Multiple bodies rushed in on her. Joan cut left and right. Hell Force soldiers fell dead in her path. She deployed her wings to hit the air. A soldier slammed a spear through her chest, knocking the wind from her lungs. She fell back as the creature jammed the spear into the ground, pinning her.
Joan sliced through the spear shaft, and cut the soldier’s head off and removed the spear from her chest and healed fast.
She watched Lucifer jam his spurs into his warhorse hindquarters. The beast leaped over the threshold. Its powerful body slamming into both angels and Hell Force soldiers alike. Joan lunged at the dark prince with her sword. Another soldier drove his body into her shoulder, knocking her aside before she reached her target.
Up on her feet, she killed the soldier. By then Lucifer deployed his huge bat wings and made off to the palace.
“Nooo, Joan,” Michael shouted. The black monster he fought kicked Gabriel away. Michael blocked its sword blow. “Stop him!”
Joan blasted off to pursue Satan. He charged ahead through the air like a giant bat. Lucifer headed for the many windows located within the palace. Lightheadedness made her dizzy, she became angry with herself. Her mind blazed at who allowed Lucifer into the Eternal Kingdom?
To her alarm Lucifer stole through a window, the one nearest God’s throne. Smallness fell over Joan, like a little girl on her first day at school. Fear touched her soul with its cold claws. Her throat constricted and a tunnel closed in on her vision. The battle noise fell into a deep chamber. Even her breathing seemed far away. Without reason her fingers brushed the gold archangel clasp on her right shoulder. Joan plunged into the dark window behind Satan to face her fate.
69
Daisy Lane glimpsed Lucifer at the open Second Gate. On the other end Joan fought her way through the Hell Force soldiers like a lioness. Joan glanced at Daisy. She canted her head, giving Daisy a stare reserved for a not quite familiar face. Joan turned away and forged ahead into the black armor. The tiny archangel resumed her fight to close the gate and stop the Hell Force determined fight.
Daisy refocused on her battle. She didn’t realize how much strength came with being a Dark Seraph. Power surged through her muscles. Each axe blow she delivered against Michael and Gabriel swords caused them both to grunt in effort to defend their necks. Black rage filled her soul like hot tar.
She swung her axe at Michael’s head. When he blocked the blow a pink jewel glinted from the sword hilt, followed by a bright blue stone. The sword he fought with looked familiar. Odd how someone so plain fought with a weapon created with so many rare jewels. Daisy kicked Gabriel away, the archangel’s eyes registered fury.
When Michael turned his head to shout at Joan, the sword mystery came out in the open. Michael could not fight Lucifer without starting the Second Coming. Jehovah’s stubbornness forced the irksome rule on the famed archangel. Michael must have switched swords with Joan.
And Michael’s sword, an old and powerful weapon, became the key to sending Lucifer back to Hell. For a second, worry fluttered Daisy’s lower belly. Joan fought against Lucifer once before. Her loss resulted in the battle between Heaven and Hell. Joan’s second failure guaranteed Lucifer’s victory.
Fire flared in Daisy’s side. Her eyes widened in pain as she stared down. A sword hilt stuck out her side. Gabriel pressed in on her just as Lucifer leaped his warhorse over the Second Gate threshold. Michael punched his sword into her stomach. Its tip caught her gold belly button ring and pierced her navel. White pain spread throughout her midsection.
She coughed, her face brushed against Michael’s hot cheek. Her nostrils flared, inhaling coppery blood, hot metal, sweat, and leather. Gabriel pushed against her left side. His strong hand wrapped tight around the sword handle. The three angels formed a murderous ménage a trois. The phallic: honed swords. Her strength drained from her body fast.
“I’ll return from Hell,” she said into Michael’s ear. Michael remained silent and pushed Joan’s sword deep and hard until the point cracked through her spine and erupted out her armored back panel.
Daisy’s entire body numbed from the two sword blows. She no longer sensed her arms or legs. Her black axes fell from her hands. Her soul slipped from the body. Her essence tumbled for a long time into darkness and reemerged in Hell.
