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

by J. D. Stonebridge

  David glared at the demon but knew he meant well. “Can’t you just ask if I’m okay without making jokes?” David groaned, forcing himself to stand straight.

  “Well, sorry, princess. That is simply how I speak,” Caelum said.

  “Unfortunately,” David added. He looked at the beast that stood before them, wondering what it was. He searched desperately in his memory, through the information instilled in his mind about the supernatural elements. The demon who seemed to have tamed the monster leaped from the top of the middle head. His body exuded a dark smoke that cushioned his fall, and he landed gracefully in front of them.

  “Well, that wasn’t very fun, was it?” the demon commented. “Didn’t think old Lucifer would tuck his tail between his legs.”

  “Asmodeus, was it?” Caelum asked the other demon.

  “Asmodeus,” Azrael repeated the name before the demon could answer. She approached the demon and tilted her head to the side. “Hell has changed you.”

  Caelum looked from Azrael to Asmodeus with a brow raised. “You know this fellow?”

  Azrael nodded. “He was once a general of the army of Heaven who fell after following Lucifer.”

  “Ah.” David recognized the story. He looked back to Asmodeus with bewildered eyes. “You’re an archdemon?”

  “Yes, yes.” Asmodeus grinned, giving a small bow to them.

  “Why are you helping us then?” Ariel asked. “You fell because you followed Lucifer when he visited the humans against God’s orders. You were his general, were you not?”

  Asmodeus looked at Ariel, eyes changing into narrow slits. “Let’s just say my old boss pissed me off so I am here to return the favor.”

  “Enemy of my enemy,” Caelum quoted. He turned to the seven-headed beast that took most of the space of the cave. “And these are?”

  “The Beast of Babylon!” David sprang up, finally remembering the monster. “It’s the beast that resided in the labyrinth of Hell. But…the prophecy says that the Beast will be freed when the apocalypse is near.” His words trailed off as fear filled him.

  “That is correct.” Asmodeus turned back to David with a smile. “Bright boy you are. And very interesting,” he added, looking at him with such intent that David recoiled. “What peculiar power you have for a mortal.”

  Ariel walked towards them and stood between David and Asmodeus. Her eyes were warning him, and her hands gripped her spear.

  Asmodeus’ eyes lowered to the weapon in her hand and gave a small laugh. “What a peculiar bunch indeed,” he said, amused.

  Asmodeus turned away from Ariel and faced Caelum. He looked at the demon from head to toe, sizing him up. Caelum raised a brow at Asmodeus and said, “If you are seeking payment for rescuing us, I suggest you look elsewhere.”

  “Oh, I do not seek payment. I only sought to pay my debt.” Asmodeus pointed lazily at Caelum and asked, “You were the one who finally put an end to that bitch of a queen, right?”

  “You mean Lilith?” Caelum wondered. At the mention of her name, two of the dragon heads snapped their jaws while another snarled, baring its teeth. But they still did not attack.

  “Could there be anyone else?” Asmodeus asked sarcastically.

  Caelum held his chin high, though the memory that lingered was not one he wished to remember. All the blood and screams he’d caused Lilith must be justified for all she had done over her prolonged life, but Caelum wished not to have seen it firsthand, less that he had inflicted them. So he kept his answer short. “Yes.”

  Asmodeus’ face slowly shifted to a wide head with a narrow nose and a small mouth that curved into a delighted smile. “Ah, that is good to hear.” He reached out to pat Caelum on the shoulder. “Well done, boy. That whore was indeed quite a nuisance.”

  Though he admitted that Lilith had been quite troubling for them, Caelum wished not to relive her final moments. How odd a demon you are! Power laughed at him. Scared of a little blood, are we?

  Don’t kid me. Caelum warned his demonic alter ego. The contrast between him and the other him was certain. Power loved to fight and to torture, like what he had done to Lilith. Caelum had always preferred other means of entertainment that didn’t threaten to ruin his beloved suit.

