“I came prepared.” Rahab grinned, and a shiver raced through me. He gave some sort of signal with his arm, and two Neph men entered from a back stairway with the bang of a metal door. The two Neph were holding someone between them. I nearly convulsed when I recognized the pinkish skin and wavy strawberry-blond hair. Her mouth was gagged, but her nurturing eyes stabbed at my gut.
“Mom!”
At the sound of my voice, love ballooned out from her aura, and when it burst, it was replaced by the lavender of peace. Not her, I begged, please not her!
The irony was not lost on me that the first time I called her Mom could be the last time we’d ever see each other.
Dad’s eyes grew in dread and surprise.
Ginger’s hand flew to her mouth to cover a strangled cry.
“Where’s Jay?” Marna whispered, frantic. I looked around, but Jay definitely hadn’t been brought in.
I adjusted the hilt in my hand, trying desperately to think of a way to get her out of this. Let her go, I willed to Rahab. His eyes tightened, and he turned.
“Is that you sending a thought into my mind? That may work on these worthless Nephilim toss-outs, but not me.” His eyes shone at the unfolding of his evil plot. “Some humans are not afraid of death or suffering for themselves,” he said. “But when those same people are forced to watch their loved ones suffer and die, well . . . their faith wavers. Even disappears. I wonder? Are you one of those, Anna? Will you become bitter and angry as you watch us kill this woman? When your glorious savior doesn’t save her?”
I wanted to scream, to cry. Not Patti! I didn’t want this test. I silently begged for an army of angels to burst in like they’d done before. This atrocity couldn’t be allowed to happen! She didn’t deserve this. It wasn’t fair.
I felt Kaidan beside me, raising an arm ever so slightly, at the ready.
No angels were coming. I felt panic welling. I needed to pass this. My faith was my shield. Their torture of Patti would be their flaming arrows at me.
I would have preferred actual arrows to this.
“You’re not allowed to kill humans,” I stammered in a last-ditch effort. As far as I knew, it was their only “rule.”
“My dear, this is war!” Rahab laughed at me. “Normal rules no longer apply.”
“Be strong, Anna,” my father urged.
“Oh, shut up, Belial.” Rahab cursed in French then nodded toward Thamuz. “You may do the honors.”
Thamuz’s black badge grew as he knelt down by the body of Mammon and pulled the knife from his eye. Oh crap. My allies stirred around me with apprehension, but I couldn’t look away. Thamuz stalked toward Patti and grinned as he swiped her from temple to chin with the blade. I screamed in horror. She let out a small cry and slumped forward as blood seeped from her face, down her neck. Her guardian angel circled her in desperation.
“Stop it!” I screamed, shaking my head side to side. “No more!”
And then I noticed with amazement that her color never wavered. She was still at peace, so filled with love for me. My gut ached at Patti’s willingness to sacrifice herself. As I looked at the lavender surrounding her, I knew Patti wouldn’t have me choose any other way, but I hated it. I hated myself for not being able to save her.
“Pray for it to be stopped,” Rahab teased. “See if it happens.”
I’d never felt more desperate.
“Please, God,” I begged. “Please, make it stop. Save her! Please.”
The room stilled. I watched the walls, the ceiling. Nobody was coming. Why? My hope fizzled and I felt the beginnings of anger, frustration, and doubt creeping in. For one second the hilt dimmed. When Rahab smiled, I realized his plan was working.
He was baiting me to lose faith through an unanswered prayer. Patti would not be saved. I had to come to terms with that, and quickly. She was perfect in my eyes, but in the scheme of the world she was one woman. A woman who’d lived a good life and would be revered by all who’d known her. If this was her time to go, I had to find peace with that in order to preserve my faith. I had to believe there was a bigger reason for it all. But I didn’t want her to suffer.
Inhale. Exhale. I smacked away horrid feelings of bitterness and unfairness and loss as they hurled themselves at my heart, threatening to break me.
It took every bit of my energy to speak. “You can see she’s not afraid to die.” I swallowed hard, trying not to cry. “And I am not afraid for her. I know where her soul will go.”