70
Joan adjusted her eyesight to the dimness within the palace. A powerful unseen presence filled the entire place. She sensed sadness. The battle din faded off as she swept past huge floor to ceiling cedar and marble columns. White marble walls rose around her, gold edged capitols topped the columns, each decorated with sculptured pomegranates and date palms.
Joan inhaled the cool air. Her nostrils took in the scents of peaches and strawberries. She floated along, her white wings fluttering behind her. Her eyes darted back and forth in search for Satan. An incredible archway rose before her, two hundred feet high, white marble and gold trim graced her brown eyes. Joan never ventured into God’s Palace.
The archangel swept underneath the arch to enter an anteroom. A heavy stillness encapsulated the massive space, as if the outside madness did not exist. Peace hung around her thick like honey. Someone larger than infinite filled every corner within the room. From her left and right, high up on the walls, slanted windows allowed scant light into the throne room.
Joan entered the cavernous throne room through a glassless window. A solitary figure appeared at the far end near the throne room entrance. Joan landed on the marble floor before the throne, facing the figure. Fear kept her eyes off the huge seat behind her. She sensed its height and width and couldn’t tell if Jehovah sat in the throne or not.
So much happened since Lucifer decided to take power. His dark hate resonated throughout history, expressed through wars and psychopathic followers. He waged an eternal war for the ultimate power. A power denied him. Joan never understood Lucifer’s lust for power despite him once residing in Heaven as God’s closest friend and confidant.
Lucifer’s footfalls echoed over the marble floor. His hard eyes locked on Joan from a distance. He remained steadfast in his stride, trident slung over his right shoulder, confident, arrogant, and packed with hate. An almost imperceptible grin hung on his face, his shoulders swayed in a swagger reserved for movie pimps.
Joan’s muscles twitched and began to tighten. She took a slow breath, shut her eyes and counted to three. When she opened them Lucifer stood seven paces from her. She kept her right arm relaxed at her side and ready to draw Michael’s sword.
Lucifer’s eyes flicked up to a space above Joan’s white horsehair plume. He returned his gaze to the archangel who stood between him and the throne. “You’re way out of your league, Joan,” he said in a perfunctory tone.
“You can turn around and go back to Hell, Lucifer.”
Lucifer shook his head. “No. Not after I’ve come so far to sit in His chair,” he said and pointed at the throne behind Joan. “He’s not here, Joan. Him and His son are in the bleachers placing bets on this eternal game we play.”
Joan’s eyes narrowed. Lucifer remained calm, his left arm hung loose like a gunslinger. “You can talk all day, till eternity even. And I will not back down.”
Lucifer gritted his teeth. “I’m not telling you to back down. I’m telling you to take ten steps to your left.”
“Not happening.”
Lucifer shifted his right arm. The trident struck the marble floor with a heavy clang to suggest the weapon weighed over two hundred pounds. “You will die for them?”
Joan drew her sword. She brought up her left hand. Her round silver shield appeared with the golden Judea lion on its boss. She tightened her grip on the shield handle and positioned the curved edge an inch beneath her chin. “I will die for them all.”
Lucifer clicked his teeth and nodded. “I defeated you once. I will defeat you again.”
Joan raised Michael’s sword and struck the shield boss seven times with its silver blade. She held the sword in a vertical fashion. “Shall we?”
Lucifer swung the trident, slamming the three spikes broadside against Joan’s shield with all his might.
Joan’s shield boss absorbed the blow. Her body vibrated, her teeth chattered. In turn she drove her sword at Lucifer’s chest. He leaped back and launched the trident at her head. Joan evaded the blow and slammed her shield into his exposed right shoulder.
Joan went at Lucifer, her active blade striking against the trident staff Lucifer used to thwart Joan’s attack. She moved and slipped his attacks. An open space appeared. Her right foot snapped up and kicked Lucifer in his broad chest.
Lucifer flew into the air from Joan’s strong kick. He deployed his bat wings and righted himself in midair. He twirled the trident overhead, behind his back and stopped. The three prongs on the weapon pointed down at Joan.
Joan charged into the air with shield up and sword pointed out before her. The two met midair. Lucifer jabbed at her, swept up the trident and delivered an overhand attack. Joan turned away every blow Lucifer delivered.