  The face of Lilith in her last moments flashed behind the lids of his eyes. Despite all the pain, despite all her claims to exact her revenge on God and take back what she believed was hers, Lilith had smiled upon her death. Caelum had known her long enough to know that Lilith, or Lili as he used to call her, had never smiled like that. She would laugh at another’s pain, and smile to tease him. But just before the wind turned her body into ashes, he saw the peacefulness of her face. Is that what you truly wanted, Lili? For all of it to be over?

  “I see you are enjoying your freedom.” All turned to a new voice that spoke flatly. From the shadows behind the stalagmites in one corner came the bored face of Baron who walked at an easy pace towards them. His eyes scanned each of their faces, stopping in front of Asmodeus whose mood soured, his cheeks drooping and his mouth curved in a deep frown.

  “Oh, you found me,” Asmodeus muttered.

  “Azazel has been looking for you,” Baron stated, as though he explained how he’d located the archdemon. He turned his attention to the monster, then shifted and added, “You really mustn’t act on your own, lest you be taken back to your prison.”

  “Ha! As if your silly cages can contain me!” Asmodeus taunted him.

  Baron moved away from the archdemon and faced Caelum who cocked his head to the side and gave him an amused smile. “Ah, it’s been a while. How is Hell’s butler doing?”

  The nickname was ignored by the pale faced demon. His eyes moved to the angels and human that accompanied Caelum, finding them more interesting than Caelum’s comments. “I apologize for any inconvenience Asmodeus has caused you.”

  “Inconvenience?” Asmodeus scoffed. “Don’t treat me like a child, boy.”

  “However,” Baron continued, ignoring the archdemon’s jab. “I have also come here with something to offer. A message from Azazel.”

  “Oh?” Caelum raised a brow. “And what does he want now?”

  Baron turned to him with bored eyes and said, “Have care on how you speak of him. He is here to offer his alliance to your cause.”

  “An alliance? With the Leader of Hell?” Ariel furrowed her brows with concern.

  “Yes,” Baron answered her. “Since the betrayal of his former allies, Azazel would like to offer his help to their enemies. Which is fortunate for you.”

  “Why wasn’t I consulted? I did not agree to this!” Asmodeus’ face shifted to a small head with small eyes and pouty lips.

  “Because you ran off without saying anything to us,” Baron said over his shoulder. He turned back to Caelum and his group and continued. “Azazel wishes not to let the archangels win any longer. We calculated that they will spare our kingdom no longer after they create their new world. Much like how they nearly destroyed Hell during Lucifer’s escape. Therefore, he would prefer that they do not accomplish their plans in order to protect what he has built.”

  “So?” Caelum leaned back against one of the stalagmites and crossed his arms over his chest. “What is this offer? You can’t expect us to just call it an alliance without the certainty that we will not be stabbed in the back again.”

  The demon looked at Caelum as if he was a nuisance. “You know very well that a deal made with Azazel is a deal he does not simply break,” Baron reminded him. “But to give you some assurance, I bear information that might be useful to your mission.”

  “What information?” David asked.

  “The sacrifices,” Baron stated. “I am certain you have learned that certain deaths caused by the angels are to be offered as sacrifices for the purpose of sealing off Purgatory, correct?”

  “Yes, we know that much,” David confirmed.

  “But have you figured out the purpose of each of the souls?”

  David thought of it for a
moment. “They represent the Four Horsemen and the Guide.” His eyes lingered on Azrael. “The Angel of Death.”

  “That is correct,” Baron affirmed. “But not all five sacrifices are for the sealing of Purgatory. Only the first four are.”

  This caught David’s interest. “What?”

  “The sealing of Purgatory is so that all the souls that are released from vessels will not escape Purgatory,” Baron explained. “If God appears after the Rapture, He cannot simply call on all the souls. Souls will enter Purgatory, but they will not be released into Heaven, Hell, or the mortal world.”

  “Yes, yes,” Caelum nodded. “We figured that much.”

  Baron turned to Azrael and continued, “However, if God Himself cannot take the souls once Purgatory is closed off, what more can an angel do? But that is what the fifth and final sacrifice is for.”

  “The fifth is the Guide,” David figured, looking at the Angel of Death. “The four sacrifices are the seals, the Horsemen who guard Purgatory. But the Guide, Azrael, is the one who leads the souls in and out of Purgatory.

