by Hanna Peach
Alyx glared at him and he glared back as they circled each other, weapons brandished, their anger building like a real, palpable thing between them. Alyx was about to leap at him when a voice inside her said, stop fighting. You’re wasting time. This is more important than throwing blame for something that happened long ago.
Another voice inside her cried, this is justice. Israel deserves vengeance for the attempt on his life. An eye for an eye.
Israel deserves to live. If you don’t get Balthazar’s help now, then Israel. Will. Die.
“Wait,” Alyx cried, the anger leaking out of her. “We can’t fight each other or we’ll do Michael’s work for him.”
Balthazar let out a long breath, which made him appear to deflate as well. “You’re right.”
Slowly Alyx sheathed her weapon, and Balthazar did the same.
“There is a Gate in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco,” Alyx said. “Do you know it?”
“I do.”
“Michael has an army guarding it now. He’s going to try and open that Gate tonight.”
“That’ll be a party to end all parties,” muttered Balthazar.
“Not if we can stop him.”
“It’ll be close to impossible.”
“Not if we work together.”
A smile slowly crawled across Balthazar’s face. “My, my. Putting our personal feelings aside for the greater good, are we?”
“This is bigger than you or me or any…disagreements we’ve had up until now.”
“Which is what I’ve been saying all along.”
“Don’t push me.”
“Fine. What are you thinking for this new…renewed…alliance of ours?”
“If the Gate is opened, you distract Lucifer’s army from Hell’s side of the portal until I figure out how to close it.”
“Distract them how?”
Alyx snorted. “Invite them all to sit down to a game of backgammon.”
“Backgammon?”
“Sarcasm, Balthazar. The only way to distract an invading army is to attack them first.”
“Right. Except for one thing… Michael will have control of our army.”
“So find another.”
“Find another?”
“Rally the demons of Hell who aren’t part of Lucifer’s army to fight against them from your side.”
“And what will you be doing?”
“Attacking him from the Earth side of the Gate.”
“Attacking him with what?”
“My own army.”
Balthazar stared at her. He knew as well as she did that the FreeThinkers didn’t have an army.
Not yet.
“Two rebel forces on two sides of Earth and Hell against two well-trained armies. It’s suicide,” he said quietly.
Alyx paused and swallowed. “If we work together−”
“It’ll be partial suicide.”
“I just need… I just need to distract them long enough to get to Michael.”
“You mean to get to Israel.”
Alyx didn’t answer.
Balthazar sighed.
“Will you help?” she asked.
“Why not. As my mother used to say, ‘Why fear death? We’re already in Hell’.”
* * *
“Master,” Balthazar dropped to his knee in front of Lucifer as he sat in the shadows of his throne. They were alone in the vast throne room decorated with the statues of black beasts. Balthazar always felt like he was being watched when he entered this room.
“Rise, loyal servant,” Lucifer’s voice boomed out throughout the large hall.
Balthazar stood on his hooves, his real form. “The thing we have feared most has happened.”
“I know. I was watching as you spoke with her…so, I’m a ‘sucker for a good love story’, hey?”
Balthazar grimaced. Because of his mental link with Lucifer, Lucifer could enter his mind at will, seeing what he saw, feeling what he felt. It was a similar magic to what linked Israel and Alyx together. “I’m sorry. You weren’t meant to hear that.”
“It’s not important. We will need to send a call out to the kingdoms that are loyal to us. We need bodies and we need them now.”
“So we will join Alyx’s war?”
“We don’t have much choice, do we?”
“No, we don’t.” He paused. “We can stop Elder Michael.”
“Perhaps.” Lucifer shifted on his throne. “The boy is dangerous. His blood contains too much power for one person to have. Unfortunately, where there is great power there is someone who will want to exploit it. I gave him the chance to live once…my being a ‘sucker for a love story’…thinking…hoping for their sakes that he could somehow exist without becoming a danger. But I was wrong. We cannot let sentiment overrule the greater good. The happiness of two mere souls is just footprints in the sand when it risks the possible destruction of an entire world. Balthazar, if by chance he is still alive when this war is over…”
They had talked about this before. Balthazar had agreed with the solution but he didn’t have to like it. Sometimes you don’t like doing the right thing.
Balthazar bowed his head. “If he is still alive, I will do what I must do.”
Chapter 30
Alyx flew over the expansive lawn of Cleo’s mansion as the sun was setting. She was surprised to see just how many DreamWalkers were waiting for her, all mostly jittery, chattering silhouettes. Almost two dozen at her quick count. Jordan had really come through for her. Perhaps…perhaps they had a chance.
She landed down on the grass where Tobias and Jordan were standing a little apart from the others. Her face fell when she saw the open fear on both Tobias’s and Jordan’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Tobias turned to her. “We’ve heard from our familia contacts around the Society. It appears that Michael has taken over control of Urielos and Gabriela. Both leaders have disappeared, presumed dead. Michael is ordering all warriors from all three cities to prepare for battle. His army just tripled in size.”
Alyx let this thought filter into the plan in her head. “Good.”
“Good?” Tobias gave her a confused look.
