NOX, page 13
part #3 of The Royal Protector Academy Series
“Holy shit.”
“Wait, it gets better,” he continues. “Apparently, Nox went to all the gods on her behalf, begging them to spare her life. The other deities rejected his pleas. It’s said that because of his love for Inanna, Nox couldn’t end her existence. Instead, to save him from heartache, Ereshkigal ended it for him. Three days later, Helios mysteriously showed up in Kur. He and Nox held secret meetings.”
“What kind of meetings?”
“The kind where Helios brought Inanna back to life, healing her soul with the light from the sun, sky, and heavens. In exchange for life, Inanna had to remain in the sky, behind the gates. And never be with Nox again.”
I sit back and take in the story. “Wow.”
“I know. Juicy, right? Inanna’s attendant had loose lips.”
“That nymph must have some amazing skill sets for this warrior to share all of this with you,” I point out.
“Truthfully, most of this was during a drunk rambling.”
“If this hearsay is true, it would explain Nox’s statement earlier. He mentioned having unfinished business with Asmodeus. I wonder if it relates to Inanna?” I reason.
“Possibly. It would also account for why, when Tristan and I first met with Nox, he agreed to take our meeting. He said it was a favor to Helios, mentioning that he owed a debt to his brother,” he adds. “Nox’s help with stopping Asmodeus and Kupuva is probably Helios’s repayment.”
I exhale and meet Zander’s eyes. “This would also account for why Nox wanted Tristan to promise the woodland and water realms. A form of recompense to his mother for sparing him the heartache of killing his love.”
“Everything makes perfect sense now.”
“It still doesn’t help us, though, Zander.”
“It does. Helios is the god who created the Sun of Vergina prophecy, in order to unite the woodland and water realms, keeping the nymphs and sprites safe for the gods and goddesses to share company with, which means he will protect his divination at all costs. Inanna is a divine goddess behind the gates, one that is under Helios’s protection.”
“And how does all that get Tristan out of the deal?”
Zander sits up, lowering his voice. “What do you think Helios will do to Inanna when he finds out his brother agreed to turn Helios’s divination’s soul dark? Enabling him to rule over two realms that sustain the earth realm? The very same realms Helios created the prophecy to protect?”
I meet his steely gaze. “Punish him for his betrayal?”
He nods. “Using the one thing that can hurt him.”
“Inanna.”
“Inanna,” he confirms.
A quick breath escapes me. “Okay. You need to go alert Helios of what is happening, then.”
“Wait, why me?”
With a wave of my hand, I stand. “I kinda have a lot to do here, Zander. I have a demon lord to threaten, a battle with the Diablo Fairies to prepare for, not to mention a wedding to begin planning. Which, by the way, will lead to a very pissed off gargoyle clan that I’ll have to protect Tristan from. Plus, if I mysteriously disappear, I’m pretty sure Tristan will notice and have a meltdown.”
Zander cracks a smile and starts to laugh. “That is the worst to-do list ever,” he teases, patting my arm. “I’ll go, after Demon Falls. I need to be there today to watch both your backs. Also, demon shit is cool, no way am I missing out on it.”
“You’re a pain in the ass!”
“But you still love me. Admit it.”
“I admit nothing.”
Zander stands, pulling me into his arms as he whispers in my ear. “We’ve got this. We can save him, champ, because in the end, Nox will choose Inanna,” he adds.
And there it is.
No matter who we are, our armor is paper thin.
Turns out even Nox has a weakness . . . love.
Serena
MY EYES WIDEN IN HORROR AS I stare at the dark, decrepit château in the distance, surrounded by gloom and lit up by electrified bursts of thunder. The unkempt gates that surround it hang off stone walls, squeaking in the harsh wind as the rusted wrought iron sways.
Thunder rumbles in the sky in warning. Everything here is gray and ominous, even the dead grass crawling across the massive estate. The only pop of color are the blood-red flowers peppering the thorn-covered vines, twisting and wrapping around the gated entrance.
