Mark of Orion

by S L Richardson

  They pressed their backs against the dirt bank, desperate to hide from the male voices above them. The mark on Olivia’s chest throbbed, setting her heart beat racing.

  Are the demons attached to the bikers or did they attract them?

  Please, just go away...

  "My mark is throbbing," Sergio whispered. "We have to get out of here."

  She nodded, but Zach put his finger on his lips. Olivia's chest tightened as she scanned the surrounding darkness. The voices above grew louder. Olivia gripped her flashlight, hoping she didn't have to use it as a weapon.

  "Nice truck. Anything inside the cab?" The low, raspy voice drifted above them.

  "Can't tell. Windows are too dark, but nothing’s in the truck's bed." The second male voice had a higher pitch. "Let's bust a window."

  Zach punched his leg and looked ready to charge the hill, but Olivia grabbed his hand. She shook her head and pulled him close.

  "You can't go up there. Just stay here until they leave," she whispered in his ear. Anger radiated from Zach, but he didn't move.

  The shattering of glass made her stomach drop. "Hurry and get your skinny butt in there." Zach lurched forward. but Sergio and Olivia both pulled him back. Sergio whispered something in Zach's ear. A yelp and deep laughter rained down on them.

  "Man, you're an idiot. What ya got there?"

  The truck door opened, then slammed shut. "Nothing inside but a scarf."

  Olivia's skinned crawled at the thought of this creep touching her scarf. She'd never wear it again.

  "Let's wait for the chick to come back and have a little fun." His excited high-pitched voice made her stomach roll. Bile rose in Olivia's throat as she thought of what could happen if they found her.

  "Nah. Let's get out of here." A fist smacked the hood. "We'll go up the road to the next parking lot and swing back later." He snickered, striking the hood again like an exclamation point. Olivia closed her eyes, praying for them and any demons that may have come with them to leave. The bike engines came alive, and soon their rumble faded from the lot.

  Zach raced up the hill. Olivia and Sergio scrambled after him, but Zach was quicker. She turned on her flashlight but lost sight of him as he cleared the top of the hill. The mark's throb deepened. As she broke the top of the hill, her heart stopped, shocked at the sight before her.

  "Olivia, don't move." Sergio stood frozen at the trail's entrance, clutching his shirt over the mark.

  Two dark shadowy forms swirled around the truck. Their movements grew faster, rocking the truck back and forth. The springs squeaked, and the tires bounced against the force. A primal sound filled the air, the same screeching from the coffee shop.

  Zach stood a few yards from the truck. He put his hands over his ears, stumbling backward. He turned to run but tripped over his feet. Getting to his hands and knees, he stared back at his truck and froze as if mesmerized by the chaos engulfing it.

  "Get away from the truck!" Olivia cried, holding her hands over her ears. She gaped as the circling grew faster and faster, becoming a single blur of darkness circling the truck.

  "Come on, Zach!" Sergio waved his arms, but Zach stayed rooted to the spot.

  She had to help Zach. She took a few steps, but her feet moved as if encased in cement blocks.

  Come on, Drake! Move it!

  She glanced between the truck and Zach. She pushed harder, fighting against her panic. Turbulent air blew around her, plastering her hair to her face. She lunged for him, grabbing his clammy hand. His raspy breath came in bursts.

  "Zach, look at me... We have to move... Come on!" she yelled, tugging his hand.

  "Okay... okay." He shook his head as if coming out of a fog. Sergio emerged and grabbed Zach's other arm, helping him to his feet. They scrambled away from the swirling vortex consuming the truck.

  The screeching stopped, leaving blood pounding in her ears. Olivia looked behind her. Something more terrifying had replaced the black whirlwind.

  Two large demons dressed in black stood by the truck. Huge coal-colored wings expanded behind them with sharp feathers that looked more like weapons than ones created for flight. The male demon wore similar clothes to the demon at the coffee shop. His red eyes glared at them, one small red horn sprouting from his forehead. A double-sided ax hung from his belt. He sneered, revealing black pointed teeth glistening with saliva.

  The other demon was a female, with black skin and matching black shoulder-length hair ending in bright blue tips. Her tight, dark clothes accented her muscular frame. Ice-blue eyes glowed inside the black pools, and short spiral horns erupted above her ears. Two small swords with blue hilts hung from the curve of her hips.

