Jude; The Fallen (The Fallen Series, Book 2) (25 page)

“Get him up,” he told the demons, and Jude was hauled without ceremony to his feet and shoved against a crumbling sarcophagus, forgotten in a corner of the room.

Alex stared into his daughter's face, dirty and streaked with tears. She held his hands gently and laced her tiny fingers in his. Green eyes that reminded him of the hills of Greece gazed back at him, as if they held all the wonder in the world in their depths. Ashtiru's face softened and she spoke, but the voice that emanated from her was not her own.

"Destiny calls, and weeps at the feet of children. It rides on the wings of angels, soaring ever higher until at last it knows its purpose. It rises like the tide and sweeps away the regrets of yesteryear and all the iniquity of days long past. Embrace it, and know these next moments are what you were born for." She shuddered as bright tears filled her eyes.

"Daddy?" The innocence crept back into her true voice. "It's okay, Daddy. He has you now. He has us all." She smiled, full of life and promise. "I love you," she whispered.

He gathered her in his arms, and felt her little body shudder and go slack. Alex smoothed her hair back over her face as he laid her down softly against the wall. He pressed a small kiss to the shell of her ear. "I love you too, Princess," he whispered before rising to his feet. The beginnings of power long buried simmered in his veins as it made the long trek to the surface.

He turned into the darkness, steeling himself to rail against the forces of Hell. Alex smiled, the feral curl of his lips splitting the dry skin. He tasted blood and the rage of the Father. He was pleased.

Growls filled the chamber as bodies piled in. Alex stared down the pack of demons, standing in front of Ashtiru, shielding the child with his body. The demons groaned and moved forward, evil yellow fire flashing from their eyes. He knew there were dozens more, so many more, positioned elsewhere in the tomb complex. Possibly spilling out into the desert, ready to make their way to find more living souls to turn. But he would not let them take her. He drew himself up, feeling the power coursing through him like the cool flow of Nile waters. He gave into it, spreading his arms wide. He was ready.

Light and sensation buzzed in his head, making everything hazy and clear all at once. It was time.

A voice filtered in over the white noise in his brain, instantly soothing his nerves. "You have served Me well. Fulfill this destiny, and rest, knowing you have stars in your crown and acres in Heaven."

The blue light over his swirled and brightened, illuminating every dark corner, and he snarled in delight as the demons shielded their eyes. The jackal within him stirred, growling to life as the light drifted outward, gaining in brilliance. Power curled up from his toes, igniting every nerve in his body, filling him with radiance. The walls shook and the ground rumbled as Alex called the light within him. His hands shot out, palms lifted heavenward, as lightning coiled in their centers.

Alex’s head dipped as he closed his eyes and murmured, “I am ready, Father. I will live as I have served. For eternity.”

The lightning in his hand shot upward and Alex’s head jerked back, his mouth open and gaping as the blue light burst and channeled inside. His body glowed from the inside out as stones fell from the walls and the ground lurched beneath his feet. He felt it burn and claw in his belly, reaching a fevered pitch until he couldn’t contain it any longer. His body spasmed, and he screamed into the chamber, releasing the divine light in a shout of exaltation.

The walls burst into a shower of dust, the high-pitched wail of Alex’s cry careening around the space in an echo of vengeance. The demons fell, one by one, their bodies exploding in a series of sickening pops. He pushed the light out, far beyond the one chamber, letting it seek and destroy in its wake, decimating stone and darkness. He felt Ashtiru behind him, huddled and frightened, but there was nothing more he could do for her but this. One day she would understand, but for now all he could process was destruction. The blue light snaked from his eyes, carving its way through the chambers, and with each demon that fell, Alex felt himself grow stronger.

The jackal’s face filled his vision, delirious with want, and his heart soared. This was his gift, the greatest protection he could provide, wrapped within the dark tide of destruction. The blue light curled again, this time to cocoon Ashtiru in its rays, the child crumpled in a soft heap on the ground, dust and debris bouncing off of her like raindrops.

Joyous voices filtered in over his brain, calling him, beseeching him for one last act. He followed their song and shouted in triumph as he flung out the last of the light within him.

“My God!” he cried into the light, “I am done!”

A bright blue flash of light exploded around him before the chamber shuddered and went dark.

Thunder crashed, shaking the tomb, threatening to send everyone to their knees as a keening howl sounded over the tumble of stone. Coriander cried out as The Dealer tightened his hold and regained his balance.

Behind him the wall shuddered, and an opening appeared within the stone, the choking stench of sulfur and brimstone leeching into the chamber. The void was black and swirling, growing wider by precious inches. The sound of screaming and maniacal laughter drifted in, deafening the thunder that shook the tomb.

“You see, angel? You cannot win. The dark will not be denied,” he grinned. “My Lord will have what He wants and there is nothing you can do stop him!” The Dealer’s smile widened as he cackled in glee. “He will have them all and you will kneel at His splendor!”

