“In a way,” I said. “But that hesitation…that was the moment I knew the other kids were right. There was something different about me.”
“And now we’re getting somewhere,” said Alistair. “The Sons tried to make you one of them. They had this whole grand plan in mind for you. A foot soldier of Hell, made to work for the benefit of mankind. How’d that turn out?”
“I ran away—a lot,” I said. “They’d find me sooner or later. I never knew why they bothered. They all felt uneasy around me, especially the monks. The only one who didn’t treat me like some kind of pariah was you.”
“I felt the same way the monks did,” said Alistair. “I knew you were an asset, but I was also smart enough to know that alienating you would only hurt your progress.”
“So why leave me with them?” I asked, looking Alistair in the eyes.
He smirked. “I was a rogue demon hunter; carting a child around would’ve ruined my image.”
“What’s the point here, Alistair?” I asked. “Why am I watching this?”
“It illustrates what I’ve been trying to tell you,” he said. “You were never gonna be the Sons’ unholy weapon, just like you were never gonna be Hell’s lapdog. And that’s because you’re too damn scared of your own destiny.”
I turned my back on him. “Let’s get out of here.”
Alistair called out after me, but I ignored him. I walked to the library doors and pulled them open. But as soon as I stepped through, I found myself walking right back into the library. Alistair was now sitting at one of the tables in front, leaning back in the chair, his feet propped up.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“You can’t keep running away from what you are, son,” said Alistair. “I know why you initially turned down Asmodeus and Raziel when they came to you for help.”
“Because I didn’t want to get sucked in. I did my job and that was it.”
“No, it’s more than that.” Alistair stood and walked up to me. “You’re afraid of what all this nephilim business means for you. Terrified that it might mean the Sons of Solomon were right about you having a destiny, something bigger you were meant for. But you don’t want that weight on your shoulders. And who can blame you? To them, you were never a person. You were just a tool. So, you try and avoid this kind of business as much as possible. Focus on fighting small-time monsters, doing just enough to make a living for yourself.”
“I do what I’m good at,” I said. “I don’t have time to waste on the politics of angels and demons.”
“Exactly. You’ve been hiding from it,” said Alistair. “You’ll fight your fellow Hellspawn, but you won’t return any calls from the Sons. How long’s it been since you spoke to any of them besides me?”
“I’ve had enough of this game.” I turned and walked back to the doors. But when I tried to open them, they wouldn’t budge.
“This little arrangement isn’t working so well anymore, Luther,” said Alistair, stepping behind me.
I felt his hands on my shoulders, but before I could react, Alistair had thrown me clear across the library. I slammed into one of the book cases, sending it tumbling down. It kicked off a domino effect, with the other cases behind collapsing as they were struck. I was stunned, and next thing I knew, Alistair was standing over me, a sinister grin on his face.
“You’re not a construct…and you’re not from Purgatory…”
Alistair grabbed me by the throat and raised me into the air. I stared into his eyes, watching as they went from blue to a bright, burning crimson. The hair on his head started to fall out and his skin tone darkened.
“N-No…” I grunted, struggling against his grip.
“I wondered how long it would take for you to figure it out, Luther,” he said. “Going into the dreamscape was the biggest mistake you made. It gave me the chance I needed.”
The world fell apart around us, the landscape changing from the library into a black, endless void. I stared at Alistair, but I was no longer looking at him. Now, I was looking right into my own face.
Except it wasn’t quite me. My features were twisted, with fangs for teeth, the tops of my ears sharpened, and my goatee longer and ending in a point. Two horns emerged from the skin on my forehead.
“The demon…” I muttered.
“That’s right,” said the demon. “I’m you, Luther. The part of yourself that’s embraced our heritage. You managed to keep me locked away until now, but once you gave me a taste of coming out to play when we fought Azrael, I knew I had to have more. I’ve been growing stronger for months, and once you came into Purgatory, that was all I needed to take things a step further.”
