War (Fallen Book 2)

by Caleb Zane

  “We do,” Kaiden said.

  “Show me.”

  It was a bit of a surprise that the angel wanted to see it.

  “Are you sure?” Ai asked, getting out of the car. The others emptied out too.

  “Yes,” Adriel said.

  Kaiden walked to the rear of the car, popped the trunk, and carefully opened the bag that the crown was in.

  Adriel stepped back in horror. “Praise God,” he said. “It’s worse than I thought. Wait here. Lindsey will meet you.”

  The angel flew into the air.

  Ziva was ready to go. She hated waited for others, and Lindsey was taking her sweet time. Ziva hoped Lindsey would agree to hold up her end of the bargain. She had promised that if they could get to Hell, she would help, and this was their ticket. That much was clear.

  The Crown of Thorns made everyone nervous. The dark power it held was frightening. Ziva really wanted nothing to do with it. Not like the Holy Grail. That radiated power too, but a good kind. She wanted to spend all day with it, unlike the crown.

  Close to two hours later, Lindsey arrived. Charlie was with her.

  “Are you even allowed here?” Ziva asked Charlie.

  He shrugged. “I’m on official Kathill business.”

  Lindsey snorted. “This is all against the norm. I’m just not sure what to make of this.”

  “We have the crown,” Kaiden said.

  Lindsey nodded. “Adriel said you did. I’ve never seen him so disgusted.”

  “It's vile,” Zaphkiel said, “but it will do as promised.”

  Lindsey nodded. “Show me, and we will make sure that none reach level twenty once Lilith is dead.”

  “Not just dead,” Kaiden said. “From now going forward.”

  Lindsey tilted her head. “Why?”

  “To be safe.”

  Lindsey closed her eyes. She didn’t appear to be pleased with Kaiden. He was doing everything in his power to ensure the future of earth. Lindsey needed to understand that, and she had to help.

  The leader of Kathill gritted her teeth. “Very well.”

  Kaiden showed her the crown.

  Lindsey reacted much the way Ziva had in the temple, with shock and horror. It was most disgusting, vile thing she had ever seen. Who could force a person to wear that? The blood that was coated on it repulsed Ziva, and clearly Lindsey, Ai too.

  “That is…” Lindsey was at a loss for words.

  “I know,” Kaiden said, “but it will work.”

  Lindsey nodded. “No level twenties. It won’t be easy, but we will do what we can.”

  Kaiden smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Go find her,” Lindsey said. “End this.”

  “That is the plan.”

  Lindsey and Charlie left them.

  Now it was time to focus on Lilith. The plan had to happen. They had all they needed and required.

  They sent up camp there for the night. Ziva was ready to enter the demon land, but the night was long already, and the sun nearly down.

  Ziva had taken to looking at the paper that held communications from Vincent or Layla. For the most part, there was little reported.

  Tonight before going to bed, Ziva checked the paper, and there was actual news. Vincent had reports of the scouts returning.

  “Kaiden,” Ziva called.

  He rushed over and scanned the paper. It wasn’t about Lilith but unusual activity. “What do you think it means?” Kaiden asked.

  The other approached and read the paper. Zaphkiel rubbed his chin, and his wings fluttered behind him. Ziva never was going to be used to his black and white wings. It was so different than the others.

  “Lilith is up to something,” Zaphkiel said. “Not sure what.”

  Ziva could see how worried Kaiden was. It was all over his face. She hated to see him with that look.

  “We need to investigate it,” Kaiden said.

  The group was silent. None knew what to do. It was evident that Kaiden was right, but just going blindly felt wrong.

  “This smells like a setup,” Ai said.

  She spoke what everyone was thinking. Lilith was trying to lure them out into the open, and then she would bounce and kill them.

  A chill ran down Ziva’s spine. She didn’t like the idea of walking into a trap. It scared the crap out of her. Ziva really didn’t want to spring any more traps in her life. The last one they had set off getting the Crown of Thorns had been enough. She was done. Finished.

  Kaiden sighed. “I know. We all know. It might be a setup, a way to draw us out. We’ve been looking for Lilith, and she must be looking for me, but we have to.”

