“That is a really bad omen,” Atticus said as a blast of heated wind splashed against them.
Brianna shuddered. “Judging from the direction of the smoke I think it’s coming from the village.”
Atticus ducked inside the cottage and returned moments later with his sword sheathed to his side. “Stay here,” he ordered.
“No way,” Dominic scoffed. “I’m coming too, especially if this has something to do with Giovanni.”
“I’m also coming,” Brianna said tersely.
Ethan screeched in frustration, “all of you are crazy.”
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN the cottage and the village was approximately a thirty-minute walk. Atticus, Brianna, and Dominic scaled it in half that time.
“This is terrible,” Brianna cried as they arrived at the entrance of Amaranthine Village. Atticus held his hands on either side of his skull as if to enclose the weight of disbelief inside. The village laid in ruins before them. Excessive clouds of smoke billowed from vast holes in roofs, and stone walls, blanketing the surrounding area in a light fog. The three companions traveled further into the settlement in disorientation. Almost a quarter of the market district had been reduced to burnt piles of wood or ash. The screams of villagers trapped inside their burning homes were audible even at a distance. Brianna glared down at several dead bodies, their eyes wide and faces frozen in horror. She gasped as the dead turned into bluish-white light and rose steeply into the heavens, leaving behind their clothing.
“That’s them,” a shout sounded from ahead. A badly bruised and bloody villager appeared out of the haze.
A shriek of frustration and anger escaped Dominic’s lips, as he summoned Jezebel. He discharged the weapon with a terrific rending bang before the round crashed into the villager’s skull. The man dropped to the ground. A moment later his body turned into a ball of light and skyrocketed towards the skies, leaving behind only his ragged clothing.
“Why did you do that?” screamed Brianna.
“He was going to give away our position,” Dominic snapped.
“Well killing him was in vain,” Atticus scolded.
Two men appeared through the thin veil of smoke. One was clean-cut, handsome and dressed in a butler’s uniform. The other had a wild look to him and was dressed in rugged jeans, t-shirt, leather boots, and jacket. His lips stretched into a menacing smile as the moonlights shone brightly on his bloodstain face.
“Don’t worry none of it is my blood,” he said licking his lips.
Dominic felt his rage roaring at the pit of his stomach. His brain went into overdrive as it picked every memory featuring the two men in front of him murdering his mother. The flames in his stomach rose up to his chest and crawled through his veins. He held Jezebel with both hands and took aim.
“Do the two of you remember a woman by the name of Anastasia?”
“Of course, I do,” Malek said with a scoff. “I never forget any of my victims, especially the ones that are screamers.”
“You’re sick,” Gaspard said snootily. “But if memory serves me right, she was a screamer...” he trailed off as if to reminisce. “Her fear tasted so sweet.”
Dominic roared with rage.
Brianna shouted, “wait!”
However, Dominic was already firing rapidly, alternating between targets. Both men simply slipped in between the swarm of projectiles as they were coming at them in slow motion. Blinded by his rage, Dominic squeezed the trigger till the clicking of the weapon announced that he had depleted his energy supply. He tossed the gun aside knowing it would vanish before it would touch the ground.
Brianna reached for her wand, but Atticus grabbed and held her in place with a bear hug.
“What are you doing? They are going to kill him.”
Atticus increased his tightness, “they will kill you too if you get involved.”
Dominic let out his scorching hostility through a tight fist targeting Gaspard.
With one hand behind his back, the butler daintily caught the swinging arm by the wrist and slung Dominic towards the grinning Malek.
He laughed raucously as he sunk his fist into Dominic’s stomach. He gagged and blood pooled into his mouth on impact. He stumbled backward for a brief second to catch his breath. But Malek was quickly upon him before he had time to fully regain his wits. Dominic managed to dodge his opponent’s punch and for a brief instant Malek’s eyes widened. But he then tilted his head back and slammed it into Dominic’s. Stars burst into his vision and he stumbled backward trying to shake away the pain. Malek continued to laugh with blood flowing freely from his newly acquired forehead wound.
