Slowly, she walked forward, anticipation building with every step. As the figures came into view, Ardat’s heart skipped a beat. The first man was a stranger, but the second, the second was her Michael.
Remembering the Shaman’s words that Michael had lost his memory, Ardat took tentative steps forward. Restraining herself was one of the hardest things she had ever done. Every fiber in her being told her to rush forward and fling herself in his arms.
Ardat held herself in check as she approached the men. They were both sitting, staring at her as she walked forward. It pained her as no hint of recollection crossed over Michael’s eyes when she stood in front of him.
“Uh,” grumbled the older man sitting next to Michael, “are you lost? Can we help you?”
“No,” Ardat said, not taking her eyes from Michael. “I’m not lost. I’ve come to take him home.”
The old man looked from Ardat to Michael and then back again. “Oh, so you know our forgetful friend here? I’m glad someone came to collect him, but I’ll miss him, to tell you the truth.”
“Do … do I know you?” Michael asked, standing from his seated position.
Ardat nodded. “Yes; can you remember? Can you remember anything?”
Michael scrunched his forehead in thought. His eyes became almost invisible just like they did when he smiled. “I—I don’t think so. I don’t remember anything past a few days ago when Sean here found me naked and wandering the alley.”
Ardat took another step forward, checking herself yet again and reminding herself not to embrace Michael. Instead, she extended a hand.
Michael slowly reached out with his own hand with an awkward embrace and shake.
“Our favorite place was a hill overlooking the ocean. It had this perfect tree that we would sit under and play with the animals,” Ardat said in a whisper.
In that moment she was terrified. As Michael struggled to remember, Ardat was left with the possibility that if Michael’s memory did return, he would not be able to forgive her for her past actions. So much had happened over the course of their relationship. She had done so much that caused them to be at odds. She wasn’t sure how he would react to seeing her again, if he could remember her at all.
“I think I remember,” Michael breathed as he gazed into her eyes. “We—we belong together.”
Ardat’s heart leaped inside her chest.
Michael’s lips transitioned from a slight smile to an open-mouthed gape. He looked past her shoulder as if he could see into the past. “More than that,” he said, “so much more. We’re angels, the war, Ardat!”
Ardat braced herself for what would come next. Michael’s memory returning meant he would either shun her as he had done before for her crimes or be able to forgive her yet again. She wasn’t sure which outcome would pain her the most.
Michael’s chest was heaving up and down as he winced, remembering the events of a near eternity. Without a word, he stepped forward and encompassed her in his arms.
Ardat didn’t care he was covered by a layer of grime. She didn’t mind the odor that wafted from his unwashed clothes. All she could concentrate on at this moment was the overwhelming sense of joy she felt at being held by the love of her life, again.
The moment ended far too soon. Michael gently released her. “But you, you left me in that hole where we found the Shaman and …” Michael’s voice trailed off as he stared at someone behind Ardat.
Ardat’s mind was racing as to how to explain all that had happened since she last saw Michael. She turned to see who Michael was looking at; to her great relief, it was the Shaman.
“Much has happened, Michael,” he said with a smile. “And I will answer every single question you have as soon as the war is won. Your brothers and sisters, Alan and the Horsemen, even Raphael and Gabriel are united fighting against the rising Apocalypse and they need your help.”
Ardat turned to Michael, trying to hide a wince. Yet again, she found herself waiting to see how Michael would receive the news.
Michael slowly nodded. “Well then, let’s go. We have a war to win.”
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four
The scale of the battle boggled Alan’s mind. They were pushing through rank after rank of Sodom’s forces with no end in sight. Vastly outnumbered, the Angelic Army was only able to drive forward through the efforts of Raphael and Gabriel. Now aided by the centaurs, the forces of the Light were pushing deep into Sodom’s camp.
Seeing the Fallen Archangel Gabriel was chilling, whether he was fighting on their side or not. Alan flexed his wings. It felt great to have them back and be at full capacity once again since Sodom had drained him of his abilities. Alan turned to see Danielle with both her hands on Kyle’s shoulders, restoring him as well.