“Well then.” Rahab’s eyes were maniacal. “Let’s send her there now! First-class!”
Ginger shrieked, “Nooo!” She tried to rush forward, but Blake grabbed her tightly around the waist.
“Don’t watch,” Kaidan warned me, touching my face to try and turn my head to him, but I couldn’t look away. Thamuz stabbed her brutally in the stomach once, twice, three times. Oh, God, I begged, make it stop! Take her quickly! I bent slightly at the waist and felt my stomach contracting in a heave, but I forced myself to stand straight again. Kaidan’s arm went around me, holding me. I tried to focus on the freedom Patti would soon have, free of pain and tears. Fighting the urge to dive into a pit of angry vengeance at that moment was the hardest thing I’d ever done.
“Bastards,” Kaidan whispered in anguish.
Thamuz lifted the knife again, and I’d had enough. She would die soon from the wounds he’d already inflicted, and anything more was superfluous cruelty.
“Stop him, Kai,” I begged, which was exactly what he’d been waiting to hear.
In half a second Kaidan’s knife was through the back of Thamuz’s neck, and his soul was frantically retreating from the body with a screech. His evil spirit sped toward me, and I sliced the flaming blade through the air. He was gone in a bang of black particles.
“Papa!” hollered one of his sons. I looked at the two of them, both baring their teeth.
“Do not avenge your father,” I willed to them out loud. “His ways don’t have to be yours.” They stopped, panting with emotion.
I addressed all of the Nephilim then, before the Dukes tried to retaliate. I knew several of them probably had guns, but none of them tried to reach for their weapons, knowing they were outnumbered and afraid of being turned on. The eyes of the Dukes followed my movements as I pointed the sword at them in turn and spoke to the Neph. My body shook and my voice was thick.
“For the first time ever, you all have a choice,” I told them. “You can move to the side, or you can join us and fight against the Dukes. But no matter what you choose, your fathers will leave this earth tonight, and you will be free from them. Make your choice now.”
A frenzy of whispers rose up. Nearly half of the Neph ran for the side of the room, circling around the back of us, out of the reach of the Dukes. I couldn’t blame them for wanting to stay out of it, and I was glad to see the youngest among them dragged by one of the older women. They pushed against the side wall, behind the bar area, and crouched.
The other Neph looked around at the Dukes and then at one another before deciding. One by one they moved behind either me or the Dukes. The sons of Thamuz, Caterina, and about twenty others joined the Dukes. At least thirty piled behind me. But at the moment I didn’t feel like cheering about our greater numbers.
Patti’s body lay in a bloody heap.
“Daddy,” I whispered.
Without a word, he moved to Patti. The Dukes glared at him but didn’t try to stop him as he scooped her into his big arms and brought her to me. Her chest rose and fell in short, fast spurts. I couldn’t let go of the sword, so I bent my head and kissed her damp forehead.
“I love you, Mom.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and a faint smile crossed her bloodied lips. She whispered, and I had to lean closer to make out the gurgled words. “Love you, sweet girl.” I kissed her again, my tears falling on her face. Kaidan’s hand was heavy on my shoulder.
“I could save her,” Dad said in a low, unsure voice.
My head snapped up to h
im.
“I could leave my body and try to heal her—”
“No!” Patti rasped. She reached a weak hand up to his arm and stuttered her impassioned words. “Don’t. You need . . . your body. To protect Anna.”
“Please!” I cried, but she only gave her head a stubborn, weak shake.
“You’re all needed . . . to fight them.”
I tried to plead with Dad through my eyes, but he shook his head sadly. He wouldn’t do it without her permission. I lowered my cheek to hers.
“I’m not scared, honey,” she said to me. “I’m ready.”
Mom took a wet-sounding, wheezing breath and whispered, “Gin . . .”
Ginger pushed through to be at Patti’s side next to me. She took her hand, tears streaking down her face. “Miss Patti.”
“Beautiful girl . . . you will be . . . a good aunt. . . .” And with a shudder, Patti became still.
“No,” I whispered.