He pointed towards Dominic’s matching gash, “hey kid you’re bleeding.”
The red substance stung his eyes, Dominic blindly executed a sloppy kick.
“And you’re the one that killed Betty and the others?”
Dominic growled. “I’ll kill you too.”
He threw himself at Malek, changing direction at the last minute. Coming up on his right, Dominic launched his body weight behind the fist that edged closer to Malek’s face. It collided into his jaw with such force blood assembled in his mouth. Pain erupted from the point of impact. Dominic circled to the front for another attack. However, Malek gripped Dominic’s head and brought his kneecap to his nose, there was a blunt crack and Malek released him. Blood leaked from his now twisted nose; Dominic screamed in pain as Brianna cried for him to retreat.
“Dominic stop it, he’s too strong.”
He looked over his shoulder to see Atticus restraining Brianna.
“Shut the hell up,” he screamed blood spewing from his mouth. “I got this.”
He turned his attention towards Malek once more, who stared back with a conceited smile.
“I-I’m going to kill him.”
“I really admire your determination kid, but you and I both know, that ain’t happening.”
Dominic didn’t reply, he drew back his fist and plowed into Malek’s stomach before he could blink. The force was like hitting a train head-on. Malek’s guts smashed together and blood vessels burst. But like the last time Dominic had landed a strike, Malek didn’t flinch. Instead, he repaid the assault by punching Dominic’s jaw with over half his strength. He continued this battering until Dominic fell to the ground. His chest gently rose and sank with each shallow breath he drew in.
Malek stood over his victim laughing, his fist dripping with blood. His eyes were crazed, and he was grinning like a lunatic as if the sight of carnage had him aroused. He knelt and jerked Dominic’s top-half upwards by his shirt collar licking the blood seeping from his face. He raised his fist to deliver a blow, but a necklace around his neck caught his attention. Malek dropped Dominic and grabbed hold of the jewelry ripping it free.
“The spare Carcerem orbis,” he said with a grin.
He squeezed the ebony orb, allowing cracks to run across the surface until the sphere crumbled into numerous fragments beneath the pressure. The sound of tortured screams escaped from the fragments along with a scarlet red mist floating towards the night skies and carrying the screams with it.
Malek laughed crazily. “Looks like I destroyed your only way home,” he shouted. “I guess you’re now stuck here forever.”
Brianna mustered up as much strength as she could and tore away from Atticus. Frantically aiming her wand, she screamed the first offensive spell that came to mind, “Fulgur Percutiens.”
Her entire wand glowed bright blue as sparks of electricity flickered from all sides. She took aim and with the sound of thunder proclaiming its manifestations, a gigantic bolt of blue lightning broke through the wand’s tip. The spell collided into Malek sending him flying several yards backward all the while frying him internally and externally.
Brianna rushed to Dominic’s aid sobbing uncontrollably, “you stupid idiot.”
He coughed and wheezed slipping in between consciousness.
“A witch,” Gaspard snarled. “This is certainly not good.”
Gaspard pulled his hands free of his gloves, “I’m surprised Master Giovanni didn’t detect the fact a witch had entered into purgatory.” He tucked the gloves into his uniform’s inner pocket. He placed both hands behind his back and slowly made a beeline towards Brianna.
She hopped to her feet with her wand at the ready.
“Your fear is tainted by the act of caring,” Gaspard said.
His body faded away as if he was a mirage...and then reappeared directly in front of her.
Void of thoughts, Brianna released an involuntary scream.
Then- “Do not kill the witch.”
Hairless and clothing scorched from head to toe Malek trotted up to Gaspard. charred flesh hung like tattered rags from his face and shoulders.
Malek grinned lewdly, “she’s my kill.”
She recoiled in horror staring at the detestable figure, “that spell should have turned you into ashes.”
Malek laughed fondly, “sweetheart it’s bad guys like me who will always survive events that are meant to kill them.”
