Ascension of Evil (Battle for Souls Book 3)

by Ciara Knight

  Grace spread her wings. “I agree, and it’s time we ask him ourselves. Let’s go.”

  Gabby stood there, feeling awkward. Did she offer to fly him to their home? Alexander’s anger at seeing Forras in her arms was something she didn’t need right now.

  Forras glowered at her. “Oh, please. I’m as fast as you, just on the ground. Try to keep up.” He jumped onto a tree and bounded out of site.

  She took a deep breath and slung the scabbard’s strap over her shoulder. Her wings slipped from her back, and she took to the skies. At least they didn’t have to worry about the hunters. They were all preoccupied now, but hounds still howled in the distance, sending a quiver down Gabby’s wings.

  Dark figures moved through the path below. Forras stayed to the trees, but for a moment, she thought they would attack him. She kept him in sight all the way to Grace’s house, making sure he wasn’t just all talk, but would actually help them this time.

  Grace stood at the bottom step, waiting for them. No lights illuminated the two-story structure. Had Herak and Boon made it to the house with Prim?

  Gabby landed next to Grace, smelling a salty mist and something chemical. No fresh baked bread or desserts this time.

  Forras sat on the front porch swing, looking at his nails. “Took you long enough,” he mocked. Did he ever tire of provoking people?

  No. Not even when he was a boy.

  Grace?

  Yes, dear?

  You can hear my thoughts?

  Yes, for a couple of days now.

  Gabby’s face grew hot. You’ve heard everything?

  She smiled. No, child. When you direct a thought specifically at one person, I won’t hear it. When you have open thoughts, everyone can hear them. You might want to be careful with that.

  Gabby laughed nervously. Yes, I should.

  “What?” Forras asked.

  Gabby ignored him and continued up the steps. Why are all the lights off?

  Probably because Sammy, Herak, Boon, Alexander, and your dad are trying to remain off the radar, Grace said.

  Gabby had a suspicion they were being watched, but she didn’t sense anyone—demon, human, or angel—nearby.

  Wouldn’t the demons think to check our home once they discover we’re missing? Grace asked.

  Yes, and I’m sure they have, but right now, we’ve bought some time. All the hunters and demons believe we’re still in the compound. It won’t last long though. We need to hurry. Gabby opened the creaking screen then the front door. “Herak? Boon?” The room remained still and dark. Boon? Are you in there? Gabby glanced back at Grace, but she shook her head. No answer couldn’t be good.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alexander smiled as Bruce threw the general to the ground and landed a few punches. In spite of his age and withdrawal symptoms, he could hold his own in a fight.

  “You sorry excuse for a human being. Can’t believe you’d sell your men to save yourself. And you call yourself a hunter.”

  Although, Alexander enjoyed watching Bruce beat out some old-fashioned justice, they didn’t have time. He grabbed Bruce, while Sammy landed between the men, her finger wagging at both of them. “Stop it, you two.”

  Alexander stifled a smile. Sammy couldn’t pull off the angry thing convincingly. He stepped forward and scowled at General Beck. “Listen to me. There isn’t much time. That deal you were going to make. What was it exactly? And when is it supposed to go down?”

  Kneeling, General Beck rested his hands on his thighs and sucked in a few breaths. “The deal was my men for your band of rebels.”

  Bruce thrashed against Alexander’s grip. “You stupid—”

  “I wasn’t going through with it, old man. We were going to blow that master demon lady back to Hell where she belonged. The only problem was you guys stopping us.”

  Sammy tisked. “You think you could kill her with human weapons. Not that easy.”

  “No kidding. We found out too late my men were on sacrificial land. I tried to call them back and set up just outside, but that freak of nature showed up too early. The demon boy, Forras, sent his hounds to guard my men from leaving.” He hung his head. “We’re screwed.”

  A slow burn started in Alexander’s stomach and worked its way outward. “I thought you said we had days before—”

  “No. Just said it to keep you there. I have no clue how long. Could be hours. Days. Not sure. That freak boy could tell you, though.”

  “Tell me something. If we free your men, what side will they fight on?” Alexander asked.