The demon held out his free hand and hellfire flowed from his palm. It took the shape of a large cage and the door popped open. He threw me inside and my back hit the bars across from the door.
I landed on the floor and tried to shake it off. Once I heard the sound of the gate, I looked up and saw that the door was closing. I tried to get to my feet, half-crawling and half-running to reach the door.
My face hit the bars. The cell door was shut and I couldn’t do anything about it. I reached my hand through the bars, trying to grasp hold of the demon, but he was out of reach. I drew my gun and fired at him, but the rounds never made it past the bars.
“Sorry, Luther. But you’ve spent decades in the driver’s seat,” said the demon. “It’s time you learned to share.”
I struggled against the bars as the demon backed away from the cell, fading until he vanished completely. But his sinister cackle continued to echo.
25
Dark clouds filled the red sky above. Tessa watched as lightning flashed through them. She heard thunderclaps so loud, they felt like they could shake all of Purgatory. Cain backed away from the sigil he’d drawn in his own blood, which was now a column of fire. He kept the revolver trained, his eyes never wavering.
Lightning crashed down from the sky, striking right in the center of the flames. There was a massive burst of light, so strong that Tessa was momentarily blinded. As her vision started to come back, spots still floated in front of her eyes. She blinked them away and focused on the sigil.
Through the flickering flames, Tessa could see the shape of a man. Cain stepped closer to the column, and the flames slowly descended, low enough so they could see the man who stood before them. He wore a dark suit with sunglasses and was stocky, with a dark beard and straggly hair, hands clasped behind his back.
“Well, this is quite…unexpected,” he said.
“Is this one of them?” asked Tessa.
Cain nodded, never once lowering his gun.
“Gotta say, I thought he’d be…different,” she said. “This guy looks like Zack Galifianakis if he were in the next Men in Black.”
“Not quite, my dear. Allow me the pleasure of an introduction, Ms. Kang. I am called Mr. Moore.” He crossed one arm over his stomach and bowed deeply.
“How’d he know my name?” asked Tessa.
“He’s a lot more powerful than he looks,” said Cain. “They’re slippery bastards, so keep an eye on ’im.”
“Mr. Cain, I see the years have been kind to you,” said Moore. “But then they often are, are they not? Immortality does come with that benefit.”
Tessa watched Moore carefully. She wasn’t sure what to make of this strange man. On the surface, he appeared normal. But there was something…unsettling about him. Something that she just couldn’t put her finger on. The polite tone of voice in which he spoke somehow made her skin crawl. It felt out of place—not only for Purgatory, but for him as well.
“What is he?” she asked.
“I am a child of the master,” said Moore. “One of the agents tasked with the day-to-day operations of this fine establishment.”
“There’s not really a name for his kind. Not so far as I know, at least,” said Cain. “But he can give us what we want…can’t you?”
Moore frowned in response. “I must say, Mr. Cain, I’m at a b
it of a loss. Here you’ve gone to all this trouble to invite me over, and yet you still have not informed me of the purpose of our little soirée. In addition, I do hate to complain, but this does not feel like the proper way one should treat a guest.”
“You want out of that trap, you’ll do what I say,” said Cain.
“Well, that is certainly an interesting proposition, sir. However, allow me to offer a counter,” said Moore. “As we speak, my partner is currently trying to ascertain my whereabouts. Your magicks may have temporarily blinded him, but it is only a matter of time before he comes calling.”
“One problem with that.” Cain held up the hand he’d cut in order to perform the spell. Tessa was surprised to see the wound had already closed up, though a mark still remained.
“A blood spell,” said Moore, his voice darkening.
“That’s right,” said Cain. “Meanin’ I’m the only one in creation who can let you out of that trap. So, if your boy gets here an’ kills me, that only guarantees you’ll be stuck right where you are until the end of time. Now…are you ready to deal?”
Moore growled, turning to look at Tessa and then back at Cain. “You are aware there will be consequences for this.”
