My angels let out a fierce war cry and launched themselves at the Leviathan. The monster roared a second time and the hole inside its mouth opened wide. A ghastly brownish orange light filled the clearing. The nauseating stench of sulfur permeated the air. Seconds later, dozens of scavenger demons with leathery black wings soared from the Hellmouth, their tiny sharp teeth aiming for the throats of my men. They were in charge of the level of Hell on the outermost ring, the First Circle, reserved for the least sinful patrons—mindless bat-like beasts that fed on fear and desolation.
I turned to Gabriel and Raphael. “Our best bet is to concentrate all our efforts on knocking Belial off that thing, or killing him. Once the Leviathan no longer has a host, it’ll be slower and less intelligent. That’ll give us the edge we need to lock its jaws. Belial will want to focus on me, so I’ll serve as the bait while you two find any vulnerabilities that you can.”
They both nodded. I threw myself off the side of the ice floe, slashing at the odd demon that tried to attack as I made a beeline for the Leviathan’s face. The angels around me followed orders to the letter, chasing any demons that tried to escape the clearing. We were at least a mile out from the ship where the people were being evacuated, but I knew the next wave of creatures would be harder to stop than the scavengers so time was a factor, especially with the Leviathan swimming towards them.
Belial saw me coming and aimed the Leviathan’s head at me, trying to bite me in half as I flew past. The foul stench of the creature overwhelmed my nostrils and made my eyes tear, but I focused on where he was standing and tried to find an opening. He ducked when I swept overhead, swinging at him from behind. Damn it. He was too fast, even with all the confusion around him. I couldn’t get too close because he could move its mouth around to me in an instant, and if one of those tentacles caught my ankles I’d be sucked into Hell.
Gabriel and Raphael moved in perfect synchronization, swiping at him, but it proved futile as well. He always saw them coming. Even if all three of us attacked, we wouldn’t be able to reach him, not even with energy attacks. I needed a Plan B, and quickly.
The link in my ear beeped, distracting me. “How’s it going out there?”
“Not good,” I answered Jordan with a grimace, slashing a scavenger demon in half. It disappeared in a puff of ash.
“Are you clear?” I asked.
“No. I told you, I’m staying.”
I gritted my teeth. “Damn it, Jordan! For once in your life, listen to me and get the hell out of here!”
“If you want me gone, you’d better send someone to drag me out. I’m not leaving. Juliana’s safe and half of the passengers are already on lifeboats. Besides, I think I might have a plan.”
I paused, trying to figure out if I should listen to her or not. So far, we were at a disadvantage and my soldiers had their hands full with the first bunch of monsters. It would only get worse from here. We didn’t have time for worse.
“What plan?”
“Meet me on Deck Nine and I’ll explain.”
I cursed under my breath, hailing Gabriel. “Keep trying. I’ll be right back.”
“Ten-four,” he answered.
I turned in the air and flew towards the slowly sinking Midnatsol, staying high so that no one would spot me. When I reached the ninth deck, my wife was waiting for me.
I landed, narrowing my eyes at her with impatience. “Make it quick.”
“The fruit is what woke the Leviathan, right? What if we removed it?”
“What the hell do you mean remove it?”
She took a deep breath. “What if I got inside its stomach and took the fruit out? Would that weaken it enough for you to send it back under?”
I stared at her. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Answer the question, Michael.”
I fought not to shoot a string of obscenities in her direction. “Theoretically, it would undo the awakening and the Leviathan would fall back into its dormant state. We’d still have to lock its jaws, but that wouldn’t be as difficult.”
“Good. Then let’s do it.”
“No. Absolutely not. That’s the worst plan I’ve ever heard in my life.”
“And you’ve got a better one? How long have you guys been fighting that thing? It’s only going to get worse the more time we spend arguing.”
“Do you understand what you’re asking me to do? You don’t know what it’s like inside that thing. You could suffocate, you could get dissolved by stomach acid, or you could get lost. There are a million things that could go wrong. I trusted you once. Don’t ask me to do it again.”
I turned my back on her, ready to fly into the fray, but her voice stopped me. “I have to do this, Michael. It’s my mess and I told you that I would do everything it takes to stop these people from dying.”
I cast a hard look in her direction. “What makes you think you can?”
“The Book was wrong. It said that Mulciber would be controlling the Leviathan. She isn’t. She’s in Hell.”
I froze. For the first time, I could see her point. “Wait. But that means—”
She stepped forward, imploring me. “We changed the future, Michael. Nothing is certain any more. We can fix this. I can fix this.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but she kept going. “And I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m telling you that I have to face the consequences of my actions.”
“But why does it always have to be you?” I asked, unable to keep my frustration at bay. “Why can’t you let me do this for you?”
She smiled, surprising me. “Because your soldiers and the people in this world need you more than I do. If I die, it’s just a girl dying. If you die, it could throw the entire world into chaos. That’s who you are. It’s who you’ll always be.”
An unspeakable amount of pain swarmed through me at her words. She was right. There were always lives at stake, always lives I had to save, lives that depended on my every action. She didn’t have that weight on her shoulders. She was only human.
