“No. My Father found a way to make right what you did wrong. Asmoday is the flower that bloomed despite the spoiled soil he emerged from. You tried to make him like you, but he is too much like his mother. Even your influence cannot change his heart.”
“His heart,” he says the word with detest, “his only weakness.”
“His greatest strength,” Ramuell corrects.
The Demon King gazes steadily at Ramuell. “Not if it doesn’t beat.” He sinks into the ground again coming up behind Asmoday. He reaches for him, but Asmoday has already committed to the jump. As the King locks onto him, they both disappear.
Keely spins in a circle, searching for their destination. Not far from the doorway into Mount Zion the air swirls, kicking up dirt and grass. Asmoday falls to the ground, the King on top of him. Keely burst into a sprint, moving faster than she ever thought possible.
Two people emerge from the doors. One tall and skinny. The other is small and petite. A girl. She stands above Asmoday and Keely’s father as they roll on the ground. Lifts her hands above her head and the setting sun shimmers off something, glaring into Keely’s eyes.
There’s no time to think. Only to act. Keely dives forward, her talisman extended in front of her as she tackles the girl. They somersault over each other, the girl landing on top of Keely.
“I had him, you idiot,” Mianna spits. She slaps Keely across the face and screams with outrage. Her fingers wind into Keely’s hair. “You stupid little bitch. You’re always in my way!” Mianna lifts Keely by her hair and slams her head into the stone steps. “I wish your brother would let me kill you.” She slams Keely’s head back down and pushes herself off her.
Keely kicks out her leg sweeping it at Mianna’s feet. She falls and Keely pounces on top of her. “Ego expello lux,” she cries as she touches the necklace to Mianna’s pale skin. The Demon girl screams and flails her arms. Keely fumbles for the dagger.
Mianna screams again and rolls, putting herself on top of Keely. Using her knees, she pins Keely’s arms at her sides. Keely struggles, trying to work her arms free. Mianna laughs and wraps her thin fingers around Keely’s throat. “We’ll just pick this up where we left off earlier. I don’t care what he says, you need to die.”
A shadow falls over them and a loud sound rings out. Keely is deaf for a moment as something whizzes past her face and hits the glowing circle of light over Mianna’s chest. She explodes in a storm of salt.
Keely turns to the side and shields her face as the salt settles over her. She chokes, coughing hoarsely. Lila grips Keely’s hands and sits her up. She beats on her back with an open palm. “Come on Keel, there’s no time to lie around.”
Keely squints up at her. “What?” she shouts.
“You don’t have to yell, I’m like, right here.”
“What?” Keely puts her finger in her ear and wiggles it. “All I can hear is ringing.”
Lila smiles. “Sorry about that.”
“What?”
“Oh, for the love of all that is holy.” Lila yanks Keely up and turns her back toward the doors. She points. “Go.”
“Where’s Asmoday?” Keely looks to the place she last saw him. There’s a section of dark brown stone soaked in blood. Her heart falls into her stomach.
“He’s already inside,” Lila says. “Your father too.”
Keely concentrates on Lila’s lips, trying to understand her. Lila rolls her eyes and turns Keely’s head. She shouts into her other ear. “They’re both inside. When you get in there, do me a favor. Send that treacherous pig out.”
“Who?” Keely tries to turn and look at her, but Lila grips her firmly and puts her mouth up to Keely’s ear. In a crisp, cold voice she says, “Dustin.” She closes her eyes and adds, “He’s mine.”
***
“Keely, wait,” Nick calls. He ducks a blow from a large zombie-esc Demon and runs over to her. He slips his dagger into the belt of his jeans and pulls her against him. “Be careful.” He hesitates, licking his lips. Whatever he decides in that moment, he doesn’t say. He leans forward and kisses her. One hand cups the back of her head, the other her cheek. The fierce sweep of his lips shocks her senses. It’s full of love and goodbyes.
Keely’s spent so much time concentrating on losing Asmoday that she forgot she could just as easily lose Nick. And now the realization freezes her insides with dread. She could lose them all.
