Angel of Darkness Books 1-5

by Mackenzie Morris

  "Payment? What kind of payment?"

  Trevor lit a few candles on his altar. "Your blood, of course. I use virgin blood in many spells and potions. Yours has an extra tormented quality to it while still managing to be innocent. It's truly a priceless treasure."

  For some unknown reason, Jaylen held out his arm to his friend. "Go ahead."

  "You're serious?"

  "If my blood will truly help to end all of this, then I give it to you."

  "It's that simple? You're going to give it to me? I knew you would see the beauty behind my plan, Jaylen."

  Before Trevor could insert the needle into Jaylen's vein, there was a loud commotion up on deck and they both ran up the stairs into the pale orange mage-glow of the lingering artificial sunset. Two black-winged angels broke through the clouds and landed next to each other on the deck. Jaylen gasped when he recognized them as being Oviel and Brinx, both splattered with blood.

  Zeriel ran to them. "Oviel! Your wings . . . what did you do?"

  Brinx wiped the blood from her cheeks. "We did what we had to do."

  "Whose blood is that?"

  Oviel pushed roughly past him then tossed his silver bow on the deck. "Carvael's. Now my bow is useless. What? We don't get a welcoming party for being Fallen now?"

  "What have you done?" Xair asked.

  "I started a war, boys. I started a war between us and Heaven. It was far beyond time that I let my true feelings be known."

  "What did you do to Carvael?"

  Oviel spun a dagger in his hand. "I stabbed him. Right in the stomach. Then I slit his throat. Brinx set everything on fire."

  "You set Heaven on fire?" Zeriel asked.

  "Yep. It seems that even holy buildings burn. Oh, and now the archdemons are actively after us as well. They are angry that we did what they have been trying to do for centuries. They want us dead."

  Zeriel began pacing. "Do we have any allies left?"

  "Vilyron . . . for now. Karix should still be able to communicate telepathically with Liam from this distance to let us know if anything happens in our absence. Liam, has he reported anything?" Oviel asked.

  Liam jumped up on the railing, munching on chocolate chip cookies. "Nope. I don't think he can hear me when I try to talk to him. He hasn't responded or said anythin' since we left Ilyan."

  Xair crossed his arms on his silk robes. "I bet something is interfering with your communications."

  "But what kind of power could do something like that?" Oviel asked.

  "Arcanas."

  Oviel stormed off wordless down below deck then returned a minute later dragging Nimiel across the deck by the shackles. He then threw the fledgling to the wooden planks and secured the chains around the main mast, securing Nimiel to it. He held up a leather belt. "What have you done with your unholy magic? Tell me how you were able to interfere with Liam's communications with his dragon even in those shackles. Tell me!"

  Jaylen gritted his teeth in an attempt to silence the growing anger that rose up in his chest as he watched his friend being mercilessly beaten. With the strange and erratic way Oviel had been acting lately, if he tried to step in and stop it, then Jaylen could be the one there next. Though, Zeriel would never let that happen. He took a breath to garner whatever courage he could muster then he went up to Oviel and grabbed the angel's wrist as he was about to swing again. "Stop."

  Nimiel was left to slide down to his knees as blood trickled down from the cuts and soaked into his white tunic. He was breathing rapidly as he coughed and moaned from the pain. His grey wings were limp on the deck of the ship, all of his feathers rustling quietly as they quivered.

  Zeriel ripped the belt from Oviel's grasp then threw it on the deck. "Give me the key, Oviel. This has gone far enough. Look at him! Think of the emotional trauma you are inflicting on that fledgling. Do you know what happens to fledglings who are tortured and abused?"

  "Do you?" Oviel asked.

  "Honestly? No, I don't. You know why? Because they are all valued and protected in Heaven above everything else."

  "And what did your father do to you when you were a fledgling?" Oviel asked mockingly.

  Zeriel sighed, obviously still troubled by his time with his father. "We didn't have the best relationship after I could fly, but before my awakening, he was the best father any angel could have asked for. So no, I don't know what happens because my father never yelled at me or laid a single finger on me until after I was no longer a fledgling. Even someone as evil as Carvael waited until I was able to fly on my own before he started all of that abuse. But you? You disgust me. You have no problem doting on Liam, but you want nothing more than to beat and imprison Nimiel. Why? Haven't you seen how similar they are? They're innocent and only want love and acceptance. You give love to Liam. Why can't you do the same for Nim?"

