Empyreal (The Earthborn Series Book 1)

by Spencer Helsel

  A bandage covered the side of her neck where the demon bit her and two more covered her thigh and arm. But her hands were the worst. Bound in gauze-like bandages, she could feel the painful burns with each movement.

  “We must know how the two of you killed so many.” Heman told her. “Even a well-armed contingent of Powers would be hard-tasked to destroy this number.”

  Dani tried to think of a way to explain. She could shoot laser beams out of her hands. How do you even start that conversation?

  A hawk screech brought everyone’s attention skyward. Caesar swooped down to rest beside Dani. The bird nuzzled her.

  “Hey girl.” She said. “Sorry it took so long to get them here. I didn’t want to leave you.”

  Alecto nodded to the bird. “The caladrius came to me. It saved your life.”

  “It’s a she.” Dani told him. “And her name is Caesar.”

  “You know this bird?”

  “Novice Daniella can speak the avian tongue.” Mastema told her. He eyed Heman. “Do you still believe she is just a Novice?”

  Heman didn’t look impressed. “It still does not explain your success.”

  “We fought.” Dani was annoyed with him. “I almost died. Are you seriously suggesting we cheated? Because if there is a way to cheat in demonslaying, I’d love to know it.”

  The Elder frowned. Mastema spoke up in her defense. “She makes a valid argument, as I have repeatedly tried: unless you suggest collusion with demons, it was Novice Daniella and I who decimated this nest.”

  Heman tried to refute the argument, but he had nothing.

  “Then you will declare this Trial a success?”

  He didn’t like it, but he nodded. “I have never seen a Novice perform such in battle, Novice Daniella. You have…skill.” The last word sounded like it hurt to say.

  “Or something like it.”

  “I must see to our perimeter in case of another attack, but we cannot depart until we attend to other matters. We will see to them when I return.” He bowed and left.

  Alecto rose. “I too must do my part. Very well done, Novice Daniella.”

  “It’s just Dani to my friends.”

  Alecto smiled warmly. “Very well done, Dani.” She departed.

  Mastema helped her up to her feet. His tunic was torn and he had bandages across his chest and arms. “You fought bravely.”

  “Yeah, well, not as well as you. You took on, like, six by yourself.”

  “I have more experience.”

  “That wasn’t it.” She said seriously. “Mastema, you almost died for me.”

  He adjusted the bandage on her arm. “It is my duty.”

  “Mastema.” She stopped his hand. “Thank you.”

  Her Guardian was many things; stern, uncompromising; at best a cold fish. But he avoided her gaze now. “It is my duty.”

  She hugged him. She didn’t care if it wasn’t what Novices were supposed to do. She hugged him.

  It took a minute for him to peel her off and recompose himself as the manly, unemotional warrior he paraded around. “I lost consciousness during the battle. How were you able to come to my aid?”

  She shrugged. “Adrenaline, I guess.”

  “You guess?” he didn’t believe her.

  “I mean, Caesar helped. It’s all kind of foggy.”

  “The fog of battle? I would think of a better story.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Her Guardian wasn’t an idiot. Vague answers didn’t satisfy him. But before either of them could say anything else, Heman and Alecto returned.

  “My scouts report no new sightings. For the time being we are secure, but I do not wish to test our fortune.” His eyes shifted to Dani. “Mastema tells me the wraiths were organized. Being so numerous, it raises questions.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as what we found on the main floor.”

  A dozen purple-clothed Powers waited on the warehouse floor, examining something amongst the trash. She ignored the two scorched piles of ash and black-mark where she burnt the demons to cinders. Instead the focus of fascination was the table the female demon knocked over; something the Powers handed to Heman.

  It was a statue, one unlike anything Dani had ever seen: the head of a monstrous creature, carved completely out of stone with a wide mouth and horns protruding from the forehead. Inside the mouth, several writhing humanoid figurines made the teeth. Formed from the rock behind them, the unmistakable depictions of fire poured from the “throat” to torture the humans in frozen agony.

