The Eternal War Series Box Set

by Holly Vane

  “Caleb!” Holly stumbled over her helm and fought to stay upright. She moved between a clearly stunned Caleb and his attacker.

  The man looked at her like a cat looked at a mouse before ripping it to pieces. “Time to go girlie.” He sneered withdrawing a blood covered machete from behind his back.

  Holly stared at it with horror and her show of weakness only fuelled his fire.

  Laughing he charged at her.

  6

  Dominic Prince stood in the middle of the ballroom. Blood and body parts covered the floor and walls. Pearls gleamed like bone amongst the debris. No one had survived the attack but the lucky ones had died quick. One guy had died holding onto his severed arm.

  Castillo dropped to his knees and the sheer shock on his face was reflected in the others that stammered about looking for their loved ones. “Well this is one hell of a message your father sent.” Balion said shakily. Dominic looked at the Vampire that had danced with his girl and wished he was amongst the dead. No such luck. His face had paled and his eyes had turned hazy with bloodlust. He had the self-control of a monk but surrounded by all this blood, it was slipping.

  “This wasn’t…” Dom trailed off, something was off. If Lucifer had wanted to make a statement to the Order then he would have been better severed leaving some survivors to relay who had been responsible. This was messy and frantic.

  “Holly…”

  “What?” Balion turned to him but Dominic was already half way across the room. He had reached the stairs when a shudder rocked the entire building. He glided down the stairs faster than the speed of sound and saw a dark form get flung out of the meeting room. It hit the wall with a bang that rocked the foundations and crumpled to the floor. Dashing past Dominic ran into the room and his heart stopped.

  The table had been broken in half and a bloodied Caleb lay on top at an unnatural angle, he heard Legion enter and barked “Check him.” As Legion moved to Caleb Dominic went over to Holly who sat up slowly.

  Crouching down he examined her. Holly’s face was as white as a ghost and a trickle of crimson ran down the side of her head. “Holly. Are you okay?” She didn’t respond and he forced her to look at him. There was a dazed look in her eyes and her pulse was strong but way too fast.

  “How Is she?” Legion asked. It bothered Dominic that he didn’t know the answer straight away. “Caleb?” He asked, answering his brother’s question with a question.

  “Will be sore for a few days, but he’ll live.” Legion replied helping Dominic get Holly on her feet. She wobbled and would have fell straight back down if not for their steadying hands.

  “Holly?” She smiled thinly and he started to relax.

  “I’m fine. I just banged my head.” She put a hand to her head and he saw the panic in her blue eyes when it came back red and sticky.

  “Hey, it’s just a scratch.” He lied. “Come on we need to get out of here. Can you walk?” She nodded and shuffled forwards. He kept an arm around her waist and guided her to the doorway. Legion followed supporting Caleb. Dominic just wanted to get Holly as far away from here as possible. Upstairs had been nothing but a distraction Holly was what they had really been after. Dominic would have liked to know the identity of the broken form that lay outside, but he was worried about Holly, she still had a rather dazed look about her.

  Holly’s cry of pain stopped Dominic dead and she barrelled over in agony. He set her down onto the stone and searched her for wounds.

  “Dom.” She grabbed his hand and her beautiful face was distorted with pain. “Something’s wrong.” She panted before letting out a heart stopping scream. Fear seized him and without a pause he scooped her up and carried her upstairs.

  Her screams filled the macabre ballroom and Dominic was slowly descending into madness. He should never have left her alone.

  “Get her home.” Legion ordered. “It’s too dangerous to blink her in that state, take the car. Andrea can help. Go!” Dominic was too frantic to argue that Castillo could heal her, catching the keys that Legion tossed he flew out of the room, up the stairs and out into the night.

  “Hang on Holly.” He pleaded. Legion’s black BMW was parked a street away and upon reaching it Holly had gone quiet. Her eyes rolled and her arms fell from his neck limply.

  “Fuck.”

