All merriment that normally accompanied the Shaman’s disposition was gone. Ardat had to remind herself that the Shaman was on her side. The look on the old man’s face was one she had never seen on anyone else’s. The closest words she could think to describe his features were, righteous anger.
“I am the protector of the balance that must be kept between the Light and the Darkness until the final battle will decide the Light has won. And this is not that day. The Apocalypse will be held for at least another one thousands years,” the Shaman said.
“Even you must see, old man, that the time for the end is upon us,” Sodom screamed. “Now more than ever, the Light has failed. The Angelic Army is in ruins. Even now, they only hold a chance because everyone else has united with them.” Sodom’s eyes took in the centaurs, minotaurs, and the Horsemen who were battling all around them. “These creatures, these human Horsemen are beneath us as angels and demons. Their time is over. They will pass away and only we will remain.”
“They may pass away,” the Shaman said, circling Sodom to put himself between him and Ardat and the wounded Archangels, “but their actions today will echo in eternity. The bravery of mortals and who you call ‘these creatures’ will hold back the tide of the Apocalypse even against you and your master.”
“Blasphemy!” Sodom screamed as blackness gathered around him. “They are nothing to me or my master. I am their god!”
“There is only one God,” the Shaman said as white energy snapped and crackled around him, “and He does not forsake those who follow Him.”
Sodom screamed something intelligible and the forces of Light and Dark clashed once again.
---
The sheer size of the monster was enough to make Alan shudder. Even for him, the Horseman of War, fear was a very real force he had to remind himself to ignore. The inky scaled dragon marching behind Rolf was the size of a mountain. Every single combatant, regardless of whose side they fought on, ran in front of the monstrosity.
Alan witnessed one of the few zombie warriors that had survived the phoenix’s attack be pulverized under one large, clawed paw of the dragon.
You can do this, Alan heard himself saying internally. One more enemy. Michael and Raphael will succeed. This is your fight. There’s no running. You’ve been running your whole life; it’s time to meet your enemy head on.
“We should really get a list of mythical animals we’re going to come across during this war,” Tracy said as she reined in her unicorn beside Alan, “at least that way, we can know what we might be coming up against.”
“Running is probably not an option, is it?” Kyle said, looking to his peers.
Kassidy gave him a disapproving stare.
“I know.” Kyle took a deep breath. “I just thought I’d ask.”
Rolf still stalked toward them from across the battlefield. Alan knew Rolf was enjoying the moment as he allowed fear to gather in their hearts.
“Little brother,” Cratos said, appearing beside the group of Horsemen, “what can the minotaurs do to help?”
Alan tore his eyes from his enemy to study the minotaur. Cratos was covered in wounds, as were most of the remaining warriors of his race. They had sacrificed everything in this fight. It was Alan’s turn to do his part. “You’ve done more than enough, my friend,” Alan said, grabbing the minotaur by the shoulder—an act that forced him to raise his hand as high as he could in order to do so. “Help the centaurs and the rest of the Angelic Army rein in the surviving demons. We’ll handle this.”
Cratos opened his muzzle to protest. Alan was anticipating this. “You are a great warrior, my friend, and no one will ever question your courage. But the minotaurs can save more lives by pushing back the rest of Sodom’s demons. Our abilities as Horsemen will be needed to combat Rolf’s summoned creature. We have to do this, Cratos. This is our fight.”
A look of understanding crossed Cratos’s face. He reached out with a large hand, grabbing Alan’s shoulder with enough pressure to make him wince. “I understand this, little brother. Channel your aggression, embrace your pain.”
Reluctantly, Cratos released Alan and motioned for his minotaurs to leave.
“Where are they going?” Tracy asked as Alan rejoined the other Horsemen. “They’re coming back, right? They’re going to get reinforcements?”
Kassidy studied Alan’s face before answering for him. “Alan sent them away. They’ve sacrificed enough for us. They’d only be killed by the dragon.”
Alan nodded along with Kassidy’s words. “I still can’t believe you’re that same girl I took to Raphael’s hut by the sea.”
