Gabriel gasped, her face full of horror and anger. "True leader?"
"Yes," Michael said, glancing at his older brother. He faced all the angels of Heaven with pride, announcing to them, "Our brother has returned! And he will claim his rightful place on the throne as our true leader. Lucifer!"
At his announcement, the angels looked to each other, confusion evident in their expressions. For so long, many of them had offered their complete loyalty to Michael. As Michael chose to pass his position to Lucifer, the angels bowed their heads to their returning brother.
Gabriel watched them bow to Lucifer, acknowledging him as the true leader, while she remained still. She glared at her brother, fury burning in her eyes.
Defying Damnation
The Damned and the Pure Book 3
Copyright @ 2016 by J.D. Stonebridge. All Rights Reserved
Author: J.D. Stonebridge
Prologue: Hail the Queen
Their cries and their torment spread across the land above like a plague, driving all those who resided in its vicinity away or into insanity. After the events of the last few days, Hell was experiencing a soul drought. The souls that provided the energy for the kingdom and all who lived in it were pouring out of the gaping hole caused by the escape of the caged angel. The ones who had been begging for release from the fiery pits had acquired what they longed for, but not the way they were meant to. Even after the bright white light that bridged the three worlds together had dissipated, the path still lingered, and all who were able took the opportunity to rid themselves of the darkness.
Hell had always been full of fire and pain, but nothing was as terrifying as the fury and anguish its leader bore. Azazel watched as the card he’d placed his bet on had backfired, leaving him unable to take control of the situation. His eyes stared down at the kingdom below his lofty tower; he could do nothing but watch as the souls of darkness escaped even from the labyrinth he had built. The pathetic demons were confused, unable to lift a finger while their bodiless kin passed through them and joined those from the pit that rose like smoke, disappearing into the swirling darkness above.
No one rejoiced the occasion but the beast that pounced outside the gates with its jaws wide open, swallowing any soul its hungry mouth could seize. But such an event spelled trouble for those who relied on the pool of souls, and one by one, the demons were beginning to feel the effects of having their energies drained. Even their leader was weakening though he couldn’t let that stop him.
Azazel looked up at the swirling darkness above them, a black hole that fed only on the souls that he and the other demons had been farming. The memory of how it happened returned to his mind again and again, plaguing him. The ground outside the gate had cracked, the land shook. All the souls and demons had panicked, screeching in fear. The cracks in the earth widened, lengthened, and created a crevice that sank deeper and deeper until, without warning, the light peeked through and shot up. The figure came a moment later, a being basking in the light of its divine power.
“Lucifer,” Azazel said the name with narrowed eyes. The plan for the archangel’s escape was made centuries ago, and the leader of demons had worked hard to prepare everything so he could escape with ease. But as he looked around his failing kingdom, he questioned if all those sacrifices had been worth it. Is this what you truly had in mind?
“My lord.” The voice of his assistant was a comfort in these trying times. The ever faithful demon was hard at work; his task was to save their home. Baron appeared before him, holding his notebook, dapper in his tailored dark suit. Azazel moved over to take a seat behind his desk, folded his hands together, and waited for the demon’s report.
“The pool of energy coming from Purgatory is enough to sustain only three-quarters of our population. However, the issue will escalate once the second stage of their plan is set in motion,” Baron reported in monotone. “Few of our men have escaped to the land above to seek for other resources, and I have tracked those down and put them in place.”
Azazel absorbed the information as he spoke, keeping his eyes closed and his mind running. When he opened his eyes, they bore the weight of his concerns. “And what about our so-called friends from above?”
Hesitation was evident in Baron’s expression which was a rare sight on the demon’s face. “Unfortunately, there has been no activity outside the angels’ gates. And I have yet to find a way to communicate with him.”
“Have you tried dialing 1-800-ANGEL?” a female voice said from the other end of the room. The blonde woman’s arms were folded over her chest, and she stared at them haughtily. Lilith gave them a smirk and let her arms fall to her sides. She walked towards them with confidence brimming in her eyes. Baron stood between the female and his employer protectively.