Jude’s eyes caught Coriander’s and her leg twitched in response. Before he could tell her to stop, she raised her foot and brought it down on The Dealer’s at the same time her sharp little elbow slammed into the older man’s gut. He grunted in pain and staggered enough to ease his hold. She whirled, shoving a fist into his face with a snap of bone on bone. She screamed as he gripped the pendant and wrenched it from her neck.

“Now!” she cried, jumping back from his reach, but not before The Dealer’s fist came up to backhand Coriander to the ground. She cried out and crumpled, pressing a hand to her bleeding face.

Rage filled him as Jude leaped to the side, his hands finding purchase on the lid of the sarcophagus, pushing it off with all his might. More dust filled the chamber, and he saw Coriander duck and roll as The Dealer popped off two shots in her direction. There, on top of the mummy, gleaming brightly, was a staff. Jude wrapped his hands around it and held it aloft.

The earth gave a loud groan and The Dealer’s eyes went wide with fear as the staff in Jude’s hand transformed into a sword, the blade burning with golden fire. A host of angelic voices echoed through the space, the song cresting higher as Jude shook his hand into the air. All at once, he was filled with light and purpose, and it vibrated in his bones with delicious agony.

“Father!” Jude called. “I am here!”

Golden sparks shot out from the end of the blade and Jude doubled over in pain. His body jerked back on a cry of salvation as the tattoo on his back rippled and flared to life, golden wings erupting in a wave of brilliance. They fanned out in a shower of feathers as the heavenly hosts cheered in triumph.

Jude straightened and swung the sword, the blade arcing through the dark. A burst of light filled the room as a thunderous voice shouted into the air.

“Fear Me and the glory of My wrath! Vengeance has returned!”

All the rage and anger in his soul melted as faith sang in his blood, filling him with righteousness. The sword swung again, followed by Jude’s blood-curdling howl. The Dealer screamed, but was cut silent as the flaming blade removed his head from his body.

Blood and black gore spouted from the stump as the body twitched where it stood. The sound of screaming and terror shot up out of the body, and tendrils of black smoke spewed into the air. As the corpse fell, Coriander scrabbled to reach for the pendant, still clenched in The Dealer’s hand.

“No! Don’t touch it!” Jude cried.

The portal behind The Dealer’s remains rippled and grew, advancing on them. Jude pulled her back before her fingers could grab the necklace. The earth trembled as the chasm widened, and a rush of fire shot out from its depths to encompass the body. It burned hot and high, stinking of death and despair as it formed a barrier over the corpse, and he and Coriander could only watch as the fiery pool was sucked into the void.

When the thick, black smoke dissipated, nothing remained but the sound of thunder and the tremble of stone. The pendant was gone.

Chapter Fourteen

Jude helped Coriander to her feet, pulling her close to wrap his arms around her. He snorted over the top of her head as he surveyed the scorched stone.

“I fucking hate Egypt,” he huffed into her hair.

She chuckled against him. “It may be a while before I can bring myself to come back.” Coriander’s head lifted with a smile. “Come on, let’s go find Alex and Ash.”

He stared down with sober eyes. “Are you sure they’re still alive?”

She placed a hand over her heart and nodded. “Yeah. Call it mother’s intuition.”

They raced down the corridors, Coriander calling out for Ashtiru at the top of her lungs. The walls were charred with soot, and stone crumbled and crashed as they ran.

“We need to hurry,” Jude said. “Whatever rocked this place was serious. I don’t know if it’s going to stand for much longer.”

She shot him a smirk over her shoulder. “Please. This place has survived for thousands of years. I don’t think one showdown with Hell is going to put a chink in its armor.”

The high-pitched whine of a dog caught his ears, and he pulled her to a stop in front of a ravaged doorway. Coriander ducked inside without a word, dragging him along.

“Ashtiru!” she cried.

Sure enough, sitting against the wall, covered in soot and dust, was Ashtiru, clinging tightly to a buff-colored dog. Jude’s breath left him in a rush as Coriander whispered, “Alex.”

Jude stared at the dog, which was panting happily with a long pink tongue lolling out of its mouth, as Coriander rushed forward to take the little girl into her arms. The dog got up and circled them, nosing Coriander in the elbow. She laid an affectionate hand on the animal’s head.

“Oh, you,” she said through tears. “You precious, precious man.”

The dog eased out from under her touch to step back and bark once, its tail wagging with enthusiasm.

Coriander stood, hefting the girl onto her hip. Ashtiru raised a sleepy head and yawned.

“Can we go home now, Mommy?”

She pressed a soft kiss onto her daughter’s cheek and looked straight at Jude. “Of course, darling.”

Ashtiru lowered her head back onto her mother’s shoulder with a sigh. “Daddy Jude, too?”

Emotion clenched his heart at the soft-spoken question. He stood there for a moment, hanging at the edge of his future, his body pained and tired. His wings hung like weights on his back, yet he had never felt lighter. What he did now would set his path for the rest of his life. Heaven had been restored to him, but the pull of Earth rested in the innocent wonder of a child and the tear-shiny emerald eyes of the woman he loved. The conviction of steel-sharp faith tingled over him, resonating with only one option.

Jude stepped forward and embraced them both, leaning down to whisper into their ears, “Daddy Jude, too.”