The Beloved Fire

  Then, he left. Trailing over them and swiftly making his escape as the angels charged in, white radiant light all around them meeting the charging demons. Anock didn’t wait for her to finish, he pulled her around the platform and vanished making her escape with him. Ander looked at Blake who was still trapped inside the cage, he didn’t look worried, or surprised at the turn of events but watched at where Ander could only guess Anock was pulling Mikayla through the colliding sides.

  Just as Gabriel appeared and raised his sword to release Ander from his bonds a purple flash of light was against him knocking him back off the platform. Ander wanted out of his bonds to help in the battle, but even more to retrieve his girl and get her to safety. He struggled against the ropes but knew it was no good. Angels and demons collided all around him, fighting with both a clear force of strength.

  Lilith was on the platform now, her red hair blazed like the fire that still shot up strong from the ground all around them. Her emerald dress trailing the steps behind her as she slowly made her way to Ander. His heart was beating out of his chest, he did not, would not be corrupted by her. He looked away as she trailed a seductive finger over his stomach, his heart beat had picked up on what she was trying to do, and he quickly thought of his meditation like he was taught.

  “Hello guardian, I hear you have graciously given yourself up to us.” Lilith’s stomach was now parallel to his face as Ander concentrated on staring up to the stone ceiling, refusing to look at her. He felt a snap of the rope nearest to her as his arm relaxed and he looked over in a confused panic to see why she had released his arm. It wasn’t a second later she reached over and undid his gag, she looked calm and unfazed by the demon and angel blood flying around them as the warriors yelled.

  “Lilith you are wrong, I have not sided for dark and given myself up to the dark. Do not mistake, I will kill you if you release my other arm.” Ander said, giving her his best threatening voice, although weakness had taken him over.

  “NOOOO!” Gabriel cried as he appeared onto the platform his sword perfectly aligned to cut her head off. Ander knew she was done, there was no way she could get away from him, besides Michael, Gabriel was one of the best soldiers.

  A flash of light mixed with white and black appeared as she let out a blood curdling scream trying to shrink back just as Gabriel’s sword met Samuels who now stood tall taking the blunt of the blow for his demon mistress. Gabriel cried out in frustration and brought back up his sword to land a blow on his brother, they’d been in dispute ever since the start of humanity. His sword and attempts to teach Samuel a lesson ended in him bringing down his sword and meeting air. Samuel turned fast wrapping Lilith in his arms and disappearing before they met their fate. Ander felt Gabriel’s frustration, but there wasn’t the time for that.

  Gabriel turned looking Ander over and lifting his sword just as Ander got a view of Anock leading Mikayla threw the battle about to make their exit. “MIKAYLA! GET MIKAYLA!” Ander shouted pointing frantically in their direction and before he knew it Gabriel was just a strike of white heading that way. Whether or not he would get free was something that wouldn’t matter if Mikayla disappeared from this room. Angels could not roam purgatory, at least not without demon blood as well. Ander looked to Blake who was looking down at someone, he watched as a silver gleam sliced through the air before cutting through and completely separating the cage in half with Blake jumping to the ground.

  James caught Blake’s arm from the jump helping to steady him before catching his knife shortly after putting it back into his pocket just as they both ran for Mikayla.

  Maybe James and Blake did have a plan after all.

  “Where are we going?” Mikayla asked fear bubbling up as the mind control slowly gave her mind back. Anock reached over blocking her from an angel’s sword with his forearm. It confused her, why would they be attacking her.

  “Away. Do you trust me?” Anock asked pausing their retreat to look her in the eye. She wanted to trust him, but more than that, maybe if he turned back to the side of good…

  “I don’t know.”

  Anock started walking again, pulling her through the battle that raged all around them. She watched as an angel warrior sliced a male demon basking in a purple glow in half and both sides melt down to the ground in a black pool of demon blood.

  “This is not about good or bad anymore. We can be together without all this, just you and me. Forget sides, forget right or wrong. We will be neither; we could start a life together.” He talked as if death of the supernatural wasn’t happening all around them. As if he wasn’t a prince of purgatory trapped in Hell.

  Mikayla glanced back to see the stone platform at the center of the room, and they were far enough away now she could see Ander on his feet trying to free himself of his last tie around his wrist. She couldn’t believe she’d almost killed him; the thought sent a cold chill through her body and it was more than fear, it was the realization that Anock would have made her kill him if all hell hadn’t broken loose. She smiled at her horrible timing of a joke, and quickly wiped it off her face and dug in her heels.

  “Stop!” Mikayla said to Anock and in surprise he did what she said, they were far from the battle and close to a side door, where she assumed, they’d make their escape.

  “We do not have time for this here! What?” He yelled; panic written on his face as he continually looked around them.

  “I can’t go with you! I can’t be with you! You tried to kill Ander, my friend, someone I love! You would never want to hurt him if you truly loved me, you’re just using me to gain a position in hell!”

