by Jack Crosby
Veronica bowed her head. “I was once an angel, obligated to send creatures back to The Pit. If an Arch-Demon has been freed, I will be the one to send him there. The two of you will be needed to handle the Hell witch.”
It was weird thinking an Arch-Demon was less of a threat, but so far from what I’ve witnessed from this Sabrina, she as the true mastermind. “Is everyone ready?”
Astrid didn’t even give anyone a chance to answer. She planted her boot on the door, sending it crashing to the floor. Light flooded out into the hallway from the throne room. Inside were three figures, along with a large white tiger chained and bolted inside a circle. The circle looked to have been made with blood.
The first figure must’ve been the queen. Her beauty matched Astrid’s, but her face was one of cold and calculating. Flanking her was Sabrina and an Arch-Demon. I recognized him right away; it was Astaroth, the Magician. The three of them didn’t look all that surprised to see us, more annoyed than anything.
The queen waltzed towards us, her eyes shooting daggers at Astrid. “So my daughter, you have returned.”
The Grasscutter seemed to squeal in delight as it sliced through the air in the direction of her mother. “You foul bitch! What have you done to our home?”
She clasped her hands together. “A strong ruler finds ways to improve their lot. The demons offered me a chance to rule forever and with me on the throne, Shangri-La would thrive forever.”
The three of us weren’t going to get in the middle of this. Even Sabrina and Astaroth seemed content not to get involved with this family quarrel. “Thrive?! Just how fucking dumb are you? Our people are starving and dying in the streets!”
She laughed it off as it was nothing. “This is just a temporary step in a grander plan. Lord Astaroth has assured me once the ceremony is complete and Abaddon is free, that we will be greatly rewarded.”
Astrid slapped her mother, hard, across the face. “Abaddon will destroy everything! Astaroth knows that and knows he won’t have to give you a damn thing!”
The Arch-Demon looked at me as if to say ‘I’m glad one of them is smart.’ Unfortunately it was the one with us, and not with them. The queen tried to return fire, but Astrid caught her. “I would not expect my delusional daughter to understand.” She looked at me, “I see you found your ‘true love’ and let him take your dignity.”
“He did over and over again.” Her words were like needles to her mother. “Unlike you, I won’t need more than one man to satisfy my needs like some cheap skank.”
The queen sighed. “It matters not. I truly wished to not sacrifice your brother, as he has no claims to the throne, but I will do what is necessary.”
The giant tiger tried to pull against his chain, but it was no use. The only way to free him was to get inside the circle and break the chain. Speaking of the circle and Astaroth’s appearance, “How did you summon an Arch-Demon?”
“Sacrifices were made Death. It took more of my people than I wished, but Sabrina assured me that their blood would power the portal. Imagine my delight when the demon appeared.”
Astaroth made an exaggerated bow. “No, it was much to my delight that you let me fuck your brains out before we got down to business.”
“Enough.” Sabrina had out a very large dagger. “We must rid ourselves of this rabble so that the ceremony is completed on time. I will not be pleased if we do not succeed.”
“I sent your father to The Pit and it would be my pleasure to send you there to see him.”
Her eyes started to glow. “I’ve seen your desires and fears Death. You have no power over me.”
Ravager struck the ground beside me, causing the entire room to shake. “You focused so much on my brother that you forgot about me.”
“War, the Horseman my father respected the most. We do not have to do this.”
His celestial fire armor started to burn even brighter, red filling the space. “Bitch please. You cross one Horseman, you cross them all.”
As we walked down the witch, I heard Veronica approach Astaroth. “An Arch-Demon, I have not had the pleasure yet.”
“Look at your small exile wings. And they still let you have a sword? How adorable.”
We each had our targets and now it was up to the Almighty that we succeed.
