Covenant (29 page)

Thirty-four

Seeing the demon city made me long for what my own people had cruelly lost. But I carried the name of our glorious home from my birth, and true to my sister's hopes, I vowed I would live to see that glory again.
—T
ROY

Troy was as good as dead.

Flightless and weak, she plummeted from the opening where she'd exited the labyrinth, flipping end over end. Juno streaked down from overhead and flew beside her, grasping desperately for Troy's rags and remaining wing.

It was useless.

Troy smacked the rocks. Pain ricocheted through her bones. The world hazed over, and the light of the demon city pulsed with her heartbeat, seeming to laugh at her. Juno's face appeared and disappeared. Troy reached out blindly. She spread her single wing more and attempted to glide sideways. Her own blood whipped back into her eyes. The roar of her descent was deafening. Her fingers scrabbled painfully against the rocky cliff side. Acidic air burned her lungs.

Finally, Troy's nails caught.

She grunted as she dug into the stone of the cliff, her feet slipping intermittently. Hot pain shot through her fingers and fanned into her palms.

Her arms shivered violently from the strain, but Troy held on, taking the time to catch her breath and gather whatever strength she had left. Dizziness plucked at her brain, and she clung tighter to the world. Surely the moment her eyes shut, she would plummet again into death's jaws.

Through a fog of agony, Troy glanced out into Babylon. She could barely discern the immense pillars flanking the Styx River as it flowed beneath the city to the Abyss. Lucifel's Altar lay beyond those pillars. Sophia would certainly be there along with Angela. But the odds of Troy surviving to reach them were now slim to none.

A large cloud of mist swept over her, hiding the city from view. Even though Troy had fallen so far, she and Juno were still very high up.

Eerie laughter echoed from above.

Python was surely coming. They didn't have much time. Juno soared down to Troy's level and hitched into the cliff side nearby. Pebbles sprayed back as her little black nails slid into the rocks. Juno couldn't stop gaping with horror at the wound marking Troy's severed wing. In return for her pain, Troy had been left with numbness and the wild focus that foreshadowed certain death. “I must climb,” she hissed weakly to her niece. It drained her dangerously just to speak.

Crawling to the ground wasn't an option. Babylon's plain sheltered plenty of Hounds, Kirin, and others creatures eager to destroy or devour a flightless Jinn. The smartest course of action left was to climb and hide in the thicker acidic fog near the cavern ceiling. Juno looked up, her eyes widening at the distance they still needed to travel.

She nodded and began to move.

“
No. You must escape
,” Troy gasped. “The demon will have his revenge on me and let you go. You must survive to lead the Clans.”

Juno said nothing, but from the way she grasped the rocks, it was obvious she refused to leave Troy's side. A haunted expression had erased Juno's usual curiosity and babyish fear. She gripped at the stone, using her wings to propel her higher.

This wasn't good at all. The fog would eventually weaken Juno's wings enough that flight would be impossible.

Juno heaved for breath, her muscles already shaking.

A long hiss quivered through the air around them.

Troy froze and her ears cocked forward. She strained to hear despite the pain threatening to switch off her senses. Python's whispery voice began to weave its way through the mist.

Tell me, High Assassin . . . do you enjoy being flightless?

He laughed sarcastically
.

Juno prepared to move again, but Troy clasped her by the ankle.

“Don't move,”
Troy whispered heatedly.
“Not yet
.
”

There was always the possibility the demon couldn't see them in the fog. He was searching for them, trying to get a reaction out of Troy or her niece that would give them away.

You know, I have to admire you
, Python's cool voice continued.
All of this misery just to kill your half-Jinn cousin. But I'm afraid no matter how much I sympathize, that noble mission of revenge stops here. Didn't you know, Troy? Without him, Lucifel can't escape her ancient cage. That doesn't fit well with my plans, I'm afraid.

Troy's eyes widened. She bit back her frustrated scream. In a cruel instant, it socked her like a deadly punch to the chest. Was that why Kim had been adopted by a demon father? Troy thought of the bonds keeping Lucifel imprisoned. Adamant would be the most likely metal the demons had used to shackle her. It was an element impervious to astral energy. But that only applied to creatures like angels, demons, and Jinn.

Not someone in between the two.

Your silence suggests you're surprised?
Python
'
s words echoed from every direction.
So was I. Unfortunately for your delusional cousin, you've enchanted me into forgetting my promise that you'll perish miserably. Oh no, I have plans for you, Troy.

Juno lost her grip. Her foot slipped from beneath her, flipping loose rocks into the air. The noise of her scrabbling rang like thunder.

Troy stared at her in horror.

Python's words seemed to hold a deadly smile of victory.
You, High Assassin—and you alone.

His enormous triangular head broke out of the fog. Fangs snapped at Juno.

She barely dodged, flapping her wings and screeching in pain. Just as Troy feared the mist had crippled Juno's ability to fly.

Juno lost the rest of her grip and fell.

JUNO!
Troy forgot everything else like a dream and dropped with her.

