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

by J. D. Stonebridge

  "I am afraid that won't be necessary," Ariel said, nearing them.

  Mikaela's eyes stared at her in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"

  "You sense it too, do you not?" Ariel asked her with a sad expression on her face. "Aside from Caelum, there are no mortal souls in this area."

  "What?!" Caelum felt his heart drop.

  "My apologies, I only—" Ariel stopped mid-sentence. Her face suddenly twisted with fury, and she wheeled around to meet the visitor. Caelum and Mikaela looked in the same direction.

  A form descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the ground several feet away. He wore a long, dark brown coat over khaki pants and a black button-up shirt. His black hair fell to hide his face, but when he looked up to them, they all recognized him.

  "Daniel."

  Chapter Five: The Angel of Power

  When the fire ceased, the smoke rose to the sky, obscuring the light of the sun. The air was cold as it blew against their skin, but the heart of one witch was set ablaze with fury and grief. Her piercing green eyes stared at the angel who came upon the scene, and her memory served her well in putting the face and the event that had happened not long before together. When she came to the tunnel that was set out as a hiding place for the monsters under the wings of the Angel of Death, Mikaela had been taken hostage against her father upon the order of this particular angel.

  Her fist balled tight and her jaw was set. She removed herself from her father’s grasp and her voice bore the anger in her chest. “What have they done to you? What have they done to deserve this?” Mikaela stretched her arm, pointing at the burnt down house that was on the verge of collapsing in on itself.

  Daniel looked to Mikaela then to the house. His mouth gaped in confusion. “I did not. I have only just arrived here, sensing the immense power that touched this place…”

  “Lies!” Mikaela accused. “Why did you do this? Tell me!”

  “I did not—”

  “Then what are you doing here?” It was Ariel who asked. Her face was marked with anger as well, but not like the fury that Mikaela felt. “Why have you come here?”

  Daniel stared at Ariel as if he was seeing a ghost. His eyes fell upon Caelum, and the words hung in the air. His memory tugged to Azrael’s last words to him, and his eyes saw now what she had meant.

  “Daniel!” Ariel demanded his attention. “Why are you here?”

  “I came to warn…” Daniel said. “I escaped from Heaven. I have turned my back on the archangels, for I have seen the truth of that which you have been warning me.” He looked to Caelum. “And to return the favor, I am here to make amends for my mistake.”

  “And you do so by murdering our friends?” Mikaela stabbed the words at him. Tears streamed down her face which was red with anger. Something in the way her energy looked alarmed the angel, and he found himself stepping back.

  “I did not commit this crime!” Daniel insisted, but the witch was not willing to listen. Sparks flew from between her clenched fists and heat radiated from her.

  “Mikaela!” Caelum neared his daughter and meant to put his palm on her shoulder. But his hand jolted away upon making contact with her body, heat burning his skin. “Mika—”

  Her head snapped and her feet kicked her forward. Mikaela sped towards the angel, her palm outstretched to claw at him. Daniel dodged her attack, wheeling around to let her pass. But instead, Mikaela pivoted her body and drove her other hand against him. Her fingers dug against the arm she caught, and Daniel felt as if his skin was on fire.

  Daniel screamed, throwing an elbow against her. Mikaela blocked his attack with her free arm then stepped back. Daniel met the eyes of the witch and pleaded with her. “I do not wish to fight you, young one. Please heed my words.”

  A cracking sound came from behind him. Daniel turned around just as the windows of the house shattered, sharp glass exploding towards him. He shielded himself with his wing, but the distraction was enough. With his back open, Mikaela rushed towards him and landed a kick square against his back. Daniel stumbled forward, nearly hitting his head against the wall of the house. He turned to see Mikaela driving her elbow straight for him. Daniel rolled to the side and clambered back on his feet.

  “Mikaela, stop this!” Caelum screamed at his daughter.

  “We must go, now!” Ariel warned, her eyes darting around.

  “Then, go!” Mikaela yelled back. “I can handle myself.”

  Caelum could feel the surge of power coursing inside his daughter. Only recently had she consumed a demonic soul into her own, and just now she’d done the same for the fire that had destroyed the Tenney house. Both awe and fear struck his heart, as he could do little to quench the witch’s anger.

