“My sword!” Jack yelled.
“Uncle Davin!” I made a big mistake raising my voice.
The dragon craned his neck toward us, movement slow and graceful, and kept us from reaching Uncle Davin, who was apparently unconscious.
“I’ve got you now, little ones.” The dragon’s voice seethed with wickedness and flames. It flapped its giant wings as the tentacles slowly crawled like snakes toward us, ready to strike. “You don’t have the chosen sword. What will you do now? No place to run. No place to hide.”
The six of us gathered closely together. Milani with fireballs in her hand and Zach and I with our useless swords by our side, we prepared for a battle we knew we could not win. Then in my desperation, something inside me ignited. It took me over as if I had summoned some kind of hidden power manifesting itself in the direst time, but I didn’t care. It was life or death for us all.
“Meet your doom.” The dragon shifted to a face I didn’t make out at first, and then I recognized Mortem when it opened its mouth. At the same time, the tentacles attacked in full force.
Acting on impulse, I dropped to my knees in front of our huddle and stuck out my hand.
“What are you doing, Lucia?” My brother’s voice was the last I heard as light from my hand, glowing like the sunburst from Eli’s necklace, met Mortem’s flames.
Scorching heat flared from my hands, not the kind that could burn, but more like light and brightness, a type of power I never knew existed within me. My mother said once that sometimes angels have hidden powers, and they erupt in times of crisis. That day, at that moment, was perfect timing, but I grew tired. It was the first time I had used such power, and I had no idea how to control it. My hand shook, then my arm, my legs, and my whole body. I closed my eyes, unable to hold the power as strong as a second before. My light grew dimmer and dimmer.
Zach, get ready. I can’t hold it. I’m so sorry. I spoke into Zach’s mind so he could prepare—for what? To battle? To die?
My shaking hands dropped to the ground from exhaustion. I should have felt Hell’s fire on my body, burning me to a crisp. But when I peered up, expecting to see Mortem’s mouth swallow us, I saw my father slicing his sword across Mortem’s giant head. Was I seeing things? It had to be Father. My heart burst with elation and relief. We were safe for now.
“I really hate this face.” Father sighed and dove into its mouth.
Before I could comprehend what Father had done, he came out with Jack’s sword and landed in front of us, and the dragon had vanished. Father’s wings spread to their greatest width and my friends stared in awe, as if they had seen God.
Chapter 10
Lucia
“Father,” I whimpered, trying to hold back tears. The thought of almost dying a horrible death and never seeing him again caused exploding emotions inside me, but I tamed them quickly.
“Lucia, Zach.” Father sounded relieved, opening his arm to us.
Zach and I jumped into his arms, taking in his love and silently thanking him for coming to our rescue.
“I came just in time.” Father held us tightly. He let go and asked, “Whose sword is this?” He held it up to examine it. We watched in fascination.
“This is your father?” Jack extended his hand, disregarding the still-present danger. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir. And that’s my sword.”
Surprisingly, Father shook his hand and handed him his sword. “You’re human, and yet you carry a sword blessed by the Royal Council, at least so it seems. How is this possible?”
“I … this sword was given to me by my grandfather, handed down from generation to generation. I didn’t know it held any power until we used it, and then that monster swallowed it.”
“I see.” Father shifted his attention to Milani and then Brody and Abel. “You all are special. Davin has told me all about you.”
“Uncle Davin.” My tone spiked as I pointed to the wall way across the other side. Not that I had forgotten him since I knew he was safe, but when Father mentioned Uncle Davin, he had my full attention.
“I’ll be right back.” Father soared like a graceful eagle, carried Uncle Davin back across, and placed him gently next to us.
Brody stepped in front of Father, making his presence known after making a circle around Father to check out his wings. “Is he okay?”
As if on cue, Uncle Davin’s eyes fluttered. “Michael, why are you in my room? Go away. Don’t bother me,” he murmured, sleepily.
Father closed his wings and bent down to one knee. “So now I know the truth. Always sleeping on the job. You’re one lazy, crazy angel. We’re in the pit of a volcano and the kids were almost eaten by a dragon, but you don’t care.”
