The Angel Side Read online

  It had been too much to swallow. Pacing around the room, I tried to get a hold of the plethora of emotions swirling. Etta and I had always wanted children of our own but had never been able to conceive. Alastor had succeeded where I had failed. Now I was being asked to take charge of his bastard children. With Alastor’s blood coursing through their veins, they were damaged goods that would end up only wreaking havoc on our worlds. As an Angel with a duty to the greater good, I wanted to slice their throats on the spot but as Etta’s husband, I had the duty of protecting her young. Torn between my two obligations, I brought my pacing to a halt, taking a good look at the three Demon spawn.

  “Rahovart, I know what you’re thinking. Yes, they look much like their father, but I assure you their spirit takes after their mother. See for yourself.” Nicor added, setting Annahail down and patting her bottom.

  Hesitant, Annahail approached with her brothers in tow, grasped my hand with her claw and looked up at me. Crouching down, eye level with the girl, I searched her face for a sign killing her was my only option, when she spoke.

  “Grandma says you’re the one who will make it safe for us. Is it true? Are you going to help us?” Annahail clutched my hands tighter as a tear streamed down her cheek.

  Botis and Uphir placed their hands on my shoulders. Hope and fear filled their big brown, soulful eyes. As clear as glacial water, I saw the innocence their spirit held. They may have had Alastor’s looks but their souls they inherited from their mother. As if it were Etta herself, I sensed her spirit in their heartbeats. Suddenly everything changed. An uncomfortable and uncontrollable paternal force took over me.

  “I’m going to try.” I wept, sweeping the children into my arms, hugging them to me. On the outside, Alastor’s seed took on his appearance, but Etta dominated what truly mattered; their hearts and souls. Relief swept over me as I thought of the monster I would have been had I struck them down. Nicor had been right.

  “Okay. I can get access to Etta’s essence while Nicor gets the kids past the gates. Once I have it I’ll come for you.” Persephone said as she took the children from me.

  “Nicor, I’ll need the war hammer and scutum back.” I said, getting up from my knees.

  “When one of those children safely ascends to the throne I will personally hand deliver the scutum and war hammer. Until then, you have my word it will be used strictly for their protection.” As Nicor stepped out of the cell a siren sounded off overhead. Hell had been attacked.

  “We have to go. Leave the children with Rahovart.” Nicor grabbed Persephone, jerking her out of the cell and slamming the door behind them. I rushed to the door, but it had closed before I managed to get to it.

  “Son of….” I shouted, leaning my head against the door as I punched it.

  “It’s going to be all right.” a tiny voice hummed as the sound of whimpers filled the room.

  Turning around, Annahail sat huddling with her brothers in an attempt to comfort them. I didn’t have any experience dealing with children, since I had none of mine own, and the children of Earth had their own choir of Angels. I had been at a loss as to what to do.

  “Your sister is right.” I said, sitting down across from them with my elbows on my knees.

  The sounds of battle echoed through the cavern walls. War cries filled the air. As to not cause the children to wince by saying his name, I prayed silently to Father for it to be my brothers laying Hell under siege to rescue me instead of going after Etta as ordered.

  Watching Annahail care for her brothers as I finished my prayer, I wondered if Etta knew the fate of her pregnancies. Had Persephone told her she guided her offspring from the Labyrinth and had been raising them to take Lucifer’s throne? If Persephone had indeed told Etta, did she fear I would not accept them? I wouldn’t have blamed her, but I wish she’d trusted me more than she did.

  It was quite the shock, but over a millennium ago I swore to love Etta no matter what came our way, and it had been a promise I didn’t make lightly. I knew the day we wed we would be tried and tested. I had to admit figuring out how her children would fit into our lives would be the biggest test of them all.

  If I succeed in gaining the last piece of Etta’s essence, we would reside in Heaven, while her kids stayed here in Hell. If Etta had knowledge of their existence would she be torn between her duties as a mother or would she deny her rights, turning her back on them? If she did know, why didn’t she tell me? Did she have no interest in being a mother to Alastor’s seed? If so, it would pose another problem. Scorn the children and they may grow up with a deep hatred for Etta and me. Should one of them ascend to the throne, the grudge in their heart may fuel the fires between Heaven and Hell instead of extinguishing them as Persephone and Lucifer’s Seers foretold.

  Though having never committed a sin, Annahail and her brothers wouldn’t be allowed to pass through Heaven’s gates. I had been damned to Hell once before and found my way back to the right path but unlike me, Etta’s children had never held a heavenly form.