They hang in a portentous way, tempting you to enter a place that emanates pure evil.
We make our way up the long walk to the entrance.
“If I thought earth was a shithole, this realm takes the cake,” Zander mutters under his breath.
“This is where demons come to fall,” Nox states. “It’s not meant to be a beach resort. It’s the gateway to Hell.”
“Sounds about right,” Tristan drones.
Once we get to the double doors, they open without being prompted and we enter the lifeless castle. With a slam, the doors close behind us. A deep, artic chill runs through the air and seeps into my skin.
As we follow Nox, Tova, and Lael through the passageways, I study the old-fashioned wooden lanterns hanging throughout. Their flames flicker, dull and lifeless, providing little light. Everything here is dark and empty, void of life. There are no windows. No warmth. Just castle walls that weep with eerie cries and pleas.
The stench of sulfur mixed with the metallic tang of blood is soaked into every corner of the castle, forcing me to hold my breath a few times to avoid bile rising up my throat.
After a few moments, we reach a set of double iron doors. Nox waves his hand in front of them, causing them to open dramatically. The moment they do, a gush of heat blows over us, a stark contrast from the chilled passages.
Nox leads the three of us into the large, empty room, with Tova and Lael behind us. Nine lit fireplaces surround the chamber. They blaze and burn almost in a threatening manner. Each enormous hearth has a barghest sleeping soundly in front of it. The hellhounds don’t stir as we enter.
We step onto an oversized Oriental rug covering most of the floor. Chills run down my spine when I notice the rug is stained the color of human blood—bright red.
One single black leather medieval chair, with intricate wooden carvings of demons, sits in the center of the room. It’s the only piece of furniture in the vast space. Two more hellhounds flank the empty chair, one on each side, sitting calmly, watching our every move, as they protect.
“Why aren’t the hellhounds moving?” I ask.
“They sense I am from their world,” Nox replies.
“What now?” Tristan questions.
“Now, we wait,” Lael replies in a clipped voice.
Nox steps toward the throne and takes a seat, motioning for Lael and Tova to join him. They take their places on either side of the armchair, behind the large wolf-like dogs. The three warriors stare at us before Nox’s eyes flick, signaling for us to move behind him. Reluctantly, we do.
“Regardless of what comes out of the demon lord’s mouth, no one reacts,” Nox orders in his baritone.
Seconds later, the doors fly open and in steps one very entertained demon lord. Cracking his neck, Asmodeus saunters into his chamber, his black irises gliding over us in a calculating and penetrating manner.
“You’re in my seat.” His voice is low, hypnotic.
“Am I?” Nox replies, bored.
A strange mutual respect filled with hatred hangs between them. I watch their interaction with fascination.
I try not to bristle under Asmodeus’s stare as he takes us all in. While in captivity, I never saw his face. Weirdly, he isn’t at all what I expected. With his charismatic good looks, he reminds me of a rock star rather than a feared and powerful demon considered a ruthless dictator of Hell.
Asmodeus’s chest and shoulders are relaxed under his loose white button-down shirt. The top button is undone and his sleeves are rolled up, revealing his tattoos.
Long, leather-covered legs stand casually as they stretch out underneath him. His worn pirate-type boots are firmly planted on the floor.
Nox shifts, getting more comfortable in Asmodeus’s chair. Apparently, he has no plans to vacate it anytime soon.
“Serena.” Asmodeus’s hungry gaze rakes over me in an unwelcome manner. “You’ve healed well.”
“No thanks to your kidnapping and drugging scheme.”
Tristan steps a bit in front of me. “Don’t speak to her.”
“How chivalrous you are, protector.” He tilts his head, his eye excited. “Tristan, right? Yes, that’s it—Gage Gallagher’s secret love child. Quite the surprise you were. And a satyr prince. What a special bloodline mixture you’ve got going on there, Trist.” His voice has a light lilt. “Are you here to barter for the gargoyle princess’s existence?” His expression turns smug, and then cruel. “If so, I’m afraid you are out of luck. You see, you have nothing I want.”