I tried to regain composure. “If I could get you in there, can you promise me that you’ll come out alive and not doing anything reckless like try to kill Belial on your own?”
A determined look crossed her features. “I can promise one of the two.”
I sighed. This woman would be the death of me. “That’ll have to do, then. But first, you need supplies. Find a waterproof flashlight, a strong diving knife, and an oxygen tank. I’ll talk to Gabriel.”
She nodded, hurrying away. I touched the link in my ear. “You get all that, Gabe?”
“Yes, but I wish I hadn’t,” he replied in a tight voice over the sound of battle. “Are you seriously considering her cockamamie plan?”
“I heard that,” Jordan chimed in with a less-than-amused voice.
I almost smiled. “It’s not my first choice. How’s it going on your end?”
“Badly. There are too many of these things and I can tell the next wave is on its way. We’re going to need reinforcements.”
“Go round them up. Raphael and I can cover you in the meantime.”
“Will do.”
A thought occurred to me. “Wait!”
“Yes?”
“I think I’ve got a less suicidal idea. Would you mind doing me a quick favor?”
“And that would be?”
“Bring Avriel with you.”
A momentary shocked silence followed. “But isn’t he scheduled for Judgment?”
“Tell them I authorized the order and it’s just a temporary postponement of his trial. Hurry.”
“Whatever you say, Commander.” The link shut off. I began to pace back and forth, my mind racing to come up with a comprehensive strategy. Preferably one that didn’t involve my wife getting digested by a hellbeast.
Just as Jordan returned with the supplies, I heard my link crackle again and then Gabriel’s winded voice. “I’m on my way.”
I raised my gaze to see Gabriel and another angel flying towards
us. I couldn’t help lifting an eyebrow when they landed. Souls couldn’t exist on earth without bodies for more than a few minutes, hence why he needed to share one with another angel. The body they’d found for Avriel was actually a short, blonde female angel.
Gabriel caught the weird looks Jordan and I gave him and shrugged. “It was short notice. Now then, what’s this idea of yours?”
I turned to Avriel. “In your extensive studies about this event, did you happen to read any literature about the Leviathan?”
She—he—nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“What about the biology of the Leviathan?”
“Yes, sir.”
A spot of hope at last. “Tell me everything you know.”
“Well, while the Hellmouth is a portal to the underworld, the Leviathan itself is flesh and blood like any other creature. It has many supernatural qualities, but like anything else, it has organs—a brain, lungs, intestines, and so on. The esophagus leads down into three separate stomachs and the food digests slowly. The Leviathan shares more qualities with a reptile rather than a fish. In fact, it has often been said to be an amalgamation of several types of species.”
“If we were to get someone inside the first stomach, could they find the fruit and take it out?”
Avriel frowned. “Theoretically? I suppose so. But I wouldn’t recommend it. The first stomach may not give you too much trouble, but the other two would be the problem. You could cut your way into the first stomach and get the fruit, but as soon as its body learns that there is a foreign object inside it, the antibodies will attack and attempt to pull you into the second stomach for digestion. You would have mere minutes to get out. Otherwise, death is imminent.”
“Sounds like my kind of party alright,” Jordan said. “Where would I enter the stomach?”
“The scales on the Leviathan’s belly are thinner than the ones on its back, much like an alligator’s. However, any incision will re-seal within seconds. You’ll need to find the exact spot where you entered and cut your way from inside the stomach. Cutting the same place twice gives you a better chance of getting out.”
“Is there any way that Belial would be able to sense Jordan’s presence and make the Leviathan throw her back up?” I asked.
Avriel shook his head. “Its stomach is much like a horse’s. It can’t regurgitate anything, which is also why she can’t climb out of its throat. A huge membrane closes behind the esophagus.”
Jordan glanced at me. “It’s worth a shot.”
Everyone’s eyes settled on me. I let the new information swirl around in my head for a few seconds. Was this still a bad plan? Hell yes. Was it better than the alternative? Maybe. Did I have time to debate with myself? No.
“Alright,” I said softly. “Jordan, you’re with me. Gabe, Raph, cover us. I’m going to submerge and find a weak spot. Where would that be, Avriel?”
“The first stomach is about thirty five to forty feet from the front of its chest. Make the hole as deep as you can so it will penetrate the inner walls. And Jordan, please remember that you will have less than five minutes to get out of there.”
Jordan nodded. “Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
She slid the flashlight into the innermost pocket of her parka, donned the diving gear, and climbed into my arms.
I glanced at Avriel one last time. “I appreciate the help. You can continue fighting down here for now in case we need you again. Make sure not to be a nuisance to your host.”
“Yes, sir.”
I leapt into the air, holding Jordan close and weaving past the fighting angels and snarling demons surrounding the Leviathan. It was on the move now, swimming slowly but surely towards civilization, and the next wave of monsters was dropping out of the Hellmouth now—hellhounds.
In Hell, they were five times the size of the ones on Earth, had two heads, and could swim better than sharks. I watched as the soldiers dove after them, shooting bubbles and the spray of water upward as they attacked. The corpses floated up to the top, turning the water even darker with blood and entrails. The hellhounds snapped at the heels of the angels flying overhead, dragging them down into the briny depths to drown. I set my jaw, telling myself that they could handle themselves, but I already knew there would be many casualties.
