“WE’VE GOT PROBLEMS! A LITTLE HELP, PLEASE!” he shouts.
The team and I backpedal as the ground under us thrums and quivers.
A mammoth form erupts from under a portion of the bridge as everyone looks on, struck dumb at the sight of Abaddon, Ruler of the Pit, Destroyer of Souls.
He’s a dragon on steroids with an oversized maw that opens to reveal a gullet as black as the bottom of the ocean that’s studded with ten-foot-long incisors.
The team has actually been walking across Abaddon’s backside, which is covered in bones, as the great beast slumbered.
Its tail is the ‘rope’ that Hines touched.
“Please tell me I’m hallucinating,” I say and try to back up.
Hines grabs the edge of my body armor and pulls me back as Abaddon shrieks at us.
The horrific sound is a mix between fingernails screeching down a chalkboard and sharpened steel blades clashing against each other.
“It gets better from here, Samya,” Hines says. “Isn’t that what Michael said?”
“If by better you mean worse,” I reply.
Hines swallows hard as Abaddon rises to its full height.
The beast hovers above as a fifty-foot Lovecraftian nightmare with tentacles and talons.
A second later, the monstrosity brings its arms and bulk down, shattering left-behind war mechanisms and causing the bone bridge to list.
The impact sends a rumble across the bridge, causing us to lose our balance.
We slide back toward the edge of the bridge that dangles over the bottomless pit.
We’re inches from oblivion.
I lead the team in scaling down the side of the bridge.
Jessup turns to see Hines slipping.
He grabs Hines’s wrist, holding onto him for dear life as he grunts and swings.
Both men drop down onto the other side of the bridge.
There, we regroup and take up defensive positions in the pitch.
Despite being on the back of the beast’s makeshift armor, we lose sight of Abaddon’s maw.
I tense up, sword out, and hear the whoosh of wings in the darkness.
I wheel around, my eyes scanning, sensing for movement.
“It’s close!” I say.
Then I backtrack in a circle only to see that I’ve been separated from the others.
I flinch at an unexpected flash of movement, a glimpse of something just beyond my line of sight.
It could be Jessup and the others...or something else.
I inch forward, unease becoming dread, squinting, spotting nothing at first.
I’m relieved for a brief second until I see Abaddon’s mouth shooting right at me.
He’s slinked out of his bone-armor and swooped back around to strike.
I duck as the monster roars toward me in anger.
Dominic takes off on a dead run to help me, sword raised over his head, heading straight toward Abaddon.
The creature sidesteps Dominic, throwing a talon out that slams into him, rocketing him to the ground.
Abaddon then spins its great bulk, ready to finish him off.
Jessup runs and flings his sword, which slices through the air and across the top of the bones, flying end over end until it careens into the beast’s decrepit flesh.
The sword missiles into Abaddon’s left leg, causing the abomination to bellow in pain.
Abaddon wheels on Jessup, scampering across the boneyard.
Hines grabs me, and we sprint toward the others.
Abaddon snaps around and lays eyes on us as we chug like linebackers.
The beast gives chase.
Jessup screams, making noise to try and draw Abaddon’s attention, looking for Michael who’s nowhere to be seen.
Hines and I run for our lives, but Hines trips and falls.
I help him to his feet just as Abaddon bears down on us.
Hines and I timber to the ground, out of breath, out of options, and truly fucked.
I’d hate for it to end this way, inside the maw of a monstrous creature that isn’t even sentient.
Abaddon whips its head back, jaws open to devour us.
The ground in front of and underneath us explodes with a terrible quake.
Michael leaps up through a hole in the ground, sword out, plunging it into the heart of Abaddon’s neck.
Abaddon falls on its side, writhing like a salted slug as Michael puts his weight against his blade.
Every muscle in Michael’s body contorts and strains as he pushes his sword forward, ripping a massive gash in the beast’s underside. Buckets of black blood and bile sheet the ground, marinating Michael in gore as he thrusts his sword deeper.
After a long, terrible, and agonizing pause in the battle, it’s all over.
Abaddon’s head thumps once and falls silent as Michael collapses to the ground.
Hines and I rush over to Michael, with Hines gaping at the dead Abaddon in wide wonder.
“‘Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon, and the Dragon fought back.’ Revelation Chapter Twelve, Verse Eight. This played out exactly like they said it would in the Book,” Hines says.
“Reason number one that the Bible makes perfect sense, even if we don’t fully understand it all just yet,” Jessup says. “God works in mysterious ways.”
I turn as Jessup and a winded Dominic limp over.
Jessup reaches a hand down to Michael who’s resting on the ground, covered in Abaddon’s intestinal goo.
“That’s twice in the span of twenty minutes that I’ve saved your sorry asses,” Michael says.
“I’m keeping a mental tab,” Jessup replies.
“Sure, you are, Jessup,” Michael retorts. “You know I don’t even remember your face from the First Holy War. Were you ever actually there?”
Jessup ignores the insult and helps Michael to his feet as he gestures out across the boneyard.
“We’ve crossed the bridge into the field of combat. We’re in his arena now,” Michael begins.