“I’ve had good teachers,” Kassidy said, smiling.
“Hey guys, I don’t mean to break up the words of affirmation that are being tossed around, but we have a big problem,” Kyle said, motioning to the approaching dragon.
As if it weren’t massive enough, the colossal beast had grown even larger as it approached.
Alan’s dogs snarled as they pawed the dirt, readying themselves. Still hundreds of yards away, Rolf motioned to his summoned creature to stay and walked toward the group by himself. He was smiling as he came, his dreadlocks falling around his face like snakes.
“I thought we should exchange words before I kill you,” Rolf shouted to them as he approached. “This is the end. Sodom will mark the end of your Archangels, and I will kill you, heralding the beginning of the end.”
Although his smile was authentic and Alan was sure Rolf meant every word, the demon was doing a poor job hiding his fatigue. Summoning a beast of that size had to be draining on Rolf. Sooner or later, Rolf would have to relinquish the power needed to hold the dragon. If Alan could only keep Rolf talking, perhaps preoccupy the demon with something.
Alan’s plan was barely conceived before he knew it wouldn’t work. With a snap of Rolf’s fingers, the dragon began to gallop forward, shaking the earth as it came. It seemed Rolf was also aware of his ability to summon and hold a creature of that size.
Alan looked at Kyle, Kassidy, and Tracy as their eyes narrowed and they fought back their own fear as they stared down the charging monster.
He knew he had to say something, but Alan wasn’t sure what he was going to tell them to inspire them until he opened his mouth. “We were all chosen for a reason,” Alan said, grabbing their attention. “It’s not a mistake we are all here right now. Look how far we have all come on our own paths. None of us are the same people we were when this all started and we are all better for it. I know you’re scared but that’s human to be scared. Courage is standing your ground despite fear, not in absence of it. Stay the course and we will win. Are you with me?”
Nods and roars from the Horsemen and their steeds followed Alan’s words.
“Rolf should be our main target. He’s the one summoning the dragon. We take him out, and we topple the monster with him.” Alan had to shout the words, the rumbling from the dragon was so loud. “Follow me!”
Alan’s wings took him into the air just a few feet from the ground as he flew forward. He reached down and scooped up a spear that had been abandoned by its previous owner. Yellow, red, and green glowing wings appeared on either side of him as Tracy, Kassidy and Kyle drew abreast. Their steeds followed growling, neighing, and shrieking behind them.
As the two forces closed the gap, Alan could see surprise on Rolf’s face. Apparently, he wasn’t anticipating the Horsemen meeting his attack head on. But the look of wonder was soon replaced with a snarl as Rolf shortened his strides, allowing the dragon to overtake him and shield Rolf under its ebony stomach.
Rolf stood protected by the dragon’s four legs, which were thicker than any tree Alan had ever seen. Its long snake-like tail swished behind its body as it roared, and fire erupted from its mouth.
Alan dodged the flames as he and the rest of the Horsemen collided with the dragon. Alan lost track of everyone as the dragon craned its neck in his direction, snapping its jaws that held teeth larger than Alan’s body.
&n
bsp; A quick midair roll took him away from the dragon’s searching maw. Heat rising from the frame of the beast was enough to make Alan blink and cause a new wave of sweat to roll down his body. Alan maneuvered around the giant, looking for an opening to get under the creature and to Rolf.
It was impossible. The dragon’s four legs, tail, and wings were constantly moving; whenever an opening did appear to the beast’s underbelly, it was closed a second later.
Alan’s eyes roved around the scales of the dragon but no immediate vulnerable spot made itself evident. Every few seconds, Alan would catch sight of one of the other Horsemen or steed striking the dragon to no avail. Every attack bounced off the thick scales without harm.
Rolf is the key; we need to defeat Rolf, Alan kept reminding himself whenever the urge to strike at the dragon would present itself.
“This isn’t working,” Kyle said, flying up beside him.
Alan nodded along with Kyle’s words, witnessing Kassidy make a close escape from the dragon’s chomping jaws.
