The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)

THE DAY SINCE MY ARRIVAL WAS SPENT WITH CELESTIALS AND HUMANS I DIDN’T KNOW TRYING TO GREET ME AND FAWNING OVER MY ARRIVAL. I sighed as I shut the computer Logan had given me, closing my eyes while my brain tried to process the instructional videos he had pulled up. Languages, time zones, politics, states, every major event that had transpired since I left the Etherworld centuries ago. My temples ached and I rubbed them as I heard footsteps drawing near. Everyone was so eager and invasive. I braced myself for an onslaught of more people to rush in but the footsteps seemed singular. A slight knock and twist of the doorknob and I was relieved to see Logan.

‘I have a few shirts and pants you can wear. They should fit well enough until we get you something in your size.’ Logan spoke this time in what I had learned was the language native to Onuna. Over six thousand languages existed in this plane and I had only learned half in the last twenty-four hours.

I made an inaudible noise in agreement, my fingers reaching back up to rub across my eyes and forehead.

‘I know it’s a lot to take in at once, but I’m here to help like always.’

I nodded again.

‘How are you? I mean it’s been centuries. I’ve missed you, brother.’

My eyes opened as I dropped my hands. There was that word again. Same as Imogen spoke just in a different language. It was genuine. I knew it and yet I felt nothing. I haven’t felt anything in years and I knew what it was, knew what was happening to me and a part of me didn’t care.

I nodded again as I stood. Everything was a dull version of the colors from our world. The golds and reds here looked rustic and this room yelled at a mock attempt to recreate what we’d had on Rashearim. Logan did not say anything as I walked over to the oversized bed where he had draped clothes in shades of black, white, and grey.

I picked out an assemble, a suit is what Logan called it but parts of it were too tight. The jacket dug into my biceps and the pants into my thighs. Logan was leaner than me by a few pounds, nothing drastic but enough to make even his clothes uncomfortable. I leaned over tying the shoes he had supplied before he spoke once more.

‘Do you want to shave or get a haircut maybe?’ He made a gesture with his hands to his own head before scratching it.

‘No.’

‘I’m just saying you’re about to meet a lot of people and—’

‘I do not care about my appearance. I am not staying.’ I did not mean for it to come out as harsh as it did and the look in his eyes reminded me of so many times when my father would raise his voice. ‘I apologize. I just would like to take care of the threat that stole Zekiel’s life and return to the remains of Rashearim. This is not meant to be an extended stay.’

Worry knitted his brows for a brief moment before he corrected his expression. His eyes darted from mine as he lowered his head and nodded once. ‘Understood.’

My fingers rubbed across the clothes Logan had given me as we entered the large foyer. They were ill-fitting and made my skin itch. The material felt rough, unlike the soft fabrics from our home world.

‘Sorry, my liege, I didn’t know you were coming or I would have gotten you something that actually fit,’ Vincent said before giving Logan a pointed look. As if Logan would have known of my return before he.

‘Do not call me that,’ I responded with a slight growl in my voice.

Logan chuckled softly from behind me. Vincent led us upstairs into a large chamber. Just inside, a mahogany bookshelf held an assortment of small statute items. Paintings were displayed on most of the walls and a desk with items scattered across its surface was off to the right.

‘We can always get you something else. You’ll need a place to stay—’

‘That will not be necessary,’ I said, turning from the large carved out oval casement. ‘I will not be staying long.’

The room fell silent once more. I knew I should feel a tug, a hint of guilt. They cared enough to want me to stay, but I felt nothing. I just wanted to return to the fragment of home I had left. My hands flexed beneath my folded arms. The noises, lights and room were starting to become overwhelming. I felt confined and it didn’t help that everything here was noisy. The humans talked continuously, and I could hear them through each room.

Logan and Vincent said nothing for a long moment waiting for my next command or order. They did not understand how hard it was just being here and around them after what had occurred. I despised it.

‘What information have you gathered regarding Zekiel’s death?’

