by Lynn Landes
Katie jerks at Anya’s rejection seeking solace in Morgan’s arms.
Slowly Anya reaches for the blade imbedded in her shoulder, wrapping her hand around its sharp edges. She takes a quick breath and jerks the blade free of her shoulder, a hiss of pain escapes her clenched jaw. Her blood, once red, now is a darker shade of purple running down her chest and arm. She stares at it for a moment and then watches in amazement as the wound closes leaving a light pink scar from the skin knitting back together. “Well, that will be useful.” Giving a flick of her wrist, she throws the metallic blade at the demon, he grunts in pain and twitches on the ground. Anya stares at him and wonders what he tastes like. “I have had vampire, but not your kind, yet. Are you an angel or demon, now?” She wonders as she stands and pulls the other blade out of her thigh. She throws this one harder and hits the angel in his stomach. A wet thunk is heard as the blade passes through him and hits the stone under the angel’s bloody back. As she walks slowly towards him, she watches as the fallen writhes in pain attempting to free himself. He stops moving when she stands above him, her teeth extended, her taloned hands flexing, and her eyes burning with hunger.
“Help me, Herald. This is a serious misunderstanding. I…, I’m an angel, like Morgan.” He reaches up a hand slick with his own blood and Anya grasps it.
“An angel?” She whispers back. Leaning down she brings his hand up to her face, she smells it once, and unable to resist, she takes his pointer finger into her mouth and sucks on it. The demon jerks on the ground and closes his eyes in ecstasy.
“So hot and moist,” he whispers and instantly his pain is forgotten. When he opens his eyes, Anya is kneeling on the stone beside him. When her eyes connect with his he is transfixed, unable to move, but he can feel. “More,” he pleads.
Anya jerks Morgan’s staff out of his chest and flings it aside. The blood wells up from the jagged wound and begins to run over the sides of his body, pooling around them on the ground. “Yes, more.” She crouches over him with her lips almost touching his, she moves her mouth lightly across his cheek to his neck.
His scent is strong, but it is not the scent of his blood calling her, it is something else. Anya inhales and his body convulses as if electrified. The red glow of his corrupted spirit lifts from his body and she takes a deep breath, drawing it into her chest. At that moment, Anya can hear his thoughts, read his memories and the orders given to him. Her fangs retract and her eyes blaze as her wings illuminate while she absorbs all of his ethereal soul.
Amber eyes flick to the bloody ruined body of his fallen twin. She realizes there are more ways than one to kill a demon. Her gifts are evolving, and she is not sure how to feel about it. Looking at her blood covered hands and clothes, she wonders what she is becoming.
Morgan limps as he leads Katie to the center of the cemetery. The gate is located on the opposite side in a small stone mausoleum. A warm glow seems to emanate from the small stone structure. It is gothic in its architecture with an ornate archway and beautiful, intricate designs etched into a stone window.
“Morgan your leg is bleeding.” Katie quickly rips a piece of her shirt off to tend to him only to have him turn away from her and murmur, “Not now, we must get to the gate.” Katie stands and holds the ripped cloth in her trembling hand.
“So much blood…” she whispers and presses a hand to her temple. Her head is pounding and her body trembles. “Morgan?” The snow is falling heavily now, and her teeth are chattering.
The power of her distress breaks through and he whips around. Katie’s long blonde curls are glistening with the snow weighing it down. Wet clothes are plastered to her body and her cheeks have no color, making the horror in her eyes stand out even more. “Ahhh, Kathleen, forgive me.” Gently he cups her cheek with one hand, and she leans into the warmth it provides. “Just a few more steps to our shelter.” Morgan draws her into the cover under the small stone structure. With a wave of his hand the two doors open, and it lights from above. He guides Katie inside.
“Can’t stop shaking,” she gasps through her chattering teeth.
Unable to stand her discomfort he pulls her against his chest and squats down to wrap his arms around her waist, lifting her off her feet. Morgan wraps his large wings around them both.
