"Let go of me," Jove complained beneath her.
"No," Eden said.
"We outnumber you," Jove said, squirming. She had a hard time holding him down, but she managed.
"I don't care," Eden said. "I have to get out of this."
As Jove attempted to escape and got too close to succeeding for her comfort, Eden managed to grab ahold of both of his arms. It was unfortunate, but she felt the coldness of steel against her neck and knew Aaron had his sword pressed against her skin.
"Ah-ha," Jove said in triumph.
"You can calm down," Aaron said. "I don't have any intention of hurting you."
"You don't?" she asked.
"We don't?" Jove asked.
She didn't believe him, but at the same time, he had a sword to her neck so it wasn't like he had to lie to her. Just because she had Jove pinned didn't mean she had the ability to send him back to earth. With a sigh of defeat, she released Jove and he scrambled out from underneath her.
"I don't know where you learned to fight, girl, but you should give me lessons," Jove said, shaking his head and examining his hand. "That bite hurt."
She scowled at him and then struggled to her feet. Luckily, Aaron put away his sword, and she sighed in relief. So he hadn't been lying after all. She wasn't about to be sent back to earth, and she could find out about the stone and whether it truly was her destiny to find it.
"What are you doing in here?" Aaron asked. "Are you okay?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. Sure, she had seen him risk his life for his country, but weren't Demons supposed to be meaner?
"I'm fine," Eden said, “but aren't Demons supposed to kill me or something?"
Aaron rubbed the back of his neck, and Jove scowled at him. "Technically, we're supposed to, but I don't like that."
"Then why are you a Demon?" Eden asked before she could stop herself. Why would a man who fought so valiantly for his country want to join such an evil group of people? She just had to know.
"I was put on the Demon continent," Aaron said. "I didn't have much choice. And why are you the one asking questions? You never answered mine. Why are you down here?"
Because I think Saint Peter sent me here. But she couldn't say that.
"I was escaping some people in Moloch who were overcome with Morsus," Eden said. "I ran into one of the buildings, tumbled down a big hole, and then ended up trapped. Some Satan Spawn herded me back here. I've been stuck for ages. All I want is to find a way out."
Aaron and Jove exchanged glances, and then Aaron winked. "That's horrible, a pretty girl like you, falling into a place like this. You must have been scared witless."
When he stepped toward her, she imagined him staring into the poor girl's window, and she stepped back. "I'm not that scared."
Jove let out a barking laugh. "Wow, Aaron. You didn't even hit on her, and she already turned you down."
She couldn't help it. She started to laugh too. Mostly, though, she laughed because she was stressed and scared, and not because she found anything about this situation funny at all.
****
Aaron and Jove led her down a passage and up to an opening. It, like the other ways into this cave, was though a hole in the cavern wall. Unfortunately, it was a direct passage into Moloch, but she could deal with that after seeing Satan's room.
"I'm afraid we have to let you go here," Aaron said. "Good luck, Eden."
Jove nodded. "You aren't as annoying as I thought you would be. Be safe."
Funny Demons. They aren't that bad. She cocked her head and nodded at them.
"Thanks for showing me the way out," Eden said, turning around and heading toward the hole. Suddenly, Aaron seized her hand, and she whipped around, startled.
"One last thing," Aaron said, unbuckling his belt and handing it to her. It had a sword and sheath attached to it, and Eden realized he intended for her to have it.
"What?" she asked, laying her hand on the hilt. "Why are you handing this to me?"
"It's a gift for you," he said. "Take it."
"But what about you?"
"All we were sent down here to do is get a piece of paper." Aaron shrugged. "I can always get another sword when we head back to the base. I'll just tell Commander Yuri that I lost it."
Then Aaron smirked as if he was the cleverest person in the world.
"Thanks," Eden said, grateful. "I appreciate this. It'll help."
"Don't mention it," Aaron said. "I hope I get to see you again. I probably won't, but I hope so."