I watched their demeanors shift and sadness return to their eyes, but the topic had to be discussed regardless.

Vincent moved first, going to the large desk. He picked up a beige paper like object and opened it.

‘Some of the ruins and temples created from the pieces of Rashearim that fell into Onuna have been hit. Whoever these creatures are, they seem to be searching for some old texts or items. We do not know what they are seeking, but they are determined to find it.’

Vincent handed me a stack of smooth reflective pages, images upon them of places half destroyed.

‘I sent word to Imogen. Has she not been able to reach you?’ Logan said, striding over, his gaze questioning.

Is this what she meant about the growing concern?

I did not raise my gaze to look at him, merely responding as Vincent handed me another photo.

‘She informed me of a growing concern, but I was unaware of the gravity of said request.’

It was kinder than the truth. I knew and did not care. How terrible had I become?

Vincent flipped a few more images my way as the sound of clicking against the hardwood floor approached. A light knock echoed against the door and all of us looked up as Neverra, fourth in command, entered and bowed.

‘Sorry to interrupt, my liege.’

Logan made a motion across his throat with one hand. ‘Babe, he doesn’t like that.’

Her eyes grew a centimeter larger as she straightened. ‘Sorry.’ She cleared her throat before walking to Logan and giving him a quick hug. An image danced across my consciousness of when they had first met. Long before I had formed The Hand and when Rashearim was a more joyful and cheerful place. Long before wars, long before death, long before the fall.

She turned to Vincent and I, folding her hands in front of her. ‘I just wanted to let you guys know that the human council has started to arrive.’

I nodded once as Vincent checked the gold device on his wrist. In my absence, Vincent had worked with the humans, balancing politics and global problems. He was now working for the embassy. It kept them in the loop, was how Logan worded it, the terms still foreign to me. Through the centuries, trust had grown between humans and celestials and they had formed working relationships. Mortal liaisons were a predominantly significant benefit. They kept the peace and helped ease the melding of worlds and culture. It was an easier transition once the mortals in Onuna learned just how small they were in the grand scheme of things.

I’d given Vincent the title because, out of all of the members of The Hand, I knew he wanted it. It gave him power and control, things he never received under Nismera. Vincent was a great leader. I’d known that since Rashearim. It was one of many reasons why I’d selected him, another being that I did not want it. I shut myself off from the world and that was how I intended for it to stay.

Vincent cleared his throat, gaining attention once more. ‘I have set up a meeting of sorts my, l—’ he paused, ‘Liam. They wish to speak with you and be debriefed on what has been happening the last few months.’

I nodded again. ‘I would like a brief history on that, as well. You spoke about sending Zekiel to one of our bibletoceas. Why did he not return?’ I looked through the images in my hand, more buildings either destroyed or missing completely.

I looked at Logan. ‘The Etherworld is one of the simplest realms to run. The list of Otherworld creatures that roam are very few. The beasts they were modeled after are sealed in over a number of realms. Sealed by my blood and the blood of my father.’ I stopped, that gnawing pressure in my head and stomach returning momentarily. ‘So again, I ask, what can kill one of The Hand? Have you all not been training as much? Slacking while you indulge in the finer aspects of your duties?’ I asked, indicating the room around us.

The lights in the room flickered once, then twice as the pressure built in my head. ‘There should be nothing living that can best any of you, but I still hear the dying chants and see the life light bleed across the sky. Tell me why that is?’

I know it is cruel but the words empty from my mouth like poison. I sound like him, and I know it.

‘I have an answer for that,’ Vincent started as he moved closer, opening the file he brought with him. ‘I have tracked down a few leads so far. There is one in particular, a female and two companions. We got a few glimpses of her from the surrounding security cameras. We did some facial recognition, but mostly came up empty. That is until Ruuman.’ He handed me another photo. I studied the tall, slender woman with long, wavy, black hair. She wore some type of reflectors on her face as she exited a building.

‘How is this of importance?’

