The Lord of Darkness

by Kim Richardson

  The scene fanned Alexa’s rage. Her nails dug into her palms until she felt the skin tear as she thought about the ways to kill the Nephilim.

  A low growl escaped from Lance’s throat. His was head bowed with the whites of his canines gleaming. Alexa had never seen him look more like a wolf than he did at that moment, a very angry wolf ready to tear into the Nephilim to protect his pack.

  Alexa swore under her breath. She whirled around. “You sick bastards—”

  Anagar laid a stinging backhand across her cheek. “Mind your tongue, angel. You are not in Horizon now. There is no one here to protect you.”

  Alexa tasted something metallic in her mouth and felt the lingering sting of his strike on her cheek. “I thought all the Nephilim had been destroyed. How is it that you’re alive? Didn’t the Legion kill you miserable bastards.”

  Anagar slammed a fist against her back and she stumbled forward again. “They tried. They might have succeeded in destroying our mortal bodies, but we are part archangel. Immortal creatures born of the most powerful archangel that ever was. The part that was from Father lived on. We cannot die.”

  “Your daddy’s not an archangel. He’s the devil.”

  Anagar smiled brightly as though she’d just given him a compliment. “That he is. The mighty Lord of Darkness, The Morning Star, lord of all lords, the true lord. He will bring about the death of this world.”

  “Not if I can help it,” Alexa heard Lance mumble.

  “What was that, dog?” said the one with the shaved head and covered in demon runes. Alexa remembered his name was Hadaz. He combed the top of Lance’s back with one of his axes as though it were a brush. “I could use a new pelt like this one. I’ve never had a white wolf before.”

  “White German Shepherd, you half-wit,” growled Lance.

  With a flick of his wrist, Hadaz sliced the top of Lance’s back. Lance yelped as droplets of pale pink liquid trickled down his side.

  “I’ll kill you!” Alexa hurled herself at Hadaz, but she was yanked back hard as something caught her arm and sent her crashing into the nearest table.

  She landed on something soft, and the smell of rot filled her nose. When she looked up, she blinked into the sagging, rotting face of a woman and gagged. The woman’s eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open. With the frown still on her brow, Alexa could almost see the fear and pain she’d felt just before the Nephilim had killed her.

  Alexa picked herself up. Lance was shivering, and he didn’t look at her. She thought of Milo and her chest contracted. What if he was responsible for some of these deaths? What if he had turned the way he had begun to in purgatory? If Lucifer had the power to bring these creatures back to life, did he have the power to manipulate his youngest son?

  Yes, her feelings for Milo had surprised her. They were strong, and ran deep, so deep into her core, it ached. She cared about him more than she’d ever cared before—even for Erik.

  Was it love? Perhaps. She had no idea. But she did know if Milo was turned, she would bring him back. Just as she did in purgatory. She would not abandon him to this life of horror and killings, a life he hated. Never.

  Her chest hollowed out, but she kept her face blank. She could feel a thin trickle of her own essence running down her left leg, but she barely noticed. Her cheek was still ablaze with pain. If she were human, her facial bones would have shattered.

  “The next time you go and try something like that, Alexa dear,” said Anagar as he twisted his sword in her face, “I will cut out your pretty eyes… one by one.”

  Not if I cut yours first, Alexa thought. She wacked his blade from her face as she moved past the table. “How do you know my name?”

  “We met in purgatory,” he said, sounding a little confused.

  “But you were an illusion. A figment of Lucifer’s imagination. You weren’t real.”

  The other Nephilim laughed at that.

  “Did you hear the angel, brothers?” laughed Anagar as he grabbed Alexa’s shoulder, spun her around, and then shoved her forward again. “We are not real. We’re ghosts.”

  Their laughter only increased Alexa’s hatred of them. She looked over at Lance, who was walking slowly, his lips pulled in either a grimace of pain or a snarl. She couldn’t tell.

