Against the Fallen

by Devin Lee Carlson

  “You could’ve warned us.” Ariane cuffed my shoulder and smiled to show she respected my decision.

  A loud snort blew into a tissue. Serine sniffled. “Is that what awaits us if the implosive device doesn’t work? A death worse than imaginable?”

  “Maybe,” I uttered. “But I will do everything in my power to prevent it.”

  Ariane squeezed my shoulder. None of them could blame me. They had all begged for the truth. No other way to demonstrate how the Screnian suffered than to entrap the agonizing screams inside my mind for everyone to relive. I had released only a smidgen of the mass destruction and agony to spare them the full-impact.

  On my way out the door, I said, “Just so you know, I intend to expose the whole shebang to Cayiel and crew.” I wanted to check on Sabree first.

  Ariane spoke for all. “We will try the implosive device, but God help us if it fails.”

  God, please help us.

  28

  FANGS AND A HALO

  L ater that day, I planned to enter the portal to detonate the implosive device. But first, I had to warn Cayiel about the Screnian clan’s fate. The Malakhim envoy was also due to arrive that morning, which gave me two reasons to visit without delay. I hoped to confront the winged bullies in humanoid form.

  Leaving worry and extra baggage behind, I went alone. No one heard or saw me sneak out. Outside the Caderen complex, I sped in circles around the elevator, my body an unseen blur until a clan member entered or exited. Traffic lighter than usual, I zipped around for almost fifteen minutes. My stash of Colton tablets would fuel me all day if need be. Patience paid off when someone finally stepped outside. I sped by so fast, the Caderen missed seeing me slip into the elevator before the door slid shut.

  The deeper the elevator car descended, the faster my heart raced. When the door opened on the lowest level, I marched toward the council chamber and paused at the marble entryway. Could the Malakhim sense me outside the shielded metal? I doubted so if they were in physical form. The doors opened just as I hovered a hand over the control. The premonition answered my question.

  Without pause, bolder than normal, I marched inside. Cayiel sat while the Elders stood behind him. I stifled a gasp before anyone caught my astonishment. At the opposite end of the table, a few Malakhim remained seated while three stepped in front. The aggressive formation convinced me that they weren’t here to greet me with open arms. They meant harm. No question now. They had sensed my arrival.

  Even in physical form, the Malakhim retained their unearthly magnificence. Radiant wings draped behind each one, giving the impression of long flowing, white capes luminous with electrical energy. Besides looking a lot like Loree, their humanoid stature ranged from five to six feet tall. No flaming or blinding light reached out to torch us to ash. These were not the all-powerful Lighted Ones.

  Tales of the brilliant, omnipresent beings had warned most, that if looked upon, no one would be able to see the archangel’s massive size in its entirety. Its radiance, alone, burned the eyes of immortals and mortals alike. Except for the archangel who possessed Turian, the one who debuted at the rest stop from hell, I had never witnessed a Lighted One inside the portal. Some claim its flaming magnificence mimics the stars and galaxies. As luck dictated, only a Dark One had tried to summon me.

  The tall and lanky Malakhim, characteristics caused by the absence of gravity in the portal dimensions, lined up before me. The effeminate male standing in front, flaunted full lips and long sweeping hair. His large protruding zombie-like eyes, the irises translucent, left me unsettled. The nosophor queen in Mexico came to mind.

  “We have returned to Earth for one purpose—deliver the exiled to their rightful place.”

  Still affixed on the bulbous eyes, I shook the heebie-jeebies aside to speak a comeback. “Rightful place? You mean imprisoned inside a Dark One.” This creature’s melodic voice almost caught me off guard. They intended to toss the Fallen into the portal. Set them adrift without wings. If this envoy had hoped to confront one of the anti-beings, then I had no qualms in obliging them an audience.

  The lead male spoke again. “You have no business here. Leave or we will be forced to take action.”

  The resonant tone raised the hairs on the back of my neck. What could he do to me? Bitch slap me? “The Caderen are my business.” My gaze shifted to the six as I stepped up, eyeing each one with certainty. “I’m here to reveal the truth. How you ruthlessly persecuted the Screnian.”

