“How did you get in my dream?”
“I needed to speak with you and your Angel army knocked me out. I had no other choice.”
“Talk to me about what?”
“I found a spell. It’s not commonly used because of its—affects. Let’s just say it takes more than it gives.”
“O.k.?”
“I placed it on the Demons I sent for you while you were with the Watcher. When Demons are injured, their bodies return to a realm immediately to heal.”
“Yeah?”
“This spell keeps them from returning. They can fight longer this way. It makes them much more efficient.”
“And?” Keely raises her hands in exasperation.
“I placed it on Mianna and she never returned.”
“If you don’t get to the point real soon, Apophis, I swear I’m going to lose my patience.”
“She knows the spell. If she shared information, we could be up against a lot of Demons that will just keep coming at us.”
“Then we kill them.”
“Yeah, that’s not really an option,” he says scratching his chin. “They can’t be killed either. At least not right away. But they’ll weaken until they’re able to return to a realm.”
“How long does that take?”
“Until the spell wears off.”
Keely takes a deep breath trying to calm herself. “And how long is that?” she says through her teeth.
“It lasts two hours. Give or take.”
“Give or take what? An hour?”
He nods.
“You’re an idiot. What are we going to do?”
“I can deactivate the spell, but it only works on one at a time. We could try slightly larger groups, maybe three or four at once.”
“You can teach us how. If we all do it, it shouldn’t take long.”
Apophis shakes his head. “No, I can’t. It’s a Demon spell. Only Demons can use it. Only you and Asmoday, but I don’t know if I can trust you with a spell like this. I mean, look at Mianna. Who knows how many Demons she gave it to?” He meets her eyes with a triumphant smile clear in his own.
“So, to give us the spell, you want something from us first? What a shocker. What do you want?”
“The thrown.”
“No,” Asmoday spits.
Apophis shrugs and pulls a cigar from his pocket. He rolls it on his bottom lip. “That’s the deal. You can take it or leave it.”
“He wants to be King,” Asmoday says carefully. “He wants us to kill your father and give him reign.”
“If he dies, wouldn’t that go to Apophis anyway? Oldest child of a king is always first in line, right?”
“Not if the King names someone else as their heir,” Apophis says dryly.
“Who did he name?”
Apophis’ eyes drag over to Asmoday. “His prodigy.”
“Asmoday? You’ll be King of Demons when my father dies?”
“Yes.”
Keely shakes her head. “O.k. And who would it go to next?”
“Since I do not have children, it would go to whomever I choose as heir.”
“Then, can’t you choose him?”
“I cannot allow him to have that much control. You have no idea of the things he can do with it.”
“I’m supposed to bring peace, right? So it doesn’t really matter. He can’t do that much damage.”
Asmoday closes his eyes and Keely can feel the struggle inside of him. She takes his hand. “I know you don’t feel right about it, but what other choice do we have? If you don’t do it, we’ll die.”
He squeezes her hand. His eyes brush over her face and he sighs. “I do not have a choice, you’re right.” He glares at Apophis. “All right. Teach us how to deactivate the spell and I give you my word. The throne will be yours.”
Apophis smiles hugely. “Great. Only, let’s do it my way. You offer me the throne and then I will teach you.”
Asmoday clenches his jaw. “You know what? I want to amend this deal. Negotiate, if you will.”
Apophis nods his head tightly.
“I will name you as my heir as long as you name me as yours.”
“And what assurance do I have that you won’t turn around and kill me as soon as I’m King?”
“I pledged my allegiance. I am unable to kill you no matter how much I may want to.”
Apophis smiles. “Agreed. Now give me the thrown.”
“I renounce my claim to the throne, naming in my stead Prince Apophis.”
“That’s it?” Keely scrunches her nose.
“That’s it,” Asmoday says. He looks back to Apophis. “Now you.”
“I name Prince Asmoday as heir to my thrown. For now.”
Asmoday glowers at him. “Show us the spell.”
***
Keely’s eyes fly open as she feels someone touch her.
“It’s just me,” Nick says. “Elijah said to wake everyone up.” He examines her pink cheeks and places his hand to her head. “Are you feeling o.k.?”
It takes her a moment to consider. Her head is woozy. Her body aches. She’s very tired. “I think so.”
“You’re really warm.”
“I’ll be fine.”
The bedroom door opens and Asmoday nods at Keely before he gestures for Nick to come with him. They go back into the bedroom and Asmoday leads him into the bathroom closing the door behind them.
“What do you want?”
Asmoday leans his hip against the sink and explains about the dream visit he and Keely had with Apophis.
“You have got to be freaking kidding me. As if we need another obstacle.” He drags his hand through his hair. “Can you do it? Can you counteract the spell quickly enough for us to kill them?”
“Yes. But my job is to get Keely inside, so it will only be until then.”
“It’ll have to do. I need to tell the others.”
“There’s one more thing.”
Nick glances over his shoulder at Asmoday. “What?”
“In order to get the spell, I had to promise Apophis the thrown.”
Nick grimaces. “Perfect.”
“I planned to give it to Keely, but he would just kill her and take it anyway. It buys her time, but we both know there’s only one way to ensure her safety. The first chance you get, kill Apophis.”