  Mastema stiffened at her side.

  “What is it?” she reached to take it, but he stopped her hand. “What?”

  “It is a graven image.”

  “A what?”

  “Demon idol.” Alecto explained.

  “A demon idol? As in, to worship? I didn’t think demons were particularly religious.”

  “They are not. At least, not wraiths. Wraiths are animals. We have never found idols amongst their kind.”

  Mastema continued her line of thought. “And with the other strange activity amongst these demons, something is amiss.” He looked to Dani. “Was there anything strange about the demons? Where is the girl?”

  “The girl? You mean the blonde? She was a demon, but…I don’t know.”

  “You do not know what?”

  “She didn’t look like a wraith.” Dani told them. “She could talk; like some kind of rotting person. It was a trap to lure us in. Do you think they knew we were watching?”

  Her question went unanswered. All three stared at her in disbelief.

  “What?”

  “Dani,” Alecto said, “what you are describing is not a wraith. It is an imp.”

  “Imp?” she knew the name. But from where? She tried to think and all she could come up with was Ethan. Why? Then another memory came to the front of her mind: studying in the library with Dink, Bouden, and Nathaniel. They were researching demons when Ethan came to talk to her about the Trials. Simple to remember, he said. Demonic imp. They’re similar to wraiths; low on the totem pole. Rotten skin. Decaying flesh. Take off the head or destroy the heart to kill them.

  “Imps are similar to wraiths, right?”

  “Similar, but one would never associate itself with wraiths.”

  Heman added. “I have never seen this idol before. What were they worshiping here?”

  “Something powerful.” Dani said.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Different types of demons in large numbers, worshipping an object? I’m not an expert on demons but if it’s that unusual, there’s something special about that statue. Do we take it with us?”

  Mastema snarled in disgust. “No.”

  Heman dropped it to the floor and her Guardian drew his khopesh, bringing it down on the idol. The statue exploded into rock dust.

  “Such hellish things do not belong in Empyrean.”

  He and Dani left the warehouse without another word. Mastema was eager to be far away from the broken remains.

  ______________________

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. She and Mastema walked back to Hermes alone. Her Guardian was more silent than usual, if that were possible. “Is it the demon stuff back there?”

  “No. It is you.”

  Seriously? “Me? What did I do?”

  “I am not angry, Daniella.” He assured her. “What I meant was I

  have trained many Novices. It took me centuries to master the ability to fight so many at once. Years have passed since I have seen anyone with skill to match my own.” He met her eyes. “Tonight you slew multiple demons unaided. How?”

  Dani wanted to tell him. She owed him that. But she couldn’t. She didn’t know why. Maybe it was Gabriel’s warning, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him. Her mysterious ability was just that: a mystery. She didn’t understand it and felt like she should keep it to herself until she did.

  So instead of answering, she lied. “You trained m
e well. And I had Caesar.”

  Overhead, her friend cawed happily.

  “Daniella, I know when you avoid the truth.”

  “I’m not lying.”

  “I am not saying you are. I am saying there is half-truth in your words.” Her Guardian wasn’t stupid. “You are different since you returned from the Dalles. Something happened there, but you will not speak of it.”

  “Shouldn’t that tell you something?”

  “Why will you tell no one?”

  “Because no one needs to know. At least, not yet. And why are you suddenly so concerned for me?”

  “I have always been concerned for you.” He said. “From the moment you became my charge, I was concerned.”

  “You told me you weren’t.”

  “Then you are not the only liar.”

  She shook her head. “Is it because of your oath as a Guardian? I know all of you have to give your lives for us. I know that’s why you took on all those monsters back there. But you don’t have to worry about me.”

  “Yes, I do, but that is not why.”

  “Then what?”

  “Because I see something purely good in you. That is why I, for once in over a century, feel a sense of joy.” Dani expected him to feel a lot of things. Joy wasn’t one of them. “It is why I am thankful I chose you.” “Chose me? You were assigned to me.”