  “Our side. Earth’s. The one kicking every supernatural creature back to where they belong,” General Beck huffed.

  Good, at least he was honest.

  Bruce shook Alexander off and lowered his hands. “Listen, you ain’t got a shot without them.”

  General Beck scrunched his nose. “You always were a freak lover. Heard your wife was a demon herself.”

  Sammy slapped her palms against General Beck’s chest and sent him back a few steps. Bruce lunged, but Alexander restrained him again.

  “She was an angel, a servant of God. And you’re nothing more than a coward,” Sammy said.

  Alexander placed his hands on Bruce’s shoulders, calming his escalating fury. “We can stand here and fight all night, or we can go figure out a way to stop this war.”

  “I’ll make you a deal,” General Beck coughed. “You end this war, and I’ll let you and that girl of yours live in Kemp. You raise whatever demonlings you want here, but you don’t leave. That’s the best deal I’m gonna make. Oh, and a team of hunters will remain in the area to keep an eye on you.”

  Was he serious? One little team of hunters against the Chosen One and him?

  Then it clicked. The man was just trying to save face. He needed their help, but here, in front of Bruce, he’d never admit it.

  “Fine. You’ve got a deal.” Alexander offered his hand, but General Beck didn’t take it.

  “You’ve got my word. Now, let’s go kick some demon ass.” He about-faced and headed back toward camp.

  Sammy zoomed up behind General Beck and lifted him into the air. His combat boots flailed as he hooted and hollered into the sky.

  Bruce chuckled. “I knew I liked your sister.”

  Alexander walked up behind Bruce and lifted him into the air. Even now, it felt awkward to fly with someone besides Gabby, but he had to get used to it. She had her own wings now and didn’t need that from him any longer. She’d grown into the warrior angel she was meant to be. Gifted, strong, full of Heavenly power, and their love had fostered that change.

  They headed toward the house. When they cleared the open field, Alexander felt a surge of anxiety. “Gabby.”

  Bruce tilted his head to look back at Alexander. “What is it?”

  Alexander searched for answers but found none. “Don’t know, but hold on.” He pushed hard. Passing Sammy, he landed on the sandy bottom step. The door stood ajar. His pulse quickened. “Wait here.” He shoved Bruce to the side and marched up the steps and through the front door. The foyer was dark. Wind whipped sand through the door, lashing at the back of his neck, but he remained focused. His emotions rioted with his senses and he couldn’t connect with Gabby.

  Are you here? His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and he spotted sandy footprints, leading to the back of the house.

  Sammy joined him. He took a quick look behind him and discovered the general and Bruce both had drawn their guns.

  “G-Bear?” Bruce called out.

  General Beck sniffled or snorted, he wasn’t sure which. “You call the divine warrior, the Chosen One to save all of human kind, G-Bear?”

  Bruce glowered at him and stepped to Sammy’s side. “She’s my daughter, and will always be my little G-Bear.”

  Sammy shuffled into the hallway. Alexander took the dining room. A jarring zap sent him flying backwards. He slammed against the entryway table and a vase crashed to the floor.

  Grace poked her head out o
f the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “Oh, come in.

  Sorry about that. Herak was supposed to be watching for you.

  Herak shrugged. “Sorry.”

  General Beck stood there, staring at the invisible thing that just sent Alexander soaring past him.

  “Prim lifted her shield. You can come through now. I have some eggs, bacon, and biscuits ready.” Grace waved them in before returning to the kitchen.

  “Dang it all to—” General Beck leaned against the wall. “Great, now I’m having breakfast with fallen angels and demons. Something tells me everything is about to be turned all sorts of crazy.”

  Bruce offered his hand to Alexander to help him up. “Guess you’ll have to learn how to adapt to your environment if you’re going to lead all those men.”

  General Beck cracked his knuckles. “What? You think you can do a better job?” Alexander bolted upright and stood between them.

  “I wouldn’t trade the most important angelic warrior to the devil,” Bruce scolded then sauntered around the man without another word.

  Alexander ignored the general’s expression and turned toward the mouth-watering aroma of bacon and fresh bread.

