Like Oberon, she exudes power with deadly precision. She is a woman of few words, but her face says it all. She’s ready to kill, beat, and maim any demon that crosses her path. Retribution for all those she lost when demons overtook her lands.
The Summer King gestures for her to follow and they leave. I guess he will tell her our wobbly plan.
My stomach flips as I realize it’s almost time to leave. Turning back the way we came, I trudge through the trees. I don’t need to look back; I know everyone is following. We stay silent, each of us lost in our own thoughts, doing our own pre-battle pep talk, or whatever it is we do.
Taking one last glance at the beautiful waterfall and all the clueless people enjoying their day, I march back on the trail that leads to the car.
The short ride to the lighthouse has me on edge. My legs bounce and I fidget, playing with the radio, the window, and my seat. Anything to keep my fingers moving.
Shay places a calming palm on my thigh, sending all his love my way.
Chapter Forty-Three
Zoe
When we near the lighthouse, bright colors can be seen. Some I know the names of, others I can’t even describe. Angels’ and fairies’ wings of various shapes, shades, and sizes sprinkle the land and hover above the water. The dazzling hues not only come from their wings, but from angelic light and glamour.
So many have arrived, answered the call, and I can’t help but feel proud and smell victory. The angels are my people. Well, they aren’t people. They’re angels. So they’re my angels.
An array of green and blue tones hover in the woods, staying sheltered in the trees and away from the angels.
Forms emerge from the forest. Howls sound in the distance, adding to the rumbling of the ground. Packs appear and intermingle between the shrubs, foliage, and saplings. Their large bodies tense in anticipation of the upcoming battle.
My friends and I stand on a rock ledge overlooking the lake, the lighthouse to our left.
“Some of the Nephilim are here, too,” Shay says. “Michael found as many as he could and got them here.”
“Do you know them?” I ask.
“Not too many. They tend to stay in the warmer climates, but there are a couple of us in the northern states.”
“Zoe.” Kieran points. “It’s starting.”
Our gaze follows Kieran’s finger.
Lake waves roll backwards, making more sand appear on the shoreline. Water slowly moves into a circular motion, creating a vortex. The sky blackens, and the temperature drops even more. Thankfully, the rain stopped hours ago. An eerie sucking sound draws my attention back to the water. It’s lowering like a whirlpool that we can’t see, the bottom leaving only the top funnel cloud.
Branches break behind us, snapping my awareness to the woods. The wolves’ heads turn, looking deeper into the forest, ears prickling for sounds. Growls erupt.
Shadows materialize from behind trees and bushes. Knights crouch then stand to their full height.
We’re surrounded.
In the short time I watched the Knights appear, I missed the rising, ghostly forms of the Marquises demons. Hundreds rise from the water and are now making their way toward us. With the angels and fairies beside us, and the wolves behind them, the demons have surrounded us.
I remember the words Oberon told us: “within a couple minutes expect the plan to go sideways.” It just has.
The Marqs are almost upon us; the Knights start their advance on the wolves. The only sounds are feet crunching the brush, and the Packs’ snarls until the DKs brandish their swords. Metal clangs add to my heightened awareness.
Shay brushes him arm against mine as he reaches behind his back and grabs his Nephilim Sword. Taking that as my cue, I summon my own sword.
Kieran’s body glows with angelic Light, and Sidelle has called forth her green glamour.
We stare at the approaching demon warriors and stoop into our battle stances. The angels remain in the sky, on the ready.
“Hold steady,” Kieran shouts. “Let them come to us.”
My eyes search for the Alpha of the Spiritus Pack, who has managed to stay within the tree line. “Vash!” He glances my way and runs toward me. “We need to draw them out and get the Knights closer to the lake, so the angels can create the Void. Circle around and flank them to drive them forward. I’m the bait. Let them see me.”
He nods in his wolf form. “Got it,” he says through our mental connection. Then he directs the Packs in his mind. I hear him shout the orders.
