by John Corwin
"I need to question the captives later," I said. "I need to find out who sent them."
"They were obviously sent by the Heretics," Ketiss said.
"Even the Brightlings?" I was still having a really hard time wrapping my brain around that one.
"It is likely Brightling spies learned of your appearance from our information feed." He tapped the gem on his sleeve. "They realized you are the Destroyer of legend who has come to drive them from our lands and attempted to assassinate you."
"But the Heretics seemed to know them." I shook my head. "I think this goes deeper."
He gave me a curt nod. "I assure you, we'll get to the truth."
I looked at other nearby soldiers. Many of them wore open looks of fascination and admiration as they gazed upon me. I took Ketiss by the arm and led him a distance away. Once we were hopefully out of eavesdropping range, I faced him. "Which denomination are you affiliated with?"
He stiffened ever so slightly. "Atharis, sir, but my unit is mixed as required by law."
"Even those who don't believe?" I asked.
He nodded. "Heretics are treated as equals so long as they do not impede the teachings of Primogenesis."
How sweet of them. "I killed Thala and Uoriss. I assume you've seen the video."
Ketiss looked down. "I have. It fills me with shame to know we have failed for so long. The Primogenitor must be very displeased with us." He almost looked as if he wanted to cry. "Our leaders have not done enough to drive the Brightlings from our lands. The enemy has been allowed to live for too long." He knelt before me. "I swear, Destroyer Slade, we will purge the Brightlings or be annihilated in the attempt."
These people are cray-cray to the max.
I managed not to cringe at his fanatical words and decided to play along for now. Thankfully, my days of Kings and Castles, a live-action role-playing game, had prepared me for eloquent speeches. "Brave words, Ketiss. Rise and go forth in the name of the Almighty. We will soon embark on an epic journey to the Promised Land and drive the Brightlings into the land of the dead."
He stood and gave me a sharp salute. Joy lit his face. "At once, Destroyer."
I pinched my lips tight to avoid snickering at my ridiculous declaration and walked with him back to the cloudbank. Flava and several guards waited on it. I stepped aboard, graced Ketiss with another nod, and turned to the crowd on the cloudbank with me. "Let's go."
A seraph on the other side saluted and the cloudbank moved out. We flew over a sea of people gathered in the square below. Even from here, I was able to see imagery from my battle with the Brightlings playing back from the gems the Darklings wore. I wondered how such recordings were transmitted to everyone so quickly and who was in charge of deciding which news people could see.
"Is there an agency that decides what news is published on the info feed?" I asked.
Flava raised an eyebrow. "The people decide which news is transmitted, Destroyer." She brushed a hand across her gem. "The more citizens who record and declare something as newsworthy, the more likely it will be seen by others."
"They upvote it?" I could tell she was confused by my internet lingo, so I clarified. "In other words, they give it a positive vote and once it hits a certain threshold, the gems automatically replay the news."
She nodded. "Yes, they…upvote." Flava said the word a couple more times as if practicing it.
Humans had made an art of murdering the English language by fusing words into almost unrecognizable mutants. It felt kind of nice that my magically acquired Cyrinthian skills allowed me to genetically modify this language as well. More importantly, I began to see that these gems were the analog to arcphones back on Eden. This info feed of theirs was like a social network on steroids.
I wanted to know more. "How long after something happens can a person go back and replay the event?"
Flava touched a finger to her chin and her gaze grew distant. "I am not sure, Destroyer. Things that are very important to me are always available. I simply think of what I wish to view, and it appears."
These gems sounded like an identity thief's wet dream. Despite the dozens of other questions I had about the magical gadgets, a towering monolith caught my eyes. The designer had created the structural equivalent of a neighborhood bully. Wide at the base and narrow at the top, this structure was built to intimidate. Several pyramids like the ones I'd seen at the other ministry building bordered the perimeter of the building's wide plaza, their eyes rotating to watch the surroundings.
"What is this place?" I asked.
