Lord of Legions

by T. R. Hamby

  Barry felt his heart drop. They looked at each other, fear etched on their pale faces.

  Two weeks. Two weeks.

  “And if you’re lying?” Michael asked, still calm.

  Her face was set. “Kill me if you want,” she breathed. “I don’t care. I just want Alice and Marcus safe.”

  Barry frowned, unsure. They were all at risk if she was a spy. But at the same time, she needed help, and she had provided information.

  Everyone looked at Diana, who looked stony. Finally she said, “You’ll live in the stables. You’ll have guards. If you leave, you die. If you Travel away, and we capture you on the battlefield, we will give you the slowest, most brutal death you can imagine. Understand?”

  Eliza’s face crumpled, but she nodded.

  “Good. Veronica.”

  Veronica nodded to the two Valkyries at the entrance. They helped Eliza out of her chair, and escorted her out of the tent.

  Mel held his head in his hands and let out a breath. “Two weeks.”

  “He’s gathered three hundred Angels in the last two weeks,” Michael breathed. “How many will he have after another two?”

  Barry ran a hand through his hair and took deep breaths. No use panicking, he told himself.

  No. No use panicking at all, Lilith’s voice said, though he could sense her fear just as clearly as she could sense his.

  Diana was firm. “We go back to training. That’s all we can do right now.”

  It was strange leaving the tent without a plan. But what was there to plan? All they knew was that the biggest battle of their lives was coming….two weeks from now. That was it. They didn’t know the exact number of enemies; they didn’t know what day, what time.

  Barry stood in the snow, not knowing whether to panic or to seethe.

  No. He had to fly. That’s what was important….

  And then there was Nora, racing past the tents and nearly bowling him over.

  “It’s Gabriel,” she said breathlessly. “He’s back.”

  Roone

  Roone followed Barry and Nora back to the house.

  Good. Gabriel was okay. Now to see what he found….

  When they got to the house he saw Gabriel standing there, dressed in a cloak. There were about twenty Angels behind him.

  Roone tried not to deflate. It wasn’t much.

  Gabriel swore as Barry limped to him. “What the fuck? What happened?”

  Barry laughed and threw his arms around him. “I missed you too.”

  “Why are you limping?”

  “Calypso got me. Long story.”

  “Calypso what?”

  But Barry ignored him, kissing him hard and making him stumble.

  Roone looked around. The twenty Angels were looking around too, some curiously, others guardedly. He heard footsteps behind him and turned.

  It was the whole gang, including Theresa, who smiled and took his hand.

  “No,” Michael and Mel cried, skidding to a halt and staring horrified at the front row of Angels.

  Roone wasn’t sure what the problem was. Michael looked stunned, staring at a tan-skinned, short-haired Angel, who looked back at him as though conflicted. Beside her was a tall, dark-skinned woman, who looked gentle. And beside her was none other than Serene, Michael’s daughter and the mother of Sydney.

  “Agatha,” Mel breathed. “Judith--Serene--no. You can’t. You have to go back.”

  “We’re here to fight,” Serene replied fiercely.

  “You and Judith have young children,” Mel moaned.

  “Exactly. We’re fighting for their safety,” Serene said.

  “The children are with their fathers,” Judith said calmly. “And if anything happens to us, that’s where they’ll stay.”

  Mel didn’t seem able to argue. He looked at Agatha, who looked back at him, an indecipherable expression on her face.

  Mel heaved a sigh. “What brought you back?”

  She flushed and looked down at her shoes. “I can’t live like this anymore. I want vengeance.”

  Roone could imagine. He knew her as the sister who had been forced to murder Lilith. Father had burned that bridge a long time ago. Revenge was due.

  There was a silence. Theresa shifted beside him, and Roone drew closer to her.

  Gabriel finally gestured to the crowd. “These are my fighting friends. They’re all ready. All loyal.”

  “Only because we owe you gambling debts,” one of them said, and there was laughter.

  “Whatever the case,” Gabriel said fondly. “They’re prepared for anything.”

