by Tim Marquitz
Across Asmoday’s flank were several long wounds, evidence Katon had been having some success in his assault. However, Katon looked far worse for wear. His face was blooded and marred with scorch Page 273
marks. He ducked and stepped inside over and over, catching glancing blows as he did, yet landing no strikes of his own. He was tiring and his accuracy was suffering for it.
Hoping to help, I looked for my guns. They lay on the floor a short distance away, the outside of the holsters singed black. Agony accompanied every step as I raced to retrieve them. Though warm to the touch, they’d sustained no damage. I almost cried. I would have if my eyes hadn’t been seared dry. At least something had worked out in the cluster fuck of our assault.
I settled my pistols in my scorched hands and leveled them to fire, squeezing tight to keep them steady. In the time it took me to focus my eyes to aim, Asmoday had gained the advantage.
With a vicious backhanded sweep, the demon struck Katon across the side of his face. Oblivious to me, he stumbled into my line of fire holding his head and blocking my shot. I went to shout, but that’s when I realized what one of the snapping sounds I’d heard earlier was. It had been my jaw.
Sharp spikes of pain shot up my cheeks and down through my teeth as I tried to open my mouth. My eyes shrugged off the fire damage and sprung to life, moistening and blurring my vision. Before I could clear them and shake the pain off, Asmoday got in a lucky shot.
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Katon slipped left when he should have slipped right. Asmoday launched a hook and the assassin moved directly into it. I saw his head snap back as blood sprayed into the air from his shattered nose. While Katon would normally take a blow like that in stride, backed by magic, there was no way to describe the punch as normal. His legs wobbled and buckled beneath him, sending him crashing to the floor, a look of shock on his face. Asmoday wasted no time. Like he had with me, he raised his hand, firelights springing to life. He was gonna cook Katon. I couldn’t let that happen.
The assassin out of my way, I raised my gun and pulled the trigger. Asmoday’s blast went off at the same time.
Before I could act, Katon was engulfed in licking flames. My shot, way off its mark, struck the demon in the meat of his shoulder, miles from being a fightending blow. He growled and ducked for cover as he felt the sting of the demon-slaying bullet, leaving Katon behind to burn.
I popped off a few more shots to keep Asmoday at bay as I tried to orient on the obscuring spell and was surprised when I actually saw Glorius instead. Through the rapidly shifting web of Gabriel’s spell, a handful of holes the size of fifty cent pieces had begun to appear. The colors had faded, many settling into a dull gray while the distorting effects had lessened. Page 275
Through the swirling holes, I saw Glorius straining once more against his restraints, his functional limbs tugging against the manacles. He was determined to break loose and seemed to be gaining ground. I cast a glance at Gabriel and saw his hands had also lost a measure of the glow that had been a constant since we’d arrived. Though in trade, he seemed less weary. He also seemed to be winning his fight with Scarlett.
My brain clicked into high gear.
The reason Scarlett had been doing so well was because Gabriel had been expending all his energy restraining the supercharged Glorius. Now that he’d let his hold slip somewhat, the angel was fighting free. His strength was more than the manacles alone could contain, and Gabriel was gaining the upper hand over Scarlett. I looked back toward Glorius, firing a few more shots to keep Asmoday away, and made up my mind. If ever there was time to try for the angel, this was it. Though it hurt me to once more to turn my back on a companion, a fellow soldier in the war against Armageddon, sacrifices must be made. I didn’t like the choice I was faced with, but considering the consequences if I failed, we were all dead anyway. It wasn’t hard to make up my mind. I’d worry about the morality of it later.
Unable to get a clear shot at Glorius, the remnants of the spell moving randomly and at a sufficient speed to Page 276
muddle my aim, I fired another shot at Asmoday, who’d begun to creep closer, and bolted toward the angel. At a full sprint, I felt like I was moving in slow motion. I could hear Asmoday bellowing behind me, anxiety and frustration thick in his voice. That only spurred me on. I took the last few steps in a single bound, readying myself for the disorientation that would strike me as I passed through the barrier.
