by Lexi Ostrow
“Just another minute and we will make it.” He chanted the thought as he lifted and pushed down the pole over and over.
Three more strikes managed to hit some part of the ship, but all were scarcely a threat, and he worried that the strikes were bodies of Pure Angels that were failing.
“Look! Water!” he pointed with his free hand, knowing full well Clara could see just as well as he, and the same view.
“Turn us,” she ordered, leaning her weight to the side, turning the vessel backwards, or trying to.
Leaning with her, he felt the subtle shift as they began to swing around. Fear paralyzed him at what played out before his eyes. The sky was filled with Angels, at least ten and forty surrounded Dieargog. The demon laid waste to two or three with each action it took. Some blasted by fire, others assaulted by limbs.
“Get it over here, Hugo. We have to do this now.” She reached across him, engaging the flames, and shooting a blast at Dieargog.
Though it was unlikely he felt the heat, he must have seen the flames because he turned, red eyes glowing wildly and fire shooting forth.
“The time is now,” Clara said, her eyes focused on the beast that was racing towards them. “I love you.”
She wasn’t sure if Hugo had returned her sentiment because Dieargog slammed into their ship, mouth gripping it and thrashing about wildly. The sudden impact tossed her sideways, and she lost the grip on the steering apparatus. Her stomach recoiled as her side of the vessel pitched downwards.
“The fire!” She shouted, desperately trying to get her hands back on the pole’s handle as it bobbed up and down erratically due to the shaking.
Sharp teeth threatened to slice either of them, forcing them both to lean as far back in the seats as they could.
Hugo’s hand opened the valve for the flames just as she saw a similar blaze burning deep at the back of Dieargog’s throat. She was momentarily blinded as the two balls of fire flashed together but thrilled when the effect sent Dieargog back, freeing their ship from him. A second longer and they would have been roasted alive, failing their mission and each other.
“Did you fucking see that?” Hugo railed like a tot excited at a horse race. “Woohoohoo! Good heavens that was marvelous!”
She grabbed the pole, finally slamming it down and righting their position. “Swing us vertical, Hugo and for fuck’s sake, stop acting as if this isn’t terrifying you.”
“I promise you it is but to have looked in his mouth the moment before we died? That was a magnificent rush.”
Dieargog vanished from view, and she felt sick. “Where did he go? Turn us, Hugo. Quickly!” Panic reared up as fast as the fire had nearly destroyed them a moment prior.
“You thought to fool me?” Dieargog roared from behind them as he slammed into the contraption, sending them shooting further over the ocean, but down.
“We were put together for something great. Maybe it wasn’t electricity, but it can be this.” Hugo’s words were strained as he tried to steer the ship horizontal to gain more control over it.
Dieargog slammed into them again, the sound of it rattling about in her ears.
“Why didn’t we think about grabbing things” She cursed, realizing that they had no way to clasp onto Dieargog and slam him to the ground.
“The is horrendous.” Layel’s voice boomed from somewhere in the flying ship with them. “Bloody hell Eliza should be shot for making you sit in this wretched, small machine.”
Dieargog roared again, firing shooting directly towards the open eyeholes, and Hugo leaned forward, dropping them nose first towards the ocean.
“Layel, what is going on?” Clara’s screamed, terror gripping her like a thief held their prize.
“We’ve rounded up the only Angels in existence with telekinetic powers. There are six including Seraphina, and we need you to continue to allow him to attack you. Distract him so that they might bind his wings.”
“This is asinine!” Hugo growled, releasing another stream of flames at the demon.
Dieargog grabbed hold of them, likely clinging to them as he did the other airship. The impact tipped them sideways, essentially knocking them upside down. She could feel his claws digging into the leather and yelped as one finally pierced the metal by her thigh.
“If he keeps this up, he’s going to tear the wings off,” Layel spoke the words she had been trying to summon. “We will end this.” Layel must have flashed out from where he’d been in the climbing well because they suddenly pitched forward from the lack of his weight.
“I hate to sound terribly feminine, or utterly human, but Hugo, hold my hand.”
He said nothing, just slipped his hand into hers with a squeeze as a glowing red eye stared in at them.
“I can see you. Foolish creatures. I admit, for a moment I had believed I missed one of my kind all those centuries ago.” He snarled and a creaking sound come forth. “When I release this ridiculous invention of your team’s you will fall to your death. I have removed a wing.” A splash was the ironic confirmation that he had done as he claimed.
Closing her eyes, she blew out a deep breath. “If we are to die, then at least we did so fighting you.” She shouted, leaning as close to the eyehole as she could to make her words known.
Rather than respond with a second taunt, Dieargog jerked his face away. “What is this? Another farce?”
She watched as the tiny automaton whizzed by. She’d nearly forgotten the baby-sized decoy and was shocked to see if operating so high above the ground.
“Ram him now!” A voice shouted from outside the ship.
They wasted no time in trying to figure out who spoke. As a pair, they leaned forward, both pulling down on the pole to pull in a wing because they had no clue as to which had been torn off.
She saw his hand twist the valve for fire out of the corner of her vision and wondered if it would even harm the demon through its thick hide.