Katie encircles his neck with a groan of pleasure, burrowing into his neck, savoring his heat as it warms her. She is soaked and freezing, but content for the moment to be back in his arms. She pushes back and her eyes drink him in while she traces his jaw with her fingertips. Morgan stops moving and all thought of self-preservation flees. “I should get out of these wet clothes,” her voice says, husky even to her own ears.
A smile curves his lips, “Don’t tempt me, Kathleen.” At that moment he can’t seem to remember why he shouldn’t be alone with her.
“I’m sorry, Morgan, just one kiss…” she leans forward and traces her lips across his softly. Morgan trembles and Katie smiles reveling in the knowledge that he wants her too. When her eyes meet his, Morgan is lost. He takes the kiss he has tried not to dream about. Her mouth is gentle and his lips tender, and he discovers he doesn’t want to fight his need for her. He slides her body down his with excruciating slowness before her feet touch the ground. Katie hums in frustration, “More!” Morgan pulls back for a moment, shocked that her need matches his, before diving back in. Katie kisses him back, meeting his tongue the moment he invades her mouth. She savors the taste of him, sweet and rough, and he pours through her soul washing away the fear and doubt. For this moment she is his and they belong to the intensity raging between them.
A scream of rage filled pain echoes off the tombstones outside, causing the two to jump apart. Katie’s hand goes to her mouth and she stares at him with stunned admiration. Her heart is pounding a desperate drum and Morgan is tempted to take her far away and claim her for eternity. Something dark flashed in his eyes and Katie backs away when he steps toward her.
“Morgan?” The fear in her face stuns him.
“Forgive me, Kathleen. I forget my place when I am with you.” With a shake of his massive shoulders, his wings disappear, and she stares in amazement.
“I didn’t know you could do that. What else can you do?” she wonders.
“Well, for starters, this.” With a wave of his hand, he dries her instantly and dresses her for the cold weather. He thought of everything from coat and gloves to boots and hat. Her long blonde curls are dry around her shoulders.
“Thank you. That could certainly come in handy. Now please heal your thigh. I can’t bear to see you hurting.” Pleased at her show of concern for him, he turns away and tends to his wound.
“What now, Morgan?” He moves around to confront her and grins.
“Now we find the gate and stop Caius.”
Chapter 22
The air is still inside the Vale, there is no sound except that of the booted feet of soldiers positioning themselves for the attack. The Shadow King looks to his bride, Ariana and she nods to him. Facing the ancient vampire, they lower their weapons for they know what Sebastian does not, she is the true threat. Standing in a large courtyard, they are surrounded by soldiers of both their kingdoms, the Shadow and the Light. Tension floats in the air as all eyes watch and wait to see what happens next.
“I understand more than you think, Queen Ariana,” Sebastian states as he stands up from his bow. A red flame flickers behind his eyes and he struggles against his anger and indignity. “For instance, I know that it was your power which destroyed all evidence of Caius’s betrayal.”
Vorn almost groans out loud. “Have you no self-control, you damn vamp?”
“He’s got you there sister.” Drake’s laughter booms out and everyone relaxes. His wife Caderyn watches quietly by his side. “She is often impulsive and quick to act before consulting others.”
“A fact that has saved your life on two separate occasion’s brother,” Ariana snaps and glares at him tossing her red hair over her shoulder. “Surely you would all agree
that I had no choice. Caius was breeding his own army intent on destroying the Vale.”
“True,” Sebastian snaps and glares at the army still pointing their weapons at him, “however, the council did not see it that way.”
“They do not see anything but their own agenda, Sebastian,” Caderyn starts to step forward, but her husband stops her with a gentle hand to her arm. She squeezes his hand, reassuring him and looks to Keane.
“I sense fear and… hope,” she whispers before stepping close to Keane. A small hand touches his cheek and she smiles. “You’ve done well raising and shielding her. She will never forget that, Guardian of the Herald.” Keane’s eyes glisten with moisture.
“Thank you, my Queen,” his gravelly voice whispers. “Can you help us find her, she’s in trouble.”
