Barakiel’s gloating smile froze, and his eyes seemed to bulge. The large archangel fell back, stumbling to his knees. His fingers splayed, and the sword slipped from his hand.
She expected to feel the cold metal slice into her skin, but there was nothing. She heard the shouts before she realized what had happened. Blinking, Alexa pulled herself up and gave a little gasp.
Barakiel’s skin started to crack. Light leaked from the rivulets over his face, neck, and fingers—everywhere his skin showed—until Alexa had to squint in the light just to look at him.
The archangel’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth in a silent scream and then exploded into silver dust.
Everything slowed in Alexa’s mind. Angels screamed, Nathaniel’s angry roar the loudest of all, but she barely heard them over the tiny voice inside her head telling her what to do next.
Wincing in pain, she hobbled over to Milo and Sorath who were still in combat. They hadn’t seen what had happened. Sorath’s back was to her, but she caught Milo’s wide eyes at the sight of her. Sorath turned at the look on Milo’s face.
“What’s this?” he laughed. “Coming to rescue your prince? Lucifer’s son isn’t man enough to fight his own battles? He needs a little girl to rescue him?”
“Something like that.”
Sorath lowered his eyes to the glowing staff in Alexa’s hand. He didn’t have time to move as she gave it a whack, hitting him on the thigh.
The effect was instantaneous.
There was a mighty wallop. The invisible blast of celestial power came down hard, throwing Alexa back again.
Sorath dropped his sword, his eyes widening in fear, and stumbled like a drunk in a circle. His skin cracked like crumpled plaster, and in the next moment, he exploded into a shimmering cloud of silver dust.
The yell of shock and the shouts of fury were stifled at once.
Milo hurried over to Alexa and helped her up, careful not to accidentally touch the staff.
He turned around and addressed Nathaniel. “We won. We fought and won our duel. You promised we could leave if we won.” Although Milo stood tall and straight without any visible fear, Alexa could detect the smallest amount of fear in his voice.
Alexa’s gaze rolled over the assembled angels. They looked like they were about to charge at them, but she could see the fear in their eyes at the sight of the staff she held. They wouldn’t come near them, she realized.
Alexa waved the staff before her, just for show. The crowd was afraid, and silence fell abruptly and completely as Nathaniel and Alexa looked at each other.
Nathaniel’s voice was cold with controlled fury. “You’ve just killed two of my oldest friends.” He broke away from the circle and came forward, his features cast in shadow making the whites of his eyes stand out. He looked more like a demon than an angel. “They were Lucifer’s best lieutenants.”
“Will you let us go?” inquired Milo, his body taut. He looked like he was about to bolt or strike.
Nathaniel’s eyes rested on the staff, his fingers clenching and unclenching. He looked at Alexa, and in his eyes she saw a promise of death there. “Our laws forbid me to kill you now, but don’t think I won’t hunt you down and kill you for what you’ve done.”
“I wouldn’t put it past you,” said Alexa loudly, and in the total silence her voice carried like a trumpet call.
Milo pointed with the tip of his sword over the line of angels’ heads that blocked them from the ocean. “Then tell your angels to move and let us pass.”
For a moment Alexa felt that Nathaniel had lied, and they were about to meet their fate.
“Let them pass,” came Nathaniel’s voice in a growl that sounded anything but angel and more like animal.
At once the angels parted, leaving a large enough gap for a dozen angels to pass easily between them. Alexa could see the stars reflecting on the black waters in the distance. Water. Home.
“Come on,” said Milo and urged Alexa to follow him.
Her legs were sore and heavy as she shambled in the sand next to Milo. He turned around and walked backwards, watching their backs as they walked past the angels. He held his swords up, waiting for them to attack.
But the angels didn’t attack.
Relief washed through Alexa as her boots splashed around at the water’s edge and she nearly fell over. She had to strain to keep from letting herself fall face first. She didn’t want Milo to see how exhausted she was.
Still, a smile crawled to her face. They had the staff.
