Rebellion (28 page)

He let out a malefic laugh.

“You are a fool, Isaac. You have set yourself on a course for disappointment.” He clicked his tongue. “But the fact that I invaded your mind shows me that you are as weak as any other human being.”

He stretched his right hand in the direction of my parents. The skin from their bodies melted like wax; blood gushed from wounds that appeared on their bodies. They screamed my name in loud voices.

How dare this monster play with my feelings? How dare he tempt me with these sick desires?

“Above all my aspirations, I long for the day that Elysium will be free from your master’s power.”

I propelled the dagger in his direction. I watched the blade sink deep within the left side of his chest. His knees bent and his body fell.

Like smoke, my surroundings disappeared.

XVIII

My eyes sprung open. I looked around and saw that all my companions had their faces buried in the snow. They were all unconscious. Arundel lay to my left. Ahead of me, I noticed that the Nephilins had cold stares in their eyes as they gazed at Xavier, who knelt on the ground, his head bowed. I heard his low grunts and moans as he pressed his left hand against the right side of his chest.

Adawnas lifted her head, glaring at me. She ran in my direction, raising her blade in an attempt to strike me. Our swords clashed as I defended myself from her sudden attack.

Her eyes twitched in anger. “It should have worked,” she said from behind gritted teeth. “Your mind should have been taken over by the Dark Exchange.”

I landed a kick to her stomach, pushing her away. She thudded onto the melting snow, her blue eyes fixed on me.

The other nine Nephilins raised their swords, pointing them in my direction. Xavier’s arms trembled as he struggled to stand on his feet. His tattered dark cloak was drenched, covered in mud and dirt.

My eyes widened when I saw the wound on Xavier’s chest oozing with blood. He gnawed on his lips as his eyes stared at me in disbelief.

“How dare you wound a Fallen Ruler?” he bellowed, spreading out his arms. “Mark my words, Isaac. Once you are no longer needed, I will be the one to take your life away.”

Adawnas stepped her way back to him, keeping her gaze on me. Her golden hair dripped with mud.

Loud clashes of thunder echoed through the sky.

“Awake them,” I demanded, looking at my companions.

Xavier, along with all the Nephilins, had a spiteful smile on his face.

“They have not yet awoken from their sleep because they no longer desire to return to Elysium,” said the Nephilin on the far left. His facial traits reminded me of Nephele.

“Oh, Duane, we need to be more gentle in the way we share information.” Xavier shook his head.

My brows tensed together.

“Only you refused my offer, Isaac,” Xavier said with a grin. “Your companions have chosen wisely.”

With a heavy heart, I gazed at them all. They were lost in their own dreams, striving to find peace amidst so much turmoil.

Great disappointment took over my heart. In silence, I pondered my decision to return. Should I have remained asleep? My heart would have no longer ached for my current troubles and torment.

Xavier’s sudden groans and screams startled me. His chin quivered while his eyes rolled back in his head. His trembling legs gave out, and he arched his back while his body thudded against the ground. As still as statues, the Nephilins stared at him, confused.

Courage arose within me as I watched Demetre, Devin, and Xylia open their eyes. They gasped for air, raising their bodies from the ground. With a surprised look stamped on their faces, they rose to their feet.

“How come the rest of them are still asleep?” Demetre inquired in a strong voice. “Tell me they have not given in to Xavier’s temptation.”

Silence was my response to him.

“Unlike you and your other friends, they were wise in the choices they made,” Duane said.

Devin managed to rise. He let out painful groans as he limped my way. Sweat trickled down his golden hair, and blood poured from the wound on his chest.

“The one that disgraces our kind has disappointed us all once again,” said Adawnas, pressing her lips while raising her upper eyelids. “You should have remained asleep. You would have spared yourself from the shame of a lost war.”

His breathing ragged, Devin’s legs gave out. Dark circles surrounded his blue eyes; his chapped lips had lost their pigment.

I knelt beside him. “My friend, you must rest.” I tried to avoid staring at his open wound. My heart feared that a fate worse than pain was about to come upon him.

He coughed, lifting his eyes to mine.

“Do not prevent death from finding me today,” he whispered. “My tormented heart needs rest.”

I grasped the nape of his neck, lifting his head toward me.

“Do not say foolish things. We have a war to win, Devin,” I said as fear welled up inside of me.

There was a tremor beneath my feet. Xylia and Demetre sprinted in my direction, standing by my side.

“We have company,” Xavier said in a dark voice.

The tremor intensified, causing some of the weaker trees in the forest to fall. The wind howled, and the raindrops continued to pour over us like a flood.

Guttural sounds filled the air. Demetre set his eyes on me, recognizing the malefic growls. I looked over my shoulder and saw Duane holding Ballard’s body in his hands.

“No!” I darted my way to him, trying to dodge the falling tree branches. I closed my eyes and raised my arms as one of the pine trees fell on top of my body. Its thick branches scraped my face in my attempt to avoid the full impact of its descent.

When I opened my eyes, I realized that Ballard, Petra, and Adara’s bodies had disappeared. For a couple of seconds, I stared in disbelief, trying to understand what had just taken place.

Hands dug their way out of the ground as the tremors continued. Decayed bodies crawled from beneath the earth, their bright yellow eyes capturing every detail of their surroundings.

“Shadows.” I shuddered at the word.