“Lilith,” Azazel greeted. “What an unwelcome surprise.”
“Unwelcome? Ha!” Lilith mocked. “I could say the same for you.” She neared them, eyeing Baron daringly. The younger demon kept his face blank though she could see the fear in his eyes. Lilith smiled at him then looked back to the man sitting behind the desk.
“See, I had to climb back up from the deepest of holes of Hell all on my own while healing myself after getting stabbed by my own beloved blade. So, I’m going to make this short,” Lilith stated. “Thanks for keeping my seat warm for me, old pal. But I think it’s about time you be the gentleman and give the seat to the pretty lady.”
Azazel met Lilith’s eyes with barely controlled anger. He held the seat of power in Hell for so long, making sure everything was in order in the land of chaos, but he never truly had the highest position. Lucifer was known amongst the demons as their king, after all, he was the creator of demons. But Lucifer was also one of the prisoners, therefore, he did not have control of his kingdom. Lilith was his first creation, making her the true Queen of Hell. Azazel was only appointed to take the leadership role when Lilith didn’t want it anymore.
But now she did, and Azazel had little power at his disposal to keep Lilith from regaining her role as the Queen.
Azazel glanced at the window overlooking the kingdom beyond. His eyes were fixated on the souls that continued to escape to the world above. Even from inside the tower, he could see the desolation the event was creating in Hell. He turned back to Lilith who had impatience written on her face. “Tell me, what do you intend to do about the souls escaping from the pit?”
Lilith rolled her eyes then looked through the same window. “What about them? I don’t really care.”
Azazel’s lip twitched. “The kingdom—your kingdom is imploding with every soul that escaped from our land.”
“So?” Lilith smiled. “I’m going to get a better kingdom anyway. Might as well do away with this one.”
Anger boiled inside Azazel, forcing him to burst from the seat like a rabid dog and lean towards Lilith, his nose almost touching hers. “I have spent eons in this seat working my damned ass off to keep the place running while you played around with the mortals upstairs. Everything you saw on your way up here was created by my own blood. And now you wish to take the seat of power just to have the best seat in the house to watch it all burn to ashes?” Azazel heaved, his face red in his fury. “I implore you to think otherwise.”
Lilith barely flinched at the demon’s outburst. She sighed heavily, letting her shoulders slump. “I said I wanted to make this short because I’m really tired. But have it your way.”
Before Baron could reach for his weapons, a dark whip made of black smoke wrapped around Azazel’s body and pulled him to the side, slamming his body against the wall next to the window. Baron swung his arm and blades flew towards Lilith; she easily deflected them with her shadow whips. The black whips blocked Baron’s vision, and he cut them with his blade and sent another set in Lilith’s direction. The female stared at Baron before she sank into the shadows beneath her. Baron turned around to meet Lilith, but a shadow whip wrapped around his waist. Lilith wheeled around, bringing the whip with her and spun Baron in the
air until he crashed into the wall.
“Honestly, you two. Don’t you know how to be thankful?” Lilith said as she went around the desk to look up at the painting of the dragon and the sun. The shadows around Baron and Azazel loosened. They were lowered to the ground, but they didn’t dare to make a sudden attack. “I let you borrow my power, and when I want it back, you claim it as your own. Not to mention how much you destroyed the interior of this place.” She snapped her fingers, and the desk slid across the room and out a window. Lilith went to the seat, and as she sat upon it, the chair changed from a leather office chair into a red and gold throne. “Shame though, I would have taken the both of you as my underlings. But I guess your heads are far too big to fit in this tower. So, I guess this is goodbye!” She ended with a mocking wave of her hand.
“Lilith!” Azazel gritted his teeth. “We have served this kingdom and Lucifer well, and this is how you repay us? This is unacceptable!”
