Hero of the InBetween

by Erin Snihur

  Dina shrugs, “It all happened so fast. I think they stabbed her with a demon blade and it infected her. She went unconscious in the alley; and when I got her back to the hotel, she woke up and started acting crazy. I placed the room and door under a locking incantation to keep her from escaping. I don’t know how long it will hold her for. She’s been pretty destructive.”

  I clench my fists and spin to face Dina, anger fueling me, “What the fuck were you thinking? Why would you think it was okay to leave the hotel? Has sleeping with that fucking traitor made you stupid? What is it about him that has your allegiances blurred?”

  Dina’s eyes widen and I know in that moment I’ve completely crushed her. I’ve never actually been on the receiving end of Dina’s anger, but others have and I’ve pitied them. Now, I only have myself to blame.

  “Well done, Darius,” Gideon mutters, “Nice knowing you, buddy.”

  Dina glares up at me and pushes a finger against my chest. A spark of fire flashes from her other fingers as she speaks, “It wasn’t my idea. Elara had this grand scheme to lure the demons who are searching for her out and then we would strike at them. Don’t question my loyalties, Darius. I didn’t have to come on this idiotic mission. I did it for you, you big lummox, because you’re my brother and I love you.”

  I don’t think. Startling Dina’s cool reserve, I reach for her and pull her into a tight hug. She relaxes after a few minutes and when I pull away, she smiles slightly at me.

  “Sorry for calling you a lummox,” she mutters.

  I grin, “Sorry for questioning your loyalty.”

  Gideon’s sigh is what breaks us apart. “Guys, this is all freaking touching and everything, but there is a child of an Archangel behind that wall, infected with some demon juice. Oh, and did I mention she has the power of the Flaming Sword at her fingertips? What do we do?”

  Turning back to the door, I shake my head. “I have no idea.”

  Pascal whispers softly, “The sword.”

  We all turn to him, confused, before his face brightens and he shouts in glee, “Gideon, you’re a genius!”

  Gideon snorts, looking just as confused as the rest of us, “Well, duh, but also why?”

  Pascal turns to me, “The sword can break any curse, correct? Even demon possession?”

  I nod. “Yes, but we don’t even have the sword and we can’t get to the InBetween without it to open the gates.”

  Pascal sighs, “The sword’s power opens the gates.”

  Pascal’s words settle over us and we all begin to stare at each other, bewildered.

  “Elara could open the gates.”

  Ezekiel holds up a hand as I go to reach for the doorknob once again. “Hold it. You want to unleash a demon infected child of an Archangel on the InBetween? You’ll be falling right into their hands. Once the gate is open, any demons on the other side will come here and vice versa.”

  “We can kill all the demons we want once we have the sword and Elara is healed,” I grit my teeth, staring into Ezekiel's eyes. A crash from Elara’s bedroom has us tensing further.

  Dina whimpers, “She’s getting stronger. I don’t know how much longer my incantation can hold her.”

  Ezekiel snarls and swears under his breath. The rest of us are stunned. The once cool and composed angel is replaced with an angry one who turns his anger filled gaze on Dina. “Get the chains. Let’s all pray they hold her long enough to get us to the InBetween.”

  Dina nods and rushes off as Ezekiel pulls out his long sword and points it at Pascal, “Get ready to transport us to the gates checkpoint. Once done alert the Archangels to send as many soldiers as they can spare to guard the gate. Warn them it’ll be open.”

  Gideon pats Pascal on the shoulder. “See you on the other side, brother.”

  Pascal nods and watches as Ezekiel, Gideon and I all approach Elara’s door.

  Dina appears with the chains and gives us a serious look. “Don’t listen to her, Darius. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

  I nod my thanks and take the chains from her hands, “Unlock it.”

  Dina whispers the words slowly and all the noise coming from the bedroom grows silent as she does, “Patentibus.”

  Gideon pushes open the door, sword drawn in both hands. He enters first followed by Dina and then me, with Ezekiel following at the rear. The entire bedroom is trashed. Clothes shredded all over the floor and furniture completely unrecognizable.