  The tension in the group was thick. They were standing outside not far from Kathill. It was going to be a several days’ trip to the place that Vincent said.

  “Fine,” Orlas said. “Let’s go walk into a trap.”

  The others eyed the demon.

  “You can’t be serious,” Ai said.

  Orlas smirked. “I’m a demon. I live for this stuff.”

  That cut the tension of the group. Ziva knew there was a reason she liked this demon. Orlas was different from the ones she had battled with in the past. The demon really cared for those around here and even seemed to like Muriel and Dazielle.

  “We got this,” Kaiden said. “Just be ready for anything. I have a feeling that we are going to be battling a lot on this trip.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The next morning, Kaiden was ready to face any of the challenges that lay in front of him. He didn’t care if he had to fight a horde of dragons or giants. None of that mattered. He was on the path to Lilith. Kaiden could feel it. He knew it.

  This was the next step to killing her. Once they found her, they could move on. Lindsey and Charlie weren’t letting any of the low levels reach twenty. That was such an important part of the plan. Kaiden felt like a giant weight had been lifted from him. He was a new man.

  The XP that flowed into him throughout this quest was insane. It was empowering to feel himself level up, to be more of a man than he had before. Soon, he was going to be the most powerful man in the world, maybe in the history of humankind. Not that Kaiden knew what the highest level anyone had ever reached.

  Right now, he wasn’t even the highest living, and that was a scary thought. Kaiden felt so powerful, but he knew that the leader of the humans, Stewart, was higher than he was. Even Lindsey was a higher level than he was, albeit just barely at this point.

  Kaiden exited the tent and waited nearby for his loves to wake up. The angels were up, of course, prepping for the day.

  Zaphkiel walked over to Kaiden. “Are you sure about this?” the fallen angel asked.

  Kaiden was never more certain of anything in his life. This was most assuredly a trap set by Lilith, and they had to walk into it. There was little doubt about that.

  “I am.” Kaiden smiled. Hopefully, that put his bond at ease.

  “I just don’t like it,” Zaphkiel said.

  Kaiden groaned. “I know you don’t want to take any risks, but we should. She has to die.”

  “I know she does, and we have to do it, but I’ve been waiting a long time to be here, to be out of the limbo.”

  Kaiden cringed. Just the thought of being frozen in the limbo place angels were when they weren’t here sent a chill through Kaiden. It reminded him of the basilisk. That had been horribly and had only lasted for a few hours.

  “I’m sorry,” Kaiden said. “That had to be hard for you.”

  Zaphkiel nodded. “It was. Nothing can compare to that. Pure hell.”

  They looked at each other and laughed.

  “I don’t want to go to Hell,” Kaiden said.

  “I know, but you must.”

  Kaiden sighed. “I understand.”

  The others woke, and they started the day after a cold breakfast. Kaiden couldn’t help but dream about a future where he wouldn’t have to do this and everyone lived in houses with power and all the luxuries of the past like TVs, vi
deo games, AC, and more. It would be great, and Kaiden was sure he was going to make it happen. He had the power to make the world better.

  Once they ate, Kaiden took his place in the passenger seat of the car, and Ziva took the driver's seat. The three of them took turns driving. Kaiden really didn’t have much experience behind the wheel, and sitting next to whoever was driving was nice. It allowed him to drink her in and think.

  Taking in Ziva was going to be a fine start to the day. Her long, blonde hair and curvy body as well as her mind and heart… Kaiden loved her, needed her. He needed them all.

  Before they even reached the wall to drive along it, they were surrounded by a group of trolls. They looked like they were stone men. If Kaiden hadn’t been through all he had already, this would have been one of the strangest things he had ever seen. As it was, this was just plain normal for Kaiden.

  He leaped out of the car as it pulled to a stop. They all did. The angels landed. They were outnumbered two to one, but that didn’t matter.

  Ziva had her water and was using it, Ai and her speed and strength, the angels and their bows with Desiree fighting alongside. It was a sight to be held. Kaiden nearly got lost in watching everyone else fight that he joined the fray late.

