“The Overlord who did this…” Her voice cracked. “It was like sex for her. She reveled in my pain, and the more blood she drew from my body, the more pleasure she took from it.” A hollow chuckle escaped her lips, and her eyes met Darian’s again. “She wanted a man, but had to settle for me. I cannot imagine what she would do to one of you.” She cleared her throat and pulled her shirt on. “Surrender is not an option for us either. Mercy and compassion are what separate us from them, but there is no place for it in this battle. Do not hesitate to kill them, or your life will be forfeit.”
She stepped from the table, and Darian watched the soldiers’ expressions as their gazes followed her out the door. Respect and fear overrode everything else. They’d seen the warriors step up against the demons when their own weapons failed to stop the tide of death. They’d also witnessed Sara’s shields and daggers destroying their enemy.
“Alright, men!” Captain Mills’ voice echoed through the hall. “Get your clothes back on. We’ve got work to do. I want the officers and NCO’s in my office in five minutes.”
David jumped down from the table and strolled towards Darian.
“Don’t look so pissed off, Darian,” he said. “You missed the best part.”
“Oh, really?”
“Soldiers need to know they aren’t alone in their pain. You know that.” He turned around and faced the roomful of men and women gathering their belongings and leaving. “They see us as gods. We fought a battle they had no hope of winning, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t made their own sacrifices. A dozen or more men took their place on the table before you arrived, telling the tale of their battle scars. Some of them have experienced some pretty nasty shit. They needed to be reminded of their own strength.”
“Until you reminded them of ours,” Darian mumbled, still not convinced it was the best tactic for his Sentinel.
“They aren’t fighting this evil alone, now are they?”
David pulled a snack size bag of Chips Ahoy from his pocket and handed them to Darian.
“What’s this?” Darian asked.
“She didn’t keep any for herself.”
Darian smiled. “Somehow, I’m not surprised.”
Chapter 55
Seraphina
Sara sat in the tall grass on the east side of the camp, one of the few places not scarred from their recent fight. She twisted a blade of grass around her fingers and listened to the birds chirping in the nearby shrubs. It surprised her they were even there, but nature seemed to be more resilient than humans.
She turned at the sound of Darian’s footsteps behind her, but she didn’t get up. He pulled something from his pocket, lowering himself to the ground next to her. The crinkling of a wrapper caught Sara’s attention, and she looked over at him.
“Where did you get those?” she asked, pointing at the small bag of chocolate chip cookies she begrudgingly gave away to the soldiers earlier.
“David gave them to me,” he replied, popping one of the tiny cookies in his mouth.
She knew there could only be ten or twelve in the bag. Was he really going to eat them all?
“He said you gave all yours away.” He looked at her and ate another one. “So, was he on the losing end of the bet or the winning?”
“Are you going to share or eat them all?” she asked. Surely, he wouldn’t do that to her.
“Oh, did you want some? I assumed not since you gave them all away.”
His eyebrows rose, and he gave her an innocent look that she didn’t believe for a minute. She snatched the bag from his hand, put it to her lips, and poured all of them into her mouth. Darian howled with laughter as she struggled to chew them without choking. He took the empty bag from her and stuffed it back in his pocket.
“Thank you for that,” she said after she swallowed the last gooey chunk.
“For what? I didn’t have anything to do with David’s little charade.”
“Really? I assumed the two of you planned it.” When David had mentioned the ploy, she was initially against it. Sharing stories, trauma, seemed like the last thing anyone needed in the middle of a fight for humanity’s survival. But as she listened to the soldiers’ stories, she understood. They all needed to be reminded of their own strength and resilience.
“Nope, that was all him,” Darian replied. She thought she heard a note of resentment there.
“It was definitely good for the captain’s men, and it didn’t hurt me either.”
He turned to look at her, and she saw him struggling with his emotions. He finally smiled. “I am a little jealous that everyone else got the see the hot pink before I did.”
“I have a special one saved just for you, Lord Darian,” she said. “After we’re finished with this next task.”
His face fell, and she almost felt bad for him but suspected he was just mocking her. So much had happened in the last few days, and despite his attempt to lighten her mood, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. If they didn’t stop this Overlord, humanity would be nothing better than cattle, as Darian had said a few days ago to these same men. She also remembered his comments about not having the opportunity to have a family. She knew nothing about his past before he joined the Council. Did he have a wife and children? Did he lose them to the demons? His home in Germany was certainly large enough to accommodate a pile of kids. Sara glanced over at him and found him staring back at her.
“You remember when we rescued the men from the cultists before the last battle?” she asked.
He nodded, and she hesitated. Did it even matter? It would be insensitive for her to ask. She wouldn’t want to talk about losing her family, so she couldn’t expect him to either.
“Never mind. So, when are we leaving for North Dakota?” she asked instead.
“Do we have to talk about work already?” he replied with his own question.
“The sooner we start, the sooner it’s finished,” she responded. “Procrastination will get us nowhere.”
“I truly hope you’re right.” He pulled a budding dandelion from the ground between his boots and started picking apart the petals. “We’ll probably be ready to leave in a couple of hours.”
