by G. K. DeRosa
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“Let’s take this party inside.” Asher, the ever-vigilant guard, pried open the entrance to 30 Rock. Shards of glass came loose and crashed onto the floor as he yanked the door open. The clatter echoed through the silent interior.
Azazel glided through the atrium and hopped onto the reception desk with the agility of a man one-tenth his age. He stared up at the immense mural behind him and sneered. “Something about this thing always reminded me of the great battle.”
“The great battle?” I asked, quirking a brow.
“Yes. You are familiar with the Old Testament, Liv? Lucifer, the first fallen angel?”
I gulped. The devil? “Sure.” I glanced up at the yellowing black and white painting looming over us. It was kind of creepy. It made me think of Greek gods more than angels though.
“Anyway, back to business.” He winked his blue eye at me. “There is something you have to offer me?”
I steeled my nerve, clearing my throat to buy myself a minute. This was it. “I’d like to offer you the chance to survive the coming war.”
His eyes widened and he rocked back, bracing his hands behind him on the black countertop. A raucous laugh burst from his mouth ricocheting off the walls of the empty hall.
I schooled my expression into complacency, while on the inside my blood boiled.
The laughter died down, and he speared me with his gaze. “A chance to survive, you say?”
“Uncle Azazel, let’s stop playing games with each other. You knew who Sammarah was, and I’m fairly certain you know who I am and what that means.”
His thin lips twisted. I was pretty sure that was as close to a squirm as I would get from the man. Point for Liv!
“Suppose I admit to knowing what you suggested, what does that have to do with me? If you really are the chosen one, and if you do find the shield of light, it would have no effect on me. I am neither angel nor vampire.”
I arched a brow and slammed my hand on my hip. “Are you sure about that? You don’t think that the power of the shield would encompass a fallen angel within an extremely close proximity? Are you willing to take that risk?”
His scruffy jaw clenched, a nearly imperceptible muscle twitching. “And if I’m not? What exactly are you proposing? I don’t believe you’re offering me salvation out of the kindness of your divine-blooded heart.”
I tugged the onyx dagger out from my waistband and held it up to him.
His face blanched. “Sammarah…” The word came out so quietly I wasn’t certain I’d heard it.
“I need more of these. Like hundreds more.”
He shook his head, sitting forward on the edge of the counter. “It’s not that easy. Do you even know what it is that you’re holding?”
“Yes. Sammarah told me before she died. While we were attacked by angel warriors sent by your brother, Nathanael.”
He swayed back as if he’d been slapped in the face.
Okay maybe I wasn’t a hundred percent sure Nathanael had sent those nephilim to kill Sammarah, but Azazel didn’t need to know that.
“Even if I wanted to help you,” he muttered, finally looking up, “do you have any idea how difficult it is to acquire those weapons?”
“You have three days.”
His jaw slackened. “Impossible.”
“Uncle, I don’t think you’re understanding what I’m offering here—a world without either of your brothers. You’d no longer have to live in Nathanael’s self-righteous shadow or get roped into your little brother, Zekiel’s messes.”
Azazel’s eyes took on a faraway gaze. I knew I’d seen something that day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Azazel hadn’t wanted to be there anymore than we did. He leapt off the reception desk and paced like a caged lion.
He stopped and turned to me. “I need a week at least.”
“We don’t have a week. I know Zeke is sending his men to assault the tower in four days.”
His lips pulled into a reluctant smirk. “My, my, Liv, you have been quite the busy rebel, haven’t you?”
I ignored his question. “So can you do it?”
“You do understand that you’re asking me to literally go to hell for you?”
I shrugged.
He snatched the dagger from my hand, and Ash was on him before the hilt left my palm.
Azazel held it up nonthreateningly. “Relax. I merely want to show you something.” He held it out with the blade toward me. “Do you see this?”
A tiny etching was engraved at the seam where the onyx blade met the hilt. I squinted to focus in the dim lighting. A pentagram inked in deep crimson stared back at me. I clapped my hand over my mouth strangling the gasp that attempted to burst out.
