I slam a fist on the steering wheel. I have to believe that they’re alive, or the darkness will take control, and I’ll never come back to my senses.
I consider texting Matthew back and telling him to forget what I said, but I can’t delay anymore. I throw the car into gear and slam on the gas.
The rest of the trip passes in a blur. I don’t think about anything but getting there as fast as I can. I talk out loud, like they can hear me. Just a few words of encouragement for them to hold on. I fret about Megan, and I squeeze the hilt of the sword. Before I know it, the trees stop, and I’m on the edge of Florence.
I stop and scan the meadow, trying to peer into the shadows. It’s too late. He knows I’m coming. He’s seen my lights and heard the engine.
Are you at the house beyond Florence, Liam? Or are you here?
There’s a slight movement in the trees on the other side of the meadow. I squint, trying to see through the darkness.
Liam? Or a demon?
My heart beats faster, and I grip the hilt of the sword tighter. I have no idea if it will protect me against a demon. Probably not. But I’ll find out if one attacks.
The shape paces out farther into the meadow until the light from the full moon hits him. He stands still by the same cabin where I first met Catherine.
Liam!
The clouds blocking the moon move, and the pale light illuminates the scaffolding beside the cabin. The shape of the scaffolding is odd. There’s something long hanging from it, right over where I assume the tunnel to the mine is. It’s too stretched to be buckets and too skinny to be any equipment.
Then lower part jerks and twists. A scream pierces the silence. I know that kind of scream. It’s exactly what I heard when Mr. Peterson was killing everyone.
It’s the scream that comes from looking in the face of evil. Its icy tentacles wrap around my heart, freeing the darkness that I try so hard to hold down.
I recognize the voice and grip the steering wheel until my hands are locked in place.
Megan!
The shape makes sense now. Her long dark hair is loose and flying as she jerks back and forth. Her hands are bound and tied to the crossbar of the scaffolding while her legs kick violently.
The old beams of wood shake and wobble with her struggles. Liam whirls to her and barks something. Megan calms for a moment. She takes a deep breath and screams with all her might.
“NIC! GET OUT OF HERE!”
* * *
Blaise stalked back and forth at the gates of Goddard’s kingdom. None of the demons knew why the order had come to close the gates.
He gripped his sword handle as he paced behind the gates. He knew he was missing his chance. With Liam, Nic wouldn’t be able to wiggle out of this one or have anyone rescue him.
He could order his troops to strike down the guards and break the gate open, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to declare his rebellion against Goddard just yet. It was far safer to appear loyal until the very last minute. But how long did he have to wait? Was Liam even close to the boy yet?
His company of fifty soldiers loyal to him waited behind him, prepared for battle, but their allegiance and readiness were only bitter to him now.
He didn’t know what was happening, but Goddard was about to take what was rightfully his. Perhaps Goddard’s guards would falter. Perhaps the maddening angels would attack, and Blaise would have a reason to get out of the gates.
He ran his finger down the blade in anticipation of the blood it could shed tonight and waited for the perfect moment to seize Nic for himself.
Then he heard the girl’s scream coming down from the passage that led to Florence.
“NIC! GET OUT OF HERE!”
The boy was close. Blaise’s hands trembled with fervor he hadn’t felt for years.
This was his moment to gain the slave he needed to rise above Goddard, above all the overlords, and maybe even over the Great Lord, and Goddard’s orders held him back from his plans coming true.
He snarled.
Who cares about Goddard’s orders? Once the boy is mine, Goddard will be begging for my protection.
He sheathed his sword and strode to the gates. Seizing the thick, iron bars, he pulled until bolts in the rock walls creaked.
“What are you doing?” A demon underling from across the courtyard demanded and trotted in his direction.
Blaise pointed at five of his soldiers. “Tear it down.”
They saluted and took his place. The underling shouted for help. A group of sixty demons tumbled out of the castle and drew their weapons.
