Ascension of Evil (Battle for Souls Book 3)

by Ciara Knight

  Hell raged on Earth. And for now there was little they could do to stop it except fight and pray it was enough.

  Grace clutched a demon by its horns and shoved his face into the sand. It’s skin glowed orange like the rest of hell’s minions, distinguishing them from Forras’s pack of creatures.

  Herak’s children joined the fight, lifting demons into the air and dropping them into the ocean. Herak transformed and impaled a demon with his tail.

  The angelic warriors still hadn’t moved. They remained in their military line. What was going on? Why didn’t they help?

  Satan grabbed a handful of them, mashing them in his gigantic fist.

  Alexander raced to a cluster of hunters nearby. He pressed his hands against a man’s belly, pushing his insides back into place and healing the surrounding tissue. Finally, he sealed the wound. The man remained unconscious, but all Alexander could do now was hope for the best. He turned to another one and sealed the gaping slash in the back of his shoulder.

  Cries of torture continuously rang in his ears. He worked as fast as he could to heal them, sitting them back up, only to have them fall back down again. Hundreds of men were wounded, and he couldn’t reach them all.

  Several hunters were cut down as a demon with jagged teeth rammed through the group. One claw lifted and slashed through Alexander’s wing, ripping it like a boat run aground. He leapt into the air, but his wing folded and he dropped back to the ground. Blue liquid dripped from his white feathers onto the sand. Bitter acid welled up his throat.

  Demon poison.

  He caught a glimpse of Forras being stomped on by a master demon. A massive green arm held Bruce in the air by his neck and hunters were being tossed to their deaths left and right.

  Earth as they knew it was no more.

  ****

  Gabby’s mind thundered with thousands of voices. The warrior angels remained in their military lines. Why didn’t they move? Fight? Do something? They chose to help, yet they didn’t engage.

  The pounding in her skull intensified and she held her head tight, looking in every direction. And then she saw it.

  Alexander, his wing shredded. His face turned ashen and he held his hand to his neck as he gasped.

  NO!

  Then one word broke through the drumming in her head. Orders.

  She tore her gaze from Alexander and opened her mind. Thousands of dots popped into her vision in a scene matching the battlefield. Then she realized why the warrior angels didn’t engage. They’d sworn an oath to follow her and refused to move without her command. By not giving orders, she had paralyzed them in front of their enemies.

  Energy buzzed down her arms and zinged to her fingers. She balled her fist then opened her hand, thrusting her palm out. Light soared to a dot in her vision on the battlefield map. It blinked red then slid to a demon holding her dad in the air.

  An angel responded and flew to his aid. She chose three more then turned, as if she were performing a kata, and sent them each to Forras, Grace, and Alexander. She chose twenty and dispersed them at specific points on the battlefield with a swirl of her arms. Then fifty into strategic perimeter positions. Releasing the rest at one time, she placed them around Satan, in the sky and around her. She required the protection because she couldn’t fight. That wasn’t her job. Her job was to lead. She had to focus on battle strategy.

  She searched for the one she sent to Alexander’s side. The angel carried him toward the house. He looked horrible but she trusted the angel would help him. Her attentions were required elsewhere.

  Smiling, she realized she could focus on different sections of the fight simultaneously.

  The clanking of swords brought her attention back to the battle ensuing around her. She swung her blade and cut through an arm. Scanning the battlefield, she noted they were still grossly outnumbered, especially in the air.

  Gabby spotted three angels fighting two demons, so she ordered one to join the sky assault. The two by his side compensated and took down the two demons.

  She swung her sword and sliced through a neck, beheading one of the four demons who had breached her protectors.

  Muscles tightened in her abdomen as she bent back, sweeping her blade overhead. With her fingers splayed wide, she blasted energy from her palm. The silver strand of light connected with the head of a demon, yanking him from the throat of a warrior and sending him back to Hell.

  Gabby repositioned three more then checked on her dad. He had taken cover but was still shooting. She pulled one of the angels she’d sent to her dad and placed her next to General Beck who was pinned down behind a jeep.

