Return to Eden

by G. P. Ching

  "Oh, thanks." Silently, she worked her hand down into his. As they crossed the miles toward the small building that marked the entrance to the control center, Malini glanced back occasionally to check that Gideon was still there. He was, but he made no effort to catch up. If he’d wanted to, he could travel through the light the way that Dr. Silva could travel through shadow, but he didn’t.

  "He’s there, Malini," Jacob said, tugging her forward. "He told you he would be. Don’t expect him to be happy about it."

  When they reached the entry point, Jacob made short work of the lock with the water from his flask. Gideon showed up just as they approached the elevator.

  "How is this going to work, Malini? There’s nowhere to hide. As soon as we step on that elevator, they’re going to know we’re here."

  Malini lowered her eyes. "Yes. We won’t get in undetected. Lucifer's been tracking me for weeks." She placed one finger over her lips and turned toward Gideon. Disappear, she mouthed.

  He did, dissolving into the light that poured through the windows. The elevator doors opened and Malini stepped inside, pulling Jacob in behind her. She pressed a button on the panel. With a jerk, they descended below the Earth’s surface.

  Nervous energy poured off of Jacob, who positioned himself slightly in front of Malini, his fingers never leaving the top of the flask he’d tucked in his waistband.

  After a ridiculously slow ride, the thick metal opened.

  Dr. Silva stood on the other side, her face an icy sculpture of fury. Her eyes narrowed at Malini, the illusion fading to the slit pupils of a Watcher. "You have to leave, now."

  Chapter 30

  Jacob and Abigail

  Jacob leaped forward, the water from his flask freezing into the blade that was perfectly weighted for his hand. "Back off, Abigail. I don’t want to kill you, but I will if you come near her, I swear." He crouched defensively.

  "Kill me?" She laughed. "Do you think you could?" Her body twisted into shadow and reappeared behind him, inside the elevator. "I’m very hard to kill, Jacob."

  Lifting Malini by the waist with one arm, Jacob sprung from the compartment. "Shouldn’t you be somewhere doing Lucifer’s bidding?" he said through his teeth.

  "As it so happens, Lucifer was called away," Abigail said.

  Malini stepped around Jacob’s body. "That is his weakness, isn’t it? Only one place at a time. While he’s gone, why don’t you tell us how to stop this from happening?"

  Abigail strode from the elevator, lighter than air. When she floated like that it was easy to tell she wasn't human. It reminded Jacob of the first night he'd seen her, outside his bedroom window.

  "This can’t be stopped," Abigail said. "You are fools to try. A team of humans has been altering this facility to prepare for this sacrifice for weeks. The place is swarming with the influenced and the Watchers who manage them."

  "We’re not leaving, Abigail," Malini said.

  Pivoting on her heel, Abigail’s black cloak flowed organically with her, the cloth arching as if it had a life of its own before settling around her ankles. Her platinum-blonde hair floated to rest at the center of her back. "Then follow me," she said over her shoulder. "If you refuse to leave, you might as well have a front row seat for the show." She walked away from them, toward a railing at the end of the hallway.

  Jacob pleaded with Malini in hushed tones, "Why do I have a feeling this isn’t going to end well? Maybe we should leave. We’re no good to anyone dead."

  Malini shook her head but offered no explanation. Jacob walked to the railing, following in Abigail’s footsteps. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the scene beyond. In a pit three stories deep, a monstrous black machine loomed against the concrete. A stone altar had been welded to a steel platform at the center. A room the size of a school gymnasium held a row of computers, and panels of toggle switches, buttons, and blinking lights. A dozen humans buzzed between the electronic equipment, while other humans worked to perfect the platform and altar.

  As promised, there were Watchers, too. Jacob looked down upon Auriel and his mouth filled with the taste of maggots. A second later, he recognized Cord on the other end of the room. He pointed them out to Malini. Others came and went with the humans, only discernible from this distance by their otherworldly beauty.

  With a grave purse of his lips, Jacob watched Abigail descend the stairwell and join the chaos below. "She isn’t telling them we’re here."

  "She’s still hoping we’ll leave," Malini said.

  "Why? I don’t get it. She either wants us dead or she doesn’t."

