Tempest
Page 21
I bit my lip. I guess it was the same kind of slap in the face a person felt when a parent told them they wished their child had never been born. My chest constricted and my throat burned. My parents were gone and so was Ila. Insepth hadn’t lived up to the mentor figure I’d hoped for, and the quick glances he directed my way and his anger about me and Sawyer made me think he even had romantic notions in his head. Adria was wise and I thought I could actually get along well with her if the world wasn’t falling apart. She would probably stay in dolphin form for the rest of her days and I’d never see her again.
A part of me had hoped that Uriel’s arrival meant he cared a little bit about me personally, but that wasn’t the case. He was willing to battle with another arch Angel because of the duty he thought he owed to a woman who lived a long time ago. The disappointment I felt kept me from speaking.
An explosion overhead brought my hands to my ears. A crack zigzagged across the sky above the valley. Uriel swooped by me, shooting upwards once he cleared the barn’s opening, and Maddie and Preston rushed to the doorway to look out.
A black marker could have drawn the line in the clouds that ripped Ila’s warding apart. And from that dark opening, Angels jetted through.
I counted ten…eleven…twelve. Gabriel’s long black hair whipped around his face as he led the group of Angels charging towards the barn.
“I thought we were fighting one Angel,” Preston commented at my side.
“This isn’t going to be a fight—it’ll be a massacre,” I said.
Chapter 29
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give his angels charge concerning you.’ And, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
Matthew 4:5-6
“Run!” I shouted at Preston and Maddie, pushing them towards the back door, then I sprinted out the front door.
Insepth grasped my hand. “We must link, now!”
I opened up, allowing him to make the connection and touch my powers. I’d linked with him before, so I was getting used to the tingling sensation of his earthiness melding with my own elements, but I wasn’t prepared for the raw surges of power flowing from Sir Austin and Youmi. Up until that moment, I’d never seen the air and water Watchers wield their elements on full steam. They were both much more powerful than I’d guessed. The realization emboldened me as the Angels swooped down from the sky.
Insepth drew the linked powers into a blast of energy that shot from his hand and spread out over us in a glowing, watery-like shield. Sparks rained down on us, but the bolts of light didn’t pass through. Gabriel spread his hands wide and a wave of sound, like a runaway train, slammed into our shield. The barrier dipped at the spot where the sound had hit, but didn’t break.
“More water, Youmi!” Insepth cried out. The veins on his face bulged as he drew in the power, feeding it to the shield.
“This place is too dry—I have nothing to work with,” Youmi growled back, staggering forward as the ground shook.
“There!” Insepth pointed to the magnificent maple tree spreading over Ila’s cabin. A swoosh of its red and golden leaves fluttered away on the wind and the tree toppled onto the lawn. Its giant root system broke free with a spray of dirt. My heart dropped into my stomach at the sight of the uprooted tree.
“Yes—I have it,” Youmi said with a determined voice.
Water jetted from the place the tree had stood for over two hundred years. Youmi directed the path of the water into the shield.
“We need more wind and fire,” Insepth shouted.
Sir Austin pulled the clouds from the sky and with them came a gust that knocked me backwards, against Insepth’s chest. He braced me with one arm around my shoulders and I gathered my fire, pummeling it into the shield.
Our combined powers pushed up the sagging section of the shield, strengthening it. I glanced up, daring to meet Gabriel’s fierce face. It was like looking through an old glass window, where the view had a thick, wavy quality to it. His eyes flared as he hovered above our protective barrier.
“Just like we broke your primitive warding system of this valley, we will cut through this obstacle. It’s merely a small hindrance for us.” Gabriel’s voice rose above the wind.
A flash of golden hair caught my attention and any hope that the combined efforts of a handful of Watchers could beat back the Angels disappeared.
Michael’s white wings flapped beside Gabriel’s brown ones. “You will lower your shield or we will destroy the rest of the valley and kill all its inhabitants.” He raised his great sword, aiming it at the herd of goats huddled together in the center of the meadow. I had to look away from its gleam.
“I think not,” Uriel called out from above us. I followed his gaze. Eae was now standing with the goats, his arms crossed. Ivan and Lutz in their animal forms were with him, too. “You will not kill one of ours to bolster your threat.”
Michael inhaled deeply, the sides of his mouth twitching. “Why must you be so difficult, brother?” He pointed at us. “They are not worthy of your protection—they wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for our sins.”
“Our Father works in mysterious ways. Who knows what He planned so long ago,” Uriel replied, turning his face into the wind.
“That’s blasphemy!” Gabriel shouted. “These beasts crossed the planes of existence into Purgatory, conspiring to remove a soul held there.”
“A living soul that you imprisoned because of your own lusty desires.” Uriel pulled an arrow from the golden quiver strapped on his back and nocked it against the elaborately curved bow in his hands. “You tarnish our kind with your deeds.”
Michael lifted his hand. “Wait, Uriel. I will not allow you to pass judgment on our brother. I came with Gabriel to destroy these Watchers, whose actions risk altering the ancient text.”