  “How about three hundred?” Michael asked.

  He sounded a little weak, and Roone assumed it was from meeting Agatha again.

  Gabriel blanched. “Three hundred?”

  “We have a defector,” Barry said, taking his hand. “Come on. Let’s talk.”

  Gabriel looked at the crowd of fighters behind him. “I’ll show you where you can sleep. We have extra tents….might have to share, though….”

  There were snickers and wolf-whistles, and the seventeen warriors followed Barry and Gabriel into the field of tents.

  Roone looked back at the group before him. Agatha was looking at Mel.

  “Lilith’s here?” she whispered breathlessly.

  Mel looked gentle. “Yeah.”

  “Have you….talked to her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does she hate me?”

  She began to cry, and Mel put an arm around her, whispering in her ear.

  “Come with me; we’ll talk to her….it’s okay….shh….”

  The two of them, and Judith, headed for the Big Tent.

  The group was slowly dwindling.

  Michael and Serene looked at each other, both nervous, before Serene finally said, “I’m sorry, Mica.”

  Michael looked emotional. He didn’t reply, just pulled her into a tight hug. Nora, as if trying to lighten the mood, threw her arms around them. They laughed, and Gilla did the same thing.

  Roone looked down at Theresa, who was smiling sweetly. She looked at him, and they silently agreed to go.

  They picked their way past the tents to the eastern side of the property, where Theresa’s tent was. She was the leader of Unit 14--Barry’s leader--and didn’t like to be far from her troops.

  The day was winding down, and both of them were tired. They napped for a while, before Roone stirred, opening his eyes.

  Theresa was drawn close to him, her head on his chest, breathing softly. He could hear talking and laughter outside, and wondered what her troops were getting up to now. She was a good leader, and they were a vivacious group. Roone sometimes wished he had been drafted into the unit, instead of his own Unit 9, but he knew that wasn’t possible, not with the way things were between him and Theresa now.

  It had only been two weeks, marred by bad news and a battle, but Roone was hooked. Theresa made him happy. She was lively, jovial, and so very sweet. She had so many interesting things to say, and hung on Roone’s words just as much as he did hers.

  But there was one more thing. Roone had been thinking about Nora less and less. So much less, in fact, that he hardly did at all. He didn’t dream of her. When he saw her in the crowd, he wasn’t filled with longing or heartache. In fact, the only feeling Roone associated with Nora now was guilt. Horrible guilt over what he had done.

  But his love for her had faded--maybe even disappeared entirely, and it was so relieving that it didn’t seem real.

  A loud cry of laughter came from outside, and Theresa jumped, startled awake. Roone wrapped his arm around her, and she sighed, relaxing against him.

  “I’ll kill whoever that was,” she murmured happily, slinging an arm across his waist. “What’s a good punishment for one who wakes the leader?”

  Roone smiled. “You could throw them in the creek.”

  “Mmm. Maybe.”

  They were quiet a moment. Theresa listened to Roone’s heartbeat, and Roone slid his hand beneath her shirt,
tracing circles on her soft skin.

  He closed his eyes. Three hundred. Lilith’s army still outnumbered Father’s, but it was still too close. And all they could do was putz around and train until the enemy finally descended upon them. Two weeks.

  “Are you happy?” Theresa murmured.

  Roone frowned, puzzled. “With you?”

  She shrugged. “Yes, I guess so.”

  He squeezed her. “You’ve made me happier than I’ve ever been before.”

  He paused, then continued, “Once this is over….”

  He trailed off.

  He had hopes. Once this was over, they could go anywhere they wanted. He could take her to shows, to the opera. They could live in Ireland, or Rome. They would be together, and the world and all its creatures would be safe. They would be safe.

  Theresa raised up and looked at him. Her gray eyes were very serious, and full of love.

  “I’m in love with you,” she whispered, brushing at his hair.

  Roone stared at her. He hadn’t expected her to say it, no matter their feelings.

