Wings of Destiny, page 12
“They know we’re here. That’s what happened,” Libby said, her tone clipped.
I kept my facial expression neutral.
Bravo, what, dear Miss Libby, tipped you off?
I drowned out their brief and ever-enlightening conversation recapping and stating the undeniable. Seth finished off with the oh so obvious, “It’s a trap.” My ears peaked at the sound of leaves crunching beneath footfalls. I shielded myself from the group ahead of us, an illusion falling in place around my person. I was nothing and that would be what the others saw.
The Demon, Erebus, and a pack of his Demon lackeys swaggered forward and out of the shadows. “Well, well, well. Look who we have here.” His teeth shone in the light coming off the flame continuing to burn behind us. I braced myself.
The Demons cackled. Out of the corner of my eye, Seth paled. I skirted backward as he collapsed. Derik and Miss Libby followed suit, each slumping atop one another.
The Demons who answered to Erebus, proceeded to wrap each of their wrists in shackles before doing the same to their ankles. Derik and Miss Libby were chained together while Seth was left to be chained alone. One with a greenish hue to its flesh flicked its tongue along the side of Miss Libby’s face, leaving Erebus to claw at the Demon.
“Not the time. We’ll have our fun later.” The greenish hued Imp hissed, lifting Miss Libby and Derik over its shoulders. Another Demon threw Seth over its shoulder as well. The pack stalked back to the shadows from which they came. Erebus waited until they were into the darkness before turning in my direction. His pupils took in the flame. His reptilian tongue flicked outward, tasting the air. Then turned on his heel, following his Demons into the darkness.
I paused a moment, allowing a gap to form before trailing them, keeping myself hidden under the illusion of nothing. The Demons strode through heaps of rubble and after half a mile, had bypassed the abandoned factory. They entered a tunnel that had been hollowed into the mountain side. An obsidian archway marked the entrance. As the Demons made their way inside, torches mounted to the walls began to flicker, illuminating the tunnel.
I shortened the gap between us in fear of the flames dwindling out, for this was not a place I wanted to be without a sight line. I wound my way through the tunnels, seemingly never-ending, stealthily keeping pace with a few feet between myself, Erebus, and his lackeys.
The Demon, whose skin matched the sickening shade of vomit green, spoke, its voice reverberating off of the tunnel walls, “Sir, we’re coming up to your palace.”
“I will leave you to it then. I must tend to our other…guest.” Erebus’s voice oozed into the air flowing through the tunnel before he vanished with it.
The dirt walls expanded, clusters of pendant lights hung from the ceiling, taking the place of the torches that had lined the tunnel further behind. Grey-speckled white sandstone replaced the dirt walls. Marble slabs appeared underfoot. The Demons stopped in front of a wooden door that spanned the height of the sandstone walls. Iron arched atop the stained maple and down the center. The doors held shut by a single iron bar the length of a human man. Two of the Demons went forward, one to the end of the bar and began lifting it upward. The second, unlatched another smaller bolt that had been hidden behind the iron bar. The metal hinge groaned as the heavy wood slowly swung inward. The Demons filed into the room on the other side.
I stepped forward, narrowly avoiding being flattened between the behemoth-sized double doors. The theme from the tunnel’s edge continued, marble slabs covering the floor. Sandstone decorating the walls. Not a speck of the dirt nor grime visible. The muck that had speckled the flesh of the Demons had disappeared. The sandstone was naked, lacking décor. No furniture in sight. I swept my gaze across the large hall. Floor to ceiling pillars erected at each corner, carved of a marble equivalent to the slabbed flooring. A single Persian rug ran the length of the room, beginning at the door through which we entered and leading to a smaller door, made entirely of iron steel. My attention shifted back to the group of Demons.
The one that had been carrying Seth, tossed his limp body to the floor. The Demon who’d been tasked with carrying Derik and Miss Libby tossed them as well. The three of them once again piled atop one another. Their breathing deep, in the midst of a Demon induced slumber. I folded my hands behind my back, further assessing them, watching. Derik and Seth didn’t budge beyond the rise and fall of their chests. Miss Libby twitched incessantly, from the tips of her fingers to one of her slender legs that stuck out from beneath Derik. If it weren’t for her Nephilim strength and resilience, the imbecile might’ve even crushed her with the amount of muscle weighing his body down.
