by Ciara Knight
Boon pushed from the tree and took her other arm. They all knew they had to get to that barrier as fast as possible. If only he had the strength to carry her.
Grace tripped, and they both lifted her upright. They reached the steep rocky terrain leading back up to their entry point. Despite the fact time moved slower outside Herak’s island, he couldn’t stand to be away from Gabby another minute and Grace would never make it. “Listen, Boon. What if you go ahead and lift the barrier imprisoning us, while we stay hidden here? It shouldn’t take long to regain our powers. Once we can fly, we’ll be able to meet at the top of the ridge and then help Gabby.”
They all looked to the sky and saw the demons still swarming around Herak’s cave. They either hadn’t followed or time within the walls of this land had its benefits.
“Once the barrier is down, those demons will be able to attack. Stay hidden. Alexander, if you try to play hero before your powers are restored, you’ll only distract Gabby and ruin whatever plan she has. Trust me. She’s always had a gift for strategy, but a weakness for the ones she loves.”
With a sharp nod, he took Grace’s hand and guided her to the coverage of a large canopy of trees. “I promise. Now, go.”
Rocks skittered down the ridge as Boon traversed up the rocky path. Alexander found some soft dirt and lowered Grace to the ground. He sat and closed his eyes, searching for a connection with Gabby, but there was nothing. After feeling her presence for over two years, it was distressing not to sense where and how she was.
“She’ll be okay. Those demons are no match for the Chosen One. I’ve seen her in battle.”
“You speak of a time Gabby nor I remember. How does a teenage girl suddenly become an elite warrior who saves the world? I know that’s what’s happening, and that Heaven is in control of this, but I can’t imagine how scared and confused she must feel. I want to be by her side, to comfort and fight for her.” Alexander rubbed his throbbing temples. “It should be me fighting and her home safe with her father.”
Grace patted his hand. “You struggled with that the first time around, too. Always thought it was your job to protect her. Looking back, I should have known something was going on between the two of you. It wasn’t until the Roman battle that you became so obsessed with protecting her. One day, you fled the battlefield and raced to her side to heal a wound in her wing.” Grace chuckled. “Oh, she was angry with you. Threatened to send you back to Heaven until the war was over if you pulled a stunt like that again. She ordered Boon to take you back to the field to heal those wounded in battle.” Her words trailed off in an eerie pause.
Alexander squeezed her fingers. “What is it?”
“That was the day she made the deal. She didn’t just send Boon away to make sure you did your job and stop watching out for her all the time. She did it so Boon would be out of the way and she could make her deal with Satan.” The lines on Grace’s face deepened. “She is always strategizing something.”
Alexander sat cross-legged and focused on the pebbles in front of him. If he caught a glimpse of her in trouble, he wouldn’t be able to remain in hiding. He sat, waiting for a loud noise, swirling lights, or some sort of spectacle to occur when Boon opened the door to the outside world. He felt nothing, heard nothing. Only the oppressive silence and a single bird’s song.
A bird’s song?
He jerked upright. “Grace, can you feel your wings?” Grinning, he sighed at the internal soft brush of his wings waiting for release. The burn in his biceps eased and his muscles tightened.
Boon slid quickly down the side of the ridge toward them. A demon swooped low with talons open to snatch Boon, but missed as Boon dropped to his knees and tumbled over rocks and roots until he landed at the tree line.
Alexander jumped from the ground and ran to help him. The fatigue in his legs had subsided, or else adrenaline had taken over. He grasped Boon’s hand and pulled him to the shadows. The winged creature looped upward, its dragon-like snout blowing steam. Its wings flapped several times as it hovered above the canopy.
Alexander scanned Boon’s wounds, but his energy didn’t surface to heal him.
Boon grinned. “Just cuts and bruises. No need.”
Grace marched to them, with a visible difference in her strength. “You okay?”
“Yes.” Boon sat up on his knees and looked up, squinting to see through the leaves.