  “I’ve always said angels were inferior,” voiced Ruthus. Long strands of oily black hair stuck to his face, looking almost wet, and Alexa doubted it had ever been washed. “Weak bodies and weaker minds, these angels.” He widened his eyes, and the whites stood out against the thick black kohl, making him look like a crazed killer. “Wolves exist to eat sheep, and the weak exist for the strong to play with.”

  Alexa glowered at the all-yellow, decaying teeth of the smile Ruthus gave her.

  “In purgatory,” she said as she picked her way around another table with two dead mortal women, their hands stitched with pink thread around martini glasses. “You were just part of a test—a trial—all created by your father. You were but a figment of his imagination, a memory.”

  “But we weren’t an illusion,” said Anagar. “The Inferno Trials weren’t an illusion. They were real. It was all real. As real as you are here now. As I am.”

  Alexa turned and shot him a dark glare. “That makes absolutely no sense. Purgatory is the realm of monster and demon souls. Only the dead live there, if you want to call that living. There is mortal in you, and I can see that you’re alive.” She didn’t want to tell him that she had felt his warm-blooded fingers. “Though it disgusts me to say it, you’re part of the world of the living. Not the dead.”

  “I’ve already told you,” said Anagar, “our bodies were destroyed, but our souls lived on. Our father is most powerful, more powerful than your precious Legion will ever know. When Father was beaten and trapped in purgatory, our souls followed. We are connected in ways that you will never understand. You can’t understand.”

  Alexa just shook her head. “Can’t be.”

  “It’s like your flesh suits that you wear—”

  “Mortal suits,” spat Alexa.

  Anagar chuckled. “Are you real when you are wearing your human guise? Yes? Well, we were real in purgatory. It’s the same thing.”

  “It’s not.”

  Anagar answered her with another hard shove forward, but her mind was still trying to wrap itself around what he’d just said. If what he said was true, how many more Nephilim had returned to the mortal world? Hundreds? Thousands? The chill that she felt went deep into her bones.

  But then she thought of something else that dulled the chill, replacing it with a growing sense of excitement. If the Nephilim were connected in the way Anagar suggested, then logically, if Lucifer were vanquished, that would solve the problem of the Nephilim.

  They hauled Alexa and Lance to the back of the room towards a large bar lined with stools and a polished wood surface topped with bottles. A bear-like man sat at the bar with his back towards them. But at the sound of their approach, he set down his drink, stood and turned.

  “I see it’s the same angel whore,” said Baruk.

  Alexa flinched. It was obvious that whatever had happened in purgatory, the Nephilim standing before her now were in fact the same ones.

  “I told you the angels were predictable,” mocked Anagar. “They can’t stand a little disorder.”

  “Is that what you call the murders of all those mortals?” growled Alexa, heat pumping up her neck and into her face. “Disorder? You’re even crazier than I thought.”

  Anagar licked his lips, smiling in the same way a serial killer might smile at his victim just before killing. Alexa shivered and looked away.

  “And the beast?” inquired Baruk, staring at Lance as though he were looking at something that disgusted him.

  “It’s an angel, disguised as a beast,” said Ruthus elatedly. “Must be one of the shape changing ones Father warned us about. The watchers.”

  Lance’s ears perked on his head, and he looked happy for the first time since their encounter with
the Nephilim.

  Baruk stared at Lance for a moment longer. “No matter. If the girl angel is here, he will come for her.”

  Alexa’s blood chilled. She felt the eyes of all the Nephilim on her. “Where’s Milo?” She looked around the bar but saw only more dead mortals tied to their chairs and drinks like puppets. She felt no sense of relief at Milo’s absence, but rather a pounding in her head. Her throat tightened as though she were choking, running out of the air she didn’t need.

  What if he was still with Lucifer?

  “Funny you should ask that.” Anagar leaned forward and poured himself a generous quantity of Jim Beam whiskey into glass and drank it. Then he poured himself another. “He’s not here. Or should I say… not here with us.”

  This time Lance glanced at her, and she saw the same look of confusion on his face that she felt.

  “What have you done to him?” Alexa took a step towards Anagar, who flashed her a smile that would have scared the average woman. She stood her ground. They might have taken her weapons, but she could do some real damage to his head with those bottles.

