  “Colton!” shouted Roxy. When he didn’t respond, she tried to rise to her feet. As she moved, she spotted the steady rise and fall of Colton’s chest. He could have been knocked unconscious. An unconscious boy would only be a better target for the rapidly approaching Quonach.

  Vortigern landed next to Roxy and pulled the knife from her wing. The girl quickly looked at the gaping, bleeding hole in the muscle. She couldn’t fly. It just wouldn’t be possible with a wound like that. Vortigern grinned, raised and flicked one hand, causing the Quonach standing over Colton to freeze in place, a savage snarl still on its lipless face. Near the edge of the mountaintop, Dustin had gone completely still, his face white with shock and blood loss. Mandy screamed again and Roxy turned to look. The remaining Quonach was holding her in one massive hand, her wings in the other. Vortigern grinned at it and instead of tearing Mandy’s wings from her body as Roxy had thought it would, it hurled Mandy across the mountaintop. She collided sharply with a large, black boulder and rolled across the ground for several feet before stopping, unmoving. All Roxy could hear now was the whistling of the wind and the snarling of the prowling Quonachs, desperate to close in on their dying prey. The breeze carried the smell of blood sharply across the mountain. The Hound sat back and bayed.

  “Is this the best you could do?” asked Vortigern. He was just turning to smile when a sword tip pierced his bicep.

  “How tedious. I knew I forgot one,” sighed the demon. An ugly snarl distorted his features.

  Roxy stood shakily and saw Toddy standing behind Vortigern, struggling to pull his sword away from Vortigern. He looked terrified. Roxy saw Vortigern catch sight of her with a look of disgust on his face as he flicked a hand in her direction. Panic engulfed Roxy as she was thrown backwards toward the edge of the mountain. Her sword was wrenched from her hand. There was a sharp drop off at the side of the mountain and she had no means of flying anymore. Falling from here would mean certain death. Somehow, Roxy managed to stop herself from falling. She sunk her fingers into the sodden grass and held on tight, her legs dangling off the edge in empty space. She was powerless and could only watch as Vortigern rounded on Toddy.

  Vortigern used the flat of his sword like a baseball bat and slammed it into the side of Toddy’s head, sending the teenager to the ground. The demon commander then stood above Toddy and roared. It was a horrible, evil, unearthly, shrieking sound. Roxy could have sworn her ears started bleeding.

  “No! Don’t!” shouted Roxy, as Vortigern pulled his sword back above his head and plunged it downward into Toddy’s chest. Roxy couldn’t hear herself screaming. The world had gone deaf in her ears. Toddy half sat up as the sword pierced his chest. He wrapped his hands around the blade and tried to pull it out, then went limp on the grass. Roxy watched in horror as Toddy lay on the grass, panting for a moment. Roxy found the strength to pull herself back up onto the mountaintop. She ran to Toddy, ignoring Vortigern who had withdrawn his sword from Toddy’s chest and was now cleaning it.

  Toddy was staring sightlessly upward. He gasped, a choking cough filled his mouth with his own blood.

  “Toddy!” cried Roxy, pulling his head into her lap and forgetting everything Raphael had taught her about keeping calm in a battle situation. Upon hearing his name, Toddy’s eyes flickered to her and he started to give her a smile, the brightness of it marred only by the blood staining his teeth. Before he could complete it though, his eyes flickered slightly, trying desperately to keep eye contact. His whole body was seized in a tremble.

  “Toddy?” asked Roxy, shaking him. Again, his eyes flickered, but weaker this time. “Toddy?!”

  Roxy shook her head, whimpering. This couldn’t be happening. She covered her mouth, feeling sick. She looked up upon hearing Vortigern hissing like an oversized housecat. Colton had gotten back to his feet and had landed an attack on the blade of Vortigern’s sword.

  “Colton!” shouted Roxy, picking up her sword from where it lay nearby and running to help her friend.

  Once again, Vortigern and Colton took to the skies. They were beyond Roxy’s reach. For a moment, Roxy lost sight of them in the thick cover of dark cloud. She stood still, searching for them. Then as something plummeted from the sky, Roxy’s heart felt as though it had stopped beating. Not just a few feathers had fallen, but one of Colton’s entire wings had fallen to the mountaintop. She felt sick. Seconds later, Colton himself fell to earth, two bloody stumps protruding from his back. Colton was wailing, flopping on the ground like a landed fish. Roxy screamed. The blood of her friends was everywhere. The rocks, the grass, her hands. Even the sky was reflecting red.