Her guardian angel gathered her spirit in his arms as it rose from her body, soft and gentle. With a nod at me, the angel shot upward, taking her home. I allowed the tears to fall down my face, making no move to wipe them. Dad stepped to the side and set her body against the wall with great gentleness, closing her eyes before coming to stand by me again.
“This cannot continue,” Sonellion growled. “Playtime is over. This prophecy is a lie, and you’re all about to pay.” He reached behind his back, making my allies and me tense. If he pulled out a gun, the fighting would begin.
The spirit Azael flew down and hovered between our two groups, facing the Dukes. He spoke telepathically to the whole room, who were rapt to hear what Lucifer’s messenger had to say.
“The prophecy is real. I myself possessed a human and destroyed the written prophecy at the command of Lucifer. The version given to Rahab was only partial truth. What the girl says is the full truth. We are being offered heaven. Lucifer knows there are those in his army who doubt him, and this prophecy would shrink his ranks even further for the final battle to come. The Nephilim child has proven herself. Let her proceed. I, myself, will choose the Lord of Light.”
The Dukes were stunned. Most appeared outraged, while a few looked in awe.
I didn’t know how many of the fallen angels in this room would return to heaven, but I did know most would not, and they wouldn’t go down without a fight. They enjoyed earth and the power they held here. They didn’t want to go back to heaven any more than they wanted to return to hell.
I glanced through my tears at my friends standing at my side. Ready. Outnumbering the Dukes.
“The Maker turned his back on us!” Sonellion shouted. “I will not run back to Him with my tail between my legs!”
“He’s right,” said Shax. “Besides, we can take earth and heaven on our own.”
Pharzuph looked on the verge of panic. “We can’t let the prophecy be fulfilled.”
“Then she has to die,” said Kobal. “Now.”
“No!” Alocer moved to stand in front of me. “You’ll have to pass through me first.”
“Be reasonable, Alocer,” Astaroth argued. “Do you want to spend eternity with angels looking down their noses at you?”
Jezebet stepped to Alocer’s side. “We’ll be treated fairly if we return; we all know it.”
“That’s your damned female hormones talking, Jez.” Sonellion grabbed his crotch. “Grow some balls again.”
She gave him a venomous look. “I have more clarity about the world in this body than I ever had with a set of balls.”
He snarled at her, and Dad piped up.
“Enough. We were a bunch of idiots to think we could overthrow Him back then,” he said. “And y’all are worse fools to think there’s a chance of doing it in the future.”
“Do not listen to these traitors!” Rahab shouted.
Pandemonium ensued. Lines were drawn and sides were taken. My eyes darted around, waiting for someone to pull the first weapon. Suit jackets and ties were flung to the ground. Only three of the ten remaining Dukes, including my father, stood to protect me.
“Work to disarm them,” Dad yelled over his shoulder at the Neph.
Sonellion let out a snarling war cry and ran at Alocer. Behind him I saw Pharzuph and others reaching for their guns and heard shots fired as our Neph allies surged forward. I couldn’t keep track of who went in which direction.
Kaidan and my father didn’t leave my side. Another shot was fired, and Jezebet, who’d been right in front of me, screamed and grabbed her arm, shooting a murderous glare at Kobal just before he was tackled to the ground by Kopano.
I slashed and stabbed at every spirit that came near us. Everything was happening so fast, and the room was loud with shouts and cries. In my head, I ran through the description of the armor of God. What was left? There had to be a catalyst to send the fallen angels to their permanent places, but what? Of all my weapons, I only saw two of them as actions: faith and prayer. My faith had been put to the test. So that left prayer. Was that all I had to do? Just ask? It felt too simple, and as I’d learned many times over, I didn’t always get what I wanted. But it was the only thing in my arsenal I had left.
One by one the Neph were taking the Dukes down, getting slashed and shot at as they fought, disarming them and holding them captive. Another round of gunfire rang out, and I heard Zania scream.
Kopano lay on his back, Zania pressing her hands against the hole in his chest, which was bright red.
“No!” I screamed. I started to run to him, but Kaidan pulled me back.