Nick’s lip twitches. “Done.”
***
The bite of pizza sticks in Keely’s throat. She washes it down with water and pushes the paper plate away from her.
“You should try to eat, Keely. You need energy,” Micah says.
“I did try. I can’t.” She bites her lip and stares at her hands. Micah moves closer to her, his shoulder touching hers. “How are you handling all this?” he asks.
She shakes her head and pitches her voice low. “There’s this horrible tug-of-war going on inside of me. Part of me just wants to go get my mom and get this over with. Then there’s this other part that wants to put it off as long as possible. That hopes if I put it off long enough, I won’t have to leave Asmoday behind. I mean, what if he dies? What if while I’m on the steps something attacks him and he needs my help? How can I just keep going? He acts like this is all so simple. Like it’s no big deal, but I feel how angry he is. He feels cheated and I don’t blame him. I feel the same way.” She swallows hard. “He thinks he’s going to die and he’ll be at peace, but I don’t want him to die. And then what’s left? Of me, I mean. He has a piece of my heart and that piece will be gone. And I’ll be left in this peaceful world where everyone is happy, but I’ll be ripped apart. That’s not even to mention that there are two more pieces of my heart out there belonging to two other guys that are helping in all this. How will I feel about them when this is over? How will they feel about me when I’m broken?
I’m so confused and I’m so scared. And all I want is for this all to go away!” She throws her bottle of water. It hits the wall, streaks of water trailing down.
The room goes quiet. All eyes are on her. Keely can’t take it. She stands up, prepared to run—anywhere—but Asmoday is there. He pulls her into a hug and darkness envelopes them. As the room disappears, his lips meet hers, kissing her softly. When she opens her eyes, they’re back on the roof. She means to apologize for her outburst, to thank Asmoday for saving her, but Asmoday kisses her again. His arms tight on her back, crushing her against him. She can taste his tears, salty on her tongue and she knows he’s crying. Crying for her. For them. For what they could have been.
Keely pulls away. Runs her thumbs under his eyes, drying his tears. He catches her hands and holds them against his chest. “You are always my hero, Asmoday. You always save me from myself. What am I going to do without you?”
He pulls her back against him and hugs her. “You will do what you did before me. You will be with Nick, you will go to school, and someday, you will get married and you will have children. Just do not name any of them Asmoday. It is a terrible name.”
Keely feels as if she swallowed rocks. He’s telling her to be with Nick. To marry him and have his children. Right now, her mind is incapable of thinking that far ahead.
“You will be happy again. I promise you that. Nick will make sure of it. He loves you, which is why I loathe him. He will be there for you and you will see it was meant to be this way. Without me around you will be able to remember how much you love him. I want you to know you have my blessing. I want this for you. I need you to be happy.”
She buries her face in his chest. “I can’t promise you that.”
“Promise me you’ll at least try.” He runs his hand over her hair.
“I’ll try,” she lies. Closing her eyes she adds, “Asmoday is a beautiful name.”
***
“I was thinking, there is this thing I am able to do… I can alter my appearance. Look as if I am someone else. I wonder if it may be beneficial for Keely if I double her,” Asmoday suggests.
Elijah and Ramuell consider Asmoday thoughtfully. “It would likely only confuse us more than it would offer her any extra protection,” Elijah says first.
“And you both must enter the stairway regardless,” says Ramuell.
Asmoday nods. He catches Keely’s eye and knows she’s remembering when he shifted to a perfect replicate of Nick. He drops his gaze and clears his throat. “I need everyone to join hands. If we’re connected, Apophis and I can probably move the group as one,” Asmoday says. He takes Keely’s hand and the rest follow until the chain is complete. She looks across the circle at Elijah. He looks proud and fearless with his golden armor and the sunlight on his face. He actually looks like an Angel. Noticing her gaze, he smiles and winks. “Let’s do this thing,” he calls.
Keely closes her eyes.
When they open, she immediately wants to close them again. Her father stands before her, maybe thirty feet away. Her mother lies on the grassy ground at his feet. She isn’t moving. Keely wants to run to her. To make sure she’s breathing. Anticipating this, Nick reaches for her securing her hand in his.
“Have you come to trade?” her father calls to her with a brilliant smile. “Come to me my daughter. Come home where you belong.”
Keely doesn’t answer. Doesn’t think she could if she tried. Her eyes bore into her mom’s chest. If she could just tell that it was rising and falling…
“You’ve shed the blood of innocents,” Ramuell says in a loud, crisp voice. “You plan the fall of the Heavens. You have declared war. You know exactly why we are here.”
“Hello, Brother. It’s been a long time. You look well.”
“I’ve been well. My Father has been good to me.”
“Our Father, Brother.”
“No. Not your Father. Not since you denied Him.”
“As did you.”
Ramuell looks at him sadly. “I repented.”
The Demon King’s face contorts with rage. “You cowered! You betrayed your brother, your child! For what? For a Father who controls you? So you could go home and bow at His feet? You are weak. You always were.”
“My Father gives me strength. I am not the one who stands alone. I stand beside your children,” Ramuell replies. He raises his hands, gesturing to Keely and Apophis.