Flava answered. "The Ministry of Defense, Destroyer."
"Will you stop calling me that?"
Her eyes filled with uncertainty. "What shall I call you?"
"Justin would be fine." I smiled.
"Is this a word from Eden?"
I managed not to laugh. "It's my first name."
Her eyes widened. "Oh. It would be improper for me to call you by such familiar terms."
"The Destroyer commands it," I said in what was hopefully a commanding voice.
Flava looked down. "As you command, Des—Justin."
Some of the other Darklings on the cloudbank cast jealous looks at Flava, as if I'd bought candy but only given it to her.
Our cloudy chariot docked at a circular platform jutting from halfway up the side of the building. The contingent of guards escorted me down a wide corridor devoid of decoration. The black floor and dark gray walls did nothing to alleviate the monotony. Flava charged a gem on the wall and a portion of it melted away to reveal a similarly bland room on the other side. She and I entered while the guards remained outside.
Unlike my previous residence, this room already had furniture, most of it in shades of white or black. On the right stood a table with four cloud chairs, and to the left, a floating cloud.
"Is that my own personal icloud?" I asked.
Flava's forehead wrinkled and abruptly smoothed over as if she'd just remembered I was a noob in these lands. "It is where you sleep."
"Really?" I made a beeline for it and touched the billowing surface. It was incredibly soft. I lay down felt it mold to my contours. It was almost like lying on thin air. "This is cool."
"I'm glad you approve, J-justin." She stumbled over my name as if afraid to say it.
My demon stomach growled. I stood and motioned Flava to a chair. "I need to feed."
She sat in a cloud chair and folded her hands in her lap. Eyes wide, she looked up at me. "Will it hurt?"
I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "No, it won't hurt." I touched her hand. "I promise."
She made a whimpering sound, but quickly stiffened her back. "I am ready."
It was all I could do to keep my questing aura from lunging at hers. As before, she flinched, and suddenly it was as if I'd hit a wall. My father had told me that feeding from Seraphim was very difficult if they didn't want you to. Even though, in their natural state, they weren't as powerful as those who'd fed on humans, I wouldn't be able to sneak past her defenses.
Flava unclenched her teeth and took a deep breath. As she blew it out, her barriers relaxed and melted away. My questing probe latched onto her halo. Warmth seeped into me. I sensed fear and uncertainty from Flava along with a healthy dose of awe. She really did seem to think I was this Destroyer dude everyone was talking about. My inner demon sensed something different about my current victim and strained against its leash like a male dog sensing a French poodle in heat.
Her eyes widened. She licked her lips and looked me up and down. I felt the change in her attitude immediately and gave my demon side a good hard shove back into its kennel. Sexual tension oozed up the link from Flava. She moaned and stood. Her heavy-lidded gaze appraised me as if I were in the display case at a butcher shop. This only encouraged my demon. I tried to sever the link, but it felt as though Flava's aura held it fast. I pulled at the link again but she had me as much as I had her.
Flava launched herself at me and knocked me onto my back on the cloud be
d. My demon pushed. Lust surged through the bond and it was all I could do to maintain control over my carnal urges.
An internal battled raged for control of my body and I was losing.
Chapter 11
I hadn't been out of control of my demon feeding abilities since my days in high school. It had become almost second nature to me at this point. But ever since my Seraphim side had fully awakened, my demon side had become very unruly. Coupled with Flava's ability to maintain a grasp on my essence, I was in unfamiliar territory, without an instruction manual.
Flava pressed her hands to my bare chest. She leaned down and kissed my face. I pressed my lips tight and struggled to avoid her lips, but it was nearly impossible. Despite my predicament, I was feeding at a healthy pace and strength flooded into me. Feeding from a Seraphim tasted far richer than it did with humans.
My body responded to her touch. My second brain joined my demonic side, urging me to take this succulent creature and enjoy her fully. In the most physical sense, it was almost unbearably tempting. But my love for Elyssa was even stronger.