“Of course.”
Caderyn moves to Sebastian and the guards all move forward to protect her only stopping when she raises a hand. Once human, Caderyn knows all too well the power of the vampire in front of her. Sebastian stares down into the beautiful chocolate eyes of the small female. He can smell the power in the blood pumping through her enhanced body.
“You fear she will reject you or blame you, but your true fear should be for her soul. Sebastian you must train her to control the power raging in her. You can smell it in my blood, but the desire you feel is nothing compared to the blood lust she carries. Few are left who walk this earth with the power she carries. Help her before it consumes her.”
Sebastian releases a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Relief rushes through him and he drops to a knee and presses a kiss to her hand, “I will, my Queen.”
Caderyn smiles and turns to her husband.
“At ease,” King Drake snaps and the soldiers all stand down.
“Vorn your part in this affair is not yet done. Will you continue with it or stay with us?” The Shadow King asks.
Vorn glances at them and grins, “I wouldn’t want to miss the end of this story.”
“Very well, follow me.” King Drake leads the group to a massive water fountain in the center of the courtyard.
Together the four kings and queens touch a single fingertip to the flowing water, and it freezes. King Reese whispers, “You must all picture the person, not the place that you wish to see. Hold her image in your mind. That’s good, now wait until the images stop and the doorway will open to you.”
They all stare into the frozen water and watch in horror as Anya, Katie and Morgan battle two demons. No one moves when she reaches down and jerks the spear from the creature’s chest. Vorn tries to step forward, but Caderyn grabs his upper arm. “Not yet,” they watch as Anya sucks in his essence and turns to look at them. “Now.” A doorway opens only for a moment into the snowy abyss of Siberia.
When the door closes after the passage, the Fae all stand quietly for a moment.
Queen Caderyn stares into the moving water, a far off look in her eyes. “The Herald holds the fate of all in her hands.”
“Humans are only food to Caius,” King Drake states flatly, “but if he succeeds and kills the last of the Angels, he will seek us next for vengeance.”
“Then we will help the Herald and Guild all we can. In the meantime, we will ready ourselves for war.” The Shadow King snarls.
Chapter 23
Another howl calls out from the demons approaching the fallen rock wall. Standing outside the blocked passage way they begin flinging themselves at the crumbling wall protecting the two angels.
Apollyon looks at his friend, “I can’t fly, and I doubt you can carry me,” he says with a grin.
“Funny,” Zachariel snaps back at him. “Your wing is too damaged, and I have healed your leg enough to run on, but we need to get to the gate.”
Apollyon stomps down on the claw of a demon who is desperately trying to reach him. The claw is jerked back out of the hole before barking and snarling are heard. A large eye looks inside the cavern at them.
“Zach!” Apollyon yells as Zachariel takes his sword and flips it around ramming it into the eye popping it. The resulting scream brings them some relief and they try not to laugh at the absurdity of the moment.
“Let’s go.” Zach aids his friend and they shift through the wall, passing through the small cracks and crevices of the mountain emerging on the other side.
As quickly as they arrive, they break into a run. “This way.” Apollyon leads and they race over the barren rock dodging the thick brush through the night air. They hope to make the gate before the creatures realize they are gone and begin to track them.
‘The only way to access the gate is to get across the bridge,’ Apollyon speaks to Zach’s mind. ‘We are seven miles from Undine falls. Lava Creek is on the other side. If we get separated, Zach. You get to the suspension bridge. The gate is on the other side of it.’
The sound of a howl pursues them off the mountains and into the forest. Time is up.
Liam hears the sound of a waterfall and the humid air surrounds them. Their feet touch down and Cassiel draws his blade. “Where are we?” Cass whispers. “This isn’t the gate.” A mountain is behind them with a waterfall overflowing into a lush forest.
“We are at Undine Falls,” Liam answers. Turning around to face his friend. “On the other side of this forest is Lava Creek. That is where the gate is located.”