“Yes, good. It gives us an advantage.”
Tobias became more flustered. “In all of the seven levels of Hell I can’t see how this could be turned into an advantage.”
“You will.”
“Whatever you’re planning on doing,” Jordan said, “go do it.”
“Do I have your full support, Jordan?”
“Do you…?” Jordan paused. “Am I going to regret saying yes?”
Alyx shot him a brief and weary smile. “Probably.”
“I thought so,” Jordan muttered to himself. “Alyx, you’ve always had my full support. Even now.”
Alyx let out an exhale. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to tell me what you’ve got planned?”
“We’re going to raise us an army.” She turned to the DreamWalkers gathered on the lawn. She noticed several of the other community members were gathered, watching at the edges of the lawn and there were faces at almost every window of Cleo’s mansion. She had an audience.
Jordan whistled loudly to get the DreamWalkers’ attention, then stepped slightly aside to let her have center stage. A silence fell upon the lawn. And every single pair of eyes turned to her.
Alyx pressed down her nerves to stop them from jangling. Then she began to speak. “Thank you all for coming. I’m sure you all know who I am. Our situation is serious, so you’ll forgive the curtness of my greeting. Elder Michael is going to start a war on this planet. Tonight. We need to stop him. With your help we’re going to perform a mass DreamWalk, one that will reach every single Seraphim across this planet.”
A rumble went through the DreamWalker crowd. “Can we do that?” several voices asked.
“If you all work together, it can be−”
“It’s impossible,” someone cried, interrupting her. “We can’t DreamWalk every single Ser
aphim on this planet. What about those who are awake?”
“Jordan can lead the mass DreamWalk. He is able to create a DreamWalk that will appear like a daydream to those who are awake.”
“Will it work?” a seraph closest to the front asked. He was looking directly at Jordan, his arms crossed over his chest.
Jordan glanced at Alyx before addressing the crowd. “Perhaps collective magic use is an idea that is strange to you. That is only what we have been taught. There was a time when our people used our magic collectively on a daily basis. It was what we were born to do with our magic: share it, help each other with it. Not to ration it or horde it or to only use it ourselves. Alyx’s idea will work.”
“But we won’t be able to discern between Seraphim who are on our side and warriors fighting for Michael,” someone called out.
“That’s what we want,” said Alyx. “We need to reach everyone. Michael has made his move on Urielos and Gabriela. Their Chief Elders are missing. The Seraphim there will already know that something is amiss. We just need to talk to them.” Alyx couldn’t believe that her people had all turned bitter and hateful like Michael. If they knew the facts, if they knew the truth, she had faith that they would do the right thing.
“What are you going to tell them?” someone called out.
“You need to lie to them. Tell them we already have a larger army,” another voice called.
“No, you need to make them fear you more than Michael. That’s the only way you’ll get them to rise to mutiny.”
“Guilt them! You have to tell them−”
“No,” Alyx said, cutting all the voices in the crowd to silence. “Fear and manipulation and lies are things that Michael has used for centuries. We will not turn into him to fight him. I’m going to tell them the truth. Our people deserve the truth. And I will give them something that Michael has never given them.”
“What is that?”
“A choice.”
* * *
From the group of DreamWalkers sitting hand-in-hand in a tight circle on the lawn, a Dream mist rolled out into the world. As was the power of dream to instantly transport a person from their bed to the other side of the galaxy, this Dream mist covered the world in the time it took to shut your eyes.
Alyx saw nothing around her for several moments, just mist. Then it began to clear, drawing back to reveal a huge crowd of Seraphim blinking and staring around as if woken from a dream. From where she stood at the front, they were a sea of faces.
The DreamWalkers had chosen not to fill the DreamScape with anything else except for them. The floor of this DreamScape was a flat white. The edge of the DreamScape faded into swirling walls and a ceiling of soft cloud.
“Where are we?”
“What’s going on?”
Mutterings could be heard throughout the Seraphim.
“I can answer your questions,” Alyx said. She was surprised to hear her voice echo loudly through the air as if there was a microphone in front of her lips. Part of the DreamScape, she supposed.
“You’ll forgive the suddenness of this DreamScape. We felt we had no choice. Elder Michael has called you all to battle. But we understand he hasn’t told you what he plans to do.”
“It’s not our place to question the Elders, girl,” someone called out.
“Even if he is wrong?” She scanned the restless crowd. “Elder Michael has stolen and manipulated his way into gathering all three pieces of the Trinity Amulet, an Amulet that will allow him to control Lucifer’s army. Now he has the keye that will unlock Hell.”
Several gasps could be heard throughout the DreamScape.
“Elder Michael plans to wipe this entire planet clear of any living mortal and of any Seraphim who disagrees with him.” Her voice rang with more confidence than she felt. But that was one of the tricks, wasn’t it? For anyone else to have faith in her, she had to appear to have complete faith in herself and her plan. Any lack of confidence would be a crack in the structure, a weak point that would eventually cause the whole thing to collapse.