  Something landed with a thud behind her and she froze. Everything was quiet on the mountaintop aside from Colton’s horrible screams, which soon quieted into whimpering sobs. The Quonachs were prowling around them now, their awkward limping gaits unearthly. The Hellhound began to approach, maggots and parasites writhing in its fur.

  “See what happens when you face an opponent you’re not ready for?” asked Vortigern, a distinct growl in his voice. Roxy trembled. She could sense how close he was behind her. She didn’t even have the presence of mind to move as a hand curled around her throat.

  “And now you’re the last one standing. Who would have thought it was going to be Imorean’s best friend? I should give you a prize, really, I should. But what to do with you now?”

  Imorean heard Roxy and Colton’s bloodcurdling screams and knew that something terrible must have happened. He was approaching the top of the mountain now and prepared himself for the worst. Seconds later, he landed and looked around. All the mental preparation in the world couldn’t have made him ready for what he saw. Two skeletal demons were prowling the mountaintop. Quonachs. Imorean remembered Haroel lecturing about them weeks ago. Imorean could just see their shadowy outlines through the cloud. A Hellhound stared him down from across the summit. He was the new prey. The new target. Swords lay strewn across the mountaintop, separated from their owners. Toddy, his first friend at Gracepointe, lying in a pool of his own blood. Only the erratic rise and fall of his chest showed signs of life. Mandy, his second friend, curled broken at the base of a boulder. Colton, the boy he had viewed as another little brother, crumpled in a heap on the ground, his wings meters away from his body, blood seeping into the heather and grass below. Dustin was staring at the sky, unmoving. No. Imorean closed his eyes for a moment. Two of his friends had been killed and two more were grievously injured. He was too late. But where was Roxy? Imorean looked around for her. Deep inside, his heart was trembling. Raw, ragged fear was tearing through him.

  “… But what to do with you now?”

  Imorean looked in the direction of the voice. Vortigern was standing behind Roxy, one hand around her throat. She looked as horrified as Imorean felt. Responding automatically, Imorean’s breath caught in his chest, but he drew his sword and began to walk toward the pair. He moved mechanically, his movements calm, belying the animal fear inside him.

  “Vortigern,” he said, when he knew that the demon commander would hear him.

  “I did wonder when you’d arrive,” said Vortigern, smiling cruelly. He turned away from Roxy. As he did so, he stabbed down with one hand, plunging his small knife into Roxy’s stomach and twisting. Roxy screamed, stumbled to one side and fell. Her head cracked on a nearby stone.

  “No!” shouted Imorean, taking half a step forward and reaching toward Roxy.

  A sword hissed through the air. Vortigern’s gray eyes were on him. Imorean took a deep breath and took his half step back.

  “Are you really so quick to ignore me, Imorean?” asked Vortigern, his voice rich with mock hurt.

  “We have business to finish,” Imorean said, after staring at his best friend for a moment, watching for the telltale rise and fall of her chest. A moment later, he saw it and turned his full attention back to Vortigern. His eyes were wide. He didn’t feel ready for this. Not anymore.

  “Michael rubbed off on you,” said Vortigern. “Do you nee
d a moment to grieve for your friends? I have just murdered them, if you didn’t notice. Can you smell their blood yet, Imorean?”

  “Believe me, I noticed,” growled Imorean, raising his sword. Fury was rising to the surface now. He had to block it out. He had a battle to fight.

  “Very well. Just you and me this time,” said Vortigern, with a long-toothed smile.

  Imorean eyed the Hellhound and the two Quonachs. “You’re all about fairness, aren’t you?”

  Chapter 54

  Imorean launched himself at Vortigern with a roar, his sword lowered to strike upward. Just as he was about to clash with the commander, he threw himself to the side, rolling over in the grass. Vortigern lost his footing in preparation for his block and Imorean moved. He scrambled back to his feet and raced at Vortigern. He landed two downward attacks on the demon commander. For the first time since he had known him, Imorean thought Vortigern looked intimidated. There was a new look in the demon commander’s eyes. He was scrambling backward. A new fervor to his movements. He was no longer on the offensive.