‘She showed up for the first time at an excavation site. This face. I already had a few celestials on sight but they were no match. The site was demolished along with a few of the celestials. It was all completely gone as if something had exploded from the inside.’

I raised a hand and rubbed at my overlong beard as I processed Vincent’s words. ‘I did some more digging to see if I could pinpoint a name or location and came up empty until this.’ He moved another photo toward me. It was a clearer image of the same woman.

She had a heart shaped face, and the same flowing, thick hair danced around her features as she smiled brightly at another female. I could not make out details given the grainy image but the photo was enough to show them leaving another building with translucent types of bags filled with items. She did not appear to be a threat nor one I had ever seen. She seemed a happy and content mortal out for a day of shopping.

‘I do not understand.’ I said, looking between Vincent and Logan, my head throbbing.

Logan glanced at Vincent before saying, ‘We tracked her to Valoel. I had Logan and Neverra watch them for a few days before deciding to engage. I sent Logan and Neverra to do some reconnaissance. She was spotted out one night at a club.’

My brows furrowed, ‘A club?’ My brain ran through the last few hours of information I had gained. ‘The stylized playing card with the clover or the bat used in various games the mortals like to participate in?’

Neverra silenced what sounded like a small chuckle as Logan cleared his throat. ‘No, here it is similar to the festivities like Gariishamere. Except more clothing and less orgies.’ He paused as if thinking. ‘Sometimes.’

Vincent placed his hand on his temple. ‘That last bit of information was unnecessary.’

Logan scoffed. ‘Like you are any help?’

‘Regardless,’ Vincent cut his eyes at Logan once more, ‘we learned, thanks to Logan, that the woman with her is her sister, Gabriella Martinez.’

Vincent handed me another photo. This one held a crystal -clear image of a woman smiling brightly. She wore a dull shade of blue with what resembled cards upon her shirt.

‘Neverra ran a facial ID and found out she works in a hospital. She seems like your normal twenty-eight -year -old human woman. She graduated college and lives in an upper east side apartment.’

‘And the other one?’

‘Nothing. No one can find a single thing about her. It’s as if she doesn’t exist.’

I looked at Vincent. ‘How can that be?’

‘At first,’ Vincent started, ‘I didn’t know, not until we saw this.’

Another photo was placed in my hands. The same two women sat in what appeared to be an outdoor foyer, the space bathed in sunlight. Other humans sat around them at different tables, some eating and others lost in conversation. But it was the two figures standing near the dark -haired woman that held my attention. My brows furrowed as I squinted and brought the image closer.

I froze but did not speak as my grip tightened on the image, crinkling the edges. They looked to have been in mid argument by the way the woman’s posture but there was no mistaking the twin crimson glow of their eyes. My heart skipped for the first time in a millennium.

My chest tightened painfully, and a wave of nausea hit me as I broke out in a cold sweat. The sound of metal clanging against metal rang in my ears and the smell of blood and sweat from battles long fought assaulted my nose. I heard the roar of the fabled beasts as they destroyed my friends, my family, and my home. The sound pierced my ears like blades, reminding me of the powerful wings beating against the sky as flames poured in torrents. The heat so strong ashes was all that was left of anything. The world shook with that roar as hundreds of Gods and celestials burst into light around us. I repeated the one word I thought had died with Rashearim.

“Ig’Morruthens.’

Logan, Vincent, and Neverra stayed close to me as we headed toward the main floor of this building. I flipped compulsively through the images Vincent had shown me. Ig’Morruthens alive and here. How? It should not be impossible. They had either died on Rashearim or were locked behind the realms. Yet three of the beasts stared back at me with three sets of blood-red eyes. Three monsters from the Otherworld itself.

Voices filled the main foyer. Aids and support staff accompanied their leaders, humans filling the cavernous room, but I barely noticed. I close the file and handed it back to Vincent. Fire sizzled down my spine and lit up my nervous system. I stopped so abruptly Logan nearly ran into me. My head whipped to the side and I scanned the room, looking for the source of the sensation. ‘Is everything alright?’ Neverra asked, placing a hand softly on my arm. The touch grounded me as the burning awareness eased. I saw nothing but felt something. I searched the crowd, but only caught the faces and heartbeats of humans.

