by Lynn Landes
“Land, over there,” Apollyon points to a clearing near the entrance to the bridge. The four drop to the earth and Liam immediately turns to look at his brother’s wing.
“Why didn’t you heal this?” He demands as he begins to circle around his brother. Cassiel gives him a drink and helps spread the wing out behind Apollyon to allow access to the bones.
“I tried…” Apollyon’s voice fades to the darkness and Zach takes in the scene about them.
Geysers continue misting the ground with steamy breaths and the stench of rotten eggs fills the night. Steam, humidity, and the constant beat off… “What is that noise?” He asks no one in particular. A crashing sound echoes out as one of the large creature’s lands in a tree breaking it in half.
Suddenly, like bombs dropping from the sky, the creature’s crash to the earth with a thud. Apollyon is healed now allowing Liam and Cass to join him in facing the horde of monsters moving towards them.
“To the gate, now!” Apollyon screams and they all turn and skid to a stop.
Caius is standing on the bridge and he is not alone. His creatures flank him to either side and they appear to be enhanced. He holds up his hand and the beasts behind him, stop moving and wait.
“Welcome, brothers! You are the final four. I see you have met my new creations. I call them the Baku. Do you wish to join me as your brothers did or shall I order them to finish you?”
“Our brothers are all dead because of you!” Zach snarls and attempts to run at Caius, but Apollyon stops him.
“That is not entirely accurate, Zachariel. You see they knew what you all know deep down. You are all fallen. It is too late to save your souls. Do you wish to return home and be punished for this failure? Or would you rather take your place here, free, on earth. I offer you freedom and a chance to experience freewill. Why would you choose death over life?”
“Don’t listen to him, he is the father of lies!” Zach roars and struggles against the strong arms of Apollyon.
“Cassiel understands what I’m offering, don’t you? You can feel it, the taste of freedom, and the taste of possibility.” Caius smiles and reaches a hand out to him. “Join me?”
Apollyon is stunned to see Cass walk forward slowly, one step at a time. “Cassiel?” Liam calls and just as Cass stops to look back, Apollyon loosens his hold on Zach. Zach bursts free and flies towards the bridge, chaos erupts. The Baku attack from all sides and Caius never takes his eyes off Zach.
“You will not win, angel,” he whispers. “It is too late for all of you.” Apollyon hears the words and knows the truth in them. Zach will die if he attempts to use the gate this time. In a brilliant flare, his silver armor appears. The angels all follow suit, and Apollyon murmurs a prayer enhancing all their weapons.
“To the gate!” They launch themselves into the air leaving the animals behind them.
Caius moves back and waits with a satisfied smile. “Perfect. They will destroy themselves when they try to enter the gate and I will be free to move on to the next one.”
Zach is surprised that Caius doesn’t try to stop him. He lands on the swinging bridge, using his wings to balance himself as he runs across it. Halfway across the bridge, it appears before him. A golden door framed by ancient Aramaic text. Zach stretches out a hand to access the gate and Apollyon swoops down, yanking him free of the bridge.
“No! What are you doing? You fool! We have to…” Apollyon drops Zachariel over the gorge below and turns back towards the bridge.
Zach is forced to fight off three of the Baku in the air as he falls. Opening his wings, he pulls up just before hitting the rock, filled, bottom of the ravine. The three Baku are not as lucky and crash with bloody impacts into the rocks. Their screams chase Zach back out of the ravine as he fly’s back to the bridge.
Liam attacks Caius, forcing him to momentarily lose sight of the gate. “Caius you are judged for…”
Caius laughs and vanishes. “You can’t judge me.” His laughter echoes and irritates the angels watching.
Cass is fighting from the ground with Liam. Two of the creatures facing them leap into the air to go after Apollyon and the Gate. Liam draws his bow firing arrows into the skulls of the escaping Baku. Their bodies fall short of the bridge plunging into the bottom of the ravine to join their dead brothers on the blood soaked rocks. Cass attacks with his sword severing two heads with a swing of the long two handed blade. His return stroke opens up another creature in a welter of blood as he cuts him from hip to shoulder, dropping it in pieces to the ground.