  The wet, icy grass underfoot caused Imorean to slip. Vortigern scrambled to his feet. The two circled each other for a moment. Imorean panted hard. There was blood running from just under his hairline, but other than that he was unharmed. Vortigern, however, was starting to look the worse for wear. His suit was sporting rips and tears. A few feathers from his black wings fluttered onto the ground. Imorean stopped for a moment and wiped the blood that threatened to fall into his eyes. When he dropped his hand again, Vortigern was gone.

  “I must say, you’re more interesting than your friends,” said Vortigern. “You’re actually presenting a bit of a challenge. You’re almost as much fun as Michael. Must be the Archangel blood.”

  Imorean turned, looking for the commander. He steadied his breath and gathered his wits.

  “Am I?” asked Imorean, continuing to turn. Still half shrouded in clouds, he could see Roxy, but there was no sign of Vortigern. Instead, a long, low whistle echoed around the surrounding mountains.

  “Oh, yes,” said Vortigern. “But I suppose it must run in the family. Your grandparents and siblings were fun to destroy as well. If I may make a pun, it really put the laughter in slaughter.”

  Fire lashed through Imorean’s veins and he raised his sword again, ready to block any attack that may come. Their deaths. Nothing more than a joke! A clawed hand swooped out of the cloud and caught Imorean across the chest, knocking him clear off his feet. One of the Quonachs. It leaned low over him and Imorean found himself immobile with terror. It snorted slightly as it drew his scent. Imorean had never anticipated the full effect of these creatures. Little more than skeletons. Their arms and legs too thin for their bodies and their necks far too long. Their eyes were sewn shut and their noses were slits in their flat faces. The only other feature set into the yellowed skin of the Quonach’s face, was a mouth that was open wider than was natural. Jagged, needle sharp, bloodied teeth were hovering close to Imorean’s neck now. He didn’t move. He didn’t breathe. Then the Quonach reared back, its mouth open wide and Imorean pulled his sword up between them, gripping the handle tightly. As the Quonach dove to strike, it impaled itself on Imorean’s sword. A loud wail was torn from not only its throat, but also its partner’s. It launched backward, freeing itself from Imorean’s sword, stumbling around the mountaintop and shaking itself madly, showering the ground with bright red droplets of blood. A few seconds later, it dropped to the ground, its arms and legs splayed.

  Imorean was back on his feet in an instant, holding his sword even tightly in his hands. He looked at the fallen Quonach for a brief second. Its muscles spasmed. He thought absurdly of a giant spider. He now trained his eyes on the second Quonach, but for now it seemed to be keeping at bay.

  “Let’s a try a different fear!” shouted Vortigern. Imorean whipped around. The demon commander was behind him now.

  The Hound launched to its feet, black eyes shining with bloodlust. Rabid foam bubbled at its jaw. The ground lay scorched behind its paws. It raced across the mountaintop, leaving burning in its wake. Imorean froze. In his mind’s eye, he saw the Hellhound moving to attack him at Gracepointe. He remembered it rearing up above him as it came in for the kill. All the fear he had felt in that moment returned, holding him in place. It pinned him down like a predator. He remembered Michael. Michael! Imorean shook himself. He leaped up into the air. The hound’s jaws closed where his feet had been seconds before. Bones shook as the Hound spun, snapping at him. Imorean swooped as a massive paw threatened to shatter his chest. He landed hard on the sodden grass. Teeth missed his shoulder by a miracle. Imorean’s eyes flicked. He was so close to the edge. The Hound screamed at him. Imorean moved. Jaws opened to snap his spine. He rolled, falling off the side of the mountain. He fell. Cold water vapor hit his face and Imorean smiled. He snapped his wings open and pulled to a halt. He was hidden. Quickly, he flew upward, keeping in the clouds. Through a thin mist of gray, he could see the Hound, still standing at the mountain edge. It was waiting. Imorean dove. The demon dog squealed as Imorean’s sword dug down hard into its back. He braced his feet against the dog’s rump and pulled his sword free. He stabbed down again, flinching as he felt bone beneath metal. The animal shrieked and collapsed. Imorean tumbled from its back, quickly grabbing his sword and cleaning it on the grass.

