Heart of Stone: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Fallen Angel Book 1)

by Leo Romero

  I’m sorry, kiddo, I said to Aurora in my mind.

  I’m sorry everyone, I said to the others. The women, the children, the future I’d condemned to an eternity of darkness. A world of Hell.

  I thought of Lucy and of Mia and my heart began to bleed. What had I done? How could I have been so stupid?

  My head slumped down and I closed my eyes, thunder and demonic giggling tearing through my mind. I was back on the precipice, purgatory awaiting me in all its mind-numbing monotony. One more little push and I’d fall over the edge, never to return.

  While I teetered on the brink, I was distantly conscious of a sound whipping up somewhere at the back of my tender mind. A continuous phut! phut! that grew in intensity as the seconds ticked by. As the volume swelled, it pushed my heavy eyelids open. Out of the corners of my bleary eyes, something big and black rose up from the side of the building like a giant crow. A rush of wind hit me like a bucket of water, snapping me back into life. My eyes widened. Me and Samuel both whipped our heads around to meet the helicopter and its whirring rotors. The side door slid open, revealing the guy sitting inside decked in a dark suit and shades. He threw out his legs so they hung down, his polished shoes glinting under the lightning. He put a bullhorn up to his mouth. “Good evening, Mr. Stone,” came his amplified voice.

  Smith! I realized in shock and bewilderment.

  “Please remain calm. All is under control,” Smith said. Resting on his shoulder was something that looked like a bazooka. With cool, robotic movements, he placed down the bullhorn, aimed the bazooka and pulled the trigger in one smooth motion. Both me and Samuel gasped. Samuel ducked, grabbing hold of me like I was his lover. Like me, he no doubt expected a rocket to come hurtling our way. Instead, a stream of blue spurted through the air like the contents of a paint pot. The stuff arced down over us both and landed right on Beelzebub’s head. His limbs and wings shot outward in reaction, but it was too late. There was a hardening, a crackling sound and in literally seconds, Beelzebub was frozen in place, a blue-gray statue, thin wisps of steam rising off him.

  I watched it happen in groggy disbelief.

  “Time is of the essence, Mr. Stone,” came Smith’s bullhorned warning. “Act fast!”

  My eyes rolled in realization at what just happened. Divine intervention. And I didn’t have much time. I needed to make the most of it. Now. I sucked in a breath, a new strength, borne from sudden hope, flowing into my limbs. In my mind, I pushed myself away from the precipice, determined not to fall into that pit of despair. With a mighty roar, I shoved Samuel with everything I had. With his grip now loosened from the shock of Smith’s appearance, Samuel flew off my back and rolled across the rooftop. I wrenched myself up to my knees, my body screaming, my mind humming with pain. I dragged myself up to my feet, my teeth clamped together. I breathed heavy, my chest heaving. But I still had one last effort to give. My eyes fell down on Samuel’s chain mace, which had fallen from his grip. It still glowed with his light magic. I staggered over to it, almost falling as I snatched it up. Power shuddered up my arm as the gruff voice of Gaark Bloodletter, the orc warlord possessing the mace, growled, “Give me blood!”

  Samuel was getting back to his feet. I didn’t give him a second to think. As he turned to face me, I wiped that snarl from his mug. With a groan of pain, I thrashed the chain mace across the air. The spiked ball smashed right into the side of Samuel’s head. We both staggered to the side. I lashed the chain mace in the opposite direction, the momentum holding me upright. Samuel caught the spiked ball on the other side of his head, sending him reeling back the way he came. Both of us were now teetering, hovering over the edge of the pit of despair. But I was determined not to fall. I raised the chain mace high above my head and brought it down with everything I had. Pain rocketed through me as the spiked ball collided with the top of Samuel’s head. He crashed to the ground, his face slamming into the concrete, the heavy blow knocking him out cold. My own body gave way and I fell alongside him, sprawling on the rooftop, unable to move. My eyes zoned in and out, that big, black lightning cloud dominating my vision.

  “Mr. Stone!”

  The bullhorned voice stirred my senses.

  “Get up, Mr. Stone. It isn’t over!”

  Damn you, Smith!

  I rolled onto my side. Beelzebub was already beginning to crack out of his frozen binds. If he got out, he’d waste me. My eyes fell on Excalibur; she glowed with glorious light.