  "Because Nimiel is an abomination. Any angel that has been corrupted by anything is not worth the air it breathes to live. He shouldn't have been born."

  Brinx stepped forward, clutching Trevor's hand tightly. "While we are discussing this, there is something everyone needs to know. As you know, Trevor and I have been together for a few months now. I don't care how you feel or what you have to say, Oviel. I'm pregnant with Trevor's child."

  Oviel's eyes filled with hatred, but he quickly diverted the conversation. "We're not talking about that right now. Take the fledgling back down below deck and restrain him."

  Zeriel stepped between them. "We can't just keep Nimiel chained up forever."

  "Sure we can. And it's not forever. It's just until we auction him off to the highest bidder."

  "We're going to sell him?" Jaylen asked, growing even more concerned.

  "Of course. He's our bargaining chip. Think of it this way. Both the angels and the demons want Nimiel. As long as we have him here, neither side is going to attack us."

  "Attack us?" Xair asked. "You make it sound like we're at war or something."

  "We are at war!" Oviel shouted. "Don't you understand? Carvael and his angels are out for our blood. We're a bunch of renegades, worn down, rebellious demons and fallen angels who side with leashed demons and an Elder Dragon. Whether you choose to accept it or not, we are now the enemies of Heaven. The only thing keeping us alive right now is that fledgling half angel. If we can harness and hone his abilities, we could use him as a valuable weapon. We already know that he can alter the minds of angels as well as humans. Nimiel could be our secret weapon."

  "And if he says no?" Zeriel asked.

  "Then we make him. Listen, I'm not above using . . . forceful techniques."

  "You're talking about torturing a fledgling! I will not let you do something like that. You know how sacred and precious fledglings are. That time when their wings grow is the single most impressionable period of awakening and self-awareness for angels. Fledglings have to be protected!"

  "I agree with my brother." Brinx stepped forward then helped Nimiel to his feet. She held him against her chest and attempted to quiet the boy's crying. "This has gone too far. Leave him alone. That means you too, Trevor. I'm fine with you continuing your experiments and taking the blood you need for your potions and spells, but harming this innocent child is beyond wrong."

  Zeriel glanced over at Trevor. "What is she talking about? Blood for potions and spells?"

  Trevor leaned over the side of the ship to watch the waves below. "I'm a warlock. It's true. I have been draining blood from Nimiel and Jaylen for things. I'll admit that. But I don't hurt people. Sure, I'm the one who forced Nimiel to send Zeriel and Jaylen into the dream world. So what? Nimiel needs someone to be in control over him or he will do awful things."

  "How do you know?" Jaylen asked.

  "Because I've had Nimiel for five years. I know the things he told me about his purpose in life. Why do you think I was forced to erase his memory? So he wouldn't carry out the plans he claimed he was sent here to do."

  "And those plans were?"

  "Worse than anyone here could imagine."
<
br />   Jaylen couldn't believe that. "He's harmless."

  "He's an abomination with the potential to kill every single person on this planet. He's staying in chains." Oviel yanked Nimiel away from Brinx. "I don't care that you're technically king, Jaylen. I'm the eldest angel here and I am the one making the calls. If you want, you are welcome to fight me for him, but I'm telling you right now that you won't win. Your soul awakening was a joke. You will never be powerful like I tried to make you. You will never be a spell weaver. Your soul wasn't ready for that operation. That's all too obvious, Jaylen. You're weak and you will always be weak. Without that amulet Carvael gave you, you wouldn't even have a left hand to cast your magic with. That's how pathetic and worthless you truly are."

  "When did this become time to attack Jaylen?" Zeriel asked. "He didn't do anything wrong."

  "I thought as long as everyone was laying all their cards on the table, that I would let my true feelings be known. Calling Jaylen a mage is like calling a fish an eagle. And he's about as much of a king as an orphan on the street. But hey, at least Carvael is injured, possibly dead, and Jaylen and Zeriel can start up their little love affair now that the bond between Jaylen and Carvael is more than likely broken."

