by Carly Fall
As she approached, he stepped out into the moonlight, and fear and anger surged within her as she came face to face with Ulric.
“Hello, Wife.”
She said nothing.
“It is nice to see you again.”
“I can’t say the same.”
He threw his head back and laughed, and when their gazes locked again, his eyes glowed red. “I have magnificent plans for you.”
She involuntarily stepped up until she stood inches away from him. He grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her flush against him. Fear clawed at her spine as she stared into his evil eyes, her whole body trembling.
“But first, we have to go wait for your knight.”
He yanked her toward the portal, and then shoved her into the crater. She struggled to get away from him and run, but he grabbed her again and held on tightly to her biceps, his fingers digging into her flesh. Words in a tongue she’d never heard before fell from his lips, and then suddenly, she floated in a red mist, Ulric by her side.
The fog caused her eyes to burn and water, and she squeezed them shut. She became dizzy and disoriented, as if they had tumbled from a tall building. Not knowing which way was up, or what would happen when they landed, a scream of terror tore from her throat, and she once again fought to get away from his grasp.
Other cries soon intermingled with her own, and heat licked at her skin as the smell of Sulphur gagged her. The air around her became hotter and thicker with each passing second.
Suddenly, the free fall stopped, and she landed with force on a hard, warm surface. Crying out and wincing at the pain in her hip and elbow, she opened her eyes to see she lay on the edge of a slab of red rock with Ulric standing above her, a gleeful smile on his face.
Her fear escalated as she glanced over the side and found flames dancing below her. Sweat dripped from her brow, and her heart raced in her chest as the sound of people shrieking and wailing registered. No. Was it possible he’d taken her to Hell?
The rock stood in a large cavern that stretched up as far as she could see. The slab she lay on must have been hundreds and hundreds of feet high above the flames, but they roared below her and seemed to dance higher and higher with each passing moment. Their crackling sound, and the screams that echoed off the walls, proved to be almost deafening, and she knew if she spoke, she’d have to yell to be heard.
“What is this?” she asked, getting to her feet and knowing the answer, but needing to hear it for herself.
“This, my sweet wife, is the first tier of Hell.”
She had to get out, yet didn’t see a way no matter where she turned. There certainly weren’t any exit signs, and it sounded as if everyone who resided here burned in the eternal flames below. If they knew of a way, they would certainly try to escape themselves.
“Why are we here, Ulric?”
Visions of being trapped here for eternity played through her mind, and she knew she’d rather be dead. However, didn’t a person have to be dead in the first place to remain in Hell? If he kept her here, would she die? Could people die in Hell? The cries assaulting her ears revealed the answer to be a resounding no—instead, it seemed she would live through an eternity of torture and pain.
“Right now, we wait. Jayden will come after you, I am sure. Once he is here, I am going to make sure that both of you are with me when the portal closes. Then, we shall all be trapped here together, like one big happy family.”
He laughed again, and then morphed into his demon form, and she found him far more frightening than he had looked the first time she’d seen him like this. His hands curled into claws, while his skin glowed red. His eyes lost their color, turning into two black orbs while fangs protruded from his upper lip.
His forked tongue slithered from his lips as his voice became low and guttural, and she stepped back from him, suppressing the scream of terror that tried to surface.
“Then, he can watch me torture you over and over again, for all eternity. I have been waiting a long time for this, the three of us back together again.”
Her knees gave out, and she sank to the stone floor. Surely, Jayden would come for her—she had no doubt about that. But she wouldn’t stand by as he became trapped here with her.
She thought of the holy knife still in her pants. If she could kill Ulric, then this would be over. But, how would she get out of here?
No, she needed Jayden here with her. He would know what to do and how to escape once she buried the blade in Ulric’s heart.
She trembled unstoppably as she studied her surroundings again, wishing that she didn’t have to wait for Jayden, but she couldn’t kill the demon until she had a way out.
18
Jayden jumped from the roof as the sun began its ascent, worry coursing through him. He'd thought for certain that Ulric would have come for Bella last night. The Event would end in sixteen hours, and everything would return to normal. As he tried to think like a demon and figure out what Ulric had in mind, he could only come up with two scenarios.
His first thought was that Ulric had no intention of returning to Hell. Therefore, he wanted the universal tears to close. If that happened, once he came after Bella, there'd be no way for them to send him back to Hell.
His second thought scared him even more than his first. If Ulric came for Bella before the rifts closed, he could trap her in Hell with him for all eternity. Bile rose in his throat as he tried to push that consideration aside.
As he walked across the small patch of grass, his skin tingled as he sensed a paranormal being. He turned to find Celestria running toward him at full speed, looking as if she may attack him. Pulling out his sword, he prepared to slay her if necessary.
She stopped just out of his reach and snarled at him, her yellow eyes glowing. Her fur began to shimmer, and a moment later, she stood before him.
“Your human is in the hands of the demon, Heavenly One.”