  They drew their weapons and moved away from each other. The male demon slapped the side of the ax against his black-veined white hand. "What do we have here, Agora? Human trash looking at us?" He cocked his head and sniffed the air while moving toward them. "They smell and look human, but they must be angels in disguise if they can see us." He licked his lips as his shrewd red eyes examined them.

  Olivia stood between Zach and Sergio. The familiar odor of smoke and oil assaulted her nostrils as the demons inched closer.

  They'll kill us.

  Lord, please help.

  Olivia, Zach and Sergio formed their own circle, putting their backs to each other. "We have to get to the truck. It's our only way out of here," Zach whispered.

  "There's no way." Sergio motioned to the dark hills. "We can try the path−"

  "They don't look like angels to me, Orban." Her words were spoken like an evil caress. "Just filthy little humans for our amusement. Yet, I have a pull towards them... more of a connection. Do you feel a connection to me too?" Her cackle was a horrifying as her voice.

  Connection to us?

  "Yes. I sense it too, and I don't like it. Let's kill them now." Orban started toward them, raising his ax.

  The female demon turned to Orban. "Wait! We need to know how−"

  "Run!" Zach yelled.

  He pushed Olivia and Sergio back toward the path. Olivia’s legs pumped as her survival instinct hit high gear. Sergio closed in on the path's dark entrance first, with Olivia and Zach close behind him. Sergio chanted run, run, run, urging them.

  Just a few more steps...

  Maybe we can use the dark as cover... if I don't fall over the side.

  The surrounding air began to swirl. Where once lay hills and skyline, it blurred into wisps of black smoke. The demons circled faster and faster. Maniacal laughter drowned out Olivia’s screams. Evil, directed at them inside the vortex, taunted them at will.

  Sergio clapped his hands over his ears. Zach grabbed Olivia and pulled her against him. Her mark burned as she coughed against the onslaught of smoke. The horrendous screeching and laughter pierced her eardrums.

  Her mom's face floated in front of her. A sob broke from her wheezing chest. She couldn't leave her mom alone, abandoned again. Anger swelled inside of Olivia. She pushed herself away from Zach. Clenching her fists, she looked up into the sky, but swirling smoke obscured the blanket of stars. Olivia yelled into the black vortex, repeating one word. "STOOOOOPPP!" She packed up her welled-up terror and anger, releasing it into the vortex.

  The swirling curtain began to slow and morph. The even turbulence of the circling smoke became the chaotic beating of wings, battering her with their heat. Ash fell, blinding her as she punched out at her enemy. A feather's ends caught her hair, yanking her scalp. She lifted her hand to protect herself. A sharp pain struck her hand as a feather slashed it. She swung her fist but connected with nothing but air.

  The beating wings stopped, but Olivia stood alone. Orban had Zach pulled up against his chest with a large dagger held against his neck. Agora held Sergio up against her with sharp metal fingernails gripping the side of his neck. If she exerted more pressure, blood from his jugular would spray everywhere. The boys stared wide-eyed back at Olivia.

  "Please don't hurt them." She felt nauseous, as their predicame
nt had gone from horrifying to deadly. "What do you want? Please! We won't tell anyone what happened. I promise. Just let them go."

  More laughter rumbled from the demons, their delight palpable. Hatred for them filled Olivia as she glimpsed horror and something worse−surrender−in the boys' eyes.

  "We won't hurt you. Yet. You're coming with us. Berith must meet you first. He'll know what trickery you scum are using to see us. And then, after this delightful meeting, we'll decide how we want to kill you. Death may be quick or slow. Depends on my mood." Agora shrugged.

  The boys struggled, but their captors tightened their grip. Sergio cried out as a trickle of blood fell from a nail prick on his neck.

  Berith... That's the same name the demon said at the coffee shop.

  "Who's Berith?" She'd never heard that name until yesterday, but she knew she didn't want to meet him.

  "Berith. You don't know who Berith is?" Orban scoffed. "He's the−"

  A sound, like a clap of thunder, came from above them. Olivia looked up as three bright lights fell from the sky. She didn't know what these lights were, but a glimmer of hope spread that help had arrived.

