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

by J. D. Stonebridge

  Her body moved with nary a thought required, and Mikaela started chanting spells. Lilith stood still, in shock that the witch had evaded her attack so easily. Her eyes tried to catch up as Mikaela rushed closer, the witch’s speed quicker than she’d ever seen. Lilith sliced the air with her arm, summoning wind to block the witch before she could touch her, but Mikaela had already rolled to the left, out of her line of vision.

  Lilith felt a small stab against her back, but when she turned around to strike her attacker, Mikaela was nowhere to be seen. Before Lilith could react, Mikaela swung down from above her and stabbed two black shards into either side of her shoulders. Lilith screamed again and Hellfire billowed from her mouth.

  Mikaela reached around Lilith, curling her arm against her neck and slamming it upwards, forcing the demon’s jaw shut. As soon as the flames ceased, Mikaela produced another black shard and plunged it into Lilith’s stomach. With a spin of her body, Mikaela placed distance between her and Lilith and delivered a roundhouse kick into Lilith’s chest.

  The blow landed squarely but had little effect; Lilith didn’t move. She burst into laughter. “How did that hunkmuffin say it? Ah, FUTILE!”

  Mikaela returned the smile and meekly pointed at Lilith’s stomach.

  Confused, Lilith looked down and gasped in horror. The small, black spike that had stabbed her stomach had created cracks that reached across her chest. The two stabs on her shoulder were doing the same. “Behind you too.”

  Lilith could feel the energy of the souls spilling from the wounds. “What have you done, you wench?!”

  Mikaela smirked at her. “Strange to be called such a word by a whore.”

  She snapped her fingers, and the shard in Lilith’s stomach exploded. The force sent Lilith flying a considerable distance. Mikaela raised a brow at the sight. Oh, I didn’t expect it to absorb that much power. Her smile turned to a grin. I wonder how the other three are doing.

  A sudden impact snapped Ariel’s eyes open. She sensed something powerful nearby, and through the smoke, she caught sight of the demon struggling to get back on her feet. Her stomach was marked with web-like cracks that spilled light. Lilith?

  When Lilith stood, her ears picked up the sound of snapping fingers from afar. Her thoughts screamed fear when the two shards on her shoulder began to glow.

  Ariel flinched as two massive explosions erupted from the woman’s shoulders, instantly slamming her face into the ground. Ariel spotted a small glowing object on the woman’s back, and soon after, her vision was rocked and her hair was blown back from the shock of the blast.

  Mikaela arrived, walking almost nonchalantly towards the battered Lilith. Ariel noticed how her arms twitched, and her eyes were bloodshot. “Mikaela!” Ariel shouted, “Your soul, it is …”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Mikaela panted. “Let’s proceed with… fixing this stupid guy here.”

  Mikaela suddenly felt exhausted. Her shirt was drenched in sweat and dirt. Inside her mind, she could see that the demon she’d leashed was flailing around, struggling to be released. Her breaths grew short; her stomach felt pangs of twisting pain. But she shook away all the weariness and made her way towards Ariel and Caelum. Caelum was still under the angel’s spell. “The plan worked,” she quietly cheered. “Good work making Dad behave.”

  Ariel’s concerns have not been assuaged. “Let us make haste so that I can tend to you, Mikaela.”

  The witch looked at Ariel and an odd thought came to her. “When we’re done with all this, do I have to start calling you mother?”

  The angel muttered under breath, her stoic and valiant face ever so slightly showing a blush.

  “Relax, I was kidding,” Mikaela joked. “Alright, hold him, I’ll start operating on him—”

  “WENCH!”

  The screech tore through the afternoon sky. The next thing Mikaela saw was Lilith's maddened glare directed at her. Ariel responded and flashed a blinding light at Lilith, making her flinch back. Mikaela saw Lilith through the light and reached out, grabbing a handful of her blonde hair. She pulled Lilith down, slamming her to the ground, then dragged the demon by the hair.

  “This is payback!” Mikaela yelled.

