by C R Langille
Allison’s face scrunched up in frustration and grief. A laugh behind her made her expression change from grief to confusion.
Kylho’ghnat finally consumed the last of Garrett’s defense. The Dark Tyrant lifted its hand toward Dan and Allison, and he could feel an immense pressure building in the small room. The sigils on the onyx monolith burned brightly as the powers present in the room swirled and coalesced.
“Run!” Dan yelled to Allison through the maelstrom of eldritch energy. Allison took one look behind Dan toward Kylho’ghnat and blanched at what she saw.
“Go!” Dan said.
Allison took off and ran out of the room. Dan turned to meet Kylho’ghnat face to face. Standing before him was Garrett’s body, but it wasn’t Garrett. A dark shadow spread to every corner of the room. A pale blue glow of the sigil-etched monolith dimly pulsated in the background, but the shadow of the Tyrant ate that light as well, turning what was once a shining beacon into what looked like a cheap night-light. It wouldn’t be long before the Dark Tyrant broke the lock and freed itself from this mountainous prison.
Dan stood to full height and spread his wings wide. He brought Ishiel in front of his face and placed his hand on the back of the ricasso.
“I am Danjal, First Cohort of the Third Legion of Hell. I have battled creatures that shook the cosmos. I have stared into the eyes of archangels and arch-demons alike. I will be your undoing!” He then swiped Ishiel down and at an angle in a martial salute.
His wings glowed and shimmered with their mix of holy and unholy power, their fiery white light battling with the encroaching darkness. Runes and sigils on his skin that he’d masked before with a glamor flared to life, glowing a brilliant blue.
Kylho’ghnat laughter was offensive and oppressive. The Dark Tyrant took a step closer to Dan, and the light emanating from Dan’s body flared once brightly, stopping Kylho’ghnat in his tracks, but only momentarily. After some straining, there was an audible crash that sounded like thunder echoing through a storm wrought canyon. Then, the Dark Tyrant clutched Dan by the neck and lifted him up off the ground.
Dan swung Ishiel up toward Kylho’ghnat head, but the thing caught the blow mid-swing and had Dan’s arm by the wrist. Dan tried to use his wings to fly from its grip, but the Tyrant was too strong.
“Now, little bird, I will consume your power and be free from this damnable place,” Kylho’ghnat stated.
The Dark Tyrant opened its mouth wide, too wide for a normal human’s jaw to extend. Bones snapped then reformed as the thing’s jaw dislocated and opened to accept him like a python ready to eat its prey.
Something cracked in the air, sounding like a whip, followed by Kylho’ghnat’s snarl of pain and annoyance. The thing’s jaw snapped back to normal proportions, and the bony vines that once imprisoned Troy and Dan wrapped around the Dark Tyrant’s neck. Allison stood near the entrance of the room; her red hair flipped and flitted about her head like a flame. She stood with confidence unlike Dan had ever seen. Latent energy poured from her body like water rushing from a broken levy.
“If anyone is to devour that angel, it will be me,” Allison said seductively.
Her voice oozed with power and promise, and it made the hair on Dan’s arms rise. He wanted to be next to her and embrace her. The pull to her was greater than ever.
She raised her hand and made a fist, and the bone briars tightened on Kylho’ghnat’s neck and pulled him back. The Dark Tyrant dropped Dan and clutched at the thorny vines that ate away at his flesh. Smoke and black ichor poured from the wound, and Kylho’ghnat fought to keep the ligament saw from taking his head off.
Dan let out a war cry and lifted Ishiel up in front of him. He used his wings to push off from the ground and slammed into the wall that was Kylho’ghnat. The blade bit deep into the Dark Tyrant’s chest. Light flashed, accompanied by a loud and thunderous clap as the weapon impaled the being.
Dan continued to press forward, pushing the Tyrant further and further back. He hit an invisible wall a few feet from the onyx monolith, and the sigils flared back to their once furious grandeur, cutting through the shadow and illuminating the small room like a football stadium.
The Dark Tyrant screamed in pain, and an immense heat rolled off the thing’s skin. The wall of force behind the creature burned like a wall of blue flame, eating away Kylho’ghnat’s body piece by piece. An acrid plume of smoke rolled through the small cavern and stung Dan’s eyes.
Dan summoned all his strength and made one last push. He felt the wall of force give, and he pinned the Dark Tyrant to the monolith with his sword. Both Heaven and Hell heard the ensuing cry of agony.
The creature struggled in vain to grab the blade and pull it out, but as it tried, the vines wrapped themselves around the monolith. All the while the sigils on the onyx tower burned brighter and brighter forcing Dan and Allison to cover their eyes and look away.
The light died away as well as the creature’s screams. When Dan looked back, he saw the Dark Tyrant’s form smoking and unmoving, pinned to the great stone pillar. He then looked to Allison. Her hair had fallen back to normal, and she lost the power and confidence she had possessed just moments ago. She shot him a smile and then collapsed to the ground.
Dan rushed to her side as fast as his body would allow. He checked to see if she was still breathing and looked for a pulse. Finding the vitals he searched for, he gently cradled her head and held her close.