**Veronica vs. Astaroth**
I was no longer afraid. Astaroth did not scare me so much as letting my friends down. The Magician was known for his magical abilities, so I was wary to try and strike too quickly. He was not as cautious and slung a black ball of hellfire at me. Using my sword to block it, it dissipated when it came in contact with the flame of Heaven. “I hope you can do better than that.”
In rapid motions, two more balls of the black fire came at me, only to be blocked. Frustration crossed his face. “Rumors of your skill with a blade are not exaggerated.”
No they were not. “Michael himself taught me demon. I may be an exile, but I am still an agent of Upstairs and you are a disgusting blight to this plane.”
It was my turn to attack, and in a rushed flurry, I executed a combination that would bring any being to their knees. Astaroth was fast, but little did he know each of his movements was causing him to fall deeper into my trap. He tried to counter me with another hellfire attack, but it was for naught. My last attack brought my sword into its path and as the hellfire disappeared, my blade with through his shoulder, down across his chest, and through the other side.
As the Arch-Demon looked on, mortified he had been defeated so easily, “You never had a chance. Enjoy your eternity in The Pit.”
He screamed as his body went up in flames, his last thoughts on this realm surely had to be how he lost so easily to an exiled angel.
**Astrid vs. The Queen**
As my friends went to take on their opponents, I was left with my mother. “You have ruined our kingdom all for your own vanity and greed!”
From her kimono, she produced her weapon. It was a long leather whip that had been passed down in our family for generations. “Astrid, do you think you can best me, the queen?”
A horrible scream came from behind us. Astaroth was going up in a ball of flame. “It looks like your new boyfriend had to leave. I wonder if when you die, if you’ll join him in The Pit.”
She smiled and cracked her whip in the air. Using the momentum, she sent it towards me. It whistled by my ear, producing a very loud CRACK! It snapped back and she curled it up, ready to strike again. “You have always been a very mouthy child.” She grunted in disgust. “If only those foolish Yeti would have just killed you. I had to threaten their lives just to allow the demons to take you.”
I never felt such hate inside of me. That cold, uncaring look on her face drove me over the edge. “Ahhhhhh!” I ran straight at her with the sword leveled at her chest. She lashed out the whip and it caught me in the face, but the pain only pushed me further. She tried to attack again, but I was too fast. The Grasscutter went right through her chest, blood spilling from the wound.
She slumped over the blade, giving me one last glare as her life left her. Dropping the sword in horror, I fell to the ground, shaking from the shock of killing my own mother.
Chapter 34 – Beelzebub’s Pride
“You Horsemen are so foolish. I have been trained by the House of Lucifer, so what hope do you have against me?”
That explained so much. “Why would Lucifer take you in? You’re Beelzebub’s daughter.”
Her red hair began flowing, as if there was a wind in the room. “Lucifer has a soft spot for my whore of a mother’s lineage. As soon as he found out I was the granddaughter of Lilith, he gave me access to the best teachings Hell can offer.”
I was getting so pissed at the horrible way she was referring to Roxanne. War, on the other hand, didn’t seem too impressed. “We’ve been slaying demons for longer than you’ve even been alive. I’m not impressed with your little magic tricks.”
We heard Astaroth scream – Veronica sliced him in half. The Arch-D
emon burned up, being sent to The Pit. “That sucks for you.”
“Astaroth was here to oversee the enchantment, but I did not need his help. He was more concerned with sticking his dick in the Nyx slut.”
Veronica came over to us, her sword ready to attack the redhead. “Stand down before you encounter the same fate.”
Another gasp followed by sobs came. A quick glance showed us that Astrid had killed her mother. She was on the floor, a look of disbelief on her face. War roared in victory. “You’ve lost witch!”
I wasn’t about to proclaim our victory. This was a more dangerous enemy than any we’ve encountered. “Stand down Sabrina and be prepared to face judgment for your crimes.”
She looked down at her nails like she’d found something interesting. “I am growing bored with these failures. It would have been nice if my plan had come together nicely, but Abaddon will be released eventually.”
