Descended (39 page)

“Oh my god!”
Carter exclaimed in shock as he stopped in his tracks.

“It’s not Vie,” he said looking into her eyes.

“Sure it is, I’d know her anywhere,” Jeremy said thinking he was going crazy again.

“It Vivian,” he said still looking at her.

Carter put her down and asked her where Vie was. She looked at him, afraid to tell him what she thought, that Vie was gone. Then he saw the necklace she was carrying, the one Vie always wore around her neck. He asked how she got it and Vivian said Vie gave it to her. Then she told him Lucian had her and that he is evil and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Carter told
Jeremy to take Vivian and get her to the hospital and that he was going after Vie. Jeremy tried to reason with him, but he could see in his eyes it was no use. He was going after Vie and Jeremy could not stop him.

“Find Gabriel and tell him where I am,” Carter yelled grabbing the necklace and racing back through the tunnels.

Back in the underworld, Lucian was waiting for his warriors to bring Vie back to him. She appeared looking ravishing to him, stoic as ever, and her beauty captivated him. He told her it was nice to see her out of her droll boring vessel and back to herself. She asked what he wanted with her and he just kept saying, “All in good time my dear,” with his wretched sinister voice. Violet was getting angrier by the minute with his games and he welcomed the fire in the young warrior’s eyes.

“I would like to make a deal with you,” Lucian said carefully, “a deal you surely won’t dare pass up,” he said.

“I don’t make deals with your kind. And furthermore, you have nothing I could possible want,” she said.

“Oh, but I do my dear. You see I hold your little friend’s soul in my hands. You know Vivian, the girl you have become so fond of?   In a matter of minutes her life is going to expire. Now it is up to you whether or not she spends an eternity with us or...” Lucian pointed up above with his evil grin.

Vie knew Lucian was telling the truth. It was by Vivian’s own admission that what he was saying to her was true.  And then there were the paintings. Yes, Lucian was telling the truth for the first time in his existence. Lucian was brilliant.  He had done his homework and knew Vie was the Guardian with empathy and he was ready to pounce on that empathy now. Vie did not have a choice. She could not let Vivian spend an eternity in this godforsaken hell hole.

“What do you want from me?” she inquired further.

“That’s easy, your soul,” he said anxiously awaiting her answer.

“Tick tock, tick tock my dear.  We don’t have all day,” he said whispering in her ear. “Vivian’s soul or yours, which do
you
choose?” he said coiling around her again like a snake.

“Deal,” she said making her pact as Lucian knew she would.

“Bring me the contract,” Lucian commanded.

Vie knew there was no greater gamble or risk than ones soul. A pact with the devil is a dangerous thing and Lucian would do anything to achieve his goal. What he wanted he was about to receive and Lucian knew with her soul he would rise to a power unknown before now. 
Although Vie did not understand the power she held, Lucian did because of Fallon. The blade Fallon gave him belonged to Vie and it was the only one of its kind.

“Sign here,” Lucian said holding up the pact.

Vie took the pen and looked up to say she was sorry and asked forgiveness from the ruler of the skies. Then she saw him, hiding up above, it was Carter and he had come to save her. He looked into her beautiful violet eyes and his heart melted. Surprisingly, even out of her vessel, Vie physically appeared exactly the way he had always seen her. Carter’s ability was to see only a person’s soul and that was what physically appealed to him. Her eyes were simply the keys to her soul so he loved looking into them. Vie looked no different to Carter at all.

He put his finger to his lips telling her to say nothing and communicated with her not to sign the contract. Vie felt like her prayers were answered and then she dropped the pen to the ground. Lucian looked at her suspiciously and then motioned to one of his demons to pick it up. The demon reached down and Vie kicked him hard, sending him flying through the air and right into Lucian. The distraction was created and Carter moved on it. Down he scaled toward Vie and suddenly Lucian got up with fire in his eyes. He exploded in fury shaking the tower as he roared. Boulders started tumbling down, trapping Carter behind them and a firestorm of lava balls rained throughout the chamber. Vie tried to run but couldn’t dodge the inferno. She ducked down covering her head and when she looked up, Lucian was standing in front of her with his triton glowing, ready to kill.