‘Yes.’ I said as I shifted away from Neverra’s touch and closed my eyes. It was the only response I could make. What else could I tell them? Their worry would only increase if they knew that the images alone sent me straight back to the war. After one look at the glowing embers of their eyes, I could feel and see everyone dying around me, my hands slick with blood no matter how many times I washed them. ‘I am fine.’

I opened my eyes and held out my hand. ‘Shall we continue?’

All three of them shared a concerned look before Vincent nodded and took the lead.

The large chamber was a large circle with tiered bench seats surrounding an open space at the center. Every mortal leader from each country was here and it was congested to say the least.

The mortals greeted me as we descended the stairs, every person either shaking my hand or bowing. By the way that Logan apologetically explained that I was new to their languages, I knew my facial features gave way to my internal feelings of disgust. They brought their own personal staff that scribed what they spoke down everything that was said or translated. Their staff nodded off clearly, not amused with this. And yet my mind wandered back to a time far from this.

‘Samkiel is king now, regardless of my place. Which you would have known had you and your ilk accepted the formal invitation to the royal ceremony,’ my father, Unir, said as he held his spear in his hand. The ancient words inscribed upon it glowed slightly, the only indicator of his slight irritation. We were covered head to toe in the silver -plated armor. The only thing visible were our eyes.

The feildren bowed. Their small, compact shape and pointed ears reminded me of green-skinned children, only much more mischievous. ‘My apologies, my King.’ His eyes darted to me before he straightened. ‘We sent a distress beacon a few days ago. Ig’Morruthens advanced and we lost several acres—’

‘I will evacuate you, your family, and as many as I can from this planet,’ Unir said, cutting him off. ‘You have a day to prepare.’

A day was all he gave them. It passed, and now we stood at the edge of a steep cliff overlooking a desolate wasteland. Where life once thrived now stood a camp of the Ig’Morruthens. The sun still shone but was making its descent lower by the minute. Soon as it set, they would wake and continue to destroy this planet, conquering and keeping it for their armies.

I sighed, folding my arms as far as I could across my armor. ‘You must teach me that one day,’ I said, nodding toward the streak of clear light disappearing in the distance. My father had removed every feildren from this planet. He sent them out of the star system and to safety on a new world where they could thrive without having to worry about monsters slaughtering them.

My father glanced at me. His helmet was off and resting at his feet as sliced a yellow round fruit with his blade. ‘I would hope you would never have to use it. I wish for no more wars, no more evacuations, no more suffering.’

He peeled a thick piece from the fruit and handed it to me. I removed my helmet, tucking it beneath my arm before accepting the fruit and taking a bite.

‘Samkiel, do you remember what I taught you? About the Ig’Morruthens and who they follow since the Primordials fell.’

I swallowed before speaking, watching him as he continued to peel the fruit. ‘Yes, the four Kings of Yejedin, Ittshare, Haldnunen, Gewyrnon, and Aphaeleon. They were created by the Primordials to rule this realm and the next.’

He nodded once. ‘Yes, Haldnunen died by your grandfather’s hand, although he made sure to take him with him during the First War. Aphaeleon fell at the battle of Namur which leaves the remaining two.’

‘And now they seek revenge.’

My father nodded as he ate the last few pieces of the fruit and tossed the toxic core to the ground. He picked up his helmet and placed it upon his head. Wisps of curls escaping from the braids that stuck out of the bottom, the few gold encrusted clamps shining in the waning sunlight. ‘Revenge, yes, but a part of me fears something much more. If there is a breeding pair we may be outnumbered long before any war begins.’

‘Breeding? You always spoke of them being made similar to the celestials, not born.’

‘Unlike most of the gods they breed like everything else.’ He folded his arms, not looking at me as he went on, but I felt the shift in conversation. ‘Speaking of breeding.’

‘No.’