  It’s dark with the shades drawn, but not dark for us. I extend my senses and immediately they zero in on the shaking creature in the corner. My Elara. Her hair is wild and her body is bruised with smalls cuts. Her black pants are torn in places and she’s completely barefoot. There is a large splotch of blood visible on her shirt, where they infected her; but otherwise, she appears unharmed.

  Gideon and Ezekiel tense as I take a step in her direction. I speak softly, in the hopes that I don’t frighten her further, “Elara?”

  The creature before me shrieks and swipes out a hand at my face. I pull back and tighten my hands on the chains.

  “Elara, it’s me, Darius. Can you hear me?”

  Elara’s body freezes and slowly, her eyes peek through the stringy strands of her dark hair. Her eyes are pitch black and I have to fight every reflex in me to snarl and banish the demon. I know in my heart that would inevitably banish Elara as well.

  “Darius?” The cracked and raspy voice speaks out over the silent room and I pause before nodding.

  Before I can react any further, Elara is launching herself at me, screeching and clawing at me. Gideon and Ezekiel both shout and jump into action pulling Elara off of me as she’s screaming confusing words at me.

  “Traitor! Liar!”

  She screams over and over again. She thrashes in their arms until Gideon and Ezekiel have Elara in a hold and she’s anchored on her knees in place on the ground.

  Elara’s teeth are clenched and barred like some wild animal as she glares her black eyes at me, “Traitor! You did this to me! All on you! My blood is on your hands!”

  I wince as she spits at my feet. Bringing the chains into view, Elara’s possessed form tenses and she begins to shake and shiver in fear.

  “No! Not again! Please don’t take my wings! Please no!”

  We all freeze at her statements and I kneel down in front of the sobbing Elara, “Your wings?” I pause and ask the question I’m not even sure I want answered, “What is your name?”

  Elara’s form raises her head and stares into my eyes, confused and then distant, “Ambriel. My name is Ambriel.”

  I am in shock. Pascal hasn’t removed his healing hand from my back since Ezekiel and Gideon have dragged, Elara, no, Ambriel, to a chair in the living room and tied her to it with the rune chains.

  I blink as I pull away from Pascal. I feel his soothing presence disappear from me as I step into Ambriel’s line of sight. It makes my heart plummet as her pitch-black gaze winces at my intrusion in her personal space. I am confused as hell. The person before me resembles the one I love, but deep down I know it isn’t really Elara.

  “How is this possible, Ambriel? You were dead. I killed...” My voice cracks and I try to summon the strength to remain calm.

  Through Elara’s body, Ambriel shifts in the chains groaning at the pain they cause her demonic form. My body tenses even further, aching to release her from her suffering.

  “You killed me, Darius. I know I was there,” Elara’s face morphs then into an evil grin as she speaks, “But you didn’t destroy all of me, did you? Had to save your precious trophy.”

  Silence resumes in the room and I can feel the pressure of all eyes on me as I grit my teeth and growl the one word that sends the entire room in an uproar, “No.”

  Gideon is the loudest of them all as he cries out, “What the fuck?!”

  Dina is quick to follow, “Are you fucking crazy?”

  Ezekiel is the one to call everyone to silence and I don’t break my gaze from Elara’s black ones a
s Ambriel laughs in sick glee, “If only you had destroyed every little piece of me, then your precious, little human would be safe. Oh, I’m sorry, she’s not fully human, is she?”

  Ezekiel grunts and steps forward, drawing Ambriel’s focus away from me, “You know what you did was wrong, Ambriel. You know that man was a demon and he lured you away. Did you think you would get away with it?”

  “He loved me! He cared about me. He listened to me,” Ambriel pauses in her screeching to turn back to me. “You were so focused on the InBetween, that you didn’t even notice I was gone. You were supposed to be my consort, my friend, my lo…”

  I tense and grow angry at her words as I straighten, “Lovers? Where did you get the idea that we were to be lovers, Ambriel?”

  She doesn’t answer and instead, glares back at me, “It doesn’t matter. You won’t get your precious mortal back now. Go ahead, Darius, banish the rest of me to Hell. I’m sure Elara will love it down there.”