Reluctantly, Nick releases her. “I’ll be waiting for you.” Keely nods numbly. She kicks salt from her shoes with a sickened shiver, remembering it’s Mianna.
“Nick.” Keely takes his hand. “Mianna said she wasn’t allowed to kill me. She said my brother said she wasn’t allowed to kill me.”
Nick stares at her blankly.
“Apophis made it sound as if Mianna turned on him. Like she ran off to share his spell with my father to use it against him.”
“But if that’s the case, then why was she still following his orders?” Nick’s eyes spark with anger.
“Exactly.”
“He set us up.”
Keely bites her lip and looks back to the door. She knows she has to go.
“Go Keely. I’ll take care of it.” He pulls his hand away and nods at her. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Nick.”
***
Nick watches Keely move under the threshold of the rocky building until her form disappears into the darkness. The sun sinks past the horizon leaving him in the dark as well. He glides his dagger out and surveys his surroundings. He finds Apophis languidly revoking the spell on a small group of Demons. He meets Nick’s eyes and smiles.
And now Nick wants his blood.
The smile falters from Apophis’ face for half a second before he plasters an even bigger one on. “I’ve got a few ready for you, Guardian,” he says.
Nick shoulders one of the Demons out of his way while bringing his dagger up quickly into the gut of another. A third Demon tries to flee but Nick throws his arm around its neck in a choke hold and sticks his blade into its spine. He jerks his hand, giving it a small twist and salt explodes against him.
Without hesitation, Nick turns toward Apophis and rushes him. As Nick tackles him, the smile Apophis still wears turns wickedly amused. Air rushes from Nick’s lips in a hiss just as they hit the ground. He rolls off of Apophis, his hand flying to his stomach. It comes away wet with blood and Nick looks at it with alarm.
It takes Apophis a moment to get to his feet and then he’s standing over Nick with his trademark knife in hand. “So sorry about that, but I had to protect myself. Did you mistake me for one of the other Demons?”
Nick looks from his bloody fingers to Apophis’ grinning face. “I didn’t mistake you.” He tries to sit up, but the pain is excruciating. His stomach burns. His body feels heavy. Head dizzy.
“I’m on your side, remember?”
“You’re on your side. Like always. You set us up.”
Apophis clicks his tongue and looks back to the doors Keely entered a moment ago. “She’s a clever one. She knew the whole time?”
Nick doesn’t answer him. His mind whirls, trying to figure out how to take this monster down.
With a shrug Apophis turns his attention back to Nick. “Cute the way she played along. Used me while she could. Smart. But I’m also very clever.” He lowers himself so that he’s squatting next to Nick. His eyes dart around to insure they haven’t been noticed, but in the mayhem, everyone’s preoccupied. “I needed the thrown. Asmoday would never just hand it over, of course, so I came up with a way to force his hand. This puppy dog love he has for my sister has proven quite useful.”
“So you sent Mianna to your father? Had her give him the spell just so you had a bargaining chip? These Demons could just as easily kill you.”
“Not when I cast the spell on myself.”
Nick’s l
ast bit of hope shrivels up and shrinks away. He stares at Apophis in defeat. “What are you waiting for then?”
“Well, little Guardian, either my father is going to kill Asmoday, and I will need to kill my father, or Asmoday is going to kill my father, and I will need to kill Asmoday. I can’t trust anyone else to do it. You know what they say, if you want something done right, yada, yada, yada.”
Apophis plays with the tip of his large blade. He swings it out toward Nick. “How do you want it?” He touches the tip to Nick’s throat. “Quick and painless?” He moves it to his stomach. “Or nice and slow?”
Squeezing the dagger in his hand, Nick takes a deep breath. It hurts everywhere. Even if he can’t kill Apophis, he can at least give him a nice scar to remember him by. He summons the last bit of energy he can find and aims for the same place Apophis left a scar on Keely. He drives the knife into Apophis’ throat and puts his weight into it as he yanks it to the side.