‘Samkiel, you are king now, which means you will need to choose a queen soon.’ He paused. ‘Or another king, whichever you desire.’

I let out a deep groan. I hated speaking about this. ‘What I desire is not to be attached and leashed to someone for eternity. I choose neither.’

‘You can’t live off the spoils of flesh forever.’

‘Oh, yes, I can.’

The slowly retreating sunlight gave me a chance to change the subject. Praise the gods. ‘How many do you think are down there?’ I asked, pointing with the tip of my blade.

‘A few hundred.’ He made no motion to move, his voice quiet as he said, ‘If you listen with more than your ears you can feel them. They are made from the same floating Chaos all things are. Which means a part of us is a part of them, everything is connected.’ He turned to look at me. ‘Go ahead. Try it.’

I closed my eyes, drowning out the rustling of leaves from the southern winds and the movements of small creatures scurrying across the ground. I felt myself center and became aware of…something. It was sharp, tingly and made my entire being quake. I felt dozens, no hundreds of beings. I took a step back, opening my eyes and turning to my father. He was in the same spot, his gaze focused on the field below.

‘You felt it?’

‘Yes, hundreds, is that why you suggested for me not to call for the others? You knew.’

He nodded. ‘With your power and strength, you should not require an army for hundreds.’

He was right. I had taken back several worlds from the Ig’Morruthens over the years, a few hundred would not be a problem.

As if he could read my thoughts he said, ‘Do not get above yourself. The Ig’Morruthens are an arrogant species, but not ignorant. They are smart and calculated which makes them more than a normal threat. Even with what they lost, they will not bend willingly.’

I heard the rumble before I felt the planet shake beneath our feet. The sun had slowly made its descent and night was making its presence known, as were the creatures below. I turned to watch the cavern and the barren land around their camp.

Flames slowly lit, one by one as the Ig’Morruthens started to stir. They resembled thick-horned beasts, some walking upon two legs and others multiple. Weapons were draped across their backs, but my focus was on the beast chained in the cave. The massive creature was meant to burrow into the ground and erupt on command, demolishing cities. They used it to terraform planets, and I had witnessed its effectiveness several times. It was hard to kill but not impossible.

I pushed my helmet back onto my head before turning toward my father and summoning another ablaze weapon. ‘They either bend or they break.’

A small laugh escaped him as he placed a hand upon my shoulder and shook his head. ‘You have gained your crown and been king no more than days, and yet you speak just as one.’

His hand dropped and he eyed the field and the creatures swarming it. The humor left, the feared King of The Gods taking the place of my father. I may bear that title now, but no matter what, he would always be revered and respected as such in my eyes.

‘What shall you have me do, Father?’

‘Simple. Use the title you have earned,’ he said. ‘End worlds, my son.’

‘And what do we do while these beasts destroy our cities and our homes?’

I sat up straighter as the world rushed back. I shook my head, clearing another memory from my past trying to sneak up on me. Logan’s gaze fixated on me, worry etched on his brow, but I waved him off. He looked at me once more before turning his attention to the room.

Several voices spoke at once, exclaiming their support of the question and demanding an answer.

‘We have kept our eyes on the creatures of the Otherworld. A civil war seems to have started among whoever they are. A Vampire Prince has been murdered. There have been multiple disappearances, not to mention the destruction of property.’

An Ecanus ambassador was the next to speak. ‘We have reports of attacks and missing people all throughout our world. Something is stirring between the Otherworld creatures. I have towns scared to go out at night for fear of red-eyed monsters.’

Vincent waved to the room and said calmly, ‘Yes, and I have sent Celestials to those areas. They have seen nor found anything close.’

A woman stood, slamming her hands upon the table, the suit she wore resembling that of her colleagues. ‘You mean like the destruction in Ophanium that you blamed on another quake?’

‘If the God King were here sooner, maybe this wouldn’t have gone so far,’ another mortal ambassador quipped, staring at Vincent before looking at me. That ache formed once more in my head as a muscle in my jaw ticked. I clenched my teeth.