Her father throws his head back and laughs heartily. “I am not alone.”
Suddenly, dozens of Demons in various shapes, sizes, and levels of scariness roam the grounds around Mount Zion. Moans and growls sound from zombie-like beasts as they wander near the doors. Something large slithers across the ground quickly and a stench fills the air, like spoiled milk and rotting meat. Keely gags and tries to put her hand over her nose, but someone still has it. She looks up at Nick.
“Stay close to me,” he shouts. He drops her hand and pulls two daggers from his jeans. He hands her one and nods to the main doors. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Forty-Two:
Keely pulls the talisman from her neck, gripping it in one hand. In the other she clasps the dagger. She holds the necklace in front of her and touches the first zombie she sees. “Ego expello lux,” she says loudly.
The Demon zombie whirls and slashes a hand at her. Keely throws up her arm just in time. Nails scrape gashes into Keely’s skin. Hot blood seeps from the raw wound. Trickles from her finger tips. It’s so similar to the first attack from Apophis that Keely goes numb. The dagger falls from her fingers. She watches it flip end over end slowly until its point sticks into the ground. She looks back up at the Demon as its mouth opens with a shriek. A ball of light throbs at its chest where its heart should be. Keely recovers from her shock and bends to retrieve the dagger. The Demon hurls itself at her and they both fall to the ground as she shoves the knife upward into its chest. The light flickers and burns out like a flame in wind and snow white salt filters the air.
Nick offers Keely his hand and pulls her to her feet. “Nice.”
Keely shakes her hair watching the salt float around her. “Piece of cake.”
“Just do that about forty more times,” Elijah says as he comes up beside her. He looks at Nick as he says, “That was too close. We have to get her inside.”
Nick nods his head. “Bryon, move in beside her,” he calls. “Lila, behind. I’m taking the lead.”
“I’ll keep the lead,” Keely yells. “I need to cast the spell.”
“I got it,” Asmoday says, moving past her. He slides the sword from the sheath at his belt. The talisman is tied to the wooden handle, dangling just centimeters from his wrist. He holds the sword in front of him and stalks forward. The Angels take identical positions. Ramuell moves to stand beside his grandson. Elijah and Micah walk along each side of Keely, and Israfil places himself in stride with Lila.
“It’s déjà vu, Brother. Only now you brain washed my own children into betraying me,” the King says.
Ramuell glowers at him. “Asmoday is not your blood and none of them needed much encouragement. You need to be stopped.”
A dazzling smile spreads the Demon King’s lips widely. “Then come stop me.”
Lila cocks her gun and aims at the King’s head. His eyes flash to hers before he vanishes, sinking into the ground. He reappears beside Lila. His large fist comes down on her wrist, knocking the gun out of her hand. She gasps in pain, but turns quickly, bringing her leg up and kicking him in the side of the head. Blood beads along his ear and Lila has just enough time to smile with pride before he lunges his booted foot into her stomach. She flies backward with such force her body folds, bringing her fingertips nearly to her toes as she sails through the air. Lila hits the ground and bounces once.
It all happens so quickly.
Ramuell dashes towards the King. Two Demons step in his way. He jumps over
the smaller one, raising his sword. With little effort, he brings the blade down in a sideways motion dismembering the next Demon before his feet touch the ground. He pulls his sword flush with his own chest and kicks off the Demon’s knee as it begins to fall. Flips himself through the air. Lands like a gymnast, his arms coming out at his sides. He twirls his weapon as he runs forward.
Ramuell doesn’t take his eyes off the King as he dips to one knee and places his fingers to Lila’s throat. She stirs at his touch. “Get up Lila. Your job isn’t over,” he says lightly. She takes his hand and he pulls her up. Her hands move directly to her stomach and she grimaces in pain. Ramuell places his hand on her back and nudges her towards Micah.
“I am stronger than you,” Keely’s father declares. “I’m more powerful. You’re outnumbered.” He spreads his arms wide. “You cannot win. I’ve seen it; you lose.”
“You know as well as I do the prophecies are not set in stone,” Ramuell states.
The King laughs. “Yes, because our Father gave us all free will. What a terrible joke. He gives us this gift, but He doesn’t truly want us to use it. When I use my freedom, He finds a way to destroy it. Well, no more. When I sit upon His thrown, all creatures will indulge in their every fantasy. It will be He who bows at my feet and repents. It will be He who pleads for my grace.”
“You’ve gone mad. The centuries spent with Demons has destroyed you,” Ramuell says.
“My Father destroyed me! You destroyed me. My brother. My dearest friend. You turned your back on me. You stood by and did nothing. You let Him cast me into Hell. All because I fell in love? Because I loved another more than Him? Why was that such a sin, Brother?”
“You didn’t fall in love! You coveted what you did not have. That’s how it has always been with you. Always wanting what someone else has. Always needing more power. We were wrong to fall. None of us did it for the right reasons. Our children were proof of that.”
“You deny your grandson? Look at the man he’s become. Strong. Determined.” He nods his head at Asmoday. “He is all the proof I need to know I was right then, and I am right now.”
Dark Calling Page 39