She felt an eerie sensation in her stomach and frowned. Was there a connection between the visions she was having? If there was, she didn't understand it.
"I believe we'll meet again a lot sooner than you think," Eden said.
Before Aaron could ask her about it, she spun around and headed into the passageway above.
****
As she walked through Moloch, the people with Morsus gave her wide-birth now that she had a sword. She walked quickly, determined to get out of the danger zone because the paper she had collected was burning a hole in her pocket. I have to know what the blood stone is and what it's going to do. There's a reason the Demons wanted to get in there, and now I know for sure that it was them that took the stone from the chest.
She entered a passageway and walked several feet. She felt she could wait no more, and she was certain she was out of harm's way. She dug in her pocket and pulled out the piece of paper inside.
The Blood Stone Project
All necessary troops will begin meeting at Gabriel for the commencement of closing the P-E-A-R-L-Y Gates. The project will begin at dawn on the Day of the Dead. All sergeants receiving this notice will be ordered to be on guard during the Blood Stone ceremony. All those who refuse shall be terminated by way of immediate torture and then ex-communicated from Zemiothstai to earth, which will henceforth become the domain of Lord Satan and all Satan Spawn.
The goal of the Blood Stone ceremony is to henceforth release all demonic entities from their bindings and release them into earth, purgatory, and outlaying lands; to close the gates of heaven, keeping God and his angels powerless; to keep all remaining souls in purgatory in eternal servitude to our lord, Satan.
This entry is to be shown only to those trusted to be directly involved with the ceremony. If this rule is broken, the person shall be tortured, hung, and then cast out into the outlying lands.
Her hands trembled as she lowered them to her sides. I was right. I was right about everything. The gates of heaven are going to close. The reason why I didn't get any tasks is because it's my job to stop it. That's how I'm supposed to get to heaven. The only way that I can.
She pressed her hand against the wall and began to walk down the cave while still examining the piece of paper in her hand. When was the Day of Dead here? How was she supposed to stop the ceremony?
Two people jogging toward her in the passage ahead caused her to look up.
"There you are," a familiar voice said, loud and nasally.
"Thema," Eden said, her voice faint. She couldn't believe she had found Thema already. "And Adanna too."
"We thought you were a goner," Thema said, stepping toward her. "We've been waiting here for you for days. We figured that you had to come out of this passage. It's the only other way to go."
Though Eden thought she would have been grateful to see Thema, all she felt was numbness. She had to save the world. Otherwise, Thema would never get to heaven. Neither would Adanna.
"What's the matter with you? Aren't you listening?" Thema asked, stepping forward. "We have been waiting for you. What happened? And guess what, Airyman made up some excuse and disappeared, right after you left us."
Thema took another step closer and then stopped talking. Her mouth fell open. Adanna stepped around her and touched Eden's head.
"Eden?" Thema's eyes grew huge. "What happened? You don't have Morsus. Your aura is still light blue."
"I found my task," Eden said.
Though Thema
smiled, Adanna didn't. She kept her hand on Eden's shoulder.
"That's good news, isn't it?" Thema asked. "Can we still travel together because I was thinking, it's always good to have one more person to help—"
"You don't want to go with me," Eden said. And I don't want you to come. You'll probably end up in real trouble.
"I don't?" Thema raised an eyebrow.
"No, you don't."
"Eden, I don't know what you saw, but stop being ridiculous," Thema said. "We're friends. We want to help."
Eden didn't want to chase Thema and Adanna away, but she was scared for them and for herself. I know what will scare these two away. We barely know each other. They won't want to come and steal back the Blood Stone with me. All I have to do is explain what I saw and what I have to do, and they'll turn tail and run.
Fear filling her, she showed them the paper she had found and began to explain. She told them about her life on earth, the visions, and everything. When she was done, she stared straight into Thema and Adanna's faces and saw their fear. She knew her plan had worked and her honesty would cause them to flee because of their wide, scared eyes and gaping mouths. No person would endure such horror for her.
