Eternal Flame (Guardians, Book One) by Valerie Twombly (27 page)

“Lovely, isn’t it?”

The light she had seen came from rivers of lava. Small fires burned, and thick, hot goo bubbled to the surface. A combination of rotten eggs, burning flesh, and blood assaulted her nose. More than she could bear, her stomach rebelled, tossing its contents onto the jagged rocks nearby. While her gut was racked with spasms, screams filled her ears until she thought they would bleed. If this wasn’t hell then god help her, for this was worse than she ever imagined.

“Tsk, tsk, such a weak stomach you have.”

God, that voice grated on her nerves. Visions of tossing Eliza into the burning inferno made her smile. Had she not been attached to the bitch by a rope she might have given it a go. Another jerk on the rope and bitchtilda had Cassie following behind her.
I swear to the heavens. Wait…why didn’t I think of this sooner? Argathos.

She held her breath, would the god heed her call?

Cassandra.
The voice caressed her mind like a whisper. Excitement coursed through her veins, she clasped a hand over her mouth to keep the squeal of delight from escaping, lest Eliza suspect something. So far, the bitch seemed clueless.

Oh Argathos, I’m in terrible trouble. Please help me.

Cassandra, I am unable to enter that realm, but there are three who come searching for you. Are you hurt?

No, not really… Who’s coming for me?
She hoped with all her heart that Marcus’s name would roll off the god’s lips.

Marcus, Gabriel and Baal search for you. They are in that realm right now.

Tears filled her eyes. Marcus was coming for her, or maybe he was coming for his daughter. She didn’t care, he would save them both.
Eliza is taking me to her son, Lowan, some high lord or something.

Have you spoken with Marcus?

No, you’re the only one I’ve been able to connect with.
Static. Damn it, had she lost him?
Argathos?
Panic caused her to trip over a rock and fall to the ground. It was then she noticed the demons, all different shapes and sizes but all disgusting just the same. She spotted a woman tied to a burnt tree. The woman yelled to her, pleaded for Cassie to help her as a demon raped her. She tried to look away, but her body refused to move.

“Eliza, we have to help her.” Cassie yelled.

Eliza looked at her, and for a moment, Cassie swore there was a hint of sadness in the vampire’s eyes, but then it was gone. “She is only a tortured soul. There is no help for her now.” She tugged on the rope. “We’re almost there.”

Cassie continued to stumble over rocks, her body hot and fatigued, the humidity so stifling she could hardly breathe. She kept her gaze to the ground. Otherwise, she bore witness to the atrocities played out by the demons. Souls tortured by rapes, burnings, and hacking limbs off. The screams continued to fill her ears. She knew that even if she managed to somehow survive, she would never be the same.

“We’re here.”

Her eyes slowly moved upward, her vision filling with horror.
Marcus, please hurry.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Marcus, Gabriel, and Baal headed straight into the depths of hell and now were surrounded by demons. A scream pierced his ears. To the right, a soul was tied to a blackened tree and body parts were being hacked off. He looked away. He had no sympathy for the damned; shit happened when you bargained with the devil. Besides, it was Gabriel’s job to save those that were truly innocent, only tricked by greedy demons. His only concern was his mate.

Gabriel produced two swords and tossed one to Marcus and the other to Baal. “Here, you will need this,” he said, producing another for himself.

Marcus gave it a thorough inspection, noting that it held an odd glean. “What’s it made of?”

“It is the blade of the Xarizith and will serve you well.”

He was impressed, the blade of ice would indeed cause severe pain to any demon. “Thanks, now lead the way.” He itched to kill something, but more important, he needed his mate, and time was something he didn’t have much of.

The three men moved past pools of fire and lava. He tried to ignore the screaming, but it grated on his already thin nerves. His lungs burned from the sulfur that hung thick in the air. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted four demons approaching them.

“We have company.”

“Yes, they have been following us for some distance.” Gabriel turned to face him. “I will question them about the human.”

His lips curled into a snarl. “That human has a name, and you will address her as Cassandra.” He swore the next person to disrespect his mate would feel his wrath.

