Retribution, Devotion (15 page)

In a blaze of smoky fog and blood, a robed man in sandals with a mane of shoulder-length thick, corded locks came to her dreams again, speaking to her and comforting her. Sadness moistened his dark oak-colored eyes. His aura rang divine, indicating that she was speaking to whom the Nephilim called the One son. He explained that she needed what was embedded in his hands. Bleeding hands that he held out to her in urgency.

Two fleshy holes rested in the palms of his hands; within the wounds lay nails. He told her she needed to balance the war, to save the innocents and Nephilim of the world. Sanna listened with her heart open, kneeling before him, her curly mane now covered in a black shroud. Before her eyes, he changed. He was no longer the iconic savior: the one and only human Sin Eater. Now he was many iconic figures, spiritual teachers, and leader's everyone around the world believed in before his thumb rested against her third eye.

Immaculate power caused her blood to sing as he whispered,
“He used my blood to create children in his own malevolent image.”

The flash of a young girl with large light brown eyes made her gasp. Her face hovered over her own and that sweet little girl's sudden tears spilled down her face turning into blood. Her rich cocoa skin began to split and harden to many scales before a reptilian clicking noise surrounded her and she melted away. The image of Marco as a young boy and the Dark Lady playing tag with daggers in each hand around San made her spin around on her heels then reach out for the child.

Sanna was confused and scared to put the pieces together at the One Teacher's words:
“He seeks to find it again through the books, but Gabriel, then his sister, the chosen first Reaper, took it and they have it hidden well. You, my chosen first protectors, reborn in this life to defend the modern world will be successful in this needed change.

“Find what I showed you, continue to keep the books from his grasp, and keep my blood from his touch. You and my brother have always been Father's favorite as you are mine. The mouthpiece and His weapon, you both and your family make us proud. Continue to learn and stop what you can. The end is nigh, but it does not have to mean destruction of the Light. Ashe, sister, daughter. Mother of All. Ashe.”
The image of Khamun's loving eyes filled her then the sound of dragons and her family fighting rang in her ears as she woke up from her vision.

By now, she assumed that she would be used to these premonitions, visions, dreams, and migraines. But how could a person really be prepared to see such carnage and pain? It was hurtful but it was reality. She could just turn on the news and everything she saw was reflected there.

Society needs to come together and do what they were sent to earth to do, damn it!
The sudden flicker of Kyo's nails in the setting sun drew her attention from her muddled mind. The shadow of her god sister shifted past her vision in the night sky, at the same moment of the feel of a second presence: his presence, The Reaper, her fiancé, which made her inwardly beam in love.

Sanna's mind drifted in thought about him while walking downtown Chicago. The Windy City was alive as its caress whipped at her past-shoulder-length natural curls making her draw her black trench coat together. Tonight seemed to have many people bustling around, although it was starting to turn cold. A sharp vibration from her cell phone drew her attention to its screen. It displayed intel in a broken coded language that she was still learning.

From what she learned, this was nothing she hadn't already dreamed about. Marco and Calvin were tearing up STL, working toward the mission she had sent them on. Her two light and dark sweethearts were about to head into a conflict, which would place them on an unknown path. They were going to live and walk through hell and, maybe, even bring hell to the compound after this all ended; but San felt, in it all, something good was going to come from it, finding the rest of the books and helping save the Society.

 

I've been witness to many human tales in my long-lived life. I've created history as ordered by the Most High. Much of my work I am proud of but even as an Arch and a Guardian I have been saddened and ashamed by some of the tales I was not allowed to intervene in and heal.

This is one: the truth of the Judas. I watch him now seeing his future at the Great Table—which was really a small meeting of the chosen Disciples at a humble home—knowing that his betrayal will be the catalyst that will change everything, including our war against the Cursed.

As our kind knows, it takes something as simple as a wind's breath of a touch to pollute a human's soul. It takes even less than that to pollute a human who already has a fractured soul from a psyche attack by others who may have been influenced or corrupted by our enemies. He was such a vessel. Such a highly prized candidate for the enemy's wicked deviations. A simple brush. A brush in the marked as he stood in support of the One son.