“Easy enough, we just fly,” Cass says, but Liam is already shaking his head no.
“The only way to get over Lava Creek is to use the swinging bridge. It is part of the gate here. You are judged as you cross over and if you are not found worthy…”
“I remember now. Lava creek shows us why it is called Lava Creek,” Cass states.
“Exactly.” Liam replies. “We could call for Apollyon, but if he is turned…” Liam leaves the statement unfinished.
“No, our job is to protect the gate,” Cassiel argues, “and no one can protect the gate better than the Destroyer.”
“True, but then we would not be needed here.” Liam turns and looks at Cass. “We need to fly up to the peak of that mountain. The bridge is a steel structure that swings across the gorge below it.”
“Alright, but you are the first to cross the bridge,” Cass snaps with a grin.
They just start to fly when the sound of a wolf reaches their ears. Below them, on the ground, they can see a white streak, followed my more.
“Those wolves are… glowing.” Liam murmurs. Giving a tilt of his wings, he swoops down lower to get a look. They are scrambling over each other, fighting and scratching as though not willing to share their kill.
Cass follows and is once again thankful that his angelic abilities allow him to see in the dark. “Not wolves,” Cass snaps and pulls out his blade.
“What are they chasing?” They stare at each other for a fraction of a second before Liam yells for Apollyon.
Apollyon stumbles as his leg give out. The pain from his damaged wing is raging through his body and the creatures have almost reached them.
“Zachariel, you must keep moving. I will buy you some time.”
Zach rushes to his side to help him. “We are nearly there, Apollyon. Get up,” he demands as he struggles to lift him up from his knees.
“I am the Destroyer! Leave me to my fate little brother and go protect the gate.” He pushes to his feet just as the first demon leaps at him.
Zachariel leaps into the air as Apollyon lands a blow that sends the creature tumbling across the rocky terrain. The creature rolls and skids to a stop and Apollyon watches with an odd fascination as the creature begins to change. Where before it was a faceless, hairless demon, now… It becomes something more lethal. Large bones shoot out from its back and it arches as if it is in pain. The skin stretches over its mouthless face and it breaks open with a shrill shriek. Apollyon staggers under the power of the sound wave hitting him.
Liam and Cass hear the scream and are stunned when Zachariel shoots up into the night sky in front of them. He spins and flies back down toward a gro
up of three more demons. “Feel free to help us!” He yells.
Zach’s cracks a whip tipped with silver spikes that are curved. It wraps around the neck of a demon and lifts it from its feet. He flies down swiftly dragging the creature and slams it into a group on the ground. Apollyon hears the call of his brothers and sags in relief.
Wriggling on the ground the beast is still changing as more bones shoot from the ones on its spine. It is forming wings! “That cannot be allowed,” he snarls and lifts both of his war hammers. They are a beautiful instrument of destruction. Their heads are forged of the purest metal and the etchings engraved into their sides flare with a fierce white light as he swings them.
The creature screams again and this time, all the demons fall to the ground writhing in pain. “They are all changing!” Apollyon warns before swinging his hammer. He brings it straight down on top of the leader’s skull flattening it against the ground. The power of the hammer burns the creatures wound closed, preventing it from spawning more of its hell sent brothers. “You need to go now!” He yells again.
“We aren’t leaving you behind,” Liam lands and Zach joins him on the opposite arm. Together they lift the massive angel into the air and fly with Cass following. Apollyon glances down as they fly away. He watches the mass on the ground. Bones explode from their backs and burnt leathery skin stretches across their backs. Snouts appear from their faces with angry looking fangs. Helpless to stop them he can only watch as they fly to the Lava Creek Bridge.
Below them, the earth takes on an eerie vision. Steaming geysers release their misty breath into the night sky. Two mountains loom connected by a swaying steel cable bridge. One side of the bridge is the barren mountain face now a scarred reminder of the volcanic eruption that formed this land. On the other side is a thick new growth forest. It seems simple enough to cross the bridge and access the gate. But these warriors know nothing is ever as easy as it looks.