“I’m not here to negotiate,” Tristan states.
“I rather doubt that,” Asmodeus challenges. “I smell you inside her blood. You’ve bonded and share a protector link.”
“Serena is under my protection,” Nox interjects.
Asmodeus lets his words sink in before his expression turns murderous. His eyes flash red. “Interesting.”
“As are the woodland and water realms,” Nox adds.
Asmodeus’s eyes snap to Tristan. “Well, welcome to the dark side. I do believe your father enjoys his time here.”
“Fuck off.” Tristan steps forward, but I grab him.
“That is enough,” Nox warns.
“This wasn’t the deal, Nox,” the demon lord spits out.
Nox shrugs. “Alliances and deals shift.”
The demon lord’s eyes narrow, his expression turning into one that is truly menacing. “Is this because of her? If so, know that when I get her back, I will end her life. Again. Only this time, I will do it slowly, with pain and suffering. I will torture her as I turn her divine light into darkness.”
In an instant, Nox is on his feet, and within seconds his hand is clenched around the demon lord’s throat, lifting him off the ground. Asmodeus bats at his arm, but the gesture is pointless; the demigod is too strong for him to escape.
“I will end you.” Nox delivers each word harshly.
A howling sound releases from the demon as Nox tightens the vise he has on his neck, crushing his windpipe.
“She will continue to be protected behind the divine gates.” Asmodeus’s eyes widen at Nox’s statement. “Now, are you ready to discuss the reason for our presence?”
I inhale and side-glance at Zander, having a feeling Nox isn’t talking about me, but Inanna. By the looks of Zander’s wide-eyed expression, I’d say he is thinking the same thing.
“Can’t—talk!” The demon gurgles.
Nox drops him and, like a doll, he flails onto the ground.
The demon sucks in quick sharp breaths. He doesn’t get up; instead he falls back onto his back, exhausted from not breathing as he rubs his neck where Nox had a hold on him.
Nox makes a guttural sound of impatience with it all.
“What is it you want now?” Asmodeus spits out.
“You to swear an oath to release the gargoyles from your wrath. We both know it’s unmerited and misplaced.”
“They protect the divine gates,” Asmodeus argues. “The St. Michael clan is the reason the two archangels, Michael and Uriel, killed Lady Finella. She was my mate, my love,” he announces. “Surely you, Nox, of all of us here, understand the pain the death of one’s love brings,” his snarky tone is meant as a challenge.
I bristle at the retelling of the story that has more to do with my uncle Asher and aunt Eve than it does me.
Nox crouches next to the demon, lowering his voice so it’s barely audible. “The gargoyles are not the only ones who protect the gates, given what is now behind them. If you wipe out the protector race, the deities still keep guard. Your attempt at a divine war and entry is futile, demon.”
After a moment of silence, the demon lord falls into a hysterical fit of crazy laughter. “I should have known.”
The demigod stands, folding his arms across his chest, as he looks down, watching the demon lord lose his shit.
“What the hell is going on?” Tristan whispers next to me, causing both Zander and I to glance at him. “And why do you two not look surprised by what’s happening?”
“Shock,” Zander replies quickly. “This is all new . . . crazy . . . nonsensical information, right champ?”
“Right.” I swallow and nod my head.
Tristan flattens his lips, obviously not believing us, but with circumstances as they currently are, he won’t prod.
Nox’s deep baritone voice draws our attention to him again. “Are you done making an ass of yourself?”
“Helios, right?” Asmodeus asks. “He’s protecting her?”
Tristan shifts. “What the fuck?” he blows out.
“Shh,” I scold.
“I should have known,” he sighs. “You’ll always protect one another. It’s sad and pathetic, really. No matter how much bad you do in the world, how much chaos you create, Helios will always be there to clean up your mess.”
Nox smiles down at him before pressing the tip of his boot into the demon’s throat. “The protectors and archangels are not the cause of your vengeance. And neither is Serena, regardless of the underhanded deals you have made with the archangels to try to say differently. You are the reason Lady Finella is dead. You used her to manipulate the gargoyles as a façade. You wanted her realm to lure Inanna, playing on her obsession for taking over domains. The fae queen died because of your carelessness for her existence.”
