The Damned and The Pure Series: Books 1-4 (The Damned and The Pure Series Box Set)

by J. D. Stonebridge

  "A-" Caelum began, but a sudden force threw him to the side. In a flash, Lucifer had swung the blunt end of his blade against Caelum and rushed towards him. Lucifer drove the hilt of his sword against Caelum's stomach, lifting him upwards. The demon flew into the air and plummeted back down without a thought.

  "Caelum!" Ariel called out to him. The angel made to rush after him, but a shadow blocked her. Ariel leapt back to avoid the shadow, turning to see Lilith watching her.

  "Don't be such a party-pooper, sweetheart," Lilith told her.

  "Do not call me that," Ariel warned her. She flew up, the shadows following her. Ariel zigzagged, making the shadows crash against each other. A mist of darkness exploded behind her. Ariel turned to see black and heavy smoke. Then, out of the smoke, another shadow rushed towards her, hitting her in the stomach. Ariel spun around in the air and crashed against the jagged rocks.

  When Caelum got back on his feet, Lucifer was already in front of him. The archangel swung his arm to hit the demon, sending Caelum spinning back to the ground. He tasted iron in his mouth, but he pushed on.

  Standing in front of the archangel, Caelum struggled to keep his balance. He looked at Lucifer, trying to think of a way to keep him away from Ariel.

  "It is... futile." Lucifer's voice resounded as if inside Caelum's mind. "All efforts made by the living will eventually go to waste. And they will burn."

  "Is that to discourage me?" Caelum asked him. "Sorry to tell you, but I am a bit thick-headed."

  "Why do you fight, demon?" Lucifer asked. "After all that has happened, admitting defeat would be easier."

  "Well, I was never the easy-way-out type of guy. The harder it is to achieve, the more worth it will be," Caelum argued. He was stepping back away from Lucifer, but the angel followed him.

  "Ah, you have retained your humanity," Lucifer commented. "Quite interesting."

  "That's one adjective used to describe me quite often," Caelum admitted proudly.

  A crash was heard not too far away. Both the demon and the angel turned to see the cause of it and caught a glimpse of Ariel's dark hair flowing in the air as she fell. Before Caelum could move, he realized that the Lucifer he was talking to was an illusion when it instantly turned into an orb of blackness. The real Lucifer was already heading for the other angel. He needs her to complete the spell, Caelum reminded himself. He charged forward, chasing the archangel and leaping to tackle him down. But Lucifer caught his movement and turned as he neared.

  Coughing, Ariel climbed back to her feet. She saw a glint of light in the midst of the smoke and movement with another glint of the light. Ariel looked past the smoke and saw Lucifer walking slowly. Her eyes immediately scanned for the demon she sought, sure that he was nearby.

  A few steps ahead of Lucifer was Caelum's limp body. Ariel rushed towards him, her eye catching the shadow Lilith sent towards her. Ariel ducked to avoid it and took flight. Lucifer turned to her calmly as she slammed her shoulder against the archangel. Lucifer was thrown back, away from where Caelum was and out of sight.

  Ariel rushed to Caelum and cradled his head on her lap. The demon's eyes fluttered open, his voice catching as he spoke.

  "Ariel, escape."

  Remorse bubbled up inside Ariel's chest at the sight of the beaten demon. The sight of him struck fear in her. Fear that history would repeat itself and they would be separated once again. "No, not without y-" she tried to argue, but the persistent demon did not wish to hear her plea.

  "Do it!" Caelum was more aware now, though his muscles refused to move. His eyes were circling when he opened them, struggling until they focused on her. “He can't— He can't unseal himself without you. You have to go."

  "I can't!" Ariel told him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I can't, the seal—"

  "Ariel, you have to!" Caelum pushed himself forward, trying to get back on his feet. When he curled forward, Ariel finally saw the gashes on his shoulder and side. "We can't let Lucifer out. He'll cause everything to fall apart."

  Ariel stared at the demon. So much had changed since they’d first met when he was human, and from the time they were reunited as enemies. The human she knew who shoved away everything inside his heart out of fear and the demon she fought with who had an odd sense of entertainment. He was now fighting to put things in order, despite the pain he now felt and the sacrifice he might be making.