“What do you mean by that?”
She looked up, a knowing wink followed. “I am merely impatient. I wanted to bring the demon lord to the surface under my own terms. Alas, my help has proven to be most incompetent and so I will just have to content to wait.”
My chains appeared, wrapping around my arms. “What makes you think you will live to see all of this happen?”
The three of us never even sensed it, let alone saw it. Sabrina made a gesture with her hand and a portal appeared. “When will you come to terms that I am superior to you in every way?”
“If that was the case, why are you being a scared bitch and running away?”
“You are a most amusing creature Death. Do not fear, we will settle this score, once and for all.” She drifted backwards towards the portal. “Before I leave, I believe the old saying goes there is more than one way to skin a cat!”
With the snap of her wrist a dagger shot forward. Veronica jumped towards the white tiger chained in the room, but that wasn’t the target. As I ran towards Astrid, a sickening thud hit my ears as the dagger buried itself in her chest. I think War tried to stop Sabrina, but that was the last thing on my mind.
I slid in beside her, putting an arm around her head. As her eyes started to close, “No, stay with me here!”
Her heartbeat was beginning to slow, blood being lost at an astonishing rate. Her hand brushed my cheek before falling limp. Her eyes started to roll back in her head. I had no choice.
I grabbed Leviathan and began chanting in Sumerian. I’d learn the skill a very long time ago with a promise that I’d never use it. Screw it all, this was worth breaking a vow over. I placed the edge of the blade on her heart, perfectly reciting the incantation. The blade glowed even brighter and as I finished, the wound began to close and Astrid started breathing again.
“Death, you didn’t?”
“I had no choice War.”
He kneeled down beside me. “There will be repercussions.”
There already were. We’d failed in killing Sabrina. Granted we’d stopped the ceremony to bring Abaddon to Earth and another Arch-Demon was dead, but Sabrina was the true evil. I wasn’t about to let her take the life of someone so innocent.
“Veronica, War, Death, please come here.”
Michael was here. I had expected nothing less for what happened. I leaned in to Astrid who still was half out of it. I gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be right back, just rest for a moment.”
I got up and joined my brother and Veronica in the presence of the Arch Angel. He didn’t seem disappointed, but his tired look told an even deeper story. “Warriors, you have done well in preventing an early Apocalypse. For now the demon lord Abaddon is where he belong, Tartarus.”
Veronica saluted him. “We did our best my liege.”
He walked over to her first. “Veronica, for your courage and display of remarkable skill, I have been allowed to welcome you back into Heaven’s arms.” He touched her forehead with his finger and the green wings of an exile were replaced with her beautiful white wings. “I am so proud of you and your convictions.”
She hugged the Arch Angel. “Thank you so much. I will not let you down again.”
“I know.” He then walked over to War. “Friend, you have my thanks for helping solve this issue. As always, you are a testament to you and your brothers’ skills.”
He bowed his head ever so slightly. “The job isn’t done yet.”
Michael didn’t respond to War, but came over to me. “Death, what am I going to do with you?”
I didn’t try to come across as defiant, but I’m not sure I succeeded. “I stand behind all my decisions.”
“I know you do. For granting the Nyx immortality, you should be punished most severely.” He turned away, “But today you are getting a pass.”
Not that I wasn’t happy, “Why? I agree with you, I should be punished.”
Returning to meet my gaze, “Your station in the grander scheme of the universe is punishment. Losing one companion is hard enough. The Almighty understand your need to make sure the girl did not meet the same fate as Roxanne.”
I wanted to punch something so bad. “I should’ve been able to save her too.”
“No.” His voice was loud and stern. “Even you, with your dominion would not have been able to. You did the right thing, so do not question yourself anymore.”
I got the feeling this conversation was now closed. “Where do we go from here?”