  “You little…” I mutter and take a step forward, dagger drawn when Ezekiel steps forward, “Darius! No! Don’t let her get to you! Remember who is beyond her. Elara. Think about Elara.”

  Ambriel cackles and sways in the chains, “Yes, Darius, think about her. She’s so strong, but so weak from the demonic possession. It’s too bad you didn’t unlock her abilities completely to keep her safe.”

  Pascal let’s out a soft sound behind us and we all turn.

  I ask, “What is it?”

  Pascal shifts, uncomfortable with all the attention, “Elara’s body may not be strong enough to withstand the possession and opening the gates.”

  Ambriel cackles, “What to do, what to do.”

  I clench my fists tightly before releasing them a few times, only to clench them again. Everything is going down the drain. Nothing like this was supposed to happen. My mind is racing, my head pounding and Ambriel’s evil laughter is getting on my nerves. With renewed strength, I spin swiftly and throw my blade into the wall above Elara’s head.

  Ambriel’s laughter dies down and her eyes go wide. I narrowly missed her. I don’t think about my words as they fly out of my mouth. I just know it is the last straw.

  “We’re taking you to the Archangels.”

  Ambriel, through Elara’s eyes go wide and she shrieks in an attempt to escape the chains.

  “No! Kill me! Banish me! Anything but that!” Her shrieks go unheard as the others turn to me in confusion, Gideon keeps hold of Elara’s body as his confused eyes reach mine.

  “Darius, they’ll kill her if we do that. You heard what Lucifer said about the Archangel’s children.”

  I shake my head, “They want the sword too badly to risk killing the one person who has its power. If they want the sword then they need to open the gates. They can do it. If they can close the gates, then they can open them.”

  I gaze at my friends, my family. They all shoot each other doubtful looks and Dina shifts uncomfortably as she shoots a sad look toward Elara’s wiggling, possessed form.

  “But what if they don’t, Darius? They may weigh the pros and cons and decide to just destroy Elara and, by definition, destroy the InBetween,” Dina’s words are hesitant and full of fear.

  “You have to trust me. You all don’t have to enter their palace with me, but I do need your help in getting there. Once you’ve dropped us off, you can leave. Distance yourselves from me,” I say these words with a hint of sadness, but I push it away, “I don’t want you all to get caught up in my fight.”

  All is silent as they weigh their options. The silence is killing me. I know in my heart that if I ask it of them, they would fight along side of me; but I don’t want them to die senselessly.

  Ezekiel is the first to step forward, always our heroic leader, “Brothers and sisters to the end is the oath we made to each other all those centuries ago. If this is to be the end, then I would gladly join you in it.”

  Pascal nods and steps forward, “As will I. The Archangels value my gifts too much to do away with me.”

  From behind Elara’s shaking form, Gideon grins. “Never took on an Archangel before, let alone all of them. Might be kind of fun.”

  Dina rolls her eyes and gazes over all of them. “I’m in too. Might as well. You boys never could make it in a fight without me.”

  I laugh and we all nod at each other before our gazes turn to Elara. Her ferocious glare and barred teeth are enough to silence the laughter.

  Inwardly, I wince and think the words I pray Elara hears, don’t worry, Elara. I’m coming for you.

  22

  Darius

  It doesn’t take long for our presence to be known as we enter the Archangel’s realm. Almost immediately after stepping into their palace gates, guards descend. They probably sense the evil currently inhabiting Elara’s body.

  The Grecian style palace is ornate in soft light colors. It is bright and beautiful outdoors with singing birds and beautiful flowers. It reminds me of what the InBetween used to look like. Happy and safe.

  The guards escort us through the winding staircases, only stopping when we are met with large oak doors. Ambriel’s shrieking goes quiet. She can sense them beyond the doors, as could the rest of us.

  In Elara’s form, Ambriel pleads with me, “Please don’t, Darius! They’ll kill us, me and Elara. Is that what you want?”

  I ignore her pleas and sobs as the oak doors open and we all step through. The guards don’t enter with us. When the doors close behind us, I heard the faint click of locks being placed on the doors. No way out.