Logan cleared his throat before I even had a chance to speak. ‘Your world lives because of what Liam sacrificed. Do not forget that. We are here and doing everything in our power to help you and the humans who live here.’

‘It’s not enough. Something is coming, and even if we don’t have the powers you so carelessly throw at us, we still feel it. How many things can we blame on natural disasters?’

The humans spoke all at once again, arguing and agreeing with the last one who objected. My fingers pressed upon my brow that dull ache growing. It was worse now then before, an overwhelming pressure starting at the base of my skull and spreading. A thousand voices echoed through my mind, all wanting answers and help from me.

‘Silence.’ I paused as I met every single one of their gazes. I did not know I’d spoken as loud as I had, but given how Logan and Vincent sprang to their feet, preparing for a danger that was not there, I knew the pressure decided to erupt in an unpleasant way. I was also aware my skin was lit with silver.

I stood, the chair beneath me creaking as I relieved it of my weight. I took a shaky breath and drove the light back into me, my skin returning to what they would consider normal. I looked around the room meeting each one of their gazes again, dismissing the fear in the alert expressions. ‘You’re frightened. I understand that. You’re mortal. We are not. The monsters and beasts of legends died eons ago. The seals that hold the barriers to the realms are intact. Your world is safe and will remain safe as long as I breathe.’

It was a half -truth given the pictures I had seen, but the humans reeked of fear and fear was a powerful motivator in any hands. The truth was, I did not know this world nor did I care too much about what they deemed a threat. I had no right to make even the smallest claims as such. I had not been here. No, I locked myself away thinking the threats had died with everything else I cared for. What was happening on Onuna was nothing compared to the horrors I had witnessed over the centuries, and yet, they needed reassurance as a child would.

Vincent stood, raising a single hand as if to calm a growing, thrashing sea. ‘Yes. There is nothing here we cannot handle.’

The female ambassador spoke up, her voice rising above the others. ‘I mean no disrespect to your majesty but we are worried. Our ancestors wrote about when your world fell. You cannot blame us for being unnerved. Is this the beginning of what our ancestors feared? Have you and the celestials brought the war here to Onuna?’

I met her unwavering gaze, her eyes filled with anger and another emotion I did not recognize. Her attitude and the fact that she even asked the question set my blood to boil. ‘It is not. The ones who started the Gods War are long turned to ash.’

She shook her head and gestured to the room. ‘We just wish to not lose our world like you lost yours.’

Voices rose in unison as all those gathered added their agreement. The words stung, hitting a part of me I hated. I should lash out, correct them, but I did not, the words freezing in my throat. I understood that they wanted to keep their people safe. It was the very thing we had fought and died for on Rashearim. They were afraid of another cosmic event.

‘One of your very own died, and yet you promise to keep us safe? Tell me God King, why should we trust anything you say?’ another human snapped.

Vincent’s brows knitted and Logan lowered his gaze at the mention of Zekiel’s demise. Yet again the humans raised their voices, speaking over each other in their attempts to be heard.

I searched my mind, needing the right words, but the languages and images I had absorbed in the last few hours were still being processed. I raised my hand once more, the crowd drawing silent after a few moments.

‘I understand, I do, and—’

‘Boring.’

A male voice cut me off and all heads turned toward a young man lounging on one of the benches. He wore the same colors and style of clothing as his colleagues, but I could not place which region he represented. The only thing that set him apart was the nonchalant expression upon his face. His legs were outstretched in front of him and he held some sort of cup in his hand. He shook it before drinking loudly from the plastic piece attached to it.

‘Excuse me?’ Vincent turned toward him, arching a brow. ‘Do you realize who you are speaking to?’

‘Yeah,’ he took another drink and shrugged, ‘and like I said, boring. When do we get to the part where you all slaughter millions?’ He paused, taking another sip before pointing with a single finger. ‘Or, oh I know, how exactly you became king. Or, what about, how the destruction of your planet destroyed ours. You all act as if you’re a gift to Onuna, when in reality, you are a curse on this world.’