“Oh really?” Lilith smiled. “Ask me if I give a damn.” Shadows spilled all around, crawling towards the two. Azazel watched the shadows move like bubbling water. His eyes grew wide at the aura he sensed in the shadows. Baron grabbed his shoulders just seconds before the shadows burst, releasing the demonic souls trapped inside. Baron pulled him away and leapt out of the window.
The two demons plummeted. Azazel opened his eyes and saw the dark souls escape from the window and chase after them. He turned his body around to face the labyrinth he’d built. He called upon the souls he’d cultivated within the labyrinth. They reached for him and Baron. Baron held his arm over their faces as they were swallowed by the darkness of the labyrinth. The souls pulled them away from their freefall, and they rolled onto dust and land.
Azazel lifted himself to his feet, Baron assisting him up. They turned to find the great beast staring at them with three sets of hungry eyes. Azazel stood tall in front of the three-headed canine, challenging it with his eyes. Behind the beast stood the tower he had called home for centuries, now tainted with the dark touch of the first demon. Below it, the kingdom he had built was crumbling, and the self-proclaimed Queen of Hell would not lift a finger to prevent it.
“Sir,” Baron said, worriedly. “The beast seems to be under her control. We must flee now.”
“Indeed we must,” Azazel agreed. His eyes now traced the route of the souls. “Survival is our priority now. But rest assured we will take back what was ours.” The smile on his face would’ve frightened even the bravest soul.
Baron mirrored the determination on his boss’ face. “As you wish.”
Chapter One: Humanity
Hunger was a feeling he had forgotten; he’d also forgotten drowsiness, thirst, and itch. Pain was something he’d felt as a demon but pain to his mortal body was different. When his soul had been purified, he was unable to fully recover his memories before his damnation, and so he had no basis for comparison other than when he’d been a demon. He was mortal now. The slight discomfort he felt from the old mattress of his bed was almost unbearable, and he couldn’t help but pity himself.
Caelum opened his eyes to the morning sun, and the pang of hunger greeted him. Is this how being human is? he thought grimly. He forced himself out of bed, but the soreness of his muscles and the hollow feeling in his chest reminded him of his daughter’s insistence that he rest for another day. But he did not wish to waste another day, not when the greatest chaos in history was happening outside the walls of the Tenneys’ home.
As soon as his feet touched the carpeted floor, the knob on the door turned. The door swung open to reveal the beauty that was his personal angel, Ariel. She wore a beige wool sweater and white leggings upon Mikaela’s advice, despite the chilly weather having no effect on her. Her blue eyes filled with concern at the sight of him, and she hurried to his aid.
“Are you strong enough to be out of bed?” she asked him directly.
“It does hurt a man’s ego when a woman questions his vigor, you know,” Caelum answered, wincing at the stabs of pain in his arms. “But if I must assure you, I am well enough to stand on my own.”
He pushed himself up, only to slightly stagger before Ariel caught him around the torso.
“I almost believed that your pride might have been removed along with your demonic soul,” Ariel said, lowering him to the bed, much to his dismay.
“I hope you are kidding. Have you forgotten how prideful humans are?” Caelum said with a smile. “They may not be demons, but they truly are sinful beings.”
The angel sighed at his comment. “Let us not talk of your beliefs now. Rather, will you tell me if you truly are feeling well?”
“You are concerned?” Caelum couldn’t help the smile on his face.
“Indeed, I am,” Ariel admitted, truthfulness in her eyes. Those eyes pierced him, and he read the worry in her heart.
He thought of the last few moments he could remember while in Lucifer’s cage. She had wept for his sake, and the sadness of that moment still lingered.
Caelum slouched and told her, “It will take a tremendous amount of time for me to get used to this fragile body of mine, but I believe I am well enough to be of use. It is rather boring to just stay in bed while everything is falling apart around us.”
“I guess you are right…” Ariel agreed, glancing for a moment behind her.