  Sammy ran past them, almost knocking a dining chair over, and leapt into Boon’s arms. “When I couldn’t connect with you, I got frightened.”

  “The Prim guarded our house. That way none of the hounds can sniff us out. I guess a master demon has some useful qualities,” Boon murmured.

  Alexander found Gabby sitting by the window, Forras by her side. With clutched fists, he shot Forras a warning until he moved to another stool across the small eating area. Then he pushed by Herak and went to her side. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “Just needed to know you were okay. I’m glad you’re here.”

  There was something more. She took his hand and held it to her cheek. I love the way you smell. It always calms me.

  We’re going to find a way to get the angels to fight for us. Satan will not win. Alexander cupped her face and pulled her to him. Instant warmth catapulted through his body, ricocheted off his bones and smashed into his heart. His full, completely attached heart.

  Heaven, the council, and God himself would not have executed such a detailed plan—with Elianna returning, you being a product of all worlds, Boon, Grace, Sammy, and the hunters, all here together—if we didn’t have a shot at ending this.

  All those visions I’ve had. Did you notice I haven’t drawn one picture of the future lately? What if Appius has tricked me again and I’m seeing things that aren’t part of the big plan.

  Gabby looked at Grace. What if Appius is waiting for me to fail so that he can rule over all of humankind himself?

  Grace stopped cutting biscuits and glanced at Gabby, shaking her head.

  The Prim entered from the back hall. It had been a long time since Alexander had seen her. His teeth snapped together as he crushed the desire to toss her back into the rift.

  “No sign of hounds.” She stopped and glared at Grace and Gabby. “No mumbling in each other’s heads. I know you angels have that ability, but you don’t conceal it well with your eyes darting back and forth between you all.”

  Grace returned to cutting. “There are certain things we should keep to ourselves that not even Heaven should hear.” Her voice deepened on the word Heaven.

  Prim walked over and picked up two plates, handing one to Herak. “No need to worry. Heaven can’t hear you here.”

  Forras grabbed a plate of food and sat down at the table. “So, you’re really Herak’s daughter?”

  Herak nodded.

  Forras stabbed a piece of egg. “How’d that happen?”

  Herak pursed his lips. “She was my only surviving daughter. I made a deal for her to be immortal. It’s my fault she’s here, instead of in Heaven with her mother, brothers, and sisters.”

  Forras rolled his eyes. “Hard to believe you were married with children.”

  Herak took Prim’s hand in his and squeezed it. “I had many marriages, but only one daughter who stayed by my side.”

  Boon shifted. The chair squeaked, drawing everyone’s attention. “She didn’t have much of a choice.”

  Sammy patted his arm. “Did you love any of your wives?”

  Alexander shot her a sideways glance. Why the heck do you want to know that?

  As usual, Sammy ignored him.

  Grace wiped her hands on a dishtowel and sat at the kitchen table. “Not to interrupt your talk of marriage and family, but I thought we should chat a little about this option for saving the world. Gabby, you can’t make accusations against another angel. It is punishable by eternal damnation. Even if you’re right, without proof, you’ll be doomed. And there is nothing that God himself can do to save you.

  That’s what he wants then. All of this is to send you away. Without the Chosen One, there’d be no one to protect the innocent, Alexander shouted to all of them.

  Prim dropped her fork with a clang. “I told you it was rude to talk in one another’s heads.” She turned to Herak. “But then, angels always have been rude.”

  Alexander held Gabby’s hand tight. “I think there is an angel that hopes Gabby will challenge him so that she will be sent to Hell. With her out of the way, he can take over everything.”

  Sammy shifted in Boon’s lap. “Heaven wouldn’t allow him to just take over like that.”

  Grace sighed. “No, but Satan would. If Satan has angel allies that could threaten Heaven, mankind will be lost. This angel would then take over. If warrior angels are not trapped in darkness, but under his control, he could defeat Satan. It would be a blood bath, and many would die, but there would be a fighting chance. In the end, he could claim whichever side won.”

