“Mandy!” cried Imorean. No matter how loud he shouted, Imorean couldn’t hear his own voice in his ears. The world went dead to him. Imorean could only see Mandy and Vortigern. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion and Imorean was unable to move. He watched as Mandy met his eyes, the light in her blue eyes fading fast. A trickle of blood ran out of her mouth and her head dropped further and further down toward the ground.
Imorean raised his gaze to Vortigern. The demon commander was crouched on Mandy’s back, sneering at him. There was a vicious spark in his gray eyes.
“Stop,” said Imorean. He looked back at Mandy. Her head was down on the ground now. She was still. Somewhere nearby, metal shattered. Imorean drew a trembling breath, only paying half his mind to Vortigern. “Mandy. Hold on. Please.”
“Why? I only have two more of your friends to kill now. That little runt over there and your parrot,” said Vortigern in a low voice. “Where are your brothers now, Imorean?”
Imorean barely heard him. He could hear nothing, save the thundering of his heart and a loud thrumming in his ears. His blood boiled hot in his veins and all his senses heightened to an almost unbearable peak. He could hear everything and nothing. See everything and nothing at all. The world was his own and yet he had never felt further removed from it.
Imorean felt as though he was floating on air as he stood slowly. He could no longer feel the biting wind. He could no longer feel his own fear. All he could see, through vision ringed by white, was Demon Commander Vortigern standing on the body of one of the best friends he had. He did not know how he knew, but behind him, he was aware of Roxy’s eyes holding him in their gaze. She was still alive. Hanging on. Imorean stood firmly and opened his sword hand. He was standing on the blood of his squadron. Their price. Unnecessary destruction. They were going to die. There was no fighting that fact. If he did nothing, they were all slated for death. Imorean stared levelly at Vortigern as his sword materialized in his palm. Then the world faded away and all Imorean could hear was the steady, even thump of his own heart.
With a yell, Imorean leaped toward Vortigern, his sword swinging at a speed he had never even known he could wield it with. Had he been able, Imorean would have cracked a smile as he felt Vortigern’s inability to keep up with this new series of attacks. His sword looked and felt different. A trail of blazing white followed it wherever he swung it. His new attacks seemed to sear through Vortigern.
Imorean launched himself up into the sky, knowing he was going where Vortigern couldn’t follow. He needed a momentary reprieve. He needed space for his next attack. Imorean turned, once he was a good height above his enemy. He made a sweeping movement with his hands, clearing the cloud cover and locking eyes with Vortigern. For a second, the two stared into one another’s eyes. There was nothing but them. The wind stilled and went dead.
Vortigern raised his sword and spun it once in his hands.
Imorean snapped his wings to his sides and dropped down, spinning as he dove. His world turned to little more than a white blur, but he was not disoriented. He knew precisely where Vortigern was. He could feel the evil waving off the commander. Hear the pounding of his enemy’s heart. Imorean felt Vortigern’s blade break and shatter under the force of his attack. The Archangel hybrid dimly registered that Vortigern had backed up against one of the high, exposed faces of rock. Perfect.
Imorean leaned back, his sword held in both hands, then rocked forward and plunged his sword through Vortigern’s shoulder, piercing even the rock below.
Imorean took a few steps backward, leaving Vortigern pinned to the rocks by his sword. The demon commander stood still in shock. There was nothing but confusion in his eyes.
“I didn’t think you had it in you. How does it feel? Do you have your revenge now? Does this sate your family’s death?” asked Vortigern at last, looking up at Imorean and spitting out a mouthful of blood. There was a shadow of a smile hovering over Vortigern’s predatory muzzle.
Imorean up at him. All his senses were returning to normal and he felt dizzy. He shook himself. This was no time for weakness.
“… It doesn’t,” replied Imorean after a moment. “You killed my family. You nearly killed my mentor. You killed four of my best friends and the fifth is dying. You’ve gotten all you deserve.”
“If you say so, angel,” replied Vortigern. “Bear in mind that so far only two of your friends are dead. My death will not bring them back. Murder does not reverse the clock. Perhaps tend to your living. It takes an awfully long time to bleed out from a knife wound like Roxy is doing.”