"I'm going to stop this," Eden said, "and I don't want you to come with me."
"Are you stupid?" Thema asked.
"No," Eden said defiantly.
"How do you expect to solve this problem without us?" Thema asked. "You don't even know where Gabriel is, right Adanna?"
Adanna nodded.
Eden paused. This almost sounded like…
"We're coming with you," Thema said, glaring at her. "Don't try to talk us out of it."
Groaning, Eden cupped her forehead in her hand. How could this have happened? Her plan had backfired, and now she had two friends who could get injured coming along with her.
"This is my task, not yours," Eden said.
"If the gates of heaven close, then it won't matter what my task or Adanna's task is," Thema said. "Now let's get going. The Day of the Dead is just a week away, and Gabriel is a long walk from here."
Before Eden could say anything more, Thema spun around and began to stomp forward. Adanna squeezed her shoulder, and Eden glanced at her feeling terrible. Thema hadn't even asked Adanna what she thought of all this.
"Are you sure you want to come with me?" Eden asked. "This is going to put you in danger as well as your sister."
Adanna slipped her hand into Eden's, and she began to pull her forward, down the cave. As Eden walked, she realized something for the first time. She had true friends. As scared and as anxious as she was, that thought still managed to warm her heart and keep her going.
Chapter Eighteen
As Eden walked forward, she saw the sky was filled with red. Blood red. On the horizon, a single small city could be seen a distance away, and many tiny black dots filled it. Eden knew they were Demons. Demons that would be guarding every house, every doorway, trying to keep her outside.
Thema drew to a stop and glanced forward too. "It's freaky, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Eden said, looking at the city. "It's not too late for you and your sister to turn back, Thema. I don't expect you to walk in there with me."
A scowl crossed Thema's face. "Don't even start, Eden. We're going down there with you whether you like it or not."
Thema stepped forward, but Eden did not. She gazed at Thema's back.
"If we don't come out of this," Eden said, "then I just want to thank you."
"Thank me?" Thema whirled around and raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"For coming with me," Eden said. "I thought for sure that I would be going into this alone, but I guess not."
"You are such an idiot."
"Yeah, you're right."
Thema's frown deepened. "Punch her, Adanna. She's not actually supposed to agree with me."
Though Thema grinned, Eden could see it did not reach her eyes. She shrugged her shoulders and stepped forward, toward the darkness and whatever else lay ahead. She wasn't sure what her chances were of coming out of this situation unscathed, but then again, nothing was ever sure, even things more simple than this.
****
Eden, Thema and Adanna crouched on the outskirts of Gabriel behind tall rows of fence. The city had many sea shacks and the roads were paved with cobblestone. Demons flocked everywhere, wielding swords and guarding front doorsteps. Eden didn't like their chances.
"More crowded than a beehive," Thema muttered. "How much opposition did these Demons expect to have?"
Nobody answered her.
That was when Eden spotted a carriage draped in dark red cloth. As she watched, the carriage was parked next to the front of a tall building. As Eden moved along the fence, she realized what the building was. It appeared to be some sort of church.
Eden swore and then elbowed Adanna. "Do you see that?"
Adanna fell over to her side as if Eden had shoved her. With a gasp, Eden whirled around and peered at her friends. Thema lay on the ground, fidgeting and crying with pain. Adanna also was next to her, and her eyes were shut and her back was arched.
"What's wrong?" Eden asked, seizing Adanna's shoulders. "Guys? What's going on?"
"Hurts so much," Thema said, reaching for the sky as if hoping to pull it down and use it as a blanket.
"What hurts?" Eden asked, breathless. "What’s happening?"
"His voice," Thema said. "Can't you hear it?"
Shutting her eyes, Eden focused. The only thing that she could hear was the distant grunts of soldiers. When Eden opened her eyes again, she gazed at the city but did not look at the carriage. Instead she saw what had happened to every last one of the guards.