A rumble echoed at their feet and the demon dove through the branches, squealing. Two more creatures swooped in, surrounding them. A tail swiped from above and shredded several branches, clearing a path for the other one to get through. It clamped a branch in its teeth and shook it until it cracked in half. Hungry, dark eyes glared down.
Alexander concentrated on releasing his wings, but there was no response. He scanned the area for a weapon. If only he had one of Bruce’s semi-automatics, he could buy them some time.
The beast broke through the last few branches and dove. Alexander stumbled out of the way, his hand slid on a jagged edge. The creature circled for another pass, Alexander grabbed the jagged rock and threw it as hard as he could. It smacked the demon’s head, and sent it spinning into the trees. The other creature zoomed around the treetops then glided between two large gnarled tree trunks.
Alexander searched for another rock, but the winged monster was too fast. A branch swung in front of his face and slammed into the demon, sending it back several feet. Then Grace lifted the branch over her other shoulder, readying herself for another attack.
The beast Alexander had hit with the rock recovered quickly and flipped over a lower branch, launching toward Boon. Grace swung and caught its neck between two branches. It screeched and flailed. Tan and brown stripes ran down its cheek. Gray coated its skin, its dark eyes warning of its rage.
From above them, a scream echoed. “Gabby?”
“Not yet, son. You don’t have full strength. You’d be a liability,” Grace warned.
The creatures disappeared from sight and returned to the mountain peak to attack Gabby.
He couldn’t stand here, helpless, while she was slaughtered by these evil beasts.
Boon’s wings shot out in a glory of black power. Strips of cloth ripped from his body and settled on the dusty ground.
“It’s my duty to protect her. Not yours, healer.” He shot through the trees, leaves raining down in his wake.
Grace reached Alexander’s side and they watched Boon speed to the mountain peak. “Relax. You’re trying too hard, Alexander. Close your eyes and think of something calming, happy.”
He shut his eyes and forced all thoughts of failing Gabby from his mind. He envisioned happy times with her. With all the demonic possessions, alcoholism, and betrayal, there weren’t as many as there should have been. But then he recalled their night together, in her bedroom where he’d shared a piece of his soul and felt hers in return. The memory of soft skin, body heat, and kisses warmed his insides. To be back in her arms again.
His wings pushed against bone and skin until they finally released and he sighed in relief.
Grace smiled, her wings spread wide. “Let’s go.”
Without another word, he jumped from the ground and flew to the swarm of minions hovering in the sky. Sensing their presence, the back line swirled around to face them. Pungent odors of death and high-pitched screeches assaulted him. Tails coiled over their bodies, like a scorpion ready to strike. He swallowed hard and plowed through them like a linebacker. They rolled off him then flew around to face him again.
Razor sharp fangs punctured his forearm. He punched it in the forehead with his other hand and it released its grip.
Grace had one by its tail and arm, fighting for control. Alexander jerked upright and planted the heel of his shoe to the creature’s chest. Freed, Grace turned in time for the next attack.
A larger one, with a protruding brow, shot in front of him. It hissed and its arms and wings curved into a cat-like arch, ready to take down anyone who tried to pass. The other demons ba
cked off as this one blocked their path to Gabby still on the mountain peak.
Grace backhanded one that tried to ram him from the side. “Go. Be with her. I’ll handle this one.”
Alexander moved closer to challenge the demon roadblock. The beast huffed steam in warning for him to back off. Grace swooped between them. The sparkling tip of his tail taunted them, moving from side to side, waiting to strike.
“No, I’m not leaving you here alone. Boon will protect Gabby. We’ll finish this and then we’ll join them.” He forced himself not to leave to rescue Gabby. It was tough and still felt foreign, but he’d learned the dangers of acting impulsively.
Grace smiled then extended her wings over her head and dropped a few feet, distracting the dark eyed creatures. Alexander grabbed the larger one’s tail. It jabbed at his face for freedom. He ducked and wrenched the slimy, muscular tail. The creature squealed. Claws punctured his leg. He grunted in pain but managed to kick its dragon-like head.