I was commanded not to heal, commanded not to alert the others of the taint that unlocked darkness within the once-pure male. Now I do as I've always done. Watch, even as I fight the need to protect.

Following him was a simple blink for my kind. To watch him fall into the darkness once the One son revealed that he would be betrayed by his own chosen Disciples, marked the end of the purity within the male. It marked the end of the fight he held on to as he succumbed to the lies within his psyche. He began to believe that the One son was not going to save them or the land. That the only true power, the One son held was of a wizard as a vessel to trick and deceive those around him. And in his madness he believed he could be the one to save those around the One son from the lies.

I watched, as he let the darkness eat at him. I observed as many Cursed demons came to him in various forms. They broke bread with him and fed him more lies as a means to taint him more. The final blow was the turning touch from the Dark Prince himself, with his Cursed minion and King of the top world, Caius, once known as my fallen brother Bernael. My Arch's fury blazed bright with this knowledge and truth that I was able to read from those before me. Bernael was reborn in the flesh of a human. The angel had fallen and was hunted down by me only to find refuge in the shell of a human, whose putrid soul was beyond salvation. This was sacrilege; this was a perversion and violation of the humans we were taught to guide and protect!

Yet again, they took the gift that the Most High created and darkened it. As they had stolen our brothers and sisters in the skies. Forced them to fall to create the many kingdoms of the Cursed and then mated with humans to build those Cursed Nephilim kingdoms. They continue to find ways to reproduce, which was a gift that was taken from them in the Fall. The knowledge seared in my mind as the Dark Prince stared my way with a smile. Law dictated that his hand could not touch me, but his minion, this new thing, could and I was made to leave before my existence was found out.

With this known truth, I testified to the Most High's resultant and spoke with his mouthpiece. I watched as her diamond tears fell while she pleaded to be reborn again to heal what was breaking. I listened as we were ordered to wait. Which we obeyed while the mouthpiece sat with her weapon, her mate, whose haunted eyes never left my mind.

For see, these two were a part of me, as well. My own child created from the Most High by using pieces of my spirit and that of my brother Michael, my son in spirit, the vessel of the first King of Men. His mate sat at his side in her ethereal beauty. The Most High created her for the second time. She shared both of our Arch blood due to having come from my son's rib as well as from the fire of the Holy Spirit. Legend states that they were created from the earth, fashioned from the gifts given by the Eternal Garden, and then given the breath of life from the Most High. This would be a truth but to every truth, there is fact, which I observed that day.

The sadness in her eyes changed into a righteous wrath due to her innocence being taken from one of my own brothers at the spark of her life, a menace whose own pride corrupted his divine gift of duality. The angel who was to protect the gray, but who also chose to use his power to manipulate and corrupt in his fall. His deception and act to work for the Dark Prince strengthened his goal to pollute the womb of the Most High's loved children. Which began our second war. Now they once again use this act of conception in a deed of darkness.

From this understanding and the creed to let the chess pieces shift as they may, also gave us a new gift. The right to create our own Nephilim children naturally, children who would be divine, who will work to keep the final war from coming and who will protect the descendants of the First Garden and soon the children of the One son.

Thus, I watched as a good Disciple fell to the darkness, his soul fighting against the evil and sickness. I watched while he took coins for blood. His hands stained for eternity from the treachery of the One son. Thus with this knowledge, once the coins touched his hands, it condemned him to taking his own life. His hanging body later falling to the earth and turning into a miasmic mist. As history would write, he would forever be the Betrayer. He would forever be lost to darkness never given penance for his selfish act. Nevertheless, what we see as Guardians is never what history records and his story is one of those. His act he chose. His taint accepted as a means to be an insurgent and protector for the One son. He allowed his body to be used as a means to give us truths, truths I was able to glean in that meeting between him and the Dark Prince.

Yes, some truths are never allowed to be told in history and the Betrayer will never be seen as the hero he is. Thus, as promised, what was forced to fall will rise again from madness and help change the war for us, from within. A Betrayer with his own protectors for their side but a weapon for us.

