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

by J. D. Stonebridge

  Sister Gabriel… Ariel prayed in her mind. An angel attacked her from above, and Ariel dove out of the way. She glanced at her palm and saw that the mark of Gabriel’s call had disappeared. She had made the call to her successfully, but she still did not feel her presence. Where are you? Ariel wondered.

  A whistling sound from above caught her ears, and Ariel looked up to see an arrow aimed at her. She caught the arrow in her hands and wheeled around to stab it into the leg of the angel who jumped behind her before delivering a roundhouse kick. Her eyes peered around at the chaos at the cave. She spotted Caelum’s red scarf fluttering in the air as the demon wrestled it off himself and ran for Lucifer. “No!” Ariel made to protest, but another angel blocked her.

  Caelum raced through the crowd, dodging swords and weapons that came his way before delivering a blow. A towering angel that reminded him too much of the short-spoken archangel blocked his way, and he smiled at the being. He stretched his hand outward and a black whip curled from the sleeve of his suit and extended out. He flicked his wrist, making the whip crack on the ground. The angel curled his fist and Caelum leapt back, swinging his arm forward. The whip wrapped around the angel’s arm and Caelum wheeled around, bringing the angel to tumble to the side, crashing against others.

  Will you let me fight? Power whispered in his mind.

  “You already are, my friend,” Caelum muttered under his breath. He bent his knees and jumped upward. The demon shot up above the angels, his eyes on Lucifer’s form, watching him with great interest.

  “Glad the feeling is mutual,” he snickered.

  Caelum turned his weight and let gravity pull him down to meet the archangel. Lucifer’s smile was the last thing he saw before a flash of white light blinded him and threw off his balance. By instinct, Caelum recoiled from the light, causing him to angle to the side and stumble on the ground to Lucifer’s left. He rolled back to his feet and swung his whip across to meet Lucifer’s immaculate blade. Before Caelum could bring the whip back, Lucifer charged at him, reaching for his throat. The black whip spilled from his hand and into a patch of shadow on the ground Caelum stepped into, narrowly evading Lucifer.

  Let me fight him! Power demanded as Caelum emerged behind the archangel. He jumped forward and spun to kick Lucifer’s head. A steady arm blocked his attack, and Lucifer looked over his shoulder with a smile on his lips. He folded his arm under Caelum’s leg, locking it inside, and brought him forward.

  Caelum crashed against the earth face first. He groaned at the pain and twisted his body to face the archangel.

  “I see that your bravery has grown, demon,” Lucifer commended him.

  Caelum lifted himself up and flashed a smile. “Oh, come on. I thought we would be on a first-name basis now, Lucy.”

  The nickname put a frown on Lucifer’s lips. “Such a disgrace you are in my presence.” He lifted his free hand and opened his palm in front of Caelum. “I shall eradicate all filth for the new world I will create,” he announced as his palm glowed with a white light.

  “Power!” Caelum screamed, and Lucifer halted his attack as he watched the soul of the demon shift. Caelum’s head hung low after his outburst, and when he faced the archangel again, his smile was more sinister than it had been only a moment before.

  “You rang?” He sneered at the archangel. He bent his knee and stretched the other outward, swinging it to meet Lucifer’s ankle. Lucifer took a step backward to avoid him, but as his back was bent, dark spikes erupted from the ground to catch him. The archangel spun on his heel, diverting his momentum to the side where a whip rushed in his direction. Lucifer slashed the whip with his sword, making it evaporate into black smoke.

  Frustration narrowed Lucifer’s eyes as he stared into the demon’s face. “How interesting,” he admitted. He spun the sword in his palm, and its form spiraled inward until it transformed into a glowing white orb. “Ignis, we might require more creativity in our attacks,” Lucifer spoke softly. He curled his palm into a fist, trapping the white orb inside and charged at Caelum.

  Amidst the clashing swords and powers of angels and a demon, David found himself cornered by three angels who stared at him blankly, though their aura was murderous. He gripped his arm, reminding himself of the process of his new weapon. There are many of them. Then, he shook his head, getting rid of the fear. No, I can control this!

