by Darcy Town
***
Barachiel looked at the icy surface below. “There are humans nearing the crater.”
Michael turned to them. “Armed?”
“Some appear armed, but I do not know.”
Michael closed his eyes. He bent light around him and sent an image of himself below.
Three separate human contingents surrounded the giant crater. Local scientists of Greenland were the first to arrive and radio in the strange occurrence. No one had seen a bomb blast or object fall from the sky. When they looked to the stars, they saw nothing but the moon and starlight, unable to see a waiting army of angels.
Scientists from Canada and the United States of America arrived afterwards. The three groups shared notes and spoke in excited and mostly worried tones. The mass of liquid matter gave them strange feedback. The instruments they sent into the mass did not return or send back readings, as if they no longer existed at all.
Michael transmitted his image to the main camp. He did not waste time with pleasantries. As they gaped, he sent a pulse of light through his image. The light, combined with a high-pitched frequency, rendered the humans docile and blank-eyed.
Michael eyed their shovels and picks with distaste. “Kill anything that is not angel or human.” He disappeared from sight, leaving the humans to form ranks blindly in the snow.
***
Berith’s forge had been opened for the Fallen and they stared at the weapons and suits of armor he had covering his walls. Berith lifted a double-ended scythe off its place on the wall. He handed the scythe to Dahlia. “I designed this for you.”
Dahlia took it, felt its weight in her hand. The metal reacted to her and flashed red. She moved away from the others. She thrust and cut through the air, the blades made whistling noises. She nodded at Berith. “I like it.”
He smiled. “It is designed to be wielded only by one, you, it will know what you want, it will seek your enemy’s blood.”
“Tight.” Dahlia swung at a practice dummy and cleaved its wings off without the slightest bit of resistance.
Apple picked a repeating crossbow off the wall. She checked it over and looked down the sight. She set it on the table next to her helmet. She wore the lightweight black carapace of the City Guard. She fastened daggers to her body in every place a dagger could fit.
In comparison to her, Berith was basically naked with only a loincloth and some leather belts to pass for his clothing. He stretched and flexed. He strapped swords to his back.
Dahlia focused on Lucifer as he helped her into knee-high reinforced leather boots. She mussed his hair. He looked up and smiled briefly. He kissed her hand and stood. Dahlia smiled. “What are you going to fight with?”
Lucifer opened his mouth to reply. Berith silenced him with a glare. Dahlia looked between the two. “What?”
Berith scowled. “I made him a weapon, but he refuses to use it.”
Lucifer shrugged. “It is adequate, but I find it lacks a satisfying percussion.”
Andy stretched. “Berith, I want it, please? He won’t use it, but I want it!”
Belial practiced lopping off heads with a pair of katanas. “If Lucifer is never going to use the morning star why not let Andy bash some heads with it?”
Berith frowned. “It is for Lucifer. I named it for him!”
Lucifer shrugged and reached behind a table. He picked up a reinforced baseball bat. “I like this more.”
Berith went red in the face. “That is but a toy, made for sport only! You only enjoy it for the noise it makes!”
Lucifer swung the bat at a dummy’s head; the crack was loud in the enclosed space. He grinned. “I cannot help it. The sound is as a drug.” He took a swing at another head.
Dahlia grabbed the bat mid-swing. She focused and the bat shimmered. It looked the same, but heavier as if made from lead. Its surface had turned diamond strong. Dahlia smiled. “Now it is better.”
Lucifer took a swing at a dummy’s head and pulverized it; the bat still made the noise, but louder. He smiled. “Much nicer.”
Andy looked to Berith. “Please I want the morning star!”
Berith walked to the wall and grabbed it. “Fine, take it!”
Andy grinned from ear to ear. He wrapped his hands around the weapon and looked it over. Covered in runes, the morning star reacted to his touch. Symbols lit up all along the metal. He walked away from the others and practiced swinging it. The spiked club smashed through practice dummies, ripping as it shattered them. Andy grinned. “So awesome!”