  Malini brought her lips to Jacob’s ear. "No matter what Abigail says or does, don’t think for a minute that she wants you to see her like this, Jacob. Her illusion covers loads of imperfections, but her feelings for you are not one of them. She doesn’t want us to see her do this and she doesn’t want to be the cause of our deaths."

  "Ironic considering she’s the focal point of a plan to bring about the end of the world," Jacob whispered.

  Malini nodded.

  An explosion of sound and light turned their attention toward the pit. A pillar of red, sparkling smoke dissipated into a chorus of coughs from the surrounding humans. Lucifer’s blond curls and white smile beamed from the center. The tailored suit he wore made the corncob he nonchalantly juggled in his left hand seem out of place.

  "What’s with the corn cob?" Jacob whispered. Malini placed a finger over his lips.

  "Don’t fight until I tell you to," Malini cautioned under her breath. "Go along."

  Lucifer’s voice boomed from below. "The inconvenience of my absence has been rectified." He pointed the cob at Abigail. "Tell me good news. I need a pick me up after what I’ve just been through."

  Abigail glided to his side and whispered something in his ear. Her eyes flicked up toward Jacob and her finger pointed at Malini. Lucifer grinned.

  "This is good news." He pointed a hand at Jacob and Malini. "Look who’s joined the fun. Come on down, kids. You won’t want to miss this."

  Jacob glanced back toward the elevator only to find a thorn bush had erupted from the concrete and filled the hallway.

  "You won’t be going back that way." He shook his head and coaxed them with his hand. "Cord, Auriel, would you mind escorting our guests to the viewing area."

  "What was that you were saying, Malini, about Abigail not wanting us to die?" Jacob said.

  Shhhh.

  The Watchers materialized to the left and right, grabbing Jacob and Malini’s elbows and pushing both forward. Down the industrial metal stairs, Jacob faltered, catching himself every third step, trying to keep up with the Watcher's rough handling. If Malini was afraid, Jacob couldn’t tell. Her face was completely blank. He tried to trust in her bravery, that she’d know what to do, but his heart betrayed him, pounding in his chest. Every drop of water within twenty yards called to him. It was all he could do not to use it. When they reached Lucifer, Auriel and Cord pushed him forward and he crashed to the concrete floor at the devil's feet.

  Malini tilted her face up. "What is this, Lucifer? What are you doing?"

  He glanced around the room laughing, his narrowed eyes landing back on Malini. "The Healer wants to know what I’m doing." He lifted her by the back of her t-shirt. "Don’t mess with me, Malini. You know exactly what’s going on here, and you have just become a part of it."

  Lucifer jerked Malini into a chair that manifested itself in front of the platform. The black wood splintered, erupting grotesque gray arms that wrapped around her chest and held her in place. Dead arms of the damned that stunk of decay and sulfur. She turned her head to avoid the stench.

  Jacob reached out to the water, but Malini shook her head.

  "Don’t try it, Horseman," Lucifer said. He grabbed Jacob by the neck and forced him into a chair next to Malini. Struggling to stand, Jacob fought against the corpse arms that forced him painfully into the chair.

  He turned his face toward Malini, noticing the fear that had tak
en up residence in the corners of her eyes and he wondered if any of this was part of the plan. She looked away quickly. Was she afraid of what he might see? Did she have doubts about her own plan?

  Lucifer clapped his hands together. "Places, people. These Soulkeepers are like bugs, once you see one, the place will be lousy with them before you know it. Let’s make them fallen heroes." He jogged up to the platform. "Abigail, it’s time."

  * * * * *

  Gideon watched from his place on the stair landing. He’d blended into the light as Malini had asked but it was becoming harder and harder not to act. Malini and Jacob, captured and constrained, would be useless if the portal was opened. The Soulkeepers couldn’t afford to lose their Healer now, not with their numbers so low.

  It all came down to trust. If he trusted that a sixteen-year-old Healer could lead, then he should wait for her signal. Her role made her privy to information she couldn’t always share. She must know what he didn’t and he had to support her role.

