Dark Nephilim (Always Dark Angel Book 2)

by JN Moon

  Charging forward with all the courage I could muster, I leapt at his neck. I didn’t reach it as he caught me mid-air, his huge arms like thick branches, and I struggled like a cat, writhing and contorting myself, snapping at his neck.

  Marcus lost no time and ran behind him, slashing at his back. The monster tossed me away easily. As I thudded to the ground and looked up, I saw Acacius and Aaron hacking at the monster, their swords so sharp he was being sliced to ribbons. My friends spun around the giant nephilim, stabbing and slicing at every opportunity. Being smaller has its advantages.

  Their speed was astonishing. The giant roared, trying to frighten and distract, but he couldn’t grab their swords. They were just too fast and sharp. Blood bath is a word I could use to describe the scene before me. His arms and back were ripped and bleeding from their cutting swords. Aaron darted under the nephilim’s swinging arm, dodging the fist attached to the arm. Seeing his opportunity to weaken the monster further, he hacked off his right hand. The monster’s scream was deafening. As he doubled in pain, protecting the severed stump, Marcus swung his mighty sword twice, taking off his head.

  In the carnage I had forgotten about Nicolas until I heard his whimper. Getting up from where I had been thrown, I conquered my pain and sought out Nicolas. I walked tentatively around the carcass and quickly pulled Nicolas away, knowing what would follow. I just managed to get Nicolas away from the nephilim beast, when the monster flashed that brilliant blue-white flame and was gone. The smell was rancid.

  I fed Nicolas, holding him up against my chest as he drank. I didn’t know if he’d survive even with my blood. He had been ravaged beyond any I’d saved, except Nathaniel. I could barely recognize him. But he drank and grew stronger. As his frantic sucking slowed, I was aware that dawn was coming. He got up and turned my way, nodding his thanks and walked slowly away. No words were needed. He hadn’t really been a friend, more of an acquaintance, but I knew, I could sense from him, that he never wanted to do the wrong thing. He’d always just been in the wrong place at the wrong time or manipulated and used.

  Sometimes we are thrown into circumstances so beyond our control that all we can do is make the best of them until we have a chance to change. Our chance to be free and live our lives by our own choosing. I hoped I wasn’t wrong about Nicolas. If I was, and he really was evil, I would kill him. But at least he was given the chance.

  I waited another moment, watching Nicolas fade into the dark. Aaron and Acacius had left moments before, and were already out of sight, having taken to the skies on their massive wings. I shook myself from my thoughts and scurried away from where I’d been sitting with Nicolas, my head dizzy with the sudden movement after losing so much of my own blood. Marcus, seeing my weakness, grabbed me around the waist and unfurled his wings, sending us into the lightening sky. I tensed and held my breath, vertigo becoming worse.

  Marcus laughed and shouted over the wind, “Breathe, Anthony, we’re not going far!”

  We were on the other side of the city in seconds and I felt breathless, never having experienced flying like that before.

  Through Anthony’s Eyes

  Anthony

  They were striking and projected energy of power that made mortals stare in wonder. They looked beautifully deadly.

  Marcus could have never have foreseen such events unfolding on that fateful night when he bit the vampire, but now the consequences of his action, leading to more nephilim plunging into darkness had unleashed a malevolent power.

  The balance of good and evil had shifted, and as the nephilim paired with vampires and lost their piety, so, too, did the veil of reality open further, and the onslaught of those from the underworld flooded in. And as these fiends came into mortal reality, the effect on man increased.

  Their anger, hate, fear—call it what you will—manifested further feeding on the malicious energy. And the fallen angels, try as they might, were unable to fight this malignant power, having succumbed to a dark energy themselves. The tiny city filled with thick smog, the haze of the sinister world with these things pouring through.

  As I walked through the city centre the people had a grey pallor in their faces. It was startling to see so many almost hunched, dreary looking, washed-out and all the while apparitions loomed and hovered over them, following them like a ball and chain.