Gabriel and Raphael took the lead, making sure to keep Belial distracted while I flew to the side, searching for the right spot to dive. This was it. The moment of truth. No turning back now.
Jordan’s hand brushed the back of my neck, the spot where my helmet met the chassis, so I’d look at her. She smiled, a gentle one, like the world wasn’t crumbling around her and she wasn’t walking into the literal belly of the beast. “It’s okay. I know what I’m doing.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” I whispered.
She let out a tiny, hoarse laugh. “Because you’re not an idiot. Wish me luck?”
I shook my head. “Wish you victory. Go get ‘im, baby.”
She touched the side of my face and kissed me. The chaos around me melted so that I could only feel the soft touch of her lips. It chased away the last bits of resentment and fear inside me. I knew that no matter what was going to happen, she would give it her all and she wouldn’t give up. That was her strength, her center, what made me love her. Jordan never gave up on anything—not her friends, not her faith, and not me.
She broke away first, letting two last words drop from her lips. “Te amo.”
I returned them to her without hesitation. “Te amo.”
And then we dove into the darkness together.
Chapter 37
Jordan
THERE WERE NO words for how cold the water was when Michael plunged down into it after I pulled on my oxygen mask. I nearly passed out, in fact. Distantly, I remembered reading somewhere how long it would take the average person to die in subfreezing temperatures and knew that I had probably less than two minutes before I would succumb, even though I was wearing at least four layers of clothing.
Michael swam in strong strokes towards the underbelly of the titanic creature, leaving me to cling to his shoulders as he moved. His angelic body could handle these temperatures, but I could already feel my vision starting to blacken around the edges.
Once we were underneath it, I pulled out the waterproof flashlight to help him see where we were. He scanned the area, dodging behind the Leviathan’s massive clawed feet, until we reached the area Avriel had told us about. The scales here were long, flat, and appeared to be a dirty cream color.
Michael tapped my arm, signaling me to let go, so I swam alongside him as he unsheathed his sword from his waist. He shoved it into the flesh between two giant scales and began sawing at the seam. Black blood rushed outward. He kept slicing until the hole was large enough for me to fit through. I wondered if the creature could even feel it due to its immense size.
I took a deep breath, swimming upward. I grabbed the slippery ridges of the hole and forced them apart, grabbing at its insides. I felt Michael’s hands at my waist, pushing me up through the sticky membrane. I could see nothing but a disgusting pink film as I burrowed into the Leviathan’s innards, blindly reaching for anything to grip. My feet hit the edge of the hole and I grabbed the knife in my pocket, cutting through the last bit of skin before me.
At last, I burst free into a humid, murky, place and fell onto my knees, panting because my claustrophobia had started to kick in. I kept my eyes closed until my heart rate slowed and raised my head to figure out where I was.
A thick green fog hung in the air. The lining of the Leviathan’s stomach was a filthy brown color. My boots sunk into it like mud, forcing me to learn how to balance on the squishy surface. I lifted the flashlight, keeping the knife in my other hand, and tried to get a bead on my surroundings. The “ceiling” of the stomach was about twenty feet above my head, capped off with a disgusting puckered hole. I could tell it was the membrane that Avriel had mentioned that cut off access to the throat.
Digestive fluid dripped from the
curved walls around me. I stood on what appeared to be the “shore” of its stomach. I spotted a lake of stomach acid a few feet away. Bare bones and skeletons glistened on the surface—a hideous sight. The state of their decay led me to believe these were its original victims from when it was still active all those centuries ago. It might have had some sort of hibernation survival method. Yippee-skippy.
I checked my watch. I had about four and a half minutes left. Time to get to work.
I swept the flashlight back and forth, scouring the contents of the stomach not covered with green goo. I found nothing in the piles of half-eaten shellfish and miscellaneous trash and cursed my lack of luck. The fruit must have fallen in the drink, so to speak. Perfect.
I walked to the edge of the lake, searching for something to test the potency of the stomach acid. I found half of a fish and tossed it in. Nothing happened. It didn’t instantly dissolve or catch on fire. Not yet, anyway. The stomach acid wasn’t too deep, either—it came up to my thighs.
I heaved a sigh and waded into the abysmal muck, trying not to focus on the sucking noise my body made as it entered the thick substance around me. I breathed deep and began to feel around the bottom, plucking out any object that felt round. Another minute ticked by and I hadn’t found anything yet, much to my irritation.
“Come on, where are you, you son of a bitch?” I muttered around my mouthpiece, tossing aside yet another skeleton of God-knew-what. Just then, my boot hit something solid and I bent, reaching for it. My fingers met something soft, but definitely round. I yanked upward, elated to find the fruit. There were a few holes in it and it was a great deal softer, but the fruit was still in one piece. Hallelujah.
I turned to head back to where I’d come from only to hear a bizarre sound echoing through the stomach. A growl, but not like the kind caused by hunger. Something else.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I couldn’t shake the dreadful feeling that something was behind me. I cocked my head to the side and that was when I saw them. The antibodies. Except they were not giant white blood cells.
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