The wolves divide themselves, running to the right and left. The Knights charge forward, pushing through the barrier of the trees. The Marqs are nearly upon our group, too.
It’s going to be perfect timing, a double assault as both enemies advance and will arrive at the same time. I look left and then right, not knowing which way I should focus my attention.
“Let’s take on the Knights and leave the Marqs to the Archangels and the Royals,” Shay shouts. I nod and readjust my grip. “The Packs will attack from behind and push them forward. We’ll cut them off from joining the Marqs with the help from the fairies.”
My body trembles, and the sweat from my hands makes me clench the handle even tighter. I don’t have time to rearrange my grip.
A Knight’s sword comes down. My blade meets his. The high-pitched sound of metal rings in the air, signaling the start.
Roars and battle cries explode.
I can’t even describe all that’s happening around me. It’s too much, things happening too fast. My focus is only on the DK in front of me. I raise my sword and meet his again, but then he drops to the ground, dead.
Shay wipes his blade on his jeans and nods to me.
Blasts of Light shoot across the sky, and lake water fizzles as it detonates from the force of glamour.
It’s total chaos.
I don’t have time to check on my friends; the Knights keep coming. Guns fire in the distance. Something zips near my head and I duck. Then a barrage of bullets flies toward us. I extend my palms outward and use Light to stop them short of reaching me, Matrix style.
I didn’t know I could do that. Shay smiles at me, and then we press forward, killing and decapitating any demon in our path.
An earth shattering sound blows, breaking my focus. I quickly glance at my surroundings along with many of us who have paused to take notice of where the blast came from.
Dead Knights litter the ground. Wolves limp injured, but they remain taking on more opponents. Angels and fairies dart across the sky and mix with the black forms of the Marqs.
The atmosphere rocks like a heat wave. An opaque layer blankets the area, engulfing everything in its path, reminding me of a pillowcase swallowing a pillow.
This must be how the Void is created, drastically different than when Kieran created the warehouse Void so many months ago that started this adventure.
As the outer edge of the Void drapes over the woods and lake, the wolves corral the outlying demons, forcing them into the mouth of the Void.
A shimmer passes through me as if I’ve walked under a waterfall; one minute I see the park and the lake, and the next it’s an open field with nowhere to hide. A smattering of trees encircles the field, giving the only protection.
I think the angels created the Void in this way so it forces the demons to fight and not play with us. Confront us head on or leave.
I easily spot the Alphas; they are larger than their pack members. Then I locate Vash’s dark brown form, paired with a snow white one: Cali. They fight side by side, knowing that if one dies, the other will follow.
Raising my sword high, I barrel through another group of Knights heading my way.
“Zoe!” Shay shouts. “To your left.”
I turn my body but can’t block in time. A Knight’s blade slices my arm. My lungs scream in agony as blood pours out from the gash. My free hand covers the wound to stop the red liquid running down my arm. I gather my Light and heal myself. Something pushes ag
ainst me from behind and I stumble forward.
Demons surround me, creating a barrier between Shay and me. More Knights wedge their way in, trying to separate us.
Calling more of my Light, it glows on my palms, and I send it out, forcing purple orbs into the chests of everyone around me. I spin in a circle, letting it swirl.
I have no idea how long we’ve been fighting, but there seems to be more wolves lying on the ground now than in the woods. They are trying to make their way to the Marqs. And since angels and fairies just cease to exist when they die, I don’t know how many are no longer with us.
“Create a path for the wolves to get through,” I shout and wave my sword in the direction of the path needs to be created.
Shay and I lead teams of Summer fairies and attack from the side. Blue Winter fairies battle from the opposite end, as the wolves continue wrangling from the rear.
Eventually, a narrow path opens and then as Guardian angels come to assist, the trail widens.
We join the Pack, bringing up the rear as they start tearing into the Marqs. Deathly howls add to the melee as the wolves do the job they were created to perform: kill Marquises Demons.
Then a shadow in the tree line moves, grabbing my attention. I pull on Shay’s arm and point. He follows my line of sight. “What is she doing here?” Shay asks.