He reached over, caressing Brianna’s face with a charred hand. For a second she thought she could notice a hint of compassion in his burnt eyes. His smile shifted into a look of insanity.
Brianna shuddered slapping his hand away. Malek giggled then smacked Brianna to the ground. He raised his hand for another assault when-
“What kind of monster would hit a lady?”
Both Gaspard and Malek looked in the direction of Atticus.
Gaspard snarled, “oh, it’s you.”
Atticus stepped in front of Brianna and Dominic and the two demons looked hesitant for a moment and even retreated a few feet.
Atticus observed the carnage that surrounded them, “you massacred all of these people.”
“Precisely,” Malek said with a devilish smile.
Gaspard sighed, “I tried to talk him out of it...” he paused sniffing the air. “But their fear was so enticing.”
Atticus hung his head for a moment. “They didn’t deserve this!” he screamed.
“You still want to defend them?” Gaspard said quizzically. “You do know they gave up your location.”
Atticus didn’t respond.
He drew his sword and hammered the double-edged blade into the ground. A zigzag split in the terrain, zipped from the sword, circled around the two approaching demons and returned to its point of origin. Next, the spherical fissure began to expel a white glow as a circular wall of light aroused from the cracks encasing the two demons.
Atticus assumed a prayer pose while keeping one hand on the sword’s hilt and mumbling a mantra repeatedly. The wall of light imploded into a small speck of light.
Brianna watched in awe as it hovered in place for a few seconds. Gaspard and Malek were nowhere to be seen.
The fragment glowed with brightness that threatened to sear her retinas.
“Quick look away!” Atticus screamed.
The ball exploded creating grandeurs of white light, vivid enough to rival the sun. Thunderous booms spread wild forceful winds which caused Brianna to tumble rearward. She laid upon the ground waiting for the ringing in her ears to dim, no matter where she looked all she saw was complete darkness.
“I really wished you kiddos would have stayed behind.” Though the voice was muffled, she knew it belonged to Atticus. Brianna got to her feet feeling around for him. “Why can’t I see?” she shouted hysterically.
“Easy now little witch.” Atticus said as she clumsily collapsed into his arms. “It’s Just the side effects of the spell. The blindness will end in a couple of minutes...or a day or two.”
Chapter-Thirty-Two
Finally, reaching the bottom of the cliff side path, the trio were met with broken storefronts and other dwellings still burning or had been reduced to scorched debris. The dusty streets were littered with random pieces of clothing and only the wind for company. Lucia stepped ahead of the group in a trance-like state, “I know this place.”
Out the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a person scampering frantically. Like a dog when it spots something curious the man stopped in mid-step. He stared at the newcomers vacantly.
“You need to find shelter quickly before they come back.”
“Who?” Kori asked.
The man gulped, “angels of death.”
“What happened here?” Lucia said impatiently.
“They gathered everyone from the village and asked for the whereabouts of the outsiders.” The local shuddered. “Once we told them they were with Atticus, they went crazy and slaughtered everyone.” His eyes were filled with unbound terror. “I only managed to survive by hiding in the forest.”
Lucia’s childlike eyes widened. “Did you say Atticus?”
The man nodded, “Nothing but trouble that one. Those death angels would have never shown up if he hadn’t brought those outsiders to the village.” He stared at Lucia as if his brain were on the verge of a brilliant idea. “You look familiar,” he whispered. But he quickly dismissed the idea.
“Don’t be sad, they will soon resurrect,” Kori said with a smile.
The man fixed her with a bewilderment glare. “If you’re killed by a Death Angel, there is no resurrection for you.”
He eyed her and Hayden with raised brows, “wait...you two are outsiders. Like the ones that were with Atticus.” He backed away from them, “get out of here heathens.”
Kori raised her hands in defense. “You said there were others like us?”
The man nodded. “They’re probably hiding at Atticus’s cottage.”
“Can you point us in that direction?” Kori asked excitedly.
The man hesitated.
“I know the way,” Lucia said ghostly. “Follow me.”