Belial looked between Andy crushing with the morning star and Lucifer swinging at things with his baseball bat. “You guys have no finesse. You just like big bangs and a lot of mess.”
“Damn right we do.” Paimon stepped through the doorway. He zipped up his leather bomber jacket and adjusted the goggles on his head. Underneath his jacket, he wore overalls and steel-toed boots. His jacket pockets were packed with blue vials and lengths of wire. He carried a backpack over one shoulder.
Belial eyed him. “What are you wearing that for?”
“You’ll see.” Paimon grinned and set his backpack on an empty countertop. He spotted Furcas searching for a good one-handed weapon. Paimon gestured for him to come over.
Furcas eyed the bag Paimon held with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety. “You have that look on your face.”
“What look?”
“The ‘I have a new science project’ look.”
Paimon grinned and patted a stool next to him. “Give me your left arm.”
Furcas stripped out of his shirt and held up his arm. He did not look at the missing limb. Paimon pulled a wrapped item out of his bag. “Close your eye.”
Furcas closed his eye. Something cold was placed against his left arm. Paimon fiddled with the thing. Intense brief pain shot through Furcas’ shoulder, then pleasure and warmth. Furcas opened his eye. Paimon grinned.
Furcas looked down. Where his limb ended in a stump, Paimon had attached a metal forearm of gears and plate. The device was beautiful, each piece etched with the whorls and swirls that would have adorned his wings, if he still had any. Berith smiled, and Furcas saw his handiwork in it.
Furcas stared at the metal; he wanted to see the other side. His metal arm moved and the left hand turned over. Furcas gaped. He held in his breath and thought about making a fist. The hand responded and made a fist, the metal flexed just as real muscle would. Furcas leapt on Paimon. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
Paimon smiled. “Because I wanted it to be a surprise. Try shifting.”
Furcas changed to Faith, the arm changed too, appearing as a regular girl’s arm, flesh and all. Furcas switched back and kissed Paimon. “You wonderful bastard!” He practiced punching the air with both arms, the left responded just as well as his regular hand.
Berith appreciated his work and nodded to Paimon. “It was a good idea.”
Paimon nodded. “Where is your chemical cabinet?”
“In the back.”
“Thanks.” Paimon picked up his backpack and walked towards the forge. Furcas followed along on his heels. He grabbed a pair of kusarigama from the wall and trailed behind Paimon. The pair drifted out of sight.
Helion ducked into the room. “I have the sylphs and Whitney ready. They’ve been informed of their responsibility.”
Berith nodded and handed Helion a tower shield and a pair of heavy-duty earplugs. “Keep her safe.”
Dahlia swung her scythe and bumped into Lucifer. The scythe came unhinged in the middle and she found herself holding two smaller scythes connected with a length of chain. “Badass!”
Berith grinned. “Thought you might like that.”
Tokala and Celeste were in next. Tokala bowed to his sister. “The City Guard are prepared and armed. They await your orders.”
She nodded. “Good, I will be out shortly.”
Berith eyed Celeste. She wore City Guard armor. He looked between her and Tokala. “Have you fought beside a berserker bef
ore?”
Tokala shook his head. “I have not.”
Berith nodded. “You are ultimately responsible for her safety.”
Celeste scoffed. “I can take care of myself!”
Berith nodded. “Yes, you can, except you won’t be able to feel when you have taken damage. Your blood rage will be all encompassing.” He pointed to Tokala. “You must pull her out when she has been damaged too much. She will fight to her death. There will be no hesitation on her part.”
Tokala nodded, and the pair walked out. Apple kissed Berith’s cheek and followed them, her mind already running through the speech she would give her volunteer force of the Guard.
***
Helion, Whitney, and Jacob were flocked with sylphs, wraiths, and banshee. The contingent flew in the air above the City. Jacob turned to his girls and gave them a thumbs up. Their smiles and giggling nature gone, they looked sharp, cold and biting like the winter wind. He nodded and turned back to Helion. “Can the angels see us when we go invisible?”