“Lucifer’s mark,” exhaled Trinity. She’d been so quiet the entire time I’d almost forgotten she was there.
He nodded at my friend, then pivoted to me. “Smart girl. You should keep her around, Liv. You see, dear chosen one, I must actually enter the realm of hell to retrieve more daggers. I barely escaped Lucifer’s clutches the first time around and do hate to tempt fate once again.”
Holy hell… I so did not see that coming.
“I’ll go with him.” Trinity’s voice didn’t seem like her own.
“What? No way.” I yanked on my friend’s arm and pulled her to my side.
“Lucifer won’t be able to keep me in hell. My soul doesn’t belong to him.” She eyed Azazel and her lip curled. “Not sure about this guy, but it should guarantee him a return trip if I’m with him.”
I whipped my head back and forth so quickly I almost gave myself whiplash. “Absolutely not. That sounds way too risky.” I had no idea how this whole traveling to hell worked, but there was no way I’d let Trinity go with Uncle Sketchy.
“Your friend is not only beautiful, but also very intelligent.” His mismatched eyes perused Trinity’s mocha skin and nausea crept up my throat. Bleh. “The prince of hell cannot forcibly keep a soul that does not belong in his domain.”
I latched onto Trinity’s hand and pulled her away. “Excuse me. My friend and I need to have words,” I called out over my shoulder.
Finding a dark corner of the atrium near the spiral staircase, I whirled on her. “Are you nuts?”
“I had a vision, Liv. This is what I was meant to do. Plus, it’s the only way he’ll trust us.” She squeezed my hands, her chocolate eyes melting into hot cocoa.
“And did the vision show you surviving the trip?”
She shook her head. “You know it doesn’t work like that.”
I cringed. “You’re sure about this soul thing?”
She tipped her head. “My Grams was a true believer. She taught me everything I know about elemental magic and its link to religion. There are some people that think magic is the devil’s work, but it’s not. Only God could bestow such powerful gifts on humans. I’ll be protected.”
Unease churned my belly. “What if you’re wrong?”
“Then you and Declan better find a way to get me out.” She threw me a smirk.
What did I do to deserve a friend like Trinity? Tears burned the back of my eyes. I blinked rapidly to push them away. The last thing I needed was for Azazel to see me get all emotional.
“I owe you big time.” I squeezed her hands, and we walked back to the boys.
“When do we leave?” asked Trinity.
A huge toothy grin splayed across Azazel’s face, and he tossed the dagger back to me. “If we only have three days, we’ll have to leave immediately.”
I nodded, swallowing down the thickness in my throat. “Please hurry, and be careful.”
“Just one more thing before we go.” Azazel held up his long finger. “Where is my dear nephew?”
A sharp pang pierced my insides. I missed him too much. “He’s still at the tower with Nathanael.”
His lips twitched. “And he knows what we’re doing?”
“He will soon enough.”
A knowing look cro
ssed his dual-colored irises. “I see. Trouble in paradise?”
“We’re fine, Uncle,” I snapped. “Declan’s fine and I’m fine. We’re all fine.” I waved my hand, shooing him off. “Now go and hurry back with my daggers.”
He closed his hand around Trinity’s, and the air around them began to flicker and distort. I blinked and when my lids reopened, they were gone.
“What the hell?” Asher circled the spot where they’d stood a moment ago.
I raked my hands over my face and sighed, hoping I’d done the right thing. I tucked my hair behind my ears, and Asher still stared at me for an answer.
“Azazel practices dark arts or something. I don’t know, and I don’t want to know to be honest.” I turned toward the exit, wanting nothing more than to get far away from here.
Asher zipped past me, opening the door. The murky light momentarily blinded me, and I held my forearm up to shield my eyes. When my pupils adjusted, I lowered my arm.