“Just tell us what we want to know and you get to walk free.”
Tessa slowly approached Cain, never once taking her eyes off Moore. Once she was within earshot, she whispered, “Are you sure this is a good idea? What if he reneges?”
“He can’t,” said Cain, not bothering to whisper. “Once you strike a deal with these things, it’s binding.”
“Quite true,” said Moore. “However, I will not be responsible for the consequences of such a bargain. When you are caught—and you will be—you shall be subjected to the most excruciating of tortures. No demon in Hell has anything close to the…imagination possessed by my master.”
“We know what we’re gettin’ ourselves into,” said Cain. “Now quit stallin’—you gonna deal or not?”
“As you wish,” said Moore. “What is it you wish me to do?”
“Got a friend down here with us. Seems we were separated somewhere along the way.”
“Ah, yes, Purgatory can be quite the maze.”
“You’re gonna find him for us.”
“And in return, you shall release me from this trap,” said Moore.
Cain nodded. “That’s the idea.”
“Very well. Just tell me his name.”
“Luther Cross,” said Tessa.
A smile formed in the midst of Moore’s ragged beard. “Of course. Mr. Cross. You know, my associate and I just so happened to—forgive the pun—cross paths with him earlier.”
“That means he’s alive,” said Tessa.
“Indeed. Now, once we seal this bargain, you can release me from this trap and I can take you to see him.” Moore held his hand out, waiting for Cain to shake it. But Cain remained still as a statue, his gun never wavering.
“What are you waiting for?” asked Tessa.
“You said you’ll take us to him,” said Cain. “I asked you to find him for us.”
“And?”
“There’s a difference,” said Cain. “You come with us, that makes it easier for your partner to catch up.”
“That is the risk you knew you were taking once you summoned me into this trap,” said Moore. “Come now, Mr. Cain. No sense in getting cold feet so late in the game.”
“He’s right,” said Tessa. “We’ve come this far, we can’t stop now.”
Cain grunted and lowered his gun, sliding it into the holster. He walked up to Moore and reached his arm through the flames, sealing the deal by grasping the agent’s hand in a firm grip. One shake and the deal was sealed.
Cain released Moore’s hand and stepped back. He held his arm out and closed his eyes, whispering in Enochian. The flames died down until they reached the rooftop, the sigil now just smoldering embers. The fire had extinguished and the sigil itself became ash. Cain reached his foot out and brushed some of the ash away.
“Thank you, good sir,” said Moore, stepping out of the remains of the sigil. “Now, shall we commence with our trip? Come along, Ms. Kang, we must hurry. Mr. Grant is quite the quick-footed one.”
Tessa slowly moved closer to Moore and Cain. She couldn’t take her eyes off the strange man. The closer she got to him, the more her stomach turned. When Moore smiled at her, she felt like she was trapped inside a nightmare. Moore held his hands out and placed them on both Cain and Tessa’s shoulders.
“Now, let us be off!”
Everything changed in an instant. Tessa was surprised at how quick the jump was. But now, they were on a different street, standing right in front of a dilapidated apartment building. Moore clasped his hands behind his back and slowly walked towards the front steps.
“Is this the place?” asked Tessa.
“Suppose so. Let’s follow,” said Cain.
“Cain,” said Tessa. “If Moore’s partner turns up, what then? Can we get away fast enough to find Luxton?”
“Damned if I know, darlin’,” said Cain.
“That’s not exactly a comforting thought…” muttered Tessa.
They followed Moore up the steps into the building. There were two apartments separated by a staircase leading up. Moore climbed those steps and the pair followed. They passed each landing and the apartments on it until Moore finally brought them to one of the apartments on the top floor.
“There you are,” he said, nodding towards the door.
Cain drew his gun, staring at Moore. He approached the door, grabbing the knob with his free hand. Taking aim at the door, Cain turned the knob and slowly pushed it open. He held the gun up as he stepped inside, looking for any possible threat.