“You were waiting for me,” said Imorean, tightening his jaw and ignoring Vortigern’s words. “How did you know I was here?”
Vortigern laughed, blood flecking his lips. “You think your heading is an ally?”
Imorean tilted his head.
Vortigern leaned forward, as though spreading conspiracy. “Uriel. His element is metal. You thought it was Michael leading you? No, you child. Uriel was sending you to me.”
“No.”
“Oh, yes. You played right into my hands, little boy. Uriel’s on his way. He’s served well so far. You will fall, Imorean. Not me. You.”
Vortigern hummed and smiled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Imorean saw more blood on the corner of Vortigern’s white sleeve. Brown met gray and Vortigern laughed. There was nothing desperate about it. Imorean heard triumph in the tone. His knees felt weak. He had been defeated. Wishful thinking had brought him to this. He had done this. His friends were dead because of him. His friends!
Imorean raised his gaze to where Roxy, Toddy and Colton were lying in pools of their own blood. Guilt washed over Imorean and he ran across the mountaintop to Roxy. He hoped Colton and Toddy would be able to wait for a moment more.
“Rox,” said Imorean, rolling Roxy onto her back and encouraging her to meet his eyes. Her gaze was drifting in and out of focus, but she was still alive.
“I knew you’d come,” she said, her words sounded thick as she spoke around the blood in her mouth.
“Yeah, I did. I always will,” said Imorean, smiling and pulling her head close to his chest. “Come on, let’s get you somewhere more comfortable.”
As gently as he could, Imorean gathered Roxy into his arms and carried her to one of the bases of a vertical rock face. She was much lighter than he remembered her being.
“Thank you,” said Roxy, as Imorean settled her down and leaned her back on the rock behind her.
“Apply pressure on that as well as you can,” said Imorean, pressing his hands down on her wound for a moment. He pulled them away immediately as Roxy squirmed beneath his touch.
“I’ll try,” she said quietly, offering him a weak smile.
“Good,” breathed Imorean.
“Colton, Toddy,” said Roxy, pointing limply across the heathland.
“Oh, God,” whispered Imorean. How could he have forgotten? Imorean quickly stood and crossed the ground to where Colton was lying still on the grass. He rested a hand on Colton’s shoulder, relieved when he felt that Colton’s skin was still warm. He rolled Colton onto his back and his heart lifted when Colton’s innocent, blue eyes opened.
“Imorean?” asked Colton, his small voice filled with surprise.
“Hey,” said Imorean, making sure he sounded as calm as he could.
“I didn’t know you got here,” said Colton, his eyes flickering shut again.
“I did. I made it,” said Imorean, smiling and brushing some of Colton’s blond hair out of his face. “You feeling okay?”
“No,” replied Colton, weakly shaking his head. “Where’s Roxy? She’s trained in first aid.”
“Roxy,” said Imorean, keeping the choked feeling from his voice. “She’s busy right now. I—I’ll get Raphael.”
“He’s here?” asked Colton.
“He–” began Imorean. He cut his sentence off as he noticed a flickering red light casting a silhouette of himself and Colton on the stone face beyond them.
“He’ll be here soon. Colton, I’m going to sit you up now. Hold on. Okay? Just hold on until Raphael gets here. Can you do that for me?”
“I think so,” murmured Colton, his eyes closing again.
“Okay,” said Imorean. He hoped Colton was telling the truth. He stood up and pulled Colton to where Roxy was leaning up against the rocks. Quickly, he ran to Toddy. The boy’s brown eyes were closed. Imorean knelt and rested two fingers against his neck. It was weak, but there was a pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief. Before he could get Toddy to Roxy and Colton, a blast knocked him onto his side.
“Cling on, Toddy,” said Imorean, scrambling to his feet.
Imorean turned back to Vortigern and saw the demon convulsing, squirming and writhing on the end of his sword. His face was contorting and there were silent screams coming from his mouth. Imorean prayed these were death throes. The second Quonach, too, was writhing on the ground.
As Imorean drew near though, Vortigern raised his head and laughed. Imorean stopped and swallowed hard. Vortigern slumped half over, hands still gripping the blade of Imorean’s sword, but the demon commander was grinning, eyes brimming with glee. Imorean felt as though he had been punched in the chest. Vortigern should have died by now!