Helion scratched his head. “I do not think so, they see sound, light, or heat, and you are just air. Keep your temperatures matching the ambient atmosphere and I would think you would be invisible.”
Jacob nodded. “Good to know.”
Whitney faced the volunteer force of banshees and wraiths. Their appearance no longer bothered her. The banshees floated together in plumes of mist, making the air cloudy. The wraiths were shadows, gray and mostly transparent. Their eyes burned as if lit from within. Their mouths opened to a darkness that sucked in light and life force. One ate a piece of wedding cake, another picked off pieces of confetti.
The temperature dropped and dread crept upon them. Whitney shivered and looked down. The vampires came out of the ground. They stretched and snapped bones, their white skin pulled taut over their skulls. They opened webbed wings and took to the air, joining Whitney and Helion. Their fangs stuck out of their receding gray gums, and their eyes were the color of dried human blood. They smelled like the earth.
Helion smiled at them. “Thanks for coming, guys!”
The eldest volunteer grinned and the dread in the area faded. “We have not been aboveground in some time. We look forward to this.”
Whitney shook hands with those in front. “Paimon says we will have hours of darkness where they are attacking.”
“Good.”
She eyed him. “Do you need blood?”
He shrugged. “From time to time. Why? Will there be any available?”
***
Tracy pulled at Nodin. “What do you mean you are going up there and I cannot come?”
His face was stony. “We are being attacked, and you should not come.”
Tracy snarled. “It is our wedding night, I want to be together! Either I go—”
“No!”
“Then we both stay!”
“I have to go! All of my siblings are going aboveground.”
Tracy shook. “Then let me come!”
“No!” He hugged her. “You must stay safe.”
“I am luck itself!”
“Tracy, you have our next generation to think about.” He looked past her to their sleeping baby. “Satan needs you. The City needs your luck here. If I die, you need to live.”
Tracy slapped him as Apple walked into their suite. Apple looked between the two. “We go to the surface soon.”
Tracy rounded on her. “He cannot!”
Nodin scowled. “Tracy, I must!”
She pointed to her already swelling body. “You got me pregnant again just so I could not go!”
“It was an accident, I did not mean to!”
“Liar!” Tracy slammed her horns into his head. Nodin fell to the ground, his eyes unfocused. Tracy folded her arms. “Sorry, I accidently concussed you! Didn’t mean to!”
Nodin tried to stand. “Apple!”
Apple looked him over. “You’ve got a concussion, little brother, sorry.”
Nodin rolled to his stomach. “Apple!”
Apple grinned. “Mom and Dad want you to stay anyways, you have kids now, chill. Bye!” She slammed the door shut and ran.
Nodin staunched his bleeding head. Satan started to cry. Tracy picked up their baby and rocked him; she refused to look at Nodin.
Nodin stood and winced against his headache. “You bitch.”
Tracy smirked. “Yeah and?”
He hugged her and their child. “I love you.”
***
Monday
The Fallen stood on the Grand Promenade where it met the entrance to the Old Road. The metal gate rose above them. Behind the Fallen, the City Guard assembled silently. Apple stood at their head, her brothers Grendel and Varen at her side. Above them the undead and sylphs circled in the air. The City beyond was quiet and tense, the tenants waiting for destruction or evacuation.
Helion stood with wings folded; a tower shield protected his body from foot to shoulder. He’d pulled his hair back into a ponytail. He had on gauntlets and reinforced boots; the leather and steel came up to his knees. A plain pair of blue jeans was the only other thing he wore. Whitney had painted his chest with a giant red cross.
Belial stayed by his side. She wore an ancient set of armor. One of her first, it was light and tight fitting. She had modified its surface to reflect the light, making it shine white in the gloom. She’d strapped her twin blades to her back. Next to her, Andy stood similarly attired, his morning star secured at his belt. He flexed his arms, making his leather gloves creak.
Berith waited bare-skinned, with barely a wrap around his waist. He stretched and double-checked his swords and his axe. Among the sheaths and straps, Berith had added two Apple-sized footholds.
