“Damn. Did an Archangel show up and take out the berserkers?”
Shade shook his head.
“I did that.”
“You?”
“Yup.”
Reaper snickered and Lucia elbowed him in the ribs. He followed her eyeline and saw Nissa weeping over the corpse of her father.
“The ice isn’t important right now. Let’s get his body back to Necropolis.”
Nissa stood and looked at the frozen wasteland Shade had created. The berserkers were still struggling to free themselves. The icicles impaling them hadn’t killed them.
“Muan has to be in there somewhere and I’m going to cut off his head.”
Reaper nodded.
“We shouldn’t actually be interfering, but your dog found us and we followed him here. It’s probably best if we decapitate all of these berserkers.”
Nissa ran off into the ice. Lucia and Reaper tried to follow, but Shade lifted his hands and stopped them.
“We didn’t ask for help. We’re going to collect the berserker heads and then head back. Trust me, we can deal with this. I’d appreciate it if you two took Weapon’s body back to Leech and Lilith.”
“Shade, Nissa needs…”
“We’re fine. You don’t know what she needs right now. I took care of the berserkers and I’ll finish the job.”
Reaper made his way over to Weapon’s corpse and lifted his legs. Lucia hesitated briefly before grabbing the other side. Shade started slowly into the ice. Reaper called after him.
“Shade! Tell Nissa we’re sorry. Her dad was a great nephilim.”
Reaper had removed Weapon’s trench coat and he tossed it over to Shade.
“Make sure she gets that. Oh… and I’m going to petition to have all these kills added to Fade and Backlash’s kill count. I know there were here and your story doesn’t add up.”
“Right. I’m sure you’ll make a convincing argument that your brothers, who shit themselves and ran away, somehow impaled a berserker scouting party by summoning ice from the ground.”
Reaper smiled facetiously.
“Just give her the trench coat and let her know we’re sorry.”
Shade wrapped the trench coat around his arm and continued into the ice. He saw Nissa chopping off the heads of struggling berserkers and shrinking them. She saw Shade approaching and motioned for him to turn around. She dumped the shrunken heads in his backpack.
“Haven’t found Muan yet. He has to be in here somewhere though. Thanks for freezing them so I can get my revenge quickly.”
“How many berserkers have you decapitated so far?”
“About a dozen. There’s a lot of them in here.”
Shade held out his arm for Nissa to take Weapon’s trench coat. She shook her head.
“Dad can be buried with that. I like my trench coat just fine.”
“You said yourself that his is the best there is for storage and that even he could never replicate it. He would want you to have it.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Nissa…”
“I’ll think about it later. Put it in your backpack and hold on to it for me.”
There was a little too much venom in the way Nissa said it, so Shade just did what she said. He drew his sword and began chopping off berserker heads with her. When they had over 30 berserker heads, they continued to search, but couldn’t find Muan anywhere in the ice.
“Nissa… do you think that he maybe…”
“Don’t say it. He’s in here. We just need to keep looking.”
“Nissa, we’ve killed all of the berserkers in this ice. I think we need to consider the possibility that…”
“…that we haven’t searched enough yet? I agree. Let’s keep searching.”
“I don’t think we need to keep searching.”
“What the hell? Why would you…”
Shade pointed. Nissa looked and saw a few drops of demon blood and a crow’s feather. Shade could see Nissa breathing heavily, working herself into a rage.
“Don’t worry, Nissa. We’ll get him…”
“Good. So you’re coming with me?”
“Damn it, Nissa, let me finish a thought. We’ll get him eventually. We need to get back to Necropolis now.”
“You’re abandoning me? I thought you were my friend, Shade.”
“I am your friend. Now is not the time to track down Muan. This was just a scouting party. He’s back with his army now.”
“So you’ll ice them all. You did it once and you can do it again. Let’s go. Don’t bail on me.”
“We need to head back.”
“Say that again and I’ll cut your tongue out.”
“Nissa… you are my best friend and I won’t let you run after Muan and get yourself killed. I can’t summon ice whenever. Watching Weapon die triggered it. That’s the only connection I can make. I won’t watch you die so that you can get your revenge.”
“So you’re going to stop me?”
Nissa reached inside her trench coat. Shade held up both of his hands defensively.
“I don’t want to fight you.”
“Then get out of my way.”
Nissa shoved past Shade, but Shade caught her arm and spun her back around. She drew a sword from her trench coat and pointed it at Shade’s throat. Cerberus lunged out of the bushes and took Nissa down. Shade quickly bound her hands and feet and then commanded Cerberus to crawl off her.
“How could you betray me like that? Bad Carebear! Bad dog!”
Cerberus hung all three of his heads in shame.
“Don’t do that to him.”
“Why not?”
“Because he loves you as much as I do. He just doesn’t let anyone threaten me with weapons. So the real problem isn’t a bad dog, it’s a crazy Nissa.”
Shade lifted the bound Nissa onto his shoulder. She hit him hard on his back and he threw her back on the ground.
“You can cooperate or I can knock you out. Your choice.”