I gripped Flava's wrists, held them together, and pushed her back on her feet. She stumbled backward. "Stop!" I yelled. "This is a side-effect of the feeding."
She moaned. "I do not want to stop. I want you."
I rolled backward and dashed to the other side of the table. I tried freeing my essence from hers, but it was like tugging on tangled yarn. "Let go of my aura."
She traced a finger down the front center of her uniform. It peeled open and fell away from her nude body. "Give me more, Destroyer." She moaned. "Show me your power."
What is this, a low-budget adult film?
Flava circled the table. I dodged around it to keep the amorous angel well away from me. Unfortunately, my inner demon was fanning the flames of passion the best it could. Anger flared, heating my face. Thanks to my infernal side, I'd murdered a roomful of people. Now it was about to cause a female to do something she wouldn't under normal circumstances. If I gave in, I could add rape to my capital offenses.
Flava flinched and her gaze turned uncertain.
She just sensed my anger. I'd been so angry it had overridden the lust. I thought back to the ministry building. I visualized the soldiers bursting into the room. The burned bodies. The lake of blood. The pain and guilt I'd felt.
The sera gasped. Her eyes filled with tears. "How could I?" she said. "So many bodies. Burned alive."
I felt my demon side recede. Tears pouring down her cheeks, Flava dropped into a chair and buried her face in her hands. My essence untangled from hers and snapped free. I nearly fell over backward. Sweat dribbled down my nose and my heart pounded. What in the hell is wrong with me? "Hell" was an appropriate word in this case because it seemed to be the primary problem with me. My demon side was like an unstable catalyst when combined with my Seraphim abilities.
"I'm so sorry, Flava." I stayed back from her.
She lowered her hands and revealed a tearstained face. "I don't know why, but I lost control of my sexual inhibitions." Another tear trickled down her face. "I sexually assaulted you, Destroyer."
"Justin." I sighed. "It wasn't your fault. It happens sometimes when my demonic side feeds."
Flava wiped her eyes. "You caused these feelings in me?"
I nodded. "It's like a psychic link. Emotions travel both ways, but my emotional state can control yours." I ran a hand through my hair. "I've never fed my incubus side on Seraphim. Apparently it made me lose control."
"I am honored to be your first." She rose to her feet, revealing more of her naked body. "May I publish an article in our healer journals about this experience? I think it will be very educational."
I blinked at her a couple of times before an answer penetrated my confusion. "An article? Uh, sure."
She picked up her uniform and brushed a finger against the gem. A video of the incident from her perspective projected into the air. She paused it and used her fingers to spin the view around from different angles. When her uniform fell to the floor in the video, the recording went dark as a fold of cloth covered the gem. Unfortunately, the audio came through loud and clear.
Flava smiled. "I will be sure to save this."
My face heated to about a thousand degrees as I thought about the article she planned to publish. "Do the gems record everything?"
She nodded. "They are very useful."
A bell chimed. The door melted away to reveal Cephus in the hallway. His forehead was wrinkled with worry. He saw Flava's nude form and averted his eyes. "I'm sorry, Destroyer. Did I interrupt something?"
"We were performing a medical experiment, Minister." Flava hurriedly slid back into her uniform.
I cleared my throat. "All in the name of science." I quickly changed the subject. "I assume you're here to talk about the attack on the ministry building."
"Of course." He looked up and seemed relieved to see a fully clothed Flava regarding him. "May I?" he motioned toward the entrance.
"Please, come in." I leaned against the table and folded my arms, trying desperately to look casual.
Cephus looked at Flava. "May I ask who this is? Should she be here for our conversation?"
Flava stiffened and folded her arms behind her back. "I am Flava, prime healer of the Tarissan Legion."
"Ah, yes. I've heard of you." Cephus splayed his fingers toward her and held his hand out, palm down. "It is a pleasure to meet a prime healer. I assume you have tended to the Destroyer's needs?"
She returned the gesture. "Yes, Minister."