“There you are,” Kassidy said, swooping down on her gryphon.
Alan took a step back from the massive beast. His three dogs, who were still overjoyed at seeing him, gave low growls as the gryphon ignored them and folded his wings on his back.
“I was so worried about you,” Kassidy said, gripping Alan in a hug. “After you sacrificed yourself to save me, I trained so hard to be ready to go get you. I was so scared I was going to be too late and you …”
“Hey, I’m okay,” Alan said, hugging her back before releasing her and taking a moment to examine the Horsewoman of Famine in her glittering armor of silver and yellow. It was hard to imagine this was the same young girl he found running from Trubric. Kassidy looked as though she could take on Sodom himself.
“Seems like you transitioned well. I’m so proud of you.”
Kassidy smiled under the adoration of an older brother figure.
“Well, I think it’s about time we enter this fight,” Kyle said, joining the two. He was already searching the battle area for a weapon to his liking. Angry red energy was swirling around him like a tempest.
Danielle caught up with the group, panting. She looked tired and weak from the energy it took her to restore both Alan and Kyle.
“Are you okay?” Alan asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Danielle said, taking in long breaths. “What’s the plan?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be watching Gabriel to make sure he doesn’t step out of line?” Kassidy asked, turning to look at the front lines that were so far away now, only small figures could be seen in the distance.
“I gave my control brace to Angelica,” Danielle explained. “She and Gideon have it under control.”
“Well, I’d love to stay here and chat with you all about the demon Archangel we have on a leash, but we have a fight to win,” Kyle said, picking up a curved sword from the ground.
“I agree,” Alan said, “but we do this smart. Not just rushing into Sodom’s arms. He knows we’re here. He’ll have a plan.”
Alan turned to Kassidy. “Can you get in the air and let us know what you see? I—”
“What is that?” Kyle’s voice cut into Alan’s orders with a sense of awe and wonder.
All eyes turned skyward. A bright burning red form was growing larger by the second. Alan shaded his eyes against the sun’s rays; it was some kind of flaming bird.
“I think—” Danielle started. “Is that a phoenix?”
No one spoke as the creature grew in size. As the bird landed, everyone gasped. In its talons, it held a person. Gently placing its cargo on the ground it chirped to the gryphon and Alan’s dogs and took a place beside Kyle as if the two were longtime friends.
Alan moved forward, watching the steady rise and fall of a young woman’s breathing. She was alive but either unconscious or trying to catch her breath. Alan knelt beside her, something in him was telling him who she was. A connection he couldn’t explain told him everything he needed to know.
Before he could extend a hand to comfort her, the sound of galloping stopped him. Alan raised his eyes to see a green unicorn approaching almost as quickly as the phoenix had done moments before.
Alan stood back on his heels as the unicorn ran
to stand over the body of the young woman. The massive horse was breathing hard, sweat glistening off its back. With stone eyes, it said a silent challenge to anyone daring to touch its master.
“It’s okay,” Alan said, shushing his growling dogs with a wave of his hand and easing forward. “It’s okay, big guy; we’re here to help.”
The unicorn eyed Alan with a look that said, “I’ll give you a chance, but if you hurt her, I’m going to impale you with this spear I call a horn.”
Slowly it stepped back from over her body. Alan sank to his knees, keeping a wary eye on the unicorn. He gently lifted the woman’s head in his hands. She blinked, her eyes straining to take in her new surroundings. “Where am I?”
“You’re safe; it’s okay. Your phoenix and unicorn brought you to us.”
She looked up, squinting at Alan as her mind connected the dots. “You don’t look like a demon to me.”
Alan smiled despite the situation. “I’m not. My name is Alan Price. I’m the Horseman of War. You … you’re a Horseman too, aren’t you?”
“Horsewoman,” she corrected. “My name is Tracy. I’m the Horsewoman of Disease, but none of that matters anymore.”