  One more push, Stone! I snarled to myself. One more! I released a massive groan as I hauled myself back up to my feet. I grabbed Excalibur and staggered over to Beelzebub, my gaze fixed on him. There were tiny web-like cracks all over him, which were growing larger by the second.

  “With all…that is divine and holy,” I uttered, imbuing Excalibur with more light magic till he sang.

  The cracks on Beelzebub deepened. I didn’t have long.

  “Through justice and virtue for evermore,” I said, my determination suddenly strengthening my limbs as I picked up the pace.

  A loud crack echoed through the air as Beelzebub’s wings broke free from the ice. They flapped on the air, twin sheets of fire.

  I sucked in a breath, pulled Excalibur back behind my waist, holding him like a lance. “I banish you back to Hell,” I roared. A massive burst of ice chips exploded outward from Beelzebub as he broke free from his binds. Flames erupted ahead of me. Beelzebub focused in one me. He snarled with rage.

  I kept my own focus. I released a war cry, now running in toward him. Nothing would stop me. “By my righteous sword!” I roared in triumph as I thrust forward Excalibur, my aim true. The tip of Excalibur stabbed through Beelzebub’s heart, bursting out through his back in a shower of sparks and flames.

  Beelzebub shot out a hand, grabbing me by the throat. Searing pain sizzled across my skin, but I held firm. I gave Excalibur a sharp twist and dug the blade in harder. A hot hum filled the air. Beelzebub pulled me in. Our faces were inches apart, our stares locked. His eyes smoldered like lava.

  “We’ll meet again, Stone!” Beelzebub scowled. “Satan will take the Earth! His time of reckoning is coming.”

  “Not on my watch!” I said through clenched teeth. I jabbed harder and Beelzebub doubled over, his grip on my throat loosening. I watched him go with hot angry-love, pity in my heart for such a wretched creature. Flames burst from his mouth as he began to choke. Divine glory began to bloom in my heart.

  I bent down low. “Go back to your master,” I whispered to the fallen creature in my death grip. “And tell him Gabriel Stone sent you!” I twisted and pushed Excalibur one last time and a hellish wail bolted from Beelzebub’s mouth, the din similar to feral dogs of Hell tortured to within an inch of their lives. The sound violated my ears; I gritted my teeth against it. The dying body in my grip began to judder as that demonic soul was ripped from it, to be banished from this world. Its essence swirled and thundered all around me, dark and unholy, desperate to cling onto this earthly plane, but I was determined to send it back to Hell. I held on, twisting and jabbing Excalibur, my senses overloaded with evil as the demon fought for survival. I sucked in big breaths, holding my ground against the wails.

  I gave Excalibur one final jab and that twisted soul could hold on no longer. I heard my name uttered in a hot whisper, “Stone”, and the flames ahead of me flickered out into nothing, their energy zapped. The skeletal remains went limp in my grip. I released it, yanking Excalibur out from between the ribs of a now ashen-colored skeleton. It clattered to the concrete by my feet where it swiftly dissolved into a sizzling foam before forming into crystal residues, the final remnants of a demonic possession. The proof of a demonic kill.

  I snatched a relieved breath, but there was no time to bask in victory. I spun toward the portal between Earth and Hell. Aurora was in the center of it, flat on her stomach in a starfish pose, unmoving. Samuel was out for the count nearby. Those demons were dragging themselves up from the depths into our world. I prayed it wasn’t too late.


  Now with a second wind pushing my sails, I dashed over to the pentagon-shaped portal where I immediately slammed my foot down on the nearest demon head coming through. A disgusting squeal split the night as it went back down. I jabbed a few more with Excalibur’s tip as I made a beeline over to Aurora.

  I grabbed hold of the Helmet of Agony and yanked. It came off with a pop. Aurora’s head flopped out of it and hit the rooftop with a small thud. I slung the helmet away. Without hesitation, I grabbed Hando and pulled him off, slinging him away too. I removed the other gauntlet, watching the ground around me with eager eyes. To my intense relief, the portal began to recede in on itself with each piece of the armor I removed, as did that damn cloud above us. With hope rising in my heart, I grabbed hold of the boots, the leggings, the chestplate and threw them all off Aurora, my hot gaze fixed on her, the portal, the incoming demons and that cloud above us all at once.