“This is over,” Layel’s voice seemed to radiate through their ship as if he were still inside.
“You,” Dieargog huffed.
“Me.” Seraphina's voice seemed to beam with pride. “I am not alone in gifts, though they are spread far.”
Clara could practically hear the sneer in the woman’s voice as she readied to destroy their enemy.
Heat blazed in front of her, practically inside of the vessel, as Dieargog forgot them to chase his oldest foe.
The drop was instant, and the empty weight at the end of her pole brought her to the realization that her wing to control was the one that had been torn free. She grew dizzy as they dropped at breakneck speed. She closed her eyes, not willing to see her death rush up at her.
“Hugo!” She screamed, his name echoing in the small space.
Cold wind touched her face, and she opened her eyes just as water soared over her, soaking her from head-to-toe. The chill sent a sharp pain through her head, and she wondered if that was what dying felt like.
“Open your eyes, demon,” Nathaniel shouted into her ear.
Shocked, her lids flew open. She was mere meters above the water, and she could see Hugo was as well, being lifted by a Fallen whom she was certain she had never met.
“Clara!” Hugo called breathlessly.
“We’re alive,” she breathed, still trying to take in the information. “How?”
“Lucky for you Angels are fast at transit. Hugo was grabbed before Dieargog left you to fall to your death in lieu of chasing Seraphina. I was not as lucky, but as you can see, I managed.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but thank heavens for Angels.”
“We must take you back,” the Fallen commanded.
“Seraphina!” Dieargog’s infuriated cry seemed to vibrate the waves beneath them.
“I warned you that we were stronger.” Layel’s voice answered the angry bay.
“You see, Dieargog. When we all combine our talents, we can immobilize you. But, you already know that, don’t you?” Seraphina taunted mercilessly as
her bell-like laugh rang out above them.
Clara lifted her head and was shocked to find Dieargog suspended, his wings against his sides, as Angels wound rope around him. Long, thick strands appeared to wrap three times around him, and the Angels did not look to be out of rope.
“Lucifer was a fool. He thought he could control you should you escape. I know that I cannot alone, and I rather prefer not to bring together the most powerful Angels a second time.” Seraphina dared to fly up next to the mouth of sharpened teeth. “You were able to survive on energy only because you had air to breathe as well. That will not be the case the second time.”
All at once, the Angels lifted them arms above their heads and dashed them downwards. Dieargog’s body dropped, racing towards them as he bellowed, which was likely all he was able to do whilst bound.
Nathaniel and the Fallen flashed and reappeared in the circle of six Angels just as the beast’s gigantic body crashed into the water. Water leapt up, nearly grabbing them with a deadly hand and sinking them with Dieargog.
There wasn’t so much as a struggle from the Dragoniari as the Angels continued to leave their arms downward. He was well and truly bound. Bubbles impeded her view of it as he died, bursting free as Dieargog tried to cling to life. Only when the effervesces ceased did she the empty stare in the bright red eyes of the being that nearly ended her life. His body bobbed along the ocean’s surface, but no trace of life lingered.
“I will finish this,” Layel called as he dove beneath the surface, shoving the Dragoniari’s corpse down below.
“It’s over,” Seraphina called giddily from beside them. “I never wish for us to gather again. Now that I know we exist, we are to continue on as if we have no knowledge of the other’s powers.”
“Are any of you able to flash?” Layel called from his spot a few hundred meters away from the circle.
“That would be unlikely,” a burgundy-haired man called out.
“Very well then,” Layel lifted his communicator to his mouth. “Send them now. It is done.”
Four Pure Angels, all of whom Clara knew worked with the Alliance, appeared and helped those too drained from their efforts to return to London without assistance.
“I believe it is now time for us to leave,” the Fallen side rather snidely before flashing out with Hugo.
“Tell me he’s trustworthy?” She begged Nathaniel, worried that she had lost Hugo to a dark one.
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say that. But he’s been known to destroy a demon or two for not following the edicts we laid out. Fear not, Hugo is right where we will be.”
A familiar bout of queasiness rushed through her as Nathaniel flashed them. She was stunned to see they were in the courtyard where the mess had been all but cleaned. Immediately, she searched for Hugo, pushing free of Nathaniel’s tight grasp when her eyes landed on him across the space.
“Hugo!” She shouted gleefully, rushing to him.
They collided, and his arms went around her, tugging her against him as his lips pressed against hers.
“You’re truly well?” He asked, pulling backwards from her, and seeming to inspect her from top to bottom.
“Very, and if you do not stop looking at me so thoroughly, I am not going to be responsible for being unable to control my Succubus gifts.” She could not even fathom how even she could be interested in making love after what they had just experienced.
“I am glad you are both well,” Odette spoke as she walked towards them, a solemn expression painted across her visage. “We were lucky and only lost one Illusion demon in this fight.”
“And one Nightmare Demon,” Seraphina snarled as Layel flashed beside them. She looked every bit the part of the woman she used to be, save for the brilliant white wings on her back. She’d dressed in a slip of a blue gown, and her ice-blue eyes were pitch back.
“Seraphina,” Kellan warned as he walked up, his eyes filled with relief despite the harsh way he said her name. “Ye are well.”
