Angel of Darkness Books 1-5

by Mackenzie Morris

  Oviel scoffed. "No one cares what happens to that traitor. Jaylen should have died in the fort."

  "Am I hearing this from you? You, of all people? Haven't you seen the books in Heaven? Jaylen's name appeared on all of them. Why?"

  Oviel went up to the bars. "What are you talking about? What books?"

  "The ones in the library. Carvael is going insane trying to figure this mystery out. Jaylen Amalas Corrifus has been inscribed on the spines of nearly two hundred books. Guess what was written inside. Nothing. All the pages were blank. So, Carvael had the books destroyed. The next day, he went back to the library to find all the books replaced. And they all had Jaylen's name on them. But inside, more text had appeared. It was a strange list of gemstones, gold, and various amounts of mana and ambrosia. Expensive riches and angel food. Explain that."

  Oviel hadn't heard anything about that. "I . . . I don't have any idea what that would mean."

  "Neither does Carvael. Until we figure it out, anyone who was close to Jaylen is being monitored. We are working on getting Zeriel down here as well. I'm sure there are so many interesting intimate details that we will be able to get out of Zeriel about his little paladin."

  "I thought you and Jaylen were close."

  "We are. This doesn't change anything. I still love Jaylen very much. We are courting, you know?" Liaxa asked.

  "As much as I have a score to settle with Jaylen, I will not stay silent as you manipulate him."

  "I'm not manipulating anyone. He asked me for permission to court me. Not the other way around. I'm his girlfriend."

  Oviel turned his back to her. "Get out of my face. You disgust me. All you demons are the same. You think you can take advantage of anyone who is weak or innocent."

  "Whatever, Oviel. I have better things to do than to stand here and listen to you babble on about things. Bye, Liam. I will see if I can make some pancakes for you in the morning."

  "Thanks, Liaxa!"

  * * *

  Brinx stood next to the bed she shared with the only man she had ever loved while she played her violin for him. She knew how much he loved its soft melodies and crescendos, so she played as often as he liked. Tonight, she filled the cold stone cell with as much music as she could because there was something she needed to tell him that might not make him as happy as her music did. Once she finished her song, she set the violin down and joined him on the bed. "Trevor?"

  Trevor was shirtless on the bed as he applied some ointment to the cuts. "Yes, dearest?"

  "I think I might be pregnant."

  Trevor sat up and stared at her. "What? Are you sure?"

  "I don't know exactly. I haven't been pregnant before."

  "And it's mine?"

  "Who else's would it be, silly? I haven't been with anyone else."

  "Can you even have my child?" Trevor asked. "An angel and a human? I thought it wouldn't work, that it wasn't even a possibility. Has this happened before?"

  Brinx nervously smoothed her pale pink feathers. "Not that I know of. I have studied a lot of history texts, but this hasn't come up. Sola is the only being capable of giving birth to angels and even then, she has to have the help of incubi and succubi to do it. But I have a feeling."

  "Sola help me. If I had known we were in any way compatible, I wouldn't have done it. I would have used some sort of protection or-"

  "Shh. Trevor, it's okay." Brinx moved closer to him and took his hand. "Whatever happens, we will be okay. Don't you want to be a father?"

  "I don't know. Look where we are. We're trapped in some stone tomb with no way to get out. Is this where you want to bring a child into the world?"

  "Would you rather I got rid of it?"

  He looked hurt that she would even bring that up. "No! Never. Not that. I'm just terrified, that's all. Will it have wings? Will I be the father of a little angel?"

  "There's no way to tell yet, darling. It is still very early. I just hope that it all works out."

  "Why wouldn't it? You're healthy and strong. Oh, no. you need more food, don't you? Are you hungry? You can have all my food for the baby."

  She placed her soft finger over his lips. "You're panicking again. Breathe. I was only stating that if it truly is an abomination that Sola does not approve of, it could hurt me."

