Hayden shoved his hands into his pockets. “She almost killed you remember?”
Kori huffed, “but still, this is no way to live.”
He took her by the hand and placed her palm against his chest. “Do you feel that?”
She nodded, feeling the steady rhythmic beat of his heart, the warmth of his skin along with the rise and fall of his chest as he took in air.
“We are alive. We are able to feel, taste, smell and enjoy the pleasure of life.”
With his free hand, Hayden pointed at Lucia.
“But with her, her soul is ensnared in a body that won’t age, decay, or permanently die,” Hayden said softly. “She will never experience what it truly means to be alive ever again.”
Kori gasped, jerking her hand away.
In silence, Lucia led them confidently to a near-invisible opening in the center of the stone wall, hidden by toppled rocks and overgrown bushes. It opened into a pebble filled path and soon, a cottage came into view. It crouched low into the grassy embankment as though it were trying to hide.
Lucia paused several feet away from the lodge. “It feels weird being back here,” she sighed heavily as if to prepare herself for an inevitable task.
“It looks like someone is home,” Hayden said watching lights flicker like an old movie reel from a dust-covered window.
Lucia stood silent; her breathing rapid.
“Are you ok?” Kori asked gently.
Lucia nodded. But before she could reach the door, it busted open.
“Hayden,” a giggling teenage girl squealed as she barged towards him. Two more teens emerged. The tall lanky one spotted Kori and his eyes widened with shock. Kori bolted towards him and nearly tackled him to the ground in an embrace. The last teen hung back watching the others.
Next, a man in his mid-twenties appeared. Lucia’s face flushed red as she stared awkwardly and silently at him.
He spoke soothingly, “well hello Lulu...it’s been a while.”
Chapter-Thirty-Three
Arms folded tightly across his scrawny chest; Ethan tapped his foot furiously against the wooden foundation while staring out of the grimy window.
“I should have gone with them,” he said.
Standing still wasn’t helping, he had to move. He began pacing up and down as if determined to whittle out a trail in the wooden foundation. His brain on the verge of exploding with endless scenarios of the others’ fate, the entrance door busted open.
Brianna was the first to stumble inside. Her eyes were wide as she clumsily felt around for Ethan. Atticus emerged next tossing an unconscious Dominic onto the couch.
“What happened to him?” Ethan asked frantically.
Brianna gripped on to his arms, “a reality check hit him.”
“How are you feeling little witch?” Atticus said as he saddled one of the four rucksacks.
“Still a bit blurry but I can manage,” Brianna answered tersely.
Atticus nodded, “good, grab a backpack...you too Ethan we’re heading out as soon as Dominic regains consciousness.”
Ethan grabbed a rucksack and donned it.
“If your two friends would have stayed put, neither of them would have been hurt.” Atticus said, his voice was on the edge of sarcasm. He then clapped his hands in a celebratory manner, “so congratulations Ethan for being the one with any kind of smarts.”
Brianna let go of Ethan. “Why did those demons hesitate to attack you.”
“We’ve had run-ins in the past,” Atticus said conceitedly.
Brianna rubbed her eyes. “You used a vanishing spell,” she blinked a few times and focused her sights on Atticus. “Are you a witch?”
He laughed fondly. “It was only a neat trick I picked up.”
Her vision now fully clear Brianna spoke. “Who exactly are you?”
“According to some I’m a hero, others say I’m a nuisance,” Atticus said with an exaggerated sigh. “But none of that matters.”
Before he could fully dispute his case, a sudden moan from Dominic caught everyone’s attention. He sat up rubbing his chin before snapping his broken nose straight. With tearful laughter he winced in pain.
Brianna rushed over to Dominic inspecting his face. “I really envy your healing capabilities,” she said giving him a hug. “That demon nearly killed you.”
He hopped to his feet, “more reason why I need the Libitinari.”
“That might be impossible.” Atticus folded his arms as he spoke knowledgeably, “because it’s trapped within an energy bubble and only someone with the blood of Raiziel running through their veins can pull it free.”
