by Reid, Susan
The harder the music thumped, the more I began to feel energized and —aroused. Instinctively, my eyes immediately went to the crowd beyond our circle, searching like a magnet.
I had a strong, intuitive feeling that I was being watched right now…and it wasn’t the eyes of another human being. It was difficult to distinguish at first, until I turned up my aural sight. Several, large, red, flaring auras were moving in closer and circling the dance floor. Crystal, Scarlet, Lira, and Lorelei also reacted to the dark beings.
I reached out a hand for Lira, to keep her close to me. She was so small, it would have been easy for her to be caught up and lost in the sea of dancing people.
“Hey!” She squeaked.
Initially, it felt as if she were pulling herself away from me, but I soon realized that she wasn’t. Someone was pulling her away.
I instantly shifted into warrior mode, firmly pulling her back towards me. People began to shift and move all around us, it was weird and confusing. I soon realized, that the direction of the crowd was being manipulated to purposefully seclude and force the both of us further to the right— off the dance floor, and away from everyone else.
What the hell was happening? I panicked; searching the crowd but unable to see very much, since neither Lira nor I had height on our side. How we ended up against the wall and away from everyone else, was puzzling. It happened that fast.
My breath froze in my throat. Moving in like a panther upon its trapped prey—a huge fallen, swiftly moved in and towered over us.
He reminded me of a sharp-dressed, mafia kingpin. His aura glowed powerfully, in shades of purple and blood red. He appeared to be of Hispanic heritage, with dark hair, a perfectly cut goatee and mustache combo, and dark tanned skin. After a moment, I began to see the false façade start to ooze away like hot candle wax. Beneath the flesh was something so diabolically heinous and terrifying, I wanted to scream.
His face was nothing more than a bare skull, with fiery blue flames deep in the hollow sockets of his eyes. Several rows of unbelievably sharp teeth, like needle pointed knives in an oversized jaw, were permanently set into a sadistically evil rictus smile.
His scent was atrocious. The heat of his power was intoxicating and poisonously potent, making me feel woozy and spurring a gag reflex. I didn’t dare to look away or turn my back on him.
I positioned myself in front of Lira to guard her. Surely this fallen wouldn’t do anything in here, would he? My adrenaline was rising. My body and mind prepared to defend and fight. I only hoped that my automatic physical response would follow suit and allow me to wield my blades too.
Though he had the both of us cornered, I knew that it was me he really wanted.
“Well, well, well, isn’t this conveniently cute and unexpected? It must be my lucky day. Dos guerreros divinos hermosos, for the price of stalking one. It’s a damned shame though. Female warrior meat is dulce and most tierno of all humans.” The fallen said, mixing perfect Spanish with English and a malicious smirk.
I glared at him, challenging his threat by pushing down my fear before he picked up on it, if he hadn’t already.
He knew the rules; the dark ones were bound by them in the human realm too. We couldn’t reveal anything questionable to the human world either.
This was a crowded club.
He wanted me to wield my blades.
Little did he know…that I couldn’t. I could certainly torch his ass though. In fact, that may be my only recourse.
The auras of several more large fallen were coming towards us. It wasn’t the light of the angels that were interspersed among the club goers, but other jagged and mixed up auras; a splatter of all the colors of the fallen. It was eerie. Demons, made to look like— us? Or some dark version of us as divine warriors? They all had brandings too…black brandings.
Shit!
Lira gripped my hand firmly behind me.
Mobs of fallen were closing in on us, and so were Spencer, Durien and all the others in their wake. I had to think of something.
This fallen was extremely powerful and extremely wicked. He held my gaze, nearly putting me into a deadly trance with his eyes. I felt in control again when he broke his concentration, snapping his head to the left and snarling. He held a hand up to halt his converging posse from closing in on us too.
Then he grinned. “Looks like we’ll just have to smoke them all out.” He said.
He snapped his fingers loudly, and just like that, the entire club was draped in pitch darkness. The heavy bass beat of the music continued to play on loudly, adding to the melee, chaos, and screams of panic that began to erupt from all over. That’s when the rushing stampede to get out of the club, began.