Uncle Davin jolted off the ground, realizing where we were. He looked to his left and then right. Then he set his eyes on Father. “What are you doing here? And what happened?”
“Well, you see, after you used my sword…” Jack started proudly, and then he quickly told the rest.
Father set his eyes on Jack. “So now I know why Davin called him the talker.”
“Talker?” Jack arched his brow. “I don’t talk like a talker. Talkers talk all the time, but I don’t talk unless I’m spoken to. Besides, people talk when they get nervous.”
“Can you shut him up?” Father asked Uncle Davin, leading the way.
Uncle Davin snorted, walking by Father’s side as we trailed behind them. “Nope, can’t do. And I want to know why Jack’s and your swords cut through the demon and ours didn’t. And did I tell you how happy I am that you’re here? Working with newbies can be a huge headache, and I’m not talking about your kids.”
“My father’s sword,” Father said. “The one I’m using is from the Divine Elders, blessed by the Royal Council, original angels. And as for Talker’s sword, I’m not sure; however, weren’t the Knights Templar swords blessed by the Pope? Then that would work too.”
Jack caught up to my Father and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me. My name is Jack, and yes, my grandfather told me how the Knights Templar swords had been blessed by the Pope. It only makes—”
Father slammed Jack to the wall, not from anger, but where we stood. Jack hadn’t been looking while he strode side-by-side with Father, and he almost fell off the cliff into another massive pit.
“I’m really getting tired of the pits. There better not be another dragon.” Uncle Davin rolled his eyes.
Father smacked Uncle Davin’s back. “Don’t worry. I’ll save you…again.”
“I don’t need you to save—”
“Shhh. I hear them.” Father turned to us. “I hate to do this, but we need to split up.”
“Who? Where?” Milani asked, eyes alert, glancing from the pit to the ceiling.
“Can I come with you?” Jack asked my father.
“No. They know I’m here. I’ll follow close by. I’m going to—how would humans say it?—Go check it out.” Then like a lightning bolt, he flashed away.
“Your father is so cool,” Jack gushed.
Milani snorted. “I think Jack has a crush on your father.”
“Hell, he’s not the only one.” Brody shrugged.
“Can we focus back on Eli? The reason why we’re stuck in Hell,” Abel said matter-of-factly.
Uncle Davin brought our attention back with a fake cough. “Michael is right. We need to split up. Abel, Milani, Jack, and Lucia, your team goes to the right, and we’ll go to the left. Lucia, let Zach know the second you need us, you understand?”
I gave him the thumbs up.
The path wasn’t narrow like the one on the other side where we could barely fit our two feet. We trudged as cautiously fast as we could, keeping our eyes open, listening for any movement or sound, but it was difficult when the lava streamed thickly down, over, and around the curves and bumps of the rocky ground.
“This way. I can sense him.” Milani squeezed herself between two huge boulders. We followed through a narrow path, turning left and then right, and then s
he halted.
“Holy shit. What in the world?” Abel ran his hand down his face and covered his mouth, as if he stopped himself from shouting or gagging.
“What is it?” I glanced toward what he could not say.
As Uncle Davin would say, holy moly, guacamole. I was stunned to see countless beings in individual prisons, layer upon layer of cages, reaching high into the dome-like ceiling. They looked like teens, some even younger. Were they the missing teens? And demons skulked everywhere, so many of them, but they weren’t in cells.
The demons’ skeletal bodies were hidden behind their black capes, swords in their bony hands. Their faces were also hidden behind hoods, but two lights shone like rubies. They could hide their hideous facial structure, but they could not hide their eyes. Crimson eyes marked their damned souls to Hell for eternity.
There were two types of evil beings we called demon. Tour guide demons took over a human body, and when they died, they left the body and turned to black ashes. And the second were the Possessor demons. Though they turned to black ashes when they died, they didn’t leave the body. Either way, a demon was a demon. When we heard footsteps approaching, we ducked behind the boulder.