Dominic stretched widely. “And that someone will be me.”
Atticus opened his mouth to protest, but his amused demeanor dropped, and he gestured for everyone to shush. “We have visitors,” he said quietly.
Though barely audible, voices on the outside were loud enough to spark alarm in everyone.
“Could it be those demons coming back to finish the job,” Brianna asked.
“They won’t be back for a while,” Atticus chimed.
Brianna’s eyes lit up as she listened to the chattering. Then with a gasp she rushed towards the door, recklessly opening it.
Her theory was correct.
Standing before her was Hayden, Kori, and a beautiful woman. She wasted little time embracing him.
Ethan was next to emerge along with Dominic. First spotting Hayden, Ethan’s eyes fell upon Kori seconds later. Grinning widely, she nearly tackled him to the ground with a hard hug.
“You look as if you have been through hell and back,” Kori said jokingly as she examined Ethan’s bruises and dirty clothing.
He chuckled, “long story.”
Dominic hung back, watching the others all talking at once, sharing information they had discovered during their time apart. Footfalls from behind him tore his focus away from the others. Atticus appeared at his side. He didn’t acknowledge the others; his attention was on the frilly red-haired woman. The two of them stared in uncomfortable silence as they slowly walked toward one another.
“Well hello Lulu...It’s been a while,” Atticus said coming to a halt several inches away from her.
She hesitated before saying, “don’t call me that.”
“Fair enough,” Atticus retorted. His expression lifted into a look of confusion, “why are you here?”
“Your brother,” Lucia said flatly.
“Sounds about right,” Atticus said. “After all, you did leave me for him.”
“It wasn’t like that at all,” she said poking him in the chest.
Atticus retaliated with complaints about how she left him and soon the two of them were in a yelling matching.
Hayden glanced away from the others. His eyes rifled from place to place for an instant before landing on Dominic.
“Hey, bruh...was kinda hoping you had died,” he said with a smug smile.
Hayden felt the pressure of his rage exploding within him. And the next thing he knew he was in front of Dominic delivering a punch to the left side of his face. The punch sent Dominic tumbling inside the cottage and Hayden gave chase.
From the outside, a sudden hush befell everyone as the sounds of yelling, gunfire, and the interior being demolished reverberated from the inside.
“Shouldn’t we stop them?” Kori asked.
Brianna laughed nervously, “when they get like this it’s best to wait it out.”
The wall near the entrance exploded outward due to Hayden flying through it like a cannonball. A cloud of dust, bricks and small rocks accompanied Hayden as he hit the ground, back first. Covered in bruises, bleeding from different parts of his face and body, he moaned in pain. Dominic burst through the roof, soaring high into the night sky and sending thatch debris everywhere. He was holding what appeared to be a wooden shank fashioned from timber debris. Gravity took its toll and he glided himself towards Hayden with the wooden stake raised above his head. Before he could fully touch the groun
d, Dominic impaled Hayden’s left shoulder with the weapon, laughing menacingly.
Hayden’s eyes widened as he yelled out in agony.
Dominic landed on top of his brother burying his knees into his stomach and pushing the stake deeper into his shoulder.
Hayden released another ear-piercing scream.
“You should really get stronger bruh,” Dominic said rolling off Hayden and onto his back. Like Hayden, he too was covered in contusions and bleeding wounds.
Hayden coughed unsteadily. “You should stop begin a careless dick.” He reached over, pulled free the wooden weapon and jammed it into Dominic’s thigh.
He screeched in pain. “Who’s the dick now?”
Dominic pulled the stake free from his thigh grimacing.
Together they laid upon the ground winded. But when the sound of the cottage buckling boomed, they sat up and watched the roof cave in, taking out the east wall.
The brothers exchanged glances then and began to laugh while the others glared in disbelief.
“You destroyed my home,” Atticus screamed. His tone then softened. “Then again I wouldn’t expect any less from the sons of Raiziel.”
Lucia gasped glancing from brother to brother. “Raiziel’s sons...Then that means purgatory is yours by birthright.”