Vincent looked at the people sitting around the bold man. The lead ambassador, whose face had turned a shade of bright red, said, ‘I apologize on behalf of Henry’s behavior. He is still new and learning. His radical views—’

His words stopped as Henry stood from his seat. People stood and moved out of his way as he shoved past, still sipping from that cup. ‘So, this is where you all meet and discuss world events? Hmm, I expected more,’ he said, shaking his head as he started down the stairs. ‘It does look like a fortress from the outside, but it is easily accessed. I honestly thought it would be harder to get in but—‘ He trailed off, a small laugh escaping him before he shrugged and shoved the cup into the hands of a woman he passed. He placed a single hand in his pocket before taking one step at a time, slowly and deliberately. That prickling feeling at the back of my neck returned. Something was wrong with this mortal. Was he infected? Ill?

‘So you are him?’

Step.

‘The feared king. What a title. Your hands must be soaked in blood.’

Another step.

‘The legend himself. The fastest, the strongest amongst his people, the most beautiful son of Unir.’ He paused, his eyes roaming over me from head to toe and back once more. ‘I don’t see it with the misshapen hair and overgrown beard. I mean, you’re taller than I thought you’d be, and I see the whole lean muscle fighting machine thing you have going for you, but I guess I expected more from the one they call World Ender.’

‘Who are you?’ The voice that left me was not my own. It resonated deeper, an emotion long buried springing forward. That name, I hated that name.

Another step.

‘Oh, silly me, I forgot I was still wearing this.’ He pulled at the suit, lowering his gaze before his eyes swept up to me. Black, smoke-like mist formed at the base of his feet and crawled up his body. The shoes he wore slowly turned to midnight black heels. The darkness climbed up the legs of the man, replacing them with slender, feminine ones. It continued to twine and swirl around his form, revealing the ruse before disappearing.

Impossible.

Several people gasped as the humans scurried closer to the exits. I had not realized I had moved until Vincent and Logan appeared at my sides. Henry was gone and in his place was the woman from the photos I had been shown an hour prior. They had not done her justice. The grainy images had not captured the extraordinariness of her. She was captivating. What I had seen as dark hair was as black as the abyss itself. Her heart shaped face seemed more angular here, and her dark brows arched over her eyes, framing their dangerous glow. Her lips were full and painted a shade darker than blood. She reminded me of the fanged riztoure beasts from home, striking and beautiful but deadly.

Very deadly.

Her outfit was more revealing than the others here. She had on loose, yellow fighting pants with the same color top, if that’s what you would call it. The edges looked sharp and it dipped too low in the front. A long matching jacket billowed on the waves of darkness she summoned.

She placed her hands upon her hips, staring past me. She nodded at Logan and said, ‘Hello, handsome, we meet again. I met your lovely wife a few minutes ago. Neverra, right?’

Logan moved forward, but my arm shot out, stopping him.

‘What have you done with her?’

‘Nothing she didn’t deserve.’

Another step.

‘If you touched a single hair on her—’ I raised my arm, cutting Logan off. I needed to know more about this mystery woman, and if he jumped into a fight fueled by emotions, I may lose our newest lead.

‘Good boy, keep your bitches in line.’ She gave us both a wicked smile. ‘So, Samkiel, this is your Hand? Not very intimidating, if you ask me. All you have to do is cut one of their hands off, and they are powerless.’

I felt Vincent shift next to me, but he didn’t step forward.

‘You are the one who killed Zekiel?’ My voice was as hard as granite.

‘They say you are a god. Hard to kill and damn near invincible. Weapons have to be forged to snuff out that precious light’ She took another step before stopping, her head tipping ever so slightly as she gauged me and my people. ‘Does that make you fireproof?’

A slow mischievous smile curved her lips as she turned both hands palm up. Twin flames erupted from them, her eyes shining an ember red. I reached out to stop her, but was a fraction of a second too late as the room erupted in flames.