“What do we do now?” Jack whispered. His face flushed from the heat, and sweat dripped down his forehead.
Milani stood up after she scanned the perimeter and it was safe to move. “We go this way.”
Keeping low and our footsteps quiet, we scurried away and took an ascending trail. It seemed like an endless spiral until it stopped. We took another path, and the farther we walked, the less the volcano lava existed. Then I spotted a few cells just like the others, metal bars embedded through the ground.
Milani placed out her hand to stop us, her eyes wide and alert. “Eli’s in there, but he’s not alone. Maybe—”
I didn’t let her finish. “Stay here. I’ll go check it out.” I met Jack’s and Brody’s eyes to confirm they would do as I asked. When the three of them nodded, I floated off the ground so as not to make a sound and carefully made my way.
A body was crouched in a corner, but I knew without a doubt it was Eli. I recognized the black suit pants caked in dirt and the white dress shirt. Oh God, so much blood … and that awful, repugnant smell. My heart shattered to see him so vulnerable, weak, and probably wondering when we would rescue him. Was the true-cross dagger still pierced through his heart? I hoped not.
“Eli?” My voice came out as a whimper.
His head popped up. Maybe he couldn’t see me through his bruised eyes. Oh heavens. Tears I tried to keep at bay streamed down my face. What had they done to him? I imagined the worst as I examined his face and bloody clothes. Then I turned to my friends, gesturing them to continue to stay put. Milani looked anxious, ready to bolt. I needed to see him, to make sure he was okay. It would break her to see him like this, just as it had for me.
I cleared my throat, wiping away the evidence of my tears. “Eli. I’m here. It’s me, Lucia. Milani is here too. We’re all here to rescue you.” Every word left my mouth with exhaustion to see him like this, and with every word I gripped the bars tighter. Eli continued to stare at me, lips still glued together. Could he not speak? Did he not recognize me?
I tested the strength of the bars. They bent when I put pressure on them. I could easily pull them apart. A low, threatening growl vibrated. I paused for a second. Surely that had not come from Eli. The further I stretched the bars, the louder the growl got. I paused again, keeping my eyes on Eli. I gasped when he stood effortlessly in a blink, and then his eyes flickered back and forth from red to the chocolate brown eyes I loved. I stilled…so very still, afraid to even breathe. This was not my Eli. He wouldn’t have made that sound.
I swallowed hard and took a step through the space I’d created between two bars. Hands gripped my throat, and my body lifted off the ground.
“Eli.” I croaked. “It’s me, Lucia.”
“Lucia. I do not know that name.” He seethed, eyes bathed in dangerous crimson. “I only know the face I loathe. Why must you come and torture me day after day? You weakened me, made me grovel at your feet, making me beg to stop the pain. But I’m strong now, stronger than ever before. Now it’s my turn for payback.”
“Eli, no. I’m not who—” Every word strained out of me, but it was too late.
I flew across the wretched, smelly jail and collided with the wall. Eli threw me easily as if he were a pitcher throwing strikes to little league batters. Too shocked by what had happened, and the pain shooting through my body, I froze. I wanted to believe it was all an act, to show the jail keeper, whomever it might be, that he had been brainwashed, and any second now, his act would be over and he would turn on the keeper, who was hiding somewhere in there, but it never happened. Instead, he threw me like a rag doll against the bars and then against the other side.
“Don’t touch her!” A deep male voice rumbled.
Father stood in front of me, blocking my view. His massive alabaster wings spread, making the confinement smaller. I inhaled a deep breath, relieved beyond words. Uncle Davin, Zach, Abel and my team blocked Eli from passing through. He had nowhere to run. My heart continued to drum faster as I peeked under Father’s wing to see Eli’s red eyes blazing and fangs, familiar yet somehow sharper, protruding from his mouth. For the first time he had me trembling.
“This is the one you want to save?” Father asked Uncle Davin, holding out his sword. “The one you call Elmo?” He stole a glance at me. Shoot! What did he know of Eli?