  Metal moaned as demon claws gouged the side of the jeep. Soldiers hollered orders. Screams echoed from the wounded. The smell of gasoline broke through the demon stench as fuel spurted from the side of the jeep where General Beck was.

  “Get out of there!” her dad shouted as a fire breathing, amber colored demon approached. But neither General Beck nor the angel could escape.

  Gabby sucked in a quick breath and instinctively blew it at the amber monster. A frosty stream of air arched over the fighting and pummeled the demon. The golden hue seeping through the cracks in its rock-like skin steamed then faded to white. The beast took one more step before crumbling into pebbles.

  Finally, she spotted Alexander rejoining the fight. With his facial lacerations healed and the color returning to his cheeks, hope flooded her. That was all she needed—a glimpse at a possible future with Alexander. She tightened her fingers around the sword, while maintaining a connection to all those who fought under her command, and joined the battle.

  One flap of her bloodstained wings and she soared into the sky. With a sideways slice, she cut through the chest of a demon, sending him spiraling to his fate.

  Black clouds oozed from Satan’s eyes and morphed into flying, black skeletal creatures. Their elongated jaws and razor sharp incisors snapped at her leg. She looped and plunged the tip of her blade through one’s spine, but another caught her upper arm and slammed her into Satan’s shoulder. Her head cracked at impact, sending her sliding down his long arm. A sharp sting raced to the back of her eyes and the world blurred around her.

  Satan flung his four appendages, smashing his fists onto the ground and hurtling Gabby into the side of an angel. It was the small leader with a powerful aura. He turned her upright then swooped down to help two young looking female angels fighting Satan.

  She shook her head to clear the ringing in her ears and ordered them to move. They swung out of the path of another massive fist just in time, leaving only his demons to be crushed.

  With her arm extended, blade pointed at Satan’s abdomen, she flew straight, steadfast in her singular mission. To end Satan’s ascension of evil on Earth.

  A black skeletal demon zipped through the battle aiming for her, as one of Herak’s minions arched its tail and lunged for the demon, but missed. As it neared her, she twisted out of the way and impaled Satan with her sword, then retracted her blade. Orange lava dripped form the long blade.

  Satan thrashed and howled, not a sound of pain, but of frustration. The clouds erupted in acidic rain and the smell of burnt feathers filled the air.

  Blinking, she saw the number of dots representing her warriors equaled those of the demons. They had a fighting chance.

  Ignoring the searing pain of tiny feather-disintegrating drops from the sky drilling into her wings, she rammed the hilt of her sword into the orange face of a demon then ran another one through.

  The rain subsided to a drizzle, but mucky puddles bubbled orange then elongated into gigantic bubbles. They popped revealing more demons. A second later, they bolted across the sand, and scaled Satan’s appendages.

  Gabby banked right and flew past Sammy fighting back-to-back with Boon. Their bravery and that of all those fighting for mankind and Heaven gave her hope. She landed a few hundred feet away and ordered the perimeter to tighten.

  Turning, she prepared to take on three hundred feet of u
gly when something slammed into her side and she tumbled into the surf. Her sword slipped from her fingers and horror filled her. She scoured the retreating waves for it but only found bloody sludge and broken seashells.

  Strong winds formed multiple typhoons around Satan. One sucked Boon into its swirling grasp.

  Gabby dove into the surf to find her sword, back into the salty, murky world that she nearly drowned in over a year ago. A monster rammed her in the side, sending her spinning in the ocean. Maintaining her concentration, and willing her anxiety to stay in check, she continued her search.

  Another beast snagged her by the leg and pulled her to the depths. Her ears popped, she twisted and turned from his embrace. Hitting the bottom, her fingers brushed something solid. The jeweled hilt. Snatching it from the ocean floor, she sliced the demons arm from its body, pulled his bloodied hand from her leg, and shot to the surface. With renewed strength, she soared from the ocean into the mist and drove her sword into Satan’s rippled abdomen once more. Satan rolled his head to narrow his dark gaze, but didn’t swat her away. Instead, he reached into the typhoon, plucking Boon’s body from it.

