The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)

THE JUMP HADN’T BEEN THE WORST PART. The worst part had been the blistering cold water at the bottom. After we crawled out of the pool, we dumped the water out of our boots and tried to dry off as much as we could before continuing on. Ava’s map was a wrinkled mess, the images blurry but still readable.

We slogged through about a mile of disgusting water, my feet submerged in gods knew what. I was getting frustrated with my clumsiness, and Liam didn’t seem too pleased either as we trudged forward. My boots caught on roots, rocks, and cracks, but I managed not to break my neck.

None of us knew how long the tunnel actually was, and we were all growing irritable and tired. Hours had passed, if not a day. I couldn’t tell. My heel caught on a rock, and my body lurched forward. I caught myself against the nearest wall, cursing and muttering as I pulled a stringy green mass from my boot and tossed it aside.

‘I hate,’ I slipped catching myself as I pushed off the wall, ‘the jungle.’

Liam paused, waiting for me. ‘From what Ava showed us, it’s only a little farther.’

I huffed and stood upright. ‘Pretty sure you said that an hour ago.’ I didn’t tell him how much it had hurt landing in that damned icy water. I refused to acknowledge the phantom aches from the night before. My feet hurt from this god -forsaken ground and we had been walking for miles, at least. The aches and pains, the sluggish healing, were all due to me not eating like I was supposed to.

Ava and Geraldo stopped and looked back. Liam sighed and said, ‘Your healing is close to that of a god. How are you not able to keep up?’ 

I threw my hands in the air. ‘Oh, I’m sorry! Were you almost ripped to pieces, dragged through the jungle by beasts, and then magically glued back together last night? No, I don’t think so. I’m just still a little sore, okay? Give me a break.’ Plus it hurt to keep up when every path we took was uneven or involved some challenge.

I tried to stand up straighter and my abs ached. I bit back a gasp and held my side for a split second before dropping my hand.

His features darkened as he raked his gaze over me. ‘You didn’t tell me that.’

‘Well, we were,’ I paused, realizing Ava and Geraldo were staring at us, ‘busy.’ I created another flame and forced my feet to move. 

Super healing didn’t matter when the ones ripping into me shared my blood. Sure, I had healed thanks to Liam, but on the inside, I still felt tender and sore. I hadn’t wanted to tell him last night. I hadn’t wanted him to stop touching me.

Liam studied me, taking in my posture and expression. He allowed the sphere of energy in his hand to fizzle as he strode toward me, his boots echoing with each step.

 I watched him come, his power preceding him and wrapping me in warmth. Before I realized what he intended, he lifted me up in his arms. One hand cradled my back and the other supported my legs.

‘Liam, what are you doing?’ I grunted. The air whooshed out of me at his sudden hoist.

‘We have a little bit further to go. You can’t walk if you’re not healing properly.’ Ava and Geraldo shared a look but said nothing as Liam cradled me close. I wrapped an arm around his broad shoulders, the ache in my legs and feet subsiding.

‘Well, if I knew you’d carry me, I would have said something a lot sooner.’

He snorted and brushed his lips against my forehead before turning with me in his arms. ‘How much further?’

Ava and Geraldo stared at us with identical expressions of astonishment. At Liam’s question they seemed to snap out of it. Ava shook her head and said, ‘Oh, yes, umm, just a little further.’ 

Liam nodded before spinning around and heading down the path.

No one said anything as we went on. I kept my hands linked loosely at the back of his neck, my body singing in relief. Liam carried me for what felt like another hour. He never complained, seemed uncomfortable, or acted as if I were a burden. It was nice for a change.

The silence between our little group was deafening, but I didn’t have the energy to come up with anything clever or sarcastic. Ava never spoke, only pointing out our next direction. Ava didn’t say anything as she led up a small incline, beams of sunlight spotlighting several fallen stone monuments.

Liam stopped and gently set me on my feet. He took my hand, and I followed him, passing beneath a large pillar that had fallen against the opposite wall. We stopped when we saw the four stone coffins in the massive room beyond. They sat diagonally to each other and were elaborately engraved. The ceiling was high and came to a sharp point above the center of the crypt, the wall covered in moss and vines. I could see smaller rooms through open arched doorways, more coffins resting at their centers.

‘Why would Victoria want to be buried so far away from civilization?’ I asked, slowly turning to take in the mausoleum. ‘And in such a damp, dingy place?’