“You should have stabbed me in the heart,” hissed Vortigern, a laugh rippling through his voice.
Imorean gasped as Vortigern ripped his arm up, the razor-sharp metal of his sword tearing through flesh and muscle. The teenager heaved. Vortigern screamed long and loud as he came loose. His arm was barely connected to his shoulder and hung limp at his side. Tatters of flesh hung from Vortigern’s side like ground meat. Bright red blood poured from the muscle like a waterfall. A black spot upon the reddened ground. Imorean’s heart sunk as Vortigern grinned at him. Limp, disconnected fingers twitched. The nerves not yet severed. The demon commander swayed like a wounded bull. Gray eyes foggy, yet triumphant. He knew he’d won.
Imorean screamed. “No!”
“I’ll see you again, Imorean,” said Vortigern. A cold wind tore across the mountaintop and the commander raised a shaking hand. As it fell, he, the Quonach, Dustin, Mandy and Toddy all vanished with little more than a whisper.
Chapter 55
Toddy. Mandy. Dustin. Gone. Departed from him. A low, fearful groan alerted Imorean to the ones who still needed him. Imorean stared ahead without seeing. Vortigern had taken them. Mandy’s blood was still soaking the grass underfoot. Toddy had still been breathing when they vanished. Dustin, he had never been able to say goodbye to. They were taken. Gone. And Imorean didn’t know where. Vortigern was going to kill Toddy, if he wasn’t already dead. Imorean was certain of that. His gaze was fixed on the blood-soaked grass under his boots. This same blood lay invisible on his hands. This was his fault. All this blood had been spilled for the sake of a mission he was supposed to have carried out on his own. A mission he himself had butchered.
Imorean was still dry eyed when he knelt in front of Colton several minutes later. He was worried that the small boy wouldn’t wake up. He couldn’t lose another member of his squad now. He just couldn’t. Imorean didn’t reach out and touch Colton, instead he simply sat still. He was at a loss. Roxy was sleeping next to the small boy, her chest rising and falling weakly and unevenly. If Vortigern had been telling the truth, Uriel would already be on the way. Inwardly, he prayed that Raphael would be with him.
A moment later, Colton’s eyes flickered open and the younger boy offered Imorean a little smile.
“What now?” asked Colton.
“Now, you go back to Upper Morvine. Team up with Baxter if he’s still alive and with Roxy if she pulls through. Ryan will look after you. Trust Raphael. Don’t cause any trouble. Be good. Can you do that?”
“Yeah,” nodded Colton.
“Good boy,” said Imorean, reaching out and ruffling Colton’s hair. He was reminded painfully of Isaac. Another person he had failed.
“What about you?” Colton asked, resting his hand on Imorean’s forearm.
“I don’t know. I’m going to try to disappear. I need to try to carry out my other objective. I have to. Pass that on to Roxy,” replied Imorean. “If you see Gabriel tell him that I’ve gone. You can trust him, but if Uriel asks where I’ve gone tell him I’m in China, would you?”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to try to find Michael’s rift. I have to try. If I don’t, there’s no telling what Uriel will do. When I’m done there, I’ll hand myself over to Uriel and he can do what he likes with me.”
“Can I come with you?” asked Colton.
“Colton,” sighed Imorean, taking in the bloodied stumps on the boy’s back where his beautiful, red wings used to be. It was almost as though the boy was not yet aware of his loss. “No. Not this time.”
“Will we see you again?”
“Of course you will,” said Imorean, smiling reassuringly. “We’ll see each other again when this is all over.”
Colton opened his mouth to say more, but Imorean couldn’t stay to hear what his friend had to say. The quiet rush of wings alerted him to the presence of other angels.
“Goodbye, Colton. Tell Roxy I’ll miss her,” he whispered, giving Colton a quick hug and scrambling away over a few exposed rocks.
When he was shrouded in the cloud once again, Imorean paused just to make sure Colton and Roxy were found. The first voice he heard was familiar. He recognized the tone and manner of speaking. The best possible hope his friends had for pulling through their injuries. Raphael. Imorean breathed a sigh of relief. A pang tore through his heart. He wanted to go to Raphael. He wanted to feel safe.