“Drive them towards the bridge!” Apollyon yells as he drops down and faces the great door. “I may be tainted from my time on earth, but I have not forsaken my God, nor my brothers.” With that, he steps into the gate.
The gate tries to repel Apollyon, but he is not going to be rejected. He surges forward, leaning his body into the force emanating from it, every step is a fight. Apollyon screams as his body ignite in flames. First his armor, then his sword, until finally his entire being is engulfed.
Zach ignores the Baku and swoops down towards the bridge just in time to watch Apollyon enter the gate. “No!” He cries when his brother ignites. On the ground, he sees that Cass and Liam are racing for the bridge with a pack of Baku hot on their heels.
Cass is caught by his foot and knocked to the ground. A Baku is on him in an instant, clawing and biting at his armor.
Zach spins and dives on the creatures back helping Cass to keep the snarling teeth from sinking into his throat. Cass slices off one of its claws and shoves a dagger up into the underside of its jaw, punching the gore soaked blade out the top of its head.
Liam leaps into the air and is struck from the front as Caius hits him. Caius releases the glamour spell he is holding and Liam sees him as he truly is. A monster damaged permanently from the battle with the Fae. One eye melted closed, the other is red with fury. Liam is so close he can see the poison dripping from the tips of his fangs.
A powerful blast explodes from the gate, sending searing white light in every direction. The concussion blows every creature, angel, and demon to the ground. The earth rumbles beneath them as they all are crushed by an unseen force and pinned to the soil. The gate is destroyed.
Apollyon stomps from the detonation ablaze. His footsteps can be felt down the bridge, the metal beneath his feet deforming and smoking from his passage. Fully aflame, he marches forward and lifts his two blazing war hammers, pointing them at the sky. When his feet touch the hard ground, the hammers swing down with a resounding crash into the earth cracking and rolling it from the powerful impact. The heaving swells radiating out from his hammers tosses everything into the air from their passage, only to have it fall crashing back to the earth in a cloud of dust and debris.
Liam staggers to his feet, followed by his two brothers and they run towards Apollyon. They step beside him and gather their power. Caius gets up keeping his eyes on the angels and knows this is not good. He glances at the useless beasts who are whimpering in fear and confusion on the rocks around him.
“I judge you Caius, and these Baku,” Apollyon roars at him. His angry voice rolls off of the valley walls.
Caius laughs, “Do you actually believe these are all of my pets?” With the ruined bridge swinging behind the angels the Vampire King laughs at the look of surprise on their faces. A horde steps from the rocks and trees behind him. They are massive beasts that walk upright at eight feet tall, with hard scaly hides. Their arms end with three fingered clawed hands big enough to crush a man’s head with ease. Orange burning eyes look back at the battered angels as the beasts lick their serrated teeth.
“What have you done?” Liam gasps.
“You shall see, but alas I must be going. I have more gates to destroy.” Caius leaps into the air, giving the silent order to attack. The fourth gate is in Syria, and time is against him. With a murmur of a spell, he opens a rift and a blast of cold air welcomes him. Unfortunately, he can’t stay and watch the angels die, this time. His l
aughter follows him as he disappears.
The thermal basins surrounding them are full of geysers and to Liam’s mind, it is the only weapon that will work against these hybrids. His eyes catch Apollyon’s, “Let’s boil them!”
He nods along in agreement. Apollyon pushes his power into the earth and watches the creatures of Caius’s making rushing towards them.
“Now?” Zach asks.
“Not yet,” Liam whispers. When the first wave is almost on them, Apollyon jumps into the air and brings his two massive hammers together sending a concussion of flame and energy towards the front line. Instantly on fire, they fall to the ground, rolling and screaming. Those behind never lose a step, they leap over the dying brother’s intent upon the Angel blood.
“Now?” Cass yells as they continue feeding their power into the now hot ground.
