Angels of War Battle of Archangels (Book 3) (Angels of War Trilogy) Page 26

“Oni,” Joan said. Anger rippled through her. For a second she expected Satan to crash into her side in ambush. Around her the enemy remained focused on the angels they fought against. Oni’s lips parted to reveal pointed canines.

  Oni descended the hill, one confident step at a time, cutting down a few angels in the process. His eyes locked on Joan. “We meet again, Joan.”

  Joan shook her head. “You have been given too many chances at redemption, Oni.”

  “You speak of redemption amongst this. My family resides beyond those gates. I want them, Joan.”

  Joan accepted Okura’s change, with further argument to convert him a useless act. She believed Okura too far gone, his heart blackened by hate. Whatever love he once kept stoked in his heart, Satan smothered.

  “You will never see them, Oni. They are safe and more loved than anything you ever gave them.”

  Oni opened his mouth and screamed. His black bat wings spread from his back, he flew from the hill enraged. “No, Joan. We end this war now.”

  Joan leaped into the air. She subdued her rage with little struggle. Calm suffused her, fueled by faith and the knowledge in her ability to save a world soaked in blood and madness. Her instincts expected Satan’s sudden appearance. His abrupt retreat beyond the hill made her uneasy.

  The archangel held her sword and shield up. Once, not too long ago, remorse filled her heart for the fallen Okura. She excised the sentiment like a brain surgeon slicing out a tumor. And with the same callousness she attacked her enemy.

  66

  Maria stole a swift peek over her shoulder and discovered the army remained steady at the half step. No one wavered. To the front the sand cloud thickened. Forms started to appear. Their heads, pale and cracked like a desert floor, bobbed within the boiling dust. The enemy came at them in a full run.

  Maria raised her sword. “Hold the line, Guardians.” She squeezed her thighs against her warhorse flanks. The muscled beast snorted compliance and surged ahead.

  Tobias lifted his sword. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

  He stared at the enemy charging ahead like rioters. Hellhounds ran at their heels. “Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

  Tobias braced himself as the enemy’s rattling armor reached his ears. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord…forever.”

  The two armies collided. Bones cracked. Screams and battle calls curdled the air. The Guardian cavalry took the brunt. Hellhounds sank their vicious teeth into the warhorse’s throats and legs. Guardians hacked away at the small beasts with their swords.

  Maria’s warhorse crumbled from underneath her. She tumbled into the dust, rolled and regained her feet. Several Hellhounds charged her mount and began gnawing on the animal’s legs. The mare kicked and cried out, its eyes rolling in horror. The angel faced the armored monsters and their vicious canines. Dust thickened against her silver armor, she swung her sword blade and cut down the enemy. To her left Tobias fought like a madman, his eyes shone bright as he plowed into the chaos, his sword working in a silver blur.

  “Guardians, lock shields,” Maria said. A solid cheer exploded from behind her. “Forward, march.”

  The Guardians locked their shields together and marched forward leading Gold’s Warriors. Spears jabbed against the soldier’s forged metal. The enemy tried to jam their spears within the locked shields creases. Hellhounds attempted to jump the solid shield wall, their efforts halted by Guardian spears. Guardians who stood at the battle forefront urged the army further into the fray. Sand churned up thick enough to mar the chaotic scene.

  Blinded by dust and grit, the Ghost Soldiers collided into each other. In the confusion the enemy stabbed their brothers in arms with spears, cut down their comrades with rusted swords. A horn blared out, long and dreadful. Ghost Soldiers in the thousands turned and ran from the front line, more dust kicked up into the air, howls and yelps erupted from Hellhounds who died in their escape.

  Maria retrieved her sword from a downed Ghost Soldier, its eyes closed in death. The enemy army fled, vanishing into the haze. Their cries echoing back to her.

  “Tobias.”

  Tobias appeared at her side. “Don’t get excited yet, Maria.”

  Maria nodded as the Guardians cheered behind her. “What are they doing?”

  Tobias shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

  Maria turned back. “Hold the line and remain silent.” The line quieted. “Shields up, take a knee.”