It was his turn to be concerned for the angel now. Rather, the fallen angel. In order to escape while carrying him, Ariel had sacrificed her beloved wings, letting Hell burn them away. He could not imagine how it felt for her; perhaps it would be similar to losing a limb. Indeed, to an angel, their wings are a part of their body.
Ariel caught his eye and immediately shook away the thoughts in her mind. “I suppose it is time for a meal. I believe Jennifer would be so kind as to prepare something for you.”
“Ariel.” The seriousness in his tone stopped her from talking. The angel looked at him and found herself locked in his gaze. There were differences in him now that he was human. His skin had become paler, and his movements were less graceful. But the light in his eyes were brighter, though she wished to be able to see the same light in his soul.
“Thank you,” Caelum finally said. “Thank you for taking me with you when you escaped. It would have been quite unfortunate if I had awakened as a mortal still stuck in that cage.” He laughed weakly.
Ariel opened her lips, then pursed them together again. The emotions she felt when she spoke to him privately was still foreign to her, and it made such a mundane activity difficult for the angel. “I could not simply leave you there. Less so because you were in such a condition because of me.”
“Ah, guilt, is it?” Caelum teased her. “You took the risk of taking me with you only because you felt guilty? Is that the only reason?”
Annoyance built up inside Ariel, and the need to defend herself took control. “Of course, that was not the only reason. I—I did that to return the favor. You came back for me so it was only right that I took you with me.”
“Ah, you are such a beauty indeed, my angel.” Caelum teased her further. He could see the warmth in her cheeks.
The angel was at a loss for words and was thankful for the next voice that spoke.
“So early in the morning, and you’re already flirting?” Mikaela stood by the frame of the door, her expression displeased. “Honestly, I thought un-damning you would rid you of your more annoying qualities.”
“Now, why do you people say that? Are demons the only ones who have some unsatisfying traits?” Caelum retorted.
“Oh, forgive me. I forgot that you are perpetually irritating, daddy dearest,” Mikaela snapped back. “Since you have the energy to tease your girlfriend, I assume you’re well enough to get your butt out of bed and head down the kitchen? Mandatory meeting in five minutes.” She left as abruptly as she’d arrived.
Caelum looked back to Ariel and said, “Well, I guess that settles it. I have no choice but to leave this room because we’re having breakfast with the kids.”
>
The scent of freshly made blueberry pancakes filled their noses upon stepping into the kitchen. Jenny had decided the kitchen was her station, happily making the meals for everyone. David was at risk of face-planting into his pancakes as he nodded off at the table. Mikaela set her teacup down as the pair walked in. In her other hand was a newspaper she had been reading, much to Caelum’s surprise.
“Since when do you read that?” he asked her.
“Since it was more convenient,” Mikaela answered. She tossed the bundle in his direction. The sudden weight almost slipped out of his grasp.
Caelum spread the newspaper and saw the headline: Mysterious Light in the Desert. Visitors from Below? The article talked about the light that had shot up from the earth and into the sky in Nevada. Many had witnessed it since it happened near a research facility. Photos of a silhouette that looked like a man haa been taken as it flew up into the light as well as of a woman holding a man’s body. Witnesses claimed the apparitions had appeared out of nowhere before the light finally disappeared.
“Congratulations, you’re on the front page,” Mikaela commented dryly before sipping her tea.
“You know how I’ve always wanted to be on the news, but this is not how I pictured it. You can’t even see my face in this!” Caelum returned the newspaper to Mikaela.
“I believe we should be thankful that neither of our faces were caught in the photographs,” Ariel said. “I was careless after emerging from Hell. I should have shrouded us with illusion.”
“Not that it mattered, really. Everyone had already seen the light, so that’s enough to get people talking,” Mikaela said.
“So, I assume that showing us the newspaper isn’t the reason for this meeting, is it?” Caelum took a seat next to David who had tuned in to the conversation. Jenny placed a plate of pancakes in front of Caelum. He used all the effort in him not to devour the meal in one breath.
The Damned and The Pure Series: Books 1-4 (The Damned and The Pure Series Box Set) Page 42