  His heart leapt, and he grinned. “I love you too, Theresa.”

  She smiled, though she still looked serious.

  She took his hand and kissed it. “I don’t know if a Valkyrie can die,” she whispered quietly, “and Lilith doesn’t know where any of us will end up if we’re killed.”

  “Theresa--”

  “So whatever happens to us, I want you to know how wonderfully happy you’ve made me.”

  There were tears in their eyes. Roone swallowed back the painful lump in his throat. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to think of any Place without Theresa.

  He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Then he held her, and she settled down with her head on his chest again.

  He brushed at his eyes and squeezed her tight. “All we have is now.”

  Theresa nodded. “Yes. But if we succeed, I guarantee eternity.”

  Gabriel

  Barry broke his goddamn leg and Gabriel hadn’t been there to stop it. He would never forgive himself.

  “Don’t even,” Barry said as Gabriel opened his mouth to apologize. “I fucking mean it, Gabe. If you say a word I’m leaving this tent.”

  It was night. Gabriel had shamelessly sneaked into Barry’s tent, wanting to make up for lost time. They had certainly made up for it, and were now in each other’s arms, talking quietly.

  Gabriel smiled, brushing at Barry’s cheek. “All right, love.”

  Barry seemed soothed. He took Gabriel’s hand and played with his fingers.

  They didn’t speak it aloud, though Gabriel knew the thought was on both of their minds. Two weeks. Three hundred, maybe more by that time. They were going after the strongest force in all the dimensions. Their very Creator.

  Gabriel had never been this close to death before, not even in all the battles he had fought here on Earth. He could feel it, taste it. He understood now why the humans likened death to a man with a hood and a scythe. It was palpable to the point of personification.

  But he didn’t care if he died. Of course not. No, it was Barry he feared for.

  He couldn’t lose him. His best friend, his lover. Gabriel had walked alone for a long time. But that was all before Barry. He didn’t want there to be an after Barry. He wouldn’t survive it.

  Barry cupped his face, pulling Gabriel from his thoughts. His blue eyes were so piercing, and he looked at him gently.

  Gabriel sighed. “You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he breathed.

  Barry smiled. He kissed him, and Gabriel pulled him close, closing his eyes and taking in his taste, his scent. He wanted to be as close to him as possible.

  Barry suddenly pulled away. “I never got that blackbird tattoo,” he moaned, distressed. “On my neck.”

  Gabriel shushed him. “It’s okay, love. You have the eagle. It’s all right.”

  Barry nodded vaguely, relaxing. He laid his head on Gabriel’s shoulder and closed his eyes. Gabriel held him, tracing his fingers over the tattoos on his arm, the golden eagle on his neck. Outside owls hooted, and the fires crackled. He lay back on the pillow and closed his eyes.

  Morning would come soon.

  Gilla

  Gilla hated being in a tent. It wasn’t the cold or the discomfort that she despised--it was being away from her bed. Their bed. Being away from Michael, having to sneak around.

  It didn’t stop them being together, though. She huddled under the covers, chilled, and curled into him. Michael held her, and they murmured quietly for a while, listening to the noises outside in the night.

  She looked at her ring. “We’ve been married a year,” she whispered.

  Michael smiled, took her hand and kissed it. “Yeah. And we will be for many more.”

  Gilla studied him. She wanted to remember every detail of his face--his glittering eyes, his cautious smile. She wanted to remember his rumbling voice, how he sounded when he laughed. The feel of him around her, so safe and sound.

  He looked pained, and he pulled her in close, pressing his brow to hers.

  They hadn’t talked about it. Gilla knew that Michael couldn’t bear it.

  But she had to say something, before it was too late.

  “Tell me you love me,” she breathed.

  Michael closed his eyes. After a moment he opened them, his jaw working.

  “I love you,” he said, so very quietly. “More than anything. You rescued me.”

  Gilla’s heart ached, and she took a shaky breath. “I love you too, my alskling.”

  Michal’s lips twitched. “That’s supposed to be my line.”