The tremors ceased. Sweat poured down Xylia’s face as she watched the Shadows clump around us like wild animals hunting for their prey. Demetre’s brows furrowed, his eyes following their every move.

Seven Nephilins stood around Xavier. Despite his wounds, his face exuded the confidence of his triumphant victory.

“What did you do to the others?” Xylia screamed in fury. The Shadows approached us, saliva dripping down their necks. She darted them a furious stare. “Do you think I am frightened of Shadows? Death has looked me in the eye many times.”

“You will not say such foolish things once the Shadows sink their teeth into your skin, girl,” Xavier retorted. “I am aware that we need you alive, but it would be my pleasure to torture you.”

The snarls of the creatures assaulted my ears like an unrehearsed symphony. These were the moments when I wished I could control the new ability that developed within me. I wanted to enter Xavier’s mind and send him back to the Abyss.

“Where are the others?” Anger flowed with every word I spoke.

“Since they accepted my offer, I must keep them safe.” Blood rushed to my cheeks as his voice filled my ears. “Soon they will open their books, allowing Lucifer’s body to begin to take its shape.” He walked in my direction. “Of course, without the Diary and the Book of the Justifier, Lucifer’s body could never be whole.”

“What do you mean?” Xylia asked.

“Every book represents a part of him.” He pointed to me. “Your book is his heart.” His gaze met Xylia’s. “And yours, my dear.” He clicked his tongue, raising his eyebrows. “The Book of the Justifier represents his chest. Without both, Lucifer’s body could never come to life.”

Xavier let out a sudden pain-filled grunt, and his body doubled over. Xylia, Demetre, and I raised our swords, ready to strike our enemy in his moment of weakness. We ceased our attack when the remaining seven Nephilins flocked in his direction, standing in front of him. The Shadows released angry roars as they watched us with their bright, feverish eyes.

I looked at all of the Nephilins, hoping to find Adawnas in their midst, but she was no longer within sight.

Xylia glanced back.

“Isaac, Arundel is awake,” she stammered, surprised.

He reclined his body against a tree trunk, struggling to stand. With a weary face, he rubbed his gray eyes with his fingers while taking in shallow breaths.

“Why was the boy not taken?” one of the Nephilins shouted. “Why did they leave him behind?”

In silence, they exchanged a confused look.

“Fools,” Xavier moaned.

A sudden roar filled the atmosphere, followed by the flap of strong wings. From the sky descended a white dragon. A thin smile grew on my face when I saw Nathan flying beside the beast. The Nephilins looked at the creature in horror, and the Shadows screeched in fear.

“We have to leave, Xavier,” one of the female Nephilins clamored. “The white dragon will smite us all with its flames if we stay.”

As Nathan and the dragon got closer, the Shadows fled through the forest, screeching. Xavier pressed his lips together, bearing his eyes into mine.

“Let us leave. Isaac and his remaining companions will come to us soon.”

Xavier and the other Nephilins turned into shapeless shadows, vanishing into the air.

My body grew cold as I caught sight of a dark shadow surrounding Devin’s unconscious body. I reached for the shapeless fume, attempting to capture whatever had ahold of my companion, but the shadow disappeared, taking my friend with it.

The wind weakened, and the rain and thunder ceased.

For a few seconds, I shut myself off from everything around me, trying to acknowledge the fact that my companions had been captured. Our enemies had taken Devin, the one that I always believed to be undefeatable.

I cast my sword onto the ground, its blade sinking beneath the mud. My fingers rubbed my forehead as I rested my left hand on my hip, pondering the events that had just taken place.

The loud roar of the white dragon startled me. It whirled its long wings as its paws sunk beneath the melting snow. I lost my breath when I recognized the rider mounted on the beast.

Xylia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Sathees!” she shouted, running to greet the one who had aided her in the caves of Bellator. He alighted from the white dragon, walking to her embrace. His tattered garments were covered in grime.

Nathan approached and landed. I watched him with weary eyes. He rushed his way to me. Sorrow was stamped in his hazel-green eyes, and bruises marred his face and hands. His fair hair cascaded in front of his right eye. His ragged wings were smeared with blood.

My emotions went on a rampage, racing inside of me. No other desire would be able to suppress my longing for vengeance.

“I am glad to see that you are alright,” Nathan affirmed, resting his hand on my shoulder. His silver armor was covered with dents and scratches.

I pulled my shoulder from his grasp.

“Can you not see that we are not alright?” I shook my head, spreading my arms. “Our companions have been taken by our enemies. They gave in to the temptations Xavier offered them.” My fingers swept through my hair. “We are far from being alright, Nathan.”

“Do not speak as if all hope is lost, Isaac,” he said. “There will always be strength within us to overcome the darkness of the world.”

My chin quivered. “I no longer have such strength.” My voice broke into sobs.

I bowed my head, feeling the tears drip down my cheeks, making their way to my lips. I covered my face with my hand, kneeling on the snow.

I shouted as I grabbed the satchel from around my shoulder, hurling it against a tree. I despised the day the Diary had come to me. Maybe I should have taken up Xavier’s offer to erase my mind. Even if we were to triumph over Lucifer, these memories would always haunt me.

I heard heavy footsteps approaching me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Arundel ambling my way, holding my satchel.

Nathan raised his hand, signaling him to stay back. “Boy, I think you should—”

“I would like to talk to him,” Arundel demanded, interrupting Nathan before he could finish his sentence.