  Contrary to popular belief, Father is not the only celestial being able to create new life. When He created his first children, the Son and the Spirit, He bestowed upon them, and only them, the gift of procreation. As Father filled his world with barren and sterile children, the Heaven’s erupted in conflict over why his first born son and daughter had been granted an allowance far greater than their siblings. To cease the protests, Father granted the gift of conception to his children. However, Father made sure his top legal advisor, Lucifer, put in a clause stating before a couple would be allowed to bare offspring, they had to be deemed worthy by Father, the Son, and the Spirit. To prevent any possible infiltration or inside attack, Father had Abihail amend the clause after her brother fell from grace to ensure no creature created from Demon blood would be granted passage through the gates of Heaven.

  Born Demon half-breeds had damned Etta’s children to an eternity of forever being just that, Demons. Should Etta choose to be a mother figure, we would have to leave the safety of Heaven’s gates to live on the outskirts of both worlds.

  My thoughts had been getting ahead of themselves. Before I worried about what the future might hold, I needed to figure out how to ensure I had one. Wounded, physically tired, and emotionally exhausted, I would be unable to bust out of the cell. Even if I managed with three kids in tow, getting out of the gates and to the Wastelands would prove difficult. If I managed to escape, I would be vulnerable to attacks out in the open.

  Looking at Annahail, I caught a glimpse of her strong demeanor crack as the cries of the wounded and the scraping of metal against metal grew louder and closer.

  “Hey, do you guys enjoy music?” I asked, attempting to turn their attention from the war raging on outside the cell walls.

  “Yes, but we don’t get to listen to it much. Grandma says listening to music will draw attention to us, but Grandpa Nicor sings to us at night before we go to bed.” Annahail answered.

  “Oh, he does?” I said, surprised.

  I’d always seen Nicor as a rough and tumble kind of Demon. Imagining him singing, much less singing children’s songs, seemed far from the Demon I knew.

  “What songs does he sing to you?” I continued my attempt to avert their attention.

  “Well, all sorts but at bed time he sings ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ but switches the word ‘goodbye’ with ‘goodnight’.” Annahail answered.

  It figured a psychopath would choose an opera song, but I had to give him credit for bringing culture to their world instead of singing the songs of the battlefield as I would have expected.

  “It’s a good one, but I’m afraid I can’t sing well enough to do opera. Do you want to hear a silly song I know?”

  During my time serving as a Demon on Earth, I had plenty of houseguests who had small children. The parent’s incessant need to play squealing children’s song had driven me beyond the point of insanity. Anytime a new children’s videotape, DVD, or CD made its way into the home, I found a way to d
estroy it in order to prevent the wretched dancing and singing of purple dinosaurs from torturing me all hours of the day. I had done well at it until the computer age came to be.

  Prior to the Divad’s moving into my dwelling, I had another Marine have the misfortune of sharing a roof with me. With three small, bastard step-children and an infant of his own, his worthless wife would use the television and computer as a babysitter, while she’d sit in the back yard smoking pot and texting other men she’d met at the bar the night before.

  With the oldest child being only four and the others still in diapers, it had been forbidden by celestial law for me to interfere with their lives. Even simply unplugging the computer while the children put annoying songs on repeat would draw the Arches to my home. Day in and day out, until their father came home, I would be beat over the head with elementary rhymes, second-rate guitar strumming, and grown men dressed up in costume as they sang off-key. Eventually I’d been able to recite each tune word for word. It had been a skill I deemed worthless until now when I found myself trapped in a cell with three small frightened children of my own.

  “Sure.” Annahail replied excitedly.

  “Okay; it’s an easy one, so you can sing along if you want.”

  Singing the words to ‘Apples and Bananas’, the children smiled as their fear subsided. By the third verse, the kids were giggling as they danced around, singing along. Botis danced over to me, tugging on my arm to join the fun. Soon Uphir and Annahail had joined him in coaxing me to my feet.

  Picking up Uphir, I did a goofy waltz, singing, as Annahail and Botis twirled around my legs. Suddenly the cell door opened. Putting Uphir down, I spun on my heels to block them from what may be on the other side of the door.

  “We have to go now!” a bloodied Nicor yelled, tossing me my shield and sword.

  “What’s happening?” I asked.

  “C’mon children. Hold each other’s hands and no matter what, don’t let go.” Persephone ducked under Nicor’s arm, reaching for Annahail’s hand.

  Following Nicor out, we rushed in a single file line down the corridor away from the approaching clatter of fighting. As we came to an intersecting hallway, Nicor motioned for us to halt. Peeking around the corner, he yanked a Demon running down the hall as he passed, slitting his throat then nodded for us to follow him.

  “I need to know what is going on.” I whispered as we rounded the corner.

  “A cluster fu—” seeing the children, Nicor caught his tongue. “Lilith and her minions showed up just as your massive rescue party came searching for you and Etta.” he continued.

  “Why would they be searching for Etta here?” I asked, dumbfounded.

  “Don’t have a clue. Shh. Put your hands behind your back.” Nicor said as we came to a guarded cavern.