“Don’t let go of my hand!” I yelled at Lira over my shoulder. I forced my way through the packed craziness, using auras as lights and guides. I had to loosen my grip on Lira’s hand, hearing her squeal and attempt to loosen my fingers. I wasn’t going to let go of her. If something happened to her, I’d never forgive myself. It would be all my fault.
Though I could see in the dark, the crazy blurs of colored auras had me confused. I knew which ones to avoid; I guess I was just shocked at just how many fallen and dark beings were actually in here right now. There was no way we were going to make it to the exit. People were cursing, shoving, and screaming in a panicked riot to get out. I had a hunch that not all of the screaming had been because pitch darkness had suddenly dropped like a heavy curtain.
It was getting hot, stifling even. I could see the bright lights of angel auras, shifting about like spastic search beams. The fact that they were here was a good thing, right?
I temporarily let go of Lira’s hand in a quick attempt to wield my blades.
“Starling! Do not go outside! Stay put!” I heard what sounded like Durien shouting amid the noise. He sounded so far away. Did he say not to go outside? Why? I searched frantically for him but it was pointless.
I assumed it was because that’s what that fallen wanted me to do. That was what he meant by smoking us out. In here, there were too many eyes.
I had to get us to a secluded spot, so I could break a white portal gem that led back to the divine hall, to ensure that Lira was safe.
I reached for Lira’s hand once again, then turned to look behind me; in order to tell her about my plan. I pulled her close so I wouldn’t have to yell. Instead…I wanted to scream. The face that was looking up at me— wasn’t Lira.
I paled. Chilled sweat immediately broke out on my face.
A midget-sized, horned creature, with large glowing, ember orange eyes, snickered and laughed out loud at me in ridicule. Its hand morphed back into a three-toed hoof, having felt…human, just a moment ago.
I dropped its vile hoof as if it were on fire. Out of disgust and reflex, I brought my foot up and kicked it square in its ugly face. The power and force behind my kick surprised me. The nasty creature grunted and squealed, as it flew upwards and over the crowd in a tumbling, jumble of deformed limbs and wings, like a cannonball with hands and legs.
What happened to Lira? I just had her with me…I know I did! I had her by the hand…what? How? When?
When I tried to wield my blades, that’s when. Damn, I was an idiot!
God no, please!
My stomach fell to the floor like a lead brick. She could be anywhere, if she were even still in here…and alive.
XXII: Cam`ael
Ry was pumped and ready to fight. Both he and Mac joined my pursuit of making a beeline straight for Baal.
“There are way too many people in here. Do not bring about a confrontation. That is what they want!” The petite, pink and silver haired female angel beside me warned.
No shit? Yeah, I know that, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to stand around and watch Baal make a grab for Starling either.
“You’re talking to the wrong damned demon! Unless you want an early fucking Armageddon in the next few seconds, you guys had better get together quickly and decide what you’re goin
g to do, now!” I growled at her.
I kept my pace, passing her up when she stopped and stared after me, panning the crowd. Then I heard her begin to recite verses.
If she was trying to stop or banish me, she’d have a hell of a resistant fight on her hands.
Seeing a demon…go demon, was never a pleasant event. The body count was usually off the charts in the aftermath too.
I never slowed my stride or broke my focus on Baal. My fists were clenching and unclenching. The prickling heat of both white and black lightning, crackled between my fingers and knuckles as my fury continued to build. I pushed forth power into the crowd, which made them part, so that me, Ry, Rahab, Mac, and Nay could move through with ease, unbeknownst to them.
Edanai cloaked herself; moving swiftly around the perimeter of the dark divines that had arrived about the same time that Baal did. Coincidence? No. This was an orchestrated move. They had no idea that Starling would be here before hand. Apparently, they’ve been scanning both the mortal and spirit realm for her since she died, much like I did. That explains why Morning Star sent one of his top arch demons this time.