  Several thunderous booms shook the coastline before she realized Satan was laughing. A horrible, deep, sadistic laugh. The movement made it impossible to extract her sword, but she didn’t want to let go of it either. He held Boon by one wing then grabbed his body between two massive fingers. All she could see was dark amber and red skin with Boon’s feet dangling below.

  No! Gabby glanced around, looking for anyone she could send to his rescue, but there was no one. She pulled on the sword, tugging with all her might, but it refused to give.

  Then, to Gabby’s horror, Satan tore Boon’s wing from his body, and tightened his fist until Boon’s bones crushed beneath his grasp. Opening his fist, he released Boon and he plunged deep into the water.

  Sammy screamed.

  Grief and rage consumed her and Gabby planted her feet on Satan’s red belly, pulling until finally her sword slid free. She flew under Satans arm, matching Sammy’s speed toward Boon, but a demon caught her wing, yanking her from the sky. Sammy clutched its horns and tore it from Gabby, before continuing.

  Sammy dodged several demons ahead on a suicide path to the one she loved. A demon cut through the sky on a direct path to her.

  Sammy, behind you.

  Gabby flew to intercept, but the demon zoomed in behind Sammy, and speared a sword through her back, the blade ran all the way through her stomach. She landed on the beach and fell to her knees, gasping.

  Gabby soared across the beach and scooped Sammy into her arms. She continued focusing on the battle around them as she flew Sammy to the edge of the battlefield. Blood stained Sammy’s front and spread quickly, drenching her entire shirt. Gabby’s gut wrenched, as if the blade had pierced her instead.

  Alex! No response. She tried to feel his presence, but the chaos around her blocked her senses. “No. Please, don’t. Stay with me.”

  “I’ll be with Boon,” Sammy managed through gasps.

  Gabby scanned the ocean, seeing that Boon’s body had washed ashore. He didn’t move, his remaining wing rippling with each wave. “Don’t leave me, Sammy. Boon will return. Remember? He has to return. He’s cursed to roam—”

  “No,” Sammy whispered weakly. “The curse was lifted once Boon released…” Sammy’s body fell limp and the life faded from her eyes.

  Gabby hadn’t held anyone as they died since her mother. That familiar pull of a soul being ripped away not only took Sammy, but a piece of Gabby’s heart with it.

  Two sharp stabs pierced the end of her wing as the loss of her fallen friends was tattooed amongst the feathers as an eternal reminder. Acid burned her throat and bitter tears blurred her vision.

  Another three sharp jabs. More of her comrades.

  Gabby pushed down her crippling sorrow and gently laid Sammy’s body in the sand. Then she scooped Boon from the surf and placed him by her side, rolling his mangled body on his side and draping one arm over Sammy. Her heart broke at the sight of them.

  Straightening, Gabby assessed the battlefield and her heart plummeted.

  A cool blade sliced through her bicep and her weapon fell to the sandy ground. A deep, growl and hot breath on her ear stunted her actions. She lifted her head to meet the haunted eyes of the hellish creature, but found Patronus with his haunches up. He jumped with unnatural speed and agility. His canines pierced the demons neck. It howled and bucked, but Patronus didn’t release it. Army green blood slipped down the creature’s wart covered abdomen.

  After a mind-numbing squeal, it collapsed to the side. Its limbs jerked several times, before it stilled.

  “Good job, Patronus.” Alexander knelt by Gabby.

  Patronus nuzzled her side. She patted his head. “Herak told me you’d appear when I needed you most.” Before she could say another word, he bolted into battle, disappearing into the siege.

  Alexander pressed his hands to her wound. “I’m sure he’ll be back.”

  Gabby struggled to breathe through the pain. “Why…why didn’t you come when I called? Sammy, Boon, they’re dead.”

  He bowed his head. “I tried.”