‘She didn’t want to put the city she loved at risk. It was safer to hide the book and her remains far from the place she called home,’ Liam answered, stepping forward. ‘Which is Victoria’s tomb, Ava?’

Ava shook her head. ‘I don’t know. She didn’t want to put me in danger by telling me. The only thing she left me was the map, and it ends here.’

‘Very well. Spread out and see what each of you can find.’ Liam inspected the first two tombs, and I checked the remaining ones. They all looked like normal, ancient coffins The figures carved into the lids looked like soldiers, swords clenched in their stone hands.

Ava and Geraldo had split up, each taking a smaller room. I could see their torches casting shadows on the stone walls as they moved around. I cast my flame again, feeling it dance on my palm and took the room furthest from the entrance.

A hiss greeted me as I entered the large dark room. A snake, coiled and prepared to strike, danced at my feet. I lowered to my knees, carefully reaching out and grabbing it. It hissed and spit before settling then its long body wrapped around my arm.

‘Hey little guy, do you want to show me where a magical ancient book is?’

A small hole in the ceiling allowed sunlight to seep inside, letting me know we weren’t far underground anymore. A beam shone down spotlighting a tomb toward the back. I moved closer and saw that, unlike the others, this one had a woman on the front. The snake in my hand seemed to recoil. Perfect. Animals always knew. I sat it down as it slithered away and turned back towards the large tomb.

Her hands were crossed over her chest, the marble stunning and untouched. She had long flowing hair and her face was in perfect, peaceful repose. Rings decorated her fingers, the mark of Dhihsin clear. Despite what the artist had carved into the stone, I could feel the sadness that lingered over her corpse. My heart twisted, understanding a bit better now what it would mean to lose a mate. This was Azrael’s wife. I leaned closer to get a better look, bracing my hand on the lid. Pain seared through me and I hissed, jerking back. The skin on my palm blistered and bubbled before healing over.

‘Fuck!’ I snapped.

‘Dianna.’ I felt the rush of wind behind me. ‘What is wrong?’ Liam caught sight of my healing hand and grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer. ‘You’re hurt? How—‘

His words died as he noticed the tomb next to me.

‘I think I found her,’ I said as I turned back to him. He looked at my already healed hand and gently ran his thumb over my palm before gently releasing it. He ran his hand over the tomb, barely making contact. His eyes shimmered, the silver rings on his fingers glowing. Beneath his hand I watched as tiny cords of electricity danced. The tomb began to creak and he shifted to look at Victoria’s face. I heard a hiss and a pop as he dropped his hand. He put his arm out and pushed me behind him. The lid of the tomb slid to one side, the sound of stone on stone echoing throughout the room. I stood on my tip toes, trying to see over Liam’s shoulder. A clothed figure lay inside, its mummified hands crossed over its chest.

‘It’s not Victoria,’ I whispered.

Liam shook his head. ‘No, it’s not. When celestials or gods die, the energy that makes us up returns to where it came from. There is no body to bury. This must be one of her trusted subjects.’

I stepped a little to his left as he peered further inside. In the tomb lay the remains of what could possibly be a man. The wear and tear of time had left a grayish hulk covered in a white shawl. Beads and jewels lined the neck and it held a worn and tattered book in its hands. It was thick, at least a thousand pages, but was not made of any type of paper I had ever seen. It was covered in some sort of brown leather with silver latches keeping it closed. Various symbols were engraved deeply into the front.

the Book of Azrael.

We’d finally found it. Not only had we found it, but we’d found it before Kaden and Tobias.

Liam reached inside the crypt carefully detangling the man’s fingers from the book, whispering an apology as he lifted it from the tomb. Liam turned to me, his eyes shone and that beautiful smile flashed against the dark stubble that shadowed his jaw. I stared at him, stunned anew at his beauty, and I knew I would do just about anything to see him truly happy. I didn’t know how he had made it past my guard so quickly, but there was no doubt he had roused emotions in me I thought I would never feel for another.

‘We did it,’ he said, slamming his lips against mine. The kiss was short but blistering. He pulled back, and I grinned, nipping lightly at his chin. He tightened his arm around me, fitting my body tighter to his.

‘More like you did,’ I corrected. ‘I was mostly the hired muscle.’