Edanai was surreptitiously throwing curses and magic at the dark divines, to either knock them out, or to render them temporarily paralyzed. I didn’t even ask if she needed backup or support. She had other female demonesses that she must have called out to, and now there were several from our legion assisting her amid the confusion, and mounting defensive battle.
“Take the girl behind her and keep her safe. She’ll be a bargaining tool if Baal gets a hold of her first.” I urged Ry.
Ry stealthily slipped forward, and was nothing more than a cloaked blur. Just as Starling let go of her hand; he quickly grabbed the girl from behind with a hand over her mouth, so she wouldn’t scream or call for Starling. The girl didn’t even realize what just happened.
I didn’t have time to deal with the annoying imp that was already slinking in behind Starling; where the girl had just been. It was harmless.
Ry swiftly shuffled the young girl towards Durien.
He already knew what we were doing, purposefully keeping the seraphim away from us in the interim. The female warrior, who had been staring at me earlier, came rushing forward to grab the girl that Ry thrust towards Durien.
I wasn’t ready for Starling to see me just yet… because I couldn’t predict her move or reaction to me.
Within a blink, time suddenly froze.
Pieces of the human realm began to break away, opening slices and fractures of ethereal light that was the spirit realm. It only took a span of five seconds for the chaotic darkness of the nightclub to drop away like a canvas, leaving us in the middle of the neutral zone. It was a wide, open landscape of nothing but gray and brown packed dirt. The earth was split with cracks and fissures of acidic magma flowing through it, like fiery veins.
I didn’t think the angels would do this. Though I hated it, I was grateful that they had chosen this instead of banishing me. They had pulled all of us supernatural and immortal beings out of the human realm simultaneously, with the exception of themselves. Of course, because they couldn’t interfere…which pissed me off.
Now that we were all in the spirit realm, there were no rules in the fight between the divine warriors and supernatural beings. Starling was in danger if they didn’t throw a portal to get her out of here now. Though all I wanted to do was to grab and protect her, I didn’t even have a chance to search for her.
Baal needed to be eradicated first.
There were shouts, clashing and grating of metal, flashes of bright lights, and then—the fight was on. The divine warriors had already wielded their weapons.
The dark divines appeared cocky. Morning Star had given each of them a piece of his essence and black magic. That was a deadly combination, but at least it may keep the seraphim busy. I didn’t have time to pay attention to them, let alone help. Baal was just as hungry to spill my blood as I was to drive my sword between his hellion eyes.
Ry, Mac, Nay, and Rahab, didn’t need another moment of words or hesitation. Ry was a maniac fighter. In a blur, two of the demons that Baal had arrived with, had been decapitated in his war cry.
“Help the warriors when you guys are done, but be cautious and wary! Watch the earthbound Seraphim, don’t kill him.” I shouted telepathically to Ry.
“Damn, I wished he’d brought more of those sorry assed excuses for demons with him. That was too fucking easy!” Ry teased with victorious laughter.
As if on cue, a flock of fallen began to swarm in overhead. I knew exactly why they were coming, and what was drawing them here.
It wasn’t to fight…it was to take.
I targeted Baal’s insidious face. Black rage and fury churned like a storm inside of me. Atiro had just arrived, wildly swinging his two, double-edged, swords, which cut down two fallen in mid descent with ease.
However, I was in an unfavorable position. I couldn’t allow Starling to be at risk, because she wasn’t trained yet. This would be the only time I hoped, that the seraphim did everything possible to protect her.
“I’ve been waiting for this day Cam`ael. I get to kill and devour you in front of your love, and then take her with me as a gift for him. Oh wait, I won’t have to. She may just to kill you first!” Baal’s spiteful words and scathing, hate-filled laughter assaulted my mind.
I clenched my teeth in fury. Light surfaced into my fist, swirling wildly as I wielded my blade. It was forbidden to kill Morning Star right now, but I could certainly obliterate Baal at any time.
That time would be today.
I gripped the blade of my sword, infusing the light energy that had been curling around my fist into its metal body. It began to shimmer, glowing white hot with power. In a flash, my own war cry propelled my wrath. I was on Baal, swinging low and quick, though he managed to block my attack.