An absurd amount of muscle, truthfully.
I shifted my focus to Miss Libby as her body jerked beneath Derik’s. Her face scrunched together, a bead of sweat trickling down her face.
I wonder if she’s having any visions of the things that have conspired between these walls. Or possibly some of the horrors that haunt the two Nephilim she’s caught between. Maybe even reliving her own.
The corner of my mouth twitched.
That would be interesting, a shopping spree gone bad. Or one of her few, and far between, bad hair days.
I pondered that thought as I recollected the information I had gathered on her history. Perfect childhood, wealthy Angel mother, inconspicuous mortal father. Outside of their wealth, there hadn’t been anything notable about her family. Nor her. No dramatic backstory, or traumatic experience leading up to her transformation. Her parents explained her impending development to her rather easily as she had shown signs of becoming a Nephilim with a promise of abilities of some sort. As not all offspring between the Angels and humans gained power or any of the abilities—benefits as some would describe them—that came with being of the heritage. Instead, they lived out their days as simple mortals, their memories often wiped by the Angels themselves. Miss Libby had expected the information without question. Her Angel mother took her under her wing, teaching her what she could before Miss Libby ventured out here, finding Seth. Or rather, Seth finding her. Derik, as always, followed behind him, incapable of thinking for himself.
The Demons’ movement shook me from my runaway train of thought. Erebus had reappeared and his lackeys were arguing with him.
“Sir, why do we need them? Can’t we just gut them and have it over with? We’ve earned some fun around here,” the Demon closest to Derik kicked Miss Libby’s foot. “Especially with this one here. We could use a good fuck.”
“As entertaining as that would be, Cerberus, we must think of the bigger picture,” a grin curled upon his lips. “Once we’ve achieved everything that we’ve been charged with, we shall be rewarded pleasantly. Then, you may entertain yourselves in any which way you please. With whatever you please.”
His ochre slits slid to Miss Libby’s form.
“And you may start with this one,” Erebus licked his thin lips. “But first, we play the game.” He turned on his heel and side stepped, lifting his arm to motion for his pack of Demons to head toward the steel door.
They tugged Miss Libby and Derik, chaining them together, binding their ankles and wrists. They switched to Seth and followed suit, however, he remained unattached to the others. The Demons tugged on the chains, dragging each of them. Then trudged across the rug beneath their feet and through the steel doors. I slid in behind them.
The room in front of me was drastically different from the porcelain, clean-cut hall we had been in. Its walls consisted of mortar and stone. Weapons dotted the walls, ribbon strewn between them. A single gaudy throne sat in the center of the far wall. On an elevated platform, nonetheless.
Always with the theatrics.
The clanging of chains caught my attention. I scanned the monstrosity of a medieval impersonation, my eyes pausing upon Miss Erin Snow. She dangled from the ceiling, chained, fruitlessly attempting to yank herself free. As if she were able to break her restraints and run to Seth or the others. The look of pain and panic covered her face, possibly one of the worst things to allow oneself to do in the presence of any Demon. They thrived off of fear.
Worst of all, they lived for the hunt.
Erebus sauntered to where Seth lay in a heap. A little lesser Demon, an inconspicuous Imp, followed him. His minion snapped his fingers, calling forth a small blade. Miss Snow’s mouth moved and a growl erupted from her, making a threat to the two Demons.
Silly girl. They have you backed into a corner. Your words do nothing to them.
Erebus snapped his attention back to the girl. His foot made contact with Seth’s middle before prowling his way to where Miss Snow hung, still restrained.
Perhaps I was wrong. Interesting.
Miss Snow muttered a bout of profanity at Erebus. Then spat at him. I scowled.
You’ve done it now, Miss Snow.
A whip cracked, lashing her thigh.