Time seemed to stop at her words, and a bit of panic ensued. No, she had to be wrong. Bella laid safely tucked away in bed. Ulric hadn’t been near the house—Jayden would have sensed him if he had.
“No. She’s inside.”
“You’re wrong, Heavenly One. Go and look. I saw him drag her into the portal with my own eyes.”
The panic turned to cold fear as he turned and raced inside. “Bella!”
Her bedroom door hung open, and she didn’t respond to his calls.
Quickly, he checked every room, his throat constricted. No, that evil bastard didn’t have her—not again.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm down. He needed information, and Celestria seemed to be able to provide some.
Heading back outside, he found her waiting for him. “Tell me exactly what you saw.”
She nodded. “He held her by the arm and pulled her over to the portal. He said words that I didn’t understand in a language I’ve never heard. Then, they were gone.”
Where would he take her?
“It’s almost time for the portal to close, Heavenly One. If you’re going to act, I would suggest you hurry.”
He nodded. Ulric would have taken her to Hell, without a doubt. However, how would he get there? He didn’t know the incantation, but he guessed someone in Heaven would.
He needed to return there.
“Thank you, Celestria. I appreciate your help.”
“Of course.”
Her skin shimmered. She dropped to her knees and turned, then trotted off down the street.
As he hurried to town to access the portal back to Heaven, he wondered how Ulric had gotten her out of the house without Jayden sensing him. It had to be some evil magic only demons possessed. As an Angel of Death, he wasn’t privy to the finer details of Hell and demons, just general knowledge. In fact, some humans who worshipped Satan might know more than him.
He ran harder, trying not to think of the past, but focus on what needed to be done in the present. His efforts proved unsuccessful as memories surfaced of the night he’d raced to save
her all those centuries ago.
* * *
Many weeks had passed since the wedding, and Jayden had not been sober a single night since. Each day passed the same—he woke with an ache in his heart and head, honed his battle skills, then spent his evenings gambling and consuming large amounts of ale. When he could barely see, he’d grab the nearest wench and take her upstairs, where he’d pretend he made love to Arabella. Of course, it was never the same, but for a few moments, he could imagine she existed in his arms.
War still loomed on the horizon, and every day, hope of peace lessened. He wished for a brutal battle, in which he could fight valiantly and die with honor once his enemy had run a sword through his ruined, decrepit heart.
Tonight, he shared a table with a few acquaintances, and he waited for his turn to try his luck with the dice. He watched one of his tablemates closely, knowing the man had a propensity for cheating. If Jayden so much as suspected him of foul play, he would haul him outside and beat him until blood was drawn and the scoundrel begged for mercy.
He heard the front door open, but did not bother to discover who had entered. Whoever it had been had caused snickers and laughter among the other patrons. Taking a long sip of ale, he kept his gaze on the dice and watched the other players’ every movement. He itched for a fight, and hoped this son of a bitch could give him what he craved.
Then, a hand fell upon his shoulder.
When he turned, his heart stuttered in his chest at the sight of Agnes. At first, he thought his eyes deceived him, but then she spoke.
“Hello, Sir Jayden.”
He stood slowly, thankful he hadn’t drunk himself into oblivion quite yet. His legs felt sturdy as he gazed down at her.
“Agnes?”
He couldn’t contain his shock, feeling as though his tongue had suddenly turned into a large wad of cloth. His blood raced through his body, and he grasped the back of his chair as he grew dizzy. He glanced around the room, ignoring the questioning stares and the whispers from the other patrons as he searched for Arabella.
Agnes eyed his tablemates, her cheeks turning crimson as she spoke in a low voice, not meeting his gaze. “Jayden, I must speak with you concerning a private matter.”
“Is she here?”
She shook her head and finally looked at him. “No.”
Only then did he see the tears shimmering in her eyes, and the lines of worry creasing her forehead. She wore a coarse, black cloak, and it reminded him of the time he’d seen Arabella in town wearing something similar, but of a finer fabric.
Grasping her elbow, he guided her outside, his dicing and ale long forgotten. His jaw clenched as he led her into a narrow alley between the tavern and another establishment, seeking the cover of darkness.
He turned to her. “What is it?”
The tears fell as she sobbed, and his stomach roiled with concern. “Sir Jayden, you must come with me back to Praegan! I do believe he is going to kill her!”
Furrowing his brow, he let her words sink in, and he found himself confused. Perhaps he had indulged in too much ale, after all. “Who is going to kill her?”
“Her husband! Prince Ulric! He is an awful man. He chains her to the bed and rapes her. He hits her. He is an evil, sadistic demon straight from the bowels of Hell!”
She fell against him, and he wrapped his arm around her as he considered her words. Arabella’s husband did those things to her? A spark of rage cleared the remaining ale from his head, and as Agnes began to regain control of herself, he allowed it to morph and grow until it consumed his entire body.
“What of her father, Agnes?”
The maid stood upright and gazed up at him. Her eyes grew wide with fury. “He could not wait to be rid of her, and now, he has completely washed his hands of her since the marriage.”