“Well.” Uncle Davin shrugged. “He didn’t look like that before.”
“He’s been brainwashed, as I knew he would be. The Fallen like to do that,” Father explained. “He seems especially angered by Lucia. They’re using her as a trigger. It’s not going to be easy saving him.”
“No!” Milani shouted. “We have to take him with us. I’ll keep him safe and—”
“Silence!” Father ordered. The room stilled, not even a breath was released. Father’s voice commanded authority in ways I couldn’t describe. So powerful and strong, just like his wings, and everyone could sense his power by the intimidating sight of him. “Lucia, get up if you’re not hurt.” Father waited for me to do so.
I stood next to Father. Eli snarled, looking like a wild predator eyeing his prey.
“Why did you let him throw you around like that?” Father asked. “Why did you not fight back?”
When I didn’t answer, Father tugged me closer to Eli. Eli hissed, his teeth sharp like knives. His muscles twitched, trying to attack me again, but he knew he couldn’t get to me with Father there.
“You want her? Come get her.” Father gripped me like a puppet.
I had no idea what Father planned, but I trusted him. He would never put me in harm’s way. He moved me toward Eli, and then with a yank, I was safe in his arm. Eli had lunged for me. That I had not expected. But Father knew he would. Father smacked Eli as he was inches away from me. Eli crashed against the wall as I had before. He sprang up as if nothing happened. Father pushed me to Uncle Davin behind the other side of the bars of Eli’s cage.
“Don’t you ever touch my daughter again,” Father growled. He took a fistful of Eli’s hair and threw him.
“No, don’t hurt him!” Milani’s hand flickered like the color of the lava.
“What’s he doing to Eli?” Brody’s voice filled with concern.
“Eli doesn’t know what he’s doing. We should capture him and take him hostage,” Abel suggested, grimacing at the sight of my Father using Eli as a punching bag. Even I was getting to the point of asking Father to stop.
“He’s making Eli tired,” Uncle Davin explained, wincing, as he too tore his eyes away.
Father wrapped his large fingers around Eli’s neck and raised him up. “You even look at my daughter again, in possessed form or not, and this will be nothing next to the beating you’ll get from me.”
“Now, now, Michael. You’re crossing the territorial line. You’re just beating th
e crap out of him because he has a crush on Lucia.” Uncle Davin snorted. “Let’s get out of here and take him home.”
Jack swallowed. “Lucia and I are just friends. I don’t have a crush on her anymore.” His words escaped his mouth, shaky and nervous. I didn’t expect that either.
Eli dropped to the ground, panting. His chest moved in and out, like a balloon inflating and deflating fast. His fangs retracted, and his eyes turned to his normal color.
“Eli,” I whispered, releasing a breath, gripping the bars tighter as if I could hold him.
Eli slowly raised his head, rounding his shoulders and still breathing hard, he looked right at me. “Lucia?” His tone was desperate and scared. And for the first time since I’d been in that cell with him, he recognized me.
“Eli,” Milani called, sounding relieved too. “Are you okay?”
“Milani?” Eli started to crawl toward the bars. “What happened?” He stood up when he was several steps from us.
“I don’t know. What happened to you here?” Milani took a step in and reached out her hand to help him.
He held onto the bar for good measure and spoke, “I happened, that’s all.” Then red flashed in his eyes, and he turned into a black mist. I yelped, unable to stop him as he went through my body like a cool breeze. He seized me and lifted me off the ground so fast I had no time to process. No physical arms took me, but they were Eli’s arms. Icy chills skidded through me. Something wasn’t quite right with Eli, besides the obvious. I felt it deep to my bones.
“Lucia!” My brother’s cry echoed inside my head with Father’s loud roar.
Chapter 11
Lucia
Father and my friends trailed behind Eli as he soared higher, still in demon form. I’d thought he would burst through the mountain and take us home, but of course that didn’t happen. Then he dropped, like how I remember the way we fell through the clouds, tumbling through the layers of puffy, whipped cream clouds. Those were better days. How I wished we were there.