I heard Seth rouse. He began to wake. Erebus unfortunately noticed as well, taking that moment to make himself scarce.
Odd.
The Imp moved to prop Seth into a kneeling position. His head tilted upward groggily. A moment passed before he registered where he was and what was happening. Another crack sounded, the whip cutting into Miss Snow’s side.
They were waiting.
Seth thrashed in his restraints. The perfect entrance for Erebus. He sauntered into the room once more, his scrutinizing gaze flicked between the two. Soaking in their reactions to one another. Seth rattled off mute threats in Erebus’s direction, giving him the exact reaction Erebus wanted.
Seth had played right into Erebus’s hands. He took his time, further building the fury between them. Using his tongue to make a ghastly point. I wasn’t interested in hearing his taunts. I crept over to where Miss Libby and Derik were lumped together. I released my power, lulling them from their Demon induced slumber, the one power of mine that could be of use to them in this moment.
I pulled an illusion around them, so as to not alert Erebus or his lackeys. Derik shot up. Eyes looking around wildly. Miss Libby, less animalistic, batted her eyelids open.
Derik was first to speak, after attempting to yank himself free, “What the hell happened. What’s going on?” His wild eyes landed on where Miss Snow dangled unconsciously near Erebus’s throne. He froze. Libby surveyed her surroundings, her back to Erin. She glanced over her shoulder, following Derik’s line of sight and let out a gasp.
I made quick work of their shackles. “We need to get out of here. I’m going to unchain you both. Then I need you to get to Seth and free him. I’ll hold the illusion. Once the three of you are up and ready to run, I’ll grab Miss Snow. Erebus should grow bored now that she’s unconscious,” Derik’s anger sizzled to the surface. “Follow my instructions. I will get us out of here alive. I had to wait for the opportunity to reveal itself in order for us to get her out of here,” Miss Libby gave me a wary look. “If the opportunity to wake you all and stop this madness sooner presented itself, I assure you, I would’ve taken it.”
Derik nodded, icily. He pulled Miss Libby behind him, crawling to where Seth knelt, awake, but paralyzed. His jaw slack and in utter shock. They began unshackling him, Derik thwacked the crown of his skull, gaining Seth’s attention and relayed the plan. Seth’s head turned in my direction, nodding, a plea in his moist eyes. I returned the movement and crept toward Miss Snow.
Erebus sauntered to his throne and flung himself into the cushioned seat. He swung his legs over the side, crossing them, feigning boredom. Seth remained sheathed under my illusion, as were Derik and Miss Libby. Erebus, none the wiser. “My, my. Now, look what I’ve had to do, Seth Draven. I’ve lost my entertainment for the night,” Erebus let out a heady laugh. “It was going to be quite the show, as I’m sure you could imagine.” The timbre of his implied threat boomed, his jagged teeth bared as he swept the tip of his tongue across them.
I illusioned for Seth to appear still chained to the floor, thrashing and devoured by rage. While truthfully, his face was fully encompassing his fury and bloodlust. He was now free of his restraints and moving swiftly toward where I was working furtively on the rope and chains from which Miss Snow had been bound. We worked simultaneously, unlatching the chains around her ankles first. Once they were cleared, Seth strained over head to free her from the other restraints. Her body twitched and began convulsing, the shackles stuck.
“Shit,” Seth swore under his breath.
“You must hurry, Draven. I’m unable to hold much longer. And we must get her out of here quickly before whatever power she’s attained unleashes on the two of us and deems this whole rescue completely futile and an absolute waste of our time.” As the last bit of what I had uttered reached his brain, Seth, brashly, curled his fist into my shirt, bringing his face less than an inch from my own.
“You get something fucking straight here, Josh,” he sneered, “I get that you think you’re better than the rest of us and honestly I don’t give a flying fuck. But you are under my command. And if you so much as even fucking think that saving Erin is a waste of time, consider yourself dead. That goes for any of our people. Say that again, and I will end your sorry pretentious ass. Do I make myself clear?” Seth snarled. His chest heaving, blue flame permeating from his eyes.
A true flame.
How interesting.