  Dominic lay her flat on the backseat and sped through the streets like a rocket. He just hoped that Andrea was still at the apartment. He didn’t bother with unlocking the front door but kicked it open. Andrea jumped up from the sofa with sleepy confusion.

  “What’s going on?”

  “The Order was attacked.” She followed him into the bedroom and gasped when she had woken up enough to see Holly lying unconscious over the sheets. Andrea flipped on the light and Dominic’s hands came away red. He looked down at them with horror.

  “Andrea…” He held them up to her but she only glanced at them briefly. He followed her eyes and saw the blood staining Holly’s dress just below her waist.

  “No…” He whispered crumbling to the floor. The strength had gone from his legs.

  “Dominic.” Andrea’s face was inches from his. “Listen to me carefully; I need you to get hot water and clean towels, and any vitamins you can find. We have to act quickly, understand? Dominic!” Her slap revived him and he dragged his eyes away from the bed.

  “Go now.” Andrea helped him up and he rushed out the bedroom. Grabbing a hand full of fresh laundered towels from the shelf in the bathroom, Dominic filled the deepest dish he could find full of hot water then raced back to Andrea.

  Placing them on the bed he went to raid the cabinet and came back with an arm full of white bottles. Andrea went through them quietly and grabbed the iron and D12. He had gone overbroad on Vitamins after finding out Holly was pregnant, not that she had taken any of them. “Andrea…” Dominic asked in a shaky voice. “Are they going to be okay?”

  She looked up and the uncertainty in her green eyes answered him.

  “Dom wait outside. “She pushed him gently towards the door. “I need to work.”

  “But…”

  “Dominic?” Legion’s shrill cry filled the apartment. “Get him out of here.” Andrea told Legion when he appeared in the doorway.

  “Come on.” Dominic felt something snap in him and he collapsed onto his brother. Legion held onto him while guiding him over to the sofa then flicked on the lamp. “Andrea knows what she’s doing.” He told him softly. “I couldn’t let Cas heal her because he would find out about the baby and while his on our side now, that would change if he knew, and secondly I don’t know if he even can, the baby complicates matters. Andrea’s our best hope. She knows more about human biology than anybody.” Dominic sat there staring at the floor.

  He wished he could take this night back, the Order had been a stupid idea in the first place, and he cursed himself for letting their fight linger on, when all he had to do was tell her what she wanted to know. Instead he put his defences up and kept her out. This was all on him. All Dominic could do was hope that he got a second chance and if that happened then he swore to tell her everything.

  Laughter came from the hallway and Legion ripped open the door to see Layla Miles and Jade giggling in the hallway.

  “Where the hell have you lot been?” He snapped.

  “Jeez,” Layla said rolling her eyes, “didn’t know you were my father now…” this sent Jade into another giggling fit. They were dressed for a night out and giving the toxic smell of alcohol coming off them, they had been drinking for a while. Layla moved over the threshold and stopped laughing when she saw Dominic.

  “What’s wrong?” She asked seriously. “Where’s Holly?” Legion dropped his eyes.

  “The order was attacked…”

  “Well is she okay?” Miles demanded pushing past the girls. “Where is she?” Dominic heard the frightened edge to his tone turn to hysteria.

  “She was hurt, Andrea’s tending to her.” Legion answered, telling him as little as possible.
Layla sat down next to Dom and flung her arms around him.

  “I’m so sorry…” She whispered but he felt nothing. It was like his heart had been cut out of his chest. It was torture to even breathe.

  “Where’s Caleb?” Jade asked and Legion threw her an irritated glance. “What is this? Twenty questions!” He snapped. His brothers fidgeting made Dominic look over at him. He saw his own despair echoed in the face of Legion. And it dawned on him suddenly how many lives Holly had touched.

  As night gave way to morning no one had moved or spoke, they were all contending with their own thoughts. Except Jade who insisted on repeatedly ringing Caleb’s cell till he answered, which he hadn’t. He had looked in pretty bad shape the last time Dom had seen him, and even though he was an Immortal beatings still hurt.