The Staff of Heaven hummed gently against her palm, as though it recognized that it was going home. Alexa didn’t want to think about what waited for them on the other side, once they reached the Legion. She just wanted to get away from the freaky angel cult and its leader.
Milo walked into the water until only his shoulders and head were visible. He turned, his body already lit in brilliant light as he gave Alexa the signal to submerge together.
She made her way next to him, letting the cool water soothe her broken body. It felt glorious.
“I’ll be seeing you very soon, lesser angel,” came Nathaniel’s voice.
And then Alexa submerged her head and let the darkness of the waters take her.
CHAPTER 18
“YOU WANT TO COVER THE STAFF OF HEAVEN IN DUCT TAPE?” Alexa stared at Lance in disbelief. “The Staff of H-e-a-v-e-n?”
“Not just duct tape.” Lance pulled something black out from behind him with his mouth and dropped it at her feet. “And a black garbage bag. Stop looking at me like that. It was the best I could do in such short notice,” answered the dog. “It’s the middle of the night here in the mortal world and we’re in a freaking alley that smells like last month’s garbage. There are puddles here, which I’m not even willing to discuss. I’m not about to go knocking on doors to find glittering wrapping paper to make you feel better. Besides, no one will know what it is. It’s better to keep it in disguise until we speak to Ariel.”
“He’s right.” Milo stared at the glowing staff. “Better hurry up. We can’t go around town looking for Ariel with the staff glowing like that. Celestial weapons are demon magnets here in the mortal world. The demons will track it down. We don’t want that.”
“And you don’t want to be touching angels with it by accident,” said Lance. “Nathaniel probably had the wood case made to cover the staff so he wouldn’t accidentally touch it and combust into fairy dust.”
“Fine.” Alexa puffed out a sigh as she set the staff down on the ground. She stole a look over her shoulder to the busy street at the end of the alley. Mortals hustled past the alley, quite unaware of the little trio and the staff. Mismatched concrete buildings rose up on either side of the tight alley, blocking out the moon or any other light. The street lamp was too far away to give them any illumination, so Alexa had to work in the dark.
She grabbed the tape and garbage bag and began to wrap it around the staff.
Lance nudged closer and rested his head on her shoulder. “So, how did it feel?”
Alexa secured the bag around the tip of the staff. “How did what feel?”
“You know… using one of the most powerful celestial weapons in Horizon?”
Alexa didn’t have to turn and look at him to know that his eyes were bugging out of his head. “It was… interesting.”
Lance sat back on his haunches. “Interesting? That’s all you’re going to give me? Come on. I’m dying over here. You’ve got to give me something more to go on. I did get you out of Horizon safely—again.” He tapped his back leg impatiently, and Alexa felt that if he could cross his arms over his chest, he’d be doing it now.
“Okay, okay,” she said and tore a piece of duct tape off between her teeth. “As soon as the wood came off and I touched Barakiel with it—”
“One of the archangels disintegrated,” interrupted Lance.
“Right,” said Alexa. “It was like the staff sent a blast of invisible power. And it only affected what it touched. I was bl
asted back, and it did hurt—just a little—but not enough to let go. It was awesome. I wish I had used it on Nathaniel.”
“And you weren’t injured by any of it?” inquired the dog. “Now that’s freaking fantastic. You think it’ll work on Metatron?”
Alexa smiled. “Don’t tempt me.” She sighed. “We know it works on archangels. Let’s hope it’ll do the same with Lucifer.” Alexa didn’t want to show her fears to the others, but Barakiel and Sorath were like tiny cubs compared to the lion Lucifer.
And there was still the issue with the demon blood…
“Think Ariel will believe us?” Alexa said as she tore another piece of tape off with her teeth and pushed her negative thoughts away. “You know what happened the last time I saw her. She didn’t exactly back me up when they tossed me in Tartarus.”
“Once she sees the staff she’ll believe us,” said Lance. “She has to. She’ll come around. You’ll see.”