  A fog descended over Bath like a heavy blanket, encasing all within it, oppressive and severe. It lasted for days and I noted the news and scientists struggling for an explanation, telling people it was a chemical haze due to a leak in a nearby industrial plant. People were warned to stay indoors, but as these mortals were so intoxicated with doom, they didn’t heed the warnings. Of course, it wasn’t a chemical leak; it was the descent of abominable entities spilling forth.

  Men’s souls were bleeding, bleeding with sickness and fear. And as this gloom lasted, it of course attracted more of its kind. The city of Bath became a haven to the undead. Demons, vampires, werewolves, and ghouls all converging and looking to steal the spirit of mortal flesh.

  Some wanted the souls of the living to make themselves physical, others were just angry. Furious at the weak mortal flesh that had, until now, dominated their existence.

  A feast of blood and souls, easy pickings for those from the shadows, ready to drag away the empty soulless beings into the abyss. The helpless humans, unable and unwilling to see what was happening around them, blinded themselves to the darkness and left as hollow, empty carcasses.

  I was unable to stand by and watch this without doing something, but what could I do?

  Acacius, Halina, and Aaron were called upon as they had abstained from drinking the vampire blood. Acacius and his kin, always ready for battle were now growing weary with so many breaking through the veil.

  “Anthony, Nathaniel, we need a new plan. And you need to help! I won't lie to you, I have never known of vampires fighting demons or ghouls, and I have never known of vampires succeeding in doing so. I don’t even know if you can help. But the veil has broken as you see, and these fiends created by man are becoming too many. I could call upon more of my kin, the untouched ones to come here, and they would. They could arrive swiftly, and I am contemplating this seriously. But you, Marcus, and all vampires and fallen nephilim would be slaughtered by them. They would show you no mercy.”

  Acacius continued, “So either we hatch a plan to destroy these phantoms of fear, or I shall have no other choice. I will not stand by and watch as humans are consumed by their own fear, their own hate. I'm eager to hear your thoughts.”

  I understood completely Acacius's concerns and I wished the others could come, but without killing me and mine. “There has to be some connection. I mean I have the blood of a demi-god within me. Surely that counts for something. Do you think maybe she knew this would happen?”

  For once, Nathaniel was serious and listened whilst Acacius and I talked, as did the others. I knew I was stronger now, not just physically but emotionally. I felt ready, ready to act, that I did have some higher purpose other than bleeding people.

  “You're right, yes, that has to be the key. Marcus, you, too, have her blood after drinking from Anthony. As does Nathaniel. We need to plan, and fight back.”

  I felt lifted somehow, like I was aiming for a higher purpose and this was what Acacius had told me. I was transcending from the mundane existence which most creatures, preternatural or not, live in. Like Acacius, my ideas, beliefs, my principles were aiming higher. I had never felt this before. I had acted without self interest in the past to be sure when Jamie and I had sought out to destroy the Elite butchers, but this was different. I have to admit, most humans may not live on a high level. That is, most people are concerned with being comfortable rather than making sweeping changes and acting for others. But still, their souls were at stake. Even Nathaniel was enthused, as I read his emotions I think it was for the right reasons as opposed to the excitement. I wasn’t enthusiastic having Nathaniel there, but we needed all the help we could get.
An eternity to be angry is a long time.

  Dark Mirrors

  Anthony

  I went to Rachel’s empty home and walked slowly upstairs, sat on her bed and picked up the dark mirror. In the research it said you could use mobile phones, something to do with the frequencies, I didn’t really know what I was doing but I was damned if I was going to leave her where ever the hell she was with that demon. A demon who wanted to mate with her!

  And I concentrated. I’d charged her phone when I was last there and I hoped, prayed that it could help link me to her now. What I’d found on the the web was sketchy and full of sinister tales. But for Rachel, I was willing to try anything.

  Her room still had an unease about it, the energy filled me, pushed against me. It was like I wasn’t alone. My body was colder than usual and strange prickling sensations tingled on my head and arms, as if I was being prodded by some unseen force. But I had to find her. I texted Marcus to tell him what I was doing so that at least someone would know if I got lost.