I held my hands up in surrender from his version of a verbal lashing and an absolute waste of time. “My apologies. However, we truly are running out of time.” He glared at me, and then moved to free Miss Snow.
My arms extended as she fell, catching her. Her head rolled back, hanging from my arm. The added blood from the final lashings she’d received and Erebus’s Demon’s hands, still seeped from her side. Her clothing had been utterly destroyed, torn to nothing more than scraps. Her breasts were fully exposed, what material that had been left to cover having fallen away as she fell from the restraints. Deep gashes covered her body, lesions from her thighs to her small waist, breasts, arms; there was no skin left unharmed. I shook my head.
Idiotic, woman. You shouldn’t fight battles you cannot win.
Seth reached for her and I maneuvered her into his awaiting arms. Miss Snow immediately curled into him, her battered hand subconsciously reached for the front of his fighting gear, grasping it. Her head leaned against his chest, no longer lopped to the side. Her twitching and convulsing eased.
I snapped our attention back to the task at hand. “Seth, we must go. Now.” I pulled him forward, pushing him and Miss Snow toward the exit. Derik and Miss Libby were already waiting by the iron door. The heads of three different Demons at their feet. I held the Illusion until we made it through the wrought iron door, my connection with the throne room broken. We bolted, our enhanced speed kicked in. Chaos erupted behind us. Derik led the group, following the carpeted pathway toward the behemoth sized wooden doors they’d been dragged through not even hours before. He burst through them, the oak splintered from his sheer strength.
“Into the tunnel. Straight ahead! That’s our only way in or out. Move!” I shouted. Miss Libby ran behind Derik, Seth followed, Miss Snow still tucked in close to his chest and unconscious. As we navigated through the tunnels at top speed, I left illusion after illusion behind us in order to distract the Demons that were rampaging through the tunnels after us.
They should hold for the time being. I sense no trace of iron within the earth. If we came across any now, although it would render my illusions pointless, I’ve bought them some time.
We were nearing the edge of the tunnels. Derik shouted for Miss Libby to keep going as he fell behind her. Seth followed suit, slowing to my side. I shuttered as the power that held the illusions left in our wake were shattered.
They broke through.
“Josh, take her. Derik and I will hold them off a bit longer. Take Erin and Libby, hide yourselves and get them to safety,” that flame shone once again. “Keep her safe.” And with that, he placed Miss Snow in my arms, his thumb traced her cheek before he braced for the Demons nearly on top of us all. Her body recoiled from mine. I gripped her close to keep from dropping her as Miss Libby and I continued to make an escape. Growling and screaming broke out behind us. Miss Snow shifted in my arms, her head rolling. Her eyelids shot open, her pupils a blood-red pit. Her head snapped in the direction of the chaos behind us, a hand shooting upward.
She’s merely weeks into her transformation.
How is this possible?
A ball of flame erupted out of her palm. And barreled directly into the brunt of the fighting, taking out nearly half of the Demons that Seth and Derik faced. I stopped in my tracks, Miss Libby as well, her mouth agape.
Miss Snow, who are you?
A second flame erupted from Miss Snow’s hand. Careening to the other half still standing. As it collided with its targets, a bolt of lightning stamped from the sky above. Shooting down a Demon that had been but a second away from beheading Seth.
Seth swiveled his head in our direction, eyes widening at the realization of where the elements had came from. He and Derik checked the small battlefield around them, astonished. No opponents remained. The two of them sprinted, giddy triumph dawned across their gore coated faces.
As they neared us, Miss Snow’s body collapsed into mine, her eyelids closing shut, her body limp.
Seth pulled her from my grasp, pushing the hair from her face as he held her. Surprise and utter pride rippled across his face. Until he truly took in the shape she was in, having been even worse for wear than when he’d woken in the throne room. Seth gripped her close as Derik and Miss Libby both pulled off their outer fighting gear, draping it across Miss Snow.
Seth’s voice broke, his cry muffled as he nestled his face into her blood soaked hair. “She’s alive.”
Chapter sixteen
Erin
“Lovely, isn’t she?”