  Anock smiled at this and turned his body giving him her full attention. His voice was deep when he spoke, not rough like his angry voice, but almost seductive. “I would never do anything that you wouldn’t want me to. Would you have me prove it right here?” He closed the gap between them, despite everything that was going on her head and body was wrapped around his words, like they were a trance. He reached up like he was going to touch the side of her face and then brought it back around her back quickly pulling her into him. She held her breathe despite her crazy fast heartbeat and the heat coursing through her. It was true, she did want him, but it was sudden. She felt like she did when she was in the trance to kill Ander, only instead of feeling blind rage she felt lust.

  He brought his lips down on hers slow and seductively, making the heat in her turn into a burning desire and she wanted more of him. She reached around his neck deepening their kiss and let him turn them around as he pushed her hard against the wall. She was aware of the fighting going on in the middle of the arena but closed her eyes and blocked it out as he pressed himself into her. She gasp out in pleasure as their kissing grew hungry and intense, yet she couldn’t remember why she never wanted him before. A thick suffocating feeling of lust coursed through her again making her just as hungry as him.

  “Get your hands off of her!” The voice boomed, making the desire vanish, replacing it with fear.

  Anock backed against the wall taking Mikayla’s hand in his as he smiled and gently brought her hand up to his mouth kissing the back of it before lowering it back down. The kiss sent chills through her. Anock looked confidant and not intimidated by the angel, which made her worry.

  “Gabriel it’s always good to see an old friend. What brings you to my realm?” Anock said, his voice was waning, it was hard to read. It almost sounded like he was trying to tell Gabriel something.

  Mikayla gasped pulling her hand free from Anock, shock grasping at the start of anger. She was looking ahead at her father. Her real one. The one that had abandoned her. He had short dark brown hair, the same color as hers, and it matched his close shaved beard with facial hair. Just like the rest of the immortals she’d met; he was youthful and didn’t look a day over thirty. He wore a gladiator style outfit similar to Anock’s black one, except his was pure gold that shown bright even around his radiant white glow. After finally getting a real look at her biological father, she k
new it was true. They looked just alike. The realization sent a red glow around her and she didn’t know why but the thought of him suddenly attempting to care and rescue her pissed her off.

  “You know why I’m here. Give me the girl, she does not want to be here. You are holding her prisoner, and the ceremony won’t work that way. Hand her over.” Gabriel’s voice sent more chills in her than Anock’s ever had.

  “Why don’t you ask her yourself who she’d rather go with, you or me?” Anock asked.

  It took her a second to register what he was asking and before she knew it, they were both looking at her. Her heart stopped, along with her thinking. Really? Even if she hadn’t been trying to escape this place ever since she got here, her choice would be Gabriel, but it didn’t really matter. They were going to fight and then one of them was going to take her either way.

  “Mikayla do not be fooled by him; he holds a lot of his angelic charm from before he fell!” Gabriel said taking a step forward looking at her as if that would change her mind.

  “MIKAYLA!” She looked over to see Blake and James fighting their way over to where they stood, perking up at the possibility of Blake coming to save her, before deflating remembering he couldn’t leave Hell.

  “You will never be with him! You will never be with anyone else but me! You will love me!” Anock screamed as he raised his hand and knocked her across the face. The impact was enough to feel her feet lifting off the ground before a hard impact knocked the air out of her at the same time, she hit the ground. Her vision swam and she struggled to catch her breath and focused just in time to see Gabriel tackling Anock into the massive thrall of angels and demons.

  The heat rose in her as she stood, her hair falling down from her up do in a crazy mess. The blur of white and black wings was in front of her as she started towards them. What an asshole! She was not going to be controlled by him anymore, she wasn’t going to be with someone who went into a rage every time she thought of something he didn’t agree with! She could feel her demon powers rising but a tingle of something unfamiliar there as well, and before she knew it there were gasps of surprise and a weird silence fell over the arena making Gabriel and Anock pause in their fight to look back at her. She knew there was something going on with her, but she wasn’t sure what until she started to rise of the ground, and a white light glowed all around her. All she really wanted to do was make him pay, make Anock pay for his hateful self!

  She raised her hands to the air as she screamed out in frustration and anger, before she could bring them down, purposely pushing her power into Anock, a voice filled her mind.

  “Remember who you are Mikayla; remember there is also light in you. You can choose peace.”

  She could, but it was too late.

  She laughed deep as she threw her hands forward letting all her power run into Anock, making her fall to the ground as soon as the light left her hitting Anock square in the chest throwing him into and through the wall of fire that lit the walkway. She knew she didn’t kill him, but that was the extent of her knowledge, she felt weak as she sat on the dirt floor looking ahead to await Anock’s fate.

  “You have stolen almost everyone’s powers here before throwing the extent of that power right at Anock. He is not dead, but he is encased with power. He will be free, and when he is, he will be more powerful than before. We must leave, are you ready?” Gabriel asked helping her to her feet.

  “No, I have to get Ander and Blake.”

  “They are coming, we need to leave.” She looked to Gabriel’s concerned eyes as angels started to rise from their fallen positions on the ground and surround him.

  She wanted to argue with him, she needed to make sure they were coming, but she was weak after exerting her force. It made her mad, this was what made her mess up the first time, she was weak and dying and she’d agreed to Anock; but if she’d been thinking logically, she would have said no. She couldn’t make that mistake with Ander or Blake, especially not Ander.