Not so fast, you clever winged rat.
Python's shadow reared up on Troy, intending to stop her from following.
Are you really so eager to die?
His huge serpentine body had wrapped itself around a rock jutting from the cliff next to them. Troy would never get around him. His jaws loomed before her, his eyes tormenting her like the nightmare of a hundred Hounds at once, promising only a future without Juno and without dignity.

There was so little she could do—and then Troy thought of something.

As she fell, she raked her nails across his eyes.

Her fingers caught for a second and then her grip ripped away.

The snake contorted wildly. A dreadful scream tore through the air. Python hadn't expected Troy to sacrifice her life to save her niece. Now his curses rang out with hideous ferocity over the plain. Juno might die, and Troy would die with her, and whatever torments he'd planned for her could never be.

His shrieks followed Troy like a nightmare, but she ignored them and heard only her niece's fearful cries. Juno had slowed her descent by spreading her wings, but it wasn't enough.

She was too weak. She continued to fall, and Babylon grew larger beneath her and Troy. Lights appeared again. The cloud cover broke for good. The city looked like a valley of spires and black spikes. Pyramids glittering with light beckoned. Finally, Troy caught up to her. Juno stared up at Troy, her little mouth widened into an “O” of amazement.

Troy wanted to shut her eyes. These were her last moments. Instead, she kept them open to make sure that Juno saw nothing else besides her aunt looking back at her. Troy used her single good wing to steer herself in Juno's direction and they collided painfully. Troy dug her nails into the chick, and Juno screamed.

She tried to direct them both toward a mound to their left. Troy connected with it hard. Juno tore out of her arms with a shuddering sound. Something soft met Troy's legs and arms, and she tumbled. There was a brief second of more air before the hard earth and a searing pain hit her.

And then there was nowhere left to fall.

Thirty-five

All my life, I had prepared for this moment. Now, I knew my mistake.
—K
IM

Angela didn't have it in her to say a word as Python pushed her closer to Lucifel. The demon sometimes gave a small smile of victory, or at other times lost himself in some kind of trance, as if he conversed with an invisible person in an invisible world. Or maybe he was talking to someone far away. But Angela's helplessness was undeniable as Python clutched her hands and dragged her along.

Her head ached. Her entire body cried for sleep.

Kim also remained silent. He followed with his head down, unable to look at Angela. Every so often, he sighed deeply. He would squeeze his eyes shut often, fighting off inner turmoil.

Gradually, the scenery changed. The tunnel they walked through narrowed, and they entered a passage that struck Angela into horrified silence. Bodies had been melded seamlessly into the stone walls. The arms, legs, and wings of countless demons and angels jutted out at her, though most remained frozen for eternity in curled-up positions. Yet some had unblinking eyes that certainly held souls behind them.

These eyes followed Angela as she passed.

“They are curious about you,” Python said softly, breaking from his trance. “It's not every day that Hell might get a new ruler.”

“Why are they in the walls?” Angela said in a small voice. She could barely find it in herself to keep walking. She shivered and stumbled over a rock. “Are they alive?”

“They keep the demons of Babylon alive,” Python said, staring ahead without a glance for the prisoners to his right and left as he walked. “They are traitors, prisoners of war, or sinners according to our laws. Here, they will spend the rest of their eternity, giving energy to us and providing as needed for our civilians. Although considering the circumstances, perhaps their usefulness is long since past.”

Angela glanced at them furtively, a hot rage welling up inside of her that overpowered her fear. Her heart ached with pity and pain. “What an evil thing to do,” she said firmly.

“You mean necessary,” Python said in an ironic tone.

They came to an enormous Gate set into the rocks. Its thick iron bars gleamed in the dim light. It was becoming more difficult to see, but Angela had certainly seen enough. Two angels flanked either side of the Gate. Their bodies had been set into the walls like the others, but they were not frozen in place. Instead, the wall was more like a nest for them. As Angela, Python, and Kim approached, they began to move.

Angela's throat tightened. Her breathing quickened. These angels looked familiar.

One looked male, with tangled black hair and sparsely feathered wings. The other was a female with silver hair, though her wings were even more degraded by the mist.

That's right. They're just like Israfel's guardian Thrones.

Angela remembered what terrors they had been. She paused, uncertain. Kim's footsteps paused behind her. His breath sounded ragged and fearful. He touched Angela's shoulder, as if to pull her back.

“Don't worry,” Python said, continuing ahead. He smiled grimly. “Lucifel's Thrones will not harm you, my dear. Lucifel knows you will be arriving soon after all. It's all part of the plan. Even I know she'd be a fool to murder you just yet . . .” He glanced at the dreadful Thrones without a hint of fear as he passed. “Down, pups,” he whispered at them maliciously. “No treats today, I'm afraid.”

The twin angels glared at him with wild eyes, but merely rustled back into position.

There was a heavy
clank
.

The Gate's doors swung open. Lucifel's Altar appeared in a haze of red light. Pentagrams glowed from the walls, and a gigantic pentagram marked the middle of the floor. Python paused right at the threshold, pushing Angela into the chamber with a hand to the small of her back.