  “Gospel, War, Famine, and Death,” Caelum listed the Horsemen in order. Then, he snickered at the epiphany in his mind. “The prophet who claimed the false prophecy, the angel who waged war against Heaven, the witch who sacrificed herself by devouring power, and the reaper who saved a soul. They weren’t just looking for souls that defied their nature, they were looking for specific ones that also represented the Horsemen!”

  “Then, that means,” Ariel said with wide eyes, “the fourth sacrifice was the reaper, and they have taken him.”

  “An unfortunate setback,” Baron agreed. “They have sealed Purgatory.”

  “What?” David’s face was alarmed. “So, they’ve killed a reaper?”

  “That is impossible!” Azrael claimed, though her eyes doubted her words.

  “Feel free to visit the land you protect, Angel of Death,” Baron dared her. “You will see for yourself.”

  Azrael pursed her lips in irritation. Taking a step back from them, a gust of wind distorted her form in the darkness and she was gone.

  “How can they kill a reaper?” David wondered. Then the image of Raphael’s act after unsealing himself and the reaper brought the answer to his question. “That archangel! He absorbed the reaper’s soul, didn’t he?”

  “Yes,” Ariel murmured, remembering how Raphael’s soul had changed.

  “Is it possible? If one soul absorbs another, then when the first soul dies and goes to Purgatory—”

  “He takes the one he absorbed with him,” Caelum finished David’s sentence, astonished by the method. “That bastard sacrificed his life to take the reaper to Purgatory?”

  “It is Raphael, after all,” Ariel said. “He is loyal to Michael. And with their defeat in the previous battle, I would assume that he meant to redeem himself in any way he could.”

  “Perhaps, you are not as simple-minded as I assumed,” Baron commented.

  The angel glared at the demon but said nothing against his statement. “You were saying something about the Guide? Can tell us who the fifth sacrifice will be?”

  “Sadly, I cannot,” Baron admitted. “We were not informed of that part. However, I can offer you a small reprieve. The fifth sacrifice will not be made soon.”

  “What do you mean?” David asked.

  “The fifth sacrifice will not be made until a certain condition is made,” Baron said. “It is the guide after all. And they will make sure the guide will have plenty to escort to the archangels’ side.”

  “Simply saying, they will save the last sacrifice for… well, last?” Caelum offered.

  “That is correct,” Baron confirmed. “They will turn the guide only when all have been freed from their vessels.”

  The tension rose again amongst them. Caelum, Ariel, and David looked at each other, concern reflected on each face. They were assured that the fifth sacrifice would not be made easily, but the conditions before it were far too alarming for them to rest easy. They can attack with full force once they acquire the fifth sacrifice.

  Baron bowed his head to them and said, “I shall leave now. I have other duties after all. I do hope that the information I’ve provided will assure you that Azazel will be fighting on your side this time. If there is anything else we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to ask.”

  Asmodeus turned to the Beast of Babylon and patted the head that lowered for him. “I guess we will be returning home as well.” The heads whined and grunted as they sank back to the ground, causing the cave to shake. When the beast was gone, the archdemon turned back to the group and said, “I shall need to speak to this boss of yours. He may be running Hell for now, but that does not give him the right to act so superior.”

  The loyal assistant of Azazel frowned at Asmodeus, but said, “Very well.”

  “Baron,” Caelum called the demon. Baron turned back to him and raised a brow. “When the time comes that Lucifer leads the attack, can I trust that you and your forces will strike back? Sad to say, but we could use the help.”

  Baron was quiet for a moment, but finally admitted, “I will do what Azazel wishes me to.”

  Knowing it was all the assurance he could expect from the demon, Caelum gave Baron a nod. Without another word, Baron and Asmodeus walked into the patch of shadows behind the rocks, with the archdemon waving his hand for them. The demons disappeared into the darkness, leaving the three behind.

  “I believe we should be going as well,” Ariel suggested.

  “Yeah,” Caelum said. He turned around to face them and flashed a grin. “Any objections to my mode of transportation?”