  Tobias used his angelic vision to stare through the dust cloud whipped up by the fighting armies. “They’re forming up again.”

  Maria set her chin. Her eyes turned silver as she stared into the heavy dust. The enemy formed up in a long gruesome line overlapping the Guardians on the flanks. A lone figure stepped from the line, its appearance same as the others, yet two black horns adorned its head.

  “General Zhu,” she said.

  “Zhu’s getting them under control,” Tobias said as the dust settled. Both armies stood less than fifty yards from each other, a dreadful silence hung over the field littered with bodies.

  General Zhu approached the Guardians. He swept his eyes from left to right. “Tobias and Maria, we meet again.”

  Tobias jaw muscles twitched, his eyes narrowed.

  “Maria, aren’t you tired of all this gratuitous violence? So much death, war,” General Zhu said. “I won’t ask the Marine, he lives for this shit.”

  Maria swallowed a breath. “Once Satan and animals like you are gone, the war will end.”

  General Zhu laughed, teeth as black as onyx winked out at them. “I’ll give you and those fools behind you an offer. Lay down your arms, and declare your allegiance to Satan.”

  Tobias twirled his blade. The Guardians remained silent at his back, no ones armor rattled. “I’ll give you an offer, General Zhu. Slit you own throat, along with your soldiers, and return to Hell.”

  General Zhu drew his scimitar. “You outnumbered us the last time we fought, Tobias. Now witness the strength of Satan.”

  “You ran like a castrated dog, Zhu. And Satan will be dealt with.”

  General Zhu growled low in his throat. “I offered my men everlasting life. And likewise I offered you the same, and your refusal to me is a slap in Satan’s face.”

  Maria glanced over her right shoulder. “Steady,” she said to the Guardians.

  General Zhu grunted. He turned and headed back to the Ghost Soldiers arranged for battle. “The offer is revoked you two. Tell your Guardians to say their prayers. God will be waiting with open arms.”

  General Zhu stopped and turned half around. “That’s right, I forgot. His arms will be bound in chains, a prize of Lord Satan.”

  Tobias glanced at Maria. “I’ll take him,” he said. “Keep the Guardians in line, Maria.”

  Zhu stood before his army and raised the black scimitar above his head. In silence the Ghost Soldiers advanced, their booted feet kicking up dust, even the Hellhounds padded forward in silence.

  General Gold broke from the Guardian line with spear in hand. He flung the weapon. The missile hurtled forward and slammed into General Zhu’s chest, its tip exploding from his back. The monster screamed. His red eyes rolled up to the sky. His body collapsed to the ground.

  The general drew his sword. “You angels talk too much. The battle will end here, Tobias. Guardians, soldiers of God, attack.”

  The Guardians charged ahead against the enemy. Once again screams lifted up into the air, bodies fell, and in all earnest the battle resumed.

  67

  Daisy Lane landed on the walkway. The Eternal City roiled in chaos, souls screamed in terror as guardian angels rushed them away from the high walls protected by angelic archers. She enjoyed the madness below and forced herself not to smile at th
e retched creatures escaping to safety. In a few more minutes the work she and Satan put in to destroy God’s blessed kingdom would unfold.

  She jumped from the wall and landed amongst the frightened souls. Even the guardian angels wore distraught faces. For several thousand years they wallowed in a peace so dense their minds numbed. Jehovah gave His sheep free will in a box. No wiggle room to think independent from Him. Anger reddened her face. She forced her rage down with effort.

  “Daisy.”

  Daisy turned as Gabriel rushed up to her. “Yes,” she said adding concern to her voice. The act left an hours old coffee residue against her tongue.

  “I need you on the Second and Third Gate. Keep the angels posted on those walls motivated. We will join you after we’ve finished the evacuation.”

  “What is going on, Gabriel? Did God decide on Oblivion?”

  “Only if Satan breaches the gates and reaches the throne. Michael and I are securing the other gates. So go, Daisy.”

  Daisy rushed off through the panicked crowd. Satan required assistance to enter the gates. Either his men started to scale the walls and slip over, or she helped Lucifer gain entry into the kingdom.