“Is Mikel meeting us there?”
“There’s a good chance that Zar’Asur will be there, which means Mikel will be too.”
Sara frowned. She hadn’t expected to see the Overlord again, and the thought filled her with rage that quickly turned to anticipation. She wouldn’t be trapped and alone with that evil bitch. They could kill her and her brother.
“You think Zar’Asur would participate in this battle?”
“It’s hard to tell with him.” Darian tossed the naked stem on the ground and picked another one. “He’s normally a hands-off leader. He lets his demons and undead fight for him, but I wouldn’t put it past him to be there.”
“What do you mean undead? You’re not talking about zombie types, are you?”
“The man who tended your wounds was not alive, Sara.”
She gasped, and her mind recalled the man’s skeletal frame and milky eyes. His dead hands rubbed that ointment all over her skin. An involuntary shiver ran through her.
“That’s hard to believe,” she whispered.
“Harder than the demons?” Darian challenged.
“I suppose not, but zombies? And the one that rubbed that nasty paste all over me, helped me. I would never have found the hole in their barrier if he hadn’t shown me.”
“I wondered about that, too,” Darian said, working on dandelion number three. “They’ve never had a mind of their own. I should talk to Raphael about it. It’s possible that Zar’Asur has overtasked the Citadel’s capacity.”
“What are you talking about?” Sara was completely baffled. Had they mentioned a Citadel, and she just didn’t remember? Possibly. So much of the last couple of weeks was just a blur. “What Citadel?”
“There is so much you don’t know.” Darian shook his head. “The Citadel is Zar’Asur’s fortress, but it
also harnesses his magic. He funnels his power through the Citadel, forcing it to remove the souls of anyone within its range. It’s how he creates the undead.”
She knew her mouth was hanging open in disbelief, but it explained Darian’s memory of the men he lost. She’d seen their lives literally sucked from their bodies in his memories. It must have been at this fortress.
“And where is this Citadel?”
“Several hundred miles northeast of here,” he replied, still picking at the flower.
“You mean in the direction we’re going.”
“Yes, which is why I suspect the Overlord will be there.”
“Well, damn.”
Chapter 56
Mikel
Eva took Mikel to Minot Air Force Base. He was impressed by the number of troops still stationed there, as well as the well-organized command center. They’d taken in several thousand refugees from the nearby states and Canada. The military personnel assigned housing and rations with precision and compassion.
But the base itself was not easily defended. The chain link fencing wouldn’t hold back the demons. The only truly secure area was the nuclear weapons site, which everyone steered away from. Mikel suspected it was also the reason that Zar’Asur left this base alone; it was too close to his Citadel to risk attacking. Mikel had no doubts a nuclear explosion would reach the demon’s fortress. But it was also the same reason he would attack. Having control of a nuclear station would give the Overlord options he didn’t have before.
They approached the command center, and a female airman opened the door for them.
“The Lt. Colonel is in the debriefing room with Adalina,” she said.
“Thank you, Ms. Alish,” Eva replied.
Mikel’s boots clacked across the polished linoleum floor, fluorescent lights humming above him. He assumed they were running generators and wondered how much longer they could keep them going.
Eva opened a wooden door and allowed him to walk into the large room first. A long oval table filled the center of the space, circled by fifteen or more chairs. A silent fifty-inch television hung on the farthest wall, and a tall man with graying hair stood beneath it. Emblems denoting his rank decorated the collar of his fatigues.
“Lt. Colonel Moore, Mikel Davis,” Adalina made introductions.
“It’s good to meet you, Mr. Davis,” the officer said, extending his hand to Mikel.
“And you as well,” Mikel replied, accepting the firm handshake. “Just call me Mikel.”
The man nodded but did not make a similar offer. “Adalina tells me you are the leader of this group.” He looked Mikel up and down, then curled his lip, obviously not impressed with Mikel’s casual attire and long, blond hair tied at the base of his neck.
“She is correct,” Mikel replied. “How many of the enemy have you encountered thus far?”
“We haven’t seen anything, but the reports coming in from refugees are quite disturbing.” He looked at Eva with a similar expression. “Your scout also brings alarming news.”
Mikel turned to Adalina, and she winked at him. She knew what he was thinking. This man had no idea what was coming.
“The company from Camp Guernsey is on its way along with Darian, Sara, and the rest of your warriors,” Mikel said to Adalina. “I expect them to be here sometime tonight.”
“That’s the best news we’ve had in days, Mikel!” Adalina exclaimed, settling into one of the chairs. “Stephen arrived about fifteen minutes ago. The demons are pulling up camp and moving south.”
“Do you have a map of their movements?” Mikel asked, frowning. “How many vehicles do they have, and how quickly are they moving?”
“Mr. Davis, I believe I should be the one asking these questions,” the Lt. Colonel stated, still standing at the head of the table.
“Then, why aren’t you?” Mikel challenged. “I assumed Adalina has already relayed this information to you.”
“I was here when her scout reported to her, but I find this extremely difficult to believe.” His voice rose as he continued. “She says this army is over a hundred miles north of us, but her scout travels there and back in less than an hour.”