Baal gave a snort.

Gabriel’s face showed no emotion, just as it had since he showed up. His eyes merely darkened then he turned to face the demons. “Stop where you are. You will tell me what I wish to know.”

The demons cackled, their forked tongues flicked out to taste the air. The largest of the four spoke first. “You do not scare us, angel.”

Marcus sized up the other three. They stood a good foot taller than him and bore horns on their arms and legs, their skin covered in green scales and their eyes glowed red. He decided taking off their heads would prove enjoyable. He raised his sword, and in the blink of an eye, he removed the demon's head.

“Wrong answer.” He looked at the other three. “Now, who among you cares to answer our questions and live?”

Baal stood, sword planted in the ground and leaned on it. He looked at his nails. “The vampire here is in a foul mood. I’d play nice if I were you.”

The other three seemed to have a change of heart. “We play nice.” They sang in unison.

“Good. Have you seen a human female down here?” Gabriel stuck the point of his sword into the demon closest to him. The green skin burned from the ice, and the demon screamed, jumping backward. “
No
. But we heard that there are two females making their way here.”

Marcus moved in, his turn to poke the demon. “Where are they headed? Think carefully before you answer, demon.” He prayed for the information he desperately wanted. He had to find Cassie; he would not fail her.

“To our massster.”

“Who is your master?” Gabriel asked.

“Lord Lowan.”

The three men looked at each other.

“I have never heard of him,” Gabriel said.

“I sense several more demons approaching,” Baal said.

“Yes, they hope to overtake us. It would seem you may get your battle after all, fang boy,” Gabriel mocked.

Marcus gave him a mental fuck-off for reading his mind. He hadn’t blocked himself, wanted to stay open for Cassie. So far, that had proved fruitless. “I’ll take up the rear; you deal with these dick wads.” He spun around to face the threat that came up from behind.
Oh shit.

* * * *

Demons came in droves, and Marcus sliced and hacked off their heads with the blade of Xarizith. When he thought their numbers dwindled, more came. “How are you faring back there, angel boy?”

“I fare well and you?”

“I’m managing, but how many do you suppose there are?”

“Hundreds, I’m sure. We haven’t even seen the meanest of them yet. These are merely minions of the many lords.” Gabriel said.

“Just fucking great, how much time do we have left?” Marcus asked as he shoved his sword into the black heart of a demon, slowing him down enough to whack his head off.

“Fourteen hours, can you keep up the fight?”

“With one arm tied behind my back.” Damn, too much time lost already.
Will I ever be a good mate?
Maybe if he hadn’t failed Eliza, none of them would be in this mess right now. Then again, he wouldn’t have Cassie either. He would give her up if it meant her safety, if only he could go back in time and fix his mistakes.

“Would you die for her?” Gabriel asked.

“For Cassie? If it meant she could live, and be safe? Without hesitation.”

“Interesting,” Gabriel shouted back.

Marcus sent another head rolling to the ground to reside with the hundreds of others already there. “Wouldn’t you die for a loved one?”

“I don’t love.”

Baal and Marcus exchanged glances.

“So angel, have you ever had the pleasure of a woman’s body?” Baal asked.

“Yes, I have sex. I am a man and have desires same as any. I just have no desire to love, what’s the point?

Warriors.

Marcus slashed another demon's head, surprised that Argathos had been able to contact them.
Have you found Cassie?

She was able to contact me. Eliza is taking her to Lord Lowan, her son.

Marcus glanced back at Gabriel, fear etched on his face. Eliza had a son with Drayos, and the bastard now had Cassie.

Do you know where he resides?
Gabriel was the one to pose the question.

No, but the women are in the realm where you are now. However, you’re several hours away from them yet.

Great and there seemed to be no end in sight, the demons kept coming. The warriors were now back to back. “We need a plan,” Marcus said.

“I agree.” Gabriel spread his enormous wings and took to the air, tossing Marcus his sword. “Give me a second.”

“You got it,” he growled and ran into the fray, a sword in each hand, slashing and stabbing and sending demons screaming. His muscles burned. The thought of Cassie with that bitch kept him on his feet.