Face white with astonishment, Apophis falls backward. He drops his knife, putting his hands to his throat. Nick retrieves it and pushes himself over to Apophis.
Sputtering and choking. Gagging and drowning in blood, Apophis writhes on the ground. And Nick realizes there are some things worse than death. Like being unable to heal yourself as you slowly bleed out. Like knowing you are asphyxiating in your own fluid and it is your own damn fault. He tucks the dagger into his belt. Leans over Apophis and uses his white jacket to wipe the blood off of his knife. Without a word, Nick turns and walks away.
He makes it twenty feet before he collapses.
The stars shine brightly here. Brighter than back home. There aren’t as many lights to dilute their brilliance. Nick stares up at them trying to ignore the pain ravishing his body. At least he has something beautiful to look at.
His mind flicks to Keely. He wonders if she’s all right. Everything is worth it if she’s o.k. He’s done all he can do. Apophis is out of the way now. He can no longer cause her any more pain. Nick knows she won’t be alone. She’ll have Bryon. Bryon loves her. He’ll take care of her. He’s good like that. In fact, he’s better than Nick ever could be. Bryon never pushes. Never pries. He’ll allow her to be who she’s supposed to be. He’ll never judge her. Keely could be happy with him. She could have a nice life with him. A long life.
And that makes it easier for Nick to let his eyes fall shut.
Forty-Three:
It’s dark here. Keely can’t see a thing. She wishes she had a flashlight. It reminds her of the tunnels of the Demon realm Apophis took her to. She shivers. Forces herself to take the next step. Her ears strain to hear something. Anything. Voices, footsteps. But there is nothing. It’s so eerily quiet. Much too quiet. She doesn’t even hear the shrieks and wails from outside.
“Oh shit,” Keely whispers, as it dawns on her exactly why this place instantly reminded her of the Demon realm. Because it is a Demon realm.
Instead of the terror she should be feeling, the first place her mind goes is Asmoday. He came through first—without her, and yet, the cord stayed intact. She isn’t sure what this means, but she’s grateful.
And now the terror attacks her. Because now Keely wonders if the reason the bind didn’t break is due to the fact that Asmoday is dead. But surely if he were dead, she would know. His death must be able to snap the cord.
Her brain tries to reason with her emotions, but they just won’t listen. Her heart races. Palms grow sweaty. She has to find him.
Keely takes a deep breath and moves forward. She takes careful steps, one foot in front of the other. As she continues on, she reaches out trying to sense Asmoday’s feelings. If she can find his emotions, she’ll know he’s alive. Know how to find him.
The toe of her shoe catches on something and Keely stumbles. Her hands skid across the ground and she stops herself from performing a face plant. She lies in sticky wetness. Panic pushes her up. Hands stretched out in front of her, she rushes forward. Her hair sticks to her and she imagines herself covered in blood.
Asmoday’s blood.
Brilliant blue light shatters the darkness. Illuminates her surroundings. Keely’s eyes adjust and rake over the stone floor. Find a large puddle of blackish liquid, but nothing else. A large empty room. She looks down at herself with a stunned intake of breath. She isn’t sure what shocks her more, that she’s glowing again or that she was right. Her clothes are caked in dark blood.
“No. Please no,” she murmurs. Her head whips around searching. She runs for a door. Shoves it open and moves through quickly.
Comes face to face with her beautiful father. He’s encircled by his own radiant illumination, looking wondrous as his light hair reflects like a halo. Keely can picture the Angel he once was and the image pulls at her heart. Some part of her wants to love him. Wants him to love her back.
He smiles at her, but though it’s a gorgeous smile, something in it is all wrong. Fake. Evil. She takes a step to the side. Tries to look around him.
“Asmoday is perfectly fine. I assure you,” he says in a deep and soothing voice. “And he will stay that way as long as you do one small favor for me.” The Demon King looks down through his eyelashes as if what he is about to say pains him in some way. “I’m sure he told you about the Cimmerian Stairway and the role you play. Do your part and I will release him to you. My Keely, I hope you understand I never wanted it to be this way. I had hoped you would join me and Asmoday. I only ever wanted us to be a family. To be together.” He moves in front of her and her body freezes with fear. Her limbs scream to run, but she forces herself to stay put.