  “We,” he said, pointing to each of his brothers, “didn’t do anything. Our little brother left us. Just like he always has. Sneaky little bastard.”

  “He could never handle it, that’s what,” said Hadaz as he swung his sword up on one of his shoulders. “He has the weak heart of a woman. Can’t stand the sight of a little blood.”

  Alexa glared at him. She couldn’t help it. She opened her mouth, but Baruk cut her off.

  “Once again the life of the Nephilim proves to be too hard on his weak mind and body. Father entrusted us to shape him up again for the war that’s coming. And once again, our little brother disappeared when the killings started.”

  “Smart man,” grumbled Lance.

  “Father will not be pleased,” continued Baruk, as though Lance hadn’t spoken.

  “By the looks of it, I’m guessing Daddy doesn’t know, does he?” quipped Alexa, her eyebrows raised.

  Baruk stared at her, the muscles in his jaw contracting, and for a split second she thought he was going to hit her.

  “Milo will be punished,” said the big male. “It’s only a matter of time… and what punishment we choose.”

  Alexa felt elated, and it was hard not to smile. Milo was himself. Milo hadn’t turned, but rather he’d turned on his brothers. But where was he? And why hadn’t he returned to Horizon?

  Alexa looked at each of the Nephilim, feeling bold, defiant and strong. “So, what do you want with us?” If only she could reach the whiskey bottle…

  “Simple.” Anagar raised his brows. “I know my little brother. I know him very well and much better than he thinks. I know he’s soft, weak.” He moved so close to Alexa that she could smell the alcohol on his breath as he said, “I saw the way he looked at you. The way a man looks at a woman when he desires her.”

  “And you speak from experience?” said Lance in a disgusted tone.

  Hadaz growled and struck Lance with a violent kick. Lance flew in the air and landed hard on the ground with a whimper.

  Alexa tightened her hands into fists, but she stayed where she was.

  Anagar didn’t stop smiling as he looked at her. “He will come for you. I knew if we caught you, Alexa the angel girl, Milo would come.”

  Alexa felt the blood drain from her face. “You’re setting him up. You’re using us as bait.”

  Anagar clapped his hands. “Exactly. Do you like games? I like games. We’re going to play a game, you and me.”

  Alexa looked around her. “But you said he was gone. He doesn’t even know I’m here. He’s probably out looking for me. He won’t come back—”

  She cried out in pain as Anagar’s fist collided with her chest and she collapsed to her knees, her vision plagued with black spots.

  “He will come,” came Anagar’s hot breath against her ear. “Because I’m willing to bet that our dear little brother is never too far away from you. And you better hope he does because if he doesn’t, you and the mutt will die.”

  CHAPTER 6

  ANAGAR WHACKED ALEXA ACROSS THE face again and her nose made a crack like a branch breaking. She heard him laugh, and then his boot caught her in the chest. She only felt pain as her back made contact with the floor.

  Spitting out essence, Alexa rolled over and got to her feet. She wasn’t about to let this abomination keep beating her like she was some mortal who couldn’t fight back. She could fight. She was trained to fight.

  She lowered herself into a fighting stance, bringing up her only weapons—her fists.

  The Nephilim roared with laughter, but their laughter wasn’t what sent a spark of rage through her. It was the amount of essence that puddled around Lance and the way his eyes drooped.

  Anagar grinned, but Hadaz moved past him and stood before Alexa, tossing his axes on the ground. “I’ve never beaten a girl angel to death with my bare hands before,” said Hadaz, his voice high with excitement. “Perhaps today will be the day.”

  “Go to hell.” Liquid filled her mouth as she struggled to get to her feet. She shook with the rage storming through her.

  “But I’ve killed many human women. Squished their heads until their eyes popped. Their wails were music to my ears.”

  “You’re a monster,” said Alexa. “You’re all crazy. Even if you kill me, there’s no escaping what you’ve done. The Legion knows and they’re coming for you. For all of you.”