“Lowan must be the son of Drayos and Eliza,” Marcus said.

Baal danced around a demon before slicing his head off. “Half demon and half vampire. What a fucking nightmare he must be.”

The ground crackled and hissed, the warriors found themselves surrounded by ice, demons frozen in their tracks. Marcus and Baal looked at each other, a grin curling their lips.

Baal waived his sword in the air. “Whac-a-mole time.”

Swiftly they moved through the demons, whacking off heads in a double-fisted action. When finally none stood, they stopped and took a deep breath.

“Shit, hell really has frozen over.” Marcus shook his head. “Never thought I’d see the day.” He looked up at Gabriel who still hovered above. “Why the hell didn’t you do that earlier?”

“It weakens me.”

A ferocious roar reverberated through hell’s sky. Marcus looked up. “Holy fuck.”

The biggest, ugliest demon he’d ever seen floated above them. Its wings were at least twenty feet and moved up and down, sending a dust cloud swirling into the air. Its two heads snapped at Gabriel, showing razor-sharp fangs.

“Can you get that thing to land?” Gabriel looked pale, but Marcus could only assist from the ground.

Gabriel barely got out of the way of the demon's enormous tail. The sharp horn that protruded from the end nicked his leg. “The demon is even worse on land. Better to fight him from up here.” He produced another sword, but before he could react, the demon whipped its tail again and managed to shred one of Gabriel’s wings, sending him spiraling to the ground. Marcus heard the shattering of bone. The angels other wing stuck out at an odd angle. The warrior of death was out of commission, it was up to Marcus and Baal to finish the beast off.

The demon landed in front of Marcus, its two heads dripping venom on the ground and causing the ice to snap and hiss.
Note to self, stay away from the venom.
He raised both ice swords and prepared for battle, while Baal stood to his right.

He gave a glance at his friend. “How do we defeat this thing?”

“I haven’t the foggiest.”

Marcus pursed his lips into a thin line. “It’s your realm. You’re supposed to know these things.”

“Hey, I’ve never had to fight one until you came along.”

Gabriel, can you hear me?

Yes.

How do we kill it?

Do not attempt to remove either head, it only grows back and pisses it off more. You must puncture the heart.

Great, where’s the bastard's heart then?

Center of the chest.

His gaze narrowed on the location Gabriel spoke of then looked at Baal. “Up for some fun?”

“We only need to watch out for two heads and a tail. Walk in the park.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Marcus caught Gabriel on his feet. A broken wing dragged behind him, but his arms waived in the air. “Over here, you slimy bastard.”

Just the distraction they needed, now to get the timing right. The demon moved toward Gabriel, his injuries too much for the beast to resist.
Yes, that’s it, a little farther.

When the demon leaned down to devour the angel, Marcus and Baal flashed in front of him, both shoving their blades deep into the beating heart. The beast screamed as ice ran through its veins and crystals formed on the demon's crimson skin. Seconds later, it shattered into a million tiny fragments, raining snow down on their heads.

He looked back to find Gabriel lying on the ground. Quickly, he moved toward the angel and dropped down beside him. “Will you heal?”

Gabriel clenched his jaw. “Eventually. I hate it when my wings get clipped.” He tried to sit up, but Marcus pushed him back down.

“Let me see if I can help you.” His eyes slid shut as he placed his hands on Gabriel’s chest. His energy searched for internal injuries, and when he found none, he opened his eyes. “Roll over, I need to touch your wings.”

Gabriel knitted his blond brows together. “No one touches my wings.”

Baal snorted. “Sensitive fuck, ain’t he?”

“Stop being a cry baby and roll over,” Marcus said.

The angel obeyed. With a little help, he managed to roll onto his stomach. Marcus placed a palm on each wing. Sending white light and energy, he concentrated on mending the torn muscles and knitting together broken bones. After several minutes, he opened his eyes and admired his handiwork.

“Can you move them?” He stepped back so Gabriel could stand.

Gabriel lifted his wings and extended them to their full glory. He turned to Marcus and tipped his head. “Thank you, it would have taken me weeks to recover from that.”