Chapter 5 Angel of Death #3
With a deafening growl, it stretches out its leathery wings, ready to rip my face off where I stand.
I clutch its thick, scaly neck and hurl myself onto its spiky back.
As it begins to roll, it takes me down with it, but I refuse to release my grip.
Even as my daggers fly through the air and my body meets the pavement, I hold tight to the scales, digging my fingers deep into its flesh and letting it know that it will not win.
The demon scratches and claws against the hard cement as it rolls, the horrendous sound like clinging metal against unbreakable stone.
As soon as the demon death roll ends, I grip the spike on its head and unsheathe my sword, plunging it deep into the beast’s evil brain.
Then it is nothing and I am death itself.
Nyx’s demons seem to think that all celestials are as forgiving as the ones from the Realm of Light, but that assumption is wrong.
I’m the harbinger of death, the future King of the Realm of Darkness, and the guardian of the mortals on the Earth Realm.
Ourahnus and his realm can cage them and attempt to tame them all they want, but within my realms I deny them a second chance.
The second demon turns to dust, and I spit on its remains before using the back of my hand to wipe blood from my face.
With the wave of a hand, I call my celestial daggers back to me, smiling as their bright lights flash to life in my palms. Red eyes slant as the third demon glares my way, lurking and hiding in the shadows.
They come here seeking to hunt, torture, and murder mortals and celestials who lack the same training and power as me, but now it cowers in the corner like the spineless pathetic prey it knows it has become.
I stalk toward it, taunting it with the sound of metal slicing through air as I toss my dagger up and expertly catch it.
I want to feel its fear, a dark and poisonous presence coursing through its veins. I want to drink it all in, to bathe in it and fucking savor it until the end.
Quickly, it turns to flee. The impact of its long, spiky tail against my body sends me stumbling backward.
I quickly recover and secure my weapons to the straps on my thighs, and with one small leap, I’m airborne, wings beating rapidly behind me as I soar through the night.
The scent of adrenaline and desperation permeates the air as my prey realizes its fate.
It cries out, its panicked roars pushing me faster and faster.
It’s focused only on making it to the open portal at the end of the alley, and the icy breath of evil that slithers around it as I get closer turns my blood cold.
The Underworld is a place of nothing but darkness and despair, a place where the worst nightmares imaginable are brought to life.
Nyx is deranged and the demons will do whatever pleases her because they’re even more so.
I push myself faster, the wind against my wings letting me feel weightless and free.
As I descend, I tuck them in and allow myself to freefall, the pull of gravity helping get me quickly to the ground.
I land in a crouch as my boots hit the pavement, locking eyes with the hell hound and giving it my best ‘fuck you’ grin while spreading my wings out wide behind me.
My fist connects with the pavement and the ground splinters and trembles as my power spreads through the cracks, sending lightning racing toward its still shocked face.
I focus my unwavering gaze on the monster, and the lightning bolt obediently follows my line of sight, delivering a powerful blow that leaves it stunned.
The moment my lightning connects, it coils around the scales and flesh, the cracking and snapping and stench of burning electricity filling the air.
As the demon convulses on the ground, there’s a pure, undiluted fear brimming in its eyes. A wave of satisfaction washes over me.
With a wave of a hand, I close the portal the hell hounds ripped open.
It won’t matter. There will be another one opened tomorrow and the day after that.
They never fucking learn. Staring down at the pathetic demon, I punch a hole through its hard, scaly chest, ripping its heart out with my hand in one swift movement.
Holding the lifeless organ in my fist, feeling the burn of the black blood as it drips from my fingers and runs down my arm, I keep my eyes locked on the demon as its life drains away.
I enjoy watching the darkness in their eyes disappear.
I revel in knowing the realms are one demon closer to being rid of evil for good.
The heart and the body dissolve to dust, but the blackness still clings to my skin.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…” I whisper into the gust of wind I create, scattering the powdery remains around me.
All that remains now is the steady rhythm of my heartbeat, the sound of my breath, and an unwavering determination to hunt down every vile creature across all realms, ensuring their ultimate demise.
“I missed all the fun, I see. What a bummer.” Mio towers over me, shaking his head and clicking his tongue. “You’re a mess, man.
“Always killin’ the vibe, bro. I was having fun.” Smiling up at him, I use my shirt to wipe blood from my scraped-up hands and face.
His laughter is immediate and overdramatic. “Gods, you’re right. That’s awful. I’m embarrassed for you that you just said that. I’ll never say it again.”
“Good. Thank you.” Putting my weapons away, I crack my neck and stretch out my fingers. “Nyx’s demons somehow keep getting stronger… and faster.”
“You getting too old for this, Kairos? Maybe it is time for you to bow out. Old man can’t hang anymore.”
I roll my eyes. “I can hang just fine, thank you. I was just pointing it out. Her creations are getting worse and worse. I fear what they’ll someday become if we don’t end her for good.”
“I know. And we will. I promise. She has had it coming for a while. With the recent increase in demon activity, Gaia and Ouranos, or hell, even the gods themselves might come out of retirement to do something. Either way, something must be done. It can’t go on this way forever.
” He turns and we head toward the deserted streets, and I welcome the bright overhead lights as they come into view.
Being in darkness for too long can make you want to live there. It has a way of sucking the life out of you slowly and tempting you to never leave.
“The demons know, Mio. Nyx knows Mera has returned and that she’s here. How the hell did she find out?”
The shops and the streets fade away as my thoughts spiral on what the hell I’m supposed to do now.
He stops walking but doesn’t turn to look at me. “Maybe they’re bluffing. Trying to get a reaction out of you.”
I don’t buy it. Neither does he, but there isn’t much else to say, so we let it die for now. We saw this coming. It shouldn’t be a surprise to either of us.
“How is she?”
“Better. She was sleeping peacefully by the time I got there. He was there. The mortal man.” He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes, there’s a sadness within them that he’s trying to hide.
“It’s going to be okay. Nyx will not get to her.
The Gods are on our side.” He squeezes my shoulder as we make our way back through town, neither of us speaking.
Which Gods are on our side? I fear our gods abandoned us long ago.
The moment Nyx’s darkness stained our white wings, they let us fall from the Realm of Light.
Even Ourahnus won’t visit our realm since the heavens fractured in two.
We are no longer celestial beings of any god, though my realm doesn’t believe that to be true.
Maybe the others are right and they’re hiding on Mount Othrys and observing, writing new prophecies, and consulting with oracles, but we haven’t seen them in a century.
For all we know they’re dead. All we have is each other.
Something feels off, but it’s not Nora whose energy clings to me.
It’s Mio’s soul now that needs healing, the unspoken anxiety is hard to ignore.
He’s more worried than he’s letting on. He is afraid we will not be able to save her and that it will be my downfall.
It nearly was last time, so I don’t blame him for worrying.
“Why don’t you go home for the night? Get some rest.” Waving my hand in front of us, I open a portal to the Realm of Darkness to send him home.
I will not be going with him, not while Nora is here helpless and alone. Katie’s wards of protection can only stop so much from entering, and with the demons now threatening her life, aware of her emergence, I won’t be going home anytime soon.
“You need rest too, you know. You’ve had a long day. A long year actually, since you’ve started guarding her. The way you protect and care for others is inspiring, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.” He steps through the portal, turning to nod as he closes it behind him.
Unfurling my wings from behind my back, they launch me into the air on pure instinct. I let go of my glamours and enchantments once I’m airborne, the shadows are my friend. As I soar through the sky, making my way to Nora, I whisper my realms mantra over and over…
Darkness guide me, gods save me.…
Not her. Not fucking again.