Alan could feel the others crowd behind him, listening to his conversation. “Why?” Alan asked. “What’s happened?”
“Sodom’s drained my powers. He’s won.”
Alan felt panic grip his heart.
“And that’s not even the worst part,” Tracy said, her eyes glistening as she fought back tears. “I think he killed Ardat somehow.”
“Ardat?” Alan, Kyle, and Danielle all repeated at once.
“Yes,” Tracy said, “and he has a dragon and the minotaurs need our help.”
Alan was eager to hear the story of how a Horsewoman had found Ardat and fought Sodom next to her; however, the details would have to wait.
“Dragons? The minotaurs are here?”
“Yes,” Tracy said to both questions.
“Well, let’s go,” Kyle said. “Danielle, can you get her back in shape?”
Alan turned to look at Danielle, who was still flushed from her latest exercise in healing. She clenched both hands into fists. “I’ll try.”
Alan knew better than anyone else what they were asking her to do, and he wouldn’t allow it. “You need time to rest,” Alan said as Kassidy leaned down next to Alan and helped bring Tracy to a sitting position.
“There’s no more time, Alan,” Danielle said.
Alan left Tracy in Kassidy’s care as he stood to shake his head. “No, you’ve done enough. After you rest, then—”
“There may not be a then,” Danielle said. “She needs to be with you when you face Sodom. You four are the ones who are important, not me.”
“I won’t lose you too,” Alan said much louder than he anticipated. “Sera died because she tried to help us. Not you too.”
A quiet passed over the group. Even the animals halted in their sniffing of one another to see what was causing the commotion.
Danielle walked forward and took Alan’s hand in her own. “I’m not going anywhere. I have enough in me to get Tracy back on her feet. You have to trust me.”
“But then what?” Alan asked as tears burned his eyes. “I’m not going to just leave you here helpless.”
“We could have your dogs or my phoenix take her back to Artemis at the Temple,” Kyle said in a non-characteristically even tone.
Danielle was already nodding her head along with Kyle’s words. “I’m not a great warrior like you, but I can do this. Let me do this.”
Alan nodded dumbly.
Danielle’s hand slipped out from his own. She walked over to Tracy’s lying form and placed both hands on the woman’s shoulders. The strain it was causing to Danielle’s body was obvious. She winced with the effort as she struggled to return Tracy to a fighting state.
Alan looked away as sweat trickled Danielle’s face and her wince turned to a grimace under the weight of her actions.
Then it was over. Danielle staggered back from her vigil over Tracy then started to fall as her heel struck a rock. Alan caught her before she could hit the ground. “I got you,” he said.
“I knew you would.” Danielle smiled faintly. “Now go; you have Horsemen to lead.”
Alan scooped her up in his arms and took her to his waiting dogs. He placed her on the back of the grey-looking beast and whispered in the animal’s ear. “I don’t know if you can understand me, but if you are tied to me as your master in some kind of way, then I need you to take her to the Temple. Don’t let anything happen to her.”
The animal that looked like a cross between a wolf and a dog whined.
“You two go with him as well,” Alan instructed his two other dogs.
They answered by flanking Danielle.
“Be safe,” Danielle said from her spot on the large dog’s back.
“I’ll see you soon,” Alan said.
---
“What do you mean they have a dragon?” Alan heard Kyle ask as he rejoined his three counterparts.
Tracy was already standing when Alan returned to the group.
“I mean,” Tracy said, “they have a huge black dragon.”
“You mentioned the minotaurs?” Alan asked, thinking of his friend Cratos.
“Yes,” Tracy said, “they tried to help us, but we couldn’t even get close to injuring Sodom. He was untouchable.”
“We’ll see about that,” Kassidy said under her breath.
As they spoke the sky began to darken. Unnatural, ominous clouds rolled in from every direction, blocking out the sun.
