She heard what sounded like a song and laughter. Clear voices rose and fell in the stale air.
“You see, Lexi?” Ryan’s voice was somewhere behind her. “See how powerful I’ve become? You’ll never defeat me. I’ve got the power of a hundred souls in me. I’m unbeatable.”
Laughter taunted them again, and a howl sounded behind her. Alexa was sucked into a whirl of shadows and swirling shapes.
A blade slashed out in the confusion of movement and cut her.
“Damn you!” bellowed Alexa.
This was all happening too fast. She couldn’t defend herself when everything was a blur of sharp teeth and limbs and twisted features.
The shadows cleared for a moment, and she could see that Hades stood where she’d last seen him. His expression was cool, and he appeared to be gloating. His arms were folded against his chest, and his lips were curled into a smile. He was alone and unguarded.
This was her chance. It was now or never. Her desire to kill the pagan god was so strong that, almost before she realized what she was doing, she gripped her weapon and attacked.
“Alexa, don’t!” Milo shouted.
A belphegor stepped into her path, and although Alexa twisted away, she wasn’t fast enough. A death blade impaled her chest. A searing pain shot through her, and her world spun.
CHAPTER 28
ALEXA STUMBLED BACK AND THREW herself sideways. The demon struck again, but he missed her by an inch. She heard the demon Ryan laugh. This life-and-death struggle was his idea of an enjoyable game.
She looked to see that the death blade that had wounded her was still embedded in her abdomen. Black mist coiled up from the wound and made her choke. The demon vapors stung her eyes and blinded her momentarily. But she wasn’t finished yet.
She wrapped her free hand around the hilt of the death blade and yanked it out. It fell to the ground, and she kicked it away.
Shouts erupted from her right, and she whirled around to see Milo defending himself from the other two demons. He was meeting their attacks blow for blow. He was a truly extraordinary warrior.
“You just never know when to stay down, Lexi,” said Ryan. “Let me give you a sample of my power, of what I’ve become. It’s time I teach you a lesson, little angel bitch.”
Talons the size of kitchen knives sprouted from his fingers. His skin bubbled and cracked, and black ichor spilled from his splitting skin. And much to Alexa’s horror, he began to grow.
His head, torso, and limbs elongated and twisted until he was ten feet tall. She could hear his bones creaking and smell his decaying flesh. The stench of rot and death rose all around her.
“Excellent,” said Hades, eyes flashing in delight, and he clapped his hands together as if he were watching a play. “Wish I had some popcorn.”
The demon Ryan charged forward. He lashed at Alexa, and she screamed as his talons cut through her soft flesh like a thousand hot knives. She began to choke, and the ache in her ribcage squeezed her until she could barely stand.
But then a wave of anger soothed away her pain, and all she felt was fury and hatred.
She lashed out with her soul bade, but Ryan had moved, and her blade only swished through empty air.
Ryan attacked again, and she managed to parry his blows. But every time she blocked an attack, she felt more tired. He was too big, too strong.
She ignored his rotten stink, the hollowness in her ears, and the throbbing in her abdomen, and attacked with all the energy her hatred could provide.
She felt her blade cut through the flesh of Ryan’s arm.
He fell back. His face twisted into something like horror and surprise, and then his expression turned into rage.
Alexa leapt away, but she almost fell. The poison of the death blade had spread, and she knew she was weakening. But she did not give him an inch, even as the poison spread and she began to lose heart.
Ryan charged and caught her on the side of her chest. She heard something snap as she fell backwards, but she was up again in an instant. The muscles in her spine had been twisted, and she had to bite down to stop from screaming.
Before she could block it, Ryan slammed his powerful fist onto the top of her head. Black spots exploded in front of her eyes. Her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the floor. Her head pounded like it had been split in half, and her soul blade slipped from her hand. Liquid poured from her nose and from the top of her head.
This is it, she thought. Ryan’s going to rip me apart. She felt his presence over her, smelled it, but the final blow never came.
She rolled over and coughed out something that resembled blood. She was so tired. The air smelled of the burnt hair from the bodies lying next to her.
“…I won’t repeat myself,” Hades was saying. “It’s over. You’ve lost.”
Ryan stood next to her, and the other demons loomed over Milo with their death blades at his throat. Milo was kneeling in front of them, hunched and panting in a pool of his own blood. His right arm hung limply at his side, and the light of his essence poured from his countless cuts and gashes. His shirt hung in ribbons across his chest, and his spirit saber lay useless on the ground beside him.
But the bundle with the Helm of Darkness was still secure in his good arm.
Hades stalked past the demons and stood in front of Milo.
“Thank you for taking such care of what is mine.” He reached down and took the bundle. Milo didn’t resist.
“You fight bravely,” he said to Milo. “Better than I’ve seen you fight before. But you’re no match for those who’ve recently fed on mortal souls. Even for a Nephilim.”
Nephilim?
Alexa held her stomach and looked at Milo.
Hades saw the surprise on her face and said, “What’s this?”
He looked from Alexa to Milo. “Am I detecting some surprise here? You didn’t know he was a Nephilim?”
