Ascension of Evil (Battle for Souls Book 3) (10 page)

Forras stared at her and she could see his emotions warring behind his eyes. “Satan can retrieve Charlotte when we conquer Earth and move on to Heaven.”

“No, Heaven’s gates will seal once Satan is on Earth.”

Loud banging sounds echoed through the hall. Boon held the doors shut as sharp nails scraped down the metal on the other side.

“Can’t hold them off long,” Boon shouted.

“We’ve got to go,” Sammy urged.

Gabby could see Forras wavering, but she had run out of time. For now. “Forras. Hear me out. Meet us at the Prim’s old house. It’s neutral ground for all of us. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“What?” Alexander spat, but Gabby ignored him.

“Right, so your band of warriors here can take me down?”

“No, I’ll be there with Sammy. Alexander and Boon will remain outside, guarding from any unexpected visitors. They won’t take you down. You have my word.” Forras hesitated, but she didn’t give him a chance to answer. “Charlotte will be there.”

Gabby grabbed Alexander’s hand and nodded to the other two. “Let’s go.”

Before they could take more than two steps, the doors burst open, sending Boon flying back. Grey, furry creatures charged through the doorway like cockroaches scurrying from light.

Boon regained his footing in an instant and rammed the first wave, sending them rolling back into the night, but several slipped past him. “Get her out of here!” he yelled.

Alexander shouldered one of them in the gut. Another one jumped over him, sailing right at her, its mouth wide, long fangs exposed. She squared her shoulders, ready for the assault, but Sammy grabbed a hand full of its fur and tossed him to the ground. The impact crushed the wood frame of the trophy cabinet, and the glass doors shattered as the whole thing collapsed under the pressure.

The demon bolted from beneath the debris at Sammy. Gabby managed to grab its leg before it could reach her. It snapped at her hands. She yanked and the grey creature yelped before it turned and swiped at her. A claw slashed her bicep, weakening her grip, and she let go.

Sammy screamed for Alexander. Throbbing pain paralyzed Gabby’s arm at her side. Alexander was barely visible beneath the blanket of demons pounding him. Jagged teeth shredded his skin. Two more snarling beasts left the pack. One launched at Sammy, sitting on her chest as two paws pressed her shoulders to the ground. Boon hunched then leapt toward Sammy, but three creatures broke through the bottlenecked entrance and bulldozed him to the ground.

Demon stench mixed with the blood running down her arm. She palmed the cool wall and pushed up from the ground, slipping and sliding until she managed to stand. Forras remained where he was, watching the battle.

“Help us,” she pleaded.

Forras crinkled his nose in response.

The sound of breaking windows drew her hazy attention and she shuffled to the nearby classroom, peering through the small glass pane in the door. Shadows floated in darkness within, desks and chairs crashing to the floor.

Woozy, she slipped to the floor and leaned her head against the remnants of the trophy case. Blood dripped down her arm, forming a dark, sticky puddle on the floor.

She peered around the cabinet. Dark fur and red eyes consumed the hall, covering nearly every bit of the sterile white. Sammy struggled with the monster on her chest. Boon’s dark frame was lost in the sea of demons. She heard Alexander cry out. Two demons had crunched down on his arms, their vice-like jaws tearing at his flesh.

What had she done?

She focused on Forras. He hadn’t moved, still leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. “Forras, please.”

The classroom door flew open and more demons flooded the hall behind them. Blocked in all directions, Gabby readied for her powers to surge forth and kill every dark furry creature in the building. She just hoped it would stop there.

She held out her palm and energy surged to her hand. Red light blasted the beast from Sammy. Another sent several whimpering away from Boon.

Her pulse beat against her neck as the demons turned and galloped toward her.

But this time, no light pulsed from her hand.