  The branches of the trees around them creaked as the wind blew. The air swirled around Mikaela who remained steady, glaring at Daniel. Her lips were pursed tight as the air moved up, lifting the strands of her crimson hair.

  “You call yourselves angels of Heaven, angels of the Lord. Yet you lay waste to the mortals you were meant to protect,” Mikaela accused. “What has become of Heaven? You are no better than the corrupt and greedy. While your Father has left your side, all of you have gone to play against His rules and accuse us of becoming monsters!”

  “Calm yourself.” Daniel tried to console her. “I did not commit the crime you speak of, and I wish not to harm a potential ally of mine! I have turned my back on those wretched ones who I have called my brothers. I have returned to this land with the intent of making right what they have wronged!”

  “Stop lying!” A blast came with Mikaela’s voice, throwing all of them away. Daniel was pushed back against the house while Caelum and Ariel flew back further into the forest.

  Pain shot through Daniel’s muscles as he climbed back to his feet, his vision disoriented. He looked over to the witch and feared he might have to fight her. But to do so will risk my chance to convince them of the truth!

  A light sped towards him; Daniel instinctively unsheathed his blade to block the attack. The ball of energy bounced off his blade, crashing into the upper walls of the house, causing it to crumble. Following the attack, Mikaela appeared all too suddenly in front of Daniel. She swung her leg across his torso, slamming her foot into his ribs. She pivoted her body to land a punch on his face. Daniel blocked the attack and gripped her fist with his free hand. He pushed her forward and used his other arm to pin her against the wall.

  “Listen!” Daniel demanded. “I am not here to fight you, nor was I responsible for this destruction!”

  “Let me go!” Mikaela screamed at him. She gripped Daniel’s arm and pulled it downward. She lifted her leg up and brought it down against Daniel’s back. Daniel stumbled to the ground while Mikaela still held his arm behind him, the sword slipping from his grasp. Mikaela stretched her hand to the sky, and Daniel felt the flurry of energy gathering around them.

  What had become of this witch? Daniel wondered, seeing how she was more powerful than any he had encountered. His eyes looked up to the sky, seeing the storm cloud gathering above them, and suddenly, he had something else to worry about.

  “Run!” Daniel warned her, but it was too late. Suddenly, the witch was thrown off of him, her body crashing into a tree trunk. Daniel rolled to his side just as a blade sliced in his direction, tearing the sleeve of his coat. He kicked his feet up and stood to meet the eyes of the new enemy.

  Caelum opened his eyes then blinked away the dust that coated his face. A hand stretched out to his, and he grabbed it to pull himself up. “What is going on?”

  Ariel stood beside him, her skin covered in dirt but still radiating in the darkness. “We must take Mikaela away from here. Something is changing her.”

  “Anger does that to a person,” Caelum claimed. He walked forward but Ariel’s hand touched the inside of his elbow, halting his steps. “Yes?”

  “I sense another presence,” Ariel claimed. “More powerful.” Conflict spread across her face and she tugged at Caelum’s arm to mo
ve deeper into the woods. “We must not go now. We will be seen.”

  “Seen? I believe your buddy already saw us back there, my dear.”

  “No, not Daniel. Someone far more dangerous,” Ariel warned him, fear apparent in her eyes.

  To see the angel in such a state sent a jab in Caelum’s heart. He looked in the direction of the house, covered by the thick tree that stood in their way. Something that scared Ariel had appeared, and Mikaela was alone to fend for herself. “I must go.”

  “Caelum…” Ariel whispered his name. “You cannot fight.”

  “But I have to try,” Caelum said. “I know I am weak, but a red ant can still pester the giant that stepped on its territory, can it not? Sometimes enough to drive the giant away.”

  A smile spread on Ariel’s lips at the metaphor. She looked down to her feet, thinking about how powerless she had been feeling since the loss of her wings. Caelum had lost much more than she had and he still strived to fight.