Furcas marveled at his mechanical hand. Paimon took his other hand and squeezed it. Furcas looked up and smiled. They were outfitted as opposites. Furcas had no top on, while Paimon had his leather jacket zipped up to his chin. Paimon adjusted his goggles. Furcas wore a metal eye patch; black, it matched the weapons at his back. Furcas stood in sandals, Paimon in boots. Paimon wore thick leather gloves with the fingertips cut off. Furcas was barehanded.
Paimon twitched and fiddled with the metal contraption at his back, controls in his hand. Satisfied he took out a flask, took a shot, and handed it to Furcas who did the same. Furcas passed the flask down the line.
Dahlia and Lucifer stood in front of the rest. Dahlia had her weapon drawn; Lucifer rested his bat against his shoulder. The pair held hands and stared at the entrance to the Old Road.
Dahlia squeezed Lucifer’s hand and left his side. She walked to Furcas and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for the years of protection, but our bond is ended.”
Furcas lit up briefly as their connection was severed. “It was my honor, Dahlia.”
She looked to Paimon. “You two, stick together. I can take care of myself now.” She grabbed Paimon’s shoulder. “Protect him.”
Paimon nodded. “I will.”
Furcas smiled sadly at his hands. “I wonder if a parent feels this way when they let their child go for the first time.”
Paimon squeezed his hand. “We’ll find out eventually.”
Dahlia hugged Paimon and spoke quietly into his neck, “Probably soon. Keep them both safe.”
Paimon eyed Furcas. A smile crept up his face.
Dahlia grinned and turned away, retaking her spot at Lucifer’s side. He wrapped an arm around her. They closed their eyes and stayed locked, savoring the moment of calm. Their hearts beat in time. Lucifer kissed her forehead.
Belial hugged Helion. “Be safe.”
Helion smiled into his sister’s hair. “You too.”
Belial held back tears and punched his arm. “This is old hat for me, not even nervous.” She turned to Andy. “Rain check on the dinner date.”
Andy shrugged. “I always like eating after a good fight anyways.” She smiled and he pulled her into a kiss. “We’re sticking together in this.”
Belial smirked. “I’m not the one that
moves in a blur.”
Paimon nudged Furcas. “No leaving me this time.”
“No leaving you this time.” Furcas smiled. He flickered blue and electricity rippled along his skin. He kissed Paimon and bit him on the lip, drawing blood. Furcas shocked him and flew up to the metal gate that held the Old Road open. He pressed his palm at the apex and sent a burst of electricity through the metal; it turned red in the darkness. Letters formed, glowing white, there for the entire City to see.
Dahlia read the inscription that became clear in the darkness. “No cause is lost, the odds never too great. Hope with wild abandon, ye who enter here.” She smiled.
Berith stretched and shifted. His skin darkened to midnight blue, and his eyes lit up like diamonds. His body turned metallic. He flexed, and his muscles moved as if coated in mercury. He pounded a fist into the rock and a web of cracks formed on the ground. Berith smiled, satisfied. He turned and saluted his fiancée.
Apple smiled and saluted him back. Behind her, the Guard saluted them both.
Belial shivered. White light seeped out of her pores. Her hair floated around her head weightless. Her eyes turned silver. She looked to Helion. “Look at me.”
He examined her, fascinated. “Can I do this too?”
She shrugged. “I guess we’ll see out there.”
Andy wreathed himself in shadows. His eyes darkened to slate. He touched the wall experimentally and it aged, turning from stone to sand and dust in an instant. He grinned and reached for Belial.
Belial rolled her eyes. “Do not touch me with your creepy age-hands, Andy.”
He held his finger out in front of her face. “Not touching you. I’m not touching you.”
She glared. “Stop it!”
Paimon blasted the trio with chemicals that turned to ice in the air. He adjusted his squirt gun as the others played with their powers. He sighed as Furcas hovered above his head. “Everyone else gets to go wild with their abilities, and I can do nothing but play with chemicals and toys.”
Furcas swooped in and zapped him lightly. “Well technically you can kill all of us with your violin.”