by Diem, J. C.
I could feel my rage spiking and I was on my feet and was standing in front of her before they could react. She stumbled back a step then stiffened when she realized she’d just backed away from a lowly human. “You control me?” I said with my teeth bared in something that wasn’t even close to a smile. “That’s a laugh. I will never follow your orders, you egotistical, psychopathic bitch!”
“Is that so?” she replied in profound satisfaction, as if I’d just said what she’d wanted to hear. “Perhaps this will persuade you otherwise.”
Her hands clamped on either side of my head and white hot pain flooded through me. Holy fire scorched me, boiling me from the inside and scouring my very veins. It felt like it went on forever. In the back of my head I could hear the agonized wails of the legion as they were punished along with me. They sounded a lot like the human souls that they’d tortured in their domain.
Even in my pain, I wouldn’t give my torturer the satisfaction of voicing my screams. I kept them locked inside until Hag’s hands were finally torn away. I fell to my knees while Orifice dragged his partner away. “She has had enough!” he said sternly. “Are you trying to kill her?”
I could feel her judgmental stare on me, but I didn’t have the energy to lift my head to face her. “She needs to learn to obey us without question. She is just a pawn and it is time she understood that we are in charge.”
“She will be unable to search for the next portal in this condition. One of us should heal her.”
Her reply was harsh. “No. We will not waste our grace on her. We will let her contemplate the consequences of her actions. When we return tomorrow night, perhaps she will be more willing to comply.”
They left and the door slammed shut. It took every shred of willpower that I possessed to wait for their footsteps to recede before I fainted.
₪₪₪
Chapter Thirty-Four
It hadn’t been that long since I’d been in my mind’s version of the shadowlands, but I was back there again now. Demons were huddled together, shaken by the torture that had scoured through me.
Inside my own mind, I could will the pain and dirt away. I wore my favorite black jacket and torn blue jeans. It wasn’t a conscious choice as far as I knew. They just appeared whenever I was here. It was the same outfit I’d worn on my first trek to hell.
The gathering looked smaller than I remembered and I did a quick headcount. Morax was standing apart from the throng with the other Demon Lords. They looked spooked, but the others were terrified. Teleporting myself over to them, they stopped whispering as soon as I appeared. “Is it just my imagination, or are there fewer demons now?” I asked quietly.
“It is not just your imagination,” Morax confirmed. “Over a dozen servants and soldiers were destroyed by the holy fire.”
I’d wanted to find a way to get rid of them, but this wasn’t how I’d imagined it would happen. They’d started out as my enemies, but I’d come to rely on them. I needed Morax’s help to navigate my way through hell and to battle the monsters that roamed the wastelands.
“You need to escape from that cell,” one of the other lords said.
“I’m working on it.”
“Work faster,” he snarled. “We will all perish if you continue to irk the angel who punished you.”
Every eye was on me. They were depending on me to save them from death. I mentally grimaced that I’d become the savior of a bunch of hell spawn. Even if I hadn’t needed their strength and speed in the underworld, I didn’t think I could just let Hagith fry them to death.
I hated to admit it, but they’d grown on me. Trapped inside my head, they were harmless, unlike their free brethren. Maybe that was why I’d had such a hard time killing the demons that had been imprisoned inside the gigantic aquatic snake in the seventh realm. They’d been so miserable that they’d asked me to kill them and I’d complied. I could see Morax and the rest of the legion being just as pathetic one day.
“I’m going to escape, one way or another,” I said grimly.
Morax held my eye for a long moment then nodded. “You are strong, Hellscourge. You will succeed.”
His confidence boosted mine and I forced myself to wake up. I’d only been out for a short while and my body still shuddered from the aftermath of being tortured. I’d been sure that the trauma would bring Nathan to my rescue, but he was still absent. The angels must have warded the place so heavily that he couldn’t track any of them by their bracelets or other spells.
I didn’t have the strength to walk, so I crawled over to the jug of water. I drank two cups down then crawled back to my pallet. Leaning against the wall, I drew my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I put my head on my knees and waited for the shock to wear off.
Someone approached a few minutes later. I didn’t look up to see who it was. They paused to look in through the window then left. By the third time they’d come to check on me, I was feeling better. It hurt like hell to be zapped with holy fire, but it had unintended benefits. It pushed back the Wraith Warrior’s toxin and recharged my batteries. I felt stronger and more alert now.
As soon as the guard was gone again, I went into action. The first thing I did was check to make sure that all of the runes were still active. I carefully tested each one and they were intact. I pressed myself up against the wall and looked down to see that my feet were the only things that were visible. Damn it! I forgot about that.
I could have painted another rune on the dirt, but it would be risky. If I accidentally broke the symbol, it would be deactivated. Crouching down, I checked to see how loose the soil was. The first couple of inches were soft and easy to dig up, but then it became harder. The plastic cup was the only digging tool I had. I used it to begin scooping out a hole.
Footsteps sounded and I quickly put the cup back in place and rushed back to the bed. I only just managed to duplicate my position when the guard stopped. After a short wait, they moved on again.