  A cry of displeasure and a sweep of the male’s thin arm knocked me off my feet without touching me. Never saw it coming. My body flailed across the floor until it crashed against the door. His telekinesis wallop matched Loree’s in strength.

  “I will crush you,” the Malakhim roared.

  Wrong answer. My teeth gritted as I climbed to my feet. “In exchange, let me offer a piece of my mind.” The Screnian clan’s fate in its entirety rushed from me telepathically to all those present. Nothing held back, Cayiel dropped to his knees, shaking and weeping. Several elders behind him collapsed in their chairs. As predicted, the Malakhim seemed unaffected, unimpressed by the onslaught. Pleased with themselves, their smiles exposed fully extended fangs.

  The divergent mix of fangs and a halo ridiculed the gravity of the standoff between the Malakhim and the anti-being—yours truly. Renewed exposure to the full-impact of the horrifying massacre erupted my rage. Both eyes burned with the image of them exploding altogether, fixated on the fatal scenario until they convulsed like water droplets bouncing on a hot grill. One by one, their screams hushed with their exploding bodies. The remains spiraled in a cloud of dust, save one. The lead male escaped my wrath, my choice, certain we would meet again. The battle had begun.

  Victorious, I confronted Cayiel, expecting his support. Instead, fear reigned in the immortal’s old soul. “Sorry, I revealed the harsh truth,” my strained voice whispered. “I will help you if and when they return.” The Caderen would never understand why I planned to borrow their implosive device. Like my clan, they’d probably laugh at the idea and scold me for the theft. Silence spoke instead of words.

  “But you are only one,” Cayiel said, his voice breaking.

  This was true while Ariane was with child. “A Nephilim of one.” Their pained expressions convinced me to defend my dry wit. “Whether you believe it or not, right now I’m the only one who can stop them. I could’ve dusted all six if I chose. What’s a few hundred more.” Would it be possible? “After I leave here, I’m going to block Earth’s portal entry.” As though hit by a crashing wave, the elders’ protests invaded my mind all at once. “Aye, it means we’ll be imprisoned on Earth, but it will also mean an end to the Malakhim attacks. Our security and well-being are worth it.”

  “The Malakhim ambassador revealed why they returned to Earth after 5,000 years of disregard—because of the anti-being. You.” Cayiel brushed me off when he shook his head in denial. “Yes you. You exploited time travel to destroy Turian and to save Sabree from death, death by your own hands. If we side with you, it could mean genocide; however, you do offer hope, and Sabree believes in your abilities.” Cayiel paused and waited for the rest of the council to nod approval. “Do what you must. You will hear from me when they next attack.”

  A since of awe from the elders and the rest of the council rushed my mind. Apparently, the show of power had impressed them. None expected me to destroy five Malakhim at will. Bowing out of respect, I exited the council chamber.

  3 3 3

  Inside the wormhole connecting Earth to the portal, my wings flapped, hovering me in place while I adjusted the implosive device snared inside the Malakhim net. It would prevent the device from drifting. Ariane’s laughter still rang in my ears. She had shot my ideas down once too often. Imploding the wormhole entry was probably craziest to date, so she might be right. Then why engage in this farce only to rid the Caderen of the deadly weapon? Wish I knew.

  The timer set to three seconds should do the trick. Behind me, the worm
hole rippled from an unexpected entry. I spun around and caught a glimpse of the figure flying toward me. Shoulders rigid, I held my position. Overrun with guilt, my fingers twisted within the net, careful not to free the bomb.

  Turian flew closer until he hovered a few feet away, his black wings beating to the rhythm of his two hearts.

  Not one to run away, I puffed out my chest and addressed him telepathically. “Why aren’t you drowning in the Blood Sea world?” I showed no remorse and scowled instead. So much for the ruby, not such an all-powerful lock after all. “Who released your sorry ass?”

  “I did. The ruby was forged from my own heart. I ruled over it until you claimed it as your own. The ruby returned to me once you released it into the Blood Sea. Foolish to believe it would bid your command.” Flames flickered from his irises.

  Noting the inferno, Athorsis, the archangel from hell escaped and once again possessed Turian. Possessed the ability to also manipulate time travel it seemed. “What do you want?”