  "No! I won't let anything hurt you." Trevor stood up, groaning with the pain from the deep gashes that were still healing all over his chest from the injuries he sustained at the fort. He blew out the candle on the side table then leaned back against the wall in the darkness. "I lost my wife because I wasn't there to defend her. I can't lose you as well. I'm not usually a very emotional man, but I loved my wife more than anything. The clergy killed her. They tortured her to death because they believed that she had to have been dealing with demons to kill me. Imagine the looks on their faces when I showed back up very much alive, asking where my wife was."

  "I'm so sorry, Trevor."

  "Sorry doesn't change anything. I wanted to be a priest. I trained to be a priest for years in the Clerical Academy in Ilyan. That's where I first met Jaylen. But if I had known what evils the clergy was capable of-"

  "That's not true. Not every priest or paladin is evil. Yes, there are some in this growing corruption that is taking over the church who want nothing more than to line their own pockets and make the church the way they want it to be. But Jaylen is a good paladin."

  Trevor slammed his fist against the wall behind him. "Jaylen? No. I used to believe that Jaylen was a good man who just got caught up in some darkness that he couldn't get away from. I wholly believed that he had the best of everyone in mind, but I was wrong. I was completely wrong. You were at the fort. You know what happened there. How can you disregard all of that and still claim that Jaylen is a good man? What he did back there was nothing short of evil and traitorous. The blood of all those paladins and angels is on his hands. I hope they hang him for it."

  "Do you mean that?" Brinx asked. "You would have Jaylen die for what happened at the fort?"

  "When a soldier refuses to fight in battle or to step in and help the other members of his squad, that soldier is executed. Why should it be any different for a paladin? If you truly want my opinion, then it should be stricter for him because a paladin, an actual paladin not whatever travesty Liam and I were, takes vows to defend the innocent. Jaylen broke those vows. I have never seen a man who would watch so many people be slaughtered and not do anything to help."

  "He was traumatized, Trevor. Jaylen is sixteen years old. He wasn't prepared for all of that. It overwhelmed him. His mind shut down. Don't blame him. It wasn't his fault. It was Sulstair and Axaniel's fault, not his. A child can't be expected to take on that much of a burden. And that's what Jaylen is. He is a child who has been forced to grow up too fast. You had a nice childhood with your parents and your grandparents who loved you and taught you things. You don't know what it was like for Jaylen."

  Trevor shot an angry glance at her. "Don't tell me what my life has been like. Yes, I had everything I needed. I had my family and I was loved. So what? Even if I hadn't had that, I know for a fact that I wouldn't have turned out like Jaylen. If the government doesn't execute him, I will kill him myself the next time I see him."

  Brinx only sighed and shook her head as she started playing her violin again, filling the harsh darkness with her calming song.

  Chapter 15

  Jaylen's light magic faded into nothing as a sharp pain shot through his torso. He moaned then he grabbed at his stomach. "Sola, help me."

  Zeriel steadied him. "Are you all right? Your light magic is still hurting you, isn't it?"

  "I guess so." He stood up straight and tried to push past the pain. "I will be fine. I just killed my cousin . . ."

  "No. You didn't kill him. You handed down judgment. You did an admirable thing, exactly what a paladin should have done."

  "What was that word that my cousin said as he died?"

  "Karixlesminatim."

  Jaylen picked up his sword
from the floor and wiped the blood away on his pants. "Any idea what it means?"

  "No idea."

  "Angels aren't supposed to lie, Zeriel. Did you forget that or did you give up on keeping up appearances?"

  "My wings are black now, remember?" Zeriel asked.

  "Yes. Just like your soul."

  Zeriel turned to him. "What was that?"

  "Nothing. We need to hurry up and get out of here."

  There were footsteps crunching on the slivers of colored glass behind them. "So, I see we found the traitor responsible for this mess."

  Jaylen's heart jumped in his chest when he saw the red-headed incubus climbing over the rubble. "Gavin! Have you found Xair and his guest? Do you know if they made it out of the city? What about the fires? Did you put some out? Did you rescue anyone? Are Axaniel and Sulstair here? Do they have an army of undead?"