“Have you offered to take him?” Mikel asked, glancing between Adalina and Eva, who was standing beside her.
“I thought he might appreciate the opportunity from you rather than me,” Adalina replied.
In other words, the colonel wasn’t listening to a woman.
“Eva, find Stephen,” Mikel said. “I’d like you to escort the Lt. Colonel and I to the enemy.”
“Sure thing!” She vanished, and Mikel smiled at the officer’s surprised expression.
“Didn’t you tell him anything, Adalina?” Mikel asked, his smile broadening.
“He wasn’t exactly cooperative, Mikel,” the warrior replied, returning his grin.
Mikel shouldn’t be excited about humiliating the man, but some people wouldn’t react to anything else. They needed the colonel on their side, and they needed him informed. If he wouldn’t listen, then a hands-on session was required.
“Lt. Colonel Moore, you are about to have your eyes opened to a part of the world you didn’t know existed, and you will likely wish you could retreat back to your ignorance,” Mikel began.
“You arrogant little whelp!” the colonel bellowed.
“I might be arrogant, but it’s well earned. Eva and her fellow scouts have a unique ability to blend with their surroundings, making them completely invisible. This allows them to gather information that is otherwise unobtainable.”
The officer rolled his eyes in disbelief. Mikel didn’t blame him. Their entire circumstance was unbelievable.
“I see your point, Adalina. He has to learn the hard way. I’ll not waste my breath.”
Eva and Stephen appeared at his side a moment later, causing Colonel Moore to jump.
“Stephen, escort Mr. Moore close enough to the enemy to see them, but far enough to avoid detection. Eva and I will be right behind you.”
“Sure thing, boss.” Stephen grabbed the Colonel’s arm and disappeared.
“I can’t wait to see him puking his guts up, Mikel,” Adalina said. “He’s been an obstinate ass for four days. He does well organizing his men and providing food and shelter for the refugees, but he refuses to accept the battle to come.”
“That’ll change in the next few minutes,” Mikel said. He was sure of that. “Let’s go.”
Eva took his elbow, and they teleported to the demon army. The Lt. Colonel was indeed leaving his breakfast all over the ground, and he glared at Mikel when he finished.
“I will kill you for that,” he hissed.
“I doubt that,” Mikel replied, then turned to Stephen. “Which way?”
“About a five-minute walk, this way,” Stephen replied. “I wanted to be sure we were far enough away to avoid being heard.”
“Good idea. Lead the way.”
Mikel heard the marching army before he saw it. The sound of hundreds of pounding hooves made his heart sink. He didn’t have to see them to know the numbers would be overwhelming.
“Get down, now!” Stephen hissed, grabbing the Colonel’s arm once more.
Eva took hold of Mikel and Adalina, and they all disappeared.
“What the hell?” Colonel Moore yelled.
“Shut up, you idiot!” Stephen warned.
Mikel was surprised the officer didn’t argue. He should have since he considered Stephen a civilian.
A line of trucks crested the hill in front of them and continued past. Mikel guessed they were doing at least forty miles per hour. As soon as the last truck passed, rows of demons followed. Their hooved feet beat the ground in a constant rhythm, easily keeping pace with the trucks. Mikel had no idea they could move that fast. As he lost count of the lines, despair rolled through him. They had never faced an army of demons that size, not to mention the hundreds of men that were likely packed into the trucks leading the caravan.
When the last row of de
mons fell out of sight, Mikel stood.
“Let’s look over the rise and make sure that’s all of them,” he whispered, knowing the scouts were there, even if he couldn’t see them. Eva’s fingers around his arm gave away her presence.
“Everyone, step silently,” said Stephen, barely breathing. “Just because they don’t see us doesn’t mean they can’t hear us. Come on, Colonel, time to go.”
Eva tugged Mikel’s arm, and they moved forward over the rise. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes several times. Hundreds of men marched towards them at a normal pace.
“They’re undead, Mikel,” Eva’s voice whispered in his ear.
He sighed. “Let’s go back to the base.”
Back at the air base, they waited for the Lt. Colonel to finish emptying his stomach once more. Eva handed him a metal garbage can, which he gladly used.
When he finally lifted his head from the can, he looked at Mikel. His pale face no longer held arrogance and doubt.
“We can’t fight against that,” he said. “I saw those things on the TV before we lost power, but I thought it was a hoax.” His voice shook, his eyes widening. “All these people will die. We cannot protect them here.”
“This is not our first battle with demons, Lt. Colonel Moore,” Mikel said, trying to project calm and reassurance, not the irritation he really felt.
“Call me Charles, please.”
“Charles, we need your best fighters and marksmen, as well as any artillery you may have,” Mikel continued. “Those trucks will be here in a couple of hours. I don’t know what strategy they have planned, but we need to meet them on our own terms. We don’t have very much time to prepare.”
“The others won’t get here in time, will they?” Eva asked.
“It doesn’t look that way,” Mikel replied. “Darian and Sara left a few hours before we did, but they’re at least eight or ten hours away.”
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