War Angel Contingent (Everlasting Fire Series, Book 1)

by S. J. West

  “I guess we’ll see,” I reply, just to appease Lady Maya, because I know I won’t have to worry about Manas for very much longer.

  When the time comes for us to go to the arena, my ever-faithful faceless guards show up at the door to escort us there.

  “I have to know,” I say to Lady Maya as we walk down a hallway of the palace, “are there real men under those black body suits or are they androids?”

  “Oh, they’re real enough,” she tells me. “Each of them was caught trying to help one of the king’s wives escape the palace, and each of them lost what makes them a man and the skin that was covering their faces.”

  I gasp in horror, suddenly feeling pity for my captors instead of dislike. I guess what they say is true about not judging people by the way they look. I just assumed they were mindless drones that King Manas controlled, which is partially true, I guess, but they were once men of honor who tried to do the right thing for past queens. I suppose Manas decided that death was too swift a punishment for them. Instead of mercifully ending their lives, he kept them around as a reminder of what happens to people who try to defy the king.

  After what seems like forever, we finally reach the arena on the far side of the palace. The arena is a semi-circle made of the same black stone that the palace is constructed out of. It faces a sandy beach area where the fight will presumably be taking place. Our guards escort Lady Maya and me to the king’s box, which is at the center of the semi-circular structure. Manas sits on a large gold throne, wearing only a pair of brown leather pants and strips of the same leather wrapped around his wrists as arm guards. A large broad sword made from some sort of black metal lays across his thighs.

  “I hope you aren’t too attached to the man I will be killing today,” Manas says to me, keeping his gaze on the horizon like he’s watching something in particular.

  Thunder rumbles through the air like a harbinger of death. I look out across the water and see the dark clouds of a thunderstorm rolling in. Do duels get canceled because of bad weather? I definitely hope not. I wish I had asked Ethan if he can even die. I know the bodies of my mother and uncle can die, but if they wish to, they can move their souls into new bodies and live forever that way. Though, they’re rebellion angels. I’m not sure the same rules apply to War Angels. Besides, I quite like the body Ethan has now. I would hate to see him lose it.

  I look around the arena, but I don’t see Ethan or Anna anywhere.

  “Is it noon yet?” I ask Manas.

  “They have one minute to get here,” he tells me, sounding pleased that they haven’t shown up yet. “Unfortunately for you, it appears that your friends are weak and intend to forfeit the duel.”

  “They’re not quitters,” I defend them. “If they’re late, it’s for a good reason.”

  Just as Manas is about to make a retort, a collective gasp can be heard from the gathered crowd. I return my gaze to the center of the arena and now see Ethan, Anna, Xander, Zane, and Verati standing on the sand looking like they just came from a bloody battle. Obviously, they’ve decided not to hide their ability to phase from the king any longer. All of them, except for a frightened looking Verati, have their weapons drawn. In what remains of the light despite the oncoming storm, their blades glisten with fresh blood. I notice that Anna has a streak of crimson marring her otherwise pristine white gown like a gruesome sash.

  Even though they all look angry, it’s the rage I see within Ethan’s eyes that scares me the most. He looks like a man on the verge of losing his self-control as he stares hard at King Manas.

  “Your men are dead, Manas!” Anna calls out across the distance between them. “What kind of ruler orders his minions to kill his opponents so he doesn’t have to fight a duel?”

  “A smart one!” Manas replies snidely, showing no shame in trying to cheat his way to victory. “Frankly, I’m surprised any of you made it out alive.”

  “There was a pregnant woman in that house, Manas!” Ethan rages. “Your men could have killed her trying to get to me and my empress.”

  “Casualties of war are to be expected,” the king replies, sounding bored. “Now, are you ready to fight me, boy, or do you intend to keep standing there whining?”

  I hear a few surprised gasps after King Manas’ taunt, but all it does is make Ethan look even more determined to teach the king a lesson in humility.