A dozen stryx surrounded the exit, sharp white fangs extended and crimson eyes ablaze.
Chapter 11
Battering the door with my fists for the past twenty minutes had proven completely useless. I rubbed at my sore knuckles and sank down to the floor. At least two guards were stationed outside my room. Their intermittent breathing was the only noise I could make out from the hallway.
I glanced around the bare hotel room and huffed. At least Zeke had been nice enough to stick me in my old room after his men captured us. When I awoke with a splitting headache, I’d half expected to be on level one with the blood slaves. I cringed at the terrible images the thought reproduced.
Where was Asher?
He’d put on a good fight, but in the end we’d been outnumbered. The last thing I remembered was a sharp pain in my skull and then my world had faded to black.
I pushed myself off the ground and paced in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. If anything happened to Asher because of me I’d never forgive myself. I shoved down the disquieting thought and wrapped my arms around my middle. He had to be okay.
Then there was Trinity and Azazel. Had he set us up? Was his vanishing act one big show to throw us off?
I shook my head. No, that didn’t make sense. If it had been all a ruse, why would he have taken Trinity? I tightened my hold around myself, hoping to keep my pieces from falling apart.
At least Duke was safe with the Christakos family in the burbs.
That only left the person I was trying the hardest not to think about. The guy who was constantly at the tip of my tongue and had weaved his way into my little battered heart. Declan. Was he okay? Did he know I was gone?
The summit began in two days—the same day as the planned attack on Arx. If I was stuck here, how was I supposed to get the daggers to Jayse? Assuming Azazel and Trinity succeeded in getting back in time. I slammed my palms against the thick glass and cursed, wishing I had special powers like Declan, Asher or even Trinity.
I was totally useless.
Shuffling footsteps seeped through the seam in the door, and I darted to the other side of the room. Leaning flush against the wall adjacent to the door, I held my breath.
The lock clicked, and the door swung open.
Zeke glided in, dressed in black from head to toe, his long cape billowing behind him. His usual retinue of vampire guards surrounded him. “Don’t even think about it, Liv. You wouldn’t make it down the hall if you tried.” He peered around the edge of the door. Busted.
I trudged out of my hiding spot with my head hung low.
Zeke waved off his men. “Leave us.”
When I blinked, the room was empty. Zekiel motioned toward the bed. “Please, sit. It’s time we had an honest discussion.”
Honest? That was rich. I slumped down on the edge of the mattress. “Why am I here?”
“My brother is missing, and my men followed his scent to you. I should be the one asking you the questions.” He trailed his fingers down his smooth chest, catching my eye. There were way too many buttons undone on his tight black shirt for my liking.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
An evil grin slipped over his lips. “And my soldier, Asher, what were you doing with him? I was under the impression that you and my nephew were involved.”
I narrowed my eyes. This was so none of his business, but anger bubbled up inside me, and if I didn’t let it out I’d explode. “Declan and I are involved. All your attempts to destroy what we have were useless.”
He snorted on a laugh. “Yes, yes, of course. So where is my dear nephew? Is he with my missing brother?”
“Not that one,” I muttered.
Understanding flickered across his crimson pupils. “Ah. He’s with Nathanael then.”
“I’m sure you’ll see him soon enough.” When he destroys you and your stupid vampires.
He stepped closer, his legs nearly brushing my knees. I resisted the urge to squirm back. “That still doesn’t explain what you were doing with Azazel or where he is now.”
“Like I said before, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I went to see my friend Asher and that was it.” I crossed my arms against my chest, willing myself to look tough.
He bent over and caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger. Yanking me to face him, he pinned me with those pulsating crimson pupils. “I’m tired of playing games. Tell me where Azazel is and what you met with him about.”
Power laced his words, seeping into my mind until I was dizzy. I rocked back as the unsettling feeling of fingers poking around in my brain rushed over me. A slight tingle in my chest diverted my attention. The burning intensified until it snapped me free of Zeke’s power.
