The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)

RED EYES LIT UP BEHIND THE MAN AS KADEN FLUNG HIM TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM. His body skidded and stopped as Kaden’s head whipped toward me.

‘You were told to wait,’ he snapped at me, all fangs and anger.

‘I thought it was abandoned.’

His eyes bore into mine a moment longer before I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know Alistair and Tobias had entered. Kaden said nothing else as he slowly took a cloth dark as the blood on his hand from his pocket and wiped the blood from his receding talons. He strode over to where the member of The Hand was struggling to pick himself up off the floor. The blue tattoos on his skin continued to flicker as he held his midsection. His head turned as Kaden approached and he held it high in defiance. Tobias, carrying two spiny daggers, came around and kicked him back to the floor. Alistair stood at Kaden’s side, a knife held in his hand.

The warrior looked up at Kaden, then Tobias and Alistair before speaking in a language I had never heard. He spat that colorful blood upon the floor near Kaden’s foot as he struggled back to a sitting position.

‘Ah, the ancient language of Rashearim.’ Kaden smiled slowly before shrugging. ‘I admit it has been awhile since I have heard those words.’ He took the spiny blade that Tobias offered to him. He held it in front of the man on the floor. ‘Do you know what this is?’ The warrior recoiled, fear flashing in his eyes.

‘A forsaken blade.’ He breathed the words. ‘Made from the bones of ancient Ig’Morruthens.’

Kaden shot Alistair and Tobias a triumphant smile, laughing briefly before turning back to the warrior. ‘Good, good, and you know what it does to you and your kind, yes?’

The warrior didn’t respond, and he didn’t reek of fear, either. I would return the compliment he had given me. In the face of absolute death, he wasn’t afraid.

‘Don’t worry, I am not going to use it on you. I have a better idea.’ He held the blade by the hilt as he continued to talk, ‘Alistair has this nasty habit of ripping into minds and pulling out any information I need, turning your brain into a shivering pile of useless goo. Now,’ Kaden clapped a hand on his bent knee, ‘I am going to have him make you my mindless slave like several of your brothers before you.’

The warrior grimaced at Kaden’s words, continuing to hold his side. He looked at Alistair who gave him a sadistic grin.

‘I’m not afraid of you. Any of you.’ He sneered looking at us all one-by-one.

It had no effect on Kaden. He flashed a crooked smile and said, ‘So cocky. So arrogant. Just like him to believe that you are the only powerful force in this realm or the next. Isn’t that right, Zekiel?’

The warrior’s brows furrowed and for the first time I saw shock in his gaze. Kaden knew his name and that terrified him. ‘You know my name?’

My heart skipped once more. How much did Kaden know and how much had he not told me? I felt my temper rise but I calmed it as Kaden went on.

‘The Hand of Rashearim. Samkiel’s guard. Or is his name Liam now? Once I get what I need, I’m going to enjoy ripping you to pieces and sending the parts back to your brethren. I hope he sees what is left of you.’

Zekiel’s eyes widened at Kaden’s words. I didn’t smell fear waft off him like his expression hinted at but something else. Resolve? He was preparing to fight. From the way Kaden tilted his head and smiled, he smelled it too.

‘Speaking of hands.’ Kaden flipped his sword and severed Zekiel’s hand. A blood curdling scream echoed within the burning chamber as Zekiel grabbed the stump. Kaden wiped the blood off his pants as he handed the blade back to Tobias. I was used to how quick and violent Kaden’s temper could be, but it never made the scene any less gruesome.

Kaden kicked the severed hand to the side. Zekiel hissed between clenched teeth, staring daggers into each and every one of us. ‘I would hate for you to summon those pesky blades. Now,’ Kaden looked down at Zekiel, ‘where were we? Ah, yes, I want the Book of Azrael. Where would it be?’

‘I’ll tell you nothing.’ He spit at Kaden as he cradled his arm. Blood oozed between his fingers the same blue shade as the light that kept flickering beneath his skin.

The corner of Kaden’s lips twitched. ‘That’s what they all say.’

Alistair’s eyes blazed red as Kaden glanced at him. Alistair focused on Zekiel. Alistair stepped forward and raised his hands, darkened smoke flowing from his palms into Zekiel’s head. Zekiel’s back bowed and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He let out another blood curdling scream as Alistair ripped through his mind. I winced, the sound piercing my ears. I should be used to this after all these years, but it was always horrifying. It was a few agonizing seconds that felt like years before Alistair stopped. Zekiel pressed his hand to the floor and panted as he lifted his head. Blood stained his teeth as he smiled, the sweat collecting on his forehead.

‘Well?’ Kaden said to Alistair not taking his eyes off of Zekiel.

‘Nothing. I hit a barrier. His mind is strong but not impenetrable.’ Alistair seemed stunned as he looked at Kaden and then back toward Zekiel. ‘I’ll need more time.’

Kaden raised his brows and shrugged. ‘That’s fine. We have all the time in the world.’

Zekiel chuckled, staring at Kaden as if he could will his death. ‘No you don’t.’

He kept his gaze focused on Kaden. I watched his mouth move as the ancient language poured from his lips. Kaden growled but only managed one step forward before Zekiel slammed his hand upon the ground. Glowing, pure silver circles formed around each of us. I looked down as several symbols appeared in the one encasing me then heard Alistair and Tobias scream. A surge of electricity shot through me, the pain blinding as I fell to my knees.