He released a poisonous, black vapor that wafted around me like fog, attempting to cloud my vision and disorient me. I leapt into the air, and into an arching back flip, releasing my wings. Baal had done the same. He could only kill me by his weapon. We were both of darkness. His magic would be pointless against me, though it was still strong enough to slow me down a little.
In a roar, he charged me, but I was ready. His wicked, spiked flail, whipped in a blur right past my head, missing my wing by mere inches. I spun in mid-air, swiftly recovering to come down again with my sword. Again, he blocked it, but I managed to throw a small crackle of light in the form of lighting towards his face. He dove to the right to dodge, but not fast enough before it took off his ear.
He howled in pain. His injury morphed into violent rage. In the next instant, his flesh veneer melted away to reveal his true form, which was nothing more than the visage of pestilent death. His massive jaw of a thousand venomous teeth hung agape, ready to tear into my flesh.
“Bring it bitches!” Ry bellowed aloud, as he, Mac, Nay, Rahab, and Atiro; all flew into the fallen swarm with weapons drawn.
In my split second distraction, Baal charged me. I pitted my blade between the two of us as he shot forward, burying his razor sharp teeth deep into my bicep. I had gotten lucky; it was my throat he lunged for.
Pushing his full weight onto me, he forced me back down to the earth at full speed. Our swift, vertical drop hindered my ability to get him off of me, as he worked to rip the flesh from my arm.
The pain was excruciating. Gritting my teeth, I brought my feet up to plant into his chest, but he wasn’t letting go. He viciously twisted his head side to side, hell bent on ripping my entire arm clean off from the shoulder.
The vile, black venom from his bite immediately begin to fuse into me. It was both shocking and painful, yet…deliciously satiating. I didn’t want this…I couldn’t let it overpower me.
We both slammed into the ground; me pinned beneath him. The force of his assault and our impact, caused a thunderous crash, like a detonating bomb. The ground collapsed inward into a bowl shaped crater underneath me. Feath
ers, both white and black—more than likely most of mine, flew wildly into the air.
“Cam`ael!” Edanai screamed.
Baal’s bite was unrelentingly tortuous. The poison was meant to weaken and silence curses. I clenched my teeth, attempting to draw out some form of light, but my resolve was waning fast. Darkness was infiltrating me; filling me with anger, hate, and murderous intent.
Suddenly, Baal’s bite lessened to a graze. He froze and was instantly shoved backwards by a strong force.
I cursed in pain.
A huge chunk of my flesh was lodged in his ravenous maw and my blood dripped down his bony chin.
He was impaled on a waiting, large, dragon clawed hand that punched forcefully through his chest, maniacally shredding and tearing at his body from within.
Baal arched his back painfully, his weapon swinging wildly as he growled in pain and fury. His psychotic smile slowly began to fade, though it was hard to tell, being that his face was always fixed in a permanent grin.
A flash of darkness shot over me, and towards Baal’s nearly disemboweled vessel. It was Ry with his weapon raised. Ry belted out a taunting victory growl, swiftly swinging his deadly obsidian scimitar, and cleanly taking off Baal’s head in one pass. It tumbled away in a spinning, spray of black blood, and Rahab proceeded to rip the rest of his body to pieces in his rage.
A billowing cloud of oily black smoke began to funnel out of the physical vessel that had been Baal’s body.
Four of the female fallen in my legion, including Edanai, quickly cast and threw a curse to immobilize the furious entity that was Baal. If he got away, all Morning Star had to do, was make him a new body.
He had to be destroyed completely.
“Now Cam`ael! He’s too strong, we can’t hold him any longer. Hurry!” Edanai urged.
The unique, aqua and purple sky above was blurry. I was teetering in and out of consciousness, feeling the poison coursing madly through my veins. I had to concentrate hard on the light within me. I sat up, holding out a shaking hand, a small, flashing orb began to swirl together and form in my palm. It was all I could bring forth, so I hoped it was enough.