****

Alexander slammed the demons’ heads together. A sharp yelp interrupted the grunts and snarls. He rolled onto his knees and scanned the hall for Gabby. Sammy punched a mangy, red-eyed creature’s head, sending him against a wall. Through the mass of entangled bodies in the hall, he spotted Gabby on the floor. She thrashed about, kicking and punching at the demon snapping at her throat.

A beast at his side lunged and clamped its jaws down on his leg. Bones crunched, but he didn’t feel the fangs pierce his skin, only the rush of adrenaline that propelled him forward.

Forras stood against the wall with his arms crossed. “Still can’t protect your girl?”

Gabby tossed the beast across the hall and pushed up to her feet. She ripped a piece of wood from the crumbled cabinet and with her good arm, punted the creature down the hall. Then she swung again, and took out the demon attacking Sammy.

Alexander climbed over the heap of bodies, dragging the beast clamped onto his leg with him as he struggled and tumbled to Gabby’s side. Claws dug into his back. Boon suddenly appeared at his side, jamming his fist into the beast’s jaw, forcing it to release its death grip on Alexander.

“Get her out of here. Now!” Boon ordered.

“No, you need us to help fight,” Gabby protested.

Two more dogs jumped through the classroom door. Forras growled. The demons still in the hall and classroom snapped at him, but they remained crouched in obedience.

Gabby smiled at Forras, churning Alexander’s stomach. “I knew—”

“You know nothing,” Forras snapped, cutting her off. “I want information, that’s all. If you die, I can’t get it.”

“What are you playing at?” Alexander demanded.

Sammy wrapped her arm around Gabby. “Let’s go.”

The sting from the demon’s bite in Alexander’s leg faded as he healed the torn flesh of his human form. He shuffled to Gabby and healed her.

Boon grasped his shoulder. “No time to debate. We need to go.”

Gabby glanced down at her palm then up at Boon. “Why didn’t my powers—”

“Don’t know, but we’ll figure it out and be ready next time,” Boon offered. He turned to Forras. “Forras, come with us.”

Forras lifted his chin and howled a deep, foreboding sound. All the beasts froze then lowered their heads to him. He returned his attention to them. “I’m still head demon here. I don’t care if you fall to darkness, but I have a few questions for Xena, warrior princess, over there, so get going. I’ll meet you at Prim’s house.”

Gabby pointed to the open doorway behind them. “Take the stairwell. We need to fly out of here.”

Alexander eyed her movements. She was standing taller now and spoke with more authority. Had she lost her innocence? Been corrupted by the ugliness of battle? Or was she turning into the warrior leader everyone expected her to be?

They raced up the stairs, Alexander’s heart beating at the speed of their steps. It was happening.

The war was on them. They needed to meet up with Bruce and Grace and formulate a plan, quick.

They reached the second floor and crossed the hall to a classroom. Boon busted a window then he and Sammy shot through the opening.

When Gabby hesitated, Alexander gently stroked her shoulder. “What is it? Do you want me to take you?”

“No.” Her voice sounded distant. “It’s time for me to start leading. There’s no more time left. I can’t keep clinging to you or my father.”

A hint of disappointment crept in at the thought she no longer needed him to protect her. No, he’d always protect her, whether she needed him to or not. He opened his mouth to protest, to tell her she needed him as much as he needed her, maybe not his protection, but his love. They were a team, she wasn’t alone anymore, but there wasn’t time. The demons were howling their displeasure at the loss of their prey. It wouldn’t be long before the beasts were upon them again.

She struggled to release her wings, emitting her crimson aura. Dang, she was powerful. Her energy nearly knocked him off his feet. Once she mastered her abilities, she’d be unstoppable.

Demons broke through the door, and he shook his head to clear his thoughts before he circled his arms around her and bolted into the sky.

“Why?” Gabby cried. “Why can’t I—”

“Don’t worry. You just need practice.”

She slumped against him, disappointed, and guilt gnawed at him for enjoying the chance to save her one last time.

They soared through red and orange clouds as the sun broke free of the horizon. Cool early morning mist raked across his feathers and a bitter chill ran through his wings. Death was in the air.