  Darkness was the common tool of demons, but it was not the preferred one for angels. Ariel felt the chill of darkness seeping into her bones as Caelum led them away from the cave. Without her wings, she could do little to transport herself and another by the use of light. On this occasion, they needed to also take David with them, therefore, Ariel could not protest against Caelum’s method.

  When the shadows pulled away, they were met with the bright moonlight shining over their town house. The neighborhood was as quiet as it ever was as they stepped up on the porch. As soon as the door closed behind them, David slumped to the couch and sat with a groan of pain. “Demon express isn’t much easier than teleporting with an angel.”

  “Are you well, David?” Ariel approached him, but David leaned away from her when she sat on the couch.

  “Sorry,” David uttered. “I’m okay.” He lowered his eyes to the markings on his arm and Ariel followed. Understanding the young man was all the angel could do for him, so she stood and moved away. He does not wish to harm me.

  Caelum watched the two and placed his hand on the angel’s shoulder when she stopped next to him. Ariel turned to him, and he gave her an encouraging look before settling himself on the chair next to the couch. He beckoned Ariel to take the seat with him, but she refused, choosing to stand. The demon sighed and shook his head.

  “Well, seeing as we’ve failed in keeping Team Lucifer from sealing Purgatory, anyone got any ideas for Plan B?”

  “Obviously, we need to find the fifth sacrifice before they do,” David stated. “The difficult part is that we don’t even know who it is.”

  “Seeing that the last four sacrifices represented the Four Horsemen, it is safe to say that the last represents Azrael,” Ariel offered.

  “Any possible suspects then?” Caelum asked. “We can’t locate a person if we don’t even know who it is.” He leaned back on the chair with his head staring up on the ceiling. He let his body rest for the moment, but his mind continued to run wild. The list of the first four sacrifices resounded in his mind, all of whom were handed to the archangels by his own hands; Ramiel, Maxwell, the reaper, and even Mikaela. Caelum’s fists balled on the armrests while his face twisted in anger. I can’t let them win.

  When he opened his eyes, there was a fire of determination in them. “Perhaps you can help me convince Azrael to g
o along with my plan?”

  Ariel meant to protest his suggestion, but another voice did it for her. “I will not.” The strong authoritative voice of Azrael came from behind Ariel. The Angel of Death stood in the dimly lit room, her expression frustrated.

  “Azrael,” Ariel greeted her. “What happened?”

  “The demon spoke the truth,” Azrael said. “The souls in Purgatory cannot pass through to Heaven or Hell any longer. Though my reapers can still deliver souls to Purgatory, the process of purifying them for reincarnation has been halted.”

  “Just as we feared,” Caelum muttered. He rose from his seat. “Well, I see that you are still reluctant to go along with my plan.”

  “I am,” Azrael confirmed.

  “Why?” Caelum asked, nearing the angel. “If Lucifer and his gang find the fifth sacrifice, it will be the moment they begin their assault. We are not certain of how much time we have left before they do just that, so will you please be considerate enough to tell me why you cannot let me enter Purgatory.”

  Azrael’s red eyes were threatening and her lips were pursed in a thin line. “Your plan will not work, Caelum. You will die before you can succeed.”

  “And that’s supposed to stop me?” Caelum scoffed. “I have told you already, I know the risks and I am willing to risk it.”

  “Caelum...” Ariel reached for his arm, but he did not budge from Azrael.

  “I have made many mistakes with my half-baked plans, and that has led all of us to where we are now,” Caelum said, his face softening. “What do I have left to do but make things right again? I care not for my life now. I only care about what I do before it ends.”

  Persistence was evident in his expression, and Azrael could see it clear as day. But no matter how determined he is, the Angel of Death still refused. “You must understand, Caelum. I cannot open the Gates for you. Especially now.”

  “What does that mean?” Caelum asked.

  Azrael breathed in deep, still uncertain if she should speak of what she knew. But considering the stubbornness of the demon in front of her, she finally chose to reveal the truth. “The Gates of Purgatory are sealed for a reason. It is so that the souls inside will not escape. Only I and my reapers are allowed to pass through the Gates without unsealing it. But to open the Gates?” Azrael hesitated. “Opening the Gates of Purgatory for someone with a vessel to enter can only be done during the winter and summer solstice.”