  By foot, it would take hours to reach the Second and Third Gates. Daisy deployed her six wings and shot up from the ground, high enough to view the battle across from First Gate.

  Daisy used her vision to search out Lucifer. Beyond the battle, a heavy dust trail led away from the fight and into the thick woods. Amongst the pines and oaks she caught a glimpse. Lucifer, back erect and armed with an ebony trident, rode in the saddle like an undefeated champion. Her heart thrummed, she wanted to be in his arms again.

  Daisy spotted the Second and Third Gates. She turned her wings and pushed them. Six wings increased her speed, pleasure bumps swept over her body. Despite the effort, her dark plans surged up from the place she hid them. She no longer cared if God read her thoughts. In a few hours or less Lucifer would enter the Eternal Kingdom and mount the steps to the throne.

  She arrived to a crowded walkway thick with angels armed with swords, spears, bows and arrows. The armor the angels wore shimmered like jewels against the lights in the sky. For a moment she hesitated to perform the black deed in their presence.

  “Angels, go to the First Gate and reinforce the battle line. Now,” she said. The angels flew from the wall like hawks. None dared question a Seraph with powers beyond their own. Her gaze followed the thousands into the sky until the celestial beings vanished from view.

  Daisy took a breath and leaned against a murder hole. One hundred feet below her, and spread out for miles, sat a forest thick with oaks and pines. She strained her vision against the heavy tree trunks. Lucifer’s dust trail faded out once the ground became dense grass underneath the horse’s hooves.

  Her lips dried and an ache grew in her lower belly. “Come on, where are you?” She tried to filter out the battle noise miles away, but the clamor roared loud enough to fill her mind.

  Daisy lifted her head skyward, swallowed a sweet breath and returned her scrutiny to the woods. Her eyes picked through every branch, hillock, and tree trunk in search for movement. The turbulent battle tumult continued to resound like crowds jammed into four football stadiums. The crowd seemed determined to beat each other to death with pots, pans, knives, and forks.

  She pressed her fingers into the warm bricks and leaned forward. For a moment fear crept up her throat. Ensuring Lucifer entered the gates unmolested became her priority. One errant finger from Michael placed on Lucifer guaranteed a Second Coming kickoff. A quirky rule Jehovah put in place. How Jehovah created such a nonsensical rule in war remained beyond her.

  A horse neighed in the distance, the call echoed off tree trunks. Curses filled the air. Through the branches she spotted black armor. Hell Force soldiers on foot clotted the forest and inched ahead to the wall. Daisy prepared to shout down to them until a golden arrow whizzed from her right and struck a soldier in the head.

  Daisy turned to find who shot the arrow. Draped in a golden loincloth floated a plump, small winged creature. “A Cherub,” she said.

  The Cherub turned to Daisy. “Don’t worry, Daisy. Help is coming.”

  Daisy shook her head and drew an axe. She hated cherubs. They freaked her out, a baby’s body with an almost adult face. “I don’t want any help.”

  She flung the weapon. The axe whirled through the air and caught the target in the forehead. The tiny being’s mouth went slack. Its fat hands fumbled and dropped the bow. Blood dribbled from the wound as the Cherub’s eyes registered shock before glazing over. The Cherub tumbled from the wall, landing on the gold paved road below.

  The tingle started near her solar plexus. The gentle sting turned into a burn like indigestion. Pain flared in her body like an uncontrolled fire gutting a structure. The armor she wore went from white, to gray, and turned black. Her once white wings transformed into giant crow wings, her white hair blackened and her green eyes changed from emerald to volcanic black. She lifted her hands and screamed from the intense pain.

  Daisy fell to her knees and sucked air into her lungs. She forced herself to stand on weakened legs. Her thighs trembled as if about to give out and pitch her face first to the ground. The fallen Seraph gazed at the Hell Force soldiers and spotted Lucifer among them. He smiled and raised the trident. Six black wings stretched out form her back. She leaped from the wall and settled near the fallen Cherub. The pain subsided throughout her body in increments. To her front sat the immaculate Second Gate.