  "Angels!" Orban and Agora turned their heads away, screaming, using the boys as shields. But it did little in hiding the large demons from the falling lights.

  Huge, majestic white wings expanded from inside the lights. They landed near Olivia, transforming into something more magnificent than she ever could have imagined. Three angels glared at the demons. Standing in front was the largest angel. His shoulder-length golden hair framed sharp blue eyes, a square face and full lips set in determination. His bright white wings spread out behind his sleek sliver armor, but the last few rows of feathers shone in a magnificent shade of cobalt blue, like they were freshly dipped in vibrant paint.

  "Michael," Orban seethed.

  His two companions stood on each side of him. The other male had ebony skin, close-cut black curly hair and light purple eyes. His armor matched Michael's. A long silver sword with electric purple swirls hung from his side, and across his breastplate lay a strap of purple luminescent throwing stars.

  The other angel was a female with short chestnut-brown hair spiked with flaming gold ends. Her upper lip lifted in a snarl on her fierce, heart-shaped face. She turned to Olivia, revealing three long scars running from her milky-white left eye and across her cheek. The other eye was a dazzling gold. She turned back, raising a flaming gold sword in front of her.

  Michael nodded at Orban. "Let them go and you can crawl back into your pit." The demons glanced at each other, defiance gleaming in their eyes.

  "Eliphaz," Michael called. "Get Olivia to your side."

  Wait... How does he know my name?

  Eliphaz grabbed her hand, never taking his eyes off the demons, and whisked her to his side with ease. His purple eyes flashed at her, flooding her with a reassuring calm. But the demons still held Zach and Sergio captive.

  "They must be important for you to try to save them," Agora sneered. "I think you'll have to fight for them. Or maybe"−Sergio gasped as her claws dug into his neck−"I'll just rip his throat out." Her evil grin showed hideous black teeth.

  "No!" Olivia strained against Eliphaz's grip. She looked up at the angel. "Help him before she kills him!"

  "Zemira and Michael won't let that happen... and neither will I."

  Time turned to slow motion as mind-numbing fear gripped Olivia. Agora looked ready to shred Sergio's neck, but a whooshing sound passed by her. Agora's right eye exploded into a cloud of black blood. Embedded in the mangled eye socket was a gold knife. Her hands flew to her injured eye, releasing Sergio from her grip. Her screams sent chills down Olivia's back.

  "Run, Sergio!" Olivia shouted over the demon's shrills. Sergio scrambled away. His jerky movements sending him toward Zemira. Her wings gathered in Sergio, her hands wielding her sword.

  "You'll pay for that!" Agora grabbed the knife and pulled it out, leaving the black hole oozing blood. Drawing her sword, Agora expanded her wings and flew at Zemira.

  Orban shoved Zach to the ground. He turned to Eliphaz and threw the red dagger at him. The blade hit its mark, embedding in Eliphaz's upper chest. Silver fluid sprang from his wound, coursing over his armor. He fell to one knee and pulled the dagger out, throwing it aside. Olivia watched in disbelief as the bleeding slowed. Eliphaz unsheathed his sword, pushing Olivia behind him.

  A war cry erupted from Orban. He raised his sword high and charged Michael.

  "Leave. Now!" Eliphaz motioned toward the truck.

  Olivia locked eyes with Zach, and they sprinted.

  Zemira pushed Sergio in their direction. "Go! More might arrive!"

  Agora landed in front of Zemira, but she was ready. A gold blur sliced across Agora's neck, spraying black blood as the demon's head tumbled to the ground. Her headless body crumpled in a heap, exploding into ash. Agora's sword melted into a black puddle and evaporated, leaving no trail of her evil existence.

  Olivia yanked the door open and jumped into the seat. Sergio landed with a thud in the back seat. Zach started the truck and punched the engine. He turned the truck away from the battle and peeled out of the parking lot.

  Sergio stared out the back window. "Go, go!" His fist slammed on the seat. "Get us out of here before they come after us!" Zach turned the wrong direction on the one-way road. He raced for the exit, putting distance between them and the parking lot.