—Elder Gab'reel, Council of Powers

Sanna pressed two fingers to her temples at the familiar start of her migraines. She knew she had to step back from trying to see more about the people who had come into her life so recently. Already the tension was getting to her, and she was feeling slightly nauseous. She needed to decompress, so she rolled her shoulders then shifted her mind to tracking the bright aura that woke her out of her sleep and made Khamun drop her on this lone mission.

Taking a turn down State Street, her milk chocolate pupils scanned the area while her inner scope locked in on the back of a child being briskly tugged by a handsome young yuppie couple. To the untrained eye, the couple appeared like any everyday youthful couple with a child. The guy was dressed in a pea coat trench, his arm wrapped around his savvy-dressed girlfriend or wife. The woman held up an iPad, flipping pictures while they shared a Newport cigarette. The guy held his hand around the young girl's shoulders, her vibrant auburn-reddish hair and features contrasting those of her parents' golden looks. Everything appeared peaceful but looks were always deceiving. Various hints of welts and cuts peeked through the little girl's sleeves of her coat. As the icy wind whipped her long hair to the side, Sanna saw more welts nestled against the girl's paling skin.

Pissed, Sanna's nostrils flared as a breeze hit her with an acrid, metallic, pungent smell, which coated the roof of her mouth. Smoke hit her in that same moment. It smelled of marijuana laced with something unfamiliar. Her mind computed it, letting her know it was meth. Anger bubbled within her at the people who were tainted by the Cursed. The demon within them seemed to snatch out to infect others with breaches to their hearts. Sanna moved faster to follow them. She knew she had to take them out quickly. They were touching too many people around them while leading the child down an alley connected to a major storefront. Sanna's spirit blazed to her that the child was not theirs. What they planned to do put a slight fear in Sanna.

“No fear, remember, sis. That is a weapon they will use against you, so no fear, we aren't born with it. Khamun wanted me to tell you,”
Kyo interjected in her mind. Sanna instantly gritted her teeth. Sanna tried to push it away but images of what they would do to that child slashed at her spirit. It was almost too much for her. Unshed tears burned at her eyes.

“San! Release it! They will feel you following,”
Kyo hissed into Sanna's mind, causing her to cut her eyes at her god sister and best friend. Sometimes Kyo could be bossy and overprotective but Sanna understood it. It was in her sis's DNA. The gentle tug on her arm from Kyo had led her down an adjacent alley.

“I flew over this area once. If we walk this way, we'll run into them head-on so get ready. Oh and me and Ryo, um, finally got some alone time. Just enough to share some kisses down below if you get what I'm saying, sis,” Kyo nonchalantly spoke in a hushed tone.

Sanna whispered, “What!”

Kyo giggled hard, jokingly beaming. “I so knew that would distract you!” Her mismatched eyes quickly glinted in awareness before she whispered, “Wait, wait, wait. Here they come. I'll tell you later.”

Sanna yanked on Kyo's arm hard to cut her eyes and stop their walk, dropping her own voice. “Kyo! You better talk right now and stop playing!”

She couldn't believe her best friend would even spill some tea like that, and not expect her to question it. What made her a little more annoyed, but not really, was that the heifer had the nerve to playfully smirk then innocently bat her eyes.

“Okay, okay I'll make it fast. It was in our five minutes. I really, really wanted to and, yeah, it just happened.” Kyo's words trailed off in assessing the alleyway.

The way her Protector tilted her head to the side let Sanna know that Kyo saw a place where she could position herself.

Distracted, Kyo hurriedly continued, still murmuring. “He stroked me and I decided to stroke him, then . . . you know? Yup, it was pretty nice. I enjoyed finally being with him in person and not in my dreams. With the little time we had.”

Sanna couldn't stop her bubbling happiness. She reached out to hug her laughing god sister and then quietly squealed, elated, “I know you two are ready to burst. I'll distract Take as soon as we get back so you both can have more time together.”

“Thank you, sis. I didn't think I'd love someone like I love him but I do and I get it. I get how you and Khamun love each other. I feel that with Ryo,” Kyo coyly whispered.