“What in Father’s name has happened here? Blood everywhere. Two angels injured. Both Imorean’s friends too. Uriel!”
Imorean smiled slightly. Uriel himself had come.
“Sweep the area. Leave no stone unturned. Frayneson must be found,” snarled Uriel.
“What happened here?” asked Raphael.
“It doesn’t matter. The objective now is to find Frayneson. Fan out. Bring me Frayneson!”
“Uriel, these angels are injured. They may die. We don’t have time for a witch hunt,” said Raphael imploringly.
“Then take them back to Upper Morvine. I don’t care what you do with them. All I care about is the return of Frayneson.”
“Yes, Brother,” said Raphael with a heavy sigh. “Come on! You heard him! Start searching!”
Imorean paused for a moment. His major task of finding Vortigern was done. He could turn himself in now. Let someone else worry about finding Michael’s rift. He could go back to Upper Morvine and make sure Colton and Roxy recovered. It was Vortigern’s words that kept him from doing that, though. Uriel had brought him here. Even though there were other angels here now and the Archangel wouldn’t risk revealing his true nature, Uriel wouldn’t let him walk free, not after stealing Michael’s sword and running away. Not after committing something akin to treason. Imorean knew also that if he went back, he would have enough time to dwell on what had happened and grief would overwhelm him. If he had time to dwell on his immense defeat, he would lose the little motivation that had remained in him. He would fall into that inescapable pit where darkness pressed in from all sides. Crushing the life out of him. No. He needed to keep his momentum going or else he would simply collapse. If he didn’t keep going, he wouldn’t be able to find the willpower to keep living. He had to keep going.
The teenager hissed softly as something burned in his clenched hand. The very tip of Michael’s sword was resting in his palm. How had that gotten there? Imorean shook his head in terror. Uriel’s element! He had never unpacked Michael’s sword. It was going to lead Uriel down on him! The white-haired teenager gasped as his fingers were pried open and watched in disbelief as the tip rose a few inches and swung in a heading to the northwest. A heading away from Uriel. The metal was positively glowing green. Did he dare take the chance again? It was this very same action that had brought his friends to their knees. Had b
rought him to his knees.
“Sir!” shouted one of the angels.
Imorean looked over his shoulder. A team of seven angels was standing nearby. Instinctively, he knew he was seen. He froze. They were going to catch him. He would never be able to try to save Michael. Uriel had won. He would take over the Host. Michael would never come out of his coma.
“Get him now! Stay on him as best you can!” shouted Uriel. “He’s half Archangel, remember!”
Imorean couldn’t move. Surrender would be easy. Over in heartbeats.
“Imorean, go!” shouted Raphael, pointing to the open sky. The doctor angel’s great black wings were flared, as though he too were ready to take flight.
Imorean looked at Raphael in wonder. He felt torn. Then two angels leaped on Raphael’s back, shoving him down. The Archangel buckled under their weight and was slammed down hard to the ground. Imorean’s heart constricted as Raphael’s glasses were knocked sideways as his head was pressed hard against the bloody grass.
Raphael writhed against them and looked at Imorean again. “Go!”
The command acted like a stimulant and Imorean was in the skies before any of the other angels could move. He twisted and dove down the mountainside, skimming along the uneven ground, just inches away from the earth. He had to take a hard road. He had to throw them off. His wings were tucked tight against his back and the world was blurring white in his vision. Imorean snarled. Running from other angels. The very ones who should be here to help him. He beat his wings even faster. Michael had been the fastest angel in the entirety of the Host and in a dive, Imorean had been able to outpace even Michael. Now though, he wasn’t sure it would be enough. Surrender would have been easy. Escape would be harder.
Chapter 56
Imorean had lost track of how long he had been flying. He knew the angels had since fallen from his trail, unable to catch him. He owed his escape to Raphael. Night had fallen, but still Imorean refused to stop. His back ached. His wings were numb, but so was the rest of him. Even in the darkness, Imorean kept following the heading Michael’s sword had given him. He didn’t let himself stop. He didn’t let himself think. If he stopped to think, he would never clear his head. His only choice was to keep going. He had to keep going.
Angels Defying (Angels Rising Book 3) Page 38