  Darkness poured out of her feet and blotted the ground like ink, completely covering the area around them. A multitude of spikes stabbed through Lilith’s arms, pushing her to a standing position with her arms stretched outward, forming a cross with her body. Lilith howled in rage, trying to summon any of her own shadows to attack Mikaela. But nothing came as Mikaela’s darkness took over the area.

  Desperate, Lilith screamed again. A piece of her own soul seeped out of her mouth. The dark smoke materialized into a black whip that wrapped around the witch’s neck before she could react. The witch grunted in pain. Though the grip was not tight, the whip grew hot as hellfire began to spark from it.

  “Ariel!” Mikaela shouted, “Help!”

  Ariel looked at Mikaela and saw her predicament and the weakness of the witch’s body. Her cry of help stabbed her heart, but with a lack of a weapon powerful enough to harm the demon, Ariel was desperate. She thought of the only weapon at her disposal, though dangerous not only to her target but also to herself.

  But I must... for her sake!

  Ariel released her hold on Caelum and extended her hand. A rod of light beamed out from it that solidified into the spear she’d taken from Raphael. The spear sang with power, similar to Daniel’s swords, and the energy from it almost burnt her hand. She jumped past the stoic Caelum and raised the spear. With the perfect poise of a javelin warrior, she threw the spear and sent it spiraling towards Lilith.

  Time slowed as the spear left the tips of her fingers. A flash in Lilith’s eyes made Ariel’s heart sink, and she watched as the thing that wrapped around Mikaela’s throat pulled the witch to the side, positioning her in front of the spear.

  No! Ariel willed the spear to stop, but it did no such thing. The spear spun in the air, speeding towards Mikaela. Caelum intervened, and the spear was nudged to the side. Caelum held the divine weapon in his hand. Smoke seeped from his palm where it grasped the spear, and Ariel watched Caelum swerve around, brandishing the spear. He sidestepped away from Mikaela and for a fleeting moment, Ariel saw a glimpse of his face. His smile was maddened, but his eyes were terrified.

  In one swift motion, Caelum brought the spear forward, burying it deep into his target’s stomach. Blood sprayed into the air in a majestic arc, complementing the setting sun with a haze of crimson. Mikaela fell, her vision dimming. The image of her father standing beside her, holding the spear that had slayed Lilith, burned into her memory.

  The spear dripped crimson, drenched in its victim’s blood. Lilith’s jaw locked open as she felt the spear’s power. With a grunt, Caelum pulled the spear free, spilling Lilith’s guts. He held the spear above his head triumphantly, and the hand that held the spear was burned black and smoldering. He discarded it as if it was useless, throwing it in Ariel’s direction carelessly.

  Ariel looked down at her feet where the blood-drenched spear lay. She looked at it with horror and disgust, yet she reached down for it. With nothing more left to do, she quickly sealed the weapon and it vanished into the light.

  Lilith locked eyes with Caelum, feeling the irony that the one she had been preparing for their goal for centuries was the one that had severed her prolonged life. Her gaze fell on the blood that spilled from her body, baffled by the thought that she, the first woman, the first demon, the only one who had gained knowledge of God’s name and stolen His powers, was now slipping away from life. Not a word left her lips. She wanted to curse all who existed in God’s land. She wanted to curse God Himself for making her what she was.

  Despite her body’s violent shaking, despite the fact that her blood stained the ground beneath her feet, the woman who had lived since the time of creation smiled.

  Mikaela pushed herself off the ground. When her eyes lifted to the scene before her, she witnessed Lilith’s body beginn
ing to thin. Her skin wilted until Mikaela could see the outline of every bone. With a gust of wind, her skin cracked and turned to ash. Lilith’s entire form crumbled into a pile of dust until she was no more.

  In his quiet state, Caelum stared blankly at the powder that had been Lilith. He flicked his shoe at it, making it mix with the wind that blew across, as if making sure that she was no more.

  A tap on his shoulder made him turn only to find himself suddenly plunged into darkness. Mikaela had grabbed both his hands and, without hesitation, began to invoke her spell.

  Caelum felt his strength being sapped rapidly, yet his mind was clearing. He could feel something leaving his body, being taken from him, but he was healing because of the loss. Soon, his vision cleared, and he found Mikaela standing in front him. And he recognized her.