  But the truth was he didn’t fully trust her abilities. It wasn’t simply because she was young. It was because she treated Abigail as if she were a hopeless case. When you loved someone, it was impossible to believe they were hopeless. He knew if he could talk to her, he could save her.

  As an angel, it should have been easy for him to have faith. Maybe his distance from heaven had changed him. The idea of spending eternity with Abigail, with or without heaven wasn’t without merit. He’d thought about falling, too. They could live in Paris as she had, walking their own path between heaven and hell. It might work.

  The main level suddenly teemed with influenced humans and Watchers. They’d passed around black hooded cloaks that they donned over their clothing. The floor became a sea of black robes, ceremoniously facing Lucifer on the platform. The devil folded his hands like a groom waiting for his bride.

  Gideon’s heart ached. Abigail was the bride.

  Descending the steps, Gideon carefully navigated the crowd. He remained transparent but knew that his scent might give him away. If he passed too close to an astute Watcher, he was doomed. Still he made his way to the front, stepping up beside Malini and placing his hand on hers. She didn’t look down at the pressure, but when her fingers curled, he knew she felt his touch.

  Yes, Gideon? he heard in his head. He hadn't known Malini could communicate telepathically, but he was sure it was her.

  I think it's because you used the stone. This is new for me, too.

  We have to fight. We have to get you out of here, Gideon thought.

  No. It’s not time yet. Plus, you know as well as I do that you won’t leave her. Whatever Abigail does today, you need to see it.

  Then, I should stop her?

  No.

  Abigail entered the room, escorting a young girl who Gideon recognized from Paris. He’d never met her personally but he was sure it was Stephanie Westcott. He’d seen her picture in the paper when she’d gone missing. The girl walked willingly to the platform. Abigail trailed behind, her eyes empty and soulless.

  I’ve got to stop her.

  You can’t. Even if you try, you won’t succeed.

  I can’t watch this.

  You have to. I’ll need you when it's over.

  Gideon’s fingers clutched Malini’s hand.

  I know you’ve thought about falling, Gideon. Don’t. After today, Abigail won’t be the same. You’ll give up your salvation and she will slip through your fingers.

  Stephanie climbed onto the platform. Her face brave, sad but resolved, as if she had accepted her fate. With an eerie calm, she lay down on the stone slab and turned her head to face Malini and Jacob. Abigail stepped behind the altar, in front of the machine that was now emitting a loud roar.

  Gideon tried to force his thoughts into Abigail's head. Run! Fight! Don’t do this! She’d never been able to read his mind and the blank look on her face was a clear indication that any connection they’d had was completely gone.

  Lucifer raised his hands. Fire swirled from his palms, forming a sphere of red and gold that encompassed Abigail, Stephanie, and the machine behind them. The smell of sulfur filled the room. A chorus of moans joined the mechanical roar. As the sound grew louder, Gideon realized it was the screams of the Damned, their tormented souls calling out from the pits of hell. Lucifer fueled his magic with their suffering.

  The hooded forms behind him began to chant. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched them rock back and forth, a hideous congregation cheering on the ceremony. Gripping Malini’s hand for strength, he looked back up toward Abigail, the ache in his chest threatening to consume him completely.

  The lights blinked into darkness, as if all of the power was drained into Abigail, into what she was about to do. She lifted a knife from the altar, an obsidian blade glinting in the light of Lucifer's circling magic. Of course it was obsidian. They weren’t just sacrificing Stephanie’s body; they were sacrificing her soul. She would pass to neither heaven nor hell. It would be the saddest of conclusions, doomed to oblivion.

  Abigail’s hands came together on the hilt of the blade. She raised it over her head.

  No! NO! Gideon reached his free hand toward her, silently begging for her to stop. Malini’s grip kept him rooted to the spot. She was right; there was nothing he could do. Abigail was a shell, completely given over to Lucifer’s will. Her eyes were vacant.

  Stephanie, that poor girl, stared right at him, as if she could see him crouched next to Malini’s chair. Her ice blue eyes held a deep understanding, soulfulness he never expected to see in one so young.

  Stephanie's lips moved but it was Abigail’s voice that reached Gideon's ears. "Some things are more important than love. Some things are more important than any of us. I’m sorry, Gideon."