Alexa’s throat burned, and she was unable to speak. She felt like she’d swallowed a hundred razor blades.
Hades was chuckling. “This is even better than I could have planned. Alexa, your boyfriend here is a Nephilim—the offspring of archangels and mortals.”
Milo made a strangled noise. “Alexa—”
“You’re a Nephilim?” Alexa croaked. She’d heard the stories about evil giants that roamed the Earth and massacred humans, but she never thought the stories could be true, or that Milo could be one of them.
“Yes,” answered Hades. “Didn’t he tell you? I imagine he hid it from you. The tales of his massacres are legendary. What did they used to call you again? Ah, yes. Tenebris angelus—Dark Angel.”
Milo’s hands covered his face.
“Oh, my dearest little Alexa,” said Hades. “If only you had known who you were standing next to, who you’ve been fighting with all this time. If you knew who he was, you would have let him die in the penthouse in New York. Why? Because he’s not just any Nephilim. Oh no, he’s very special.”
“Milo? Say something.” Alexa looked over to Milo, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze.
Hades’ grin widened.
“My dear, this is the son of the prince of darkness, the son of Lucifer.”
CHAPTER 29
ALEXA WAS STUNNED. She felt like a choking darkness was snuffing out her exhausted flame and eating away at the reckless rage that had compelled her to fight Hades. She felt drained and weak.
Ryan’s reeking breath caressed her ear, her neck, and the back of her head. She could feel him slinking around her, hungry with malice. But her eyes were on Milo.
He wore the same expression she’d seen when Elder Hugo had accused him of the atrocities he had committed in his past. He was much worse than an angel who had simply gone rogue.
Nephilim.
She wasn’t entirely sure what that entailed, but she knew now it explained his unusual strength. She was unable to look away from him. She pressed her palm against the cold floor to steady herself. Her eyes burned. She couldn’t hide the pain in her voice
.
“You’re lying. You’re a filthy liar. Lucifer’s a myth. There’s no such thing,” she said, trying to convince herself that what she said was true. But her voice faltered.
Hades smiled. “Am I?”
He raised his voice, and then he quoted from a source that Alexa only vaguely recognized, “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn. You have been cast down to the Earth, you who once laid low the nations. You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens. I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.”
Hades paced around the hall, examining the contents of the glass cases without any real interest. He turned and met Alexa’s gaze.
“Lucifer exists. Lucifer, the mightiest of all the archangels, who rebelled against humanity and who created the first demons; Lucifer who was cast out of Horizon; Lucifer who started it all…Lucifer. Lucifer. Lucifer.”
Hades looked over at Milo, clicked his tongue, and shook his head. “And now here you are, a guardian angel. Papa would be proud.”
“I’m going to kill you,” hissed Milo.
He edged forward, and the death blades at his throat sliced open the delicate skin beneath his chin.
“Such dramatics.” Hades shrugged.
He sauntered towards Alexa. “Yes, Milo. You see, dearest, Lucifer’s favorite son was the only one with a conscience. Lucifer created an army of Nephilim by breeding with mortal women. His beloved children then murdered thousands of mortals. They were strong, wild, and uncontrollable, the perfect killing machines. After all, their supernatural strength was inherited from the strongest and mightiness of all the archangels. Then his creations began breeding with mortal females and created another generation of male Nephilim. Eventually thousands of wild monsters lived amongst you. The Legion finally managed to put a stop to them.”
He turned to Milo.
“But you were such a disappointment to your father. Weren’t you, Milo?” mocked Hades. “Most of Lucifer’s children were killed by the archangels. All but one, his favorite son, the one who refused to hurt or kill mortals.”
Alexa looked at Milo. Tears streaked his face, and he shook with anger. He looked like he was about to lunge at Hades. But if he moved, he was dead.
“And after his precious son discovered who his father was and witnessed the evil his father had committed, he begged for forgiveness for his sins and took his own life.”
Hades flashed his brilliant teeth at Milo. “Does that sound about right, Nephilim?”
Milo’s nostrils flared. “Screw you, Hades.”
Hades pursed his lips and smiled. “Maybe later. Seems to me that your life is about to end again, Nephilim.”
“Don’t call me that,” Milo’s eyes blazed fiercely. “I’ll kill you myself if you call me that again. I’m an angel now. That part of me died years ago. There’s nothing Nephilim in me, not anymore. I cut it out of me.”
Alexa felt nauseated as she imagined Milo stabbing himself over and over again, trying to rid himself of the monster his own father had created. But she also felt a deep sadness forming in the part of her soul that was left.
Hades clicked his tongue. “You were never just an angel. You can’t change the past. You will always be Lucifer’s son, the devil’s favorite child.”
Alexa’s skin went cold.
“And so ends the famous Milo, son of Lucifer,” said Hades.
He held the helm in his hands lovingly, tracing the edges as if he were remembering it from long ago. Then he began to chant in a language Alexa didn’t understand.
“As my army grows, so shall my strength,” he said after a moment. “Soon I will be strong enough to truly return—and then they shall see the strength of my power.”
“You’re nothing but a burned out greater demon,” spat Milo.