‘No, we did it, Dianna. You’re right. You have always been right. I could not have done this without you,’ he said, his eyes searching mine.

My chest suddenly felt tight. ‘I’m sure that thick skull of yours would have figured it out eventually.’

‘Always with the sassy quips.’ He grinned before kissing me quickly once more.

‘Of course. Who else will keep you humble?’

I looked down at the book pressed between us, able to feel the energy coming off of it and it bit into my skin. I gently pushed myself out of his embrace. Liam, who seemed to notice everything about me, immediately knew what the issue was and held the book in the arm furthest from me. I finally understood what Kaden had meant when he said Alistair and I would know once we found the book. I couldn’t describe the energy coming off of it, but we would have known for sure if we had come into contact with that thing.

‘Damn, that thing packs a punch. I can feel the power coming off of it in waves.’ I shuddered.

He took a reluctant step back, trying to move it even further from me as if he was afraid it would hurt me. ‘Sorry. Look, let’s get this back to the Guild. I’ll need to call the others and inform them,’ he said, stepping in front of me to lead the way. ‘Besides, you need a shower. You smell absolutely terrible.’

‘Hey!’ I yelled. ‘I’m sure you smell just as bad.’ I picked up my pace, following close behind as he left the room.

‘At this point, I do not care. Although, I have smelled worse. Long battles with creatures whose secretions alone took days to wash off,’ Liam said, flashing me a wild grin.

‘Okay, you have to quit smiling. You’re starting to freak me out now,’ I said, side -eyeing him.

‘What can I say? I am happy. We got the Book of Azrael, anything that comes now we can deal with. What’s the worst that can happen?’ Liam jumped as I popped him on the shoulder with the back of my hand.

 ‘Ow, what was that for?’ he asked, rubbing his shoulder.

‘Are you insane? You can’t say that!’ I hissed.

Liam shook his head, still grinning as he rubbed his arm with his free hand. ‘So forceful.’

I smiled back, about to make a sassy comeback when we heard footsteps coming our way. Our heads snapped up as Ava and Geraldo joined us in the main antechamber. 

‘You found it. That’s it, isn’t it?’ Ava asked, stepping forward.

Liam lifted it in the air slightly. ‘Yes, and it seems your mother had a seal on the tomb so only I could open it.’ 

Geraldo nodded as realization seemed to click. Ava sighed, placing her hands on her hips as she smiled. ‘Well, that explains why we couldn’t get it open the last few times we tried. I mean we burned through a lot of celestials.’

My eyes widened as her words clicked. ‘What did you say?’

Ava didn’t move or respond, her body frozen in place and that sweet face of hers stuck in a permanent half smile. Geraldo’s gaze stayed fixated on the book Liam held, and I realized after my last sentence he hadn’t done much of anything. He stood there for about a half a second before I realized we were fucked.

So, so fucked.

Liam must have felt the change in the air right before I did because he went rigid. Ava’s body jerked to one side, her arm bending at an ungodly angle as her neck rotated to the side, the bone beneath protruding. We were looking at how she had died.

Geraldo’s body dropped, his spine misshapen and parts of his skin sluicing off, exposing the tissue beneath. Bite marks and gashes appeared as if he had been mauled by a wild animal. He jerked up, both his and Ava’s eyes wide open and a dull white. At that moment, I knew what I had smelled earlier wasn’t just disgusting stagnant water but them. They had been dead and rotting this whole time.

I stepped back, grabbing Liam’s arm as he stared in shock.

‘We need to go. Now!’ I snapped

‘What is this?’

‘Death. And only one person has the power over it.’

Ava’s and Geraldo’s heads snapped back, their broken jaws opening obscenely wide. Only one creature had control over the dead that even a celestial wouldn’t burst into light. I knew it was too late. A hollow howl echoed out of their throats, filling the mausoleum and calling their master forward.

The volume of the ghastly wail was piercing and I covered my ears. Liam winced, and I saw the brief flash of silver as Liam slashed his silver blade through Geraldo’s neck. His head bounced and rolled on the ground, but his body stayed upright.

I pulled on Liam’s arm. ‘That won’t work. They are already dead, and what’s controlling them is only using them as a beacon.’