He still needed to talk to Sammy about why she’d lied to him about their fall, but who knew when Hell’s insurgence would slow down and give them a chance to regroup, let alone talk? They needed to get out of Kemp. Would Gabby be able to flee this time? Visions of blood trickling from her eyes and ears the last time they tried to leave haunted him. His feathers ruffled and he pushed the image from his head, praying things would work in their favor for once.

He banked right and dove toward Prim’s house. Where had that monster of a principal disappeared to anyway? Had she survived her encounter with the master demon? Was she fighting for Satan himself, or had she returned to Herak’s side?

They swooped down and flew through the broken back windows, landing on the white tile of the living room floor. Minus the shattered windows, the house still appeared lived-in. Lights on, furniture still resting in the same place they’d left it last time.

Bruce shot up from behind the sofa, gun in hand. Grace glanced back at them from the front doorway.

Gabby pursed her lips and stared down her father. Was she still mad at him for breaking his sobriety? Alexander’s heart ached to heal Bruce and chase all his demons away, but he feared they weren’t all from Hell, but some of his own making.

Sammy paced in front of the rear windows. “What are we going to do?”

Distant howls sounded from the direction of school.

Boon joined her. “Kemp is overrun. We need to pull back. We’re overwhelmed, and if we don’t have a plan of action for dealing with these demons, we aren’t going to even survive the first wave.”

Alexander retracted his wings. “Wait, we need to talk. Something isn’t right. Back at the house, when Sammy and I were—”

“Alex, I’m sorry,” Sammy’s eyebrows rose, and her lip jetted out, “but I knew you wouldn’t be able to fight me if I didn’t make you angry.”

“But you remembered—”

Her brows furrowed. “No…I’m sorry. I didn’t cause our fall. You did. While I’d been cleared of all charges, I was told that I would be punished for influencing you. Appius said our bond caused your outburst. That no angel should choose another over divine law.”

Alexander ran his hands through his hair, tugging to relieve the pressure of it all. “No, that’s not what happened. He lied.”

Grace shuffled over to the couch, still glancing at the door behind them. “Alexander, are you sure? Accusing an angel of such deceit could mean your ultimate demise. Especially an angel of his standing.”

Bruce clutched his gun to his chest. “You’re telling me that now we got angels working for Hell?”

Gabby gasped.

Alexander let go of his hair, his hands dropping to his side. “Not sure he’s working for Hell. I’m not saying that. It’s just that…he lied, and I don’t know why.”

Gabby walked over and took his hand. “You mean you didn’t fall because of choices you made?” She took his face in her hands. “All this time, Heaven let you believe—”

He shook his head. He wanted to pull her close and lose himself in her, but there wasn’t time. They needed to remain focused, but someday, somehow, he’d have her in his arms again. “I’m not innocent. I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

Gabby gave him a reassuring smile. “But not what caused you to fall.”

Bruce cleared his throat. “Well, if we’re not sure who to trust in Heaven, and Hell is at our door, that only leaves the hunters.”

Alexander tugged Gabby’s hand from his cheek to his lips, pressing his mouth to her palm.

She smiled. In all this madness, they still had each other.

But all too soon she pulled away and faced the others. “We’re outnumbered. All the hunters in the world won’t be enough. If only we could find some help.”

Alexander walked over and gripped the back of the sofa. “We have Herak, too. He fought in the war last time. There are angels out there who will fight as well, but we need to find them. There might even be some willing to fight under Herak again. Grace, do you think he’ll help us?”

Boon snorted and a puff of smoke shot from his flaring nostrils. “You can’t trust him.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Grace said.

Alexander swallowed hard. “But there’s a problem.”

Bruce cocked an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“You remember what happened to Gabby last time we tried to leave Kemp? What if she’s still trapped here?” He stared at Bruce. “If so, then you and Grace will need to go to Herak. We’ll stay here.”