  Ariel lifted her eyes to meet his again, but before a word was spoken, Caelum had leaned down to place his lips on hers. The pair had shared few rare moments such as this during their stay in the mortals’ home, and the angel felt as though she might melt with his touch.

  When Caelum pulled away from Ariel, he gave her the knowing smile she had grown fond of. “Vanquish the fear, my dear. Remember what we’ve accomplished together already. We have stood against Hell, and now we will stand against Heaven. This is but a challenge we will overcome.”

  Ariel mirrored his smile, his words reaching deep inside her. She held his hand and squeezed it once. “Yes, we will,” she agreed just as the cool night air caressed her raven black hair.

  The archangel’s dark hair was smoothed down his scalp until it reached the back of his neck. He wore bright white robes adorned with Enochian symbols at the hem, and a gold rope was wrapped around his waist. In his hand was a weapon even Daniel had never seen. It was a bone white spear with gold lining the handle. A silver blade spiked up from the tip, clean and sharp, that gleamed in the low sunlight. In one swift move, the spear had created a large slice on the ground. Daniel didn’t want to imagine the devastation to his body had he not moved.

  Raphael straightened, dragging the spear with him. His golden eyes looked to the other angel, and Daniel read the amusement in his expression.

  “Ah, my wayward boy,” Raphael addressed Daniel. “Such a pity that you have been swayed by those who stand in Heaven’s way.”

  “Heaven?” Daniel spat the word. “It is you and our brothers who have been plotting against our Father’s word.”

  “Our Father.” Raphael scoffed. “It is a new age now, young one. Father has relinquished his power since his disappearance. Do you not see that?”

  “I do not accept it,” Daniel said. He swung his arm upward, releasing his sword into the sky where it floated in the air. Raphael dashed towards him at a high speed, slashing at him with his spear. Daniel took a step back, but the tip of the blade still grazed his stomach. Daniel brought down his outstretched arm and the sword plummeted towards Raphael. The archangel pivoted and deflected the blade with the spear. He spun the weapon around and made a jab at Daniel who jumped to the sky and spread his wings.

  Raphael extended his wings to chase after the angel but heat came from behind him. He turned, swinging his spear to slice across the ball of light that was directed at him. When the flames cleared, Mikaela appeared, her eyes glaring at the archangel.

  “Oh, you still live?” Raphael eyed the witch curiously. “And you have devoured the flames of Uriel’s power.”

  “Uriel?” Mikaela repeated the name, confused.

  “How very odd that you are still standing despite all that,” Raphael wondered. “No worries, we will strike you down just as we did your mortal allies.” He directed his spear towards Mikaela and posed for his next attack. But Daniel came from above, swinging his sword against the archangel. Raphael swung his spear backward, hitting Daniel in the stomach with the handle.

  The archangel turned back to the witch who had her arms across her face. She screamed, pulling down her arms, and as she did so, flames erupted all around Raphael. The flames roared, and he swung his spear through the fire. The wind he created with the spear killed the flames. Raphael smiled smugly at the witch.

  “Fire does me no harm, little one. Perhaps you need to try harder,” he taunted her.

  Mikaela’s lips formed a crooked smile. “How about a Holy Seal?”

  Raphael pulled his brows together. He looked to the ground beneath him and realized the flames had been created to burn the soil around him, forming a seal with the darkened ashes. He smiled at the witch’s attempt. “I commend you for your creativity.”

  Daniel appeared behind Raphael, his eyes angered at the archangel he once served. “It will not hold him much longer,” he warned Mikaela. “He is an archangel, after all.”

  “The boy speaks the truth,” Raphael said. “As we speak, my power is slowly devouring your poor excuse of a cage.”

  “Then speak now!” Mikaela demanded him. “You were the one who caused the fire?”

  Raphael smiled. “Yes.”

  “Why?” Mikaela asked through gritted teeth.

  “The humans were a nuisance. They hold knowledge beyond their comprehension. And if such knowledge fell into the wrong hands, it could cause trouble for us. Therefore, we’ve eliminated the obstacle before it became a problem.”

  “Obstacle,” Daniel repeated the word. “Human lives are an obstacle to you? Are we not angels who were meant to protect them?”