“NO!” Liam snarls and wipes at the sweat on his face. Pockets in the earth long ago dormant release a stream of rocks, and hot white steam, burning any creature near them. The geysers whistle a tune of death and just before the animals reach them Apollyon swings his two mighty war hammers onto the ground and cracks it open. A molten river of death explodes forth welcoming those who are not fast enough to their end.
“Now!” Apollyon roars and all the weapons erupt in blue flames. “Push all your power into me!” Apollyon aims all the power into the center of the magma chamber, and it responds with a huge explosion of lava. The Angels shoot towards the sky, to avoid the eruption and watch from a distance as the earth cracks apart beneath their feet. Like ice melting, it dissolves, and the creatures scream and snarl as they fall into the river of doom.
Those that take to the air are either caught in the surge of steam, rocks, and lava or destroyed by the waiting angels. Apollyon struggles and falters in the sky. Still, on fire, he turns away from his brothers and flies in the opposite direction.
“What’s happening to him?” Cass demands.
Liam doesn’t answer but follows him at a safe distance. The flames dancing along his body have shifted from blue to white and are flaring as though still being fed. A thunderous sound of a powerful waterfall calls to Apollyon. He dashes towards the waterfall as it roars three hundred feet into the river below. A bright full moon illuminates the canyon, allowing them to watch as Apollyon shoots through the misty rainbow and into the falls. The falls react instantly with a release of steam and water setting off an explosion powerful enough to muffle the excruciating scream of the angel immersed inside of it.
The three remaining angels land and wait for Apollyon to emerge.
“Holy fire does not burn the bearer, normally.” Liam murmurs.
Cass turns away, ashamed of his earlier behavior. Would he have joined Caius? “What of the gate?” He asks quietly.
“I can’t sense it?” Zach answers and stares into the waterfall. Stepping towards the stones along the edge he is about to go inside when Apollyon emerges. They all watch as he flies towards them, unsure of what this means for the guardians of the gate.
“It was destroyed,” Liam answers looking to Apollyon for confirmation.
“It was. We only have one gate left.” Apollyon states, “Let us hope the Herald can protect it.”
Chapter 24
Caius arrives in time to watch from the shadows as Anya lifts the second body of the fallen angel to her and inhales his essence into her soul.
Her eyes are glowing with golden light and she understands her place in this now. She is to be a vessel of the damned. A cell until it is time to release them to be judged. The angels have failed. What a feeling to carry such evil inside of you.
‘This is my only chance to convince her to join me,’ Caius thinks. With a power like hers, he would be invincible.
Anya is trembling in the cold darkness of the cemetery when she senses him. Climbing to her feet, she smiles, “I know that smell, come out and face me, Caius. Oh, and bring your pets too, I could use some appetizers.”
“You are truly remarkable, Anya. Or should I call you by another name?” He is handsome for a tall, soulless demon. Blonde, muscular and delicious if she remembers correctly. Her mouth fills with saliva at the thought of draining him.
“Do you wish to thank me now or later for gifting you such power?” He asks strolling casually through the few tombstones that remain.
“Thank you? Caius, you cursed me, this is no gift!” Her eyes never blink as she tracks his movements.
“Not a gift,” he snarls and moves closer. His rage almost matches hers. “Immortality is not a curse, Anya, it is a gift. You have been listening to the trite gossip and rumors of the ancients. I see what they do not. They are using you for their own purposes and when they are finished with you, what then? Do you think they will look at you as anything less than a monster? You will walk this world alone, alienated and hunted for your gifts!”
Anya is stunned that he could read her fears so easily.
“I have walked this world for over nine hundred years, Anya. There is much that I could teach you and I can offer you what they cannot, family. True companionship.” He slips closer, trailing a hand over her shoulder and pulling her to him.
“You are exquisite, Anya.” He cups her cheek and trails his lips across her forehead and down her face. His scent is intoxicating, almost.
Anya seductively wraps her arms around his waist, melting into his embrace. She turns her face and just before his lips touch hers, she inhales.