“It isn’t wise to try my patience my dear. As you can see, I will always prevail here,” he said profoundly.

“Now sign!” he commanded her.

“Don’t you sign anything
Vie!
” Gabriel called out from the corridor. He was able to locate Vie because of the necklace Carter was carrying in his hand. Carter was relieved to see his friend and the other Guardians as well. They were outnumbered in bodies, but not in might.

“Lucian you have gone too far this time. I should have finished you off when I had the chance,” he said reminding him of their last meeting.

“
Ahhh
Gabriel.  So nice of you to join us,” he said inviting the Guardian in.

“Let her go!” Gabriel demanded.

“You have no claim to her, she is not one of yours,” he taunted Gabriel with his information.

Gabriel could see straight into his evil eyes that Lucian knew something and was going to use it against him with Vie. He didn’t dare provoke him since he wasn’t sure what he was hiding. Gabriel told him again to release her and he would let them be. He warned Lucian if he did not
do as he said that he would bring his wrath down upon him and his entire underworld. Lucian grinned like a cat with a mouse and ignored Gabriel.

“Poor, poor, Violet, “Lucian said circling her with his trident. “Violet, do you seek the truth? If you do, then ask your noble warrior friend if you are one of them?” he said taunting her. “Go ahead, ask him.”

Vie was confused not knowing what to do. She had no idea why Lucian was telling her to ask such ridiculous questions. But when she looked at Gabriel she noticed he was worried, it was written all over his face. Carter had managed to free himself and was listening attentively behind one of the boulders. Vie didn’t want to ask the question, she had no interest in playing Lucian’s game.

“ASK HIM!” he thundered, putting the triton to her neck. Carter jumped up immediately, ready to pounce on Lucian, when suddenly Gabriel noticed him. Carter’s eyes met Gabe’s and he listened for his message. The two of them were always able to exchange thoughts when they focused and this was no exception. Carter heard him loud and clear and he waited for his signal.

Vie stood up slowly eyeing Lucian with a sinful stare, wanting so badly to send him straight back to hell. She looked at Gabriel and asked the question. Gabriel responded with a “yes”.

“Liar!” he shouted angrily.

“Ask Gabriel if you were created to be a Guardian,” he said posing the question another way. Vie asked and Gabe responded.

“Yes, I believe you were created to be a Guardian,” he said.

“Liar!”
Lucian was running out of patience and this little game was suddenly irritating him.

“Ask Gabriel if you are human?” he said smiling with utter satisfaction now.

Vie asked and Gabriel responded with a, “Yes, you are.”

Completely shocked, she froze, feeling her entire body go numb. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing and neither could Carter.  “It couldn’t be true,” they both thought. “I am human?” Her eyes were still locked onto Gabe’s and she felt for the first time, her heart was breaking. Gabriel had lied to her. He had deceived her about who she was and where she came from. Vie couldn’t believe he would do that. He was her best friend, at least she thought. She looked at Gabe with tears in her eyes and said one word.

“Why?” He couldn’t answer.   He had no reason that would suffice.

“Why?” she shouted louder, walking toward him in absolute fury.

“Why, why, why?” she asked pounding on his chest and falling to her knees sobbing.

“You see my
dear,
I am not the only one capable of deceit.  Your precious Guardians have been deceiving you for a very long time,” he said consoling her.

“Now, let’s get back to the business at hand.  Tears are for the weak my dear,” he said snapping his fingers, instructing the demon to bring him the pact. “Watch how easy this is now Gabriel,” Lucian mocked him.

“Vie don’t you sign that,” he said panicked. She looked at him with hollow eyes and grabbed the pen.

“Vie, don’t. Honey please
don’t
,” he said begging now. Lucian was having a hay day watching the great Gabriel beg and Vie was too angry with Gabriel to care.