“I hope you’re right.” Alexa wrapped a last piece of tape around the middle of the staff. She stood up and felt the familiar pulsing of the staff’s power through the plastic. “Where do we go from here?”
Lance bounded on the spot, his tail wagging. “Not far. Ariel and a large team of angels are assembling in an abandoned meat packing plant on Ring of Kerry Street. Their intel says Lucifer’s castle will appear here in Cahersiveen, Ireland. It’s where they think he’s going to strike first.”
“Then let’s get going,” said Milo. He looked at Lance. “Lead the way, Scout.”
Alexa and Milo followed the white dog out of the alley and turned right on Ring of Kerry. They moved through the street, their boots thumping on the crooked, cobbled street. Lance’s nails scraped the stone, echoing loudly around them.
The night air was cool as it spilled over her sweaty skin. They passed small cafes and shops with whitewashed brick exteriors and red or orange roofs. A few mortals wandered past them wearing bleak expressions, but mostly Alexa and the others were the only ones out in the early morning.
“Don’t you find it strange that the streets are nearly deserted for a Friday night?” she said, glancing around. “It’s a perfect night for mortals to be hanging out in the local bars and pubs. But there are hardly any around.”
Lance’s ears turned to the sides. “Yeah. It is weird. Should be packed with young mortal teens with fake IDs.”
Alexa fell into step with the others as they headed along the crooked, cobbled street. Her unease for the lack of mortals quickly disappeared and was replaced by dread.
A stonewashed, red brick mammoth-size building stood towering over the little shops. Yellow light leaked from rows of windows. Only the faded black letters M E A F Y remained on a worn sign, which was barely visible over the third-floor windows.
Alexa fought back a chill. “You’d think the Legion could have picked a more cheerful place.”
“It fits the bill, doesn’t it?” said Lance. “Demons and angels are about to be slaughtered. What better place to start than a slaughter house?”
All too soon they arrived at the foot of the concrete steps leading up to the metal doors. Two very large men stood on either side of the door like bouncers. Both were formidable and over six feet tall with wide chests and hard, thick arms corded with ropy muscles. Their faces were different. One was clean shaven with a mess of blond hair, and the other sported a long black beard. The hilts of swords were visible just over their left shoulders, and Alexa could make out daggers strapped around their thighs. Six more hung from their weapons belts. They were armed for war.
Alexa felt a supernatural aura emitting from them as a citrus scent fanned towards her. These were angel doormen.
“Do you think they know who we are?” whispered Alexa. She felt her angel heart thumping in her throat.
“It’s too late for that,” said Lance and held his head high with confidence. “Pray to the souls that they let us in to speak to Ariel. I don’t want to have to fight these two.”
Alexa felt the eyes of the angel guards sharpen in on them. She saw their lips move as they neared them and the unmistakable twin frowns they sported at the sight of the trio.
“They don’t look very happy to see us,” she mumbled.
Lance glanced over his shoulder. “I got this.” He padded up the steps while Alexa and Milo waited.
“Evening, gentlemen,” said the dog, his tail wagging. “We’re here on official business and we require an audience with the archangel Ariel.”
The angel with the beard glared down at Lance. “Get lost, mutt,” he almost growled.
Lance’s tail fell and he lowered his ears. “Mutt? Really? Have you seen the hair on your face? What do you call that? The lumberjack special—”
“Lance,” warned Alexa.
“I’ve got moves that don’t even have names yet,” said Lance, as he swung out his legs in rapid motion.
“Lancelot!”
Lance froze, let out a long sigh, and forced a smile. “We simply want to speak to the archangel Ariel.”
“She’s not here,” said the other angel through gritted teeth. “Turn around and leave before we make you leave.” His hand reached up and clasped around the hilt of his sword. But by the time his hand had reached it, Milo had his two spirit sabers out before him.
Surprise and a bit of envy flashed across the angel guards, and Alexa could see the recognition on their faces. Now they knew who they were.