Uriel raised his bow, aiming it at Gabriel. The ten Angels flanking Michael and Gabriel drew their swords from their scabbards with the scraping sounds of steel on steel. “You have not received orders from Him. You act alone and therefore, are not sanctioned.”
Michael shook his head. “Just as the Lord gave the humans freewill, he gave it to us also. Our duty is to the scripture, which we will uphold—and these creatures—” he motioned the end of his sword at us “—have no place there.”
“Are you willing to die for them, Uriel?” Gabriel said, spreading his arms wide.
Uriel shrugged. “As long as our Father remains quiet on the matter, I have no choice. “I won’t let you kill her.”
“So be it then,” Michael called out.
The billowing clouds darkened as Gabriel’s wave of air left his hands and Michael released his mighty wind on Uriel. I gripped Insepth’s arm when the red-haired Angel let several arrows fly in quick succession. They streaked through the sky, exploding around Michael and Gabriel in hot flames, setting the air itself on fire.
“We must help him,” I cried into Insepth’s ears to be heard over the storm breaking over us.
Insepth’s face was strained. “We can barely hold the shield—it’s going to falter when the Angels join forces against us.”
I grabbed Insepth’s chin and forced him to look at me. “If we’re dead anyway, why don’t we take a few of them out with us?”
“The girl has a point,” Sir Austin chimed in.
Insepth glanced at Youmi, who nodded back at him once.
Insepth lowered his voice. “Go for the arch Angels.”
The shield disappeared and my powers came rushing back into me, slamming me to the ground. I thrust my hands forward and pushed two blasts of fire at Gabriel, aiming the streams at the horn at his hip. The flames knocked him sideways, burning through the leather that held the horn. It fell
away from him as he snatched the fiery clouds to get it back.
When Gabriel swooped into a nose dive to retrieve his weapon, Sir Austin spiraled the wind into a tornado that surged upwards at the Angel, rolling him backwards. Michael’s war cry boomed through the storm. The ten Angels followed his descent toward Uriel, who continued to let the exploding arrows fly.
Insepth flicked his wrists, breaking apart a portion of the rock wall and sending rocks streaking into the sky at the Angels. Youmi pelted them with water from the clouds that Sir Austin created.
Michael dove through the storm. Uriel barely had time to pull his sword from his belt when Michael slashed at him. Their swords collided, and the sound echoed across the valley.
More war cries joined the striking of steel. Insepth’s rocks crumbled in the air before striking their targets and Sir Austin’s storm was blown away to the east, revealing blue skies. Youmi kneeled in the barnyard, shaking his head. “There’s no water!”
Horas appeared at my side. He grasped me under my arms and lifted me to my feet. “We have to get out of here—now.”
“Where’s Sawyer?” My insides chilled.
He shook his head. “I don’t know. He disappeared when the Angels arrived.” He leaned in. “He’s gone.”
Gabriel joined Michael in the attack on Uriel, who whipped to the left, then right again to avoid the jabbing swords.
None of my elements were enough by themselves, but combined, I might be able to help Uriel. The battle scene before me became hazy as my four elements clamored over each other for dominance. My eyes bulged and my skin burned. It felt like I was dying inside. Where’s Sawyer? Every moment of distrust I’d felt for the Demon I loved came flooding in, and I completely lost my focus. My elements went wild, jumping away from my grasp. Only my Gaia stayed with me, but it wouldn’t be enough to take on one Angel, let alone twelve of them.
Michael screamed again and his sword met its mark, slicing across the leather tunic that covered Uriel’s chest. Something blue sprayed from his body, and I could only guess it was Angel blood. He dropped to the ground, his wings folding around him.
I struggled with Horas to let me go, but he held firm, mumbling into my ears, “There’s nothing you can do. Don’t throw your life away for an Angel. They’re going to kill him anyway.”
A wolf howled and we turned back to the meadow. Three of the Angels had landed there and were circling Eae, Ivan, Lutz and Cricket with raised swords. The goats pressed in against the bear for protection and Cricket reared back on her hind legs, striking at the Angels.
Time seemed to slow as I looked around. Two more Angels had Insepth, Youmi and Sir Austin kneeling on the ground. Their swords were raised, poised to strike the Watchers down. Three more of the celestial host joined Michael and Gabriel around Uriel, who still held up his sword defiantly.
This can’t be the way it ends, my mind screamed. What good did it serve to find Adria and free the dragons from the mountainside? What about the journey into Purgatory and changing Cricket into a human—what was the purpose of any of it if we were all going to die at the hands of Angels before the rapture even began?
I slumped in Horas’ arms. “I won’t leave them.”
“I figured you’d say that.” The sound of his short laugh snapped the world back to a normal speed with startling force.
The two Angels that landed on either side of us had honey colored skin and wide-spaced, green eyes. Their wings were dark brown and I had to crane my neck to look up at them. They were identical twins and beautiful—even though they held scythes above our heads.
“You see, Watchers, your kind is no match for us—like a human toddler against a lion, you can’t win,” Michael said in a blasting voice that shook the air.
Uriel laughed and all eyes looked at him. “They are more formidable than your words declare—and that’s what terrifies you so.”
Michael’s eyes widened and his face flushed red. His arm went up so quickly that it was only a blur when it sliced downward. I screamed out and Horas gripped me harder.