  And so will I, Ariel thought. She leaned forward, her hands curling at the back of Caelum's neck and pulling him against her. Their lips touched, and a whirlwind of emotions flashed into both their hearts. Longing, sorrow, and fear mixed in their kiss. Ariel was pulled back in her memory, when he was still human and everything was more peaceful. She had fallen for a human.

  She’d admired his passion, his wit, his deep sense of responsibility. Those were things she hardly saw in humans or angels, things like mourning the deaths of nameless people and finding it in themselves to do what was right. It was not his fault that he didn’t deliver the prophecy. The event would have still happened regardless. And yet, she saw his struggle, and she saw his sadness when he thought of himself as powerless. The angel had felt the need to comfort him, to pull him away from spiraling down in his remorse. Now, much like before, even as a damned soul from Hell, he was fighting. And Ariel had decided to fight for him.

  When Ariel pulled away, she gave Caelum no time to protest. She sprinted away from him the moment she left his embrace. "Ariel!" His voice followed her as she ran across the cave. But it did little to stop the angel.

  Ariel dashed towards Lucifer, dodging the shadows Lilith sent at her. She took flight and swerved around the shadows until she met the archangel’s eyes. Lucifer stood calmly as if waiting for her, his golden eyes watching her, devoid of emotion. Ariel turned in flight and drove her foot against Lucifer’s chest. The archangel skidded a few inches, but he did not fall.

  In one flash, Lucifer swung his sword up. Ariel spun around, evading the blade for only a few inches. She somersaulted in the air and landed on the ground. She kicked her feet and leapt towards Lucifer. Lucifer sliced his sword and Ariel swooped low. She wrapped her arm against his and pulled herself up. She swung her foot high, hitting him in the back of his head to send him tumbling down. But Lucifer’s head barely budged. He grabbed her leg with his free hand and threw her off him.

  Ariel was sent flying towards the other end of the cave. She spread her wings and changed the direction of her flight. She moved up and turned to look below. Lucifer still had his eyes on her, but she couldn’t read his expression. Instead, he read hers.

  “You will not be able to escape from here,” Lucifer said, his voice echoing in her own mind.

  Ariel pursed her lips, eying the entire sigil that kept her and Lucifer locked inside the cage. Caelum was trying to get back on his feet, making his way slowly to Lucifer. She could not let him fight anymore. “I will,” she told Lucifer. She turned her body and sped towards the angel.

  Lucifer readied his sword. When Ariel got closer, she turned her back to him with her wings spread wide. His blade struck her wings, shielding her body from his weapon. The blade clanged against the wing and bounced over Lucifer’s head. Quickly, Ariel reached around for his arm and pulled him forward while her leg curled around his neck to push him.

  Instead of stumbling, though, Lucifer jumped around, landing gently on his feet. He grabbed Ariel’s arm before she could reach for his weapon. He swung his leg above her head and pushed her to the ground. His foot pinned her to the ground while his hand twisted her arm.

  Ariel screamed in pain.

  “Ariel!” Caelum rushed to aid her, but Lilith’s shadow threw him back and pinned him to the wall. He slammed against the jagged rocks with a grunt.

  Lilith giggled. “Look at you, still on your feet. I’m so proud of my little puppy.”

  Caelum glared at the demon from afar. “Your trick is starting to get old.”

  “And yet I keep catching you,” Lilith said with a smile.

&nb
sp; “So you think,” Caelum claimed. He kept his hands folded over his chest, allowing space between his torso and the shadow that pinned him. He forced his arms to spread, pushing the shadows slightly, just enough for him to slip down. Caelum rolled on the ground and got back on his feet. He jumped just as Lilith sent another whip at him.

  Caelum caught sight of Lucifer reaching for his sword, his foot holding Ariel in place. He rushed for the archangel, readying to throw himself against him to knock him off Ariel. Only a few steps away, Caelum readied his shoulder. Lucifer’s golden eyes looked into Caelum’s, freezing him.

  Caelum tried to move, but his body had frozen, refusing to obey his brain. His eyes stared at Lucifer’s, who looked at him blankly. The demon commanded any part of his body to move, but nothing budged.