But just before I reached the edge of the spell, its colors suddenly dropped away, the obscuring magic dissipating only to be replaced by a shimmering shield wall. Unable to stop my momentum, I slammed hard into the shield, face first. White flashes of pain reverberated through my jaw as I bounced back, barely managing to retain my balance. My brain rattled inside my head as stars danced in front of my eyes. I cried out in frustration and anger and no small amount of agony. As my pain receptors eased off the pedal a bit, I looked through the translucent wall and saw the blurred image of Glorius, once more fully restrained by the glow. My heart dropped in my chest. I’d failed.
Defeated, I turned around slowly and saw Gabriel bearing down on me, waving Asmoday off. Past him, Scarlett lay in a bloodstained, battered heap. She wasn’t moving. I glanced around the room for Katon. He was nowhere to be seen. I looked back to Gabriel.
“Valiant effort, Triggaltheron. I applaud you.”
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Gabriel stalked toward me, stopping about twenty feet away. Wary, his left hand shimmered with a small shield, crafted by magic.
“You can take your praise and shove it.” I spoke through clenched teeth. I wasn’t feeling up to being witty and my jaw hurt.
“Come now. It’s over. Put away the guns and act civilized and I’ll let you live to see the start of Armageddon.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slow, calming my nerves. “Front row seats to the end of the world, how generous of you.”
“I thought so.” He shrugged, looking magnanimous. “What say you, Triggaltheron? Will you put away the hostility to see the most majestic sight to ever grace your mongrel eyes, or will you die like your companions, unheralded and alone?”
It really didn’t matter how I answered, the end result would be the same. I’d die and so would the world. My decision here would only alter the order of those two certainties by a matter of minutes. Did it really matter which happened first? I felt the weight of failure settle heavy on my shoulders. I pictured Abraham, held at gunpoint by Baalth, looking up at the darkening sky as Armageddon rolled in. I could imagine the disappointment in his eyes. It was heart-breaking. I thought of Rahim, lying in his bed, the use of his legs given up in the hopes of staving off the end. He would Page 278
earn nothing for it but cold, unrelenting death. I’d failed them all. Scarlett had believed in me. She’d followed me to the depths of Hell and she’d died there, far from the bright lights of Heaven where she belonged. The saddest part was she wouldn’t even know her sacrifice had been in vain. Katon had done the same. Burned to ash while giving me a chance to save the world, he too died for nothing. I felt tears coming to my eyes. I didn’t bother to hold them back. If ever there was a time to cry now had to be it. Cold hard reality shivered down my spine as I clenched my guns tight. Ready for it all to be over, I looked up at Gabriel.
If this was the end, I was going out in a blaze of glory.
As our eyes met, I caught a glimpse of a shadowy form at the edge of my peripheral vision, just beyond Asmoday. I did my best to hide my reaction lest it show on my face. “Is it too late to join the winning team?” I asked, looking to keep the archangel’s focus on me. Gabriel’s eyes narrowed, sensing something afoot in my sudden change of attitude. A cry from Asmoday drew his attention before he could form a reply. He spun carefully, keeping his shield between us, his attention split.
From behind the demon, a scorched and beaten Katon leapt at Asmoday. Exhausted and near death, his attack carried little threat behind it. His trembling Page 279
thrus
t just grazed Asmoday’s side as the demon sidestepped, leaving behind a shallow cut along his ribs. Asmoday’s response was far more damaging. He grabbed Katon’s wrist and bent it back, bones snapping as the assassin’s sword tumbled away. The last of his strength fell away as well, his defeat accompanied by a soundtrack of silence. He had nothing left to give. Katon hung limp in Asmoday’s grip as the demon raised his free hand, magical energy building around his fist as he readied to end the assassin’s life. Though ready to race to my death just moments before, now thanks to Katon, I saw a chance to inflict at least one casualty on the enemy before I went. I jumped to the side, angling so Gabriel couldn’t block my shots, and fired my pistols as quick as my barbecued fingers could hit the triggers. Gabriel snarled and Asmoday shrieked as they heard the guns go off. Asmoday, like a skittish rabbit looking for a hole, released Katon and dove for cover. I didn’t get to see whether my shots hit or not. The instant I fired, Gabriel’s shield slammed into me, exploding as it did. The concussive force blew me back into the wall. Shards of stone flew in all directions as the rock wall cracked and shattered against my back. I felt nothing as my head collided with the wall, a cold blackness threatening to overtake me. I slid to the ground in a rubbery pile, a heap of broken bones. Numb, I felt ready to pass out but a quiet voice nagged in my ear for Page 280
me to remain conscious.