“Blaise dares to defy our Master’s orders.” Ashtar shouted while marching out of the castle. The blond-haired demon sneered at Blaise with a look of triumph. “Seize him! And send his soldiers to the depths of Hell!”
Blaise growled with hate at Ashtar. He turned to the rest of his demons. “Attack and get the gate open. Then we get the boy!”
His soldiers leaped into the air to fight. There was a clash of metal on metal, and screams from the wounded filled the courtyard. Blaise turned his back on the scene to oversee the demons pulling the gates open.
The chain groaned from their weight. Blaise yelled and dropped the flat of his blade on the backs of the demons.
“Pull harder! Break it free!”
They pulled again. The gate groaned and inched open. Ashtar roared behind him. Blaise glanced back to see the demon standing on the steps of the castle, shaking with rage. Blaise laughed over the clamor of war. In a short time, his plans would be completed, and glory and power would be his.
Ashtar burst into flight. Blaise’s triumph faded. Was the fool actually going to fight? Blaise stepped away from the gate to keep an eye on his rival.
Ashtar soared above the fight, ignoring the cries of those in need. At the top of the cave, he banked and pulled out his sword. With a swift blow, he struck at some boulders clinging to the roof of the cavern.
They rumbled and broke loose. With a crash, they slammed into the demons by the gate, grinding them into the floor and blocking the gate.
Blaise roared in anger.
Ashtar laughed and called back to the castle. “Now! Wipe them out!”
A horde of strong demons poured out of the hallways and windows. With a mighty yell, they flew into the fray and struck down Blaise’s small army.
“You! You!” Blaise shouted at a group of his soldiers keeping out of the fray. “Clear the boulders and get the gate open! Now!”
They did as ordered, relieved to be taken out of the fight.
Blaise backed up to the boulders by the gate. He had tried to revolt. Now Hell waited for him. But it was going to have to fight to get him there.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Fires of Hell
Megan groaned. Her eyes fluttered open, despite that her whole body was pounding with pain, especially her wrists where the rope cut into her skin. She struggled to sit up. She fidgeted with the knot with her teeth for a bit before giving up and finally pushing up to a sitting position.
A weak beam of light fell through cracks between the logs and a small hole in the roof above her. She was in a small cabin, lying on a dirt floor.
The last thing she remembered was watching TV when the front door busted into a thousand pieces. Liam strutted through the doorway.
Raw evil on his face turned her insides cold. She rolled off the couch, thinking she could get to her parents’ bedroom where Dad kept his gun. Liam pounced. Before she could take three steps, he was beside her.
She screamed and fought as he caught her by the arms. “Don’t fight too much. Can’t have you too damaged at first.”
She kept fighting, kicking and punching madly but not connecting with anything. He pulled her out the door without any effort.
“Keep fighting,” he mocked. “It’s more fun. But let’s keep you fresh for the big performance.”
A flash of pain exploded in her head, and the next thing she knew, she was here. Wherever here is. Her eyes s
lowly adjusted, and she could make out two shapes close to her lying on the floor.
She inched to them, her feet scraping on the dirt and her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.
Please don’t let it be Mom and Dad. I couldn’t bear it if I got them killed somehow.
She tried to keep back the sobs as she scooted closer. The moon came out from behind the clouds. A small door revealed a large meadow with long grass looked silver in the light. She glanced at the people on the floor.
Kate and Ryan!
Momentary relief that her parents were safe flooded her, and then it disappeared. Liam wasn’t after her family at all. He wanted Nic, and they were bait.
She shuffled to Kate and Ryan to see if they still lived. She touched their backs. There was a slight movement as they breathed. Before she could do more, the moonlight disappeared.
Liam!
She pushed herself backward, even though there was nowhere to go. He didn’t even bother to glance at Kate or Ryan. He picked her up at the waist and hauled her out of the cabin like she was as light as a blanket.
“No! What are you doing?” She struggled. “Put me down.”