“As War stated the job still needs to be completed. This Sabrina is more dangerous than we would have ever guessed.” He walked over to Veronica, “We will worry about Abaddon. From this moment on, I am tasking the Horsemen with the capture or elimination of Beelzebub’s daughter.”
Michael wasn’t one you said no to. War and I kneeled down and crossed out chest with our arms. “It shall be done.”
“For the time being, enjoy your rest for when she shows herself again, you will need to be completely ready.” A bright light surrounded the two angels, and just like that, they were gone.
Epilogue
“Derrick, do you want to go into town today? I’m sure Khloros would like to get out and about.”
I was resting in my chair on the beach, watching the waves from the Pacific Ocean crash into the sand. This little slice of heaven on the Mexican coastline was just what the doctor ordered. Just don’t drink the water unless it’s in a bottle. “Yeah, we can get some stuff and maybe get something to eat.”
Astrid joined me, taking a seat in the sand. She was just in her bikini with a robe like cover. “This is just as peaceful as I imagined it would be.”
“I wonder how your brother is doing rebuilding Shangri-La?”
“He seemed eager to be given a chance. I mean I wasn’t going to stay there, that’s not my fate anymore.”
She started stroking my leg, which even this early in the morning was quite the turn on. “Astrid, you keep doing that and I’m going to take you right here, right now.”
Her fingers lingered just a bit higher. “Who says that’s not what I’m after?” Dropping her robe and then her bikini, she beckoned me to come close and take her once again.
**Michael**
My newest charge began to stir. She tried to jerk up, but I placed a hand on her and gently pushed her back on to the bed. “Take it easy. You have been through quite an ordeal.”
“My head…”
I could see she was in pain. “It will take a little bit, but the headache will eventually subside.”
Coughing, “Where am I?”
“Upstairs. You have been chosen to be a guardian angel.”
The look of pain was replaced with shock. “This must be a joke!”
“It is no joke, I can assure you. Very soon one will be born that will need your help, protection.”
Her eyes began to focus. “Michael?”
“Yes Roxanne, it is I, the same one who gave you status as an Angel-Friend.”
She tried to sit up again and this time I helped her get into a comfortable position. “I have so many questio
ns.”
I ran my fingers over her eyes, closing them. “All in due time. All you need to know at this moment is you are safe and you are far from done. Your story is just beginning.”
She huffed a little, not liking that answer. “Can you at least tell me who it will be the needs my protection?”
That I could. “He is not here yet, but in nine months you will get a chance to meet him.”
The End…?
Feast or Famine
Chapter 1 – You’re What?!
“Congratulations Derrick, you’re going to be a dad!”
I fell back on to the couch. “Astrid, you can’t be serious?”
She rubbed her perfectly toned stomach. “Oh I’m dead serious. You knocked me up good.”
“Shit.”
Hey there, sorry I didn’t see you right away. As you can see I’m dealing with a small crisis, namely the fact I got my girlfriend, Astrid, pregnant. If you’re new to my adventures, I’m Derrick, also known as the Horseman Death. Currently I’m living in Mexico out on some remote beach on the west coast with Astrid.
“Are you telling everyone about us?”
“Yeah, I’m getting to the part where I tell them about you.”
She winked. “Don’t tell them too much. They might get jealous of what you have.”
Astrid is a Nyx, a feline sex spirit. Her other form is of a harmless housecat. Some become lions or even tigers, like her brother. Astrid was supposed to be the next queen, but after our ‘unfortunate’ visit, she’s stuck with me.
So here we are, just the two of us. There used to be more, Roxanne the Lust demon and Veronica the angel were part of our little group. Veronica’s probably back in heaven where she belongs, but poor Roxanne. She was the first woman to ever really get me out of my rut of being a callous man-whore.
Then a cold hearted bitch named Sabrina ripped her from my life. The bastard child of Beelzebub, the little witch mind-melted the Lust demon and I had to reap her soul. I hope she got to go Upstairs. She deserved that fate.