Grace returned to his side and placed her palm on its forehead. “Return to the Earth,” she commanded. The creature disintegrated into black ash, trickling through his fingers.
What in the world? “You killed him with the palm of your hand?” Alexander blinked, watching the dark particles float away in the wind.
Grace shook her head. “No, only returned it to darkness. However, because they are Herak’s creations, should he truly join us, the angels-turned-weapons may yet return to fight on our side. If not, we’ll meet them again in battle.”
He didn’t even want to think about trying to fight these creatures along with all of Satan’s minions and prayed Gabby would be able to convince Herak to fight for them.
“Let’s go.” He raced to the mountain peak and rounded the corner, Grace by his side.
Demons, hundreds of them, scaled the mountainside. His heart fell at the sight.
Boon struggled for release and cried out to Herak, “You’ll pay for this.”
Gabby sat on her knees, hands on her thighs, head bowed. Herak stood over her, the sword that had killed thousands of angels pressed against her soft, delicate neck.
“I have defeated the Chosen One.”
****
Gabby concentrated on staying calm. The last thing she needed was to freeze, burn, or somehow incapacitate Herak. For now, they needed to regroup and find out where the warrior angels were.
She watched Boon struggle against the horde of demons and feared he’d break lose. If only there had been time to share her plan. No, it was better this way. Their terror and sense of betrayal had to be convincing.
“Clear the air and let us through,” Herak commanded. “I’m to deliver her to Satan.”
“No!” Alexander’s voice echoed through the valley.
Herak jerked her hair so she faced the sky, in a convincing and painful manner. “You attack and she dies.”
She caught a glimpse of Alexander’s face and hated herself for putting him through this, but it would be worth it if it worked.
Several demons hissed and squawked overhead. Herak nodded in response. What was he playing at? How did he understand them?
“You may do what you wish with the others, but I will be delivering her myself.”
“What?” Gabby screeched. Terror shot through her body, and her wings thrust against her skin.
Herak tightened his grip, yanking her up so her ear was next to his mouth. “Don’t,” he murmured.
She closed her eyes and focused on remaining calm. Was this all just for show, or would he really turn them over? If so, the deal was off. No way she’d go quietly.
The mass of winged monsters changed formations and surrounded Alexander and Grace.
Alexander remained still, his eyes fixed on her.
“I told you he couldn’t be trusted.” Boon shook free of his captors and shot through the sky at Herak. Three demons broke off from the group guarding Alexander and Grace. One slammed into Boon’s side, but didn’t knock him off balance. She’d never seen him so determined, and deadly.
Herak dropped her and the sea of creatures scattered. Alexander shouldered one of them in the chest. Grace chased another through the sky while Boon fought off four.
Energy zipped from Gabby’s head, down her neck to her shoulders. A sting burned down below each shoulder blade and her wings unfurled with enough force to knock her forward.
Herak gasped. The demons froze. Grace slapped one dragon-like head and it turned into a puff of ash. She jumped behind three more and they too disappeared.
Gabby snatched the sword from Herak and sliced through the torso of a minion chasing Grace while still on her knees.
Boon grabbed the tail of one and drilled the tip into its chest and it fell from the sky. Alexander followed Boon’s move and plunged the tail of one demon into the belly of another. Green liquid oozed from its gut before it smacked against the stone below.
Herak glared down at her. “You stupid girl.”
Gabby rose from the rocky ground and faced Herak. “You were going to sacrifice my friends to those creatures. Betraying our deal already.”
He hunched over and his gray robe fluttered before it ripped down the back. His nose stretched and fangs sprung from between his lips. Bones cracked and ground together. A tail grew from his backside, swishing the remaining material of his robe from side to side. He stood almost seven feet tall and blew smoke from his mouth.
Drums of warning pounded in her head. “You-you’re one of them.”