  The waiting was more than he could bare. Dominic hadn’t been this afraid ever, but the thought of losing the only thing that made eternity worth enduring was more than just frightening, in fact there wasn’t words that explained the pure pain and agony that afflicted his body with every breath.

  Finally at twenty minutes past nine the bedroom door opened and an exhausted Andrea appeared. The rest rose to their feet nervously but Dominic stayed seated, his legs didn’t have the strength to support him.

  Holly’s blood spotted her cream blouse and he braced himself for the worst. “Well?” Miles asked eventually. Andrea looked straight at Dom and he struggled to read what her eyes were telling him.

  “I’ve done all I can.” She said. “I think…she’ll be okay.” Layla let out a relieved sigh but Dominic knew there was something more, he could tell from Andrea’s conserved demeanour that bad news was right around the corner.

  “Legion…Dominic can I see you outside for a moment?” He knew then that he was right and had to push himself up using the sofa for support.

  “Can we see her?” Layla asked.

  “Not right now.” Andrea replied tiredly. “She still isn’t awake.”

  Legion waited till the door was closed before bombarding her with questions. “She’s stable but not out of danger.” Andrea said simply after he paused for breath. “I’ve done everything I can here, but she’s lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion urgently.”

  “What about the…” Legion glanced at the closed door. “Cargo?” Andrea joined Dominic in leaning against the far wall.

  “He’s holding on for the time being, but it’s a miracle he survived the night. He’s hearts beating too fast. We need an ultrasound but our main concern has to be Holly, or we’ll lose them both.” She said in a whisper. Dominic sensed Legion’s eyes on him but it was all he could do to keep upright.

  “Okay. I know a place.” Legion said after running his hands through his short hair. “It’s where we took her the first time. He deals with emergencies of the supernatural kind.”

  “You can’t move her.” Andrea interrupted. “She’s too weak.” Legion cursed out loud.

  “Then I’ll bring him here.”

  “The quicker the better. She’s in real trouble…” her voice wavered and she trailed off. Holly wasn’t just their friend she was their hope. They had all been born into a war few believed in, and one not of their making, many just wished it to be over. Lucifer’s never ending vendetta against Heaven and mankind was hurting business, but most of all it was causing more and more Angels to lose faith in their maker and fall rather than continue. They had placed Holly on a mantle and had made her their savour. If she died now, there dreams of peace went with her.

  “I won’t be long.” Legion said but even his voice was wavering. He disappeared leaving them alone in the hallway. “This may be a stupid question but how are you doing?” Andrea asked him.

  “You don’t need to worry about me.” He answered quietly.

  “Dom,” she let out a frustrated sigh. “Let your walls down just this once. You don’t have to pretend with me. I can only imagine what this is doing to you…and your brother.”

  Dominic hadn’t wanted the baby precisely for this reason. He was terrified of history repeating itself. He wasn’t as strong as his brother; Dominic couldn’t endure this as Legion had. He felt tears sting his eyes and knew he had to get a grip; he was of no use like this.

  “What are we going to do about them?” Dominic asked motioning to the apartment. Andrea grimaced.

  “I don’t want them to know how bad things are, they’re upset enough. I’ll take them back to the hotel…”

  “No. You might be needed here. You’re more use to Holly than I am right now. I’ll take them.” Andrea hesitated.

  “Are you sure?” He nodded as Legion reappeared with an elderly man dressed in waterproofs. As they all entered the apartment and Dominic waited for Layla to collect her belongings he prayed that he could get through the next few hours.

  Holly would be okay, she had to be.

  7

  Caleb readjusted the ice pack to the left side of his face. He felt like he had gone ten rounds with a tank. The last of the bodies were being bagged and tagged and the ballroom had been scrubbed to an inch of its life, erasing any existence of the horror that had happened here only hours ago. Heaven was anything but careless.

  Legion descended the stairs and made his way over, he looked exhausted and downtrodden. Caleb braced himself for bad news. “How is she?” Legion sighed and glanced around at the clean-up.

  “It’s touch and go if she’ll pull through. What happened down there?” A sharp pain stabbed at Caleb’s heart and he cleared his throat.