“You can’t enter the fighting,” he said.
Kope was lying right in the midst of the chaos.
Like a raging bull, Sonellion charged through the crowd, heading straight for me. I took a lunging stance and prepared myself. Dad and Blake came at him from both sides when he was three feet away. They knocked his legs out from under him, and I stabbed the sword down through his chest. A dark fizzle rose from the wound, and his chest puffed as his soul was extinguished.
I stood again and looked toward Kopano. With a sinking feeling I acknowledged that he wasn’t breathing. Alocer pushed his way past people and dropped to the floor next to his son, across from Zania.
Alocer was shaking his head. “It’s not his time.” And then he surprised us all. Half of the room stopped fighting to watch as Alocer’s spirit left his body. Immediately his former body heaved in on itself, as if having a heart attack, and fell over, lifeless. Alocer’s dark spirit hovered above Kopano’s body, and then slowly settled himself downward, entering his son’s skin.
Kopano was being possessed.
I held my breath. Zania was holding Kope’s head, murmuring in Arabic. The possession caused his frame to jolt, but his soul didn’t fight it—a sign of how far gone he was. And then Kope’s chest rose with a sharp intake of breath.
Zania gasped and said, “He’s healing!”
I let out a relieved laugh of joy, still holding the sword at the ready.
As Kope healed, his body began to jolt and thrash. His soul was fighting Alocer’s soul. Before it could get too bad, Alocer pulled himself from his son’s body and watched the scene from above. He’d saved him.
Several screams sounded from the other end of the room, and I looked to see Caterina clawing at Ginger while Marna tried to restrain the girl. She was like a wild animal, but the twins were able to get her down with the help of an older Neph woman who grabbed Caterina by the feet and held tight. When Caterina let out a screech and bit Marna’s hand, Ginger punched her in the face, and the girl went limp.
The fighting grew and I couldn’t believe the violence surrounding me. The blood. The screams. Weapons were being taken and tossed. Dukes, who weren’t accustomed to losing, were going berserk as more and more of them and the opposing Nephilim were being detained.
“It’s time,” I whispered.
“Yes,” Kaidan said. “Do what you have to do.”
He pressed me back against the wall and blocked me as fightin
g continued in front of us.
I concentrated on the sword, unwilling to close my eyes with all the surrounding chaos. I began my prayer out loud for all to hear.
“Father”—my voice trembled with emotion—“let your will be done—”
Pharzuph charged for me, a complete madman with glowing red eyes and gelled hair flying out of place. Kaidan’s knife arm went up, but before he could release, my father took Pharzuph down to the ground, crushing his windpipe and holding him there. Kaidan went to one knee next to them.
“It’s too late, Father. This is your opportunity to make amends. Please consider it.”
“I will not grovel at His feet!” Pharzuph choked out.
My heart hurt to see Kaidan’s hope for his father, which was sure to be shattered.
Kaidan looked up at me, pained but resolute, and nodded for me to continue. I thought about Patti and Mariantha, and all the love I’d been given in my life. I focused on the love.
“I pray forgiveness for the souls who once betrayed you and have reconciled. Return them to their rightful home, and let those spirits who still harbor hatred be returned to hell—”
The room filled with terrifying shrieks that made me flinch down into a crouch and hold the blade higher. An overpowering warmth and lightness spread over me. The room, which had been so dark, was brightening.
“It’s working!” Kaidan said. “Keep going!”
Kobal broke from the mob and rushed toward me with his teeth bared in fury. Blake and Kopano grabbed him, and Marek stood over him with a gun pointed to his face.
I prayed louder and faster now, and as the words left my mouth I felt a sense of . . . magic. I didn’t know how else to explain it—as if I’d called upon something ancient and mystifying. There was going to be a reckoning here tonight, both sweet and terrible.
My voice shook with emotion as I spoke loudly. “Please, banish all the demons from earth!”
And then something else began shaking. The ground.
At the very last second, I knew there was one more element essential to my task—one more prayerful request that had nothing to do with the prophecy. I spoke faster as the earth rumbled ominously.