  “I volunteered.”

  The out-of-character softness in his voice startled her. His usual blank expression etched faintly with something else; something she never saw before.

  “You…you chose to be my Guardian? Why?”

  “There are always Guardians who do not have charges; not many, but a few. They serve other duties for the Council. When they informed us of you, a female Novice, many wished not to take you. They saw you as a potential failure.”

  “You thought I wouldn’t fail?”

  “No, I believed you would.” He said. “I knew the Council would seek to destroy you. Any Guardian would likewise be deemed a failure. Should you fail, the harshest punishment awaited them. So I took you on.”

  “Because you thought I would fail? Why?” Then it dawned on her. The sound of his voice wasn’t sorrow. It was pain. The callousness, the emotional distancing, wasn’t an act. She heard people who were suicidal distanced themselves from others before killing themselves. “You hoped I’d fail and then the Council would execute you.”

  “I could never take my own life. I am not brave enough.” Mastema shook his head. “I wanted to prepare you; give you the best chance. But I also knew it wouldn’t be enough for the schemes of your enemies in Empyrean. I would die. I know what others think of me. I am not deaf to their chides. They believe me a failure. They believe I do not care. But I do. I care for one individual: you.” His gaze was like that of a proud parent. “I saw in you something I have not seen, even in myself. Strength. My intent to die led me to you and to realize there is more I can still live for. You wish not to tell me of your time in the Dalles? I accept that. You saved my life more than on that rooftop tonight. I died the day I lost my charge. I gained it back the moment I stepped into battle with you.”

  Dani never met her father. She never knew what it was like to have a proud parent. Her mom tried, but failed. Mastema didn’t.

  “You never talk about the demon that killed your charge.” She remarked. “Why? What was it?”

  “I do not know. I never encountered such a demon before and have not since.”

  “Then I’ll make you this promise: if you help me, then we will find that thing and kill it. Together. Deal?”

  “Why would you help me?”

  “Because it turns out I’d be dead if it weren’t for you; same way you’d be dead if it weren’t for me. I think it’s pretty fitting, don’t you?”

  She only saw it once before. It was rare. But she saw him do something rumors said never happened.

  She saw him smile.

  Chapter Forty

  Trumpets blared as the one hundred and forty-four Novices marched into the Throne Room triumphant. The Numen, gifted and other creatures of Empyrean cheered them on like Olympic champions before they assembled around the glass pool. The Elders stood before their thrones. Every demon nest was destroyed; every demon either dead or on the run. And everyone thankfully alive. Lady Alecto stood on the floor, praising them as they passed. She caught Dani’s eye and gave a slight nod of approval. Dani never felt so exhilarated. Even amongst people who despised her, she felt the warmth of pride burn on her cheeks.

  The applause died. Some gifted gathered at the entrance. Dani spotted Roxelana, who beamed with pride. The Elders returned to their seats, save for Castus who spoke over them all.

  “Novices! Elders! Earthborn all!” he declared. “Today we stand triumphant! Today, demonkind was driven from their dark dwellings. The darkness sought to prevail and prevail it did not! And all because our newest warriors had the courage and the strength to take up arms against it!”

  More applause. Alecto beamed in admiration.

  “From the demons of Spanish Harlem who sought to kill the innocent, there was the aerie Gylph!” Cheers went up. “From those in El Salvador and Brazil, to Ontario, monsters sought blood, but Corona, Meridian and Pinnacle stood tall!” Cheers again. “And in Virginia, in the city of Richmond, they feared the aerie Ethereal!” Banging of hands and feet accompanied a new round of ovation. “But demonkind could not run far, for Crux and Jubilee were there to cleanse the midlands of America. And Halycon stood against the fires of hell in Minnesota!”

  Even Dani’s heart beat faster under the roars.

  “The demons sought shelter in the skies above Chicago, but Aerial was there to meet them! And when they dug deep into the depths of New Orleans, Nexus rooted them out!”

  Dani clapped with the others.