“I can’t get underneath the dragon to reach Rolf,” Alan said, fighting back the frustration in his voice. “He keeps shifting and there’s not enough room under there.”
“Then let’s get the dragon off the ground,” Kyle said.
“Yeah, that would be great, but how do you plan on doing that?” Alan asked.
“I don’t know. I came up with the other plan to kill those zombie soldiers, remember?”
“Your phoenix did that,” Alan said, but before their conversation could continue, the dragon’s red eyes narrowed in on the two hovering figures and swatted at them with its tail.
Alan and Kyle split off in opposite directions, Kyle’s words still ringing in Alan’s ears. We need to get the dragon into the air, or at least to stand on its hind legs just for a second. A second would be enough.
An idea erupted in Alan’s mind. The hard part now was conveying his plan to the others while they flew around, harassing the dragon and avoiding its attacks. Although the dragon was massive, what it made up for in size, it lacked in sheer speed.
Alan caught sight of Tracy’s green wings as she made a run at the space between the dragon’s front paws. She looked as though she might make it but at the last moment, the dragon swiped at her with one of its wings and sent her flying back into the air.
Alan raced toward her, fearing she would be injured. When she finally recovered from the blow’s momentum and righted herself in the air, Alan saw she had a green sphere protecting her like a force field.
“Are you all right?” Alan asked.
“Yeah.” Tracy sighed. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but this isn’t working.”
“I know,” Alan said, cringing as he witnessed his dogs sinking their jaws into the dragon’s tail and legs only to be thrown off and hurled through the air. “I have an idea.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense,” Tracy said as they both watched Kassidy’s gryphon narrowly avoid the dragon’s massive tail.
“I need to get the dragon into the air, or at least make it rear on its hind legs. If we can do that, you three can sweep in and get to Rolf.”
“Right,” Tracy said as she looked at Alan with a roll of her eyes, “that sounds great, but how do you plan on doing that?”
Alan pointed to the ground below the dragon. The portion of the battlefield was made up of hard-packed dirt. “I’ll need to create something like an earthquake.”
“You’re reaching, Price,” Tracy said with a shrug, “but it’s the best plan we have. Maybe, just maybe, you can make a crevice or a crack.”
“We just have to destabilize the ground underneath the dragon enough for it to rear backwards,” Alan said. “Tell Kyle and Kassidy what the plan is. Be ready when I give you the signal.”
“Right,” Tracy said, turning to go. She paused. “Wait, what’s the signal?”
“You’ll know it when you see it,” Alan said, flapping higher into the sky and steeling himself for what he was about to do.
Chapter 21
Watching the Shaman and Sodom battle was breathtaking. Ardat cradled Michael’s unconscious head in her lap as she watched the struggle take place in front of her.
Over and over again, Sodom sent dark masses of power flying through the air at the Shaman. Just as many times as the attacks were sent, the Shaman defended the blows with his staff. Loud popping sounds erupted from the forces of darkness being blocked by the power of the Shaman.
A lull followed as Sodom’s face twisted with rage. “Enough!” he screamed in anger. Both his hands shot forward, sending a single channel of black power streaking toward the Shaman. To his credit, the Shaman caught the attack in his hands. The intensity of the blow sent his feet skidding backward until he had absorbed the strike’s initial wrath.
It was the first time Ardat saw the Shaman tremble from one of Sodom’s attacks. Sodom must have seen the same thing because he pressed his advantage, stalking forward, the black stream of energy still bearing down on the Shaman.
“You will bow to me before you die, old man,” Sodom said, still pressing closer to the Shaman.
The Shaman grunted under the pressure, his right knee buckling underneath him, then his left.
“Ardat.” Michael’s voice interrupted her from the scene that had absorbed her senses.
“Yes, yes,” she said, “I’m here.”
“You have to help him,” Michael said, coughing blood. “You’re the only one left.”
Ardat followed Michael’s eyes to the two still figures of Raphael and Gabriel, whose chests still rose and fell, but whose bodies did not move.
