Armageddon (Angelbound) (27 page)

“No, I don’t, as a matter of fact.” Her voice cracks. “I never want to be without you again.”

As touching as this scene is, we need out of Hell already. “Can we move this along, guys?”

Anubis nods, turns to face the hallway, and raises his arms parallel with the floor. From his outstretched hands, vines curl into a corkscrew shape that grinds through anything before it. The slithering cords drill through the demon horde, leaving behind a green, shifting tunnel in their wake.

“Goodbye, little Scala,” says Anubis. “We’ll see you soon.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want to see either of you for a very long time.” Anubis chuckles, and Lincoln and I don’t need to share any further goodbyes.

Gripping Maxon to my chest, I haul ass toward the tunnel, Lincoln at my side. Together, we race down the shifting channel of snake-like cords. Every so often, demonic arms break through the vines, grabbing at whatever they can get their hands on.

We’re about halfway through when the snake-like head of a Viperon demon bursts into our makeshift tunnel, flashing its long fangs. My tail tightens protectively around Maxon. Viperon are incredibly toxic. Fast as lightning, Lincoln wraps his right arm around the creature’s thick neck. The long demon writhes and snaps in his grip. Twisting his body to the right, Lincoln cracks the demon’s spine with one quick motion.

“Keep running!” he cries.

I don’t need to be told twice. Gripping Maxon ever tighter, I haul ass toward the exit. I’m pretty sure I lose a chunk of hair and Lincoln adds a sprained ankle to his list of injures, but the adrenaline keeps pushing us forward.

There’s no time to think or worry, there’s only me, Maxon, Lincoln, and the red landscape that grows larger and larger before us. With one final burst of effort, we rush through the last steps in the dark, slithering tunnel, emerging onto the dusty heat of the Plains of Fire.

We collapse onto the ground, panting for breath. There we lie for who knows how long, half-conscious and almost entirely out of our minds. I barely notice the wall of vines closing up behind us, sealing my family away from Hell, at last.

“We did it, Lincoln,” I say in a low voice as I kiss Maxon head.

“That we did.”

And those are the only words either of us can say for a very long time.

As soon as I catch my breath, I climb to my feet again. We might be out of Hell, but we’re certainly not out of danger.

“No more dark, Mommy.” Maxon burrows into my shoulder, shivering.

“Shh, baby.” I run my fingers through his hair. “Everything’s going to be alright.”

That’s a major Mommy-lie if I ever told one.

Every demon in Hell probably knows that we’re out here. Nefer’s holding them back, but how long can she keep doing that with untested powers? And even then, how in blazes are we getting home? Walker said he’d keep a look-out, but we also stowed some flares in our backpacks to signal him. Those are long gone now.

My adrenaline high starts to wane. All of a sudden, I want a pass out like it’s my job. My mouth turns dry as sandpaper. Every pulled muscle and scratched patch of skin starts complaining for attention. A stinging sensation prickles on my neck.

Lincoln sets his hand gently on my shoulder. “You alright?”

“As good as can be expected.” I lean over, craning for a look at Lincoln’s back. His gashes are still open and bleeding. “How about you?”

“I’ve had worse on demon patrol.”

“Wish we still had our first aid kit.”

“If we can get out of here, there’s a whole palace infirmary waiting for us.” He eyes my throat. “What about that bite form the Leech Guard?”

“I think I got all the venom out.” I pat my neck.

“Let me know if you feel dizzy at all. Leech Demons have a sting that can hit with a wallop.”

“Sure will.”

Lincoln takes a few hobbling steps away from the wall. “I’ll scope out the perimeter.”

“Let me do it, I’m more mobile. You know, in case we want it done this week.” I whisper in Maxon’s ear. “Baby, go sit with your father while Mommy takes a walk.” Maxon crawls into Lincoln’s lap.

“Done this week, eh?” Lincoln wraps his arms around Maxon. “Glad to see your sass made it through Hell unscathed.”

I wiggle my hips at him. “You love it and you know it.” I gesture to a nearby line of hills. “I’ll climb over there. See what I can find.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

As I walk away, I get a better look at Lincoln’s wounds. My breath catches with shock. The torn skin on his back now has an odd, purplish hue.

“Did one of the creatures get you on the way out?”

Lincoln nods and pulls Maxon closer. “The Viperon.”