  "Jaylen, I think you need less sugar, okay buddy? One question at a time. Axaniel and Sulstair are nowhere to be found. There are only a few remaining Wolfekin forces around the city. Despite their commander's absence, the Vilyron military took action and managed to eliminate most of the enemy forces, even the werewolves. However, the fire is spreading too quickly to be put out and someone has boarded up all the doors and windows to the royal castle. The royal family is trapped inside. All the siege equipment has been deployed to the front lines of the war, so any trebuchets or catapults that could be used to break down a wall and send help to your family are out of the question."

  "No! I will find a way. Let's go."

  "And what do you plan to do?" Gavin asked.

  "Something. Anything. Hold on. There are catacombs underneath the castle where all the royal dead are buried. If we can get down there, I'm sure I can find a way to get into the castle."

  "Jaylen, you don't understand. Your family isn't in danger from the fire. There is someone actively inside the castle who is holding them hostage. That's why the doors are barred from the inside. It seems that Averin had backup plans."

  He flinched as an explosion rang out nearby, shaking the floor below his feet. "I refuse to give up!"

  "Why are you always so delusional? You can't do anything to save them."

  "What about Stephan?" Zeriel asked. "Is he here?"

  "Surprisingly, no. There has been no sign of him since you came back from Hell a couple of months ago after you killed the archdemon. Knowing him, he is probably planning some awful ritual with a bunch of virgin sacrifices, wine, and beautiful incubi and succubi spectators who are starved for physical intimacy or something . . . huh. Is it bad if I find that a fun thing to do on a rainy day?"

  Zeriel laughed. "You are a demon, after all."

  "Oh, yeah. Cool."

  "Stop it!" Jaylen was fed up with their uncaring attitudes. "My family, the royal family of Vilyron, is being killed as you two make jokes. The king and queen are being held hostage. This is an issue!"

  "What part of there's nothing we can do about it don't you understand? Plus, look on the bright side here. If your entire family is mercilessly slaughtered, then you get the throne."

  "How is that a bright side?" Jaylen asked.

  Gavin shrugged his shoulders. "Your family hates you."

  "That doesn't mean I want them all to die! I don't want to be king."

  "But think of the parties you could throw."

  "Go back to Hell." Jaylen pushed past the incubus then jumped out of the broken window and landed in the mud again. "Zeriel, come on. Gavin, you had better leave me alone. Go back to your Master, your Ata-Lin. I'm sure Xair is missing you. Go find him. We don't want you here. I have an archangel to confront."

  Zeriel pulled him along through the crowds of screaming people as the inferno blazed around them. "Where do you want to go?"

  "I have to save my family."

  From the side streets, two groups of red paladins filed into the plaza, cutting off the street towards the castle. They all drew their swords as Paladin Commander Tyrin rode up on his horse that was bleeding from a deep wound from an apparent werewolf scuffle.

  This was not the time to be doing this. Jaylen made eye contact with the paladins. "Let me through!"

  "Never." Paladin Commander Tyrin pointed his sword at Jaylen. "You are an enemy of the church and of Vilyron. This is your doing, traitor."

  "Are you serious? I am the one trying to stop this! Zeriel, tell them."

  Zeriel summoned his glowing shotgun. "I don't think they want to discuss this."

  A city guard raced up to Commander Tyrin and bowed. "Sir, Prince Averin has been found dead. He has wounds from light magic."

  "No. Sola have mercy." Commander Tyrin signaled for his paladins. "Arrest Jaylen Corrifus. He is hereby charged with high treason and murder."

  Jaylen stepped back. "Don't do this. Please listen to me. You have to go help put out the fires. The royal family is trapped inside the castle."

  One of the paladins grabbed his arm and attempted to secure the shackles around him. "What? Because you locked them in there?"

  "No!" Jaylen pulled away from the paladin and kicked him in the groin.

  Zeriel spun around, sending a volley of shots from his shotgun into the group of paladins. Two fell as others lunged at him. Reacting quickly, he spread out his wings and knocked into them, sending them to the street. "Run! Just run. We will deal with them later."

  "Where is Pegasa?" Jaylen asked as he ran as quickly as he could.

  "Gavin stole her."