  "I've already broken that bond. I did it as soon as I was able to do so. I've been keeping it a secret because I didn't want anyone to jeopardize my freedom."

  "Whatever." Oviel dragged Nimiel back towards the stairs. "Liam, come with me. We have lessons to study. I'm done with this conversation."

  Zeriel looked like someone had stabbed him in the stomach. "Jaylen . . . when were you going to tell me that you weren't bonded with my father anymore? I thought you said-"

  Jaylen couldn't look at him. "I lied to you. I didn't want you to know that I was free. It was easier that way."

  "So you don't want to bond with me again?"

  "I don't want to bond with any angel. I'm done. All of you are backstabbing hypocrites who would rather blame innocents for your shortcomings than to take one ounce of guilt on yourselves. I am retiring to my cabin. No one is to disturb me until we reach Ka'tayl."

  "Jaylen-"

  Jaylen stomped into his cabin and slammed the door then yelled at them all from the other side. "That includes you, Zeriel. That's an order as your king!"

  "Well, well, well . . . that certainly was a bit too dramatic, don't you think?"

  Jaylen spun around to see the red-haired incubus lying on the paper-covered desk, sipping from a glass of red wine. "Gavin? Where have you been? I thought we left you in Ilyan."

  "But that's where you're wrong. I made up a story about staying behind to do research and hunt down Stephan, but I've been hiding in your closet. You never use it. Why do you keep your clothes under your bed all wadded up and wrinkled? Oh, and you do this cute little thing in your sleep where you suck on your blanket and whimper like a baby."

  "Okay! Enough of that. Wait. You've been watching me sleep?" Jaylen asked.

  "I had to do something. It's so boring out here in the middle of nowhere."

  He then became very uncomfortable. "Sola's rays . . . you didn't . . . touch me or anything, did you?"

  "Oh, I get it. Because I'm an incubus and all that. Please. I am so over you. Besides, I need to be on your good side so we can get to Carvael and I can fulfill my contract."

  "That's right. I almost forgot. You took that contract with that girl in Wolfekin to kill Carvael and rescue her brother Sammy. But Oviel and Brinx just returned from Heaven."

  "I know. I heard, remember?" Gavin asked. "Carvael is not dead. If he was, then I would be too."

  "Then kill yourself and end this."

  "You're forgetting the key part of this mess that I have to fulfill as well. Without Sammy safely returned to his sister, my death and therefore Carvael's death mean nothing. I can't kill Carvael until I've found and secured the baby. Guess what? I have absolutely no idea where the kid is. No one but Carvael does."

  "You and him are two halves of the same soul. Can't you figure it out or something?"

  "Oh, all telepathically and stuff? No. It doesn't work that way." Gavin slid off of the desk then went to the window and pulled the curtains open to look out over the dark ocean. "Anyway, how are you and the fledgling getting along? Nimiel sure is a few bricks short of a bridge, huh? Once your mind gets wiped and reset that many times, all your thoughts turn into this gooey mushy paste-like gunk that can never be glued back together again. Of course, that's just figurative."

  "You knew about Nimiel, didn't you?" Jaylen asked. "You knew before all this."

  "Guilty. It really was an accident, you know? He wasn't supposed to be born, but once he was, then we figured he could be honed into a weapon. It was a messy business of incubi-assisted reproduction gone horribly wrong."

  "You're his father, aren't you?"

  Gavin scoffed and set his wine glass down on the windowsill. "Wow. You catch on quickly. Yes. Nimiel is my dearest little oatmeal-brained mistake. I'm such a happy father."

  "That's not nice. How did it happen?" Jaylen asked.

  "I thought you figured it out. Well, when Sola wants to mate with a male angel to produce another angel, a succubus takes the angel's genetic material then passes it on to an incubus who then passes it on to Sola. That incubus is usually me. Well, that particular time, the genetic material I passed on to Sola was mine, not some angel's. I messed up. It was an accident. So, one year later, a half angel and half demon monstrosity was born. We couldn't keep Nimiel in Heaven, even though I fought so hard for him to be locked away somewhere and protected. That only lasted until he was nine years old, still a cherub. Sola had apparently had enough of him, so she casted him down from Heaven into the sea. That's when he washed up on the shore and Trevor Treylan found him."