The two angelic beings played chess with weapons. Each blow meant to kill or deceive the opponent. Metal rang against metal, the clamor almost musical against the throne room acoustics.
Joan’s horsehair plume danced, her eyes filled with silver light as she deliver blow after blow against her enemy.
Lucifer performed a double jab. The first blow a feint at her face, the second struck Joan in her exposed right thigh. She cried out in pain and tumbled to the marble floor. She landed hard and rolled away as Lucifer reached her and took another swing. The trident smacked into a marble column. The blow sent white chunks in a spray over the floor.
“You can’t escape me,” Lucifer said. “I offered you a chance to repent. A chance to save yourself from my wrath.”
Joan scrambled into the shadows like a wounded rabbit. Pain flared up her thigh. She healed herself from the attack, but with effort. Sweat speckled her forehead as the three prong holes vanished. She closed her eyes and willed the pain to leave her thigh. Joan pressed her back against a cool marble pillar.
Joan opened her eyes. The throne room dimmed. Sunlight fell through the slender windows in golden rods. Dust motes floated lazy within the light.
“Joan, my powers are not strong here,” Lucifer said. “I’m weak.”
God’s golden throne sat elevated above the marble floor. Seven pearl steps built from the floor reached the seat. Two huge cherub statues carved from ivory sat behind the throne. Their golden wings reaching out to touch the other at their apex. The seat glowed in a gentle yellow from an unseen power.
“Joan, come out.”
Joan licked her dry lips. The scant light and shadows hid them both. She moved away from the throne in hopes Lucifer would follow. Her keen eyes scanned the dusky chamber. The wide and high columns provided excellent cover for both. She slipped from one pillar to the next and kept to the shadows.
“Joan, born a mistake. God failed to flush you down the universal toilet along with the rest. The flood, one big toilet flushing and flushing.”
Lucifer’s voice echoed throughout the chamber in surround sound. She glanced at the curved ceiling. No Lucifer. She eased around a pillar and spotted him. He stood across the wide aisle amongst other pillars with his back turned.
Joan readied her sword. Lucifer stepped into the darkness again and Joan wondered why God lowered the lights. Her heart thumped hard in her chest. Every attack she delivered against the dark prince failed.
“What must I do, Joan? Should I find your family amongst those souls? Should I find your mother and rape her.”
Joan closed her eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She sucked in a breath and forced the old hurt away. His words stung, a knot formed in her chest.
“Your husband sounds even better. I promise to give that tall chocolate man a reach around.” Lucifer grunted several times. “Oh, my evil brutha, you so good. Lawd have mercy, you so good.”
Joan screamed and burst from the shadows, headed straight for the voice. Lucifer appeared in her path. Her sword arm lifted. She sent the blade down, striking the trident. Sparks flew. With all her strength she pummeled against Lucifer’s trident. He deflected every blow. All the while a maniacal smile played across his handsome face.
She leaped upwards, attempting to cleave his head. He lifted the trident, pushing the blow away and slammed his weapon into Joan’s shield. The blow hurtled Joan into the air towards the golden throne.
Joan landed hard on her back, scrambled to her feet. Lucifer took to the air and soared towards her, trident aimed at his target with a grimace stamped on his face. She side stepped, thrust her gladius at his ribs. He smacked the intended blow away. Their faces drew close enough for her to pick out the red motes in his eyes, flaring like a thousand burning suns.
Joan swung her shield at his head. He blocked the blow with his left forearm and spun her like a top. She stopped and stabbed at his face. He leaned back, bounced forward and slammed an elbow into her jaw. Joan slid back and landed on the throne first pearl step. She leaped to her feet and realized she needed to draw Lucifer closer. He overpowered her and out fought her.
Joan calmed herself. She needed to rely on faith. Not her skill with the sword or how fast she moved. Up on her feet again, Joan allowed the shield to vanish from her left hand. Her mind hung on the word faith for a few seconds. The last resort to defeat him would come through faith in God. Lucifer’s eyes widened, his lips spread into a smile and he launched his attack.
Joan threw her body forward, her mouth opened in a scream. The trident plunged into her chest. For a moment she thought several voices shouted in dismay, the haunted sound echoed throughout the massive throne room.
