by Holly Vane
The demons stuck together and the wolves were finding it hard to separate them. Holly slowed when she heard a yelp looking back she saw a demon grab Sam and snap his back with his bare hands. The rest of the pack were too busy fighting for their lives to acknowledge the death of their leader.
The demon tossed Sam’s broken body away and grinned at Holly. Beside her she sensed Ray coiling to spring but stepped in front. She didn’t want him suffering a similar fate. Hate surged through her and she felt something slither lose inside her. The demon lost his grin and gasped for breath, as did the others around him. Their sudden weakness made it easier for few surviving wolves to get the upper hand. The demon stretched out his hands to her just before he collapsed, face first onto the tarmac.
Only three wolves were left standing, and they staggered to Sam’s lifeless body. Holly surged ahead and ordered Ray away. They had done what they had promised. Lucifer was within reach. It was time to end this once and for all.
Dominic and Legion had decided the best way to distract Lucifer was by letting him pummel them into dust. When she got to them, Legion was barely standing and Dominic was bleeding heavily.
When they saw her approach, they flung themselves at Lucifer trying to keep his focus on them. Swallowing hard and with thoughts of Sam Layla and Miles in her head Holly charged.
Lucifer swatted Legion away and was tussling with Dom when she got within touching distance. He cocked his head and threw out an arm but Holly ducked under it. Lucifer however had a lifetime of war under his belt and wasn’t stupid. On sensing his precarious position he drew Dominic to him, keeping him hostage over his heart. Diverting her flow mid step Holly drove the dagger into Lucifer’s thigh instead.
He let out a war cry and hurled Dominic at her, he collided into her with such momentum they rolled over the ground. Dominic landed heavily on his back, and Holly would have fell on her stomach if Caleb hadn’t slid, like a base baller heading for second base, underneath her, easing her landing.
She lay on top of him trying to catch her breath as Lucifer bellowed behind them. “You okay?” He asked staring into her with his piercing sapphire eyes. “I think so.”
“Then get back up and send that piece of shit back to hell.” He held out a sword and Holly smiled before Dominic pulled her up.
Legion was dodging his father’s blows when they got to their feet. They had lost the surprise element and now had to rely on their fighting ability to penetrate Lucifer’s defences.
While Dominic and Caleb raced to help a tired Legion. Holly circled looking for a way in. She needed to be back in the place where she had been in Oregon when those nutters had surrounded her and Miles in the mall parking lot. Everyone told her that her power had no equal, yet so far it was proving useless. If only she could get past angry and hit damn right frightening.
Holly made herself think of Michael. Made her mind focus on her mother’s pale scared face as she lay dying in Holly’s arms. The strange chanting filled her head, she had had heard it before and knew what it meant.
Holly was forcing herself into a dangerous state, but if she didn’t they were going to lose. The voices rose in pitch till the red mist covered her vision. Dropping the sword she smiled when the ground started to tremble.
Lucifer’s head snapped round and stared at her with pure venom. “You can’t contend with me.”
“You sound like Michael.” She replied in a voice not entirely her own. “Look how he ended up.” The wind picked up and the thunder struck the ground. Lucifer hurled Caleb at her but his grin faded when Caleb slowed. He looked down at them while floating in the air. Slowly Holly lowered him to the ground.
“Okay little girl.” Lucifer told her. “Let’s play.”
15
Dominic pulled himself up for the hundredth time that night, and lost his breath when he saw Holly throw down with his father. She had a wild look on her face and her black curls had turned fiery red.
Her eyes pulsed with excitement and Dominic knew she had gone to a place they couldn’t follow, just like Oregon when Caleb had had to talk her down after she completely lost it.
“What is she doing?” He muttered.
“She’s starting to believe.” Legion whispered limping up to him. Lucifer hurled a fireball at her and they watched Holly bat it away effortlessly. Nearby trees swayed as mother nature reacted to two primal forces clashing.
Even Lucifer failed to hide his appreciation; they danced each other’s blows waiting for their opponent to trip up.
Holly needed to hurry. Dawn was breaking and nearly all the brave souls that had joined they’re suicidal mission to stop Lucifer taking over was dead or dying. Two battle scarred wolves were all that remained of Sam’s pack. They kept together and attacked as a unit but both were bleeding heavily and looked exhausted.
Cassandra May was kneeing over her husband and dead sisters. Dominic felt loss stab at him, the youngest May had been disembowelled and her entrails had been dumped a few yards away.
The Elementals tricks had proved no match for demons and they had been slaughtered some time ago. The Black Panther’s head rested a few yards away completely severed from its body.
Balion and his crowd were still standing but even they were starting to show fatigue. Ray was busy trying to fend off the demons that were attacking the downed lion. Dominic had been in battles before but never with comrades that he cared for. It hurt to see the ground soaked in their blood. They had given it a good go, but they had lost the battle.
Their only hope was Holly. If she could somehow cut the serpent’s head off, the body would flounder. Demons weren’t known for their loyalty, if there master died they would turn tail and flee. It was the only way any of them was walking away from this, but as a surge of demons turned their attention to them, Dominic knew it was a long shot.
Something happened then that none of them, including Lucifer could have seen coming. A golden hazy light broke through the dark grey clouds, and even Legion stopped fighting the group of demons that surrounded him. The light radiated warmth and hope. Castillo stepped out from it like it was a door. His presence threw Lucifer off his game and provided Holly with the opportunity she had been waiting for.