  He charged at the angel to his right who carried a spear that she threw at him. David crouched to evade the weapon and froze as the angel spun around to kick him. The human caught the angel’s leg, though his knees bent upon absorbing the impact. The angel stared at him wide-eyed as she felt the burning pain from his touch.

  “What— Ah!” The angel collapsed, her leg awkwardly lifted by David’s hand. She screamed again, her skin glowing faintly as she curled her body.

  Another angel came to her aid, thrusting a fist towards David. David released the angel’s leg and dove to the side. He rolled around and twisted his ankle before kicking the ground to propel himself forward. He caught the second angel by the throat. The angel grabbed his arm and tried to pry him off. David fought to hold on to the angel, and its face twisted in agony though no scream came from him.

  The third angel grabbed David’s shoulder and threw him to the side, forcing him to release his comrade. The sleeve of his right arm tore against the grip of the second angel, and David crashed by Azrael’s feet. She conjured up multiple reapers that shielded them just as another angel sped towards him. The reapers encompassed her and the human.

  “Are you well, mortal?” Azrael assisted him to his feet.

  “Don’t touch me!” David yelled at her. Azrael recoiled at the human’s anger and watched him stand by himself. But when her eyes fell on his exposed arm, Azrael realized he did not shout to spite her, but to warn her.

  Her eyes traced the lines tattooed on the human’s arm, recognizing the many symbols and words written. A spell to disrupt a soul? But… The Angel of Death wondered about the strange additions to the symbols.

  David followed her gaze and looked down on his arm. His lips thinned into a line and he looked away. “It’s for angels only. Just so you know,” he told Azrael, choosing to admit the truth when he had little energy to dodge it.

  Azrael stared at him in shock. “You—” Before she could finish her statement, she felt another energy tugging at hers. The Angel of Death waved her hand to release the reapers that surrounded them, creating a blast of dark smoke that threw off those that stood nearby.

  The battle stood still, all eyes on Raphael. He had his hands flat on the ground, and his head hung low. When he lifted his face, his expression was desperate. His brows curled and pulled together, and his mouth was curved down and hung open. “This is my finale,” he whispered to himself. Raphael raised one fist over his head and brought it down against the earth.

  The sigil that marked the center of the cave shone brightly in blue light. Azrael watched with bewildered eyes as the bottle that contained the reaper shook violently as the glow dimmed. When the light finally faded, the bottle broke and a dark smoke erupted from it.

  The Angel of Death charged forward to retrieve her servant, but before she could reach him, Raphael’s hand extended towards the smoke. His arm shook in his concentration, and the smoke spiraled into itself. It changed its direction to the archangel and dove to meet his palm.

  “No!” Azrael screamed. She sped towards Raphael to stop him, but another angel blocked her. She summoned her sword and slashed it against the angel. The shallow wound was enough to drive the angel away from her, but before she can take a step, Raphael had done the deed.

  Her crimson eyes peered inside Raphael’s vessel. Two souls had settled inside his body. The light of the archangel’s soul merged with the reaper’s dark gray one, consuming it until the reaper’s soul dissipated. Azrael felt the tug in her own body, stinging at the anguish of her lost servant. She could still see it living within the archangel’s vessel, but it was trapped inside.

&nb
sp; Appalled by what her brother had done, Azrael’s enraged scream tore through the air. She soared up to speed across those who stood in her way. She swung her sword downward to meet Raphael’s head, but the archangel raised his hand and caught the blade. Raphael looked at Azrael, bearing a gentle smile on his face. “You lost, my dear sister.”

  From his free hand, Raphael procured a vial and uncapped it with his thumb. Azrael drew back just as Raphael called upon the contents of the vial. Orange mist escaped from the small item then exploded, throwing Azrael away.

  Ariel fought her way towards Caelum when a figure sped in her direction. She crouched just as Azrael crashed against the stalagmite behind her. The rocks erupted into pieces upon impact, and Ariel rushed to her aid. “Azrael!” Ariel called for her as she reached for her arm. She pulled the Angel of Death to her feet and met her eyes.

