Still laughing, Malek stared at his profusely bleeding stomach. “You should have aimed for the chest, that way you might have had a chance of killing my heart...” he trailed off as he tapped the side of his head. “Or even aimed for the brain.”
Dominic got to his feet breathing heavily. “It doesn’t matter, you’re dead either way.”
Malek laughed even harder. “Kid don’t you know guns are useless against me, even the weapons from the Divinity Order can’t kill me.”
Dominic stared at his handgun. “Have you not noticed your wounds aren’t healing?”
Malek rubbed his hands through his rapid flowing blood like a toddler playing in water. “Your point is?” he said spiritedly.
“Demons can die from too much blood loss.”
Malek’s smile dropped. “Are you saying your peashooter is stopping me from healing?”
There was a crazed looked in his eyes as he stared at Dominic. “Then I’ll go full demon and my wounds will automatically heal.”
“Care to test that theory.”
Malek snarled and for a brief second, there was a look of indecision on his face, before transfixing into a smile. His skin began to turn grey and split like tree bark. Strong black hairs sprouted from the cracks as his skin fell away into a pinkish gelatin pool. Malek howled, falling onto all fours, his face molding into heavy and well-defined wolf-like features. His bones moved underneath his skin like mechanical snakes, releasing the sounds of spine-chilling cracks. Malek crawled towards the teens, his movement mirroring that of a contortionist. His once human appearance gave way to a tall lanky werewolf with a charcoal coat, and a scaly tail ending in a sharp tip.
He rose to his rear legs dwarfing Kori and the others.
Kori felt her feet cement into the ground as her breathing gradually increased and her heart rate showing no signs of slowing. From the corner of her eyes, she spotted Dominic and Hayden dashing fearlessly at Malek. They alternated from attacking together and then separately, in what looked like a well-choreographed tactical assault.
But Malek was able to ward off their attacks, dodging a hailstorm of bullets to parrying kicks and punches. His wound left behind trails of blood, as he fended off the brothers. But they stayed on him, not giving Malek time to recover.
Dominic went to fire, but the handgun gave off the familiar sound of being empty.
This momentary lack of efficiency was the one break Malek needed. He executed his counter by grabbing Dominic by the throat. Hayden dove in for the rescue but was met with the same fate. With both boys fighting for breath and their freedom, the demon jumped into the air, the top of his head scarcely scraping the high ceiling. But before his body descended towards the ground, he tossed the two teens aside like old ragdolls. The velocity of the throws caused the brothers to create shallow craters in the stone floor upon impact, releasing puffs of debris. They both edged through the pain, getting to their feet sluggish with minimum groans.
Malek landed on unsteady legs, his wounds displaying no signs of healing.
Foaming at the mouth, and having trouble breathing he staggered for a bit.
“What’s wrong?” Dominic teased. “You look hurt.”
Malek dropped to all fours and sprung forward. His sharp claws scraped across the stone foundation creating sparks and his lungs were filled with animalistic breaths. He was void of any reason and fueled by primal senses of rage twined with an unconquerable will to slaughter.
Hayden took aim as Malek shifted directions and made a b-line towards Kori. She saw him coming at her growling, like fatal promises to end her life.
Eyes wide, she screamed as Malek’s vicious jaws snapped within six inches from her head, but Hayden was at her aid within seconds delivering a running dropkick to the side of Malek’s face. The power behind the kick sent the demon flying. He hit the floor tumbling backward till his body hit a wall, leaving behind a trail of blood.
“Are you okay?” Hayden asked as Kori collapsed into his arms.
She nodded burying her head into his chest.
“Let me borrow Delilah to finish off this freak,” Dominic said sourly.
He gestured towards Malek who was thrashing about the floor like a wounded deer clanging to life.
Hayden scoffed as he charged the revolver. “Make it quick.”
Dominic didn’t reply, taking the weapon from his brother. He strolled over to the still twitching demon, squatted next to him and pressed the barrel of the gun against Malek’s temple.
“The woman you and your friends killed, Anastasia Ramsey...I want you to remember her face as you die.”
Malek awed weakly. “Out of all my prey she squealed the loudest.”