Caius stiffens as the pain registers in his mind. A burning sears through his body and he struggles to break free of the hold she has on him. Her taloned hands dig deep into his back, drawing blood as she holds him.
Anya senses two of his men behind her as they grab her hair and arms jerking her backwards, forcing to her release the death hold she has on her prey. She pulls Caius’s soul with her, almost ripping it from his body. Caius roars in pain and stumbles backwards as Anya turns on her assailants.
One of the vampires releases Anya to help Caius. The other young vampire tightens his powerful grip on her arms and retains his hold on her.
Anya releases her wings and the creature hisses, jumping away from the energy released by their ethereal forms. She leaps away and turns to watch as Caius climbs to his feet. Weakened from his bout with Anya, Caius is forced to release the glamor spell on his burnt face.
“How stupid do you think I am?” She snarls at the burned monster in front of her.
“One can hope,” he replies in annoyance. “About as stupid as your Aunt was. Trust me when I say this, Herald, you will come to me because, in the end, you will realize I am your only hope.” With a snap of his finger, they advance on her. “Now, please excuse me while I destroy the last gate.” Caius strides away, just as the four vampires move in to encircle Anya.
This particular gate is located in a mausoleum with a detailed gothic archway. It is glowing in the distance and he knows he doesn’t have much time before the Herald escapes. She is much more powerful than he had anticipated. If he hadn’t brought help, she would have destroyed him. He brushes his hair back with a trembling hand. It is unfortunate to have to kill her. “I will have to harvest her as I did her mother,” he murmurs as he leaps into the night air to locate the gate.
Caius flies towards a glow below signaling the final active gate. He drops to the dry land and lands heavily. Sebastian is glaring at him and standing beside him is a Drow and a human. “Caius, you must face the council,” Sebastian snarls.
“I don’t think you should be worrying about me, record-keeper, your daughter needs you. Or is it your daughter?” He laughs looking at Keane. A vampire screams in the distance, giving him the distraction, he is hoping for.
He bounds into the air and Sebastian meets him head on. The impact of the two powerful enemies can be heard all around. They roll to the ground, grappling to get a hold of one another. Caius is weak from his battle with Anya, he knows he is outnumbered. He calls on his power, heating up his hands. Slamming one hand onto Sebastian�
��s face, it hisses as the skin burns along his jaw and neck. He laughs when the man cries out in pain and releases him.
“Help her, Drow!” Sebastian screams and Vorn turns leaping into the air, rushing to Anya’s aid, leaving Keane and him to help protect the gate.
Inside the mausoleum, Morgan jerks and stares at Katie.
“Anya!” She screams and goes toward the doorway. Pushing it open she rushes outside and unable to see in the dark, she runs straight into a man. “Keane?” She cries.
“Katie girl! What on earth are you doing here?” He demands.
“We are looking for the gate, can you help us find it?” She answers, just as Morgan spots Caius is running in the direction, he knows the gate is. Morgan watches and follows him. This will be the last chance to save one of the gates!
“Morgan!” Katie yells in fear as he runs away. Keane grabs her hand just as Sebastian stumbles to his feet.
“I will go help Anya, you go, follow Morgan,” Sebastian yells.
Anya is fighting the four vampires, who are clearly newborns. They gang rush her, headlong into the fight, never stopping to plan or think ahead. All they can smell is her blood. Anya is struggling with that many at once. When she attempts to fly, one vamp grabs the other and throws him at her landing on her back. Wrapping up his arms around her shoulders, he sinks his teeth into her neck.
Anya falls to the ground screaming and rolls midair to land on top of the vampire. So focused on its prey, it does not register the pain of crashing into the earth as it fights under her.
A second one leaps at her, scenting her blood and just before he sinks his teeth into Anya’s arm, his pinned brother begins to scream. Anya spins and kicks the second one in the teeth, knocking a fang out, sending him hurtling backwards onto the ground. Scrambling up from the vampire, she watches as it writhes on the ground. A whip snakes out and snaps around her wrist and another around her leg. The other two newborns have joined their sibling in attacking her.