His limbs trembled with anger, and he wished he had never saved the prince on the battlefield. His daughter would have been much better off an orphan than suffering as Agnes had proclaimed.
“Something must be done.”
She stared at him with a pleading gaze. “Yes. That is why I am here. I am hoping you will find it in your heart to help me, help her.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Arabella still owns my heart, Agnes. I would do anything to aid her. I will travel with you back to Praegan, and you will tell me more along the way.”
Relief washed over her face. “Thank you. I told her I would come for you, and she seemed so relieved. But, we must hurry.”
He nodded. “I will need a few moments to gather provisions—we do not have time to stop along the way.”
He accompanied her to her horse. As she mounted the mare, she asked, “What of your knighthood, Jayden? If you interfere in the marriage and anger Prince Ulric’s family, he could petition the king to sentence you to death.”
He hadn’t given it any thought. For the first time since Arabella’s wedding, he felt he had a purpose, and it had ignited new fire into his life. She needed his help, and he would go to her and deal with the consequences later.
“Let us not concern ourselves with that right now.”
* * *
As Jayden approached the town square, he couldn’t help but notice that it seemed the events of centuries ago ran parallel to the happenings of today. However, this time, he felt even more determined to get to her as quickly as possible.
Standing in the crater, he quieted his mind, then spoke his incantation to get him back to Heaven. “I lay my sins at your feet, and ask for your grace and entry into the Holy Gates.”
His back began to burn in between his shoulder blades, and he grimaced at the weight of his wings. In a short period of time, he’d become accustomed to living without them.
A moment later, he flew through the sky. It seemed strange to enter Heaven to get the incantation to go down into Hell, but if he had to see The Creator himself, he’d get what he needed.
Ulric would not take Arabella from him again.
19
"He has her in Hell, Michael! Give me the incantation!"
The archangel stared down at him thoughtfully as Jayden fought his temper. Precious seconds ticked by while they argued over whether Jayden should enter the underworld, and his patience waned quickly.
"You could very well become trapped there, Jayden. I'm not sure we are ready to lose you like that."
He took a deep breath, ran his fingers through his hair, and fought the urge to tackle Michael to the ground and beat the incantation out of him. Of course, that would be picking a fight he could never win, but desperation clawed at him. Arabella needed him, and he would stop at nothing to get to her.
"Besides, you don't even know if that's where he took her."
He stared at the angel incredulously, and couldn't fight the sarcasm. "Where else would a demon go? I can assure you it's not Disneyland."
Michael narrowed his gaze. "Watch your tongue, Angel, before I have it removed."
Jayden stared at his boots for a moment, then looked back up at the archangel, his fight gone. Now, he resorted to begging. "Please, Michael. Give me the incantation to get in there. I would rather die than know that's where Arabella resides. At least, give me a chance to get her out, no matter how slim it may be."
Michael kept staring at him in silence.
He took a deep breath, hoping his gaze conveyed the desperation he felt. "I failed her once before, and the guilt has eaten away at me for centuries. You have to at least let me try."
Shutting his eyes when he didn't receive an answer, he clenched his fists at his sides. He need the incantation more than he needed air to breathe. If he didn’t at least try to save Arabella, he could never live with himself. "Michael, our love is still so strong. I can't just allow her to be sucked into the bowels of Hell by a demon. I have to fight for her."
After a moment, the angel relented. "Very well. The barriers of Heaven will protect us from being pulled into Hell, but once you leave here and say these words alo
ud, your safety will be gone. Listen closely and repeat after me. "
Although he should be ecstatic that he’d gotten his way, he felt no happiness, only continuous worry. He listened carefully to the language he'd never heard before, then recited them with the angel. When he felt certain he had the incantation down, he left, the words repeating themselves in his mind until he reached Saint's Grove.
As he landed in the town square, those standing there stared at him in awe—as if seeing witches, vampires, ghosts, and demons hadn’t been surprising enough. He glared at the man who pulled out his cell phone and aimed it at Jayden. Really, he couldn’t blame him … the past week’s happenings had definitely been something to record. However, the poor bastard should have figured out by now that paranormal beings wouldn’t show up on any type of recording.
He ignored them and recited the words he'd learned aloud. A moment later, he floated in a red mist, the stench of brimstone assaulting his senses.
The fog burned his eyes, but he refused to close them even as tears rolled down his cheeks. He fought to keep his bearings about him, despite the darkness. Heat singed his whole body as he descended, and he wondered if he would end up in the flames and scorch in agony for all eternity.
Suddenly, he saw her.
She sat on a large swath of red rock located deep in a cavern. Although it seemed oppressively hot, he knew it had to be one of the first tiers of Hell, just as Celestria had said. Bella wouldn't be able to tolerate anything lower. The screams from the souls of the damned far below crashed into his ears, giving him a seething headache. Could he possibly be more sensitive to them since he was a Heavenly angel?
Pushing past the pain, he focused again on his surroundings. Ulric paced back and forth a few feet away from Bella while she gazed down at the flames licking the rock, as if in a trance. Neither had seen him coming.