At everyone’s looks, he continues.
“Once we go forward from this point, there’s no stopping. There’s no quitting, no surrender, no retreat,” he warns. “We have to get to the other side and defeat everything we come in contact with to get Samya’s son. If we manage all that, then maybe we can save ourselves too. It’s kill or be killed. Can each of you stomach it?”
Long and slow nods come from everyone.
“In that case,” Michael says, as he unveils a shoulder strap pouch and flings in front my feet, “you’re going to be needing this.”
I haven’t used my bladed chain weapon since the First Holy War.
I’m not even sure if I’m ready to lay eyes on it.
The reminder might bring back the feelings of regret and defeat.
Yet, it is a fearsome weapon. Our chances will improve greatly if I simply push my regret aside and forgive myself. We need all the help we can get.
I edge toward the pouch. I kneel down.
Before me is an arm and shoulder sling that looks like a baseball bat carrier.
Instead of unzipping it, I tear it open with a single swipe of my razor-sharp wrist armor.
From inside, my bladed chain of glory, which was forged in the Plains of Heaven, emanates an orange and reddish hue that pierces my eyes.
It’s been too long since I’ve touched the weapon. I’ve felt naked and less powerful over the centuries without it.
My left hand reaches down and pulls it up out of the pouch.
This weapon isn’t blessed by The Order.
My true weapon, the bladed chain, is blessed with angel tears, chernips.
The chain slides up around my wrist and arm and flings outward in a sharp snap.
It has a life of its own. Its power resonates through my body.
“You were watching us above the abyss, weren’t you?” I ask. “You could have helped. You could have stopped Brody from being killed.”
“How was I to know he’d b
e killed?” Michael asks. “Moreover, how was I to know that your mission was righteous? I needed to see you in battle. I needed to see that you mean it this time. I wanted to be certain that you will finish the job…this time.”
“Fair enough, but he still deserved your help,” I say, as a dim glow emanates from my chain.
“So did I,” Michael counters.
An arrowhead that’s the size of a battle ax reaches out from the end of my chain.
There’s an opening in the shape of an oval in the middle.
My weapon still carries bloodstains from the First Holy War. The weapon hasn’t been cleansed.
Michael wants me to remember the cost of our mistakes.
As the chain wraps around my left wrist, my feet lift off the ground.
“What’s happening?” Hines asks.
“After I lost my wings I thought I’d never fly again,” Michael answers, “but our weapons are still holy and blessed with angel tears. When Samya wields it, her strength and powers will be amplified. She can soar again. Not like before. I tried flying out of here to no avail. Can’t get more than fifty feet off the ground.”
I will my body back down to the ground.
The chain slinks around itself and curls up off the ground.
“You’ve seen our will and determination, Michael, and I have a reason to see this to the end,” I say. “What more is needed to convince you?”
Michael smiles broadly and puffs out his massive chest out. His shoulders roll back as he begins to speak.
“If we’re all in agreement, let us go and end them,” Michael implores.
I march forward with renewed fervor.
With my holy and blessed weapon at my side, I’m deadlier than before.
18
The Dead Rise Up
Not long after the battle with the serpent Abaddon, we trek across the boneyard.
We make good time, picking our way up past a series of foothills and negotiating down over a maze of low ravines, rounding bends, and crawling down an endless series of switchbacks.
The grade increases with every step, and the path grows more treacherous the higher we climb.
Michael soon takes the lead, which is only fitting considering his position.
Jessup follows just behind him.
Hines, Dominic, and I take up the rear.
We’re back up to five strong. It should be a joyous moment, but it’s hard not to feel the loss of Brody.
He gave his all for us. He made the ultimate sacrifice. His wit and wisdom will be missed.
Most of all, though, losing his courage and loyalty will be felt inside and on the battlefield.
With my ring and little finger pressed against my palm and my thumb, index, and middle finger on my right hand, I make the sign of the Cross and say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
Then, I continue to move forward.
There will be time for grieving once we’ve finished what we’ve come here to do.
Dominic moves away from the others until he’s examining the edge of the abyss from a perch on the edge of a switchback.
The side drops into the nothingness of the pit.
Out in the middle of the darkness an almost imperceptible presence, an ominous cloud slips past.
It’s as if something, some force is in motion, constantly keeping an eye on the team as we journey forward.
“Why does it feel like we’re being watched?” Hines asks.
“It’s Lucifer. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, right? That is what you were taught, correct?” Michael asks.
At Dominic’s nod, Michael continues.
“That may be true in the omnipresent and omniscient sense,” he says, “but it’s not the Lord’s eyes that watch us now. Not here they don’t. This is Lucifer’s domain. The ol’ Serpent, the big daddy himself, is out there watching everything we do. It’s his eyes that keep watch here.”
“Why hasn’t he stepped in? Couldn’t Lucifer attack us now?” Dominic asks.
“Not his style. He’s like a head-shrinker. Prefers to get into your gray matter. Turn people against each other and pick ‘em off one by one,” Michael answers. “Only he does it in ways you won’t see coming. He plays the long game. While everyone else is thinking in straight lines, he’s thinking in circles and loops. He’ll try to mess with us, tear us apart, make us distrust one another. Same as he did with Raphael and the others after we attacked.”