  “I’m ready whenever you are, you coward,” Ethan taunts back while Anna, Xander, Zane, and Verati use a set of stairs on the left end of the semi-circle to watch the fight from a better vantage point.

  The king grips the hilt of his sword and rises from his seat. He eagerly bounds down the steps from his throne to the sand just as the first few raindrops begin to fall.

  “The gods are weeping over your imminent demise!” Manas goads him as he twirls his sword in his hand in front of Ethan.

  “There is only one true God,” Ethan informs him, “and unfortunately for you, He isn’t on your side in this fight.”

  Manas raises his sword and grips the hilt even tighter with both of his hands.

  “I guess we’ll see about that,” the king says before he lets out a guttural war cry and runs toward Ethan.

  Ethan charges forward across the sand as well and easily blocks the king’s first swing, twisting his sword downward and pushing Manas back a few steps.

  “You fight like a child still learning,” Ethan informs the king, earning him a few chuckles from the crowd. “I know a seven-year-old in Cirrus who has better control of himself when he fights than you do.”

  Manas lets out another war cry and attempts to rush Ethan with his sword held out in front of him and his shoulders hunched slightly as he prepares to barrel Ethan over with his maneuver. Even I can tell it’s a bad move.

  Just before Manas reaches him, I watch as Ethan quickly takes a step to the left, leaving nothing but empty air for the king to tackle. Manas’ own momentum causes him to go sprawling across the sand face down, earning him quite a few laughs from his once loyal followers.

  “I would advise you to forfeit this duel before you lose more than your planet because of your own stupidity,” Ethan warns him as he turns to watch Manas pick himself up from the sand.

  Manas uses his sword like an old man uses a cane to get up off the ground. He doesn’t even bother to dust himself off before he attempts to charge Ethan again. I just shake my head in dismay over the king’s inability to control himself. It seems to me that no one bothered to tell Manas that he’s a horrible swordsman. I presume his instructors allowed him to believe he was good, just like the people here let him believe that it was his wives who were barren and not the fact that he is more than likely sterile. In a way, I feel sorry for Manas because it doesn’t seem like anyone has been honest with him his entire life. They’ve allowed him to believe he’s better than he is at a lot of things.

  Ethan easily blocks Manas’ next strike and seems to play with him a bit as they exchange blows. While their duel continues, thunder rolls through the arena, causing the floor beneath me to vibrate with the force of its strength. Anna, Xander, Zane, and Verati make their way toward me and stand in a protective semi-circle around my back as we all watch the fight together. The rain begins to come down in sheets, making it difficult to see the battle between Ethan and the king. Although I guess it’s not exactly a battle as much as it is a lesson on proper swordplay. Manas seems to be struggling as his sword swings become weaker and less exact while Ethan stands strong and looks almost bored by it all. When the rain diminishes in strength, allowing all in the arena to have a clear view of what’s happening, Ethan seems to decide that he’s toyed with Manas long enough. In three quick and strong moves of his sword, Ethan disarms the king of his weapon, sending it sailing into the air and landing a few feet away. With one mighty kick to his mid-section, Ethan sends Manas flying through the air until he lands on his back, causing the other man to grunt from the force of the impact.

  Before Manas can catch his breath or even th
ink about sitting up, Ethan stands over him and places the tip of his sword against the king’s throat.

  “Do you yield?” Ethan asks, loud enough for everyone in the arena to hear his question.

  “I will never yield to someone as lowly as you!” Manas shouts, literally foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. “You’ll have to kill me if you want my planet, because I’ll never hand it over to Earth scum like you!”

  “I don’t want to kill you,” Ethan tells him. “And whether or not you verbally yield doesn’t really matter. You’ve already lost this duel. You’re unarmed and at my mercy.” Ethan pushes the tip of his sword far enough to make a small cut. As Manas’ skin is gradually stained red with his own blood, Ethan tells him, “By the laws of this world concerning duels, when a combatant is disarmed and first blood is drawn, the duel is over and the victor is granted the spoils agreed upon.” Ethan looks up, keeping his blade against Manas’ throat as he scans the gathering of people. “Who here agrees that King Manas has lost this duel?”