  “They don’t scare me anymore, Vortigern. Come out!” shouted Imorean. As though commanded by his voice, the cloud cover retreated to the very edges of the mountain and Vortigern was exposed. For the first time since Imorean had known him, the demon was looking at him with blank, blatant interest. Even his sword had dropped down to his side. Vortigern whistled, a long, low, haunting sound.

  “You’re starting to discover your power as an Archangel,” said Vortigern, quirking a smile. “You just got a lot more interesting.”

  With those words, Vortigern launched at Imorean. This time though, Imorean noticed that all the playfulness had gone from Vortigern’s attacks. This time, he was treating him like a true threat. Vortigern was on the offensive again. Imorean blocked. He snarled. His arms were getting weak. What Imorean had perceived as great speed the last time he had watched Vortigern fight, now seemed nothing more than average. Imorean ducked under one of Vortigern’s attacks and launched forward. He slipped back behind Vortigern, only just catching sight of the trail of white that followed his movements. Imorean crouched, the world deaf to his ears. Just as Vortigern turned, Imorean launched himself upward, wings tucked tight to his sides. His sword was held in a strong grip, readied for an upward cleave. Imorean spun around as he finished his upward attack, soaring over Vortigern’s head and landing in front of the demon.

  “Pathetic,” hissed Vortigern, stepping forward and laughing.

  Imorean smirked and panted, catching his breath.

  “Really?” asked the teenager, locking eyes with the demon commander. He saw hesitation on Vortigern’s face, then the demon’s eyes widened with realization. Vortigern wailed loudly as one of his huge, raven feathered wings fell to the ground. Severed at the first joint.

  “That’s from Colton,” snarled Imorean, lowering his sword again, his smirk fading.

  “You meddling, feeble, displaced, vagabond!” shouted Vortigern, his mouth elongating and his teeth growing behind his lips.

  Imorean stood firm and adjusted his grip on his sword. He could see blood staining the material of Vortigern’s suit.

  “I’ll make sure you go the same way as your dammed family, but not before I skin you alive!”

  “I’d like to see you try,” said Imorean, smiling grimly. He leaped backward, avoiding Vortigern’s wild, angry attack. Imorean raised his sword to catch Vortigern’s second attack, but at the last moment, Vortigern changed his tack and grabbed the blade of Imorean’s sword, ripping it from the teenager’s hands. Before Imorean had a chance to recover or to see where his sword landed, Vortigern was on him.

  Imorean grabbed the lapels of Vortigern’s
suit jacket as they rolled over and over on the grass. Blood spattered down on Imorean as the demon wrapped his hands around his throat.

  “I can’t kill you doing this, but I hope it hurts,” sneered Vortigern, tightening his grip. His gray eyes were glowing now, his tidy black hair falling into his eyes. Imorean gasped, trying to draw breath. He clawed at Vortigern’s hand. His breath came in a ghostly whisper. Vortigern was going to feed him to the Quonach, he was certain of it. Just as the world was blackening, Imorean raised a limp hand. White light burst outward. A pinprick of hope in a darkening world. The demon commander screeched and the two fell apart. Imorean scrambled to his knees and wheezed, catching his breath. Vortigern somehow managed to get to his feet and vanished into the low clouds which had finally returned to their original position covering the mountaintops. Imorean wondered for a moment how it was possible that Vortigern was gliding on his one remaining wing.

  He caught sight of Mandy out of the corner of his eye a moment later and the thoughts of Vortigern were driven from Imorean’s mind. She was alive! Mandy’s eyes were open and she was looking at him in disbelief. Then she gave him a tiny, shaky, apologetic smile and got to her knees, crawling slowly toward him.

  Imorean’s focus on his friend was stolen though as he spotted a dark shape perched on a boulder above their heads. Only one wing was flared and the figure was holding a massive, black sword aloft.

  “Mandy, look out!” shouted Imorean, moving to rush forward. At the last moment though, his feet slipped on the wet grass and he crashed back down to his stomach. He looked up in just enough time to see Vortigern jump down from the rock, his sword plunging through Mandy’s back.