“Vie, I am ordering you to put the pen down! Do not sign that pact!” he commanded.

“I am not a Guardian.  You have no authority over me anymore,” she spoke profoundly.

Then Gabriel did the unexpected, he put down his weapon and kneeled before Lucian. Take my soul instead of hers,” Gabriel asked.

“No,” Vie shouted, suddenly seeing what her friend was willing to do for her. No matter what Gabe had kept from her, the offer to sacrifice his soul to Lucian proved just how much he loved her.

Lucian was blown away by his offer. For years Lucian has wanted nothing more than to destroy Gabriel. His hatred for him was deep and intense, stronger than any other power he possessed. His hatred for Gabriel fueled him. Gabriel’s soul would be the greatest trophy of all and would show the prince of darkness how truly worthy he was. It was an offer Lucian would not refuse.

“Wish Granted!” he said whispering to Vie that he too could grant wishes.

“The conditions are that all of my people are to leave here unharmed and you are to release the girl Vivian’s soul. Then and only then will I sign your pact,” Gabriel said.

“You are not in charge here Gabriel,” Lucian said angered by his audacity.

“Do we have a deal?” Gabriel asked.

Lucian waited a moment and then said yes to Gabe’s conditions. The demons cheered and one kicked Gabriel hard, sending him face down on his knees.  Vie ran over to her friend and threw herself over him to shield his body with hers. She told him she would not let him do this for her and Gabriel begged her to let him go. He said he would sacrifice anything for her, even his soul. Vie began to cry and Gabriel begged her to leave.

Vie stood up and suddenly felt a power surge through her. She heard a voice telling her to fight.  Her inner strength now projected outward in a glowing aura, shielding around her just like
before. Vie turned back to the Guardians behind her, signaling them to fight and then looked up to Carter nodding as Gabriel had before they battled. Then she quickly lunged forward and grabbed Gabriel’s blade. Vie grabbed the demon who had kicked Gabriel and severed his head. Gabriel lifted his head up in the chaos and saw his army of warriors fighting for his soul with Vie as their leader. He stood up and Vie tossed him his weapon with a smile.

Carter was going straight for Lucian when Gabriel saw him. He knew Carter was getting stronger but he was no match for the likes of Lucian.  Then he saw Vie in trouble and rushed back to fight
by
her side. Suddenly the ground began to shake and Gabriel saw Lucian throwing an angel blade straight at him. If he moved Vie would be hit.  It was too close for him to react and it was a weapon of death for the Guardians. He threw Vie to the floor and closed his eyes. Vie yelled out a horrifying scream as she watched the blade come within inches of Gabriel. When out of nowhere, Reese flew over Gabriel and swooped down taking the blade to his chest. Gabriel was shocked since it was thought that Reese was the trader that had given Lucian his information about Carter and Vie. Gabe ran to his side and held his hand. He asked Reese why he saved his life and Reese said it was because he was his brother. Then Gabriel asked him if he had betrayed the Guardians and Reese shook his head no before closing his eyes for the last time. Gabriel looked at the blade in his chest and thought to himself, “This is impossible.” He pulled it out and then went nuts avenging Reese’s death. He stood up fiercely attacking every demon in his path, fighting his way to Lucian.

Lucian saw Gabriel coming at him and turned himself into a massively large hellhound with two heads and a body like a grizzly. He couldn’t get to him because Lucian’s army numbered three times that of the Guardians. He told Carter to forget Lucian and get to Vie and get her out of here.
Then Gabriel tossed the blade to Carter to help him fight
against  the
power of Lucian.
Carter wanted Lucian’s blood, but wanted
Vie
’s
safe
ty
more, so he swooped down and grabbed her and led her back up to where he was hiding. Of course, she didn’t want to leave, but Carter insisted that Gabriel had ordered them to do so. Reluctantly she followed Carter up the tower from the inside. They scaled the walls and came to an opening that led them outside. Standing on the ledge of Devil’s Tower, where they had been before, Carter kissed her.