  Practically the whole group present begin to cheer. I can’t tell if they’re trying to suck up to Ethan because they presume he will be the next king, or if they’re finally showing their contempt for the old regime and truly welcome the change dethroning Manas will surely bring to this world. Either way, no one in the arena—with the exception of Lady Maya who is strangely mute—seems to disagree with Ethan’s assessment of the situation.

  Ethan looks down at Manas and says, “I officially call an end to this duel and hereby take your planet and your wife as the wager owed to Empress Anna of Earth. I would strongly advise you to take what belongings you can and find another planet to live on.”

  Ethan withdraws his sword from Manas’ throat and turns away from him to head toward the center stairs of the arena leading to me.

  Just as lightning strikes the sky over the ocean, I see Manas quickly stand to his feet and grab his sword from off the sand. Like a man who has nothing to lose, he rushes toward Ethan silently, possibly hoping to catch him off guard and run him through with his blade. Just as I’m about to scream Ethan’s name to warn him of the imminent attack, I see Ethan tilt his head slightly as if he hears Manas’ approach. Ethan’s eyes raise up to look at me as he lifts his sword. In the split second that our gazes meet, I see a mixture of emotions play across Ethan’s face. He’s determined to end this fight, but he also seems to regret doing what he knows must be done.

  With the hilt of his broad sword gripped in both hands, Manas leaps into the air toward Ethan’s back with the tip of his blade in a downward angle. While the king is still in midair, the sword Ethan is holding bursts into blue flames as he whips around and slashes Manas across the gut. In the same sweep of his blade, he continues the gash from gut to sternum.

  Manas falls to the wet sand with the heavy weight of a dead man. As his blood stains the ground around him, the crowd erupts into cheers to celebrate the king’s fall. I’m not sure what to think about their reaction. Perhaps the tyrannical way Manas ruled his people severed any feelings they may have had for their king, or they’re simply a bloodthirsty lot. I’m not sure. Either way, it seems sad to know that no one here mourns his passing. If their reaction is any indication, they welcome it with open arms, even though they have no way of knowing if Anna will be any kinder of a ruler. She will, of course, but no one here knows that for a fact. They seem to be of the consensus that anyone is better than Manas.

  Ethan doesn’t turn around to face me. He simply remains standing beside Manas’ corpse, looking down at it. The blue flames on his sword slowly fade away as Zane and Xander walk down the steps to go to their commander to see what he needs. I see Ethan lift his head and tell Zane something. Zane nods in understanding and begins to walk back up the stairs to me, Anna, and Verati.

  “Ethan asked me to take you home, Jules,” Zane tells me, looking slightly uncomfortable before he says his next words. “He says he doesn’t want to see you right now.”

  I feel as though someone has just stabbed me in the heart.

  “Why?” I ask, hoping for an explanation that makes sense.

  Zane begins to shake his head. “He didn’t say. He just asked me to take you home. I’m sure he’ll explain things to you later.”

  Anna turns to me. “He just needs some time to recover,” she assures me. “Ending a man’s life, even if he’s one like Manas, takes a toll on the one who delivered the killing blow. I’m sure he’ll come to you once he’s processed everything. Just have a little patience with him.”

  I nod. “I understand and that makes sense, but tell him for me that I’ll be waiting in my apartment for him when he’s ready to talk.”

  “I’ll let him know,” Anna promises with a gracious smile.

  She turns her head away from me and looks back at Ethan with a worried frown. I sense a small bit of regret from her for making Ethan fight Manas, but we all know the king needed to be taken off the throne. It was his own arrogant stupidity and dishonorable act that led to his death. If he had simply accepted defeat graciously, he would still be alive now. Yet he chose to attack Ethan from behind like a coward. As far as I’m concerned, he deserved to be gutted like the pig he was.

  “I’ll be right back,” Zane tells his wife, placing a hand on my shoulder and phasing me back to Sierra.