“She wasn’t your prey...by giving birth to me she was your death dealer.”
His eyes widened...the sound of the handgun going off echoed throughout the chamber.
Kori looked away as Malek’s head followed by his body exploded into glowing embers of ash.
Standing upright, Dominic tossed the revolver aside. It vanished in a puff of smoke and then reappeared in Hayden’s hands.
“You’re welcome,” he said gingerly.
Dominic waved as he walked over to the altar. “Thanks.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Hayden asked.
“We’ve already made it this far, why should we turn back now?” Dominic retorted.
Hayden palmed his face but didn’t argue.
Dominic’s hands and arms sunk inside the bubble of energy causing it to ripple like disturbed water. With a smile of greed, he gripped hold of the sword handle. There was a resonating sizzle, and the lights flickered, casting a twilight glow as the air hummed with unnatural crackling.
Hayden and Kori felt their hairs stand on end. They watched as Dominic’s body went ridged as if he was frozen in place.
A slight tingling ran underneath his skin as if someone had attached live wires to each of his nerves. His body convulsed violently before a bolt of lightning from the sword struck him in the chest. He crashed onto his back still juddering as electrical currents pulsated through him. Standing near the altar, Kori and Hayden saw that though Dominic’s clothing looked as if he had crawled through a furnace, his body was unscathed. He sat up with a moan looking around the chamber puzzlingly. His disoriented expression quickly faded, and he let out a frustrated yell, “The damn thing rejected me.”
Dominic glared hard at the floating sword as he got to his feet. “Why did it deny me?” His voice was harsh and teetering on the path of sobbing.
“Probably because you’re an egotistical sociopath,” Kori said abruptly.
Dominic huffed angrily.
“She does have a point,” Hayden chimed in.
“Neither of you get it!” Dominic shouted. “I am doing this to save...”
Before he could advance towards the slab Hayden blocked his path.
“You’re being ridiculous,” he shouted. “We need to regroup.”
“Out of my way, bruh,” Dominic said through gritted teeth.
“That’s enough!” Kori screamed as she jumped in between the brothers. “I’m tired of all the fighting.”
Hayden and Dominic lowered their defensives, but not through any motivation from Kori. From all directions came a hysterical cry as a thick cloud of dark smoke and glowing ash spewed from the floor. It slithered and writhed in one spot for several seconds emitting primal wails. The smoke hung in the air shifting like a ghost before tapering away leaving behind a strikingly handsome man no older than eighteen. Kori gawked openly as she observed his sharp jaw, chin and cheekbones. On either side of his straight nose were two blazing purple eyes. His dark brows were graceful but presently furrowed in a frown. All of it was framed by thick chocolate curls. Dressed out in closefitting ornate armor of ebony, he paced around the chambers.
“Giovanni?” Kori said with a questioning tone.
The young man sniffled, as he recomposed himself. He came to a halt in front of the altar. Placing
both hands on the stone slab, he hunched over it, his body reflecting the glow from the suspended energy bubble.
“My children are dead,” he said in disbelief. He swirled around, his eyes pausing on Hayden, before switching to Dominic, “I was willing to make you all citizens of purgatory, but now the sight of you pains me to no end.”
All around them the reverberating percussion of rocks crumbling from the walls and ceiling echoed as if they were about to cave in and the only thing Kori could focus on was Giovanni.
When she saw him raising his hand in a snapping position-
She abruptly shouted, “please let us go.”
The sadness in his eyes momentarily shifted into curiosity. “Why should I grant you this act of mercy?” he said with a tilted head. “You took the life of my comrades; it’s only fair I take yours in exchange.”
She felt her stomach churn.
Dominic flinched forward, but Hayden held him back. “You killed my mom,” Dominic said tersely. “Doesn’t that mean I’m well in my rights to get revenge?”
Giovanni tutted. “True, but you should make sure that you’re a lot stronger than those whom you’re seeking revenge against.”
“I think I’ve already proven my strength,” Dominic retorted with a cynical edge. “I’m the son of a certain Nephilim you despise.”