“Allison? Can you hear me?”
Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled when she saw him.
“Hey, you okay?” Dan asked softly.
“I think so.”
“What happened there? Where did that come from?” Dan asked.
“I don’t know. I made it a few hundred yards away, then I felt something stir deep inside me. I was consumed by anger. I think whatever that… thing did to me, it awoke something. Is it dead?”
Dan looked back to the monolith and Garrett’s still form. He stood up and helped Allison to her feet.
“I think so.”
As he finished the sentence, a heavy rumble awoke from deep in the ground. It grew in strength and started to shake the small room. Rocks from the ceiling crumbled and fell away, one barely missing the pair and showering them with small fragments as it blew to pieces.
“I believe all the fighting caused something to shift. We need to go!” Dan yelled through the chaos.
The pair had just made it from the room when the ceiling gave way, crashing into the monolith and the creature pinned to it. Dan shot a sorrowful glance back to Ishiel and ran with Allison toward the surface.
The earthquake ravaged the mountain. As Dan and Allison burst from the cavern’s entrance and into the cliff dwelling, the tunnel collapsed behind them. Dan grabbed Allison, clutched her close, and took to the air. He leaped from the cliff dwelling’s edge and flew to the other side of the canyon. The pair watched in silence as the entire structure crumbled and crashed into the canyon floor.
“What now?” Allison asked.
Dan shot her a look. The warnings of Mr. Bumble and the Arch-Angel from earlier echoed in his ears. Let her be or else.
Too much had happened for him to give a damn. Lower management would be out to kill him and more than likely her as well, especially since whatever was inside her body was awake. Upper management could bite him.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into an embrace. She returned the hug. Dan pulled away to look her in the eyes. They were brilliant and inviting. He pulled her closer and planted his lips on hers. The fire ignited deep in Allison’s body again, and he almost lost himself in that inferno. Something had definitely changed in the woman. They both reveled in the small embrace and each other’s presence.
Pain ignited on his back, forcing him to the ground. Dan let out a scream of pain, and Allison stepped away with a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. Hi
s wings burst into flames, burning away as if they were nothing but paper. Within moments, his wings were no more.
Dan stayed prone on the ground, unmoving. The pain subsided until it was only a dull ache.
“What happened? Are you okay?”
“Punished,” was all he could say.
“For what?”
There was a gust of wind and then the same light voice from the Bronco came from behind Allison.
“For disobeying orders—again,” the voice said.
Allison jumped and spun around. She stumbled back but hovered over Dan’s body protectively. A man stood nearby with long blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail. He wore a concerned expression and had his arms folded in front of him.
“Don’t come any closer!” she said.
“I mean you no harm,” the stranger said.
Dan got to his feet but leaned against Allison.
“Come down here to gloat?” he asked.
“Never. I came here to say I’m sorry. You were one of my favorites, Danjal.”
Dan coughed up a wad of blood, spitting it across the rocks.
“You’re a good friend, Michael. Sorry I disappointed you.”
The man smiled then disappeared as if he were never there. Allison looked around and steadied Dan on his feet.
“What was that about?”
“I’ve lost my wings. The Infernal Legions will hunt me, and I’ll never be accepted back into Heaven.”
“Why?”
“Because I suck at following orders.”
He leaned in close and kissed her again. He fell back, pulling her down with him. The kiss ignited, and for a moment they lost each other in the embrace.
“What now?” Allison asked.
“Now, we continue as best we can.”
“Where’s Rusty?” Allison asked.
“I don’t know, but I think he’s okay,” Dan said, looking around.
They returned to the Bronco. Dan opened the passenger side door for her.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Dan walked to the driver’s side and opened it up. Rusty’s Chick Magnet trucker hat sat on the seat. Dan smiled and got in.
Epilogue
Canyon Shadows, Utah
Francis Dakota removed some of the rubble aside carefully. Buried beneath the rocks and debris were Ancient Puebloan artifacts, and he did his best to extract them in one piece. The Utah Museum of Natural History had hired him to recover what he could from the site. Most of the artifacts had been destroyed when the entire dwelling slid off the mountainside during the major earthquake three months ago.
He moved a small rock away and picked up a piece of pottery. Even though it was broken, it was a large enough piece that it would still be worth keeping and taking back to the museum.
A small tremor rumbled under his feet. The aftershocks visited the region a couple of times a week and weren’t a big concern; however, this one was stronger than the others.
A large clap of thunder followed by the sudden downpour of rain pulled him from his work and the tremor. He looked up to see dark clouds churning in the sky, the blackness of the storm only brightened by the flash of lightning. The storm picked up in intensity, and the lightning turned into a vortex, a tornado of electricity twisting in the sky above.
He turned to make his way back to his van and get out of from under the elements, but he found a man wearing nothing but tattered clothes standing in the pathway blocking his exit. Dirt and what looked like dried blood covered the man’s face and neck. Scabs and grime fell away under the rain’s downpour but did little to clean the person’s appearance.