I told it to fuck off, but the damn thing wouldn’t be quiet.
After what seemed like an eternity, me and the voice going round and round, I gave in and opened my eyes. At my feet, a tiny blue gem glistened. I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw it, needle sharp pains lancing through my jaw as I did. I didn’t care. Gabriel came to stand in front of me, his face taught with suspicion, ready to kill. He glared down at me as Asmoday limped toward Glorius, my shots having apparently only struck him in the leg. Though his pain was evident, he had a smug look on his face as he passed knowing I’d failed to stop him. It just made me laugh harder.
“You’re a strange one, Triggaltheron. Moments from death and yet you laugh in its face. You have courage, I’ll give you that.”
I grinned as wide as my broken jaw would allow.
“That’s me, all balls no brains.” I winked at Gabriel.
“Have you met my friend?”
He leaned back wary, his eyes casting about. Seeing no one and probably thinking I was more nuts than he’d surmised, he asked, “What friend?”
I gestured with my eyes for him to come closer, my arms too weak to direct him. “My little blue friend on the floor there.”
His gaze followed mine, spying the gem for the Page 281
first time. He stared at it for a moment, recognition gleaming in his eyes.
“I think I’ll call him Duke Forcalor. Sound good to you?”
Gabriel stumbled back, his mouth gaping as the gem sparked to life like a magnesium flare, casting off rays of light that illuminated the dark cavern.
“Asmoday!” Gabriel shouted for his ally, his panicked voice echoing through the room. Asmoday turned just in time to see the explosion of light that burst from the gem, obliterating all the color in the room in a whitewash of energy. He fell to his knees, his hands covering his eyes. A moment later, the light faded, returning the room to its natural, dim shades. Wisps of black smoke wafted about, and in their midst, Duke Forcalor stood. The duke, no longer the epitome of comfort he’d been when I’d last seen him, was dressed in full battle regalia. He wore reddened plate armor covered in twisted, sharpened spikes. In a scabbard at his side, a dark sword hung, its pommel embedded with blood red stones that seemed to pulse. His long white hair hung loose, blowing gently back, though I could feel no wind. A satisfied grin held fast on his face as he pointed a metal gauntleted finger at Gabriel.
“Unprovoked, you have struck a blow against my servant. To do so is an act of war. I demand satisfaction.”
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Gabriel trembled, the glow of his hands becoming dimmer. He said nothing, but his eyes went to Asmoday. They looked almost pleading. Asmoday hauled himself to his feet, but he looked no more courageous than Gabriel. He stayed where he stood, leaving Gabriel to face his fate alone. The glow around Gabriel’s hands extinguished as he turned away from his cowardly ally and met Forcalor’s gaze. He drew up his chin and straightened his shoulders. “If this is how it must be. So be it, traitor.”
I had to give him credit. Weakened by his efforts to control the supercharged Glorius for nearly a week, he had to have known he couldn’t win, yet he still stood his ground. There was a lot of brass still left in his sack. The lines drawn, he got to it. He leapt at the duke. Forcalor met him halfway. They clashed together like two wrecking balls colliding in midair. A resounding boom accompanied their battle, flashes of light and dark exploded intermittently. The chamber rumbled as the two went at it, paintings falling to the floor, Lucifer’s books and personal items falling from their perches. Gusts of wind were whipped up in their wake, their lashing tongues battering everything and everyone in the room.
I looked to Asmoday and saw he’d gathered his courage at last, using Gabriel’s fight as cover. Headed toward Glorius, he fought the gale-force winds that slowed his progress while the angel continued his Page 283
struggle against the neutralizing manacles. From where I sat, he wouldn’t be free in time to escape Asmoday. That was a shame.