He didn’t answer. He stepped out of the shadows of the tall trees and into the grass. The clouds had drifted away, leaving a full moon illuminating the meadow.
“Put me down! I don’t know what you want, but it won’t work.” Her words came in gasps.
“Shut up!” Liam smacked her head.
The pain took her breath away, and she stopped resisting until he threw her to the ground. She tried to catch her breath, but the pain took all her thoughts. She was barely aware of Liam when he tied her hands to a longer rope.
Without any warning, her arms jerked so hard and quick it felt like they were being pulled out of the sockets. Within seconds, she was in the air swinging from side to side. Liam pulled on the rope and tied it to a large beam.
She looked down. A dark pit was beneath her. It was too dark to see the dark.
Her head spun as she lurched back and forth. Don’t let Liam see you’re afraid. But she was afraid. She had to get out of here.
“You’re a coward!” Her voice cracked with fear, but it felt good to say those words. “And a bully!”
“Shut up, and don’t move!” Liam snapped. “The beam will hold you if you stay still. You’re just bait for Nic. Then you can get down.”
Megan clamped her mouth shut and struggled to pull herself up to the beam that held the rope, but she wasn’t strong enough.
A car raced toward them, the roar of the engine growing louder with each second. There was only one person it could be.
She fought hard, desperate to free herself, but Liam noticed. He started laughing. She had to stop Nic. Maybe he could get help.
The lights from the car blazed over the long grass and then cut off.
Liam picked up a rock, whipped around to her, and threw it at her. She squealed and ducked her head. It grazed her cheek, leaving a sting behind.
“Stay still!” he ordered. “You’ll fall to your death! I won’t miss next time.”
Megan stopped squirming and gulped back tears. She took a deep breath.
“NIC! GET OUT OF HERE!”
* * *
“What in all of God’s good graces is he doing? Stop him, Eli!” Chasdiel pointed to Nic in the car. “He’s reckless, and he’s going to get Megan killed. The girl is my charge tonight. Do something about yours.”
Eli didn’t even glance at Chasdiel. He kept his eyes on Nic. Eli had a feeling this wasn’t going to go well for anyone but their enemies tonight. It wouldn’t take much for Nic to rush headlong into battle with beings he had no hopes of defeating without the Creator’s help.
“Sh!” Mal hushed from the other side of Chasdiel. “They’ll hear you!”
Chasdiel ignored Mal. “Do something!” Chasdiel ordered Eli, keeping his voice low.
Eli shook his head in desperation. “I can’t do anything more than you can.”
Chasdiel’s words came out in sharp blasts. “He’s going to get himself killed! Or worse! The other three will die as well. He didn’t pray for help. He didn’t consider that he’s going to need God in this fight. And he didn’t pause to think that Liam wants him to give up his soul. He’s a baby going into a fight with a lion.”
“And what can I do?” Eli’s voice rose even though he didn’t mean it to. “I’ve been ordered by Michael, who received it from the King Himself, not to intervene with the outcome until Nic turns to Him. Nic needs to make the choice out of love and a need for salvation, not because he sees us.”
“And remember, Chas,” Mal said. “He did ask Matthew to pray, and Matthew is faithful to such requests, especially with Sari watching over him. All is not lost yet.”
“If we lose him, it might be!” Chasdiel snapped.
Then Megan yelled her warning.
“NIC! GET OUT OF HERE!”
Nic didn’t hesitate.
Chasdiel couldn’t keep back the strong language. “By the fires of Hell!”
Nic gunned the engine of his car at the edge of the meadow and then threw it into gear to race down the small dirt road toward Megan and Liam.
Eli said a desperate prayer to the Creator.
Let us win this time. Let Nic turn to You. Give him the strength to see your love. Show him the light is stronger than darkness.
Eli drew his sword in the hope that this time he would get to dispatch a horde of demons to Hell.