I glanced down at my tank top, and Zeke’s eyes followed mine. My birthmark throbbed with life. A warm blue glow emanated through my top, radiating energy across every inch of my being.
The vampire king staggered back, his eyes a pair of dark wide pits.
Outing myself was almost worth the shock on his face.
“It’s true then,” he mumbled. “You are the chosen one.”
I shrugged, my head still spinning from his failed attempt at compulsion. A slight smile tugged at my lips. Finally, at least I had some sort of cool ability.
The happiness was short-lived though. There was nothing stopping Zeke from killing me right now and ending all his problems.
The striking vampire king scratched at his chin, his dark brows furrowing. “You say Declan is with Nathanael?”
“Yes…” I did not like the hint of a sparkle that ignited in his eyes.
“Good. You’ll remain here as my guest until the summit.”
“What?” I was tired of getting forced into being everyone’s guest.
He tented his fingertips, wiggling them. “Perhaps you’re just the leverage I need against my self-righteous Archangel brother.”
Son of a vampire.
He whirled toward the door without giving me a second look.
“Wait! Where’s Asher? Is he okay?”
The door slammed shut behind him, and panic swirled in my gut. Now that Zeke couldn’t get information from me, what if he tried to torture it out of Asher?
“Let me out!” I screamed as I pummeled the door with my fists pretending it was a certain vampire king’s handsome face.
Hours later, two male vampires barged into my room. I shot up off the bed, tucking Sammarah’s dagger in my waistband.
A pair of iron hands wrapped around each of my arms and dragged me into the hallway. “Where are you taking me?” I tried to keep the hysteria out of my tone, but my voice was already a few notches higher than normal.
The vampire stooges led me down the corridor and into the elevator. Neither would answer me, my heart rate elevating with each silent moment that passed. The doors slid open at level B, and I was shoved into the dark corridor.
Muffled groans filtered down the gloomy passageway only intensifying the gnawing fear in my gut. Vampire number one pushed open
a heavy metal door, and the odor of blood and sweat crashed over me like a tidal wave.
I scrunched my nose to block the stench since my hands were otherwise occupied by the meathead guards. My eyes finally adjusted to the murky room and fell on a figure strapped to a chair in the corner.
I gasped as the familiar form coalesced. “Asher!”
A bruised, broken, bloodied version of my best friend slumped across the torture chair. I lunged forward but hands like iron grips held me back. Hot tears burned my eyes as they trailed over his broken form.
One eye was swollen shut, a huge gash across his brow. Purple and blue splotches mottled his handsome face, and another cut split his lower lip. Dried blood and grime coated his skin, covering every inch of him.
“Oh God, Ash, I’m so sorry.”
He glanced up at me with his good eye and shook his head. “Not your fault,” he muttered.
I spun on my captors. “Why are you doing this to him?”
The sound of a throat clearing turned my attention back to the doorway. A lithe young woman with jet-black hair past her waist strutted in. “He’s a traitor, and he must be punished,” she purred. Faster than I’d ever seen a vampire move, she drew a knife from her belt and hurled it across the room. The blade zipped through the air and buried itself in Asher’s chest with a sickening squelch.
“No!” I shrieked.
Asher grunted, jerking back and his head lolled forward.
“What did you to him?” I squirmed and wriggled trying to break free, but the vamps’ hold was relentless. Even if I could reach the dagger, I didn’t have a shot against three vampires.
“Relax. Your lover boy will be fine. I’m far from finished with him.”
“What do you want?” I bit down on my lower lip to keep it from quivering.
“It’s simple. Zeke wants to know where Azazel is, and since you seem to be immune to compulsion we had to pursue other methods.” This is all my fault. Her gaze bounced to Ash. “He’s been tougher to crack than I’d hoped.” She moved forward, practically gliding over the floor. Her pale skin shone in the murky room as she neared. “That’s why you’re here. Perhaps I can break you.” Her red lips parted, and a pair of gleaming fangs descended.