Of course, Sanna could understand totally. It felt good to have love given and returned equally. Sanna felt like a big bag of glowing joy. Her eyes softly glowed with forming tears of joy while she spoke. “I know and it's about time. Dreams seemed to have led us to our future husbands. Here they come, Kyo. I see them now.”

A quick, assessing tilt of her head had Sanna adjusting her scarf around her neck nervously. She glanced around and played the game by holding up her cell to her ear talking loud appearing unassuming. She noticed the couple yank the child whose blue eyes widened with a silent “Help,” the moment Sanna walked slowly toward them. Unabashed ire kept Sanna ready for battle.

Near the alley where she walked, a homeless man sat near a garbage bin, bundled up in various tattered blankets against the cold air. He coughed loud then pushed out a tattered cup with change within. The swift peek of locks drew Sanna's attention.
Always protected.
She inwardly knew who it was, which made her mentally lock in on how close the couple was.

While she spoke on her cell, she casually lifted her elbow in the air. The moment the side of the approaching male's face came close enough for her, she pivoted to slam her elbow into his head. Elbow connected with the side of his ear, jaw, and face. The sound of a loud grunt had her shaking her arm out in a turn. She quickly tucked her cell into her pocket then moved behind the guy slamming her forearm into the back of his head achieving to knock the couple off-balance.

In her peripheral she noticed that the male stumbled forward, almost falling on his face. The stunned look on his red face melted into a simple flash of malice as he barked out, his hand shoving toward her face, “You piece of trash!”

People can be bold sometimes,
ran in her mind. She pivoted to move out of his way. Cowering she held up her hands in front of her face, shaking her curly mane in feigned embarrassment. Her auburn pupils widened, while her plush lips formed an O in shock. “Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I slipped!”

The towering guy who could have been an extra in a Gap ad stood glared at her fuming. He seemed shocked and insulted for being hit in such a manner. Snobbishly, he brushed his coat off in a hasty, disgusted manner then slowly strolled back her way. With a tug on his collar, he scrubbed the back of his knuckles against his jaw then growled low, malice glinting in his eyes, “You lying cow. You did that crap on purpose. Who are you?”

Sanna fixed her lips to give a retort but the quick feminine snarl from the right of her drew her attention. It was so jarring that it made her duck at the lightning-quick wipe of jagged nails charging toward her. Fear hit Sanna hard. She watched the couple hone in on her with widened eyes. Danger was around her, which she could almost taste. It was game time.

Assessing the situation, she noticed the deranged couple's bodies appeared to unhinge. The sound of sharp cracking and popping of bones filled the alley. Before her, the elongation and separation of jawbone and cheekbones accosted her senses. Soft pinkish-white winter-chafed skin on the pair appeared to stretch and tear, turning into a sickly grayish hue. The female's face contorted with millions of tiny puncturing needle-like teeth filling her mouth.

Callous actions had the female demon flipping her hair to the side then dropping to all fours in a resonant growl. The tall, blond-haired male gave a disjointed laugh. Each of his fingers lengthened then cracked in its contorting deformity. Amusement at the perception of cornering a simple human flickered in his demonic eyes.

From what Sanna had learned in her trainings, the wannabe yuppie before her was an Anarchy Snatcher. At his side was his Dark Gargoyle who hissed then spit yellowed streams of milky spittle. The clicking noise from the grotesque entity made Sanna's ears ring as the intense smell of venom made her stomach turn into knots.

Several cautious steps had Sanna walking backward downwind, her eyes staying on her targets.
What did I get myself into?

Sanna licked her chapping lips. Her hand slipped to her hip to unclasp an object. A cloaked staff glinted silver in the dark. Its smooth surface clicked into place with a twist of her wrist then lengthened within her touch. Lenox's smooth voice echoed in her memories, telling her to keep her feet spaced while watching the female Gargoyle with the blond hair stalk toward her then rush her.

The instant that Sanna came face to face with the demon, she turned on the balls of her feet to swing her staff out, like a batter at base. Satisfaction hit the moment the entity encountered her staff. San moved ready to battle but inwardly cursed realizing that she couldn't remember anything from her fighting classes or warrior memories of before. Dismayed, she screamed, backing away feeling dejected.
Get it together, Sanna, you can do this!