  Gabby rolled her neck. “Herak, you said there is a way for me to regain the warrior angels. What do I need to do?”

  Alexander shivered at the memory of all the fallen angels and humans he couldn’t save last time, their souls still imprinted in his. “How do we know he’s working on our side? I mean, he did almost cause the end of the world.”

  Prim spun on her stool to face him. “If your friend over there hadn’t betrayed him, none of this would be happening. Herak would have ruled mankind and Satan would be tucked neatly back in his hole.”

  Herak patted Prim’s hand. “Dear, I’m not as innocent as you might think. For now, let’s all agree on one thing. If Hell takes over, we’re all doomed. I’ll be sentenced to man the souls in the fiery pit for losing the last war. You’ll be sacrificed in battle, and all the angels will be fried, crispy wings for the demons to feast on.”

  “Gee, nice visual,” Sammy rolled her eyes.

  Herak leaned back on his stool. “Only stating the facts.”

  Gabby remained silent at Alexander’s side.

  Alexander nudged her. What are you thinking?

  Prim cleared her throat but Alexander ignored her.

  I’m thinking he’s making sense, so I’m running through all the possible ways he could betray us. I’m not making the same mistakes again.

  Gabby tensed.

  Did you think of something?

  No, that’s the problem. Every way I analyze it, if he betrays us, he loses. Unless…

  Unless what?

  Gabby stroked his arm. Unless he had an opportunity to sell us, out to save Prim from eternal damnation. I think he’d take it.

  Alexander nodded. Then we make sure he doesn’t get that chance.

  Grace, do you trust him?

  Yes.

  Sammy?

  Not sure, but I think we need him.

  Boon?

  Not at all, but I agree with Sammy.

  She turned to her dad and it was then Alexander realized Bruce hadn’t heard a word. Not only could he not communicate with the angels, he sat in the corner with his head back against the wall, asleep. General Beck stood in the doorway, chowing down.

  “Okay, Herak.” Gabby stretched her legs out then stood. “You tell us where the war
rior angels are and how to get them to fight for us, and we’ll protect Prim.”

  “I don’t need protection,” Prim scoffed.

  “Agreed,” Herak said.

  “Then tell us,” Gabby ordered.

  “The only way to get the angels to return to fight is to prove to them you are worthy.”

  Gabby smacked her hands against her thighs. “Great. And how do I do that?”

  “By challenging the one who saved them after they were released from darkness when the rift was open and the master demon was defeated.” Herak grinned. “Appius.”

  Alexander fisted his hands. “Are you insane? We just established that if Gabby challenges an angel on the ruling council about anything, she’d be condemned for eternity.”

  “Only if she falsely accuses him. If she is mistaken and he had nothing to do with manipulating the situation when she made the deal, then she will burn. If she is right, all the angels will be freed to fight for her.”

  ****

  Terror ripped through her gut with the fierceness of a demon claw. The world spun with indecision. Did Gabby trust Herak and gamble everything on the fact Appius did make a deal with Satan? If so, how would she prove it?

  Everyone sat in silence with their mouths hanging open. She’d trusted in the wrong people last time, and it had caused over two thousand years of torture for many. This time the price would be eternity. If she challenged Appius and lost, would the others be spared?

  Visions of the dead rising to fight for Hell and overrun Earth flashed. Was it a vision or just her fear? She searched for another option. With time, they’d find a way. Heat rolled from her core to her fingertips. “Alex.” She breathed steam.

  “It’s okay. I’m here.” Alexander soothed her.

  Her dad stirred awake. “What’s going on?”

  “Gabby’s trying to decide if she should risk everyone and challenge some angel to a duel. If she loses, we all fry. If she wins, we all get fancy wings and float to the white light.” General Beck took another bite of eggs.

  How could he eat at a time like this? Her stomach flipped and flopped like crazy.

  She loved her dad, and didn’t want to see him suffer. She didn’t want to see any of them suffer. Scanning each of her team’s faces, she understood why she took the deal last time. How could she go out there and do anything that would cause each of them so much pain? All she wanted to do was save them. She’d lay down her life for them without a thought.