  This room is unlike the room I’d been punished for my crimes in. Instead of sitting on tall thrones, the Archangels sit on individual loveseats and plush chairs that are only slightly raised by a dais. Well, most of them do anyway. Michael is pacing, like a caged lion on the raised dais, while the others watch on.

  I keep my gaze on Michael as we approach. Ezekiel and Gideon drag Elara’s possessed form behind me as Ambriel sobs quietly. Her tears would not sway anyone here.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ariel rise slowly from her chair at the sight of Elara in holy chains. If possible, her dark skin seems to pale in comparison to its dark complexion. As if she knew immediately who has possessed Elara.

  Jophiel rises gracefully, smiling at all of us coolly, “Welcome, warriors of the Almighty. To what do we owe this unexpected visit?”

  Usually, Ezekiel would speak for our group; but today, I need to be the one to speak.

  “I believe you are already aware of the reason for our visit, my lady.”

  Jophiel’s right eye twitches slightly and she swiftly glanced toward a silent, yet serious Chamuel who refuses to meet my gaze or the gazes of his brothers and sisters. Michael continues to pace the dais, his face angry and his hands clenched.

  “Yes, we have been made aware of your request to meet with our brother in private. How, unconventional,” Jophiel laughs softly, “Though we have no idea why that would be.”

  “We found the Flaming Sword. It is being held by a demon tainted soul, Renna, in the InBetween. The gates must be opened so that we might retrieve the sword from the InBetween,” I run my eyes over all seven, only Jophiel meets my gaze, the others are either focused on Elara’s sobbing form or Michael whose pacing stops.

  Ariel steps closer to the edge of the dais’ stairs and gazes around me to stare at Elara, “Stand aside, Keeper.”

  I ignore Ariel, a fact that draws a scathing glare from her dark eyes and level my own eyes with Michael’s storming blue ones, “We do not have much time. We must act now.”

  Ariel scoffs in disgust of my obvious disrespect and pushes forward into my group, pushing me aside in the process to kneel before the chained Elara.

  Elara’s body ceases shaking and we all freeze as Elara’s head raises and her eyes open to reveal the blackness that has Ariel tensing.

  Ambriel’s evil grin forms on Elara’s face and I clench my fists to keep myself under control as Ambriel’s raspy voice whispers, “Hello,
mother. Miss me?”

  As if she had been struck, Ariel reels back, her eyes widen with fright. Chamuel quickly jumps from his chair and catches Ariel before she collapses to the ground as everyone stares at Elara’s possessed form.

  Ariel’s whisper echoes throughout the room and the temperature drops, “Ambriel…it’s not possible.”

  Michael is seething now. I can practically feel the waves of his anger rippling out of his pores. I even feel Dina wince behind me.

  “What is the meaning of this, Darius?” Michael demands, his anger rising.

  “This is Elara, the mortal soul who broke the curse set over the InBetween. She’s been possessed by the demonic form of Ambriel,” I take a step closer to Elara’s form even as Ambriel’s evil grin disappears and is replaced with a blank face.

  Gabriel speaks up then, smiling softly in all his angel beauty, “The hero of the InBetween. I’ve heard reports of her name and new title being chanted throughout the afterlife and in the depths of Hell.”

  Ariel seems to come to her senses then and jumps to attention, startling Chamuel who attempts to soothe his sister. “She is not your hero, Gabriel, she is possessed by my protege, Ambriel. How is this possible?”

  Dina answers for me, her voice breaking through the tense silence, “She was attacked while I was guarding her, my lady, it was my fault.”

  I hiss out a breath and swing my gaze to Dina, “No, Dina. I should have been there to stop it.”

  When Dina opens her mouth to disagree, Michael’s voice booms over the room, shaking the crystal chandelier that sways on the ceiling.

  “Silence!”

  When all is quiet, Michael points to me, “Explain why you and your friends were cavorting with this mortal when this all happened?”

  “Elara has a connection to the sword. We had hoped to request Chamuel to open the gates of the InBetween so that we might be able to take the sword back with Elara’s help,” I sum up the events that took place, in the hopes that they would not press for more. I wince and nearly growl as Chamuel speaks then.