  “And Coronach spoke for the dead in Peru. They brought justice to a town beset by the beings of Hell! And Hell fled!”

  An eruption of cries surrounded them.

  “And finally, when demonkind wished to enter the city of angels— when they came to our very borders, Aether was here to greet them with sword, and spear, and bow!”

  More cheers. Nathaniel blushed. He threw his buckler up, which expanded outward mechanically, bringing a new round of cheers with its black-stained surface.

  Castus and the others went silent. Only one aerie wasn’t spoken for yet. More than a few looked to Dani; Alecto among them. The expressions were the same. She and Castus locked eyes. His winter blue irises shone and for a moment, she believed she would go unnoticed.

  But then, “And when demons gathered to worship a graven image, to put to slaughter sacrifices to their dark gods, a single Novice stood against them: Arn, the eagle, the army of one! She was there!” Applause built. “And there she defeated them mind, and body and spirit!”

  Shocked, the crowd began to applause. Dani broke into a wide smile. Some Elders clapped for show, but many more rose to applaud her. Hands clapped her on the back.

  “It is now we recognize our newest number,” Castus announced, “as full warriors of the Earthborn of Empyrean. One and all, they are welcome amongst us!”

  The Novices basked in praise. After a few moments, Castus called for quiet again.

  “As per our tradition,” he said, “if any one of our Elders calls for special recognition of these Earthborn, let them speak! Many deeds have transpired. Let them be known!”

  Almost immediately, Heman shot to his feet. In loud, self-important boom he announced, “Novice Michael! Come forth with your Guardian!”

  Michael and Nazir strode forward, both kneeling at the feet of the Elders.

  “For your bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, I hereby recognize you for your courage in leading the attack in New York.” He bowed, fingertips to forehead, in salute. “Henceforth, stand and be honored as Michael the Courageous! Nazir the Brave!”

  The hall echoed as one. “Michael the Courageous! Nazir the Brave!”

&nb
sp; Dani murmured to Nathaniel, “We don’t have to call him that, right?”

  He shrugged.

  Elder Azariah stood next. “Novice Bouden! Come forth with your Guardian!”

  Bouden’s eyes widened. He barely was able to walk he was so nervous. Lorcan practically had to drag him. Both knelt.

  “In battle,” Azariah said formally, “it takes great skill to combat an enemy, but the mind is the greatest weapon of all. Had it not been for your knowledge of the demonic to surmised the location of the demon nest in the Port of Los Angeles, our forces may not have eradicated the demon menace. For that, may you be recognized in our chronicles with the greatest honor and as most blessed of seers. Stand and be recognized!”

  This time, Dani did applaud.

  Others came forward. Two were made leaders of their aeries. Another would be inducted into the ranks of the Powers upon ascension from Novice. Two more were given titles like Michael.

  A female voice spoke above the rest. “I call forth Novice Daniella and her Guardian Mastema!”

  The summons broke the revelry. Lady Alecto stood before the Elders, all eyes falling to her before turning to Dani and Mastema. Silently, everyone stepped back. She felt a bump on her shoulder. It took her a second to realize Mastema nudged her forward. Even then it took another to take her first step.

  Dani and Mastema came forward and knelt before Alecto. Behind her, some of the Elders looked displeased.

  “Novice Daniella,” she began, and then corrected, “Dani. It is rare amongst your kind to show such bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. The wisdom to send you into such a battle alone is one I will never understand.”

  Dani smirked slightly at the jab to the Council.

  “But you prevailed where few could. For your deeds, as an overseer of these Trials, I formally announce that henceforth you will be recorded in the chronicles of Empyrean as an example to others. And by the power bestowed in me by your Elder Council, I call you to rise, draw your weapons and name them before this court.”

  A murmur flowed through the crowd. Dani had no idea what that meant.

  Alecto waved to her encouragingly. “Rise, Dani.”

  She glanced at Mastema. He nodded. She stood, drawing the dagger and sword, holding them out to Alecto.