  Since the moment Caelum had shaken Azazel’s hand, he’d felt like the world had been turned upside-down. His vision had shifted until everything was darkness. He could hear what was around him; he could even feel the wind on his face. He’d heard Mikaela’s screams and Ariel’s pleas, yet his body did nothing to stop what was causing them anguish. His body moved on its own, and relinquished him of control. Caelum couldn’t see what was happening; he had no control of anything until that moment when the light shone in his eyes and the image of his daughter stood before him.

  Caelum felt something grip his mind. It was his consciousness, coming back, forcing his mind to return from the darkness. Caelum closed his eyes again, and in his mind, he saw the one responsible for it.

  His own face, though the expression was foreign, filled his mind. He stood next to his other self, their shoulders touching. The other him had a menacing smile and a maniacal laughter. “POWER! POWER! POWER!” it declared.

  Caelum tried to fight him, but he remained stuck to his shoulder. “POWER!” he shouted in his ear. “YOU ARE USELESS WITHOUT IT!”

  The memory reminded him of the time he’d been caged. How he’d felt useless while his loved ones were trapped in Lilith’s claws. He’d been so weak then, and power was what he wanted. Power. It was what he had asked for to seal the deal. And it was the one thing that made him lose himself. The way the other Caelum smiled very similarly to a certain other demon. Azazel.

  “Don’t worry.” A faint, gentle voice whispered from above. Suddenly, he felt a firm grip on his hands, the hands were warm and smooth. Caelum focused on the sensation, using it as the anchor that would keep him from losing his path again. The void behind Caelum started to spiral, transforming into a whirlpool of darkness. It spun faster and faster, and he saw the other him being sucked into it. The other Caelum opened his mouth as if to scream, but his voice was muted by the power that was consuming him.

  The energy she was seeing struck fear into the angel’s heart. Ariel wanted to stop the process, seeing what Mikaela’s soul was becoming. If she continues this in her current state, her soul may succumb to the demonic powers. The angel worried for the witch, but Mikaela’s determination kept Ariel from protesting.

  “You guys aren’t the only ones who can sacrifice something for what we’re doing, you know,” Mikaela said from what seemed like a lifetime ago. “I can do something, too. Right? To protect what I care about?”

  Mikaela… Ariel couldn’t keep herself from being concerned. Please don’t let it consume you, too.

  In the darkness of Caelum’s mind, the other him screamed as his grip loosened, the whirlpool dragging him away from the true one’s shoulder. Before the spinning mass consumed him, he let out one final cry. “YOU ARE USELESS!” Its voice echoed in his thoughts, even after Caelum’s eyes snapped open to see his daughter’s face.

  Covered in dirt and scratches, Mikaela still managed to crack a smile. She was beautiful, as Caelum had always thought. In all their times together, Caelum had boasted that Mikaela’s beauty and intelligence had been inherited from him. But as he saw her now, standing in ruins, still stunning, he glimpsed the image of Mikaela’s mother.

  Mikaela’s lips parted, assuring him, “Don’t you worry, Dad. I'm here for you.”

  “MIKAELA——!”

  A bright yellow light flashed from the dusky sky. On the sigil above, Daniel cried the witch’s name as Uriel held his neck. A colossal, blue bolt of lightning blitzed across the air and struck the crimson-haired witch who stood by her father.

  Chapter Eighteen: Domino Effect

  To be bestowed with the honor of leading Heaven’s army was one Gabriel had worn with such pride. Since the creation of the worlds, she hadn’t lost a battle. In all the wars she’d fought in, her army brought victory in their Father’s name. Her memory brought back the time of the greatest war Heaven had ever seen and how it had always brought her such satisfaction.

  When whispers passed around the angels that Lucifer and his followers had been stepping out of the Gates of Heaven without permission, Gabriel did not wish to listen. She found herself far too busy to bother with her brother’s activities. But the time came when Gabriel witnessed how Lucifer, who was watching over the younger seraph, vanished before her eyes into a drop of darkness. Before she could act upon her surprise, many of the other angels had vanished the same way. The others panicked in their surprise upon witnessing their brothers, who carried on their tasks as they often do, suddenly transforming into something dark before disappearing.