Hurriedly digging out a hole that was big enough for me to stand in, I used the hem of my t-shirt to wipe the dirt off the cup. I placed it back on the ground next to the jug then returned to the hole. I scooped dirt over my feet until only a close inspection would reveal that the ground wasn’t quite even.
Praying that this would work, I stood up straight and pressed my back against the wall. I wished Sam was here with me to hold my hand, but I was alone and no one was coming to rescue me this time.
It seemed far longer than half an hour passed before the guard approached again. I kept my head still and watched from the corner of my eye as the same male angel from earlier paused to peer through the window. The shock on his face when he saw only an empty room made me grin fiercely.
He ran back down the hallway and returned a short while later with two angels that I recognized. Domiel and Jeduthun took turns looking inside to verify that I was missing. “Open the door,” Dom ordered and the lackey complied. “Wait here,” he said then motioned for his partner to enter first.
Short and stocky, Dom had dark blond hair and green eyes. His partner, Jed, was several inches taller than him. She was slender, had long black hair and brown eyes. Both were gorgeous, as all angels were to me. Jed strode inside and went straight to the pallet. Dom took a couple of steps into the room then turned in a slow circle. I saw his slight hesitation when his eyes swept over the ground where my feet were covered in dirt.
Standing up again, Jed caught her partner’s eye. He surreptitiously gestured towards my direction and she found the only weak point in my disguise. Her gaze lingered on the ground where my feet were buried. “It would appear that the girl has escaped,” she said, shocking me into letting out a faint gasp.
“Where are her belongings?” Dom turned to ask the lackey.
“They are in a cell down the hall.”
“Show me.” Dom motioned for the minion to lead the way. Jed followed them, leaving the door wide open. I turned my head to watch, but they moved out of sight. I heard another
door open then Dom spoke. “The items are still here. She must have left without taking them.”
“How did she get out?” the lackey asked in a panicked voice. “Our spells ensure that no one but us can teleport in or out of this building.”
“She found another way,” Jed said. “We must find Hagith and Orifiel and advise them of her escape. Do you know where they can be found?”
Their voices faded as they took the stairs upwards. Stunned that two of the angels appeared to be willing to help me, I didn’t waste time wondering why. This could be a trap that would end up with me being punished even more harshly, but something told me it wasn’t.
Before leaving the cell, I filled in the hole that I’d made. They might eventually figure out what I’d done, but I didn’t want to make it easy for them.
The spell on the door had probably been deactivated, yet I wasn’t willing to test it. I slipped out into the hallway without touching the wood then ran to the only other door that was standing open. I found my knife, cell phone and bracelet sitting on a small table. Shoving them into my pockets, I headed for the stairs.
₪₪₪
Chapter Thirty-Five
My heart was thudding hard as I climbed up the dim staircase. The metal door at the top had been left ajar. Wincing in anticipation of pain, I touched it then jerked my fingers back. I didn’t get zapped, so I pulled it open just wide enough to look out through a crack.
Angels were gathered at the far end of a large, empty warehouse. As I’d suspected, I’d been taken to their not-so-secret base. My friends were most likely somewhere nearby, planning on how they were going to storm the place. It would be too dangerous for just the four of them to try to rescue me. They were wisely trusting that Fate would give me a way out.
Just as Nathan and Leo had described, the metal box that held the items I’d retrieved from hell was on display. It sat on a wooden pedestal in the center of the warehouse. Grimy windows let in just enough light to allow me to see it.
Spying an exit to the left, I realized the door was also standing open a crack. Dom was speaking to the gathering, planning on a way to search for me from the sounds of it. Jed stood on the fringes. She turned, saw me peeking and surreptitiously motioned for me to leave.
It was now or never, so I pulled the door open and scurried towards the exit. My luck held and I pulled the door open and slipped outside without being spotted. Seeing the low concrete wall that surrounded the property only fifty yards away, I broke into a run.
I didn’t get far before someone tackled me to the ground. My instincts took over and I pulled my dagger. Scarlet light blazed and the angel’s triumphant look at catching me changed to wariness. It was the same guard who had been watching over me last. He put a hand on my forehead to blast me with holy fire, but I was quicker. I rammed my dagger into his chest, aiming for his heart without thinking about the consequences. His expression of horror matched mine as he looked down at the wound. His eyes were terrified and pleading, but it was too late to undo this.
“I’m sorry,” I said in self-loathing then yanked my dagger out. Instead of being oily and black like a demon’s, his soul was white and pure. I couldn’t stop my tears from falling as he was drawn inside me.
I felt hands grab me by the shoulders, but I couldn’t stop myself from being teleported away. I was too lost in the memories of the angel. His name was Raziel and he was one of God’s soldiers. Instead of the death and dismemberment that I saw from the demons, his memories were of peace and love. He’d spent untold eons worshipping his creator. He’d never wavered even when Lucifer started spreading his insidious treason. He’d fought the rebels and had watched them fall with satisfaction.