“What happened to them?” Dominic asks.
“He ate their souls,” Michael answers. “But not before torturing them.”
Dominic grimaces. “How’d you make it out alive?”
Before Michael can respond, Jessup shouts, causing the duo to hustle up.
They slide down the reverse of a ridge-line and reach a slope that ascends to a sand-dune formation.
At the edge of the abyss dunes, a peak of volcanic slag and scree leads to an embankment.
It rises over a valley of death lit by blobs of light with yet-to-be-revealed sources.
The glow tinctures the ashen sky.
Permanent scarlet twilight abounds in a composition that’s majestic but slightly off-kilter.
The entirety of the abyss has the faux quality of a movie set meant to be ominous, except it actually is a terrifying terrain, ripe with unspeakable horrors.
We trudge through the decrepit remains of warriors who fought and died centuries ago.
Our journey is rife with travails, but it is a righteous one, and we will do whatever it takes to prevail.
I creep toward the edge of the embankment and look out.
Down below, the slopes lead to a coil of red, putrid water that feeds a sprawling mist-shrouded swamp, which is flanked by a roiling river of bile, visible on the horizon.
Out in the middle of the swamp are small hillocks, which are tufts of material that bob in the amber water. For an instant it looks like obscured forms are lying on the hillocks, keeping low to the ground.
I shuffle down the embankment, which is choked with stones and gravel.
Michael stays behind and takes in the view of the swamp and the hillocks as he glances at Hines.
Their voices are powerful and reach me despite the distance I’ve put between us.
“What’s John Chapter Eleven, Verses Forty-one through Forty-four deal with, Bible Scholar?” Michael asks Hines.
“The resurrection of Lazarus?” Hines asks, checking to see if he understands the question correctly. “But you know that. You know the Bible forward and backward.”
“Still like to hear the words spoken aloud,” Michael admits. “Makes me feel like I have a little connection with the Almighty, even in the midst of all this despicable ruin.”
Jessup looks over.
“Why those verses?” he asks.
“Haven’t you ever wondered what happened to Lazarus?” Michael asks. “After he rose from the dead?”
“Don’t remember the Bible mentioning it,” Jessup replies.
“Because it doesn’t,” I explain.
“Laz was brought back from the dead by Jesus, otherwise known as Yeshua and likely pronounced as Joshua in English,” Hines interjects.
“Lazarus was the first living dead,” Michael adds. “There were some…side effects that accompanied his resurrection.”
Dominic gets a look of recognition and understanding. His eyes narrow.
“You’re not saying what I think you’re saying, are you?” Hines asks.
“The Bible does not include or elaborate on what happened to Lazarus after he came back from the dead, from the other side, brother,” Michael replies. “Care to take a guess?”
“No,” Hines says. “I definitely do not want to know.”
Michael ignores this and answers anyway.
“The risen Lazarus developed a hankering for human flesh,” he says.
“The first zombie,” Jessup jokes.
Michael nods, indicating that Jessup’s co
mment is meant to be taken seriously.
“And this is his domain,” Michael adds. “The swamp. The Lament Swamp.”
“Lament Swamp?” Jessup asks. “Who came up with that gem?” He chortles.
Michael points to himself.
“Like it?” he asks. “I’ve been sitting on that one for a couple centuries.”
“Sucks,” Jessup replies.
“I’m seriously growing tired of your lack of faith and bullshit, Jessup. Shall I remind you of who is known as a coward and who backed down in the face of death and Lucifer?” Michael asks.
Jessup smirks.
“Then I guess you don’t want to hear that I think you’re not really mad at me at all, Michael,” Jessup says. “You’re mad at you. You failed.”
“Okay, that does it,” Michael warns. “That’s it. That. Is. It!”
Michael lunges at Jessup only to be blocked by me as I rush back up the slope.
Despite not having time for a tiff right now, I attempt to stop the unnecessary loss of life over a grudge that takes less precedence than what I desire and need now.
“We can settle our differences later,” I argue. “Fighting each other is exactly what Lucifer wants. We’re better than that.”
Michael and Jessup continue to leer at each other.
Before they’re able to engage in hand-to-hand combat, though, I point to a gruesome sight on the ground. My hope is that it will both distract and alert them to a potential danger.
The mummified corpses of a detachment of medieval warriors, now little more than rusted chain-mail and weaponry, have merged into the ground beneath our feet.
We’re actually treading on corpses, a virtual Pompeii of corpses bent in agonized poses.
19
Lazarus and the Battlefield of Corpses
Once I realize the ground is littered with corpses half-buried in the ground, I back up to get off of them, but the carpet of dead goes on for miles.
Everywhere I look, skeletal feet and hands can be seen sticking out of the muck.
At first, I push off the ground and hover to avoid the corpses beneath our feet.
My chain glows as if it’s sensing we’re about to battle.
DEATH SUITS HER_A Supernatural Reverse Harem Romance Adventure Page 11