Dominic chuckled as he got to his feet. “I’ll pass on that. Don’t want to rule a dying world.”
Hayden also stood. “That’s a hard pass for me too. Now that we’re all together, can we go to this Tira person so she can send us home.”
Atticus arched his brows. “You’re going to the sanctuary?”
Lucia smiled devilishly, “right after cutie over there kills Christos.”
“You’re going to have a kid assassinate my brother?” Atticus asked puzzled by the news.
Lucia shrugged, “I would gladly do it myself, but the kid is the one with the forever killing gun.”
“This doesn’t sound like the happy go lucky woman I once knew,” Atticus said. “Killing Christos wouldn’t make a difference; Giovanni will replace him.”
“Times changed...I’ve changed,” Lucia said sharply. “And Christos has too... he’s no longer your dorky little brother. He’s become a monster.”
Atticus stared at Lucia. “But still, odds of assassinating Christos are near impossible. He has an army.”
He motioned towards the teenagers. “Let me take these kids to Tira...she’ll send them home.”
“I’ll joyfully kill that asshole for you,” everyone averted their eyes to Dominic. “It’ll be like a pit stop on my way to retrieving the Libitinari.”
Lucia observed Dominic dubiously. “Do you have a gun like your brother?”
He summoned Jezebel for a quick second.
Lucia squealed with enthusiasm.
“You’re fired,” she squealed glaring at Hayden.
“Whatever,” he responded dryly.
“You of all people should know what happens when you go up against The Divinity Order.”
Atticus pointed to the tattoo that covered the left side of his face. “I’ve been marked.”
Words left Lucia as she stared into Atticus’s eyes. Her heart fell silent. She traced the outline of Atticus’s tattoo with her index finger, in disbelief.
“I do not want these kids to end up like Kade, Tira or myself, or even you,” Atticus roared.
“Did Christos do this to you?” she whispered sadly.
Atticus nodded. “After I lost Tira, I went after Maxi in one last effort to save purgatory.”
He looked at the tattoo running along his arm. “I failed...as punishment he let me live but gave me this curse.”
“What does it mean?” Kori asked.
“The tattoo will spread, eventually covering my entire body. Once that happens, I will die and won’t resurrect. My soul will belong to the void.”
Atticus took Lucia’s hands into his. “Please let’s take these kids to Tira...together.”
She jerked her hands away. “I really am sorry...But Christos must die.” Lucia glanced towards Dominic signaling him that she was leaving.
He waved deuces to everyone and followed.
Atticus was motionless, his slender shoulders slumped. The bright lights from the twin moons threw half his face into deep shadow as wispy wine-colored clouds drifted slowly in front of them. After a time, he was aware of the soft tread of footfalls coming up next to him. There was a rustle as the newcomer stopped at his side. He didn’t turn to look who it was. He didn’t need to.
“You kids ready to get out here?”
Brianna made a noise of reluctant concession next to him as if to say: more or less.
“In order to get to Tira we have to go to Elisium City,” Atticus said eyeing everyone. “I have a friend there who has an airship and can fly us out to the sanctuary.”
Hayden arched an eyebrow. “Isn’t Dominic and Lucia heading to Elisium.”
Atticus winced at the mention of her name. “Yeah, he’s planning to reclaim your father’s sword.”
Atticus chuckled ironically. The others looked in his direction. “Either way they both are going to fail,” he said his voice shaking. “Even with their combined strength, they are no match for my brother and his minions.”
The five of them fell silent, with Atticus’s remark lying heavy upon everyone’s mind. In her silence, Brianna felt a feeling of gasoline flowing in her stomach ready to be set ablaze if she only stood idly by while her brother walked towards his death. She stiffened herself militarily, “I’m going after them.” Her voice broke through the silence, causing the others to gaze her way.
“Why?” Hayden asked quizzically.
“Because he’s still our bother,” Brianna snapped.
“Fine,” he said suddenly stirred to faint anger by her response.