I sighed, though difficult to draw breath through the windstorm, and looked back to the battle content to watch at least one of the bastards die for what they’d done. Covered in yellowish-gold blood, Gabriel was being manhandled, his expended state no match for the duke who’d come to the fight fresh and prepared. It was clear Gabriel had little time left. That didn’t stop him from going all out. He held nothing back as he let loose blast after blast, only to have Forcalor bat each aside and return a dozen of his own, which crashed through the archangel’s defenses.
At last, Gabriel fell beneath the onslaught. As he crumpled to the floor, the hurricane winds died off and the room descended into silence. Much to Asmoday’s obvious relief, the duke ignored him and strode to Gabriel’s side. He lifted the limp archangel, cradling him in his arms, then turned to face me.
“Our deal is done, young Trigg. Make the best of it.” Without waiting for a reply, a shimmering shadow engulfed him. When it faded, both the duke and Gabriel were gone.
With nothing left to do but watch Asmoday bring about the start of Armageddon, I rolled my head his direction. He’d just reached Glorius, still casting furtive glances over his shoulder, the wind no longer Page 284
impeding his progress. The angel growled and hissed at him, the chains still just enough to hold him in place. Asmoday smiled wide in satisfaction of that fact as he turned back to smirk at me, confidence etched on his face.
“Your hand was well played, Triggaltheron, but as you can see, it wasn’t enough. You should have joined me. It would have saved you all this needless grief.” He gestured about the room, to Katon and Scarlett. “You could have been a king in the new world, but you chose to fight the inevitable. So now, there’s nothing left but for you to sit back and watch as it all comes to an end.”
Asmoday clenched his hands together as what power he had left gathered about them, his fists glowing with white hot light. His eyes sparkled with energy and malevolence.
Exhausted in body and spirit, I did as he suggested and leaned back as comfortably as I could. If the world was gonna end, at least I had a backstage pass. What more could I ask for?
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Fait Accompli
“Never were there more ironic words spoken, old friend.”
Asmoday frantically spun about to see Baalth standing behind him. I’m not sure who was more shocked, him or me. I’m gonna have to go with Asmoday as he was the one facing down the deep barrels of my two stolen weapons.
Marcus and Poe stood at Baalth’s side, guns leveled at Asmoday. They didn’t wait for him to recover. Merciless, both guns roared to life, driving Asm
oday back under a hail of deadly fire. The demon screeched, the bullets ripping into his flesh as he did his damndest to avoid them. After being pressed back about thirty feet, Poe and Marcus stopped firing just as Asmoday managed to conjure a shield. His face and chest were covered in boiling, black blood that poured from his wounds. He glared at Baalth and his cronies, unable to do more. If looks could kill, Asmoday wouldn’t have needed Glorius to destroy the world. Baalth only smiled in return, his cultured face looking as though this were just another day at the office. To him, I guess it was.
Too battered to do anything else, I watched as Page 286
Baalth strolled forward and stood over Glorius.
“It seems a pity to let all this time and effort go to waste.”
He tinkered with the manacles while Glorius stared up at him in wary rigidness. Asmoday looked much the same. The collective breaths in the room were stilled, silent.
“What’s that saying? Waste not, want not?”
Baalth’s smile grew wider as his hand burst into reddish-orange flame. Without hesitation he drove his burning fist into Glorius’s chest, smashing his way through the angel’s ribs, golden blood spraying up like a busted fountainhead.Glorius bucked against the chains, unable to fight back. His eyes were filled with pain and terror in equal amounts. His voice squawked, unable to do much else, his throat far too ravaged to scream as Baalth dug around inside his chest cavity. After an agonizing moment, he stilled as Baalth must have seized his heart. I saw the muscles of Baalth’s forearm tightened as he bore down. Under the pressure, Glorius twitched his last and died. His head dropped, his sightless eyes gazing up toward Heaven. He wouldn’t find any peace there.
Asmoday went white, his legs wobbling, nearly failing. He inched backward, but Poe waggled a finger at him, pushing his gun out slightly. Marcus reinforced the threat by taking a step forward, making a show of aiming his gun at Asmoday’s head. The demon froze. Page 287