“I’ll uphold our original deal,” Asmodeus returns.
Nox nods like he’s agreeing, but grabs the demon by the hair and slams his head against the ground. “No.”
“Fuck,” Asmodeus groans out. “Fine. FUCK! I said fine, get off of me.” He pushes at the demigod, who backs off.
Holding the back of his head, Asmodeus stands wobbling on his feet. The demon peers over Nox’s shoulder at me. “You’ve become more trouble than you are worth.”
My hands reach for my daggers, but Zander and Tristan each grab an arm, stopping me from releasing them.
Asmodeus curls his lips at my reaction and locks eyes with Tristan. “I’ll never forget how loud Serena screamed that first night at the Midnight Temple. Did you know she called for you, Trist? Over and over. She cried out for you. Vowed you would come for her. Protect and save her,” he says dramatically. Then he lowers his voice. “Even when I whispered in her ear at night that you would fail her. How could you not? You have Gage Gallagher’s bloodline.”
With my breath held, I move closer to Tristan, because his anger is radiating off him in palpable waves. Wrapping my fingers around his wrist, I tighten my grip on him.
“Serena’s adamancy became so resolved that one night, after tripling her drug dosage, I went in to the room she was in, gently stroked her cheek and then cruelly broke her ribs and backhanded her so hard across the mouth that your name fell silent immediately on her lips,” he yells.
The words have barely finished leaving the demon lord’s mouth when Tristan teleports in front of him. His face is dark as his shoulders shake with rage. Tristan’s fists use Asmodeus’s face as a punching bag, pummeling his flesh.
Black, tar-like blood gushes and flies everywhere. A deafening howl thunders around us, coming out of Asmodeus. Zander and I both run to Tristan, but Tova and Lael hold us back. Nox grabs Tristan and yanks him off.
Asmodeus swears viciously as he lies on the ground panting, wet with blood, and curled in pain. Even for a demon, given the severity of the wounds Tristan caused, it’s going to take him a bit to heal himself.
Nox drags Tristan back to me. “Get him under control.”
I grab Tristan’s face, breathing heavily as I force him to look at me. “Tristan,” I whisper, because his eyes are vacant.
His breathing is ragged and he’s covered in black blood. After a second, he fixates his eyes on me. “Stay with me.”
In an instant Asmodeus is on his feet, his black wings spread out behind him as he seethes at us. “I’ll spare Serena’s life. And bury all thought of avenging the St. Michaels for Finella’s death,” he spits blood onto the ground. “Consider it a welcome to the family gift. Gage is, after all, bedding my niece, Nassa. And after your reckless attack seconds ago, it’s clear that you are your father’s son, through and through,” he snarls.
Tristan twists to face the demon, but Nox steps in front of him. “And what about Kupuva and the Diablo Fairies?”
“If you bring me my goddess, I will call them off. If not, they’re yours to deal with,” he snips. “Now get the fuck out.”
That’s why Asmodeus wanted to attack the divine gates. It was never about revenge against Michael, Uriel, or my family for Lady Finella’s death. It was always about freeing Inanna. As protectors, we were simply in the way—salt in a deep wound. And now that he knows the gargoyles aren’t the only ones who protect the gates, we are no longer his primary target.
Nox steps into the demon’s space. “She isn’t yours. She never was. She was always mine. I won’t bring Inanna to you. The gargoyles and I will deal with the Diablo Fairies. And when I am done,” he lowers his face into Asmodeus’s, “I will rip you apart. One piece at a time.”
Tristan
I clench my shaking hands to keep from sending them into the closest wall. A furious shudder wracks my body every time I think of what Asmodeus said he did to Serena when he held her hostage. At the thought, I suddenly feel hot and cold all at once. Every breath I suck in leaves me needing more, like I can’t catch my breath, no matter how hard I try.