Lance’s fur rose on his back, and when he spoke, he did it with a little more teeth. “I know she’s here. Trust me, she’ll want to hear what we’ve got to say. Tell her that Lance, Alexa and Milo need a word. The survival of the mortal world depends on it.”
Alexa shot a covert glance at Milo. His sabers were still drawn, and she could swear there was a strange smile on his face and a glint in his eyes.
“Wait here.” The blond angel disappeared through the front doors leaving Alexa and the others staring after him. He came back a moment later. “Follow me.”
Lance glanced back with a nod before he disappeared through the doors after the guard. Milo sheathed his spirit sabers, and Alexa followed behind him as they climbed up the steps and walked through the main entrance.
Alexa blinked at the brightness of the light and gave a start. The inside of the factory was a great echoing chamber of thousands of voices bouncing off the concrete floors and metal walls. Thousands of angels were cramped into the factory’s first floor, and Alexa was immediately reminded of her first experience in Orientation. But here, the angels weren’t newly born, these were trained warriors, demon killers.
Alexa wasn’t fooled by the elderly angel, who could have been anyone’s granny, piling soul blades, three firestones, two moonstones and a bag of salt into her purse.
Milo moved next to Alexa and dropped into step with her. “Angels are divided into groups, no doubt by seniority or by job description.”
“I see what you mean,” Alexa noted as she squeezed between a short bald male angel and a tall teenage angel with toffee-colored skin. Both were armed to the teeth.
Lance moved easily through the crowed space, closely following the guard angel. Other angels moved out of his way, barely taking notice of the three outcasts. Alexa spotted an angel that reminded her of Rachel, but this angel didn’t emanate Rachel’s toughness. This angel’s pretty face was tight with worry, her bottom lip trembled, and she was staring at a soul blade in her hand like she didn’t know what to do with it.
That’s when Alexa noticed that not all angels looked ready to go to war. A few seemed scared and out of place, with expressions like they wished they were somewhere else.
The angel guard was leading them towards the center of the factory, Alexa realized. And there, standing gracefully like an Amazon princess amongst the angels, just as stunningly beautiful and fierce, was the archangel Ariel.
She wore the usual black cargo pants tucked into a pair of tall black boots and black jacket. The hilt of a sword peeked behind her shoulders, tuck
ed behind her curly hair. She was surrounded by a dozen angels dressed in the familiar Counter Demon Division gear. Alexa recognized Tina, Stuart, Prisha, Marie, Pierre and Marco, but the others were strangers to her.
As they approached, Ariel’s toffee-colored eyes settled on Alexa before moving over to Milo and finally Lance. The glare she was giving them nearly made Alexa stop in her tracks. A year ago she would have.
But Alexa soldiered on despite the growing fear she felt, with the hammering in her ears that had nothing to do with the thousands of voices. She threw her gaze across the factory, but there was no sign of Metatron. Her chest welled with courage. Ariel would be easier to convince without Metatron, she hoped.
Alexa and the others moved toward the imposing archangel, her eyes taking in the various details around her. Would Ariel believe her? Would she strike her down with the large sword she carried? What would happen to Milo? All these thoughts went through her head in a split second, the single split second before the archangel in the middle of the factory pulled her sword free and spoke.
“I’m not sure whether I should kill you now or later,” said Ariel, her voice dripping in anger unlike anything Alexa had ever heard from her. The angels closest to her went silent.
Alexa halted. “Just hear us out. That’s all we ask.”
Ariel pointed her sword at Alexa. “You’re in no position to make demands.”
The angel guard stood next to Ariel and crossed his arms.
“When James told me who was at the door,” continued the archangel as she circled around the trio, “I almost had an army sent to execute you on the spot.”
“Glad you changed your mind,” muttered Lance. He lowered his ears and tucked his tail behind him.
Ariel stopped circling them. She stood with her sword resting before her. “You must be mad coming here after what you’ve done.”
The Lord of Darkness Page 17