Atticus loudly cleared his throat, “in good conscience, I cannot allow you kids to go through this.” He eyed them all, “and I also can’t allow the woman I love to walk out of my life again.”
Ethan threw his arms into the air out frustration, “I guess I don’t get a say in any of this.”
“Fear not my young friend,” Atticus said soothingly. “If we leave now, we will be able to reach them before they get too far ahead, and we can convince them to come with us.”
Ethan scoffed. “Sounds like wishful thinking.”
Brianna smiled mischievously, “well if that doesn’t work then I’ll use a sleep spell on them both.”
Atticus’s boisterous laugh echoed about the property, “clever plan little witch, but you might need this?”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wooden ball.
“My wand,” Brianna said excitedly as she accepted the tool from Atticus. “Let’s go stop those two idiots.”
She along with Kori and Atticus marched off. Ethan stared into Hayden’s direction who didn’t return the look. Instead, he swore under his breath and reluctantly followed the trio.
Ethan stayed put.
They can’t be serious.
He watched them disappear off into the darkness of the night. Ethan buried his face into his hands allowing them to muffle his frustrated screams.
But his tantrum didn’t last long.
The sudden growl of an engine reverberated overhead. He looked up and his eyes widened. A gigantic red and gold pirate ship sailed across the night sky coming to a hovering halt a few miles away from the cottage. Immediately, multiple humanoid silhouettes hurdled from the stationary aircraft disappearing in the shadows as they landed.
Heart pounding, Ethan covered the uneven distance between him and the others within seconds.
He doubled over with his hands on his knees, wheezing.
“Are you alright,” Kori asked.
He raised a finger indicating he needed a moment, in which Kori gladly obliged.
“T-there is a pirate ship in the sky.”
“Yeah we know nerd,” Dominic’s voice sounded from his right.
He st
ood upright noticing he and Lucia had rejoined the group. Other than Dominic the others were gawking at the hovering vessel.
It boomed an alarm, before fading out of sight as if it was never there.
“That was Christos’s personal ship,” Lucia answered. “And those people who jumped out are soldiers of the Divinity Order.”
“Where did the ship go?” Brianna asked in astonishment.
“It teleported to a different area, I suppose to drop off more soldiers to search for us,” Lucia answered.
Ethan looked over everyone with urgency in his eyes, “we need to go back to the cottage and hide out there.”
“Wouldn’t do us any good,” Atticus snapped. “The wards only hid us from Giovanni and his demons. Those soldiers can still find it.”
Hayden scoffed, “they’re probably setting up barricades all along this main road too.” Atticus looked awkward for a moment, his body fidgeting. Then he snapped his fingers. “We can hike through the forest to get to Elysium City.”
“Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work,” Ethan said wryly.
Atticus pushed aside Ethan’s criticism. “That way we can go around the soldiers and only engage them if need be.”
When no-one disagreed. Atticus took the lead crossing into the poorly lit forest.
He stuck to the shadows as he skillfully crisscrossed his way through the dense vegetation. Ducking under hanging tree branches or jumping over large fallen forest debris, he moved as if the woodlands were his personal gym.
As for Ethan the limited light plunged him into an ominous dread. He glanced from one shady area to the next as if the darkness would soon awaken predatory creatures out of their lair. He jumped as a distant spine-tingling howl made his hair stand on end.
“What animal was that?” Ethan asked.
Dominic ducked underneath a tree branch that stretched out in front of the group forming a cavern of distorted limbs.
“One that wants to rip us apart,” he teased.
Ethan gulped. “Don’t say crap like that.”
Hayden glared back at the talkative pair. “Keep the noise to a minimum there might be more soldiers close by.”
Ethan tried keeping his ears open for anything that sounded unusual, however, the more they walked the more everything began to appear bizarre and the sounds of unseen nocturnal animals ricocheting all around them sounded unfamiliar. Looking up at the canopy the moonlight streamed through the cracks providing shallow light. He was thankful Brianna was using her wand like a flashlight.
LAMENT OF PURGATORY (ASHWOOD CHRONICLES #1) Page 19