In that moment, the female demon turned then rubbed her back, cracking her shoulders and laughing at Sanna's screams. The demon calmly flipped her long blond hair over her shoulder then spit her acid spittle on the ground before running back her way. Elevation of her heartbeat with that of the shift of her peripheral with that of Kyo's had her seeing through her god sister's eyes. Kyo watched from above, perched on a fire escape; she quickly jumped down and sent the Dark Gargoyle flying backward with a right-sided stiff kick to its side.

“San!” Kyo yelled.

Flustered, Sanna turned red in embarrassment. Pure fear and humiliation splashed across her soft features. She didn't want to be saved again. She wanted to prove herself and show that she could protect, too, but all she could do was stand there looking like a fool.

Kyo stood partially battle bulked. Her talons shone in the moonlight. Her usually mismatched hazel and jade almond-shaped eyes were now fully green. Her incisors dropped to attacking levels and her beautiful wings curved, ready to be used as a shield or blades. Sanna stood back. She watched Kyo offer a supporting and understanding glance then commence into trailing the female demon so that she could finish tearing into her prey. Both of them went flying in the air with sharp screeches.

The moon's light cast its pale shade on the women. Wings crushed into the sides of the building. The sound of honking cars filled the alleyway and more snarls took over the alley. After a tumble of slamming bodies that silhouetted the skies, brick from the side of a building rained around Sanna. Shielding her eyes, Sanna tried to see more but could only make out the demon running from Kyo who followed right behind her.

Silence drowned out the world then the idle strand of blond hair fluttering in the wind to fall by her feet brought back a clanking noise then shriek with Kyo's voice echoing around her, “Demon bitch!”

Sanna took that as her cue to move to safety, keeping her eyes on the second demon. She noticed Khamun's form move under his blankets to look her way and she felt ever more foolish. She should be able to handle this but no, here she stood standing like a fool, feeling defeated. She dug her nails in her staff. Anger made her unhook a clear diamond and silver dagger chained to her wrist. A slow thumping pressed into her temples and tears blurred her vision but her eyes stay locked on that Anarchy Demon before her.

She felt Khamun's eyes on her again. She sensed him. He was ready to step her way but a quiet energy that made the hairs on her body stand at attention had her excited. She studied his tumbling hair, noticing the swirling tattoo against the side of neck softly light up as he stopped in his tracks. A slow, cunning smile spread across Sanna's beautiful features and her eyes shifted into an illuminating silver. Instinct caused her to drop into a low stoop. Her fist nestled to rest against the pavement.

In the other hand, the dagger she held pressed comfortably against the small of her back. “Oh you asked who I am? I'm that foot in your behind. Let's do this.”

Everything she learned from her trainings as well as her past memory teachings unlocked in her mind like a flood. She leisurely rose up as if in slow motion. All fear she carried melted away and she charged headlong forward toward the growling demon.

Massive claws swiped across her way making her spin on her heels to the right of the demon. Using momentum to help her slide flat against a wall, she lunged her dagger behind her into the demon's ribs. A satisfying metallic smell wafted in the air with a high-pitched scream. Black-red blood trailed to where the demon sat crouching. Sanna used the precious time she had to lock eyes on the scared child, and then scoop her up in her arms. They moved down the alley toward a hidden Khamun. The closer they got to him, the harder Sanna's heart beat until something within her told her to duck.

Cradling the child against her, she shifted on her feet to duck in a slide. The jarring slam against her spine brought tears to her eyes. Sanna thought she felt her own blood spill down her side only to feel the little girl slump against her instead.
Is she hit? Is the little girl hit!
ran in her mind.

“Please no!” ripped from her lips.

A quick glance had Sanna's pumping heart stop briefly. Blood was everywhere. Tears slid down her cheeks and Sanna stopped where she was to lay the child down. Instinct was her teacher, telling her to bow over the girl in prayer for her not to be wounded. While her hands slid over the girl, San was rewarded with the thorny feel of a talon in the spine of the little girl's back.