“You’re going to have to knock me out then and I don’t think…”
Shade punched Nissa hard in the face and lifted her back onto his shoulder.
CHAPTER 11
Bumalin scanned the jungle before he spoke to Steam.
“You came at a very… inopportune time for me.”
“Well I can’t really be responsible for that. It was difficult enough to track you down. You’re really good at hiding for someone who lives in the Philippines. This country is so tiny…”
“Maybe I’m not as good at hiding as I need to be.”
Bumalin scanned the jungle again and snapped his fingers so that Monkey and Coconut would resume patrolling the area.
“Who’s after you?”
“My secrets are my own. Tell me what you want so I can decide whether Razorburn should crush you or not.”
“King Leech wants you to come to Necropolis to speak with him.”
Steam could tell Bumalin was a little more paranoid than he had expected.
“So Leech wants me dead now? Why kill me in Necropolis? Are you going to insist I come alone so that I’m defenseless without anything to blackmail him with?”
“No one wants to kill you. We need your help. I can’t go into the details, but Leech did send a peace offering. It’s proof of the growing power of the nephilim. Now no one can extract memories like you can, but I tried my best to mimic your craft based on my readings of the demonic art of…”
“You can pull memories now? Why does Leech need me then? Does he want to torture me for my secrets?”
Steam pulled a small bottle from his robes and held it out to Bumalin in an open hand. A black mist swirled inside.
“For your collection. Leech said it was proof that we are growing in power and that we can protect you. Will you at least take a look at the memory?”
Coconut and Monkey returned and kneeled in front of Bumalin.
“Are we surrounded?”
Monkey shook his head.
&nb
sp; “Nothing to report, boss. Everything’s fine.”
“Razorburn, take a lap. Double check their work.”
Coconut frowned.
“Boss, there’s nothing out there. We’re sure. We checked from the treetops.”
“Let Razorburn double check. I want the two of you guarding me while I take a look at this memory. This nephilim says it’s from Leech. Bring it to me.”
Coconut grabbed the small bottle from Steam’s hand and ran it up to Bumalin. Bumalin looked it over.
“If anything happens to me, kill this nephilim and start selling off my memory collection. I want everyone I’m blackmailing to be terrified at the news of my death.”
“It’s a memory, Bumalin. How on earth could I poison a memory?”
“Demons didn’t think memories could be modified until I proved that they could. Everything is possible when the time is right.”
“I know it doesn’t mean much because you don’t trust me, but if you are attacked while taking a look at that memory, I will help your demons defend this camp.”
“You’re right. I don’t trust you, so that doesn’t mean much. The angels have been tracking me for weeks and I know they’re going to attack soon, so this memory better be a short one.”
“I can’t really tell you. I haven’t seen it. Leech said it was for your eyes only.”
Bumalin opened the jar, tilted his head, and poured the memory inside. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. Coconut and Monkey exchanged worried glances and pointed their weapons at Steam. The ground started to shake and they saw Razorburn running towards them.
“It’s the angels! Help me crush them!”
Coconut and Monkey swiftly took to the trees and Razorburn took up a position behind the makeshift throne of Bumalin. Steam readied his staff and drew a large amount of water from a nearby stream. When the first wave of angels attacked, Steam pointed his staff and a wave of water crashed over them, smashing them into nearby trees and rocks. Razorburn crushed an angel under his fist and nodded his approval.
When the next wave of angels attacked, Steam readied a fire attack. The first four angels fell over before they came within striking distance for Steam. Steam looked back and saw Coconut and Monkey aiming their rifles from the treetops. Steam waved his staff in a circle and the flames moved out and encircled the approaching angels. He continued the spell and the flames started slowly moving in until he heard the agonizing cries of angels being burned to death.
“Magician!”
Steam looked in Razorburn’s direction and saw angels climbing Razorburn’s back, stabbing him as they climbed. Steam levitated two nearby rocks over the climbing angels and then dropped his hands. The rocks fell parallel to Razorburn’s back and crushed the angels. The jungle was suddenly quiet. Steam looked up at Coconut and Monkey.
“Are there any more coming? Did we get them all?”
Coconut scanned the jungle and nodded.
“I don’t see anyone else coming. I think we got them all.”
“Not all of them, little demon.”
An angel descended from the clouds in a pillar of light. Steam had seen middle angels before and this angel was more powerful than any he had seen.
“The Heavens are done playing games. It’s time for the nephilim to die and it’s time for Bumalin to give up his secrets. It looks like it’s a two-for-one special today. Steam and Bumalin in the same place with no one to save them.”
Razorburn laughed.
“You won’t touch anyone here. I’ll crush you, tiny angel!”
Steam shook his head at Razorburn.
“You know my name, but I’m not familiar with yours. I assume you’re one of the Seven.”
“That’s correct. I am Raphael and I nearly killed Bumalin once. I should have finished the job then. He’s a stain on the purity of the Earth.”
Steam laughed. Raphael looked confused.
“Your speech about cleansing the Earth or whatever is complete bullshit. Sarah told me that Bumalin wiped your memory once. You’re simply here for revenge.”
Raphael drew his sword and pointed it at Steam.