  All were in discord until the messengers from the mortal realm returned, most of whom were wounded, and others who were close to perishing. They reported that Lucifer and two hundred other angels had descended upon the world below and made illicit contact with humans.

  Gabriel, who had been the only archangel present during their arrival, used her authority and approached one of the angels that had suffered the event. “Who wounded you?”

  “Lucifer.” The angel whimpered. “Our brother wished to prevent us from reaching home.”

  With his and the others’ statements, Gabriel reported to their Father. It was not long before the order was passed.

  Lucifer has been judged. He is to be vanquished.

  From the Heavens, Gabriel, Michael, and Uriel had descended, leading their own army against Lucifer’s. Upon the descent, they found Lucifer and his followers already assembled, ready for the battle.

  Had they been informed? Does Heaven still hold those loyal to him? Gabriel had wondered.

  The mortal land was bathed in holy light for three days and three nights as the angels clashed against each other, brothers against brothers. The humans cowered in fear upon witnessing the war of angels in their land. Gabriel challenged Lucifer herself, aiming to bring forth a victory to their Father once again.

  On the third day, Gabriel and what remained of her troops gained the advantage. Though she tasted victory, doubts still filled Gabriel at the thought that Lucifer and his army were far weaker than she’d anticipated. She had brought with her Michael and Uriel in that assumption. She denounced those thoughts when her triumph presented itself.

  With the rush of the battle surging through her, Gabriel went for Lucifer for the final strike. She gripped the blade she’d wielded, blessed by their Father, and made to vanquish her weakened prey.

  But her moment of victory had been interrupted by Michael who appeared between her and Lucifer. Gabriel could do nothing but watch in disbelief as Michael cast a seal on Lucifer, binding their brother instead. It was then that Lucifer was sent to the lowest land of Hell, banished to never set foot past the Gates of Heaven. And history came to acknowledge Michael’s valor of banishing Lucifer and his mightiest generals to Hell while showing mercy by sparing their lives for the sake of his love of his brother.

  As Gabriel glided above the army of angels that had rallied against her traitorous brothers, she couldn’t help but groan at the injustice of her stolen victory. She lowered her eyes to Lucifer who stood against all of her followers by himself while Michael watched. A sneer marked Gabriel’s lips to see the two standing side by side, knowing now how their previous battle had been inter
rupted in their favor.

  Moments before, Gabriel had brandished her scepter and with rage-filled eyes, struck Lucifer. However, Lucifer’s placid face remained unfazed by her attack. By merely raising his hands, Lucifer had blocked her scepter with the tips of his fingers. Gabriel twisted her body to the other side, bringing the weapon around to strike again. The attack connected and Gabriel felt a moment of success, only for it to vanish along with the after-image that caught her attack instead.

  “Sister, there is still much for you to learn, I see,” Lucifer announced from behind. “I shall see to it that you understand.”

  Before he could touch Gabriel, another angel brandished his Zound and rushed to Lucifer. Without even turning to the angel, Lucifer created a force that threw him back. Hundreds of angels witnessed the event, all baffled at the action Lucifer had taken. Gabriel’s words echoed in their thoughts, and she saw that little by little, her pleas reached them. Soon, more angels dared to stand against the first angel with her.

  The battle in the fields of Heaven reached Azrael who stood with purpose within her ivory wards. She lifted her hands and placed them together in prayer. The walls trembled and the floor vibrated. Though imprisoned, Azrael still sensed the events unfolding outside.

  Several of the virtues have taken to Sister Gabriel’s side. Should her plan bear fruit, then there will be no need for my act.

  Gabriel soared past a battalion of angels who had grouped themselves. She raised her scepter, and the glass orb at the end shone with a soft bluish light. “Call upon your brothers!” she commanded.

  With the assistance of her scepter, which was made from a branch from the Tree of Knowledge bestowed upon her by their Father, her voice reached every angel in her vision.

  Gabriel landed at the center of the gathering angels. “Virtues!” she called, “Gather with me, and we shall wage war! No longer shall we tolerate our fallen brother’s actions! We shall act to banish him again!”