Okay, so that’s mega-poisonous.
My heart lurches in my chest. There’s no point telling Lincoln everything will be fine; he knows better than anyone what kind of poison a Viperon demon carries. He’s got an hour or two at most.

Damn. At some point, our luck has got to change.

“Be right back.”

Turning on my heel, I jog across the empty red earth to the nearest jut of crimson rock. For the first time, I notice my fingers still curled in a death grip around an object. Strange that in all the chaos I didn’t even notice what my hand was doing. Looking down, I see Dad’s baculum hilt is still gripped tightly. My shoulders straighten. That feels like a good omen.

We’ve gotten through Hell. Now, all we have to do is get through the Plains of Fire.

I ignite dad’s baculum as a long-sword and hike up to the top of the jutting rock. The air is thick with heat and moisture. The sun hangs low in the sky. I scan the horizon. No one’s around.

Not so good.

I race down the outcrop of rock and over to my husband and son. In just the few minutes I was away, the flesh on Lincoln’s back has turned an even darker shade of purple. Maxon lifts his head, his eyes puffy from tears. “Do you have water Mommy? I’m thirsty.”

The sun lowers on the horizon. We need to find shelter. Ghoul riders are the least nasty things that roam these deserts at night. I set my father’s baculum into one of my holsters. “I don’t have any water, baby.”

Lincoln kisses Maxon’s temple. “Why don’t you and Mommy go look for shelter and Daddy will wait right here for you until you get back.”

I crouch down beside Lincoln, checking his pockets. Unlike my fighting suit, Lincoln’s armor is jam-packed with little places to hide stuff. Maybe there’s a healing potion squirreled away somewhere.

“Myla, please. You and Maxon should go.”

“No way. We are not leaving you here.” Panic rises through my blood.

We did not just get through Hell only to have Lincoln die on these stupid plains.

“There must be something else we have to help you.”

A new voice sounds from behind me. “You have me, Myla-la.”

I whip around and, Unholy Hell, I’ve never been happier to see Walker. “You found us!”

He wraps me in a deep hug. “I’ve been patrolling for hours, worrying myself silly. You three would have given me a heart attack, if I still had a beating heart.” He closes his eyes, and a portal opens immediately to his right. Another ghoul steps out. “Tell them we found them.”

“With pleasure.” Walker’s buddy steps back through portal and disappears.

“Everyone’s waiting at your Mom’s place in Purgatory.” Walker scans Lincoln’s back. “You look like Hell, Shield Brother.”

Lincoln’s voice comes out a rough rasp. “Well, I’ve been through it.”

“We’re skipping your mother’s place. I’m taking you to Purgatory General first, okay?”

“That’s fine with me,” says Lincoln.

“Good thinking, Walker. Lincoln got hit by a Viperon on the way out.”

Walker closes his eyes, and a low hum sounds as a new portal opens. Maxon climbs up into my arms and our tails entwine.

Lincoln rises slowly, wincing with each movement. I actively ignore the fact that the wound on his back is oozing some kind of black pus. Together, all of us step through the portal and into the blindingly bright light of Purgatory General.

An antiseptic scent assaults my lungs. Bodies in white scrubs scurry everywhere in the blinding brightness. “All medical personnel to triage immediately,” announces a nasal voice over the loudspeaker. “The Great Scala and her companion have returned, along with the Scala Heir. Repeat, all medical personnel to triage.”

Someone places Lincoln on a gurney. Another someone sets down Maxon and starts running his vitals. The room starts to move in and out of focus. Yet another new medical someone is trying to talk to me. I see the nurse’s lips move but can’t understand a word. Pain spikes in my neck.

What the?

My legs give out from under me and I collapse onto the floor.

# # #

My soul is a bird, soaring through pure white space. I’ve been this way for ages, flying though dreamlike air, looking for someone. White mist reels over me, tiny prickles of cold stick in my skin.

A voice sounds on the clouds. It’s familiar. My mother, maybe?

Baby, come back to me. Wake up.

I want to tell her that I’m already awake. I’m flying through the clouds, wheeling and diving. A deep sense of peace flows through me. I never want to land.

More voices echo through the air. This time it’s Elder Faustina herself.

There is nothing-a more I can do.

My hazy brain remembers that I love Lincoln and he was sick. Is he better now? I want to land and find out, but I can only keep soaring through the skies, feeling the rush of air against my feathers.