  "Why haven't you helped him, then? He needs you."

  "He doesn't know who I am." Gavin sighed and placed his hand against the glass. "His memories are gone. Forever. They can't be brought back. Let him believe what he wants to believe. If things go right, then I'll be dead before too much longer anyway. Let's face it, Jaylen. I know I'm a handsome man with strikingly dashing looks, but deep down . . . I'm not worth much. Nimiel needs a better father than me. I have lots of children. It kind of goes with the territory of being an incubus, but most of them hate me or have never met me. Then there was Liaxa. We used to do everything together. She was my beautiful little girl. I would dress her up and we would have tea parties in The Veil and we'd plant flowers in my garden. She used to be so happy, but now she's chosen to ally herself with my archenemy and betray all of her friends, even the one boy I thought she was actually going to marry."

  Jaylen had no idea. "You sound happy about that."

  "Jaylen, the day I found out that you were courting my daughter, I was the happiest I had been in ages. You're a good kid. You would have made her happy."

  "I'm sorry it didn't work out."

  "It's not your fault." Gavin went to the closet then wrapped a cloak around his shoulders. "The truth is . . . I'm a failure. I was pressured into entering into a covenant with Stephan who turned out to be a sadistic bully. So my love life is in worse condition than Nimiel's brain. The only daughter I ever cared about is a traitor. And to top it all off, the best hope for saving everyone is me slitting my own throat. So you have no need to be the one apologizing to me for anything. In the end, I'm just the one big screw up that Sola and the archdemons should have destroyed when I first came into existence. But enough about me. Go ahead and get some sleep. I'll go."

  "No." Jaylen caught Gavin's arm and met eyes with him. "Stay with me tonight. You haven't had a good meal in a long time, have you? You've been eating my leftovers. That's where those plates went."

  Tears swelled in the incubus's orange eyes. "I'm ashamed, Jaylen. I'm ashamed of myself and of what I've become. I don't deserve to have your sympathy."

  Jaylen embraced him. "Then don't take my sympathy. Take my friendship. Now, get a bath and change clothes. Then eat a goo
d meal and we will talk more. I won't let you punish yourself for things that were out of your control. I've been there. I'm beginning to realize that I can't take all of humanity on my shoulders. I have to worry about myself and everything else will fall in line."

  Chapter 14

  After the ship passed through the lightly shimmering barrier that surrounded the continent of Ka'tayl, the crew lowered the rowboat into the icy water for the people going ashore. Jaylen, Xair, Amari, Gavin, Trevor, Liam, and Nimiel rowed towards the rocky snow-covered beach while the angels flew overhead to both look for any potential threats in the water and to land first so they could alert them if there were problems. Jaylen watched the floating ice in the dark water as Trevor rowed the boat all alone even though others offered to help. Nimiel sighed, sitting next to Jaylen with his wrists still secured in the golden shackles, as per Oviel's orders.

  Jaylen put his arm around his friend. "What's wrong, Nim? Are you cold?"

  The fledgling shivered under his wool cloak. "Yeah. I don't feel very good."

  "I'm sorry I have been in my cabin for a few days. Please tell me someone gave you food like I told them to."

  "I took care of him." Trevor said. "Listen Jaylen, I'm not a bad person. I do care about Nimiel, but Oviel has a valid point. If left unchecked and uncontrolled, Nimiel's powers could be destructive. They're dormant for now with those shackles. However, I don't know if even I have the ability to completely control him if things get out of control."

  "Once we get back to Ilyan, would you mind if I tried something?" Xair asked.

  That was a bit concerning. "What could you do to help?"

  "It is my people's magic he is using, remember? If Nimiel truly is half demon, I might be able to leash him and therefore control his power completely."

  "You could leash him like your other demons?" Jaylen asked. "But then he would be nothing more than your slave."

  Gavin cleared his throat. "Gee, thanks, Jaylen. Good to know that I'm just a slave."

  Xair glared at him. "You are my slave, Gavin. Don't think for one second that I've forgotten you lying to me about staying in Ilyan. You will be punished once we are home."