  Just as Gabriel was taking her into his arms and spreading his wings, a purple light shone in front of her and Blake and James appeared before them.

  “Blake!” Mikayla said jumping out of Gabriel’s arms, making her way weakly into Blake’s. “I thought I’d never see you again!” She looked hesitantly over to James who stared her down with a locked jaw and clenched fists. Was he an ally now?

  “I told you I’d get you out.” Blake whispered into her hair, the cockiness of his voice not missed, and she would scoff if she’d been able to remember not too long ago, he’d been hanging from the ceiling. His voice sounded so good; it made her feel like the past week didn’t happen. He felt strong and confident in her arms, and all of the feeling for Anock melted away like a bad dream.

  “Mikayla we must go!” Gabriel said and she could tell he was walking towards them. She turned out of Blake’s arms to tell the angel she wanted to go with Blake when Anock flew down out of nowhere tackling Gabriel to the ground.

  Mikayla yelped out in surprise and fear stepping back into the dream walkers at her back. A blue light shone at her left as an army of demons charged towards them from the right, and before she knew it, she was thrown over James shoulders as he and Blake jumped into the blinding light, taking her away.

  24

  Consequences

  Mikayla awoke with a pounding head and the faint voices of Blake and James. She opened her eyes to see herself on a small cot in a wooden room, it looked like the inside of a cabin. The roar of battle and the memory of the past week ran through her mind making her stomach clinch and nausea flood over her. Had she really made out with Anock? Was her father really an angel, and if so where was he during her time in purgatory and what about her mother? What about her real parents? She was stressing like crazy for the first time all week, it was weird that none of this really bothered her when she’d been in purgatory. Only now did she miss her parents and realized how much she needed them. Ander!

  She sat up quickly in bed realizing she was in normal clothes. Well normal looking clothes but they weren’t hers, she was in jean shorts and a grey t-shirt, but they seemed to fit her perfectly. After stretching out her legs, she headed into the other room where the voices where coming from, Ander must be in there with them, she couldn’t help but feel panic at the need to get to him. Was he okay?

  A candle lit the small room which was empty other than a table and a candle that’s flame danced and flickered on the surrounding walls. Where were they? As if on cue, James opened the door and Blake followed after him.

  James didn’t look surprised or even happy to see her, he just narrowed his eyes and stepped back crossing his arms over his chest as Blake held a huge smile on his face and headed straight for her. “Someone is finally awake! I was starting to worry.” He said taking her into his arms.

  Had she stepped into the twilight zone? Sure she was glad to see Blake but seeing him smile about knocked her into next week. Where was the pissed off demon that fucked her against the tree? He was hugging her and acting like they were a couple. The whole thing just felt off. Not noticing her weird stiff stance she heard him take a deep breath like he was taking in her scent as he held her tight, she could feel the love radiating from him, it was clear his actions were genuine. She hugged him back tightly but only for a moment before stepping back, the more she was awake the more she felt her real-self returning to her. And the more she felt like she really didn’t know the guys standing in front of her as well as she thought she had.

  “Where’s Ander?” She said trying to look over Blake’s shoulder, the door was still open to the outside so there must be someone else coming in.

  Blake took a step back putting his hand on her forehead as James shut the door. “Maybe you should go sit back down you feel warm.”

  “I feel fine! I don’t even remember falling asleep. Where’s Ander? What happened to the angels and Gabriel and Anock?” She knew she was firing questions off like a mad woman but couldn’t help it, there was way too much to
ignore, and that didn’t even cover her parents, or her real parents, or the fact that both James and Blake were standing in front of her getting along.

  “Hey, your mind is going a thousand miles per hour, come here. It’s me and you now.” Blake said holding out his arms for her. She wasn’t sure of what she wanted and she was confused. When she didn’t go back into his arms, he dropped them to his side frowning. Wait, did he just read her mind?

  “How do you know my mind is going a thousand miles per hour?”

  Blake ran a hand down his face in frustration, before running it through his hair. She glanced at James, but he gave nothing away but a pissed off expression. “Because we started the mating process between two angels.”

  She gasped. “Excuse me?”

  James growled out pushing away from his stance against the wall. “Which means nothing.”

  “Blake?” He looked away refusing to look at her.

  James cleared his throat of the tension. “We have some thing’s to discuss. Let’s go back out to the campfire and get to it.” With that he opened the door and walked out.

  Blake turned as well leaving her standing there with her mouth open and rage filling her mind. She wasn’t mad that they had sex, she was mad at the fact that he was acting so damn weird. First he burst in here acting…happy? Fine, that wasn’t a crime, in fact, it was a nice damn change from his grumpy demeanor. But then acting like they were a couple, in any other circumstance, that as well would be fine, also probably normal after having sex with someone the first time but it was like body snatchers. James acted like Blake and Blake acted like James and now all of a sudden she had started “mating” like some damn animal. And Blake could read her mind? What the hell was she supposed to do with all that? When was all the drama going to end? And where the hell was Ander?

  Breaking out of her fume she stomped out of the cabin towards the fire.