“It’s a shame you won’t live,” Hades said to Milo. “You won’t be able to tell the Legion how strongly my power will grow.”
Hades caressed the helm like it was a newborn child.
“You know, I was rooting for you back then. I saw the potential in you—knew that you had more of your father’s power than your brothers. It’s a real pity you grew a conscience.”
He exhaled dramatically. “The female angel is of no use to me—but you,” he said to Milo, “still have the essence of your father in your veins. I could use that strength. You could become a great ally to me if you join me.”
Milo’s eyes darkened. “I didn’t join my father when he asked, and I’m not going to join you either. The darkness in my brothers was never a part of me. Kill me because I’ll never join you.”
“Pity,” Hades sounded genuinely displeased. “Because war is coming, and you’re on the wrong side.”
War.
Alexa understood now why Hades wanted the Helm of Darkness. He was going to lead an army of demons against the Legion. He would destroy them all.
“Have it your way,” said Hades.
He turned to the demons.
“Kill them,” he demanded and flicked his finger at Alexa in distaste.
CHAPTER 30
ALEXA FELT THE COLD PRESSURE of sharp steel at her throat as Ryan yanked her head back.
“What’s the matter, Hades?” hissed Alexa. “Are you afraid to fight us? Why are you letting your demons have all the fun?”
Hades looked stricken. “Me? Do you know how much this suit cost? Besides, I can’t risk getting hurt. I’m too important.”
The helm in Hades’ hands pulsed with energy as tendrils of darkness coiled around him, and his eyes glowed with green fire.
“These angels grow tiresome. We need to leave. Get rid of them.”
Alexa met Milo’s eyes, wide and fearful—
Ryan wrenched her head back and whispered in her ear, “I want you to watch while he dies first. I want you to see what happens to his precious angel soul. I want you to see how weak your bodies really are.”
Alexa growled. “I’m going to kill you, you bastard.”
“Do it,” ordered Ryan.
The demons drew their daggers and went for Milo’s throat with astonishing speed. But Milo twisted to the side, and their deadly blows only nicked his skin.
For a moment Alexa thought he had gotten away. He was fast, but not as fast as the belphegor that plunged his death blade into Milo’s back.
Milo’s eyes widened in shock as the demon sliced the blade downward through his flesh. The demon jerked the blade out, and Alexa could see the slick reflection of his angel blood. She screamed as Milo collapsed.
Alexa thrashed and kicked as she tried to run toward him, but Ryan had her pinned.
“Milo!” she cried as the other belphegor raised its blade.
The demon smiled as it pushed the blade into Milo’s chest until only the hilt was visible. The demons stepped back and chuckled as they watched the angel crawl on his stomach. Milo rolled over onto his back, and his head lolled towards Alexa.
He blinked. “I’m sorry.” And then his eyes rolled back.
“No! Milo!” Alexa felt as if her voice felt were scraping at her throat.
They had killed Milo. He lay still, and his eyes were closed. He looked just like the dead guard whose soul had been taken and who lay next to him.
Alexa’s rage surged through her like a giant tidal wave. She thrashed and twisted fearlessly as she tried to break free. She jerked her head back and heard a solid crack as her skull connected with Ryan’s face.
He yelled and loosened his grip on her enough for her to tear free. She raced towards the fallen guards who still had souls and appeared to be breathing.
As she ran, she opened herself to the darkness she had tried to suppress. Only now she knew it wasn’t darkness, it was light. Glorious light.
When Alexa touched the scorched skin of the dying men, their
bodies exploded in white light, and a bolt of electric energy shook through her. Lightning sizzled through her veins, but it wasn’t pain she felt, it was delight. And Alexa savored it.
She arched her back, and a stream of warmth spread through her. The dark hall glowed with brilliant white light. What she’d first thought were specters and demon ghosts, she now realized were the manifestations of mortal souls.
Alexa rose to her feet, and the three apparitions stood up beside her. Their souls had overcome the poison of the death blade and had poured their power and strength into her. It jolted through her veins like caffeine.
The soul apparitions turned and looked at her, acknowledging that she and they were one entity. She controlled them.
“Impossible,” she heard Hades say.
Everything after that seemed to happen very slowly. The souls of the three dead men entered her in a blaze of white light. She felt a rush of power, and then, with a clap of thunder, she released them towards the remaining demons.
The spirits shot out through her chest like bolts of lightning and hit the demons. Ryan looked terrified, but before he could react, he and the other demons burst apart in a shower of bloodless ash that fell around Alexa like black snow.
The soul spirits hovered for a moment, and then they disappeared like dew in the morning sun.
She heard a quiet cough and turned to see Milo’s magnificent gray eyes looking up at her. His bloody lips curled into a little smile, and he mouthed her name, Alexa.
She wanted to go to him, but footsteps sounded from behind her. Lance and the archangel Ariel stood in front of a dozen angels. All of them were armed to the teeth, and they were all watching her.
The archangel suddenly looked over Alexa’s head, as if she were watching a nightmare.
Alexa turned and saw Hades lower the Helm of Darkness over his head. A flicker of fury—perhaps even disbelief—flashed across his face. And then in a ripple of darkness, he vanished.
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