  Satan swung and clipped Alexander’s wing, sending him tumbling backward. He rolled to his knees, and without a word, returned to healing her wounds. He had his job, and she had hers. She had to stop Satan and send him back to the underworld before anyone else she loved died.

  As Alexander worked, a pattern formed in her mind. She connected each hunter and his or her specialized tool to a specific type of demon. Each warrior angel would attack the ones the hunters couldn’t kill.

  Once her wounds were sealed, Alexander squeezed her hand then disappeared to help the other wounded.

  She quickly climbed to her feet, issuing the new orders to her remaining troops. Then with no other choice remaining, she allowed her demonic side free rein. She stepped away from Sammy and Boon, lifted her sword into the air, and widened her stance.

  The skies opened and she concentrated on the love and memories of her family and friends, earthbound and angelic, and harnessed the power of Heaven.

  Inside her body, her demon rage merged with the power of light from Heaven. Her heart pounded. Her eyes burned. Steam pumped through her blood. Fire flared from her eyes and hands, instantly striking down the surrounding demons.

  Squeals, howls, and cries of agony echoed across the beach until every demon fell and seeped into the sand.

  Satan roared with fury and flung his body forward, slamming all four fists onto the beach ten feet from her. He could throw a tantrum all he wanted but he wouldn’t escape.

  “Not today,” she muttered, her gaze meeting his. His eyes swirled with smoky faces—all the lost souls trapped within him.

  She ignored the urge to run. Courage—doing the right thing in spite of paralyzing fear over your own death or that of your loved ones—was something she’d lacked during the last war. But finally, she’d found hers.

  Facing Satan, she raised her hands to release her own blend of Hell’s fire and Heaven’s light at him.

  Satan lowered to his knees and blew a steamy wind over her, paralyzing her movements.

  She tried again.

  Nothing. All the energy she’d mustered faded.

  She collapsed, severing all connection to the warrior angels. Exhaustion flooded her body. She barely had sufficient energy to breathe.

  Satan leaned over her, blocking out all light with his massive grey shadow. I will spare the others if you agree to—

  Never! I will not agree to anything. I want you back in Hell where you belong. Go and rule your own kingdom. Leave mankind to their choices. Their lives are short. Upon their death, their soul will enter the correct realm.

  Warrior angels landed at her side, ready to take on Satan.

  “No,” she said. “I will not allow another soul to fall in this battle. The fighting is over. The demons are gone.”

  Steam rolled across her b
ody from his mouth. “Yes, but the price we agreed upon was a soul.”

  What? Gabby searched the crevices of her mind. She didn’t remember agreeing to any such thing.

  Appius glided down at the water’s edge. “You say you were willing to die for mankind, yet you hesitate,” he scoffed.

  “My deal with you from two thousand years ago is done. The price was paid,” Gabby said. “I never agreed to this. I never would’ve agreed to such a—”

  “My price is the soul of the one who broke his promise.” Satan reached out and grabbed Appius with his thumb and index finger. “You failed me.”

  “No, that’s a lie. Everything’s working out as I’d planned.” Appius froze, no doubt realizing his error. “I am a ruling council member, which gives me the right to return to Heaven no matter what.”

  Grace floated down to Gabby’s side. “Correction, you were a council member. Heaven has notified me that your seat has just been filled.”

  Appius continued to struggle as Satan backed into the water. “By whom?” he demanded.

  “Me.” Grace smiled.

  “No!” Appius screamed.

  Satan held tight and disappeared beneath the waves.

  The sea calmed, the clouds slowly dissipating to reveal the late afternoon sun.

  Arms wrapped around Gabby and pulled her close. Grief filled her even as the soothing calm of Alexander’s touch seeped in. Finally, it was over. But so many were lost.

  She choked down the sorrow gripping her throat. “Boon died protecting me. Sammy, too.”

  “Shhh.” Alexander kissed the top of her head.

  The lead angel knelt by her side. “You have earned our respect once more. Many fell, but will rise again because of your bravery.”

  “Th-the curse is lifted?”