“We need to get to the front lines and find out for ourselves what’s happening,” Alan said. “Kyle, Kassidy, you two take the air and find out what you can from that vantage point. Tracy and I will meet you there on the ground.”
Kassidy and Kyle both nodded their agreement. Kassidy hopped on her gryphon, which had bowed low for her to mount, then gracefully took to the air. Kyle’s experience, on the other hand, was far from pretty. “How do I—are you going to bend down for me?” he asked the phoenix, who stared at him with amusement.
Alan hid a smile as he turned to Tracy, who was already mounting her unicorn. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Surprisingly well,” she answered, rolling her neck and stretching her shoulders. “Your friend, Danielle, is a life saver.”
“She is,” Alan agreed. There had been no time for Alan and Kyle to return to the Temple for armor or weapons. Much like Kyle had done before, Alan searched the ravaged battlefield for something he could use.
All around him, the moans of the dead and dying rose to the air. The few angelic healers the forces of Light still had ran to assist their own and also heal and bind their enemies.
Alan’s eye caught a large sword with a shining steel blade and a dark handle sticking in the ground. His hands wrapped around the pommel and he lifted the sword, testing its balance. It would have to do.
“Ready?” Alan asked Tracy as he walked to stand beside her.
“Yep, you want a ride?” Tracy asked, extending a hand to lift Alan onto the back of her warhorse.
Alan lifted both knees to his chest one at a time, stretching in anticipation of the sprint. “I’ll be okay, thanks. I actually would rather run. It’s been too long since I was able to use my speed.”
Tracy nodded and spurred her horse forward. Alan followed beside his fellow Horseman. As the wind caught his hair and the familiar feeling of running faster than any human ever could returned. Alan felt happy for the first time in a long time.
His happiness was short lived. Much faster than he anticipated, the pair reached the front line of the battle. To Alan’s left was the smoking coliseum that had almost marked his final resting place. Someone had started a fire that was now ravaging the structure. Alan couldn’t say he was sad to see it go.
“Burn that mother down,” Rana’s familiar voice said to his left.
Alan skidded to a stop, Tracy f
ollowing in turn. Rana and Bobby were both exiting the crumbling coliseum, torches lit in each of their hands. They were both spattered with blood and gore across their mismatched armor.
“You two staying out of trouble?” Alan asked.
“Always,” Rana grinned, throwing her torch behind her without a second look.
“We were fighting alongside your friends until we reached the coliseum,” Bobby said, also dropping his torch, “and, well, we couldn’t pass the opportunity.”
Alan nodded in understanding as the three shared a silent moment remembering the many deaths that had taken place in the arena.
“So,” Tracy said, cocking her head to the side, “I don’t want to be rude or anything, but you don’t look like angels. Are you guys …”
“Yep,” Rana said with her signature grin. “As if this whole event isn’t confusing enough with centaurs and minotaurs, we’re demons that left Sodom’s ranks and are fighting with the angels. Trust me, this is the last place I thought I’d be.”
“How much further away is the front?” Alan asked. “I thought we were getting close, but I can’t hear it anymore.”
Alan was right. The sounds of battle that were growing louder by the second only moments before were now eerily silent.
“Let’s go find out,” Bobby said, slinging his war mace over his shoulder.
Alan and Tracy slowed their pace so Rana and Bobby could keep up. The four reached the Angelic Army unprepared for what they saw.
Hundreds of angels and dozens of centaurs were wounded in a makeshift area set up with tents. There were so many injured Alan wondered who was left to fight the war. They wound their way through the doctors and angels gifted with the powers of healing, much like Danielle.
Alan wanted to stop and help, but he knew he was best suited to find Raphael and aid in leading the attack. The sooner this was all over, the sooner more lives could be spared. He didn’t have to search long. Just as they exited the triage section, a small group of centaurs and angels were formed in a short line. Raphael and Gabriel were exchanging heated words in front of the men.
The Complete Archangel Wars Series: A Shared Universe Series (The Archangel Wars) Page 71