  “Caelum!” Ariel screamed for him, but even his eyes couldn’t move to look at her. He just stood there, captive in the archangel’s eyes.

  “We have prolonged this battle for too long,” Lucifer announced, and again it was as if he spoke directly into Caelum’s mind. “I assume that you all have entertained yourselves enough. But time will not wait longer.”

  Lucifer turned to the angel below him and released her. Ariel moved to Caelum’s side immediately, holding his face. She looked into his eyes, but could not break the spell Lucifer had put him under. With sorrow in her eyes, she turned her back to him, shielding Caelum from the archangel. Lucifer held his sword in hand, looking at them. “A fascinating sight you two have been. An angel protecting a demon, despite God’s cruel trick of making you natural enemies”

  “Cruel.” Ariel repeated the word in disgust. “You have done Him wrong and you were punished. God is not cruel!”

  “And where is He now?” Lucifer asked her. “Where is He while His beloved children are fighting meaningless battles and slaughtering each other for shallow reasons? Where is He while his children are suffering?” Lucifer looked up to the souls trapped above them, moaning in pain and sorrow. “He created such a cruel world for such fascinating creatures. And then He left us all without guidance. Do you call that fair, my sister?”

  Ariel tried to answer, but nothing answer came. “I cannot let you defile His world.”

  “Do not fret, innocent Ariel,” Lucifer assured her. “I shall do no harm to the world He created. I will save it.”

  “What?” Ariel asked, confused.

  “I shall become a better God than He has ever been. With the cycle finally ending, I will collect enough power to create a better world for us all. Mortals shall live in a world where there will be no eternal suffering, no spiteful angels that lord over them, no demons that will torment and tempt them; a world of true peace and harmony. And your sacrifice will be the key to that new world.”

  Caelum watched as Lucifer lifted his weapon over his head. His eyes were staring down on Ariel, who gasped in horror as she realized her fate. He could not see her face, but she did not move, not willing to leave him. Ariel, move! Run! He wanted to shout, but his lips did not move. Panicked, Caelum commanded his body to move, to do anything. Why! Why can’t I do anything!

  He focused all his energy on his body. His eyes were glued to Lucifer, and it was as though time were slowing down. He screamed in his mind, Move! Ariel’s screams pierced through his mind, and he remembered the vision he’d had. He saw Ariel again in the midst of the bright white light, being taken from him by the angels, to never see her again after centuries. His longing as he walked the mortal land was for her all along, and now that he knew that, he was about to lose her again. He heard her scream his true name, waking his senses.

  Cornelius!

  Ariel gasped at the sudden push behind her. Caelum broke through Lucifer’s curse just as the archangel swung the blade. He put himself between Ariel and Lucifer. The angel stumbled back, and when she lifted her eyes to him, she saw the blade enter Caelum’s body, blood dripping from it.

  “C-Caelum…” The name caught in Ariel’s throat. She moved forward just as the demon’s body staggered back. Caelum collapsed in Ariel’s arms and his weight brought her to her knees.

  Shock filled her senses and froze all the muscles in her body. Her eyes were wide, staring at him, her lips open in a silent scream. Ariel could feel herself shaking, and she could not stop it. Nor could she stop the tears that dampened her cheeks. She held her breath as she saw the white blade in Lucifer’s hand pull free from Caelum’s body, dark liquid dripping from it.

  Blood. A whimper escaped her lips. “Caelum… Caelum!” She shook him slightly. His face had gone pale and his skin was already beginning to grow cold. Blood stained his white dress shirt; a slash opened it diagonally. The holy blade prevented him from healing himself, and his body lay in her lap, limp. “Caelum!” She screamed his name again.

  His eyes fluttered open, his lips moved slightly. “A- A-riel…” Her name rolled across his lips in a hoarse voice. Despair filled her, choking her.

  “No… No…” she pleaded. Her eyes caught sight of the blood dripping from his shirt to the ground. She watched as the blood moved to the line nearest them that formed the sigil of the seal. The blood mixed with the blue of the seal, and the faint blue light began to flicker.