  “I want to show you something.” He lead Legion over to a body bag in the centre of the floor. “They just brought him up. Do you recognise him?” Legion stooped down and examined the cold corpse.

  “Unfortunately.” He finally admitted. “Is he the one that attacked you?” Caleb noticed he left out Holly’s name. The pain was all too near for all of them. He nodded in reply.

  “She saved my life.” His voice broke and Legion stood back up looking uncomfortable.

  “What happened?” He repeated after a while.

  “He took me by surprise. I was ready for anything but him. By the time I’d sensed him it was too late. He carried a weapon of some kind, a blade. It was the last thing I saw before I passed out. I would have been a goner if Holly hadn’t intervened. How is he even out?”

  “I have reason to believe Lucifer set him free along with Dante.”

  “Then Lucifer was behind this. They wanted Holly.” Legion shook his head.

  “If they had they wouldn’t have hurt her. Dante may have pledged his allegiance to my father but after being imprisoned by him, he’s acting on his own wishes. They went after Holly to get to Dominic.”

  “Does he know Dante’s free?”

  “No. And for now that’s how it stays. He’s got enough to deal with.”

  “Why would Lucifer unleash him, and why now? It took Dominic and a small army to catch him.”

  “Dominic should have killed him when he had the chance.” Legion spat.

  “They were…friends.” Caleb countered.

  “Dante doesn’t have friends. He played Dominic and now his making him suffer for showing mercy. What’s the cause of death?” Legion asked motioning to the body on the floor.

  “Broken neck.” Legion nodded , but his mind was elsewhere. “Where’s Castillo?”

  “Around. Downstairs I think.” And with that he watched Legion take off. Caleb gingerly bent down and zipped up the bag. Caleb had chosen to stay behind and help Castillo with the aftermath, but he was seriously regretting not being with Holly. She had saved his life by giving hers, and if these hours were her last on this earth, Caleb had to be there.

  He contemplated just leaving, but decided it was better he talked to Cas first. He would want to know that the clean-up had just about finished. Hobbling down the stairs he paused outside the chamber room.

  “Are you sure?” Castillo’s voice asked, his tone shaky.

  “Yes. Cas we need to stop fooling around
and go after him before he…” Legion trailed off, and Caleb wondered whom they were discussing.

  “The council has denied your request Legion. After last night there are too frightened of Lucifer to oppose him.” Caleb heard something smash.

  “It was Dante!” Legion yelled. “We should call another meeting…”

  “It will do no good. I’m afraid it’s just us.” Castillo interrupted. Caleb heard him sigh. “What I’m about to tell you does not leave this room, agreed? As of two hours ago the battle for supremacy started. Heaven is under siege as we speak.” Caleb had to hold in his startled gasp.

  It was a while before anyone spoke.

  “How long can your defences hold?” Legion asked in a flat voice.

  “Honestly…I don’t know. We won’t win, they outnumber us five to one.”

  “That’s why he unleashed Dante.” Legion murmured and Caleb had to strain to hear him. “To distract us.”

  “After this mess is cleared up, I intend to join my family and fight alongside my brothers. I’m afraid you’re on your own Legion.” Caleb could plainly hear the pity in Castillo’s tone. “What is this plan of yours anyway, I never got the chance to hear it.”

  “It doesn’t matter now. If Holly dies he won’t call off the assault, you know that right?”

  “Do you really think she will?”

  “I don’t know. But it doesn’t look good. Lucifer can’t free himself without her and if he knew what Dante had done, then he wouldn’t have attacked. But once he does find out he’ll show you no mercy Castillo. You’ll feel the brunt of his anger.”

  “I know.” Castillo said with a sad tinge. “How did we let it come to this? We have lost the war and the world along with it.” There was a heavy pause then he continued. “Legion, we will hold them at bay as long as possible, but you do realize once we are gone, you Dominic and Caleb will be the only thing standing in his way. I never thought I’d say this but…you will be this world’s last hope.”