“There was never any question as to who would survive that, my love.” Her features softened as she looked upon her husband, draining away some of the evil she’d appeared to harness a moment ago.
“Lucius will be dealt with once he heals.” Odette’s tone left no room for argument, even from one leader to another. “Hugo, Clara, I cannot thank you enough for what you did. I hear we have lost our precious beast, but that should be the worst of it.”
Philippe cleared his throat as he walked up to the small group. “Ma Belle, they are awake. Their children are with Jacob and McKenna, but I felt it best if you went to their sides immediately.”
She knew without question that Philippe spoke of Lucius and Eliza. Relief washed over her, though she knew from Odette’s statement of loss the pair were all right . . . or at least alive.
“I’d like to see him as well,” Seraphina hissed, black flooding her eyes once more.
“You will have your moment after we ascertain what occurred to make Lucius behave in such a manner.” Odette turned, muttering something under her breath that sounded like an insult to all demons.
When she began to walk away, Philippe and Kellan followed, dragging Seraphina behind him.
“We must report as well,” Layel said, referring to the King of Angels, a demon named Ipihicles who refused to break the old ways. “Thank you to you both. Whilst you may believe that you failed to do your part, without your distraction, we would not have been able to surprise him and do our part.”
“Our role has just begun, husband.” Nathaniel sighed. “We have hundreds of minds to wipe . . . maybe thousands that saw the short trip from the field to the ocean.” He smiled at them, “I’ve never been fond of inventors before, but I think I’ll make an exception for the pair of you.”
Then they were gone, leaving Hugo and Clara alone, save for those cleaning up the rubble in the courtyard. She looked into his eyes, unsure if there had ever been a sight greater than looking at him as he looked at her. Even though he did not speak, she knew what was in his heart from the way he gazed upon her.
“I think it would be quite all right if we retired for the day,” Hugo yawned dramatically. “I would like this be a night never to be repeated, even if there was a certain thrill to be had whilst flying.”
Shaking her head as she laughed she couldn’t help but agree with him, just a little. “Come then, mate. I believe there is something I’d like to do to express my joy at surviving that far precedes my desire for sleep.”
Twenty
Clara felt sick as she stared across the council room table. Lucius sat, eyes downcast, across from her. She and Hugo had been granted temporary seats on the board which meant they had to reside over the decision regarding Lucius. Similarly, Eliza had been removed from the council for this one trial.
“None of us wish to be in this position,” Odette spoke, folding her hands in front of her. “But we are, and there is nothing we can do save for pushing forward. Lucius, please rise.”
The man she’d had a tentative friendship with looked dejected. His typically impeccable suit was still in shambles—he’d never removed the one he’d worn during his time with Dieargog. It had been two days since his betrayal, and it would appear he did not feel he deserved to be clean. He refused to look any in the eyes when he stood, and his shoulders slumped in defeat.
She expected Odette to speak, but it was Felicia who proceeded.
“It was nearly ten and twenty years ago when you stood in a similar room and demanded your freedom. You demanded the Alliance of Silver and Steam treat demons differently.”
“You attacked us. You attacked myself and Kellan, and then you apologized.” Jacob said from his end seat.
“And then ye became tha best-damned mate any of us could have,” Kellan said, sorrow in his voice.
“And so, the three of us that have passed judgment on you years ago seek a motion from the current council,” Felicia spoke again. “We seek a removal of judgment, of punishment or whatever else
would come from this meeting. We three seek clarification on the events of the past and demand nothing more occurs.”
“Outrageous!” Seraphina leapt up, slamming her hands onto the table. “You were a part of this?” She demanded of Kellan who merely nodded.
For her part, Odette did not seem put off by the request. “We will need a majority decision. All those in favor of such a trail, raise your hand.”
She had known Lucius for some time, and while the man did regard family over everything, she knew he would not have done what he’d done without a push. Decision made she raised her hand. Looking down the line she was unsurprised to see all hands, save for Hugo and Seraphina raised.
“I do not feel it my place to tell you how to run your council. My vote is with the majority, whichever way that fell.” Hugo explained, his eyes on her as if he were only telling her why he did not lift his hand.
“Very well,” Odette said with a nod. “Lucius, you are required to do nothing more than clarify the events of your time with Dieargog. Help us to understand what occurred so that we can protect you should this situation arise again.
“I deserve to be punished.” He said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I deserve to cast out, if not sentenced to death.”
“Lucius, do as the council has deemed necessary, tell us.” Odette leaned forward as if trying to get closer to Lucius.
Clara watched as Lucius closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, his typically soulless black depths screamed with pain.
“For months, he held me as his prisoner. He beat me within a meter of life as oft as he could, and then he would have a Fallen capture a Pure Angel to heal me after a few days of laying dying. He threatened everyone I held dear, and I was not given sustenance of any kind save for water.” He paused cringing and blowing out a breath. “Then he brought me a Fallen. Told me to take what I needed. I wish I had been under mind control when he offered me the ability to bring my kind back from the dead. I’d heard many rumors of the different gifts Dragoniari had. It did not seem impossible for his claim to be true.”