My point was proven as that damned wail continued to pour from the stump of Geraldo’s throat. For the first time since I’d met him, Liam seemed to be in shock, but he listened. He called his blade back into one of the many rings that decorated his hand. I turned away, scanning for a way out because I knew what was coming, and it wasn’t something we were ready to fight. I wasn’t even fully healed.

I spun, searching for another exit, ignoring what was left of Ava and Geraldo. The walls lining the mausoleum held no sign of another way out. The cracks that had allowed light through filled with several pounds of mud and rock as I dug at them. Talons replaced my nails as I dug at the walls, hoping for another secret door. We had to get out of here and fast.

‘Dianna, stop!’ Liam snapped, pulling my hands from my search. ‘There isn’t another way in or out. I told you that.’

‘We have to try!’ I cried, yanking my arms back.

I could see the worry fill his eyes as he recognized the near terror in me. ‘What is coming, Dianna? Who is coming?’

The room suddenly went silent as Geraldo and Ava stopped wailing. I heard footsteps and a whistle of a soft melody coming down the hall. I spun toward the doorway and the sound of heavy boots hitting the ground drew closer. Liam stepped up beside me as I swallowed, knowing what was to come. Footsteps came toward us, and the energy in the room changed and the whistling stopped.

Tobias.

The Ig’Morruthen I knew all too well entered the mausoleum with his hands in his pockets. ‘Well, well, well, the bitch can do something right.’ 

Tobias strode in, wearing a dark slim jacket that wrapped at his waist and matching pants. He moved closer, into the light of the torches, and I realized that the dark color of his clothing was due to the blood soaking the fabric. He stopped and slowly lifted his hands from his pockets. His fingers were tipped with dark talons, covered in blood. He had killed and eaten every guard surrounding the entrance of the temple. I could smell it.

‘Tobias.’ I sneered, stepping in front of Liam.

If I stood at just the right angle, he wouldn’t see the book in Liam’s left hand. We needed to get out of here before Kaden showed up. I could probably take Tobias on my own, but we would be seriously screwed if Kaden made a guest appearance.

‘Samkiel. World Ender. Destroyer.’ Tobias taunted, staring at Liam. ‘A creature of so many names.’

I could feel Liam’s energy coming off of him in waves, and I didn’t need to look behind me to know his eyes were glowing. The last part of Tobias’s words must have hit a nerve I wasn’t aware of. What did Tobias know about him that I didn’t?

‘And what do they call you?’ Liam asked, his voice edged with anger.

‘Oh, I’m sorry, did Dianna not tell you who I am?’ Tobias asked, putting his hand to his chest, acting offended. ‘I figured she would have since—what did you say again?’ 

He lifted his hand and Ava’s corpse lurched upright, her voice repeating my words back. ‘I’m his friend.’ The words left Ava’s cold lips in my voice except the octave was gurgled and mangled. Tobias dropped his hand and Ava’s body dropped, rotting on the floor.

‘She was a good puppet,’ Tobias said as he watched Ava decay. ‘They both were, although they weren’t going to last much longer since you both decided to take your sweet ass time and jump into that blasted water. Dead flesh doesn’t last long when wet.’ Tobias said, stepping close to one of the coffins. He swiped his fingers through the dust on the lid and rubbed it between his fingers.

‘You have control over the dead,’ Liam said, a touch of surprise coloring his tone. ‘Necromancy has been forbidden for centuries.’

‘I’m not the only ancient being who has committed atrocities, God King,’ he said. ‘Does she know everything about you? Did you tell her about the oblivion blade? Did you tell her how many of ours you’ve slaughtered with it? Did you tell her the truth, or did you guys just skip to the part where she opens her pretty little legs?’ 

‘Go fuck yourself, Tobias,’ I snarled, my talons digging into my palms.

‘She is a monster, Samkiel, and one of the worst.’ he snapped back, an evil grin lifting his lips. ‘Don’t let those bashful eyes and sweet smiles fool you. She has killed and relished in it. She didn’t become Kaden’s second just because she is good on her knees.’

I felt Liam stiffen behind me, and for a moment, I was concerned what Liam would think of me after hearing that comment. He knew what I would do for Gabby but he didn’t know just how bloodthirsty I could be. I should be worried about the Ig’Morruthen standing in front of our only exit and the idea that he might get the book. I didn’t tell Liam everything about my past just like he hadn’t told me of his apparently. I shouldn’t care, but a part of me did care what Liam thought of me.