  Nearly half the trolls were on the ground by the time Kaiden entered the fray. He created his fire sword and struck the closest troll. It was taller than a human but not nearly the height of the giant. At least they didn’t smell as bad as giants did. Not that they smelled good as a musty mildew smell filled the air.

  “Ah,” the troll yelled.

  It swung its massive stone fist at Kaiden. Moving with his extra speed, Kaiden easily avoided the strike. His fire blade did little to the beast. The water and arrows did more. The slicing of the blades was not as affected.

  “I wish I had a mallet,” Kaiden said.

  Suddenly, his fire sword shifted shape and turned into a mallet. Kaiden grinned. This was perfect.

  He swung at the troll, and the fire mallet sent the creature flying and screaming in pain. They made quick work of the trolls.

  Ai strode over to Kaiden once they removed the last troll. She whistled. “Nice mallet,” she said and winked.

  Both Desiree and Ziva laughed.

  “You sure know how to handle large poles,” Ziva said.

  Kaiden just shook his head and let it go. “I do.”

  Once Desiree stopped laughing, they loaded back up into the car and drove to the gate. They arrived at midday and stopped for a meal. This was the gate the succubus had been at. Kaiden hoped they didn’t have to deal with another one of those.

  The succubus had been one of the trickiest fights Kaiden had. She had been difficult to resist. The magic the succubus had been like nothing else in the world. Kaiden shuddered just thinking about it.

  They were all standing around the car.

  “Are you okay?” Desiree asked.

  Kaiden nodded. “Just thinking about the last time we were here.”

  Desiree nodded. “Yeah. Not a fun time.”

  “Not even remotely,” Zaphkiel said. “I would like to forget that.”

  “What, you don’t like to have your penis out in public?” Muriel teased.

  Zaphkiel’s face went bright red. “No. No, I don’t. I’m sure Kaiden doesn’t either or Ai having her pants down.”

  “Please,” Ai said. “Can we talk about something else?”

  “Agreed,” Kaiden added. He really didn’t want to think about it.

  Muriel was laughing her wings off. They were out and shaking. The bright white feathers glistening in the sun, and her stunning face smiled as she laughed.

  “I can’t help it,” Muriel said. “Never in my life had I expected to see that. I just can’t stop picturing it.”

  Orlas eyed her. “I knew I liked you.”

  Muriel smirked and winked at the demon. “Angels like to have fun too. We just aren’t as open about it.”

  Orlas giggled. “I’m sure angels are the real freaks in bed. It’s always the ones you least expect.”

  Kaiden couldn’t believe what he was hearing. They were talking about sex and acting like it was normal. He just couldn’t believe it, couldn’t understand it.

  “I’m ready,” he said.

  Ziva, Ai, and Desiree all loaded up in the car as the angels opened the gate. Thankfully, there was no succubus. They drove through and started the five-day drive to the meetup. Before they made it a mile from the gate, they were attacked again.

  This time, standing in the road was a man or a man-like creature. He had the head of a bull and a tail but the body of a man.

  “The minotaur,” Ai said.

  “Great,” Kaiden said.

  He had read about the minotaur. It was said to be stronger and faster than any man. It should make even Ai look weak. This was going to be a hard fight, one that Kaiden didn’t want to have.

  “Can the car outrun it?” he asked.

  Ai shook her head. “No. I can’t outrun it, and I could leave this car in my dust.”

  Kaiden groaned. “Great. Maybe the succubus would be an upgrade.”

  They all looked at him with horror.

  Ziva stopped the car just in time. They all dove out of it as the minotaur ran straight into it, tearing the car apart until it hit the trunk and suddenly dropped to the ground.

  Zaphkiel landed. “What just happened?”

  Kaiden had no idea. The minotaur clearly was strong and powerful.

  It was Orlas who walked around the minotaur on the ground and laughed. “The Crown of Thrones pricked the beast.”

  Kaiden couldn’t believe it. The crown had saved them. It was a miracle, and the easiest fight they had ever had.

  “Nice,” he said.