For a second, she hesitated. Fear coursed through her like fire. The Grail burned her hand, bunching tears of pain at the corners of her eyes. A sickly scent pervaded the room.

Worse, there was an ever-watchful, ever-searching presence.

This was why she'd come here. It was why Angela went through so much torment. She knew this moment would arrive. Yet it was more awful than she could have ever imagined.

“Good luck, Archon,” Python whispered in her ear ominously. “
You'll need it
.”

He pushed her deeper into the room. As they entered, the Gate clanged shut behind them.

Angela froze. She could barely think or stand.

High above, Lucifel hung amid a web of chains, her limbs shackled at her wrists and ankles. She looked unbelievably pale in the dim light, almost sickly. Angela had encountered Lucifel's shadow and destroyed it a year ago, and that experience had been dreadful enough. In person, Lucifel was lithe, almost delicate looking. But her commanding presence sent a person's soul reeling and fractured it asunder. She hung in the chains, seemingly asleep. Grayish hair hung in her eyes. She looked much like Israfel, but her hair was shorter, and her entire body was covered in black clothing that had been restitched a thousand times, as if everyone was too afraid to simply touch her and change it.

Kim stepped beside Angela, staring up at the reigning Prince of Hell.

He swallowed, closing his eyes.

“You won't become a coward on me now, will you?” Python whispered to him.

Angela struggled, but Python's grip was firm.

I should have stopped Kim before we even got as far as the Watchers. But what could I do? I couldn't kill him. I can't be that kind of person—like Lucifel.

“You won't change your mind about taking Lucifel's place?” Kim said to Angela, not even looking at her.

She trembled, but her voice was firm. “No.”

Angela's voice echoed and she thought Lucifel would awaken. The angel stayed asleep.

“All right.” Kim sighed painfully. He turned and grabbed Angela by the arms, pressing their lips together so hard it hurt. “I'm sorry,” he said, anguished. Then Kim tore himself away and approached Lucifel step by terrible step.

Angela wanted to pull him back and scream. “Kim—”

A low rustle erupted from the other side of the room.

A person huddled to the right of Lucifel, her wide eyes reflecting back the red light. Her face was terrified, but someone had tied fabric around her mouth, keeping her from talking. Then she moved so that a pendant on her chest caught the light and tossed it back like a star. Her features became more visible and familiar.

SOPHIA!

Sophia shook her head violently, trying to tell Angela something.

Angela stared at her, helpless. She tried to fight her tears. Her throat tightened even more, cutting off her air. Her vision swam. Her mind raced as she glanced around wildly and tried to think of a way to save them both. Suddenly, Python grabbed her by the chin and turned her around to face him. “You've made it,” he said in her ear, his fingers pinching her face painfully. “Congratulations. Now for the prize, Archon. It awaits. The Throne of Hell will be yours in a few precious moments. All it takes is the courage to do what you know must be done.”

She tried to wrench free, noticing with horror that Kim was fast nearing Lucifel. Kim's pale face became suffused with awe as he gazed up at the Destroyer Supernal.

“Look,” Python whispered as he watched, his orange eyes bright with eagerness. “She is about to awaken. Then, all you need to do is open the Book of Raziel, take what belongs to you, and snuff her out like a flickering flame.”

Tremors rocked through the earth beneath them. Angela stumbled.

Pebbles dropped from the ceiling.

A shudder rippled through the ground and tossed Sophia to the side. The fabric slipped from her head, and with her mouth free, she sat up and screamed at Angela. “STOP HIM. STOP KIM.”

“Hush, darling,” Python hissed. He snapped his fingers, and the fabric wrapped itself around Sophia's mouth again. “It looks like the Book doesn't believe in you, Archon. Well, I do—”

Angela turned and kicked him hard near the waist.

Python grunted, clutching at his stomach. He laughed between gritted teeth. “Isn't it terrible when people betray you? When they disappoint your hopes?” he said snidely into Angela's ear. “What is friendship, really? I think you're about to find out.”

Kim's hands reached for Lucifel's chains. They touched the silvery metal.

“
Kim!
” Angela screamed, no longer able to keep quiet. Sophia struggled, her gray eyes wide and tormented. A shiver ran through the air.

Python shrieked.

Angela turned in a panic. Blood ran between Python's fingers from a sudden wound on his face. He pulled away his hand. A familiar pattern of cuts had streaked to life across one of his eyes. They almost exactly matched the cuts Troy had set in Python's cheek.

Troy was alive
. She had hurt Python—somehow. Had he sent a part of himself to fight Troy while they walked toward Lucifel?

With a loud cry, Angela twisted out of his grip and pivoted on him. She flung him back against the ground.

Python's face contorted with pain. He cursed under his breath and gazed at Angela and her upraised left hand in panic. With a sharp cry of frustration, his eye gushing, he vanished from sight.

The earth rocked. Angela fell, slamming to the ground amid the sound of metal clanging against stone. Her palms caught her fall, but her teeth snapped together hard. Her head echoed with pain.

Sophia screamed even beneath the fabric in her mouth.

Lucifel's eyes had opened.