  The knife plunged into Stephanie’s chest. Black blood sprayed from the wound, showering Abigail whose body shrunk. Her hair darkened and her mouth opened to a scream. But the scream was a human scream and as Gideon watched in horror, Abigail became Stephanie and Stephanie became Abigail. The illusion faded away as the black blood ran from the sacrifice’s body.

  Forgetting where he was, Gideon dropped Malini’s hand and let out a battle cry.

  Chapter 31

  Aftermath

  Gideon’s howl went unnoticed in the chaos that ensued. Stephanie, released from Abigail’s influence, eyed the knife in her hand and the body in front of her. Her mouth fell open and her chest pumped out a scream that Gideon could see but couldn’t hear over the shaking walls, the roar of the machine, and the cacophony of voices.

  One voice did rise above the rest. "NO!" Lucifer boomed. He tried to run forward but his magic, the revolving flames, kept him from the sacrifice. Pounding his fists against the sphere of tortured souls, he narrowed his eyes at Abigail’s blood dripping to the floor. Black hoods scattered, trying to avoid Lucifer’s wrath.

  Gideon, now! Free Jacob and me, now.

  Manifesting, Gideon's light sent the crowd into a panic. He shattered the chairs, tossing the corpse arms away from them. Jacob leaped into action, a sword of ice forming in his hands as soon as his feet hit the floor.

  "Can I kill something now?" he yelled to Malini.

  She nodded her head. "Anything with black blood. Gideon, come with me. We have to get to Abigail."

  Gideon’s eyes widened. He clapped his hands together and a sword of blue fire erupted between his palms. With a surge of his powerful wings he jumped to the platform, swinging the blade at Lucifer’s waist. It passed through the devil’s abdomen and harmlessly out the other side, leaving a trail of black smoke.

  "You have got to be kidding me," Lucifer yelled, turning on his attacker. He backhanded Gideon, sending him flying off the platform. He landed next to Jacob who was frantically slicing the shoulders of anything in a black robe. He kicked someone who bled red in the gut, sending them flying backward while simultaneously plunging his blade into a Watcher behind him.

  "Gideon, what are you doing? Get up there and help Mali
ni!" Jacob yelled. He twirled and sliced across the chest of another black robe. Red. "Damn!" he said, kicking toward the man's gut.

  Still seeing stars, Gideon shook his head and pulled himself up. Of course he couldn’t fight fire with fire. Taking to the air, he rolled energy in his palms. Not the fire of destruction all angels could rain down, but the power that came from deep within, a combination of faith, hope, and love. To humans, it was a healing power, but Gideon hoped it would have the opposite effect on Lucifer. He hurled it at the center of Lucifer’s back. Jackpot! The devil writhed in pain and turned away from Abigail and Stephanie.

  "That’s right," Gideon said. "Let’s play." He dodged a fireball flung from Lucifer’s hand. The devil's eyes bled yellow, his illusion faltering with his anger. Gideon let forth a barrage of blue energy, rolling through the air above the crowded pit.

  The other Soulkeepers swooped in from their stations to help. Below him, Lillian, diced up Watchers with Jesse who popped in and out of existence, pulling off hoods and incapacitating the humans in the group. The twins arrived on the other side of the crowd, melded together in the form of a giant. Swinging their club, they launched a Watcher into the air. Gideon dodged the flying body, just as Lucifer regrouped and opened fire.

  A ball of flame singed Gideon’s wing, sending him tumbling to the platform. He landed in a heap of feathers and muscle behind Malini. She was halfway into the sphere Lucifer had created around the altar, her skeletal hand holding open a window that she carefully stepped through.

  Gideon flipped to his feet, pounding Lucifer with another purple sphere. The devil broke from his illusion entirely, becoming a towering mass of horns, claws and cloven hooves. He returned fire, sending Gideon somersaulting off the platform. The fire tore through the bones of his left wing, sending searing pain through his body. Broken, the wing dangled uselessly behind him.

  Lucifer lips peeled back from a grotesque fang-filled grin. He jumped down from the platform and straddled Gideon's body. "I'll enjoy crushing you." He licked his lips with his forked tongue.