He unfurled his wings and flapped until he was above her. “You ruined everything,” he hissed. “Impetuous as always. Why Heaven chose you, I’ll never understand. You’re the one who broke my trust.”
No. She wouldn’t let him intimidate her.
She rose higher. “You are the one who betrayed us. You were turning my family over to them. We had a deal.”
Herak snarled and huffed more smoke. “I was trying to save all of us. These are my children, born of my blood. I needed time to convert them to our cause. We were to travel with them long enough for me to convince them to fight against Satan. Now, I have to murder my own children.” He moved higher, mixing into the crowd of demons. A father of beasts with more height and girth.
“They weren’t children,” Gabby challenged, “only former angels that were forced into servitude or who chose the wrong side.”
“So did you.”
His words stung. Her wings slid above her head and she glided to the rocks below.
Herak followed. “Why should you be the only one allowed to atone for your sins? You made a deal with Satan himself, yet you were given a second chance, put in charge of the army of angels once again.”
His words sliced across her skin like a thousand paper cuts. “You had no guarantee that your so-called children would turn on Satan.”
“No, I did not, but we need all the help we can get. They are of my blood.”
Gabby stepped back, tingles pricking at her brain. “You summoned them here.”
Herak stared at the action overhead.
“Then their blood is on your hands.” Gabby crouched and shot up into the sky. She grabbed one demon around the neck and twisted. It popped under her grasp and disintegrated. Adrenaline surged through every muscle. She rammed one and smashed it against the mountain. Another grabbed her from behind and she whirled, clipping him with her wing.
Static crackled in her head and the memory of battle plans ran through her mind, map after map of every fight. Green and red flowed down the side of a mountain. It was Herak’s mountain. They’d fought these creatures here before.
She floated down to a ledge, knees buckling under her. A voice, her voice, echoed in her head. Lethal diamond tip tails will puncture wings or demons. Slay valuable part of earth demon. Hounds of Hell prefer packs so split them up. Twenty more demon images flashed in her mind with her notes, like an old movie reel she’d seen once in a movie when they brainwashed some poor sap. But this was no brainwash. This was strategic informatio
n.
She clung to a jagged rock, afraid if she moved the connection would sever her tenuous tie to much needed information. More images flashed. Elianna, her confidant, by her side. Sammy fighting. Alexander healing. They were all there, in her mind’s eye. Decades of war, of people dying, hunger, famine, disease. The world was in complete darkness.
The images started to fade as she slid through a tunnel back to reality. The last image— Alexander lying in her arms, bleeding. “No, wait.” She squeezed her eyes tight and willed to see more. Was it from the past war? Something still to come?
The connection broke and she pressed her throbbing head against the cool rocks. So much to process. She panted and tried to slow her thrashing heart.
Screeches sounded above. Only two demons remained in the sky.
“Wait,” she called out.
Boon stopped his assault inches from pressing one demon’s tail to its own chest, while Grace’s hand hovered inches from the other’s face.
“Bring them to me.”
Boon raised a questioning eyebrow, but immediately obeyed.
“Herak.” Gabby let go of the cliff and flew to his side, resting the tip of her sword against the hard ground. “Too many have died. I know this is war, but if one soul can be saved…” She choked on the memories now part of her. “Speak to them. If they choose to fight by our side, I will grant them a pardon at the end of the war, and they may choose to live out their days on Earth in peace. As for redemption, that is out of my hands.”
“They didn’t choose to join me. Redemption will be theirs.”
She nodded then frowned as the creatures they’d just disintegrated reappeared. “Include those that have just been reborn.”
Herak nodded, and an almost imperceptible smile crossed his lips. “As you wish.” A series of squeals and squawks filled the sky.
Boon stepped forward. “We don’t have much time. The minute I crossed the barrier Sammy sent a message. A master demon has entered Kemp to ready for Satan’s arrival. Forras is under his command.”
Herak turned back to them. “They agree.”