“I don’t know,” I say. “Let’s go find out.”
We run toward the figure, and it steps out into view.
Morgan.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. “How did you get here?”
“We drove, duh,” she says.
“Who’s we?” Shay asks.
“Aiden and me. We came to Duluth for the weekend on a romantic getaway, to reconnect. But this morning when I woke, a note was left for me to meet Aiden here at the lighthouse. So I came.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because he asked me to. I don’t need to have a reason. He’s my boyfriend now. He finally saw the light and dumped Quinn. If he wants to meet here for a surprise, then I’ll be here. I was about to leave when I spotted you across the field.”
Boyfriend? I thought Quinn is his girlfriend. I knew he was playing my friend. He could be playing both girls.
“And what do you think is going on here?” I ask.
“Nothing. It’s a nice area. A little creepy without sounds, but whatever. Maybe they know that people are around. Well, not people.” Shay and I look at each other. “Witches, doing evil. Isn’t that what you’re here for? Some sort of séance?”
“I’m not a witch, Morgan.” I turn to watch the battle, checking to make sure that there aren’t any demons in our area. Morgan can’t see them, and I wonder if Aiden did something. “I have no idea where you got that idea from.”
“You don’t remember? When we were in grade school, you brought that bird back to life. No one but a witch could do that.”
“Is that what this is about? Is that why you hate me?”
“Zoe, we have to get going.” Shay nudges me.
“I know, just one more minute.” My head turns to hear a loud explosion and the ground shakes, signaling the battle wages on without us, and I don’t have time for placating Morgan right now. “I’m not a witch, Morgan. I’m an angel.”
Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything as if she’s mulling it over. “And you chose Kieran over me. We were the best of friends, Zoe. You hurt me.”
“Morgan, people can have more than one best friend. I’ve known Kieran my entire life. He’s been there for me through thick and thin. And I didn’t choose him over you. You left. You didn’t give me a chance to explain. Instead, you decided to hate me, called me names behind my back, and turned people against me. Morgan, it was your choice to not be my friend.” Shay tugs my hand. “Look, I need to be someplace right now, but when we’re back in the Cities, let’s talk.” I reach out to her but she steps back.
“Okay,” she says as her head drops.
I think she’s going to lift her head and walk away, but she doesn’t. Instead, her body slumps to the ground, multiple arrows jutting from her back.
“Oh, my god,” I screech. “Morgan! Shay, help me roll her over.” We turn her tall frame over. Her eyes roll into the back of her head. I shake her hard. “Morgan. Stay with me.” I force my Light into her, but something is blocking it. I can’t penetrate into her soul. “Please don’t die.”
“I’m sorry, Zoe,” Morgan mumbles. “For everything I’ve done to you.” And then her eyes close, forever.
“Come on,” Shay says. “We can’t mourn her now, we can when the battle is over.”
“How did she get inside the Void?”
“I don’t know, but she must have been inside when the angels created it or someone, Aiden, probably got her here to mess with you. That’s the only plausible explanation I can think of.”
“I guess we’ll never know.”
When we get back into the throes of the fight, I see half of our forces are gone. Hundreds of Pack members are on the ground, limping, or dead. Noticeably fewer angels and fairies are flying around, and the Marqs are still rising.
My hope dwindles.
Chapter Forty-Four
Zoe
I see Quinn, the unknowing traitor, sprinting toward me. “Zoe!” I’m not sure if she’s going to kill me or save me. We’ve been friends since grade school; I’m hoping for the latter. It’s not her fault that she got sucked into Aiden’s web of lies. This is his fault and no one else’s. She’s surrounded by demons, but she’s fending them off with her sword, slashing her way to me. “Zoe,” she screams again. I shout to Shay to let him know where I’m heading. He’s fighting multiple attacks and nods. A pathway is cut between my school friend and myself. Shay follows, a few steps behind.
Bodies fly in every direction. As Quinn slices through the melee, black demon blood drips from her weapon. She shoves past angels and fairies.