Raziel had been on Earth on a mission when the gates of heaven had become locked. He’d heard the rumors that the final battle between demons and angels would be in New York and had come to lend his aid. Now he was trapped here and he had no faith whatsoever that I would prevail against the hordes of hell. Hagith had been the one who was instrumental in speaking against me. She had them all convinced that I was a pawn of evil. Raziel hated me with a passion and now he was imprisoned inside me along with the legion.
My vision cleared and I saw Nathan crouched beside me. He was staring in profound horror at the body that he’d brought with us. Realizing that I’d returned to awareness, he met my eyes. “What have you done?” he whispered.
“I didn’t mean to,” I said in weak defense. “He was going to zap me and I defended myself.”
“You stole his grace,” he said in anguish. “You have become what we have all feared. There is no turning back from this.”
“What do you mean?” I sat up and he shifted away.
“Hagith predicted that you would be unable to resist devouring our essence,” he said. “She warned me that this would be the eventual outcome.”
I reached out to touch him and he flinched away. “That wasn’t my intention,” I said. I was nearly in tears again at his accusation. “I just didn’t want him to kill any more of the legion.”
He looked even more horrified at that explanation, if that was even possible. “You ingested an innocent angel to protect the evil that dwells inside you?”
That hurt more than he could have known and I hunched over my knees. “Like it or not, I need them,” I said. “I don’t have any power of my own since my soul is missing. I’m not strong enough to take down the princes and find all of the pieces of the object of power without them.”
He stared at me for a long moment then took a shuddering breath. “You must not tell the others about this. We will have to keep this a secret for as long as possible.”
He’d brought us to the same spot where we’d witnessed two male angels being harvested. He put his hand on Raziel’s vessel and they both sank into the ground where he’d laid the other two celestial beings to rest. Rising out of the soil again, the ground was smooth and unmarked. No one would be able to find the corpse unless they brought in an excavator and started digging.
More pain lanced through me when Nathan didn’t offer me his hand. Instead, he touched me on the shoulder and teleported us to a room that was unfamiliar.
Sophia, Sam and Leo were huddled together on a plush white couch. Seeing us, they surged to their feet and moved to surround me. I felt numb as I was enveloped in their arms.
“Are you alright?” Sam asked when they finally stepped back.
“No. Not really.” I didn’t even try to lie. Everything was a mess.
Nathan sat down on an armchair and Sophia sent him a strange look. She could already tell that something was very wrong between us.
“Did they hurt you?” Leo demanded. “Was Brie involved in your abduction?”
“I didn’t see her,” I replied, avoiding his first question.
“They tortured you again,” Sam said with certainty. I probably looked as shell shocked as I felt.
“I really need a shower,” I told him instead of verifying his statement. I needed time alone, even if it was only for a few minutes.
Sophia saw how close to the edge I was and nodded briskly. “We are in a hotel room and our allies should not be able to find us. It has everything you need, including a bathroom.”
That answered the question about where we were. “Can any of them track our bracelets?” Mine was still in my pocket.
“No. Nathan is the only one who has that particular skill.”
Nodding, I headed for the only other door in the room. With a queen sized bed, small kitchenette, a couch and a single armchair, it was going to be cramped with all five of us.
Closing and locking the door, I used my teeth to reopen the wound on my hand. I quickly drew the silence spell and activated it. Undressing, I climbed into the shower and turned the water on as hot as I could stand it. Then I gave into my heartbreak and began to sob.
₪₪₪
Chapter Thirty-Six
Regaining control of my emotions wasn’t easy. I felt empty after I finished crying m
yself out. I washed my hair and body and did my best to rid myself of the grime that had accumulated during the past couple of days in the cell.
My eyes were red, puffy and haunted when I dried myself off and looked in the mirror. I hung the towel up and looked down at the scar on my stomach. It wasn’t as thick and the tendrils had withered beneath the barrage of holy fire. Being zapped again hadn’t cured me from my affliction, but it had given me some extra time before I’d die.
A robe hung on a hook on the door. Pulling it on, I cinched it tightly. Sophia had brought a few supplies along, including a hairbrush. I used the hotel’s hairdryer and untangled the long strands. It was a soothing process and I’d calmed down a little by the time I was done.
I heard the others whispering when I switched the dryer off. They couldn’t hear anything that was going on inside this room, but the reverse wasn’t true. Pressing my ear up against the door, I tried to hear what they were saying, but I didn’t have their enhanced senses.
Knowing I couldn’t stay shut away forever, I opened the door. Their conversation broke off and Sophia gave me a welcoming smile. “I have made you some tea,” she said and I almost burst into tears again at her simple kindness.
Leo stood to give me his seat and perched on the arm beside me. Sam slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me in tight to his side. Nathan avoided looking at me. I wondered what story he’d told them about rescuing me.
“Can you tell us what happened after Hagith and her cohorts kidnapped you?” Sophia asked.
It wasn’t something I particularly wanted to talk about, but they needed to hear it. In between sips of tea, I told them everything that had happened up to the point where Jed had motioned for me to slip out through the side door.
“That was when I spotted Violet and teleported her to safety,” Nathan said before I could mention Raziel tackling me to the ground and what had happened after that.