  “Don’t be alarmed, I’m here to help. A swarm of Malakhim congregated outside the opening to Earth. I pardoned the lot.”

  “Pardoned?”

  “As in destroyed.”

  “You call that help?” I no longer sensed Turian. This worried me. “What kind of sick game are you playing?” The being inside Turian’s body seemed more at peace. The urgency to explain overpowered me. “I left Turian there, so you couldn’t repossess his body. You threatened Ariane.”

  “I enjoyed witnessing the all-powerful, rebellious son murder his father repeatedly. Fear not, you will never be able to destroy me. Or I you.”

  Not murder. Never. Vengeance for what the bastard did to my mother had taken precedence. I imprisoned Turian to protect Ariane and would do the same to Athorsis if given just cause. My sneer twisted into a frown as an idea sparked. Did Athorsis understand Earthly science? I doubted so.

  “Then stick around.” I pointed at the implosive device. “Not sure if this thing will work. If it does, it should warn us of another Malakhim raid,” I lied telepathically. Maybe the device would destroy Athorsis if not the wormhole. Let him hold the net steady while I detonate the device. I kept any thoughts of weapons and explosions clear of my mind. “Can you help?”

  “Of course, and, Brian, at the darkest moment comes the light,” Athorsis growled inside my mind. Flaming arrows shot from his eyes. One struck me in the chest, burrowing deep into my heart.

  A cry filled the entire wormhole until its walls shuddered. The excruciating burn tore into my heart as the organ absorbed the flame, embracing the blaze until extinguished. I barely hung on to consciousness as my free hand reached for the detonator, impervious to the idea of dying alongside the archangel. The searing flame urged me that death would be more pleasurable than living a second longer.

  No! Athorsis roared. His eyes ignited, shooting another arrow into my hand before I could push the button.

  This time, I howled from anguish instead of failure. Both hands burned along with my heart. The electrical energy inside me crackled, and then flickered like a dying ember. My energized form should have been snuffed out. Sparks streamed from my eyes when the net ensnared the bomb as it drifted toward Athorsis. An enflamed finger pushed the control. Three seconds until detonation, not enough time to escape in my injured state. I squeezed both eyes shut to glimpse upon the images of Ariane and Sabree. Good-bye…

  No blast. Not even a spark. One eye opened.

  A magnetic force shot the device into the archangel’s arms. His torso and wings folded over to encase the bomb, absorbing the implosion as if a summer breeze brushed against him. The netting survived, held by Athorsis as he looked up, his eyes aflame. He glared at me, resentment filling his heart. “If that didn’t destroy you, it surely would have sucked your entirety into a miniscule ball. Fool. How heroic of you to sacrifice yourself for those you love. Alas, I have failed. However powerful, you are not the anti-being I had hoped to create. I shall destroy you along with your sister.”

  “No!” It seemed Athorsis had understood implosive science after all. Damn well shoved it down my throat. I reached for the amulet to select the instant-escape mode I had used inside the Dark One. JLS came to mind but doubted I had the strength to engage the speed.

  Athorsis summoned the same magnetic force and shot the net back at me. It wrapped around my head, wings, and torso. Easier to remove inside the portal, Athorsis pulled the amulet from my wrist. “Did you hope to use this worthless trinket to escape?” Cackles escaped his throat.

  “Here’s my lesson to you.” He mashed my wrists into one another. A molten flame shot from his eyes. The blaze welded them together. He laughed when my sobs filled his mind. “This is what you amount to—petty martyr—not even worth sending to the Dark One. Go weep at your friends’ feet.

  “Fock you,” I spat inside his soulless mind. Before I could blink away the tears, Athorsis shot me through the wormhole like discarded trash.

  Tumbling toward Earth, my wings, tangled within the net, could not rectify my entry. Thunder roared as my flailing body tore through the portal exit, landing a mile outside the Caderen complex. Net and wings nose-dived into the sand. A driving force more destructive than the actual implosion, summersaulted me across the desert. Sand froze in midair for several seconds before it sprinkled to the ground. The portal window snapped shut with a thunderous roar.