* * *
The force of the car throws me against the seat as it races down the dirt road. The engine screams. I shift. I don’t take my foot off the gas to relieve it. I don’t care about an engine when I’m about to watch Megan get murdered.
Megan is still struggling. I can’t hear her over the roar of the engine, but I know what she’s saying. Liam watches while he stands still, a warrior ready for battle.
The beams of the scaffolding rock back and forth. Megan throws her legs back and forth in an effort to get free. The ropes cut into her wrists, and blood is flowing down to her elbows.
Liam takes his eyes off me to snap at her again. She stops struggling for a second before screaming at me again. Liam roars at her and picks up a large rock beside him. He hurls it at her. She yells again. She twists, but she can’t completely dodge it while hanging from her arms.
The rock slams into her stomach. Her face twists in agony, and her head slumps down to her chest.
“NO!” I yell and pound the steering wheel. “I’ll kill you for that!”
Liam is grinning at me like he can’t wait for the fight, like he’s enjoying our pain.
The road disappears. All I see is Liam. I blink, and suddenly it’s not Liam anymore. I shake my head, but the memory pulls me into it once again...
Chapter Sixty-Three
Grass Clippings
After dinner, Mom has the great idea of taking a ball down to the park. I run and grab my soccer ball. We laugh and talk all the way there.
Most of the time she makes us leave early, but it’s Friday night, so we stay there until the sun sets, chasing the ball, kicking at targets. Mom chooses some that are impossible to hit. We drop to the ground, giggling, and then watch the clouds drift by.
When the sun drops out of the sky, we head back to the house. The houses and trees cast long shadows, but I’m not afraid of the dark with Mom here.
She tells me to get into my pajamas while she gets us a treat. I do what she’s says and run back to the kitchen. She’s putting a plate of cookies on the table and laughs when she sees that I have my monster pajamas on.
“Not scared of anything, are you, Nic?” she teases and sits down across the table from me.
“Nope!” I respond and grab two chocolate cookies. She raises her eyebrows at me taking two but doesn’t say anything.
“Want some milk to go with them?” she offers as she takes a bite out of hers.
“Yum!” I say around the cookie that I’m trying to stuff into my mo
uth.
She laughs and gets up to get a glass out of the cabinet. She’s dressed in an old pair of jeans and a baggy, worn t-shirt. She’s the prettiest, coolest Mom ever.
Ever since Dad left, she hasn’t cried as much. I don’t hear yelling, and I don’t see weird bruises or cuts on Mom. She used to say that she fell a lot, but now she seems to have stopped that.
I don’t know where Dad went. He didn’t say goodbye, but I don’t mind. He never was all that interested in me. He just told me to shut up most of the time. It’s been almost a year since he left, and he only came by once to give Mom some money.
But Mom is the coolest. She doesn’t mind if I come home with grass stains. She gets a few on her jeans as she wrestles me to the ground or dives for a soccer ball. I mean, she’s still Mom, but she plays, too. Other moms I see just stare at their phones.
When she goes to get the milk, her long, dark hair in a ponytail swishes back and forth. Blades of green grass stick out of her hair from the park.
She laughs at something I said and closes the fridge door with a carton of milk in her hands. The front door opens and slams shut. Both of us freeze for a second.
Mom turns to me. “Just stay quiet. It will be all right. And remember that I love you very much.”
I know she loves me, and so I wonder why she feels like she needs to say that now.
Loud footsteps stomp down the hall. Mom freezes with the milk still in her hands, suddenly serious.
I never see her smile or hear her laugh again.
There’s a movement behind me. I twist to see who it is, although I know without looking. I knew it when he smashed the door and walked down the hallway.
He’s standing there with a gun in his hand. Our eyes meet. He starts laughing. I hate the tears on my cheeks. I hate that he sees my fear.
He laughs harder like he knows what I’m thinking. The shadow behind him grows into a body with long wings and talons on the wall.
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