“Here,” Michael said, with pain in his face. His hands sparked and a lightning bolt the size of a sword appeared in his hands. “Take this.”
Ardat reached for the weapon on instinct. It sparked in her hand and warmed her palm but did not hurt her. “I’ll be right back.”
“I know you will,” Michael said with a smile.
“I love you,” Ardat said, standing to go.
“I love you more.”
Adrenaline, both from the engagement to come and from Michael’s last words to her, gave her the power to do what needed to be done.
Sodom was standing over the Shaman now, sweat pouring down his mad face. The Shaman was bent double, doing everything in his power to ward off the crush of Sodom’s attack, but it was too much.
At once, the Shaman’s defenses fell and he was open to the pain of Sodom’s attack. The demon laughed like a maniac as his dark energy enveloped the Shaman.
The Shaman writhed on the ground, arching his back in pain as he screamed.
Ardat knew her time to act was now. In seconds, the Shaman would be dead if she did nothing. As fast as she could, she raced toward Sodom’s back. Her pulse was pounding in her ears as she closed the distance.
Her right arm still carried Michael’s lightning bolt arched behind her as she zeroed in on the back of Sodom’s skull. One second from impact, Sodom turned. Whether he heard her approaching or some sense warned him of the attack, he was ready for her.
One pale hand caught her right wrist holding the lightning bolt. Sodom’s free hand wrapped around her throat with so much strength, Ardat thought he would break her neck at any moment.
“You could have had everything,” Sodom sneered. “You could have had it all. Instead, you will die with your beloved and all who stood with you.”
Anger burned in Ardat’s eyes at the mention of Michael’s name.
“Oh, how moving,” Sodom said, cocking his head to the side. “You bristle at his name.”
Ardat’s vision was beginning to haze as oxygen was cut off from her brain. Her right arm fell to her side, Michael’s lightning bolt rolling free from her grip.
“Here,” Sodom said, releasing her wrist and now walking with her still in his right hand, his fingers tight around her throat. “I’ll let you see him one last time. Before I kill him, then kill you.”
Sodom stepped over the S
haman’s still form, smoke rising from his body in great billows. The demon stood over Michael, putting a foot on his throat.
Michael struggled but it was useless; he was too weak and Sodom was too strong. “Any last words?” Sodom asked, looking from Michael to Ardat.
Ardat’s heartbeat was slow, her eyes beginning to close. It was hard to think. All she could do was stare into Michael’s eyes. Then she caught his stare. He was looking from her to his left hand. His left hand was half hidden under his leg. A tiny spark, a lightning bolt no larger than a throwing knife was in his hand.
Ardat fought against unconsciousness with every fiber in her being. Willing herself to stay coherent, she blinked to Michael twice.
In one quick move, Michael struck at Sodom’s left thigh. Sodom dropped Ardat as he howled in pain. The lightning bolt sank deep into his dark cloak and the pale exposed flesh underneath.
Ardat gasped in huge breaths of air as she fought her way to her hands and knees. Sodom released his foothold on Michael’s throat as he pulled out the small lightning bolt and threw it to the side. One large fist, consumed by inky black matter, rose high over Michael’s head as Sodom prepared to crush Michael’s skull.
“No!” Ardat screamed. She reached for the lightning bolt Sodom had thrown to the side with her will over gravity and called it back to her hand. The shaft of energy changed direction and sped to her through the middle of Sodom’s abdomen and into her waiting fingers.
Sodom stumbled backward as if he were drunk. Both of his pasty-white hands reached toward the gaping hole in his stomach and came away stained in dark blood. “What?” Sodom looked to Michael then Ardat. “How, how could this happen? I was supposed to win. I was so much stronger than all of you combined. I—” Sodom looked to Ardat as he fell to his knees. “Why didn’t you side with me? You could have had it all.”
Ardat rose on unsteady feet. She gripped the small bolt of energy in her hand as she stood over Sodom. “I do have it all,” Ardat said, looking to Michael. “I should have known that from the very beginning.”
Alan Price and the Horsemen of the Apocalypse Page 17
