He peered through the window once more. The young girl lay motionless on the table. Smoke from the smoldering herbs surrounding her rose into the air, shimmering, purifying the vessel. He watched his brother Chamuel offer an iridescent dagger of shimmering moonstone to Michael. That fragile ancient blade had killed more innocents than Gabriel wanted to think about right now. Beside the small child lay a freshly forged glittering blade. It was now or never.
Ducking down, he looked the Sin of Envy in the eye. “You will have your chance, but we have precious few moments to get this right, Beelzebub. We must follow the pl—”
“Ze. My friends call me Ze.”
Gabriel opened his mouth and then closed it. The Sin of Envy considered him a friend? Even after all his people had done? Those silver eyes turned on him, and Gabriel felt a warming within his heart. This was what brotherhood should feel like. Not the cold terror that Michael was creating within the Malakhim. He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
“Ze, then. I trust you. Let’s get this started.” Oh, he knew he was in for a world of pain. He only hoped he would be able to hold the shield long enough.
Gabriel watched as Ze communicated along a path he was not able to access. The two hellhounds nodded, giving the impression that they had just been presented the best chew toy known to hellhounds.
So, other than the fact that hellhound bites were notoriously hard to heal, the plan was simple. The hounds were more than willing to use him as a rawhide and make it look good. They would mangle him, he would stumble and distract the others, and then Ze and the hounds would swoop in, snatching up the children and the Seer before anyone could react.
Ze reached out, clasping his shoulder. Odd that he should feel some kind of bond to this being. They should be killing one another, yet together they were going to save the day. Fate continued to throw out trump cards it seemed. Angel and demon working together. Despite the fact that he was betraying his brothers, Gabriel knew this to be the right path.
He nodded and closed his eyes, bracing himself. The seconds seemed to pass far too slowly, but when the pain came, by the fucking gods, he wanted to die. The hounds attacked, eerily silent, their lethal teeth sinking into his limbs, tearing at his flesh, bringing him to his knees. Gabriel lifted a blood-covered hand to his mouth. He didn’t utter a sound, even when the hounds began to rend his wings.
Michael ran his finger along the sacred blade. The light seemed to shimmer from within its crystal facets. Wincing, he observed the cut that now marred his thumb, a cut he knew would never heal. He smiled and nodded to his brothers. The child was in a trance, she would feel no pain. It was all the mercy he would grant her. In moments, she would become the first holy weapon forged in a thousand years.
The smoke tickled his nose, rolling over his skin, surrounding the child as if embracing her. The soft rhythmic chanting from the Malakhim made the very air hum with ancient power. The blade in his hand began to pulse, flickering with light, eagerly awaiting the blood it would spill after thirsting for so long.
Michael raised his hands to the sky. Like some druid of old, he threw back his head, the blade in one hand, his hair streaming out behind him. Unseen magic pulsed through the room.
His words pounded through the air, shaking the very foundations of the house. “Ancient ancestors, protectors of the light. Grant me, your humble servant, witness. Tonight I ask your blessing in the task before us, as it was in times long past. This night a blade of darkness severing light will be forged. Her soul is pure, her mind is young. I offer her life so that her spirit will endure within the sacred blade. She will become one with the light and cut down evil where it stands.”
A luminous glow gathered in the room, sparking and flashing like lightning, seeping into the moonstone dagger. The stone blazed like a sun and Michael smiled. The screaming of the Seer was but background noise to him now as he lowered the blade to the child’s throat, the stone singing out for her blood.
The air in the room changed abruptly, its holy power evaporating. Michael jerked his head up. The chanting ceased as his second and closest brother appeared in the room next to the table. He opened his mouth, but no words could escape his mangled throat. Black blood ran like rivers from the gaping lacerations covering his body. His wings had lost many feathers, and one was missing flesh along the bony appendage.
Stunned, Michael rose as Gabriel collapsed to the floor. He slammed the blade down on the table, the glowing flame from within now extinguished, and he moved quickly to his brother. He needed Gabriel, he couldn’t lose him as well as Jophiel. The other Malakhim gathered around, voices raised. The wounds on his second were terrible—hound bites. He opened his mouth to issue orders as all hell broke loose.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Darkness swallowed the house in an endless void of abyssal black. The terrifying howls of the hounds filled the inky air, striking fear—as was their gift. Sera wrapped her arms around the boys, feeling the beasts rushing through the blackness. Shouts from the angels punctuated the dark.
Sera glanced at the children. Her power thrummed in her blood, and she could see everything as if light blazed within the room. Keeping the boys’ heads down, she felt Ze before she saw him.
“Ze!” Her desperation and longing came out in his name.
He appeared in a rush of silver flame that licked over his flesh and mingled with the darkness, huge leathery wings upon his back. The hair that had so intrigued her glittered like a waterfall down his back. He turned and saw her, his muscles visibly relaxing. His mercury eyes flickered, his relief evident. Kneeling, he reached a talon toward her.
The boys whimpered, cowering in a corner. They couldn’t see him, but their human souls could feel a demon’s presence. She reached up and touched his face. Smiling, he returned the gesture, and Sera tilted her cheek into his palm. His touch was soft, almost as if it were covered in a layer of fur. She closed her eyes. He came! He was her strength, and he’d come for her.
Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and whispered, “Go kill the sonofabitch.”
His smile was the only balm her heart needed. Flames erupted around her, caressing her skin with warmth that sank into her flesh. She smiled and allowed her eyes to close once more. It was him, his breath, his scent, his touch—everything contained in those flickering flames. Then she heard his roar and the sound of fighting erupting in the darkness.
Ze launched himself at his target. It was probably a bad plan, but his rage blinded him to the ‘plan’ he and Gabriel had come up with. The advantage went to demons when it came to fighting in the void of darkness the hounds had created. There were already cries of pain from two different voices. The Cerberus boys were doing an excellent job of keeping the other Malakhim busy.
Ze felt his claws rip into Michaels flesh and his cry filled the darkness was a beautiful sound. Ze took immense pleasure in that music, but it didn’t last long. Hands grabbed him, and he was thrown across the room. The hollow plasterboard walls could not withstand the force. He was flung from the void of abyssal darkness into the night.
Spreading his wings, he managed to slow his flight by dragging his claws through the dirt. From the darkness came Michael, landing gracefully on the wet grass, brushing the torn edges of his suit.
“You just had to get in the way, didn’t you, Envy? And you ruined my suit. You know how expensive these things are?”
Ze didn’t respond, calling instead upon the fire within him. Silver flames rushed up around his body and through the ground to explode under Michael’s feet, singeing his feathers. Ze reformed from the fire, reaching for the angel, his claws brushing feathers. Michael laughed manically as his body exploded into shafts of light. The light spikes of pure energy sliced through Ze’s flesh like a knife through butter.
Ze fell to his knees as the spears of glowing amber faded, his blood now flowing freely from the wounds in his stomach and torso. The sparkling light swirled and solidified into Michael’s form once more. He seemed none t
he worse for the wear. He had even fixed the holes in his damned suit, motherfucker. Ze growled, digging his talons into the damp earth as he forced the pain to the back of his mind.
Michael knelt so they were face to face. “Do you really believe you have the power or the intelligence to take me down, demon? You know nothing of the true power I wield.” Michael held out his hand, a faint glow beginning in his palm. It intensified in strength, extending into the angelic blade that had crippled Hades. Michael examined the blade before refocusing on Ze.
“Remember this? I never got to try it on that annoying brother of yours. But you will do as an acceptable substitute. You know, I had this whole evil scheme that involved breaking your Seer to my will and having her kill you. But you know what? I think I will just kill you now. You’re starting to bore me.”
“You’re not half as smart as you think you are, Michael.” Ze launched himself using his wings, beating against the air for speed.
Michael stepped back, grinning, as Ze collided with him, impaling himself on the glowing blade. Ze hadn’t expected Michael to be able to move so fast, but maybe he could get close enough to tear out his throat before this sword killed him. He could see the look of absolute joyous satisfaction on Michael’s face. It was over.
Ze expected death and waited for the darkness to swamp him, to take him as before. He expected pain or burning, but it didn’t even feel as if the blade had pierced his skin. Okay, he’d worry about the miracle of not dying later and fight the psychopathic angel now. Ze lifted his head and laughed, savoring the sudden look of confusion that rushed over the angelic leader’s face. It was as if he was protected from the effects of the holy weapon. Even with the glow suffusing his body, it had refused to kill him.
He leveled his gaze with Michael’s, closing his clawed hand around the angel’s throat, pulling him closer and driving the blade even deeper. “I have already been killed by one angelic blade. I guess a second one just doesn’t have the power or the inclination.”
Michael released the hilt of the sword and tried to step back, but Ze sank his talons into Michael’s flesh, drawing a hiss.
Ze blinked, and for just a split second something dark rolled behind the pupils of Michael’s eyes, as if an entity were using the angel’s body as a vessel. That was forgotten the second the angel flicked out his wings and beat them against the air.
Michael ripped himself from Ze’s grip, his blood spilling freely from the tears in his throat. Covering the worst of them with his hand, he roared out his rage. His feathers caught the dim light provided by the moon, his voice cracking and hoarse. He dived for Ze. If the sword couldn’t cut him in half, Ze was under no delusions that those wings would.
“You will pay for that, demon!”
Inside the house, growls from the hellhounds and shouted orders filled the darkness. Sera winced as she felt something fly past her and hit the wall. She instinctively covered the children and glanced around in time to see the slightly shimmering form of one of the hounds. The tan mark on his tummy told her it was Benediktos. He growled low and struggled to his feet. Shaking himself all over, he barred his fangs, ready to rush back into the fray despite his torn flesh and muscle.
“Ben,” Her voice managed to break through the bloodlust enveloping him, and he focused his gaze on her. “We need to get these kids out. Help me, please. I need to get to Marie.”
The hellhound snorted and shook his head. Sera knew he wanted to fight, wanted to kill. She had to make him understand. Desperate, she gestured to the children. His red eyes followed to take in the boys cowering against her, and the tense edge left his body.