“Tessa. Get in here.”
After hearing Cain’s command, Tessa looked at Moore, but he just grinned at her again. She shivered and moved past him, stepping into the old apartment. It looked like it hadn’t been used in years. The place was a disaster. She approached Cain and saw what he had called her in for.
Luther sat on the ground in the middle of a sigil, his eyes wide open. Tessa smiled and rushed over to him, dropping down on the floor beside him and throwing her arms around his body.
“Luther! It’s so good to see—”
She realized he wasn’t responsive. Tessa pulled back and looked at him. Luther just stared blankly ahead. Tessa waved her hand in front of his face, but his eyes showed no reaction. She tried snapping her fingers in front of him and even clapping. When none of that work, she gave him a slap.
No reaction whatsoever.
Tessa shook her head. “I don’t get it. What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s in a trance of some kind.” Cain moved to the entrance and pointed the gun at Moore, who still stood on the landing. “The fuck did you do to him?”
“That’s quite the accusation, Mr. Cain,” said Moore, his voice maintaining an eerie calm. “Why would you assume I had anything to do with Mr. Cross’ current state?”
“You said you ran into him,” said Cain. “Expect me to believe you found a trespasser in Purgatory an’ did nothin’ about it?”
“Precisely,” said Moore. “You see, we had our orders. It was simply our duty to instruct Mr. Cross to leave Purgatory as soon as possible.”
“Why would you give him a chance to escape?” asked Cain. “Why not punish him?”
“The instructions given were quite clear on this matter,” said Moore. “Mr. Cross was supposed to walk out of Purgatory alive.”
“Your master wants something from Luther, doesn’t he?” asked Tessa. “That’s why you couldn’t kill or capture him. There’s a plan, isn’t there?”
“I know nothing of such matters, Ms. Kang. I am but a simple messenger.”
“What happened to Luther, then?” asked Tessa. “If you didn’t do this to him, then how could he—?”
Tessa stopped when she remembered the sigil Luther was sitting on. She knelt down and wrapped her arms unde
r his shoulders, crossing over his chest. She pulled, sliding him away from the sigil. She saw the sigil on the ground and recognized it immediately.
“Tess, what’s goin’ on?” asked Cain.
“The sigil…it’s used for dreamwalking,” she said. “Luther probably couldn’t find us in the same way we couldn’t find him, so he tried to reach us through magic. That’s why he’s in the trance; he’s in the dreamscape.” Tessa scrunched her brow. “But I don’t get it. If he came to us through the dreamscape, how come none of us have seen him?”
“You got an answer for her?” asked Cain.
Moore grinned. “Oh, yes, I do. Purgatory is a state of living death. I’m afraid Mr. Cross’ attempt to reach you through dreams had an unexpected side-effect. I doubt you’ll be seeing him any time in the near future.”
Cain grabbed Moore by the tie and pulled him close enough so he could press the barrel of the gun against Moore’s forehead. “What’s your master gonna have to say about that? He wants Cross alive, don’t he?”
“Actually, I believe my master will be quite pleased with this turn of events.” Moore raised his arm and looked at the watch on his wrist. “Just as I believe your time is up.”
“What do you—”
There was a sound of thunder coming from outside. Lightning burst through the ceiling, crashing down in the apartment. The force of it blew Cain away from Moore and Tessa recoiled, using her body as a shield to protect Luther’s unconscious form. When she looked again, she saw the light fade and another man standing beside Moore. He wore a similar suit and sunglasses, but he was taller, slimmer, and his head was completely devoid of a single speck of hair. In many ways, he was like the opposite of Moore.
“Well, well, Mr. Moore, it seems you have made some fascinating new acquaintances,” he said.
“Quite so, Mr. Grant,” said Moore, smiling at his partner. “Would you be so kind as to join us for some entertainment?”
“Oh, I do so love a party,” said Grant, a smile spreading across his face.
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Devil's Descent (Luther Cross Book 2) Page 17