“And I will have it, nephilim. Prepare to die!”
CHAPTER 12
Lucia and Reaper carried Weapon’s corpse into the nephilim council meeting room and dropped it on a large table. Lilith and Selene gasped. Leech looked at his daughter.
“Tell me what happened.”
Reaper stepped in front of her.
“King Leech, my brothers were hunting berserkers when Muan surrounded them. They kept fighting but…”
Lucia cut in.
“Fade and Backlash were captured. Almost instantly. The berserkers also captured Shade and Nissa…”
Lilith looked concerned.
“Tell me they’re ok. You got there in time to save your brother, right Lucia?”
“We got there after all the action. Weapon killed a bunch of berserkers and then Muan killed Weapon. Apparently Shade summoned ice and impaled the berserkers. They’re cutting off the rest of their heads before they head back here.”
Reaper shook his head.
“Shade claims he summoned ice. All we really know for sure is that Fade and Backlash took down that berserker scouting party and then Nissa and Shade robbed them and stole the berserker heads.”
Selene looked furious.
“Reaper, get over here! Now!”
Reaper was hesitant.
“The council needs to hear what really…”
“Are you lying to the nephilim council, Reaper?”
“No, Mom, I wouldn’t! That’s what I think really happened!”
“Go home. Right now.”
Reaper frowned and stomped off.
“Fade and Backlash were pretty traumatized by the whole thing and obviously Reaper needs to be punished. I need to head home and be with my sons. As tragic as Weapon’s death is, there’s nothing we can do for him now.”
Leech nodded.
“Go to your sons. We’ll talk in the morning.”
Selene left. Lucia hung her head.
“I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. They never summoned us. Maybe we could have fought alongside Weapon and stopped this all from happening.”
Lilith hugged Lucia.
“It’s not your fault. I’m glad they didn’t call for you. You might have died. Luck was the only thing that saved Shade and Nissa.”
Shade entered the nephilim council hall carrying an unconscious Nissa over his shoulder. Lilith started to cry.
“Nissa died too? What the hell happened?”
“She’s fine, Lilith. I had to knock her out so she wouldn’t go after Muan. She was set on getting herself killed.”
Shade put Nissa down on the table next to her father’s corpse. Leech put a hand on his shoulder.
“You summoned ice?”
“I did, but it was an accident. I just got… angry.”
“Do you think you can summon ice again? Do you remember what it felt like?”
Lilith pushed Leech’s arm off of Shade’s shoulder and hugged Shade.
“Stop it! That’s not important right now. Are you ok, Shade?”
“I’m fine, Lilith. Oh… and I’m pretty sure I won the hunt.”
Shade tossed his backpack on the table. Leech lifted it.
“That’s pretty heavy. Lots of angels and demons?”
“Mostly berserkers. Muan got away though.”
Leech nodded.
“It’s fine. The two of you aren’t capable of killing Muan. He’s a powerful demon.”
“Look, I don’t need a demotivational speech. I just came here to drop off the heads and angels’ wings so I get enough points to win the hunt. I’m taking Nissa back to my place and tie her to the bed.”
Leech grinned.
“I didn’t realize you were into her like that.”
Shade punched Leech on the shoulder.
“Not like that, asshole. So she doesn’t kill anyone when she wakes up or try to track Mu
an down. I’m doing a public service.”
“Did you just call me an asshole?”
“Yup.”
“I’m king of the nephilim.”
“And also an asshole, occasionally.”
Lilith frowned at Shade.
“I said ‘occasionally.’”
“No. Not that. Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I’m fine, Lilith.”
“Lucia, walk your brother home.”
Lucia, who had been waiting patiently near the door, shook her head.
“He doesn’t want my help.”
“I do, actually. Help me carry Nissa. My arms are starting to hurt.”
Lucia picked up Nissa and placed her up on her shoulders.
“I said ‘help,’ not ‘carry her for me.’”
“I don’t really care what you said. You’re tired. I’ll carry her. Start walking, grumpy.”
Shade looked like he was about to protest again, but Lilith frowned at him again.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Shade followed Lucia out the door.
“Even when he calls me an asshole, he reminds me of Shadow… and now he can summon ice? This isn’t going to make life any easier for him.”
“Should we stop it from spreading? If we tell Selene to keep it quiet, she’ll make sure her boys keep their mouths shut.”
“It’ll happen again at some point. We solve all of these problems by just curing Shadow. Everyone will keep their fucking mouths shut about Shade once Shadow comes back. Oh… and I have something to tell you.”
“Yes?”
“I sent Steam after Bumalin. I thought about it a lot and I think you’re right. I’m sure Bumalin has a secret we can use to blackmail the Archangels. We just need to make him understand that he’s safe with us and prompt him to help us. I need you to have statistics on the whorehouse ready and be able to explain what we’re doing there.”
“You’re going to bribe Bumalin with whores?”
“Oddly enough, the whorehouse is to convince him he’s safe with us.”
“I’m lost.”
“He needs to know that we’re growing in number and becoming more and more powerful…”
Lilith finally understood.
Minor Nephilim Page 4