Little fingers twist into my hair. It’s Maxon, my baby. Someone tells him he has to sleep.

I won’t sleep until everybody wakes up.

His tiny hand wraps in mine. “Wake up, Mommy. Wake up.”

Memories fly back into my mind. We were in Hell. Maxon was captured. I have to find out if he’s safe. Screw all this flying around. I need to wake up and find my son. With all my focus, I force my larger hand to tighten around Maxon’s little one.

My father’s voice sounds in my ears. “She’s waking up. Get Lincoln, Cam.”

My eyes flutter open. Maxon stands beside my hospital bed, his eyes red and bleary from crying. “Don’t worry, baby,” I say, my voice hoarse and croaking. “Mommy’s awake.”

I scan the room. Dad and Walker stand nearby, beaming from ear to ear.

“I woke you up,” announces Maxon with pride.

“That you did. Thanks, baby.”

Lincoln bursts into the room, my mother on his heels. He rushes to my side, leans over the bed, and kisses my forehead. “Myla, you’re awake. We were so worried.”

Mom, Dad and Walker say their hellos as well, before Cissy shows up and shepherds them all out of the room. Cissy always knows when I need time alone with my guys.

Maxon crawls onto my lap, his little hand twirling in my hair. “We missed you, Mommy.”

Lincoln points to Maxon’s head and mouths two words. “Not sleeping.”

“How’s my little man?” I ask.

“You wouldn’t wake up,” says Maxon. “It was scary.”

“Is that why you haven’t been sleeping?”

He nods and curls into my chest.

“Can you sleep now, baby?”

“Not until Hildy’s awake, too,” explains Maxon. “I keep calling to her in my head. She can’t forget about me or she won’t wake up.”

I wrap my arms around him more tightly. “How could anyone forget about you?” He curls his little hands about my torso and I smile.

“Maxon has the right idea here,” says Lincoln. “Scooch over.”

The hospital bed is small, but I make some room for him. “That enough?”

“Perfect.” Lincoln slides in next to me, and it’s a comfort to feel his warm, solid body beside mine.

I make a yummy noise and cuddle closer. “And why am I here, exactly?”

“You were infected with the Leech Guard’s venom.”

I nod slowly. “Oh, yeah. It sure did hit me with a wallop, like you said.”

“We caught you just in time.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Little over a week.”

“What?” My mouth falls open with shock. “That was some wallop.”

“It was.”

“And how’s your back now?”

“Fine. I have some new scars to add to the collection. Maxon says it makes me look tougher.”

Reaching up with my free hand, I gently brush my fingertips along the stubble of his jawline. His eyes are red and swollen. “You could use some sleep, too.”

“It’s an idea at that.” He looks down at Maxon and smiles. “You have the magic touch.”

Following Lincoln’s gaze, I look down to see a very asleep Maxon in my arms. He cuddles into my side, making little
‘puh’
noises as he exhales. A welcome mixture of joy, satisfaction and relief warms my chest.

Lincoln shifts his position to lay down beside me. With gentle movements, he guides my body to recline beside his. Maxon lies between us. It’s a squeeze, but it’s lovely.

“Should we be doing this?” I ask.

“Absolutely not. Against regulation.”

“The hospital won’t like it.”

“Good, I hope they hate it. We haven’t caused trouble in Purgatory in ages.” Lincoln chuckles and pulls me closer against him. “Damn, I missed you.”

I nestle into his shoulder, feeling my own eyes grow heavy. “Lincoln?”

“Mmmm?”

“We did it, didn’t we?”

“Yes, Myla.” He gently kisses the top of my head. His voice cracks as he adds: “We got our family back.”

I stand at the doorway to Dad’s study in Arx Hall. Actually, both my parents use this place to work when they’re visiting, but right now, he’s the only one around. Candles dot the room. Flickering light dances off the leather bindings of books lining the walls. Dad sits hunched over his great wooden desk, scribbling away with a feather stylus on a fresh sheet of parchment.

“How long are you going to watch me?” A sly smile rounds Dad’s mouth as he makes another note with his feather-pen. “I can do far more entertaining things than write, you know.”

“I have—” I almost say ‘a gift,’ but the words get stuck in my throat. My gift may be no gift at all. I hover anxiously in the doorway. I only woke up a week ago in Purgatory General; maybe this was a mistake. “I should go.”