  I got the last piece of the armor off and with a grunt, I slung it away as hard as I could. I fell to my knees in exhaustion, my eyes glued to the ground below. That portal was now a small section below me, the outer edge of the pentagon shape it once was scorched into the concrete. A pig-like squeal behind me made my head spin. I watched the portal close in on itself, forcing a demon back down to Hell. Its red eyes flared with rage, just as the portal zipped closed, pushing it out of this world. There was a final clap of thunder and intense flash of lighting. The world went neon-blue. I ducked, facing the sky. That cloud dissipated into the night, the serenity of millions of stars glittering now staring down at the world.

  Calm ensued. Was it over?

  I was too tired and emotionally spent to know. With fatigue rapidly consuming me, I gazed down at Aurora, my chest heaving. She was still. Deadly still. Pain stabbed at my heart. I slipped my hands beneath her and rolled her over, lifting her up into my arms. “Aurora! Wake up! Wake up, Aurora!” I shook her. “Come on, kiddo! Wake up! Wake up!”

  Tears threatened to burst from my eyes. I’d lost her. I’d let her down.

  “Please, kiddo. Wake up. Come on, time to wake up...”

  A sudden cough burst from her chest. My eyes widened.

  “Gabe,” she uttered.

  I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. “You’re okay, kiddo,” I said, squeezing her tight. “You’re okay!” Tears slipped out of my eyes as joy flowered in my heart. I thought I’d lost her, thought I’d let her down. I pulled away from her, wanting to make sure she was okay.

  She met my stare. “What happened to your eyes?” she asked in a weak and broken voice, her own eyes zoning in and out.

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  “Excellent work, Mr. Stone,” came that bullhorned voice from up above. I looked up to see Smith still dangling out of that helicopter.

  I smiled and gave him a thumb up. Thanks, Smith.

  A scream of pain behind me made me whirl. I’d forgotten about Samuel. I was half expecting to be having to face off with him again, but to my amazement, Samuel was no longer there. Instead, he was now inside the Armor of Agony. The pieces of armor were being cajoled and led by Hando who stood to the side, while they forced themselves onto him. He must have come around too late, missed the burst of strength, now it was beginning to drain his life. He writhed in agony as the armor pinned him down and placed themselves over him one at a time.

  “No, no, no!” he screeched as the chestplate slammed down on his torso. The helmet rolled over the concrete toward him and around to his head. Samuel wanted to fend it off, but the rest of the armor was holding him down. His terrified eyes watched on helplessly as the helmet descended over his head like Darth Vader getting his helmet put on for the first time, muffling his protests and screams. Lastly, Hando waved at us before slipping himself over Samuels’ exposed hand.

  I winced as Samuel struggled and squirmed. Even though they were muted, his tortured screams sliced the air in pieces. They were accompanied by a disgusting sucking sound like vampires pulling on veins. My top lip curled up in revulsion.

  “Help me, Stone!” I thought I heard Samuel yell.

  “You’re on your own, buddy!” I shouted back, my face contorted in a snarl.

  Samuel screamed some more in response, that intense sucking continuing unabated. After what felt like an eternity, Samuel’s screams went all gargled, and then stopped. His limbs fell still. Everything became calm for a while, and the sucking stopped. The pieces of the Armor of Agony began to remove themselves from Samuel’s remains. As they parted, a nasty steam rose in the air like Samuel was now a chimney. By the time it dissipated, the armor had fully extracted itself from what was left of Samuel. I winced. He’d been stripped down to the bone like he’d just taken an acid bath. His steaming skeleton, chalk-white, lay on the rooftop, a few surviving feathers from his wings caught between his ribs. I glanced at Aurora and shuddered. Is that what would’ve become of her? I didn’t wanna think about it. Good job the Dark Bearer was made of sterner stuff than old Sammy over there or she’d already be melted mozzarella.

  I hugged her tighter, not wanting her out of my sight again. “We did it, kiddo,” I said to her. “We saved the world.”

  She hugged me back. “Amen,” she said in a soft voice.

  The helicopter landed on the roof and the rotors came to a stop. Smith jumped out of the back and stepped toward us in his robotic march. “Congratulations, Mr. Stone,” he said without even a hint of emotion. “A job well done,” he added, surveying the scene.