He raised an eyebrow. "I am curious to hear more of this medical experiment you were performing."
Her face turned bright red. "It is rather complicated, sir."
I don't have time for this. I cleared my throat. "As I was saying," I continued, "I'd like to know how Brightlings managed to penetrate your security measures. Please don't tell me they were simply able to fly over them."
Cephus shook his head. "No, the detection mist surrounds the building from top to bottom; it just isn't as visible farther up. Somehow the intruders disabled a section and went through."
The Darkling Heretics must have helped them, I figured, but I still didn't understand why. Did they really see me as a common enemy? I went to my next question. "How were they able to destroy the glass?"
"These Brightlings were members of the elite warrior class," Cephus said in a matter-of-fact tone. "They call themselves archangels."
"Archangels, huh?" What a pretentious name. "I fought a group of them in Eden."
Cephus hissed a breath between his teeth. "They are in Eden?"
I gave him a level gaze. "Yes. That's precisely why I need to take an army back with me to get rid of them." A disturbing thought occurred to me. "Do your people have elite warriors who can fly?"
He shook his head. "I'm afraid we're limited to using cloudlets."
I assumed he was referring to what I called cloudbanks, and made the lingual adjustment. Considering how nimble the archangels had been compared to the sluggish movement of the cloudlets I'd seen, I didn't see how the Darklings stood a chance against the super-powered Brightlings in Eden. "If the Brightlings have such an advantage, how have your people managed to maintain control of your lands?"
"We are barely holding on," Cephus said. "Brightling forces to the far north have already claimed the city of Ajarta and surrounding lands. The only reason we have managed for so long is the limited number of archangels at their disposal."
I pushed myself off the edge of the table and straightened. "Let me take an army back to Eden. I know how to make your people even more powerful—perhaps powerful enough to counter the archangels."
"We cannot spare anyone." Cephus's tone was firm. "We train all citizens to fight from a young age. We've improved our armor and weapons to match the enemy's. We have scoured the land for the brightest minds to lead our forces." He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as if a terrible headache had just set in. "The Brightling Secon
d Battalion is simply too large and well-trained for us to fight. If the First Battalion had not been recalled to Zbura, they likely would have taken several more cities from us as well."
"Why were they recalled?" I asked.
"Our spies were only able to determine it was some sort of emergency." Cephus walked to a niche inset in the wall and charged a gem there. "Would you like something to drink?"
I shook my head. "I want to know why—" It suddenly occurred to me why the First Battalion had been recalled. After we'd defeated Daelissa's army, she must have sent for reinforcements. The primary question in my mind was why didn't she call in more troops sooner? Considering the way her forces had crushed us like ants, she must have thought the war was won.
Cephus picked up two containers of steaming liquid from the niche and took a sip from one. "Just in case you change your mind." He placed the second cup on the table. "Our spies in Zbura informed us that the entire city guard was deployed somewhere outside the city. They were last seen taking the Imperial Skyway toward the Eternal Cliffs."
"The Eternal Cliffs?" Flava touched her gem and a holographic map appeared in the air. She zoomed in on a section of land. "A Sacred Arch is located there."
This new information sent the hamster wheel powering my brain into overdrive. "What's the difference between the city guard and their regular soldiers?"
"The difference is night and day," Cephus replied. "The city guards use crystal armor and weapons, which are highly effective at controlling other Brightlings. Such weapons are not as useful against us since we can neutralize them with Murk. This weakness allowed our people to free themselves centuries ago. Over time, the Brightlings developed new magical weapons to counter us."
My stomach keeled over backward and landed on my spleen. We hadn't fought the real Brightling army at all. Instead, we'd barely beaten the city guard. It suddenly made sense to me why there'd been almost no diversification of weapons or personnel in Daelissa's first army. The city guard wasn't equipped to fight wars and yet they'd nearly driven us to extinction. Now a real Brightling army threatened Eden and we simply didn't have the manpower to stop them.