  Brisk air blasted through Olivia's busted window. She turned to watch the battle unfold behind her. Zemira and Eliphaz were in a ready stance scanning the lot, waiting for more demons. Orban swung his black sword at Michael, but it clashed against Michael’s, creating a surge of blue electricity between the steel. Michael pushed against the swords sending Orban stumbling backward. Michael raised it high, in what Olivia hoped was a death blow for the demon. But she lost sight of the battle when Zach turned a corner.

  Zach pounded on his steering wheel as his eyes darted to the rearview mirror. "Liv, you okay? Are you hurt?" She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.

  "Sergio?"

  "No, man. I'm not okay! What was that?" His loud, high-pitch voice echoed inside the cab. He touched his neck, where the nail wounds had stopped bleeding. "Those were demons! Same as the coffee shop. I thought I was dead! If those angels hadn't shown up..." He covered his face with his hands, flopping his head against the back window.

  "We're okay, Sergio. We made it!" Olivia glanced at Zach. His white-knuckled hand squeezed the steering wheel. He yanked it left, sending her careening into the passenger door.

  She gathered her hair, fighting the turbulent air coming through the broken window. Olivia glanced out the back again but only dark terrain and stars remained. "They're not coming after us, Zach. Just take it easy and get us home."

  He nodded, turning out of the park and onto the main road. He blasted the heater, but the air coming through the window was no match. But it didn't matter. Olivia was numb. Her mind spun with images of stars, demons, angels and blood slicks that evaporated into thin air. The what-ifs bombarded her, thinking about the different outcomes if the angels hadn't arrived.

  Tonight's episode left her with more unthinkable questions holding more unimaginable answers about this nightmare. She rubbed her arms, fighting the icy chill settling into her bones and the reality staring her in the face.

  Her life, and the world as she knew it, was forever and inexplicably changed.

  Chapter Eight

  Zach

  Zach's heart raced with the flush of adrenaline as he sped toward the city lights. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was bone dry. He lifted his fingers off the steering wheel. They shook in the dashboard's dim lighting. He ached for a hot shower to thaw his icy body and ease his pounding head. His mind flashed in terrifying slices of the demon's ambush in the parking lot.

  The demons swirling in their smoky mist, terrorizing them with their laughter and threats of death.

  Orban's dagger to his ne
ck.

  Angels... warriors... St Michael?

  Sergio... metal nails... blood on his neck.

  Olivia sat next to Zach, her freezing hand holding his in a tight grip. The wind howled through the broken window, forcing her shivering body against his. Olivia's mass of unruly hair hid her pale face and haunted eyes. Zach had seen nothing as fierce as when she yelled at the swirling demons. Then Orban had grabbed him...

  No, don't go there.

  He glanced in the rearview mirror at Sergio. He hadn't spoken a word since Zach turned onto the highway, escaping their nightmare at Red Rock. The dark red puncture wounds on his neck stood out as a reminder of how close death had come to Sergio. He had a distant stare that concerned Zach.

  "Hey, man, how ya doing?"

  Sergio remained silent.

  "Hey, look at me."

  Olivia turned and reached behind the seat, shaking his knee. He jumped at her touch. "We'll be home soon," she said.

  He nodded but remained silent, leaning into the corner of the back seat.

  "Talk to me. You can't go home this upset," Olivia said.

  "What do you want me to say?" Sergio croaked. "That I'm glad that demon didn't rip out my throat?" His voice rose in anger. "That what happened was okay? I don't want to die, Olivia!" He pointed an accusing finger at her. "You should have listened to me. I wanted to leave it alone, but no. We had to go out there. And for what? To gaze at stars? We almost got killed!" He slammed his hands against the seat and yanked his jacket closer around him, glaring at both of them.

  "I don't want this either, Sergio. I'm scared. We're all scared. But we made it, and we have to stick together. Please." Her voice pleaded with him.

  Zach glanced over at her. Tears fell from her blue eyes. She looked back at Zach with fear and desperation.

  "Just relax. You can't blame Olivia." Zach met Sergio's eyes in the rearview mirror. "None of us understand why these demons are out for us, but we can figure this out. We'll research more on the internet—"

  "Internet!" Sergio exploded. "The internet won't help us! This is evil, man!" Sergio's outburst silenced them for a moment.