Showing no mercy Dominic saw her thrust the sword in her hands at him. It hurtled through the air and Dom watched it with breathless anticipation. Hands grabbed him and the sword stopped abruptly, it just hung there in the air inches away from Dominic’s heart.
Lucifer had recovered and did the only thing that would make Holly halt in her tracks. Instead of using his power and taking a 50/50 chance of surviving, he grabbed Dom who thanks to the demons he had been fighting, was stupidly within reach.
Everyone froze and even Holly lost her certainty. Dominic stared at the sword and inwardly grimaced. He knew what was going to have to happen; he also knew Holly wouldn’t do it.
“Let him go.” She snapped. Lucifer held him firmly in position.
“Not a chance. You want me you’ll have to kill you’re precious Dominic.” His laugh was cold and heartless.
“Brother.” Castillo stepped forward. “End this madness. Do the right thing, you’re son doesn’t need to die.” Cas only enraged Lucifer further and he spat at him.
“Scum! Shame you didn’t show that much concern when Michael kicked me out of Heaven.”
“He had to Luc. You were wrong.”
“Wrong! These abominations are flawed. They murder, steal, rape and mutilate each other! They blame me but do you want to know something, I don’t even have to nudge them. Human beings are the worst thing father ever created. They are evil, not me!” Castillo sighed.
“Think of Eva Luc. She wouldn’t want you to hurt your own child.”
“She didn’t want a lot of things to happen but they have!” He turned to Holly. “You haven’t got what it takes girl. You won’t kill the only thing you live for, so put the sword down!”
“Holly…” Legion said. Dominic saw him shake his head slightly.
Tears formed in her eyes and the red disappeared from her hair. She looked like herself again and Dominic knew it was or never.
“Holly listen to me.” He said slowly, fighting the pain that filled him with every breath. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go, but he would rather die than her and their son. “It’s okay princess.” Wetness ran down his face and it was then Dom realized he was crying, which only set Holly off worse.
“Shut up!” Lucifer snapped at him.
“I love you.”
“Dom I can’t…” She fell to her knees and Caleb went to her.
“Of course you can. You can do anything you set your mind to. You’re going to be an amazing mother.” He enunciated the last word so she would understand what he was trying to tell her.
“What?” Lucifer and Cas gasped at the same time. Legion glared at him but Dominic knew he got it, as did Holly.
Something changed in her, the tears still flowed but a resolve had set on her grim face. Getting to her feet she whispered. “I love you…forgive me.”
“Already have.” He whispered back keeping his eyes trained on hers as the sword rushed forward and pierced his heart.
16
One year later…
Caleb Williams perched on the chimney pot and watched. Snowflakes fell from the Heavens covering Cherry Falls in a white dusting. He loved this time of year. Christmas brought out the best in humans and it made up for the complete jerks some of them were for the rest of the year.
Caleb came here whenever his duties would allow it. It was proven hard indeed to keep Jade on the straight and narrow, but she was learning to trust people again. Caleb had chosen to resume his job as Guardian Angel and Heaven had drastically changed under the new and improved outlook Castillo had developed. They were finally doing what God, their father wanted. Guiding people, protected innocents. It was satisfying work.
He came to this sleepy town to watch Holly Adams, and to visit Dominic’s grave. His death had been hard to bare for all of them, but there was so much that had been left unsaid and Caleb wished he had said them when he had had the chance.
It was Holly who wanted Dom to rest in Cherry Falls, it was a way of keeping of him close and she went to talk to him almost every day.
The door of Jo’s parents’ house opened and Jo ran out all wrapped up from the cold, and threw a snowball at her fiancé Reg. Holly held onto a small hand as she crossed the threshold.
Colt Jeffery Prince had been born on May 1st, he had Dominic’s eyes and pale skin. He had been the only reason Holly sacrificed Dominic and why she struggled with a life she didn’t want.
Caleb had practically had to pry her fingers from Dom’s headstone the day of the funeral. And never wanted to leave her, but Legion had assured him that it would only be harder on her if they stuck around. Legion visited his nephew every Sunday and they often went for a walk after Holly’s Sunday dinners.
Upon Lucifer’s death he had taken over as boss of hell, and had immediately came to a truce with Castillo.
The eternal war was finally over.
Hell had a purpose and Heaven could never get rid of it completely, and there was still the odd run ins between Angels and demons but nobody ever died.
The world kept spinning on its axis and everything was better thanks to Dominic Prince’s sacrifice.
Holly had returned to the family home in Cherry Falls and had been going to school over in Greenfields, she had never graduated thanks to Michael and despite Dominic leaving her everything he owed, properties, cars and a never ending bank account, she worked part time at the local pet store.
Caleb felt Jade call and hated leaving so quick, especially when Holly brought out Colt’s new plastic battery operated race car. Jo and Reg watched with wishful eyes as Holly placed him in it and kept hold as the car whirled to life.
Colt giggled as the car bumped over the pavement. Caleb took off grudgingly so he didn’t see Colt’s temper tantrum at being took in for Christmas dinner. Over Holly’s shoulder his red piercing eyes burned…
The end.
Holly Vane
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Table of Contents
The Eternal War Series Box Set
Midpoint