  Azrael parted her lips, and her expression changed to alarm. She pushed Ariel to stand behind her. Azrael called on the reapers to create a barrier between her and the oncoming archangel. But Raphael’s strength pushed the barrier back, making Azrael’s feet skid on the ground. She felt his attacks on the shield reverberate in her head, but she fought to keep the barrier up. What has happened to you, Brother?

  Without warning, the barrier broke, forcing the reapers she’d gathered to scatter. Azrael readied herself for the assault, but Raphael sped past her and charged at Ariel.

  “Return it to me!” Raphael demanded. He reached for Ariel, and the angel turned to the side. Raphael halted his flight and diverted his momentum back. He charged at Ariel again, who swung the spear at him. Instead of evading the attack, Raphael caught the blade of the spear with his palm. He gripped the blade tightly, and it did not tear his skin.

  “Return it to me!” he demanded again. Ariel gritted her teeth, fighting to pry the blade from him. Then, dark wind hissed past her and a force threw Raphael back. Ariel stumbled forward and stabbed the spear in the ground to keep her balance.

  When he recovered from the attack, Raphael ran towards Ariel again, uncapping another vial. He threw the contents at Ariel, who covered herself with her arms. Something touched the sleeve of her dress, and Ariel watched as ice formed on the fabric. She tried to move her arm, but it would not budge.

  Raphael appeared in front of her and kicked her in the stomach just as he gripped the spear. The impact forced Ariel to crouch, but she did not let the weapon go. Why do you want this so badly? She balled her fist and drove it into Raphael’s ribs. The archangel hardly flinched at her attack and gripped the weapon tighter. “Unhand this sacred weapon, you filth!”

  A movement caught Ariel’s eyes. Hands suddenly appeared behind Raphael and cupped his ears. Upon contact, Raphael began to scream in pain. His skin glowed faintly and he released Ariel. Frantically, he threw his elbows back, trying to hit David who held his head in a tight grip. The human either dodged the attacks or took it with a pained expression.

  “Let me go! Let me go!” Raphael ordered him.

  “No,” David said through gritted teeth. “You will pay for what you’ve done.”

  Raphael scratched at David’s hands, but David only tightened his grip. Azrael and Ariel watched the archangel’s soul glow brightly, burning the vessel from the inside out. Then, a movement caught Ariel’s eyes and she turned to David. “Look out!”

  Caelum flew across the cave and crashed against David. They slammed to the ground with grunts, and Raphael turned to Ariel. His eyes were full of hate as he stepped towards the angel, but Lucifer’s voice stopped him.

  “Raphael!” Lucifer’s voice boomed all around them. Everyone focused on the First Angel. His golden eyes fixated on Raphael who took a step back, cowering in his gaze. “Keep your focus on the goal, Raphael.”

  Raphael’s eyes flickered to Ariel, then back at Lucifer. His lips curled in anger, but he nodded. “As you wish, Brother.” He took another step back. From his sleeve, a lion head popped out. He immediately raised his hand and made the lion head roar, summoning winds that whirled like a tornado inside the cave. Caelum and the rest hid their eyes from the wind, and when it died down, Raphael has disappeared.

  “What?” David uttered.

  “He escaped,” Azrael said.

  Lucifer’s footsteps returned the focus to the remaining archangel. The army under his command fell back, allowing him to face their enemy. “You have done well,” he commended them. “But our little game must come to an end.”

  “Now, why would you say that? I was just having fun,” Caelum jeered, reverting to his normal self.

  Lucifer turned to the demon, his eyes mixed with awe and loathing. “I did not expect you to live through my attacks. I must say I’m impressed.”

  “Then let me entertain you further.” Caelum stepped forward, challenging the archangel.

  Lucifer’s smile widened. He rubbed his palms together, and when he opened them, the white orb from before rested on them. With his right hand, he curled his fingers against the orb until he crushed it inside his hand. “Very well,” he said, thrusting his hand to the side.