  Immediately, I got a text back saying he was on his way and not to do anything. His text message shouted at me as he’d capped all the letters. Still, I sat there, grasping the mirror in my hands. Stillness. Then thoughts came into my mind—relax.

  It was like a light bulb moment. I decided to stand up. When I had learnt Kung Fu and Qi Gong in my human life I was taught techniques about chi-energy that most people do not. I also remembered that I needed some respect in what I was doing and must ask permission to enter the portal where Rachel was. I learned that from YouTube, and was following all the information I had. All portals have Guardians. All though what that really meant I had no idea, it’s just what I read.

  Quietening my restless mind, I took some deep breaths then started moulding the energy around me by making what we call in Qi Gong an energy ball. I felt immediately calm and centred and the energy ball started to build up fast. I focused my intention on the mirror in front of me that was now laying on the bed. As I did this a breeze brushed past me, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t stop as Marcus flew into the room to grab me, and then I was gone.

  All I felt next was being pulled into a vortex, rushing fast downwards with streams of rainbow-coloured lights pulsating around me, bright and so beautiful. My stomach flipped and I remember thinking, don’t forget to breathe as I was caught up in the experience. Air whirled past me and the lights flashed, hypnotising me.

  I was aware that Marcus was beside me. Disorientated and on my back, instinct to hold my head which pounded in pain. Cold bit at my fingers fiercely, and looking down I saw that I was sat in snow my other hand steadying me and wet with ice.

  Marcus was beside me, and also rubbing his head, sitting up, crouching forward. He shook himself, blinking.

  I looked around me and the surroundings were a forest in winter. Most trees were bare and thick snow and ice covered them and as far as I could see.

  Marcus made no sound as he studied this. His face said it all. Angry but also fascinated and afraid. His lips tight, eyes squinting through that brilliant bright light.

  I remembered then what he had said, that no nephilim had entered a portal. His adventurous spirit made him an excellent companion. Not only had he been the first of his kind to drink vampire blood, he was now the first of his kind to cross through a portal. I couldn’t help it, but this thought and the shock of what was happening made me sputter out a laugh.

  He narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly at my thoughts while extending his arm to help me up. It was bitter cold and the realisation slowly dawned on me, that as well as finding Rachel, I also had to find a way home. I didn’t have the mirror, that was on the bed, but I did have the phones. Hopefully that would be enough.

  As I pulled them out of my pocket, my heart sank. Staring at the phones, I saw that they were warped, the casings slightly twisted. And dead.

  Startled by rustling in the tree tops, I looked up. I thought I saw birds flying off due to our presence, but looking again they were dark diaphanous shapes of birds. Not actual birds, grey shadows, their cries silent in that wintry place.

  I took a deep breath and tried to relax. Hoar frost on the leaves and vegetation had left tiny spikes of frozen ice, like thick needles of sparkling glass. Bitter, the cold was already starting to bite me and my emotions felt suddenly melancholy. A severe beauty encased this landscape, brutal in its extreme. The light from the sky and glowing around the trees was glacial blue and this was daylight. How cold would night time be?

  “So, my clumsy friend, what now?” were the first words from Marcus. “I hope you know a way back or we might both die frozen to death. She won’t be here. A demon wouldn’t go somewhere so cold; they don’t like it. They prefer somewhere hot.” He didn’t look at me as he spoke, but looked around for some clue as to what to do, where to go.

  “That was your choice to follow me, but I am glad you’re here. I need to concentrate on relaxing my mind. I’m confident I’ll get a sign, an instinct or intuition.”

  Shaking his head, he was clearly pissed off and didn’t bother to answer. His face was stern and frowning, lips pursed, and his body was rigid with anger.

  I shoved my hands in pockets, regretting not being more prepared and wearing a coat. Thank God I had a jumper on. I relaxed and breathed deeply. Nothing. As I did, all I was aware of was how cold I was feeling. My hands were like ice and my toes were losing feeling. Breathing the air in was chilling my body, my insides, and the light was blindingly bright. I found it hard to focus on anything else.