Lucifer cackled. “I told you not to fuck with me, Joan.” His eyes glanced up at Jehovah’s throne. “Once I sit my ass on God’s favorite chair, either He abdicates. Or He throws the world into Oblivion. Forcing Him to make a new play pen.”
Tears spilled down her brown cheeks. The pain amazed her with its greatness. Brilliant red and orange spots danced before her eyes. It seemed as though she took a bath in acid. The fire spread up her torso, darkness started to close in on her. Visions passed through her mind. Her mother, husband, and son along with her father Michael. Her muscles started to convulse. Blood with its iron tang filled her mouth.
Lucifer leaned in close until his nose touched hers. “Crying is not allowed, Joan. I’m gonna love me some sweet Jesus tonight.”
Joan collapsed on the pearl steps. Her left hand grazed the throne.
Blackness.
71
A black ocean surged against a black sky. Oblivion remained a void beyond all voids and in the emptiness shot an infinite chill. Souls roamed the dark unknown. Okura, Black Angel, Kami, she sensed their broken shadows joined by those evildoers drowned in the floods. They stood on a black beach in the millions.
Joan pitied their eternal sentence to such a place. She reminded herself they blasphemed the Holy Spirit and fell beyond any possible forgiveness. If Jehovah gave Hell rare side-glances, He would never acknowledge Oblivion. Oblivion’s dismal existence made even Hell possible to reside in.
Incredible pain yanked her back from Oblivion’s bleak shores. She found Lucifer perched above her and gazed into his loveless eyes. He locked on his hate like a dangerous animal. Why God allowed him to exist remained an eternal mystery. Perhaps God expected His true friend to transform, returning to the light.
Despite her confusion, Joan continued on with her plan to stall Lucifer’s intended glory and send him back to Hell.
Joan jammed Michael’s sword upwards. The blade slid into Lucifer’s chest. His eyes snapped open. He coughed, blood tricked from his thin lips.
“No,” he said and released his grip on the trident. “What is that?” He gazed at the sword hilt stuck close to his chest. “That is not your sword.”
Joan gritted her teeth. With both hands she seized the trident, screamed through the pain, and removed the weapon from
her chest. “I am an angel of war, Lucifer. Have you forgotten?”
Joan climbed to her feet.
Lucifer grabbed the hilt protruding from his chest. A sizzle erupted as if chicken fried in a vat filled with hot oil. Lucifer screamed and lifted his hands. His palms smoldering as smokey tendrils curled up from the flesh. “This is Michael’s sword. I cannot die. I am Lucifer.”
Joan broke the trident over her knee, tossed the pieces to the marble floor and approached Lucifer. “You won’t die, Lucifer. But you will go back to Hell until the appointed time.”
“Bitch, this is the appointed time.” Despite his efforts he slid to his knees in pain. “I will kill you all.”
Joan frowned and drew Michael’s sword from Lucifer’s chest. “In the name of God and His son Jesus Christ. I condemn you back to Hell.”
Joan lifted Michael’s blade above her head and sent it down. The silver blade sliced through Lucifer’s neck. His head landed on the marble floor. Bright light exploded from the body and filled the chamber. The light blinded Joan. A wind whipped up like a super typhoon. The front doors to the throne room burst open and Lucifer vanished. His raging scream echoed off into a fade as he returned to the darkness he emerged from.
72
Joan turned towards the throne to face a figure made from pure light. She fell to her knees and bowed her head. The pain subsided within her chest. All her efforts came from one source, not herself. Her faith tested, she understood why the war. Someone stood next to her and touched her shoulder.
Joan canted her head up to find Jesus at her side. He brought her to her feet and pointed at the throne room opened door. Bright light filled the chamber where semi darkness once resided.
“Go, Joan.”
Joan turned away from the throne and headed towards the opened doors. Light spilled out and struck the marble floor. The white columns rose above her like redwood trees. She padded out to the portico, her wings hung loose on her back. She beheld a site so beautiful she caught her breath.
Angels of War Battle of Archangels (Book 3) (Angels of War Trilogy) Page 27