He shook his head as if trying to rid himself of a bug, then the shadows began wrapping around him like a lover’s embrace. From the misty black, his human form emerged, naked as the day he was created, and he knelt before her. Sera couldn’t help but stare. Red eyes had turned to shimmering steel, and deeply tanned skin and ice white hair had replaced fur. Not to mention he was very, very naked.
“Forgive my momentary lapse. I will, of course, see them safe, Seer.” He bowed his head to her and held out his hand. Sera watched as the shadows wrapped around the three boys. Their eyes closed, and all three slumped to the floor in sleep.
The shadows swallowed the children, removing them from the room, and she wondered for a moment where one could go within a shadow. Could the hellhounds actually use them for travel? Steel eyes turned to her, warming as Ben bowed his head and he vanished, melting into mist.
Okay, so that answered the question as to whether the hounds had clothes on underneath their hound form. Sera attempted to process this piece of information, remembering that only a few days ago she’d been scratching that hound’s tummy. No wonder Ze had been so jealous. The damned hound was naked in that form, so her scratching his belly was like her scratching his err—she made a mental note to smack him later. Right now, however, she had more important things to worry about. Like the child lying on that table. They needed to get her out while the remaining hound dealt with the Malakhim.
Creeping through the inky black, Sera kept low to the floor, biting the inside of her lip against the radiating pain that threatened to steal her strength. The battle had moved from the kitchen out into the backyard with an ear-piercing scream from one of the angels. A bubble of darkness appeared and followed the hound. As the battle progressed through the yard, the darkness followed it.
Sera found herself gaping at what remained of the house. Marie lay on the table, apparently untouched. Sera reached for her when a low, feral snarl caught her attention. An angel leaned against what remained of the doorframe, panting hard, black blood dripping from his wounds. His eyes glittered with malice. This was the angel who had killed Sandra.
He stepped into the room, his injured arm hanging at his side and a sick smile twisting his face. “Seer, she belongs to us. I will complete the ritual for Michael.”
The pair of them reached for the child at the same time, but he was faster. He swung the child up into his arms and out of Sera’s reach.
“Please don’t—she’s just a child.” Sera used the table to keep herself upright as he turned those dead icy eyes on her. It was almost impossible to believe that someone would harm Marie, but the cold expression on his face told her all she needed to know.
“And that means I should release her, right? I don’t think so, Seer.” He gave no warning, there was no talking or hesitation. He merely flung out his injured hand, sending Sera back against the wall. Pain exploded through her chest yet again. Some unseen power held her in place as he reached for the stone blade.
“Please! Don’t do this!” She fought, managing to take one step toward him even though her body was severely broken and ready to shut down.
“Too late.” Sera watched in abject horror as the being once believed to be pure and good, sank the stone blade into the small child’s throat. Her precious life’s blood erupted across the table, enveloping the still waiting blade, splashing to the floor, covering everything it touched in a glittering prismatic red.
His sick laugh filled the room, heightening her rage as the room ignited with the glowing, newly-forged holy weapon. She didn’t know his name, and she didn’t care. He was a murderer. She would have justice for yet another child she couldn’t save. The blood seemed too bright and seemed to flow too freely, as if it were fake. This had to be fake, right? Sera couldn’t believe that the life of this child had ebbed away before her very eyes.
The blade hummed as the last breath of life left little Marie’s body. The bastard dropped her like she was nothing, his greedy eyes focused on the pulsing blade. Sera couldn’t hear anything but the rushing of her own blood in her ears and the thundering of her heart. In all the years she’d hunted murderers, she’d never experienced one like this. His brutality and cold malice chilled her to the core, his mocking laugh sickening her. With a cold, calculated fury, she threw everything she had at the force holding her body in place. All her rage, all the memories sh
e’d experienced of so many that had been hurt—screaming, scared of dying alone—she threw that pain at the angelic façade.
His hand paused as he reached for the blade, and his eyes went wide, giving the appearance that he had just been hit by some huge unstoppable force. He was thrown from his feet and began to writhe on the floor, pulling at his hair, crying out, roaring from something unseen inside him ripping into his brain.
He kicked his feet in the clotting blood of his victim, yanking out handfuls of his hair. He then rolled onto his stomach and began to bang his head against the floor in what was apparently a desperate attempt to stop wave after wave of memory that Sera forced upon him. Silent tears rolled from her eyes as she held him within her power. Someone had already broken down this bastard’s mental walls once. She would have to thank them. It left him wide open for her. Black blood covered his face from repeated pounding against the floor. With a roar of combined agony and terror, he vanished from the room, leaving it in painful jagged silence.
Sera stumbled and fell to her knees, reaching to touch the still-warm body of the child she couldn’t save. Tears spilled down her cheeks, dropping one by one onto the cooling cheek of the innocent. She sat in the blood, feeling it seep into her clothes, marking her skin for all time. Somewhere at the edge of her mind, she could still feel others fighting, and she knew she couldn’t remain here. Leaning down, she kissed the little girl’s forehead.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I won’t let your death be in vain, Marie. We will stop them.” At those words, the blade upon the table erupted into green sparkles. They rained down to the floor, bouncing over the cold body as if reaching for her.
Envy's Kindness (Seven Deadly Sins Book 2) Page 25