  “Protect?” Raphael laughed. “The world is crumbling, and you worry about two petty lives while all will be destroyed in a matter of days!”

  Mikaela’s anger flared again. “And because of that, we will just bow down and let you and your wretched brothers crawl all over us? Because of that, you’ve been given the right to take away lives you deem inconvenient?”

  Raphael turned to Mikaela, his face rid of the morbid humor he’d previously had. “Watch what you say to me, you pathetic hybrid. I am one of the highest archangels of Heaven, the most loyal to the first angels created by God. An abomination such as you has no right to breathe a word to me in such a way.”

  “You have no right to expect respect from us when you slaughter innocents,” Daniel told him. “I wish to erase my past of serving you, when I blindly followed your whims. I have sullied my hand for you, and I turn my back to redeem myself from such mistakes!”

  Daniel swung his arm to the side and the sword flung out of his hand, spinning from him and around Raphael and Mikaela until it returned to him. Mikaela could see the images of the sword lingering in the air around them. Slowly, the images materialized, and on Daniel’s command, the blade pointed at the archangel they held captive. Daniel drove towards him.

  Mikaela covered her eyes as the swords clashed together, creating a bright light. The light blinded her slightly, and when it had cleared, she slowly opened her eyes to the scene before her. The swords had disappeared, but so had the archangel and the seal she’d created with fire. Daniel looked to her in horror; his eyes confirmed to her that the archangel had escaped before the sword had struck home.

  Raphael appeared behind Mikaela. He swung his spear at her; she held out her hand to stop the blade before it touched her. Mikaela’s force battled with the archangel’s strength. A shadow appeared over her head. Daniel came down with his sword aimed at Raphael. The archangel jumped out of the way and stabbed the spear into the ground. From the blade erupted fire that cracked the earth, crawling towards Daniel and Mikaela. Daniel lifted Mikaela off her feet, protecting her from the explosion.

  The shockwave pushed the two off balance, and they collapsed to the ground. Small rocks scratched Mikaela’s skin as she rolled against the earth. Daniel landed on his hands and knees, looking over his shoulder just as Raphael drove his spear downward, catching Daniel on the shoulder.

  Daniel yelped in pain. His skin sizzled agai
nst the blade, and he wrapped his hands around the handle to tug it free. Blood seeped from the wound, and he set his foot against Raphael, throwing him off.

  The archangel turned his body and spread his wings wide to stop his momentum. He spun around and aimed the weapon at Daniel again, soaring low enough to strike down the angel. But he slammed into an invisible wall. Mikaela murmured a spell and had her hands outstretched as she built a barrier around the archangel.

  “You insolent monster,” Raphael gritted his teeth at her.

  “Likewise,” Mikaela said, curling her palms as she tightened the barrier around him.

  The archangel smiled devilishly. He spun the spear on his palm and held it with the blade behind him. He lifted the blade over his head and stabbed it into the ground. The force sent a reverberation inside Mikaela’s skull, and the pain forced her to release the barrier. She staggered back, blood creeping from her nostril. A hand curled around the collar of her shirt, lifting her. Her feet left the ground and the tip of Raphael’s spear tickled the skin at the hollow of her neck.

  “In the name of Michael,” Raphael whispered to her.

  “Mikaela!” Caelum’s voice came from the forest. The sound of his voice caught Raphael’s attention, and he turned to find the former demon running towards them, Ariel following closely behind. The sight confused the archangel, and Mikaela used the opportunity to grab him by the side of his head. Mikaela pushed Raphael’s head to the side while her leg lifted up. Her knee met with the archangel’s temple, forcing him to release her. She crashed to the ground and crawled away from him.

  “Stay back!” Daniel warned the two. He sped towards Raphael with his sword gripped tightly. Raphael faced his former right-hand man and lifted his own weapon to meet his. But as he did so, his arm grew heavy, almost too heavy for him to lift. Raphael turned his head to see the witch directing her powers against him once again.

  “You!” Raphael cursed, fighting against the witch’s hold. He forced his spear up and pivoted his body, throwing the weapon towards Mikaela. He jumped out of Daniel’s way, flying over them all.