  Twisted in a heap, I gagged on a curse, my gaze locked on the heavens above. Pinpricks stars lit the night sky. Agony, inflamed nerves, and charred tissue wrenched the fire from my soul. Burnt caramel and cooked flesh polluted my nostrils. Nausea tugged on my gut. Barely able to focus, my gaze narrowed as it examined the scorched skin fusing my wrists together. A broken bone jutted from where the amulet had been.

  Whimpering, I squeezed my eyes shut. Consciousness ebbed along with an exhaled breath. Myself included, I had failed everyone. The amulet landed at my feet as though Athorsis had tossed it aside as an afterthought.

  A few feet from my crumpled body, mist swirled in place, resembling a swarm of lightning bugs. Two figures took shape. Sabree and Gibyss squatted low on their haunches posed to do battle. I tried to call out to them, but no words came, still fighting the battle for consciousness. Sabree spun around to observe the battle lost—my battered, tangled body.

  “Oh, my God,” he cried out, lunging to the ground on all fours. “Brian! Speak to me.”

  Gibyss stood watch. “I doubt he can talk. Look at the poor soul.”

  Palpitating my neck, Sabree said, “I feel a pulse, weak though. What the hell happened?” A gasp escaped his lips when he examined the state of my wrists. His touch, light and cautious, enflamed my torched nerves.

  “His amulet’s missing.” Sabree mumbled a few curses as he fumbled with the phone, texting. “Hang on, Brian, we’ll get you home.”

  “He needs a hospital. The Caderen facility is nearby.”

  Sabree choked on rising emotions. “No way, not there.”

  Gibyss made sense as usual. Most certainly, I needed a hospital, but Ariane’s lab and Serine’s medical expertise would have to do. Sabree spoke on my behalf. Thank goodness great minds think alike.

  “Sorry, home will have to do.” Sabree noticed a glint of metal when I shuffled my feet. “The amulet.” He grabbed the bracelet and stashed it.

  Seconds later, the life left my body with a final breath.

  29

  THE WEAKEST LINK: SABREE

  T ired of pacing, frustrated with the endless wait, remorse plagued Sabree. His lifelong dream—no scratch that—fantasy of returning home had met its end today. How he wanted to grieve, yet anger reared its venomous head in its place. Selfish perhaps? No! He almost swiped a vase off its pedestal but left it intact for Brian to knock over instead.

  The Malakhim had stripped him of his only hope to reclaim his former existence. Return to the portal universes with his wings restored. The self-centered thought faded, replaced by thoughts of his friend. The bastards
tried to sever Brian’s ability to connect with the portal, to time travel. His rage smoldered. Wrathful desires zeroed in on a mister’s one true weapon as his body dissipated.

  Moments later, Sabree reappeared from one of his private vaults strategically placed worldwide. He extended an arm and unfolded his fingers slowly, stretching each one until his palm flattened. Once released of pressure, the walnut-sized fiery opal on his palm vibrated transformer-like, wielding into a jewel-encrusted hilt. The two equally in length cross guards jutted from either side. From the center, polished metal unfolded into a long, sleek blade—a mister’s sword. The laser-like blade, its flame-red blaze could slice through metal and weld it simultaneously with one cut.

  His fingers wrapped around the hilt to form a comfortable union between flesh and metal. Centuries had slipped by since he last yielded his metallic comrade. A blind fury took control as Sabree rehearsed his fantasy of defeating the Malakhim.

  Before he exhausted himself, he paused with the sword poised overhead and inhaled in a deep breath. He stood dead center in the living room, his darting eyes keen on the shavings of pillow foam that floated around until they settled on top of the shredded sofa.

  “Oh no, Sabree,” Ariane’s voice called from the entrance. “You killed the couch.”

  The sword clanged like a tower bell when it hit the tiled floor. Because he released his grip, the sword became inert, the floor undamaged. His knees buckled.

  Unable to take her eyes off the couch, she updated him on her brother’s condition. “Brian will live, his pride more twisted and broken than his bones, which are fusing well. Other than shot in the heart with an arrow, Athorsis inflicted the worst of his injuries by flushing him through the portal onto Earth. He’s a mess: dislocated shoulder, broken pelvis, spine, and neck, not to mention a severe concussion. Fortunately, the net held him together when he tucked in for the crash landing or he’d be in worse shape. Body parts and limbs strewn across the desert.”