  “W- What…” Ariel managed to say in her confusion. Her eyes darted around, seeing the seal’s light growing weaker and weaker. Something roared over the noise of the souls above, and she turned to see the blue flames in the center growing higher and higher, reaching up to the ceiling and spreading all around. The cave was drowned in the light of the blue flames that burned the souls above them. They screamed in agony. The ghastly forms reached out to them, begging and screeching.

  “What is happening?” Ariel asked no one, but Lucifer’s laugh answered her question.

  “It is done,” Lucifer announced, his voice full of glee. “I have been liberated!!”

  Caelum’s breath was heaving in Ariel’s arms. He turned his body to face Lucifer, his brows pulled together. “What do—what does he mean?”

  “He means you’re stupid!” Lilith yelled to him amidst the roaring flames and screaming souls. “Everything, everything has been to prepare you for this! And now, it’s done!”

  “What?” Ariel looked at her in horror.

  “Aw, look at you two, all defeated now,” Lilith laughed at them. “Sorry, Caelum, honey. But your girlfriend was never the sacrifice we needed. Everything we prepared for was for you! All for special little Caelum!”

  “And so the demon of Hell has shed his own blood for the angel of Heaven.” Lucifer was the one to recite. “His blood shall forge the bridge between the two worlds. Through his sacrifice, Heaven and Hell become one.”

  She looked down to Caelum, who met her eyes with so much regret.

  “I’m sorry…” Caelum’s words were barely audible. They had been played for fools. In the end, Ariel was not the key they needed; she was the bait to get him. She wept at their defeat, but she could not bear to put the blame on him. He had only meant to protect her, and it was her weakness that brought them here.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay…” Ariel assured him. Her vision was clouded by the tears that pooled in her eyes. She was furious at having been played, and she was breaking at the sight of the man she loved bleeding to his death.

  With her hand shaking, she settled him back on the ground, spreading her hands to heal him. Before she could, Caelum’s hand reached up and stopped her. His hand was covered with his blood as he reached for something inside his shirt. Ariel watched as he pulled out an amber pendant that hung from his neck. He tugged it, breaking the lace that held it to him.

  “Caelum…” Ariel breathed his name in her confusion.

  His eyes were determined, and with the last drops of his strength, Caelum slammed his hand against the ground. The pendant shattered from the force, breaking into pieces. Ariel’s eyes grew wide as she watched a small flame erupt from the piece of glass that Caelum held. The fire was similar to the Hellfire that purified the souls from their sins. B
ut there was something different about it.

  The flames burned weakly, becoming white smoke that pooled on the glass. The smoke moved up and reached Caelum’s chest. The confused angel fumbled with his shirt, checking if the smoke had somehow healed the wound on his body.

  But it hadn’t. The slash on his skin was still bleeding, his life leaking out. Ariel looked to Caelum again for an answer, but his eyes were starting to lose their light.

  “No… No!” Ariel reached up to him, kissing his lips. “No, please,” she pleaded. Caelum’s eyelids fluttered, trying desperately to stay open. Ariel prayed in her mind, begging that whatever he had done with the pendant would save his life.

  Finally, Caelum’s eyes fluttered and closed. Ariel waited for what seemed like an eternity, but his eyes did not open again.

  Chapter Nineteen: The Angel’s Rise

  All across Hell, the fire was shooting up to the sky, roaring like a beast that had wakened. The formless souls all around the tower screeched in pain as the fire burned them. Azazel watched the chaos from his lofty tower, his kingdom in flames. His demonic army saw through all the horror beneath, confused by what was happening. The leader of demons turned to his assistant, who mirrored the worry that clouded his mind.

  “Is this part of the plan?” Baron asked.

  Azazel looked back down on his kingdom. Everything was in flames, the pit roaring violently from afar. The beast charged at all the demons and souls that escaped the gates and the pit, devouring everything in its way. With narrowed eyes, Azazel answered him, “No.”

  Daniel rushed to Raphael’s chambers, the story Azrael had told him bothering him. He threw open the great doors, the dumbfounded angel who stood guard letting him pass without trying to stop him. Marching inside the archangel’s chambers without asking for permission was unlike Daniel, but the urgency of the event was far more important than formalities.

  “Daniel,” Raphael eyed him curiously. “What brings you to my chambers so unexpectedly?”