My scream wasn’t alone—it echoed another feminine voice.
Maddie threw her body over Uriel’s, crying out, “No!”
Michael’s sword swiped only inches above her face. He stumbled sideways when he redirected his aim, using every muscle he had to avoid chopping her in half. He screamed and thrust the steel into the ground close to Uriel’s head.
Gabriel rushed forward with his sword raised, but Michael grabbed his arm, shoving his hand into his chest. “Stop. We can’t kill a scribe of God.”
“How is this possible?” Gabriel’s mouth dropped open. “All the human scribes are accounted for.”
Uriel stood, pulling Maddie up with him. Blue matter still seeped from the gaping wound at his chest, but the edges were beginning to close. I wondered if his blood would turn red if his wings were removed, like Eae’s or if it was because he was an arch Angel that he bled blue.
“The end of days is upon us and the world is changing. So many things will happen we haven’t anticipated, and this is one of them.” Uriel motioned to Maddie.
“That may be true, but you can’t fight twelve of us.” Michael’s cool gaze settled on me, making my skin crawl. “And that one is fair game.”
I felt the gathering of Michael’s energies and braced for impact when the sound of giggling reached my ears.
Everyone paused, even Michael. The wind settled until there was complete stillness. Bile rose in my throat and I broke into a sweat. Every hair on my arm shot upwards and I couldn’t stop trembling.
“What’s happening?” I whispered to Horas.
“Something very bad…” he replied.
The sky turned from bright afternoon light to nighttime darkness, then the air groaned. The opening that formed in the sky right next to the cabin was equal in size to it. Beyond that doorway, there were giant dead-looking trees and misty grayness. I knew the place. I’d never forget it.
“Impossible!” Michael shouted, just as a stream of hundreds of Angels shot through the opening into the valley.
Michael and Gabriel took flight, and the rest of their Angels followed suit. They swooshed above our heads with pounding wings. Feathers floated down around us as war cries, sounding much like the screeching of hawks, filled the air.
Samael spread his black wings. They were wider in length even than Michael’s. He laughed again, and the sound of it carried on the currents, making it seem like he was whispering in my ear. “It’s been a long time brother, Michael. I see you haven’t wisened with age.”
“I chained you in the Pit once—I’ll do it again. This isn’t the end…” Michael called out.
“It’s only the beginning. Yes, yes, I know. And I look forward to our next get together,” Samael bowed deeply to Michael and Gabriel as they jetted past him, soaring into the clouds.
Samael’s fallen Angels formed a shadow that chased Heaven’s Angels through the sky until a bright light flashed and they were gone. The swarm of wings reappeared in the western sky and raced back for the opening to Purgatory. Only a handful of dark Angels left the main legion and joined Samael when he touched ground in the barnyard.
His pale face, red lips and crystal blue eyes were in stark contrast to the warm browns and gold of the autumn forest surrounding him. His wings glistened in the sun, revealing shiny metallic parts that almost looked green when a ray of sunshine hit them.
No one moved a muscle except Maddie, who breathed, “The Devil.”
“Smart girl.” The corner of his lips rose in a half-smile. “And pretty too.”
“She’s a scribe—don’t anger our Father by defiling her,” Uriel warned.
Insepth, Youmi and Sir Austin moved closer to us, and Eae brought the Growlers up from the meadow. Samael stretched his wings, then popped his neck, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Why are you here, Lucifer? The golden vials of the wrath of God haven’t been emptied—the end isn’t upon us just yet.” Uriel lifted his head. I admired the sternness of his features. He hadn’t attempted to fly away with the other Angels when Samael and his legion arrived. He was braver than all of them.
“Ah, it has been a long time since someone has called me by that name.” Samael glanced sideways at us. “It means Morning Star—Bringer of Light. That was my original standing in Heaven—” he smirked “—until the Big Guy cast me out.” He chuckled, meeting Uriel’s gaze. “I was a little too ambitious for His standards.”
“You still haven’t answered the question,” Uriel reminded him.
“Quite right. It must be this lovely fresh, mountain air twittering my senses.” He took a few lithe steps, then stretched out one of his wings, pointing it at me. I had to suck in a breath to keep from having the talon at the very end of the wing from touching my breast. “I’d almost forgotten about this one.” He leaned in. “Remember me, love?”
My stomach did another somersault and when I reached for my powers, they were hiding. My mouth went dry. “How could I forget?”
“He’s the Devil!” Maddie shook me, pulling me backwards. “Stay away from us,” she shouted at Samael.
Maddie had taken me under her wing when I entered the high school in Oldport. She’d always been nice and I valued our friendship. But I’d never thought of her as anything more than a cheerleader who loved the color pink way too much. In a few short minutes, she’d become a scribe of God and was taking on the Devil himself. Even though she was a human, her faith made her as strong as any Watcher. I grasped her shoulders to stop her from tugging on me.
“You have nothing to fear, girl. Your death wouldn’t further my cause in the least. It might even complicate things, as Uriel suggested.” He shrugged, snapping his eyes back to me. “She’s the reason I’m here—so killing her would definitely be counterproductive.”