“Regardless of what you’ve been told or what you may believe, I truly do love you. There is still time to join me. You can have it all.” He offers her his hand. “Rule with me my daughter. Love me as I love you.”
Keely closes her eyes. Opens her heart. Searches for a sign of life from Asmoday. A small tug inside her chest answers her. Eyes pop open. Hand floats toward her father’s open palm.
His eyes crinkle as he smiles proudly. “Yes,” he whispers.
***
With a limp to his step, Bryon hikes over to the decaying Leech Demon and plucks his star from its chest. Abandons the one embedded in its forehead. “Would you just die already?” He removes the sword from his belt with disgust and brings it down heavily. Separates the Demon’s head from its body.
Using the sword as a cane, Bryon moves on to the next creature. His shirt is bloody and he sighs. He really liked this shirt. As he lifts the sword and swings it like a bat, he decides at least some of that blood must be his. The Demon falls. Bryon places his fingers to his chest gingerly. It throbs with every beat of his heart. He blames the sword. He hates swords. That’s why he chose throwing stars as his training weapon. Smaller, easier to handle and they actually use a skill. You have to be precise in your throw. He’s sure there’s skill involved with a sword as well, but he feels so barbaric, hacking away at Demons at such a close proximity. If he didn’t have to lift something so bulky and heavy he’s fairly certain he’d be o.k. right now, too, but his stars are practically useless on the Demons with the spell. Stupid freaking enchanted Demons.
“I hate Demons!”
“You’re preaching to the choir son,” Israfil calls with a grin. “But I do love killing them.”
Bryon laughs and shrugs. Instantly regrets it. His chest and shoulder ache with a slow burn. Pain makes him forget his smart ass retort.
“You gonna make it?” Israfil asks. He places a hand on Bryon’s shoulder causing him to wince. “Sorry. We need you a bit longer. Can you push through?”
Bryon nods. Lifts his head high. “This is what I live for, man.”
Israfil nods. “It’s a good day to be us, my friend.”
“If you say so.” Bryon heaves the sword above his head and lets it fly. Slices through the waist of a Demon. It stops short, its legs dropping to one side, its torso to the
other.
“At least we’re not him,” Israfil replies.
“True story.” Bryon scours the area. They’ve done pretty well for themselves. There are at least twenty Demon bodies on the ground, not to mention the several piles of salt. His eyes are drawn to one body. His white suit turning a vivid crimson. “Shit. They got Apophis. Guess we’re on our own.”
“We’re never on our own,” Israfil reminds him.
The simple statement brings Bryon up short. He nods, remembering an Angel stands before him.
***
Lila can’t wait any longer for Dustin to come out. Coward. There are too many other places she is needed. Looking over her shoulder, she notices Elijah circled by three Demons. She reloads, but knows she’s too far away. She’s a great shot, but at this distance, the rock salt in her small, altered shotgun won’t do more than caress a Demon’s skin.
As she runs, Lila aims her gun. At ten feet away, she fires on one. Its head explodes spraying black goo. Moves her hand a little to the left, fires again. Gets a similar result. Elijah takes advantage of the distraction and sticks the last Demon in the side. It stumbles, but doesn’t fall. Keeps coming at him. Elijah curses and hits the Demon in the face with the handle causing it to take several unsteady steps back. He raises his sword again, swipes it across its neck. It clutches its throat and collapses. A low gurgling sounds from its lips.
Elijah’s chest heaves with his quick pants. He nods at Lila. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” she says as she reloads. With a sudden urge to go back the way she came, she turns to find Dustin on the stone steps. Her eyes follow his gaze, resting on her brother’s body and she screams. Elijah is right behind her as she runs.
Dustin doesn’t move. He quietly watches Lila fling herself down beside Nick. Her hands flutter around him.
Elijah presses his fingers to Nick’s wrist. “He’s alive.”
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