  I looked up at Smith and gave him a tired smile. Yeah, it was a good job. But I knew the war wasn’t over. The hordes of Hell would be back. And they’d want Aurora. I just had to make sure they didn’t get what they wanted. Even if it cost me my life. But for now, victory was ours. I looked up at the sky and a single star burned brighter than the others. Mia. I thanked her for watching over me, but I wouldn’t be getting to see her after all. I’d forfeited my day out in Heaven. My eyes fell from the sky down to Aurora once more and I sighed. The sacrifice was more than worth it.

  Chapter 20

  “How did you know we were up here?” I asked Smith once everything calmed down. The divine power was leaving my veins, severe aches and pains now worming their way into my battered body. I lay on my back, the stars glittering in the sky dominating my view. With my angel vision still in play, they glittered and burned in esoteric patterns. Aurora was squatting next to me, a woozy expression on her face. She stroked my arm, which at that moment was kinda nice.

  “We are no fools, Mr. Stone,” Smith replied in a typically neutral tone. “We had a tracking device applied to the armor in case of such a scenario becoming a reality.”

  I frowned. “Then why’d it take you so long to get up here?”

  “Unfortunately red tape hinders even us. By the time we got the helicopter arranged and found a pilot and signed it all off, our two friends had already begun their ritual. Besides, we thought you’d have things under control.”

  I cleared my throat. “I did,” I said in a deepened voice. “I was just playing with them.” Just then, I had a prolonged blink and my vision went back to being sucky again. Human sucky that is. I rubbed my eyes and looked around.

  “Your eyes are like normal,” Aurora told me.

  I rolled over. “How’s my back?”

  Her fingertips touched the places where my wings had sprouted out. I winced at the soreness.

  “I think it’ll leave a scar.”

  “It already did,” I said with a sigh and rolled onto my back once more.

  “We thank you for your efforts in thwarting the destruction of the Earth,” Smith said.

  I flipped my hand on the air. “Ah, it was nothing.”

  “Now, it’s back to business.” He rubbed his hands. “Could you please gather the pieces of the armor?” he asked his subordinates who’d come up there with him. I scanned the roof. The various pieces of the armor were scattered around, scuttling this way and that. The Dark Suits went to pick them up. On seeing them, the pieces of
armor scampered away. A cartoon chase then ensued with serious-looking guys in dark suits chasing itty-bitty pieces of demon armor around the rooftop of the tallest skyscraper in Chicago. I laughed to myself.

  Aurora joined in. “Thanks, Gabe. For coming after me,” she said.

  “See, I’m not that much of an asshole after all.”

  She giggled. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.”

  I threw a soft punch her way, purposely missing. She let out another giggle.

  My grin melted. “Hey, I’m sorry about Qu-Qu-Qu—”

  “Quvoxyzharé.”

  “Right. Her. But, if Crustus didn’t get her, then I wouldn’t have found you.”

  “And Frogface might’ve won me in that game of cards.”

  “Exactamundo.”

  “I wouldn’t have found out about my father, either.”

  “Funny how things work out.”

  “Almost like it’s scripted.”

  I rolled my eyes up to the sky. Those stars glittered down on us. “Yeah, the Big Kahuna sure does work in mysterious ways.”

  Something began tugging at my pants. I glanced down from the glory of Heaven to see Hando trying to get my attention. “Hey, buddy,” I said and Hando waved. He cocked his thumb behind him and down and I realized he was trying to say ‘Me’. He then pointed his index finger at me.

  “Me? And you?” I asked him.

  He gave me the A-okay sign.

  “You want to come with me?” I asked. He gave me a thumb up.

  I sighed, my gaze falling on Smith, who was busy cajoling his guys into chasing pieces of armor forged in Hell. “I dunno about that, buddy. Smith’s pretty keen on getting you all back.”

  Hando waved briskly as if to say, ‘no!’

  I sighed again. “All right, I’ll see what I can do.” Hando playfully hopped up and down on his fingertips. I turned toward Smith. “Hey, Smith.”

  Smith’s head turned my way creepily slow.

  “Listen, me and the hand have sorta grown attached. How about you let me keep him?”