  A light formed between his fingers and extended to a pure white whip. Caelum swung his hand to the side as well, summoning his shadows to form his own whip. With a smile on his lips, he crouched, ready for an attack. But before either could make a move, the ground began to rumble and shake, throwing all of them off balance.

  “An earthquake?” David exclaimed.

  “No,” Ariel said. “This is something else.”

  Angels scattered as the earth exploded beneath their feet. Unleashed from the ground, seven dragon heads roared and snapped their jaws. One head breathed fire on a group of angels that attempted to soar out of the way, and another extended its neck longer than the rest to reach its targeted prey. Caelum watched in awe at how each dragon head differed from the others; breathing fire or ice, spitting acid, or excreting poisonous gas. The middle head was stoic with one eye closed, piquing the curiosity of the demon.

  “I am disappointed in you!” said a voice. A demon with a long face and wide eyes jumped up from the ground and landed on the middle dragon head. “How could you not invite me to your party?” He grinned wide, staring down at Lucifer.

  Lucifer’s golden eyes narrowed in anger. “Asmodeus.”

  The heads continued to attack the angels of Lucifer’s army, destroying their vessels and weapons. Lucifer scanned his surroundings. Many had already fallen while others were injured by the beast that Asmodeus rode. His jaw set and his fists tightened around the whip he carried. He returned his glare to the demon above him and warned him. “I will not forget this.”

  “I hope you will not.” Asmodeus laughed.

  Lucifer threw the whip in the air, and it curled around until it formed the same white orb. The orb hovered in mid-air and flashed a light that bathed the cave. When it was over, all the angels of Lucifer’s army and the archangel himself was gone.

  All looked around in confusion, expecting another surprise at any given moment. But none came. The cave fell silent, and only the snapping sounds the dragon heads made could be heard. Caelum turned to Ariel and wondered if they had successfully driven Lucifer back to Heaven, along with his army and his brother.

  Raphael walked the nearly empty halls of Heaven, clutching his chest. Few angels remained in Heaven, and they moved out of his way as he walked briskly to Michael’s altar. The heavy doors opened for him, and he approached his brother with his head low.

  “Raphael.” Michael greeted him. “I see you have finally accomplished a task given to you.”

  Raphael did not speak. His lips were pursed tight and his eyes stung. His soul had been violated by a mortal and by the reaper that lived within him. But it was the sacrifice he’d chosen to make. He took a deep breath and raised his head to meet his brother’s eyes, who looked at him with such condescension.

  “Come, my dear brother.” Michael beckoned him. “Let us finish this once and for all.”

  Raphael walked towards his brother
, carrying the heavy weight of his decision and failures on his shoulders. He thought of Uriel who was the strength that had guided him for so long. Raphael looked back to the millennia of battles where he’d stood by his brother’s side, only to have Uriel stolen from him during their final battle. Raphael begged for his brother’s forgiveness in his thoughts, reliving the assault and Uriel’s final words.

  Now, he faced Michael with what was left of his courage. Michael placed a hand on his shoulder, as if to show his support. His gaze asked Raphael if he was ready, and the younger angel nodded. Raphael lifted his chin and his face twisted in pain as Michael buried a sword into his stomach.

  “You have done well, Raphael,” Michael whispered in his ear as he twisted the blade before pulling it out of his body.

  Chapter Five: The Guide and the Horsemen

  David dropped to his knees the moment the tension was broken. The faces of the seven-headed beast still lingered in his mind. Since the disappearance of Lucifer’s force, the dragons had quieted, only snapping their jaws in the air now and then, but they didn’t seem interested in attacking them. David’s thoughts were concerned with other things, however. He traced the markings on his arm with his finger, feeling the heat that escaped his skin despite the cold atmosphere of the cave. Something inside his chest stung, and it felt heavy. There wasn’t much that I could get, though. He was disappointed.

  Caelum walked towards him and placed a palm on his back. “If you need to hurl, it’s best not to do it in front of the ladies.”