Giovanni’s eyes narrowed. “Raiziel!” he blared in a distorted scream of pure hatred and rage. “Because of that bastard I lived for centuries in never-ending pain. He failed to mention, that even though I was immortal, my body wouldn’t stop aging or wasn’t immune to diseases. I endured agonies that were meant to kill mortal men, but since my cursed body was a trap for my soul I could never die,” Giovanni said staring at his hands. “I used to be a well-respected priest and I traded it all in to become a crippled, disease ridden puppet for Raiziel.” His voice ricocheted about the rocky cavities, amplifying his wrath.
“You don’t look crippled or diseased.” Kori piped in.
“That’s because the Demon King Malachi gave me the opportunity to become reborn as a demon and for the first time in my life, I possessed real power and beauty.”
Giovanni let out a slow controlled breath. “I made my way through the ranks becoming a captain and gaining my freedom from Raiziel.” There was a newfound softness to his voice. He gave his shoulders a wiggle and lolled his head in circles. “I was giving my own military unit and five lieutenants to help lead them.” His stride slackened to a more casual pose. “They were like family...my children.”
A sinister smile slithered across his face. “Though the honor of slaying Raiziel was Alexander’s, I was the one to lead the charge and because of this, the king Malachi rewarded us, all of your father’s wealth, possessions, and shares of the company, making us co-C.E. O of the east coast branch.” Giovanni tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Oddly Alexander was only interested in the family business and gave me everything else, including the rights to purgatory,” he gazed over the brothers.
Dominic roared and delivered a jaw-dropping punch to Hayden. He spiraled to the floor spitting out blood.
Giovanni and Kori stared in bewilderment.
Dominic planted a solid kick to his brother’s stomach which sent him sailing across the room.
Kori scowled at Dominic, before running to Hayden’s aid.
“How can you not want revenge for what he did...He took everything from us!” Dominic screamed furiously. “You’re a coward!”
Hayden denied Kori’s assistance.
“Shut up!” he shouted. “People die, even someone as powerful as dad, it’s inevitable. So, get over it already...” Hayden’s voice tapered locking eyes with Dominic. “But you don’t understand any of that, do you? No, you’re too sick, demented and twisted for any kind of logic or reason. But you forgot one thing...we’re brothers.”
Kori watched as the whites in Hayden’s eyes turned to pure black, and his iris’s glowed crimson. Symbols, lines and dots formed in the iris, altering into a pentagram and his face told the story of an enraged boy who lost all hope of reasoning.
Kori gasped as the same queasiness she felt in the forest and the abandoned shack returned.
With unnatural speed, Hayden came at his brother. He threw a series of well-placed punches to his chest then executed a perfect spin kick that sent Dominic flying into the stone altar.
Kori blinked. That looked painful.
A weak groan escaped from Dominic as if to confirm Kori’s thoughts before he blacked out.
Then she heard rapid footsteps echoing around her along with the small burst of wind. Kori whirled around several times but only saw an incapacitated Dominic and a puzzled Giovanni. Hayden was nowhere to be seen. Then he seemingly fizzled into existence in front of Giovanni. Hayden grabbed one of Giovanni’s arms and flung the demon into a nearby wall. It dented while shedding debris. Giovanni bounced up like a wrestler refusing to sell his opponent’s moves. He kept his distance and began throwing a volley of self-generated bolts of energy like he was only discovering the possibilities of his powers for the first time. Hayden danced and flipped around, running circles around Giovanni. Hayden battered the demon with a barrage of punches, kicks and even head butts every time an opening arose. A stray bolt of energy smashed into a wall near Kori’s shoulder, the shockwave warped the air around it and tousled her hair.
She screamed as the reckless fighting between the two threatened to destroy the chamber. Hayden’s fist cracked across Giovanni’s jaw sending him spinning away. He fell onto the ground managing to draw his legs up and flip backward right as Hayden curb-stomped the area his head laid seconds before, leaving veiny cracks in the foundation. Kori screamed but the two opponents didn’t spare her a glance. In one fluid motion he got to his feet and threw a punch at Hayden’s face.
The teen caught the fist in his left hand.
