Ascension of Evil (Battle for Souls Book 3) (25 page)

The Prim entered from the back hall. It had been a long time since Alexander had seen her. His teeth snapped together as he crushed the desire to toss her back into the rift.

“No sign of hounds.” She stopped and glared at Grace and Gabby. “No mumbling in each other’s heads. I know you angels have that ability, but you don’t conceal it well with your eyes darting back and forth between you all.”

Grace returned to cutting. “There are certain things we should keep to ourselves that not even Heaven should hear.” Her voice deepened on the word
Heaven
.

Prim walked over and picked up two plates, handing one to Herak. “No need to worry. Heaven can’t hear you here.”

Forras grabbed a plate of food and sat down at the table. “So, you’re really Herak’s daughter?”

Herak nodded.

Forras stabbed a piece of egg. “How’d that happen?”

Herak pursed his lips. “She was my only surviving daughter. I made a deal for her to be immortal. It’s my fault she’s here, instead of in Heaven with her mother, brothers, and sisters.”

Forras rolled his eyes. “Hard to believe you were married with children.”

Herak took Prim’s hand in his and squeezed it. “I had many marriages, but only one daughter who stayed by my side.”

Boon shifted. The chair squeaked, drawing everyone’s attention. “She didn’t have much of a choice.”

Sammy patted his arm. “Did you love any of your wives?”

Alexander shot her a sideways glance.
Why the heck do you want to know that?

As usual, Sammy ignored him.

Grace wiped her hands on a dishtowel and sat at the kitchen table. “Not to interrupt your talk of marriage and family, but I thought we should chat a little about this option for saving the world. Gabby, you can’t make accusations against another angel. It is punishable by eternal damnation. Even if you’re right, without proof, you’ll be doomed. And there is nothing that God himself can do to save you.

That’s what he wants then. All of this is to send you away. Without the Chosen One, there’d be no one to protect the innocent,
Alexander shouted to all of them.

Prim dropped her fork with a clang. “I told you it was rude to talk in one another’s heads.” She turned to Herak. “But then, angels always have been rude.”

Alexander held Gabby’s hand tight. “I think there is an angel that hopes Gabby will challenge him so that she will be sent to Hell. With her out of the way, he can take over everything.”

Sammy shifted in Boon’s lap. “Heaven wouldn’t allow him to just take over like that.”

Grace sighed. “No, but Satan would. If Satan has angel allies that could threaten Heaven, mankind will be lost. This angel would then take over. If warrior angels are not trapped in darkness, but under his control, he could defeat Satan. It would be a blood bath, and many would die, but there would be a fighting chance. In the end, he could claim whichever side won.”

Gabby rolled her neck. “Herak, you said there is a way for me to regain the warrior angels. What do I need to do?”

Alexander shivered at the memory of all the fallen angels and humans he couldn’t save last time, their souls still imprinted in his. “How do we know he’s working on our side? I mean, he did almost cause the end of the world.”

Prim spun on her stool to face him. “If your friend over there hadn’t betrayed him, none of this would be happening. Herak would have ruled mankind and Satan would be tucked neatly back in his hole.”

Herak patted Prim’s hand. “Dear, I’m not as innocent as you might think. For now, let’s all agree on one thing. If Hell takes over, we’re all doomed. I’ll be sentenced to man the souls in the fiery pit for losing the last war. You’ll be sacrificed in battle, and all the angels will be fried, crispy wings for the demons to feast on.”

“Gee, nice visual,” Sammy rolled her eyes.

Herak leaned back on his stool. “Only stating the facts.”

Gabby remained silent at Alexander’s side.

Alexander nudged her.
What are you thinking?

Prim cleared her throat but Alexander ignored her.

I’m thinking he’s making sense, so I’m running through all the possible ways he could betray us. I’m not making the same mistakes again.

Gabby tensed.

Did you think of something?

No, that’s the problem. Every way I analyze it, if he betrays us, he loses. Unless…

Unless what?

Gabby stroked his arm.
Unless he had an opportunity to sell us, out to save Prim from eternal damnation. I think he’d take it.

Alexander nodded.
Then we make sure he doesn’t get that chance.

Grace, do you trust him?

Yes.

Sammy?

Not sure, but I think we need him.

Boon?

Not at all, but I agree with Sammy.

She turned to her dad and it was then Alexander realized Bruce hadn’t heard a word. Not only could he not communicate with the angels, he sat in the corner with his head back against the wall, asleep. General Beck stood in the doorway, chowing down.

“Okay, Herak.” Gabby stretched her legs out then stood. “You tell us where the warrior angels are and how to get them to fight for us, and we’ll protect Prim.”

“I don’t need protection,” Prim scoffed.

“Agreed,” Herak said.

“Then tell us,” Gabby ordered.

“The only way to get the angels to return to fight is to prove to them you are worthy.”

Gabby smacked her hands against her thighs. “Great. And how do I do that?”

“By challenging the one who saved them after they were released from darkness when the rift was open and the master demon was defeated.” Herak grinned. “Appius.”

Alexander fisted his hands. “Are you insane? We just established that if Gabby challenges an angel on the ruling council about anything, she’d be condemned for eternity.”

“Only if she falsely accuses him. If she is mistaken and he had nothing to do with manipulating the situation when she made the deal, then she will burn. If she is right, all the angels will be freed to fight for her.”

****

Terror ripped through her gut with the fierceness of a demon claw. The world spun with indecision. Did Gabby trust Herak and gamble everything on the fact Appius did make a deal with Satan? If so, how would she prove it?

Everyone sat in silence with their mouths hanging open. She’d trusted in the wrong people last time, and it had caused over two thousand years of torture for many. This time the price would be eternity. If she challenged Appius and lost, would the others be spared?