“Excuse me, sir? Are you okay?” Francis asked.
The man shot him a glance and smiled. The smile grew wider and wider until it threatened to jump off his face. The mountain exploded behind him, showering the area with rocks. Lightning began to coalesce behind the bloody man until it became a twisted vortex of electricity.
“I’m better than I have been for a very long time,” Garrett replied.
The End
About the Author
C.R. Langille spent many a Saturday afternoon watching monster movies with his mother. It wasn’t long before he started crafting nightmares to share with his readers. An avid hunter and amateur survivalist, C.R. Langille incorporates the Utah outdoors in many of his tales. He is an affiliate member of the Horror Writer’s Association and received his MFA: Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.
Follow his exploits at www.crlangille.com
If you enjoyed this story, please drop me a review. Also, check out some of my other stories as well. Finally, subscribe to my newsletter and never miss out on new releases, book/movie reviews, and fun survival tips.
http://www.crlangille.com/inbetween-newsletter.html
Continue the journey with
Consequence
Book Two
Dark Tyrant Series
Chapter One
Darkness smothered Tobias Evard Warner II. The kind of eternal void that made outer space look like a sardine can. Wasn’t there supposed to be a bright light at the end of the tunnel? Where were the dead family members waiting to usher him to the other side?
So far, dying was a bunch of bullshit.
Perhaps heaven wasn’t his final destination though. He lived his life the best he could, at least until the last 24 hours. Toby wasn’t proud of some of the things he’d done. The murder of poor Donna sat at the top of the list. But, he’d done everything to get home. His wife and son needed him. Their rescue was more than worth Donna’s sacrifice.
They were bold words, the kind of words that lost their oomph when it came time to pay the piper. For all he knew, his family could be in the next room, and it wouldn’t matter. He couldn’t see, nor could he move. Toby would give everything to know if they were okay. His family mattered the most. Yet, there was nothing but darkness.
With the dark came the cold. It started in the tips of his fingers and crawled up his arms. It wasn’t just a freezing cold—the kind deep winter in the mountains produced—it was something else. As if his very essence disappeared under an oppressive blanket of black.
The numbing chill slithered into his core. The simple act of drawing breath became a chore. The beat of his heart thundered in his ears and slowed with the function of his lungs.
You reap what you sow, Tobias.
He was about to harvest the seeds of his actions. As his lungs stopped, and the last echo of his heartbeat reverberated through his ears, her voice entered his mind. He hated her, loved her, and feared her. She brought salvation through damnation.
Open up and accept me, Love. That simple.
***
Earlier…
Toby rechecked the tie-downs on the tarp. All of his camping gear was ready to go and covered in case the rain decided to fall again. Sebastian stood close to him; the boy’s head just crested Toby’s waist.
“You take care of your mom, okay?”
He knelt down to look Sebastian eye-to-eye, man-to-man.
Sebastian looked at Toby for a moment. The boy’s lip quivered and then he shied away. He took after his father and didn’t like to show emotion.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be home in a few days, and next year you can come with me. I promise.”
Toby tousled Sebastian’s hair and stood. The boy moved away and stuck his bottom lip out.
“If you keep your lip stuck out, a robin will come lay an egg in it.”
It was something Toby’s father used to say to him. He hoped he wasn’t going to end up like his old man.
“But why can’t I go with you this time? I’ll be quiet, I swear. I won’t scare away any elks or nothing.”
Moisture gathered at the edges of Sebastian’s eyes. Toby hat
ed to leave, but the hunting trip was a tradition with his friends, and they’d planned it three months ago.
“I wish I could take you, I really do, but this is a trip for daddy and his friends. Maybe next time, buddy.”
Toby grabbed his son and gave him a big hug. He shot a glance to Linda. She leaned against the front door, wrapped in a white shawl with her arms folded across her chest. She nodded and gave him a supportive smile.
“I’ll be home soon. Plus, you have to help your mom.”
“Help her with what?” Sebastian asked in a muffled voice, his face still buried in Toby’s chest.
“You have to help keep me company kiddo. You’re not the only one who’s going to miss your dad,” Linda said.
Sebastian wiped the tears away and walked back into the house. Linda gave the boy a quick hug as he shuffled past.
Grey clouds hovered overhead and signaled it was time to hit the road. Yet, the warning came too late, and the temperature dropped. Rain sprinkled down onto his bald head.
Damn.
He walked over to his wife.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be okay,” Linda said.
She placed both of her hands onto Toby’s cheeks. He closed his eyes and reveled in the embrace.
“Yeah, I know,” Toby said. He looked away from her. “I should have included him this time, but the guys wouldn’t have understood.”
“Next time,” Linda said. “Are Chuck and Dave going?”
“Yes.”
He hesitated, his mouth open.
“What is it?”
Toby looked Linda in the eyes. “Brock’s coming too.”
Linda looked away. The memories flooded back and threatened to break the levees.
“Are you going to be okay?” she asked.
“I’ll be fine. I just wanted you to know he would be there.”
She took a deep breath but still avoided Toby’s eyes.