For a moment Giovanni was speechless. The velocity and power of his blow should have shattered his hand on all the way up to his shoulder. In that short second of hesitation, Hayden squeezed Giovanni’s fist until he heard grotesque cracking underneath the pressure and his opponent crying out in pain. Giovanni’s other hand came up bunched in a fist and struck Hayden on the side of his head.
The force was enough to jar the teen. He released his hold and stumbled back.
Giovanni now seemingly in serious mode, front kicked Hayden with enough vigor, Kori heard snapping sounds from his torso. He careened backward crushing into Dominic. Hayden rolled over onto his stomach and like his brother, he laid on the ground motionless. As silence overtook the rocky cavern, Giovanni took a moment to baby his broken hand, a cry barely above a whisper found its way to his ears.
He turned to stare at Kori. “I honestly forgot about you.”
He looked away from her and towards Hayden as he began to stir. “But I’ll deal with you once I kill this primitive bastard.”
Hayden reached up grabbed hold of the stone altar. Using it as support he pulled himself up. From behind he heard footfalls approaching.
“Don’t resist your death boy,” Giovanni said.
Hayden roared reaching into the floating bubble of energy and gripping hold of the Libitinari.
Then Flash...
HAYDEN AWOKE ON A DUSTY bed of rocks digging into his ribs. He got to his feet looking around quizzically and breathing heavily. The air was thick and hot, almost as if he was breathing in fire. He saw that he was on a circular cliff barely big enough for him to stand on. Below the bluff was a sea of flames on all sides. Hayden glared up at the fiery orange sky as it rained ash and soot. Other than the roars of the crackling flames, the world around him was silent until a humanoid demonic beast erupted from the flames. It had an ebony complexion with golden hair and the head of a lion. Massive horns rested on either side of its head and leathery wings flapped at its back. Its bulky frame hovered in place like a massive skyscraper and larvae spewed from its mouth as it spoke.
“Another unworthy blood kin of my old master has
arrived...” The beast paused, his crimson eyes scanning over Hayden. “You are different from the last one... He was quite ambitious, but when I looked into his heart, I saw that he wanted to use my powers to protect.”
Hayden remained silent, staring up at the demon.
“But you want to kill, maim and destroy without reason. That’s exactly what my power is meant to do.” The demon laughed menacingly. “I’ve been waiting for someone like you ...tell me, boy, if I lend you my power, can we set the world ablaze.”
Hayden smirked. “Yes.”
Chapter-Forty
...First there was the blinding flash within the energy bubble. Then there was a colossal explosion. It was as though a wrecking ball of flames had bulldozed through the floating bubble, shattering it like glass and releasing waves of aftershocks knocking back Giovanni and Kori, while sending an unconscious Dominic sliding across the floor. The walls shook and the ceiling trembled, teasing a cave in. As everything settled in the aftermath, the only one who wasn’t affected by the explosion was Hayden. Holding onto the Libitinari with one hand, he lifted it and pointed it at Giovanni like a batter stepping up to the plate.
Giovanni’s face flushed to a pale color, his mouth hung with lips slightly parted and his eyes were as wide as they could stretch.
“How did you-?”
He was unable to finish as Hayden dashed toward him. In striking range, Hayden began to swing his sword wildly. Since the strikes were wide and undisciplined, Giovanni was able to dodge easily. But Hayden kept on him like a little kid swinging a stick at their pretend enemies.
Giovanni evaded another swing, twisted his body and thrust his elbow into the middle of Hayden’s face. He tumbled backward giving Giovanni time to distance himself. It didn’t take long for Hayden to recover. He launched at Giovanni once again, but this time around, an assembly of swords constructed of purple energy and in all shape and sizes began to form on either side of Giovanni. He pointed at Hayden, and the blades swarmed towards the teen like a volley of arrows. As Hayden slipped in between the oncoming blades, he swatted away others with the Libitinari, while a few of the smaller ones managed to impale him. In the end, Hayden continued his journey towards Giovanni screaming enthusiastically. The demon snapped his fingers and the blades that were stuck in Hayden erupted like miniature bombs, sending his body into the air. Kori shrieked wild-eyed with a hand over her mouth, as Hayden’s roasted body landed inches away from her feet.
LAMENT OF PURGATORY (ASHWOOD CHRONICLES #1) Page 29