Visions of the dead rising to fight for Hell and overrun Earth flashed. Was it a vision or just her fear? She searched for another option. With time, they’d find a way. Heat rolled from her core to her fingertips. “Alex.” She breathed steam.

“It’s okay. I’m here.” Alexander soothed her.

Her dad stirred awake. “What’s going on?”

“Gabby’s trying to decide if she should risk everyone and challenge some angel to a duel. If she loses, we all fry. If she wins, we all get fancy wings and float to the white light.” General Beck took another bite of eggs.

How could he eat at a time like this? Her stomach flipped and flopped like crazy.

She loved her dad, and didn’t want to see him suffer. She didn’t want to see any of them suffer. Scanning each of her team’s faces, she understood why she took the deal last time. How could she go out there and do anything that would cause each of them so much pain? All she wanted to do was save them. She’d lay down her life for them without a thought.

“If I do this and fail, is there any hope for the rest of you?” Gabby managed.

Herak shrugged then gestured to the Prim and himself. “We’ll be part of Satan’s team if you fail.”

Boon tucked Sammy’s hair behind her ear. “I have to assume we’ll both remain on Earth for eternity.”

“Grace, what will happen to you?” Gabby clung to Alexander in hopes the nausea would settle.

Grace tilted her head to one side. “I’m not sure, dear.”

“Alex, if we did bond, you’ll fall with me. But we didn’t bond like Sammy and Boon, so does that mean you could return to Heaven.”

He swallowed. “Don’t know.”

Gabby hung her head. “Does anyone else have any other ideas?”

General Beck set his plate on the counter. “Sounds like you’ve got a plan.”

Her dad pushed from the chair. “G-Bear, you know what you’re doing? This sounds like a slim-to-none chance.”

“It’s our only chance. However, I’m open to another option, if anyone has one.” Silence greeted her.

“News flash. If we face a battle with just us, we’re underworld toothpicks,” Forras warned.

Gabby closed her mind to everyone and waited for a sign, a voice, anything.
Dear God, what do I do?
Again,
only silence. To think a year ago, she didn’t want visions or voices in her head. Now, she’d take anything she could get.

“Just make sure he really deceived you in some way. If you willingly made the deal with no interference, then facing off with Appius is not a good idea,” Grace said.

Gabby forced herself to remember that awful day. How had he worded his proposal? Did he lie? If only Gabby could remember the specifics. “I’m not positive. I remember him telling me that all would be right in the world, that all of you would be safe if I sacrificed myself. I did, but all of you suffered. I’m just not sure if it was intentional or if he was tricked somehow.

The house shook. Forras, Herak, and the Prim jumped up. “He’s here and he’s ordering us all to the rift. The war is on. Now,” Forras said in a heavy voice.

Gabby gripped the table. This was it. No more time. She stood and faced the doorway. “I know what I have to do.”

Alexander pulled her into his arms. “I love you.” He trembled.

She squeezed him against her. “I love you, too. Promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Whatever my fate, let it be. Don’t try to save me.” She pulled back, but refused to let go of him. “That goes for all of you. I’m the only one who can stop Appius, so there is no reason for you to interfere. Your job is to protect mankind. If I’m meant to lead the army of angels, then it will be. If not—”

“No.” Alexander took her into his arms. Standing, he held her tight against him. “Don’t say it.”

Gabby lost herself in the moment. His arms tightened around her, and she wished they could melt into each other right there. Soulbond and disappear into Heaven for eternity. She clutched the back of his shirt one more time. “I love you. We both know what we have to do. If Heaven wills it, we’ll be in each other’s arms at the end of all this. If not, then we have the memory of a love that will withstand eternity.”

She stepped back. “It’s time.”

His arms scraped down her side like dead weights.

Prim stood and closed her eyes. A ripple in the air sent a charge through Gabby’s body.

Thunder rumbled through the house. Dishes rattled in the cabinet. Pictures fell from the walls.

Gabby grabbed her sword from the kitchen counter, slung it over her shoulder and marched to the front door. She took a long breath, fought the choking smell of demonic odor, and concentrated on a voice, any voice. Something to guide her, but nothing came.

Footsteps thumped behind her. She knew they all wanted to do something to stop her, but also understood she had no choice.

Combat boots approached and a hand rested on the small of her back. “I wish I could go in your place. Never thought I’d have to watch my baby girl face so much. I tried to protect you.” His voice choked. She reached her hand out behind her and her dad took it in his. She squeezed it then let it go. Cracking the door open, she hesitated then turned and fell into his arms like a little girl.

They squeezed each other tight and held on a second longer, before she returned to the world outside. The door swung open, revealing another world. Gasps sounded behind her. Wind blurred in gusts of red and black. Sand mixed with steam. The ocean surged onto the beach, almost reaching Grace’s home. The home she’d grown to love.

Her mind couldn’t process everything. Beasts in the sky. Demons in the tree line. All types—horns, claws, grey skin, massive heads, glowing red or fathomless black eyes. Each had their own unique form of torture.

This time no plan of action came. She wasn’t meant to fight them.

Orange bubbled up to the surface of the dark sea announcing Satan’s arrival.

She forced her legs forward, each step creaking beneath her. Heat penetrated the bottom of her shoes. Everything moved in slow motion. The sounds of the ocean surf and howls of the demons echoed across the beach. Her mind floated and her body threatened to collapse. Concentrating on each step of her human frame, she shuffled down to the sinking, shifting sand. Fish, hundreds of them, lay bloated and dead on the shore. Further down the beach multitudes of sea life, from tiny crustaceans to enormous whales, flapped on the sand, many already lifeless.