  “Not this time.” Hadaz flashed her a smile of yellow teeth and sprang, swift as a shadow. He moved with incredible speed for such a large man, faster than Alexa had anticipated. Before she could raise her arm to block his attack, a giant fist made contact with her temple. It was like being smashed by a boulder. Alexa swayed, black and white spots playing in her vision. She stumbled back, blinking the spots from her eyes. A whistle sounded in her ears just as a shadow moved.

  She let her instincts guide her and ducked. She felt the air move over her head as she spun around and kicked out as hard as she could. She heard a satisfying crack followed by Hadaz’s curse. The big brute stumbled as he fought to keep the weight from his right knee.

  “She can fight,” came Anagar’s voice from behind. “For a woman, that is.”

  “She’s not a woman,” argued Ruthus. “She’s an angel. It’s not the same.”

  “Well, she looks like a woman to me.”

  “She’s not.”

  “Will you two shut up,” growled Baruk.

  Alexa straightened. She felt a stiff soreness in her chest, and her head still pounded where Hadaz had hit her. She should have been afraid, but all she felt was anger and hatred. Her pain was forgotten as she stared down the big male. She hated the bald ogre more than anything at the moment. So, she flashed him a smile.

  With a growl of rage, Hadaz slammed Alexa aside, lifted her by her hair and struck her with his fist. She fell back, knocking chairs to the floor with her. Before she could get up, she felt strong hands grab her from behind.

  Hadaz pushed her hard into Anagar and Ruthus. They shoved her back and forth among them, slapping her, hitting her in the face, and spinning her around roughly until she was too dizzy to stand. She fell from one pair of arms to another. Alexa cursed and swung her fists at them, too disoriented to make contact.

  They all laughed even harder.

  “Not much you can do without your weapons, eh, angel?” mocked Ruthus. “You’re nothing but a bag of bones and meat.”

  Alexa followed the voice and swung her fist again. Her knuckles cracked as she hit something hard. As her eyes focused, she saw blood dripping from Ruthus’ nose and fury in his eyes.

  “What was that you said again?” Alexa ignored the pain in her hand as she stood in the middle of the ring of Nephilim, feeling small and frail compared to these armored beasts. She knew they enjoyed beating her, never too much, just enough to keep her standing in pain. They loved the pain. This was their favorite game—to play with their prey before
they killed it.

  She knew she was outmatched and out muscled. Her only comfort was that they’d temporarily forgotten about Lance. Good. She wanted to keep it that way.

  Movement caught her attention and she saw Ruthus unsheathe his sword. “It looks as though our little brother abandoned you.” He twisted his blade. “We were wrong. He cares nothing for you. He cares only for himself. Always has. He’s left you to die.”

  “You’re wrong.” Alexa knew it wasn’t true, but somehow the words still stung. The Milo she knew had always been selfless in every way. “Maybe he’s smarter than you think and knows what you’re playing at. He won’t be a part of your game.”

  “He will play,” said Ruthus. “Eventually.”

  “Milo’s clever, a lot cleverer than you, which is why your father loves him more. Isn’t it?” From the corner of her eye, she saw Lance turn his head her way. She knew she was asking for it, but she couldn’t help herself. She hated these guys.

  A growl escaped Hadaz as he said, “Can I slit her throat now? She’s practically begging for me to kill her—”

  “No,” ordered Baruk. “We stick to the plan. Rough her up, but don’t kill her.” His eyes met Alexa’s as he said, “Not yet.”

  Alexa felt a chill roll over her despite the warmth in the room. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “So, where’s your father now? It looks to me as though he’s abandoned you as well. Where is he? Is he hiding? Away from the battle so he won’t get his hands dirty? That sounds a lot like a coward to me.”

  Ruthus’ careful composure faltered. “Our father’s plans do not concern you, angel.”

  Alexa felt her strength returning slowly, enough to give her a little more courage. If Milo wasn’t coming, she had to figure out a way to get herself and Lance out of here. She saw her soul blade tucked inside Anagar’s belt. She moved casually to the left, closer to him, until she could almost lean over and grab it.