  “Just a tiny problem,” Desiree said.

  Kaiden knew what she was going to say and didn’t want to think about it.

  “We have no car, and we’re in the middle of Necoloatan.”

  Not good. “I know,” Kaiden said. “We can figure this out.”

  Ziva smiled. “It might not be the fastest way to fix this, but we do have the paper. Vincent can send us a car.”

  Zaphkiel nodded. “Faster than one of us flying to a city.”

  It was settled.

  Kaiden wrote a note on the magical paper, and Vincent replied fast that he was sending a new car. In the meantime, they walked to the place they were heading.

  They had a several day wait for a car. At least they were closer to Vincent than the place they were heading, but still it wasn't going to be fun.

  That night as they settling in, howls sounded around them.

  “What was that?” Ziva asked.

  “Wargs,” Dazielle answered.

  Kaiden gulped. “Wargs? Great. We can’t win.”

  Zaphkiel laughed. “You are fighting the most powerful demon in history. What did you think would happen?”

  Kaiden shrugged. “That she would just give up.”

  No one laughed. Kaiden had thought that was a good one. He was going to have to work on his game.

  Just then, under the light of the moon, the first warg appeared. It wasn’t a regular wolf, not by any strength of the imagination. It was twice the size of ones that had roamed the earth in the past. It was pitch black and had the sharpest teeth Kaiden had seen on a wolf.

  Without thinking, he had his fire blade out. They were all ready for the fight. Soon, the camp was surrounded by a pack of wargs. At least a dozen of them was there.

  This was going to be a battle and Kaiden was ready. He didn’t wait for the wargs to strike. Kaiden leaped to the closest one and sliced its side. The warg howled in pain, and the others attacked him. One kicked Kaiden, the force sending him flying through the air, and he landed on the other side of the camp. His fire blade was out, and he was alone.

  In a blink of an eye, Ai appeared just in time to move him as a warg landed next to them and struck, trying to bite them. Ai had them out of the way but only barely. The sal
iva of the beast still covered Kaiden.

  It took a moment for Kaiden to recover, but he did. He had his blade back out.

  “Are you okay?” Ai asked.

  Kaiden nodded. “I am.”

  They went back to the main part of the fight. Zaphkiel had a look of glee on his face. He was using his blade, not his bow, and he sliced the leg of the closest warg to him.

  All the angels were using blades against the wargs.

  “Why no bow?” Kaiden asked as he reached Zaphkiel. The fire sword struck the same warg Zaphkiel had attacked.

  “Wargs are weak against blades,” Zaphkiel said.

  Kaiden nodded. They moved together as a team and sliced and diced, making quick work of any wargs near them. Kaiden and Zaphkiel operating together was glorious. Not just them but Ziva and Muriel, Ai and Dazielle, Desiree and Orlas. All of them were functioning as units. Kaiden was beyond impressed. He was happy.

  When the last warg went down, Kaiden let his magic go. He was tired, and all he could think about was sleep.

  He finished setting up the tent. Once he was done, he entered and fell asleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The next day was filled with more and more walking. It was nearly dinnertime by the time the car arrived. It was driven by a man with a demon with him. Kaiden didn’t know him, but Desiree did.

  “Johnny,” Desiree squealed. “It’s been way too long.”

  Johnny was a tall dark man with a shaved head. If Kaiden wasn’t secure in himself, he might be intimated by the man. Johnny was tall and muscular from head to toe, the type of man who cared about his body, and there was no doubt that in the past, Desiree and Johnny had sex.

  Kaiden was trying not to think about it. He knew she wasn’t a virgin, but that didn’t mean he wanted to think about her past sex life. It was the last thing Kaiden wanted to ponder, yet he couldn’t stop from imagining her fucking Johnny. It made him jealous of the man, which was stupid. Desiree loved Kaiden. She loved Ai and Ziva, not Johnny.

  “Desiree,” Johnny purred. “It has been a long time. I just had to see you and the Chosen One.” He turned to Kaiden. “It’s an honor. I’ve been scouting. Vincent said you are traveling to Lostvale.”