  I soon find myself standing right outside Grace House.

  “I’m sorry I can’t get you any closer to your place,” Zane apologizes. “I’m not even sure where it is.”

  “That’s okay,” I tell him. “It’s not far from here. I can walk there.”

  “I’m glad we finally got you out of the palace. I thought Ethan was going to go crazy when Anna told him we had to leave you there. He definitely wasn’t happy about that order. He argued that we should just grab you and go, but Anna felt that it was important to take the opportunity we were given to win Laed-i and free its people from Manas’ hold over them.”

  “I understand,” I say. “Anna was right to do what she did.”

  “She basically told Ethan that you could hold your own against Manas if it came to that.”

  I let out a short laugh. “Well, I’m glad she had so much faith in me.”

  “Ethan did too, but you know, he still didn’t like leaving you there.”

  “How many men did Manas send to your house?” I ask. “At least I’m assuming they attacked your house since Verati was involved.”

  “Yes, they came to my house. We’re going to have quite a bit to clean up there later. I might have to call in some of my brothers to come help with the pile of bodies. I think Manas wanted to make sure none of us survived, so he sent about a hundred men to get the job done.”

  “Wait a minute,” I say, feeling sure that I heard the wrong number, “are you telling me that the four of you took on a hundred of Manas’ guards and won?”

  Zane grins. “To be honest, it really wasn’t a fair fight. He should have sent more men.”

  I have to chuckle at that remark, which earns me a smile from Zane, but my thoughts quickly take me back to Ethan.

  “He’ll come to you when he’s ready,” Zane says.

  “Am I that transparent?” I ask, feeling somewhat embarrassed and wondering when my thoughts began writing themselves on my face.

  “Caring about someone else isn’t a bad thing, Jules. In fact, it’s one of the best things about being alive.”

  I know he’s right, but it’s been so long since I cared about someone who wasn’t my mother or uncle. I haven’t let myself feel much of anything in the past five years. I’ve allowed myself the privilege of wallowing in self-pity for so long it feels strange to be thinking about someone else’s needs before my own. Maybe it’s a sign that I’m finally ready to let go of my past and find a better way to live what remains of my life. Yet there’s one thing I have to tell Ethan before things between us reach a point of no return. I have to tell him that I’m unable to have children. I know from my mother that God’s plan for the War Angels He
sent from Heaven is to progress humanity to their next level of evolution. Considering that fact, Ethan may change his mind about getting involved with me because I would be preventing him from accomplishing one of his primary objectives.

  “Why don’t you go home and get some rest?” Zane suggests. “You’ve been through a lot the last couple of days.”

  With the mention of rest, I realize that I’m exhausted. Trying to sleep in that chair last night was nearly impossible, and now I’m feeling the aftereffects from all the excitement from the duel.

  “I think that’s a good idea, and you need to get back to that beautiful wife of yours.”

  Zane grins at the mention of Verati. “She and I will probably be busy for a while. I’m sure Manas’ death will cause a lot of fallout that will need to be handled. Anna said she would help as much as she can, but Verati and I have personally dealt with the aristocracy there and know how to deal with them.”

  “Will Anna take the throne on Laed-i, or hand that responsibility over to someone else?”

  “She hasn’t really said anything about that to us yet, but I’m sure she has a plan in mind. I don’t think she’ll let the throne go unoccupied for very long. The people on that planet need someone to follow. They’re not very adept at thinking for themselves, as you might have noticed. I think that’s because Manas’ family has ruled them for so long that the people there have forgotten what it’s like to make choices about their own lives. I know the first thing that we have to do is slow mining on the planet, if not stop it completely. Manas has already harvested over seventy percent of its natural resources. If the planet has any hope of surviving, we have to let it heal, especially the vegetation, or Laed-i will end up being a barren rock hurtling through space.”

  “Don’t let Verati overexert herself,” I say. “That little baby growing inside her will be using up a lot of her energy, especially when she gets closer to giving birth. Make sure she gets plenty of rest.”