“Why should we believe you, Alyxandria? Born without a last name. Traitor. Rogue!” a voice called out. Varian stepped out among the crowd. Here was the “crack”. Varian scanned the crowd and they pressed back from around him. His reputation was such that even his presence in this DreamScape caused fear in the hearts of many. Alyx swallowed as Varian landed his eyes on her. “What gives you the right to speak out against Elder Michael, the most revered and oldest among our Elders?”
“The truth gives me the right. The truth can come from anyone, no matter what their birthright or status. So can a lie. Isn’t it true that Elder Michael has been preaching against the mortals?”
There were mumbles of agreement throughout the crowd.
Alyx continued, “Now Elder Michael has sought to put himself in charge even above Elders Uriel and Gabriel. By force! What gives him the right?”
“That’s a lie,” Varian cried out. “Elder Michael was given an overriding authority by the other Elders in these tumultuous times.”
“They are not lies,” a familiar booming voice called out. “She speaks the truth.” Gasps could be heard spreading through the crowd of Seraphim as a thickset, dark-haired Elder stepped forward, the crowd parting to give him space and bowing towards him. It was Elder Gabriel, one of the three Originals and the leader of Gabriela.
Elder Gabriel moved out of the front of the crowd and stood in front of her. “Elder Gabriel.” Alyx swallowed, dipping her head to him as a sign of respect.
Elder Gabriel gave her the smallest of chin nods back. He turned to address the crowd. “Elder Michael stormed into my office earlier today and took leadership from me, locking me in my chambers, guards at my doors, a prisoner in my own city, saying only, ‘It’s for the best’. Whose best?”
“But Michael wants to free us,” said Varian. “He wants to free us from our cities. To allow us to roam free across this planet without fear of being seen by the mortals.”
“Will you accept this ‘freedom’,” Alyx cried, “in exchange for the destruction of an entire species, a species that we were created to protect? Would you be happy to roam ‘free’ across Earth’s vast lands if you knew that land was soaked in blood?”
Mumbles could be heard across the crowd.
“And who gets to control this planet if Michael is allowed to ‘free’ us?” asked Alyx. “Michael has told me himself that he plans to rule us. He will let you live in his new world so long as you obey his every word. Is Michael really offering you freedom? Or just slavery with bigger cells?”
“So you want us to follow you?” someone said. “You want to rule us?”
“No. I don’t want to rule anyone. I want you to think for yourself, Seraphim. Think about what you have seen and what you have heard and what you know…make up your own minds. If you follow anyone, anyone, blindly, you are not a Seraphim, you are a mental slave. Cast off your shackles. Know your own minds!”
A growing tremble began in the crowd, hushed but full of promise. The energy of the DreamScape began to lift, the energy of a thousand minds all waking, clearing out the dust and webs. Alyx could feel it and the moment filled her chest with hope.
But could these Seraphim break past the habits of a lifetime? Would action follow intention? Would it be enough to defeat Michael?
“When you go to battle, we will be there,” said Alyx. “Meet us at the largest Hell Gate in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and together we will stop Michael from opening it and unleashing Hell upon this Earth. Anyone who decides to fight for our side, tie something white onto your arms when the fighting begins and we’ll know who you are.”
“Well, well, well. Aren’t you a brave one?” Elder Michael’s voice boomed across the DreamScape. “Do you think that any of my people would be stupid enough to fight for you?”
“They don’t belong to you.”
“Well, how about this…” Michael spun to address the crowd. Those nearest to him backed away, cr
eating more of a space around him as he stood alone in the center. “Whoever of you decide to fight against me, I will come for you and I will personally make your last moments on Earth hell.”
Fear rumbled throughout the crowd. Alyx was losing them.
“You don’t scare us, Michael,” she yelled. “Together we will stop you.”
“This’ll be fun.” Michael grinned. He stretched out his hands. With his fingers he grabbed the DreamScape, causing the air and the ground around him to ripple as if he was pulling at a cloth backdrop. The crowd gasped. Even Alyx had to gape in horror. Michael was stronger than any Seraphim she had ever seen. “Let’s see you try.”
Michael yanked his fists. There was a sound like an explosion and the DreamScape tore apart.
Chapter 31
Mist swirled around Israel as he spun, trying to figure out where he was. He had been stuck in a nothingness sleep and then suddenly he wasn’t. But he wasn’t awake now either.
Dammit, he recognized this place. He had first been introduced to this nowhere-place when he had been in a coma because of that demon poison. How did he get here? He searched his memory, but parts of his mind were still hazy. Slowly his last memory became clear.
Israel fought against Tii’la, managing to clock her in the jaw with his elbow. Her arms let go of him and for a second he thought he might be free but she quickly wrapped her legs around him instead. He was rapidly losing strength.
Israel’s eyes flicked open and shut as he fought the darkness for as long as he could, staring at Sparrow, who was now just flashes of color disappearing through the trees towards the castle. Then he couldn’t hold on anymore.
Tii’la. She had betrayed him.
And Alyx…Tii’la had gone to Atlantis with Alyx but Alyx hadn’t come back.
Where was Alyx?
Israel tried to contact her through their bond. As it had been the last time he found himself here, he couldn’t reach her.