I think she’s going to make it to me after all. But then a blade protrudes through her chest. A demon has stabbed her from behind. She staggers the last couple of feet as I close the distance to her.
“I’m sorry, Zoe.” Her hand presses against her ribs, trying to stop the flow of blood. “I didn’t know for sure who he was.” She coughs and falls to the ground beside me. “I tried to stop him,” she sputters. Blood leaks from the side of her mouth. “But there is something you should know.” I lean in; her voice is barely audible. “Tell my son that I love him. He loves you very much.”
“What? Say that again.” I shake her shoulder. “Quinn, say it again!”
“Make him happy until his dying days. I won’t be around on earth to watch him grow old with you. But I will be watching from the heavens.”
“Who are you?” Tears fall down my face. “Quinn? What have you done with Quinn?”
“I’m ... Shay’s ... father.”
“How?”
“Disguise ... power of combined angels.” His form flickers between a man and a girl’s as his breathing sputters. “Watch out for Morgan.” He takes a final breath, his body remains that of a ghost-like man and disappears from the battlefield.
I can’t tell Shay but I must. What did he mean a disguise? Could Archangels mutate into Ordinaries? Was she/he helping us all along? He used Quinn to get close to Aiden. Gabriel had to have suspected who Aiden really was.
My soul hurts as I come to realize that Shay’s father is dead. He’ll never be able to see his son again. Well, his spirit is not really dead, but his form won’t be able to be on earth any more. Shay will miss him. I’ll miss him. If he’s gone, then does that mean that Quinn is really dead, too?
And Morgan? I can’t ask her because she’s already dead. Gabriel must not have known that before he died.
I can’t linger on that too much longer.
“Zoe? Are you hurt?” Shay kneels besides me. “Was that Quinn? I saw her fall.” I nod. “Where did she go?”
“She’s gone.” I wipe my face and stand. “I’ll tell
you later. Right now, we must finish this before anyone else dies.”
I don’t have time to answer Shay’s question. A demon swings an axe toward my head. I duck as Shay leaps away.
Pivoting my sword, I block the axe again, but the she-demon is strong. The handle stops my blade, and it slides up and locks against the heel of the edge. She brings my body forward. I scramble for a dagger that’s strapped to my leg. Her hand shoots out and swats it from my fingers. She shoves me to the ground and stomps on my right wing.
I scream as I thrash about. My eyes sting, and my vision blurs with white dots. She frees the axe and slams it down on my other wing. Bones crack. The pain is intense. I’m on the verge of blacking out. My eyes shut as I try to block out the pain.
She hovers above me and is about to swing her axe into my chest.
This is the end. This is how I’m going to die.
No.
My Light blasts out, tripping her off balance.
I see movement in the corner of my eye. A silver light swings in my direction and the she-demon falls. Her head is cut off by Shay’s blade.
He reaches for me. “Can you stand?” he asks.
My cut wing droops and blood streams out. “I think so, but I need to fix them. I’m trying to, but they aren’t healing fast enough.” I lean into him.
“It’ll take time since that axe was dipped in Hell Fire. You were a good fighter as a human before you got wings. You’ll have to be more careful from now on.”
“Okay.” I try flapping my wings, but the slightest movement makes me flinch, and I cry out in agony.
“Use your Light and not your strength. And I’ll be by your side to protect you.” He turns me to face him. “Promise me, Zoe, that you’ll be careful.”
“I will.” My wings disappear. I can still feel them pressed against my back, like phantom limbs.
“I’ll hold you to that.” He grabs my hand and tugs me behind him.
Shay stays closer to me; he makes his wings disappear. We battle back to back, taking on opponents.
It seems like all of Hell has been emptied, and its inhabitants are here fighting on this field. Things I’ve never seen before. Ghostly beasts, the size of lions, dart between their masters. Their barks and howls send chills down my spine. These must be the famous Hell Hounds. I’m not sure if I see them now since I became an angel or if I could always see their true forms. I guess it doesn’t really matter, though. Two are bounding toward us.
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