She brushed past the local taking the lead. Hayden tailed after her while Kori mouthed an apology to the man. He snarled before scampering his separate way.
“How do you know this place?” Kori asked as she strolled up to Lucia.
The ex-captain glanced at Kori with annoyance. “I lived not far from here,” she answered waving her off.
However, Kori stayed at her side. Lucia glanced at Hayden as if her aggravation was his fault. He returned the glare with a shrug. Lucia huffed, staring up at the night sky. The clouds had unoccupied the heavens and now free, the twin moons were able to shine brightly.
There was a long silence before Kori blurted, “who was that Christos guy?”
Lucia’s annoyed demeanor liquefied. “His real name is Maxwell, and we were once good friends.” Lucia answered. “But when he became high priest, all of that power went to his head and he changed his name.”
“Were you two lovers?” Kori asked.
Lucia stared at Kori as a condemned soul might look at his executioner. “Gross, never anything of the sort,” she paused and looked at her feet. “Though his brother and I are ex-lovers. We lived here in the village together with our friend Tira. But before that, my friends and I lived in a massive mansion not far from the capital city...” Lucia trailed off.
Kori waited for her to continue. She seemed to be trying to think of the words to express what she had to say but she couldn’t find them.
“Some years ago, purgatory’s original ruler Raiziel mysteriously vanished and Giovanni emerged seemingly out nowhere. He proclaimed himself as the new warden and quickly established his dominance by hunting and killing all those loyal to Raiziel.”
Hayden felt his heart skip a beat.
“D-did you say Raiziel?” his words fell from him in chops.
“Who is that?” Kori asked.
Lucia released a sigh of admiration. “Raiziel was a beautiful and powerful deity who didn’t demand respect, he owned it. But he was gentle and compassionate.”
“He was only a Nephilim,” Hayden said coldly.
Lucia stared suspiciously at him. “Did you know Raiziel?”
He didn’t response and instead asked, “how did you know him?”
“We
were like adoptive children to Raiziel.”
Hayden eyebrows arched, but he remained silent.
“And because of that, me, Maxi, and our friends; Kade, Tira and Atticus were at the top of Giovanni’s hit list.” Lucia gaze fell to the ground and she was silent for a moment before saying, “Fearing for our lives we fled to a small mining town. But little did we know Maxi had betrayed us. He informed Giovanni’s lieutenants about our whereabouts and they launched an attack on the town. The fighting quickly turned into a massacre. Those villagers weren’t warriors nor did they have weapons that could permanently kill...during the slaughter many lives were lost including my good friend, Kade.”
“And Giovanni rewarded Maxi with the title of High Priest?” Hayden said with an edge of skepticism in his voice that made Lucia frown.
“If it wasn’t for Tira casting a teleportation spell we wouldn’t have survived that day...but we ended up here in Amaranthine Village.”
She looked at Hayden and Kori to gauge their reaction. Hayden’s face was blank, Kori’s a picture of horror and mute shock. Sighing she went on. “We built a small cottage a few miles outside of the village and we warded the area to keep Giovanni and his clowns from finding us. For a while we lived in peace but were always on the lookout wondering when Giovanni was going to strike.”
The village had melted away and they were now traversing on a dirt road path with waist-high stone barricades on either side. Behind the walls were mile upon miles of woodlands that housed eerie sounds of nocturnal animals.
“What happened to Tira and Atticus?” Kori asked.
Lucia’s pretty face flushed and said, “I abandoned them...They became too focused on rebelling against Giovanni. Maxi called them terrorists, everyone else considered them heroes and I was tired of the constant fighting,” she paused and glared at the night sky. “So, I left and joined Maxi in hopes of brokering a peaceful agreement between both sides.” The sadness of her words shocked Kori into silence, and she stared at Lucia in bewilderment. She looked away blinking away tears and without elaborating any further she picked up her pace.
“I feel bad for her,” Kori said
LAMENT OF PURGATORY (ASHWOOD CHRONICLES #1) Page 18