‘Oh, are you quiet now? Don’t want your new boy toy to find out about how absolutely terrible you are? She is sweet, I know, but she is just like us, World Ender. No matter what those pretty lips murmur near your cock,’ Tobias said, walking over to another coffin. ‘You know I can smell you on each other? It’s sickening. I can only imagine what Kaden will do once he learns about it too. I wonder if he will make Gabby scream for you as he tears her limb from limb.’

Something in me snapped, and I launched toward him at full speed. I barely heard Liam scream, ‘No!’ I slammed Tobias against the wall hard enough to have pieces of stone raining down on us. 

I realized too late that he had been baiting me, and I had fallen for it. He grabbed my arms, twisting and flipping, changing our positions and driving me against the wall. Tobias’s eyes glowed a bright red in the darkened room as he grabbed my throat, lifting me up. His claws pierced my skin, my back scraping along the rock. The hard concrete behind me as he lifted me and his eyes bright red in the darkened room.

Where was Liam?! I couldn’t see him past Tobias’s shoulders, the room beyond in deep shadows. I wasn’t usually the damsel in distress type, but I could use a little help here while Tobias was monologuing.

‘You’re weak, Dianna. Have you not been eating right? Less protein in your diet?’ he asked. He smiled and I saw his teeth grow to points. He cocked his head to the side and inhaled. ‘Oh, you haven’t, have you? That’s why you’re not healing. Are you pretending to be mortal again? How well did that work for you the last time?’

Liam was behind Tobias in the next instant, his eyes a burning sliver as he grabbed him by the shoulder. I felt Tobias’s hand tighten around my throat and then he was being tossed through the air. He flew through one of the internal walls and landed with a loud bang, the stone piling down on top of him.

‘What did I teach you about emotions? Control, Dianna,’ Liam said, helping me up from my crouched position. I cradled my throat, my fingers sticky with blood.

‘Yeah, I didn’t really think that one through.’ My voice was raspy as I stood, leaning on Liam’s arm. ‘Liam, he’s stronger than me. He was out there eating and feeding off the guards. We have to leave.’

The low rumble from where Tobias had landed had us whipping our heads in that direction. Slowly, he emerged from the dust, wiping dust and pieces of stone off of his clothes as if he hadn’t just been slammed through a wall. He glared at us, straightening his jacket and regaining his posture, not a single scratch on him.

‘Now, that was just rude.’ Tobias cracked his neck before stepping out of the rubble. ‘You asked me who I am, Samkiel.’ The timbre of Tobias’s voice changed, making the walls vibrate, and I knew what was about to happen. ‘Allow me to show you.’ 

Tobias’s body cracked and bent as bony protrusions, thick and piercing, grew from his shoulders and elbows. His skin turned inky black with a red sheen and his flawless features became more angular and sharp. Four horns sat atop his head, pointing toward the ceiling. His talons lengthened and curved, sharp serrated teeth gleaming as he smiled at us.

I felt the air grow heavy, Liam’s power filling the room and pressing down on me. I glanced at him and saw pure, unfiltered shock on his face. I wrapped my hand around his wrist, but he paid me no mind.

‘Haldnunen,’ Liam whispered.

Tobias’s smile was cold, icy. ‘I have not heard my real name in eons, Samkiel.’

‘It’s not possible.’ Liam’s breath hitched. ‘You perished alongside my grandfather. I saw the texts. I read them. I know them.’

‘Is that what your father told you?’ Tobias clicked his tongue. ‘Your family is full of liars, Samkiel. Too bad you won’t be around to figure that out.’

Liam squared his shoulders as he glared at Tobias. ‘It does not matter who or what you are. It will take an army to detain me.’

Tobias’s laugh was cold and downright deadly. He stretched his arms out to the sides, squeezing his hands into fists. His talons dug into his palms, drawing fresh blood. He spoke in the ancient tongue of Ig’Morruthens. Blood welled between his fingers and dripped onto the floor, sizzling and dark smoke swirling as it made contact with stones. ‘Well, it’s a good thing, Samkiel.’ he said, his voice deep and menacing, ‘that I have bodies to spare.’ 

The mausoleum shook as the stone absorbed his blood. Liam and I watched in horror as, one by one, the lids slowly started to slide off of the coffins. Hollow wails and moans filled the crypt, the ground busting open beneath us as the dead began to rise.