  Daisy paused to contemplate the artwork engraved in the golden Second Gate. Angels, lions, lotus flowers, choirs with arms raised in prayer to Jehovah. Her lips turned down at the corners. She reached for the gate handle and paused for a second, closed her eyes and with all her strength, Daisy Lane slid the bolt free.

  68

  Joan turned her wrist to block an awkward blow Oni delivered. She lifted her shield, deflected another blow from his left hand and countered the attack. Gladius versus samurai sword proved to be a problem. One long blade, hers short, made it easier for Oni to score a hit. She struck, blocked, thrust at his chest. His blade glanced off her shoulder armor. Sparks flew.

  Oni’s eyes became a deeper red. His black tongue flicked out to lick his lips as he drove forward with both swords in play. Whatever hatred he held for Joan, he poured the sinister emotion into the fight. She ducked, he ducked, her blade continued to glance against his sword.

  Joan spun and struck her shield into Oni’s face, his head snapped back. She jabbed her sword first into his chest followed by a blow to his neck. He stumbled back, falling to his knees with eyes bulging in shock. Blood spurted from his jugular vein, thick and black, reeking with sulfur. His red eyes turned up to her.

  She held his gaze for a moment. A distant voice hoped she would find some remorse in his cold red eyes. To her dismay they remained hardened. Joan shook her head in pity. Oni smiled. With one stroke she sliced off his head. The body fell and the head followed. Oni’s soul vanished into a world worse than Hell. He would exist in darkness cold enough to deter Satan.

  Four horn blasts erupted from the First Gate wall. Three Cherubs floated down to Joan, their faces tear streaked and heavy with worry.

  “What,” Joan said.

  “She betrayed us,” said a Cherub dressed in blue. “And she opened the Second Gate to allow Lucifer in.”

  Joan spread her wings and drove into the air fast and hard. Her mind failed to conjure up who ‘She’ might be. Why would anyone open the gate and allow Satan, the most hated enemy, into the Eternal Kingdom. Her heart beat with a painful thump within her chest. An ache throbbed in her head. She flew over First Gate where angels still fired their arrows. Another large group broke off and headed for Second Gate.

  Angels filled the sky in the millions. Her flight over the Eternal City revealed what she dreaded to witness. Souls in a full run from Second Gate, Cherubs and guardian angels in a rush to control the crowd who numbered in the billions
. A fearsome tumult reached her ears. Metal against metal, screams filled with pain. Black armor poured through Second Gate.

  Joan landed amongst the angels who fought hard at the yawning gate. Michael and Gabriel landed to her left. Michael’s mouth moved, but the cacophony drowned what he tried to tell her.

  “What, Michael?”

  Michael rushed through the crowd and seized Joan by her left arm. “I said close the gate. We will deal with the traitor.”

  Joan tried to steady her mind. Her arm ached where Michael grabbed her, but pain became a trivial matter to what she faced. The archangel turned and waded into silver and black armor. She went to work with her gladius. Severed arms dressed in black armor fell at her feet. Hell Force soldiers lost their heads. The road, once paved in gold, became slick with blood and entrails.

  She, the Cherub said. The gate sat twenty feet ahead, packed with fighting soldiers from both sides. Joan set her mind to work on the traitor’s identity while coating her blade with Hell Force blood. Each step she took required a blade stroke to cut down an enemy. Beyond the opened gate Hell Force soldiers waited their turn to enter. Angelic archers shot arrows into the ones who slipped through.

  Joan swung her head left and right seeking out Michael and Gabriel. She spotted them on her far left near the gate. In tandem the two archangels fought a black armored being, tall with six wings and long black hair. Its features resembled Daisy Lane, even down to the double axes except the creature fought with black weapons. Joan shrugged the thought away as another Lucifer inspired trick and continued on.

  She pushed her way to the gate. Beyond the Hell Soldiers appeared an individual mounted on a black armored warhorse. The beast’s large red eyes displayed no fear at the battle in its path. She glanced up at the rider, her heart almost stopped. Satan sat high and calm with his black trident in hand. He spotted Joan and lifted his chin to give her a contemptuous stare.