  The light started to fade fast, the shapes and the trees of the forest turned from that glacial blue to black. I was glad I had vampire vision to see, or more aptly stumble through that forest. I stopped. My heart raced as I saw a figure in the distance against a tree, and Marcus upon reading my mind stopped dead.

  But looking again it was just the shadow of a tree casting the shape of a human figure. I breathed deeply and continued on. It was so eerie. No sounds at all except the clumping and crunching of our feet on that deep snow and now my feet felt like blocks of ice.

  In my mind’s eye I saw creatures here, human-like but moving swiftly like animals, on all fours, their back legs jointed like wolves. It was like they were composed of dark clouds. Fear started in me as I was uncertain this was a vision. I looked over at Marcus for reassurance.

  He seemed to shimmer into a diaphanous form of himself, his face weary which was disconcerting as he is always so robust.

  As the cold grew with my fear, I wanted more than ever the comfort of hot, sweet blood to warm me, to awaken my senses but I dared not dwell on this.

  My instinct was to concentrate and keep walking, no talking and wander to the place. I knew on some level I would find something. I hurried my pace, careful not to say anything so as not only to appease my friend, but also to keep from disturbing whatever may be in this place.

  As we walked on in that deep snow, the whole place had a deathly silence except for us. I wished we could move without sound, like the fanciful tales of vampires flying. And then fear grabbed me in the throat and stomach as my vision adjusted to the figures standing around us. Bipeds, but not human. Eerie by day, more so at night. There were a dozen of them. Marcus had seen them just before me and stood like stone, hardly daring to breathe. Should I speak? Should I run? I could fight but I knew I was outnumbered. Better to speak, then run... Thoughts and fear filled me fast.

  They moved towards us slowly, encircling us.

  Speak, I told myself. It was hard to speak when your throat turned to sawdust. Swallowing hard, I tried to sound confident. “I am Anthony. I have come here looking for my friend.”

  They growled, slowly edging towards us, their eyes like scarlet dots in the night.

  “We mean you no harm. Have you seen another vampire and a demon?”

  At these words they stopped, and not one moved. I thought, if they are transparent, how can they hurt us? Can their condition affect us? Looking down at my arms, my legs, I still l
ooked solid.

  “Who are you?” I murmured.

  “No one has entered here. No one. You must leave or die.” The one that spoke, obviously the largest creature, appeared part human, part wolf. He was maybe seven, eight feet high. Though slightly transparent, his presence was terrifying. An animal-human hybrid with the advantage of the wolf’s muscular limbs. His face contorted in a mixture of wolf/ human, threatening just to look at. And his voice sounded deeper and more ethereal than the nephilim.

  “How did you get here?”

  Anthony, shut the hell up! Marcus’s thoughts flew into my mind urgently.

  Again, low growling. A face off. I was freezing and too scared in all honesty to fight, and how would I fight something not physical? Maybe they would infect us to become like them.

  “No demons would dare to enter here,” a resounding bellow came. They moved to leave a gap in their circle so that we could pass through. We struggled not to look back as we walked through.

  They followed us at a distance for a while and neither of us spoke. We communicated through our minds only, which seemed unnatural but not as unnatural as that experience. Mile after mile we trudged, and all feeling in my body had left long ago. Our breathing sounded so loud, I heard my heart pumping at times, and adrenaline pushed us forward. My mind kept playing tricks on me. What if those creatures followed us? What if they bit me, became solid, and tore me to pieces! What if...

  “Shut the fuck up. Do you never stop with the thinking?” Marcus whispered. “If you don’t stop, I’ll drink your blood and leave you here with them. Okay!” As I looked at him in disbelief he was grinning widely, a little tear of laughter in his eye.

  We came to a tiny waterfall, a clearing and here I felt that the energy had shifted. The slight light of the moon caught the water and I could see stones surrounding it. Tall stones of maybe a few feet high where the landscape changed.