My limbs felt weak and constricted as I forced my head up. My teeth clenched as I tried to control the pain surging through my body. A blanket of light encased the circle prison I was in like a sheer fog. I looked to my left where Tobias had been standing. He was encased in his own silvery prison. His scream was that of some otherworldly creature, for, at that moment, that’s what he was as he shook and bent. His form was no longer human but rippling between every creature he had ever turned into. Black smoke danced across his body as he scratched and punched, trying to free himself. I didn’t need to see Alistair to know he was doing the same. I could hear him.

I gritted my teeth as my back bent from another surge of power ripping through me. What had he done? Sweat drenched me as I tried and failed to stand several times. Kaden roared, the sound one of pure rage and malice. My head snapped toward the center of the room, and I saw that Zekiel had managed to stand.

His eyes met mine for just a moment, and then he tore past us without a second glance, limping and cradling his arm against his midsection. I willed myself to turn, watching as he cleared the door. Fuck, we were going to lose him! A part of me snapped. This was the closest we had gotten to finding the book and getting some answers. We had a member of The Hand. I couldn’t let him leave. I wouldn’t.

My bones ached as I stood, the shapeless mass swirling around me bending. My knee wobbled as I slammed my foot to the ground. I strained, sweat dripping from my forehead. I clenched my jaw, and pushed upward, propelling myself into a standing position. I placed my hand on the barrier surrounding me and hissed as it burned my skin. This was going to hurt, but I needed to get out.

I summoned every bit of resolve I had and closed my eyes, focusing as I blocked out the pain, the screams, and the shouts. My body shook as scales replaced skin. Wings, talons, and a tail formed as I became the beast of legends. I didn’t hesitate to think about it, but shot out of the circular entrapment and through the roof. I roared in pain and fury my body feeling as if it was scoured by fire and glass.

I burst through the cavern ceiling, dust and dirt spewing into the air around me. My thick wings beat once, twice, and I was airborne. I shook to settle my new skin and remove the debris upon me. I spotted Zekiel limping toward the entrance of the ruined city. I slammed into the ground in front of him. Inky black smoke covered my body as I shifted back into my human form.

‘No! You shouldn’t be able to escape that. Not unless you are one of the—’ He stopped, his eyes wide, fearful. ‘It can’t be. Samkiel must know.’

I took a step forward. He took two back. ‘I can’t let you leave.’

‘You really have no idea do you? Your powers, your strengths?’

I stopped and shook my head. He was still bleeding from the wound to his abdomen and his hand. Kaden’s stab was doing its job. The only thing that could truly kill the Celestials besides weapons made by the divine was us. We were mortal enemies in every sense of the word and looking at him now, I could see why. The light that had shone so brightly in the library, was now dim and fading. He looked mortal and as if he were dying. I couldn’t let that happen, either. Not before we got the information we needed from him.

‘Look, you’re bleeding out and once I drag you back downstairs, Alistair is going to shred you from the inside out for what you did. There is no escape, no running. Never.’

The last word slipped out on a whisper, revealing my own fear more than his fate.

He reached up, grabbed one of his earrings and snatched it off. It glowed in his hand before turning into a silver knife.

I threw my hands into the air in frustration. ‘Oh, come on, how many of those things do you have?’

He didn’t respond other than to twist the blade and press it directly over his heart. Instinct took over, and I grabbed the blade before it pierced his chest. I held his hand between both of mine as he met my gaze, shocked and sad. He knew there was no escaping and this was his last choice. I felt for him then. I couldn’t help it. It was the same look Gabby had in her eyes as the desert tried to claim us. It is the look you get when you have given up all hope, abandoned all reason, and accepted your fate.

‘He can’t get his hands on that book,’ Zekiel said, his voice barely a whisper. ‘You don’t even know who Azrael was. If he made a book and hid it, then it’s not meant for your kind to find.’

I tried to pull the knife farther away from his chest but his grip, even with one hand, was strong. ‘And killing yourself is going to stop that? You know where it is?’

He shook his head. ‘No, but my death will have a purpose. It will bring Samkiel back.’

My heart thudded loudly in my chest. ‘You mean the Samkiel? The World Ender?’ He was real? Fuck. He didn’t answer so I shook him again.

Zekiel’s knee shot upward, connecting with my gut. I doubled over and he twisted out of my grip. His fist connected with my cheek hard enough to send me flying back. I landed on my ass and whipped my head back toward him.

‘Athos, Dhihsin, Kryella, Nismera, Pharthar, Xeohr, Unir, Samkiel grant me passage from here to Asteraoth.’ Zekiel cried.

Asteraoth? No! That was the heavenly dimension, far beyond time and space. Fuck. He glanced at me one last time and I saw what looked like tears form in his eyes. He tipped his head back to face the sky and plunged the dagger into his chest.

I was on my feet in a second but it was too late. My fingertips barely touched the silver hilt when he twisted. His body went stiff as those tattoos on his skin lit up. The light raced to the center of his chest, and then exploded upward in the most vibrant, blinding blue beam shooting straight into the sky. I raised my hand to shield my eyes and twisted away.

I opened my eyes slowly, expecting to still see the beam but nothing other than darkness greeted me again. I looked down at my hand and the silver blade I still held, both coated in the blood of the man who was no longer there.

‘What did you do?’

My head snapped up to see Kaden staring at me from the ruined building. One of his hands gripped the side of the house, his clothes disheveled from the assault from those silver circle death traps. The thing that had me questioning what I had done was the look upon his face. For the first time in centuries I saw fear in his eyes.