  “Not this time.”

  Nora

  “Do you remember when we first met?” Nora murmured.

  Mel grinned. “Yes. You hated me.”

  “I did not hate you.”

  “You totally did.”

  Nora smacked his arm, and he laughed quietly. “You’re such an ass, Mel King.”

  Mel smiled. They were together in her tent, under the blankets. Mel played with her hair, and Nora traced the scar on his chest. They were pretending this wasn’t happening--that they were back in Rome, in a warm bed, talking before going to sleep.

  Her heart wrenched. Those days were long gone.

  Mel was soothing. He held her, brushing his fingers up and down her back, and quietly sang that lullaby she loved.

  She kissed him, and he sighed, cupping her face in his hand. Everything was in that kiss, all their love, all their hopes.

  Please be safe, she thought, clinging to him. Please.

  They broke away, and Nora saw emotion on Mel’s face. They were both struggling not to cry.

  “Mel,” she breathed, squeezing his hand, “I will always be with you.”

  Mel looked away, brushed at his tears.

  He took a shuddering breath and looked at her. “When this is over,” he said, “I want to hear you sing again. On a stage. I want to pick you up from rehearsal and listen to you complain about the director and the producers fighting. I want to have boring meetings with my associates about diamond and topaz sales. I want all six of us to have dinner together every Saturday. I want to listen to Gabriel annoy Michael and watch Barry make you laugh. I want to have a beer with Michael like it’s the most normal thing in the world. I want all of us to be together. And I want you most of all.”

  Nora brushed her tears away, drew close to him and buried her head into his chest. “We’ll do it. We’ll all be together. We’re not going anywhere.”

  Mel held her tight. “I love you, diletta.”

  Nora smiled at the name. “I love you too.”

  Lilith

  Lilith lay in her bed in the Big Tent. She didn’t sleep, being a goddess, but still tended to lie down at night, out of habit. Outside there were the murmurs of the Valkyries who couldn’t sleep. She was afraid, and her power flexed, longing to be let out, to protect her. It was an uncomfortable sensation, and she shifted restlessly.
<
br />   She heard careful footsteps enter the tent, and looked over. It was Theresa, dressed in pajamas borrowed from Nora. Her hair was down, and her gray eyes gleamed silver in the moonlight.

  She gave her a mischievous smile, and Lilith giggled. “What are you doing up?”

  Theresa slipped into bed beside her, pulling the covers over herself. “I couldn’t sleep. I had a feeling you couldn’t either.”

  “What about Roone?”

  “He’ll be all right.”

  They were quiet a moment. Theresa reached out and grasped Lilith’s hand, and Lilith smiled sadly. She worried--worried that her dear Valkyries wouldn’t survive the war. Worried that she couldn’t do it, that she couldn’t defeat Father.

  She couldn’t. Could she? She wasn’t strong enough.

  Theresa squeezed her hand. “Don’t think like that,” she said, as if reading her mind, like Barry could. “I know you can do it. You’ve already done so much.”

  “This is different.”

  “You Created a whole Place,” Theresa replied fervently. “You Created all these people. You Created me. And Father is weak, unfocused.”

  She paused, as if trying to find the right words.

  Finally she looked at her and said, “You have to believe in yourself, Lilith. You have to make yourself strong.”

  Lilith felt a horrible ache, and tears started in her eyes. “I still, to this day, feel like that woman in the forest,” she whispered. “So young and….so little. Father scared me then, and he scares me now. To him I’ll always just be the First Woman. I’ll always be just his Creation.”

  Theresa looked determined. “Then he underestimates you.”

  She squeezed her hand again, and Lilith nodded vaguely. She was right. Father did underestimate her, didn’t he? He had underestimated all of them, over and over. He didn’t see the power they possessed--the strength.

  But, she remembered, even in his carelessness--he was afraid. Just as she was. He feared her, and that was something. Something crucial.

  She looked at Theresa, who looked so calm. “Stay with me tonight?”