They kneeled or lay on the ground, grasping their heads. Some of them yelled and others silently endured. All faces had intense pain on them. But why isn't it hurting me? And why can't I hear anything? I know it's what's in the carriage that's doing this to them. I have to stop it.
"What is the voice saying?" Eden asked. "Thema, please."
"I can't say," Thema moaned. "Too evil."
Eden glanced at the carriage again and remembered the mural on the wall. She saw the five-headed monster, each head with glowing red eyes, staring down at her. She knew whose power it was causing her friends to cry out in agony. She knew who caused spirits to fall, writhing and screaming, to the ground.
Satan. Satan was in that carriage. He had come for the ceremony.
When she gazed down, she was not surprised to see her cross was aflame. Just like in the cavern, it protected her from the worst of the hit, but not her friends. She peered down at them in sadness and understood. This task was hers and hers alone. Not theirs.
"I am so sorry," Eden said, "but I understand now. I can't let you go in there with me, Thema. I just can't."
"Wait. Please."
"No," Eden said. "Stay here and wait for me."
"But what if you don't come back?" Thema asked, still writhing. "I need you. So lonely."
"If I don't come back," Eden said, then stopped as a shiver ran through her. "If I don't come back, if I fail, then I'm sure you'll know."
Then Eden got up and ran into the village while the soldiers still lay on the ground, writhing in agony.
****
Eden lay down beside the building, in the bushes, watching the carriage. No one had moved the carriage in a long time, but she could see the silk curtains that covered it move as Satan thrashed within. Eden didn't know what was going to happen when she faced such a monster, but she felt fear so powerful it was as if somebody had stabbed her heart with a knife.
I need to get in the building, but I know Satan can see me with the carriage pointed the way it is. She would rather have been captured and beaten by ten thousand Demon soldiers than greet Satan. The horrible part was she was going to head right to him, and probably by the end, he would have her.
As she watched, the world began to move again. The soldiers began to stand up and move, complaining and grasping their h
eads. She glanced at the carriage and saw the silken curtains no longer moved. He was toying with his own soldiers. She narrowed her eyes. He had to have known how much he hurt them.
Down the road, she saw seven soldiers approach with one man in the front of the line. The man had shoulder-length auburn hair, chilling grey eyes, and skin so pale it looked like oatmeal. All the soldiers that followed in lines three by three kept casting him frightened looks, and Eden knew who the leader of the Blood Stone project was.
When the auburn haired man arrived by the building, Eden shivered when she saw him and felt chilled to her core. She stared at his face and saw evil in his eyes. She did not want to be caught by him either.
"Lift up the carriage," the man said. "Put it in the building and then remain where you are."
The men exchanged looks as if they would rather be anywhere else in the world, but they all said in unison, "Yes, sir."
With much weeping, they grabbed the carriage, lifted it up, and carried it up to the building. One of the soldiers in front pushed open the door and they hobbled inside. Eden heard a bang where they laid the carriage.
The auburn haired man entered the building a moment later, and two men came out, each holding large swords. One of them stopped at the entrance of the building, and the other began to round it. Guards, Eden realized. They were guards.
Just as the guard rounded the building, she tried to scramble to her feet even though she knew she was already caught. To her surprise, the guard, while looking her right in the eye, passed her without saying a word. Eden scrutinized his wide-eyed, open mouthed face and understood that she could pass. Why he did not want to stop her, she did not know.
Eden gazed at the entrance to the building feeling more fear than she had ever felt in her entire life. As she stared at it, she contemplated how now was the only chance she had to stop the end of the world, Zemiothstai. The second Demon that guarded the door, seized her arm, pulling her from her thoughts. She whirled around and stared at him, terrified but relieved. If she got caught now, nobody could say she hadn't tried right?
Until We Meet Again Page 11