  "Damn him. Why? Never mind that. Zeriel, can you carry me? We don't need to go far."

  "I can try. Climb on my back."

  Jaylen grabbed his angel's shoulders as gently as he could and wrapped his legs around his waist. "Go, go! They're coming." He held on to Zeriel as he leapt into the air, barely escaping a shower of arrows from the archers that had stormed the central plaza.

  When they flew over a home fully engulfed in flames, Jaylen heard screaming that sounded like it came from inside. "Down there. There's someone trapped in there."

  "Don't. You'll never get out in time. The roof is about to collapse."

  "Don't tell me what to do." Jaylen let go of Zeriel and dropped down into the pile of straw that was piled up by the front door. Gaining his bearings again, he kicked through the window and crawled inside.

  A woman reached out from under a fallen plank where she was trapped. She cried out to him. "Help me! Get my baby!"

  "I will get you out of here." Jaylen rushed to her and tried with all his might to lift the heavy wood off of her. "Just a little more."

  "No. You're not strong enough. You can't. Leave me and take my baby, please!"

  "But-"

  "No! Save her."

  "Yes, milady." Jaylen crawled through the flames until he found the infant wrapped in a blanket below a collapsed rafter. At first, his heart sank when he saw the tiny girl. He nearly left her there, but she coughed and he knew she was alive. He placed his shoulder against the flaming wood beam then used every scrap of his remaining energy to push it off of the crib. Once he had moved it out of the way enough to slip through the opening, he took the baby in his arms then ran back through the house just as the back half of the ceiling came crashing down.

  On the way out, Jaylen called back to the mother. "I have your baby. I will be back for you."

  The woman was motionless with a large gaping wound to her head where a brick had smashed into her. There was nothing he could do for her.

  "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Jaylen had to focus on saving at least one of them, so he kicked open the flame-covered door and stumbled out into the street.

  A group of bystanders had crowded around to watch, but no one offered to help.

  "Zeriel!" Jaylen dropped to his knees in the middle of the street and placed the unresponsive baby on the stones. "Hold on, little baby. I will do what I can."

  Zeriel landed nearby and joined him. "What are you doing?"

  Jaylen placed his hand on the baby's chest and summoned his light magic. "Savin
g her. Let me concentrate." As he unleashed a burst of light magic into the infant, he placed his mouth over her cold lips and breathed into her.

  "Let me take her." Xair came out of nowhere and pushed Jaylen away before scooping up the baby and handing her to an albino woman with a cloth tied around her eyes. "Amari, she is in your care now. Do not let her die."

  The woman bowed as she began trying to resuscitate the baby.

  Jaylen stood up and wiped the soot from his face. "Who is that? Does she know what she's doing?"

  "Don't worry about who she is right now."

  "Is she blind?" Jaylen asked.

  "Yes. How can you stand here talking when your family is dying? Go!" Xair summoned his wooden staff out of the air as a streak of lightning cracked in the sky and a sudden torrent of rain poured out of the sky, causing the fires to sizzle and smoke more. "I will take care of this. Go confront Carvael before he kills any more innocent people. Go now!"

  Jaylen jumped onto Zeriel's back. "To the castle before it's too late."

  As Zeriel navigated his way through the blinding smoke, he patted Jaylen's knee. "You did a good thing back there. I can't say that I would have been brave enough to have done the same thing. Are you injured at all? That was a nasty fire."

  "I'm sure I have some awful burns, but I can't think about that right now. I can have someone patch me up later." He spotted the glint of gold wings down by the castle wall. "Over there! It's Carvael. Take me down there. I'm going to stop him."

  "You can't fight him and win."

  "Then I'll die trying."

  Zeriel landed on the hot cobblestones and set Jaylen down. "Go. I'll be right behind you."

  Without wasting any more time, Jaylen took off through the turmoil. He jumped over the smoldering planks and shingles from the tops of the collapsed buildings as he ran through the smoke-filled streets. When he started to cough from the thick smoke, he pulled his tunic off and tied it around it mouth. Nothing was going to stop him from at least attempting to save his family or stopping Carvael.