  “State your business.” A sentry called out as we approached.

  “Taking these prisoners to a more secure location. Step aside.” Nicor ordered.

  “We’re under orders not to let anyone through. You’ll have to take them somewhere else.” The guard rebuffed.

  It had been then I realized Nicor was leading us to Lucifer’s private quarters. Having spent quite a bit of time in his room, I knew an exit hid behind a large self-portrait of Lucifer. Nicor had a great idea, but I doubted he took into account the exit led right into Susman territory. With three small children and no way for me to flash, we’d never make it through the horde of pig-men.

  “Step aside!” Nicor roared, taking a battle stance. A thunderous boom erupted shaking the ground and walls, knocking us down.

  Scrambling to my feet, I flung myself over the children, protecting them from rock and debris falling from above. As the ringing in my ears ceased, a stillness permeated the cavern. The sounds of battle cries and weapons crashing against one another faded into an eerie, calm silence.

  Helping the kids up as the dust settled, an onslaught of sentries encircled us. Nicor and I lunged for our weapons on the ground, just as a familiar foot stepped on my sword then kicked it back. Arms folded across his chest, Lucifer stood over us.

  “Why would one of my top generals be aiding an enemy?” Lucifer crouched before Nicor, taking the war hammer from his grasp.

  “And what do we have here? My favorite concubine huddled up with half-breeds? My, my. Something delicious is going on here.” Lucifer continued as he stroked Persephone’s hair behind her ear.

  Shooting each other wary glances, we remained silent.

  “Who might you belong to?” Lucifer asked, sliding his forefinger under Annahail’s chin, tilting it up toward him. Annahail’s bottom lip trembled as Lucifer’s thumb rubbed over her cleft.

  “Grandma.” Uphir whimpered.

  “Do you know who I am, little one?” Lucifer bent over coming down to eye level. A scared Annahail gave him a small nod as a tear rolled down her cheek.

  “Then you know what happens when someone ignores me, but since you’re so young I won’t feed you to the pig-men if you answer my question. Whose bloodline do you share?”

  Annahail held her tongue as she searched Nicor and me for signs of help.

  “I see. A strong one, huh? Well then, let’s see how strong you are while you watch your little brother get fed to the pigs.” Lucifer yanked Uphir up by his throat.

  “I’m their father!” I shouted, stepping forward.

  “And who might the mother be?” Lucifer turned to me with a gloating smirk, gripping Uphir’s throat tighter. Thinking of a female Demon who held similar traits as Alastor, I spit out the first name that came to mind.

  “Deumos.” I replied in haste.

  Glancing over at Nicor shaking his head in disbelief, I realized my mistake. The mention of her name brought with it the memory of one of my least shining moments. Not only had I used the name of a Demon I killed, but her death had been what set me above the rest of the Demons, resulting in my being named Lucifer’s heir.

  I had taken Deumos as one of my many concubines during my time in Hell. With her amazing threshold for pain, insatiable sexual appetite, and interest in mixing pain and pleasure, she soon became my favored concubine. She had become the only woman I shared a bed with. However, the same as Lilith, she assumed sex would bring her to power.

  When I released my other whores, Deumos assumed she had wrapped me around her finger. Though she hadn’t been obvious, Deumos began dropping small hints about overthrowing Lucifer and taking the throne. Knowing all too well what she had been getting at, I invited her to a party where the only guests would be her, Lucifer, and myself. With the assumption I would kill Lucifer, she agreed to attend. After hours of various sexual activities, she thought the moment had arrived. Much to her surprise, one last thrust of my hips brought with it the thrust of my dagger.

  “Really? That is funny since I remember you killing her during one of our many romps.” Lucifer sneered. Angry at myself for being so stupid, I released a frustrated sigh.

  “Your lie and their silence tells me all too well who the mother is. Take them to the throne room.” Lucifer ordered as he threw Uphir to the ground.

  “What are you going to do with us?” I asked as the tip of a spear poked an open wound on my back.

  Lucifer’s cocky smirk as he ignored answering my question told me the end was near. The guards led us down a side entrance into a tense and crowded throne room.

  To the left, Lucifer’s legion’s stood with their weapons drawn but seemed as if ready to run at any moment. To the right, Lilith poised herself before her rat pack. In the rear, John and the Arches had their array of troops. With legs thrown across the arm of the throne, Etta sat glaring at Lucifer as he confidently strolled toward her.

  Chapter Twelve Etta

  I had to get Ra and my spirit out of Hell but with the Arches and Templars on my tail, I decided to make a pitstop in Purgatory to get some answers and buy some time. Gabriel had told Amy, other than me, Lilith was the only Wraith. Why Father allowed her to live but wanted me dead was beyond me, but if a
nyone knew why it would be her.

  The price she asked for the information had been steep: my allegiance to her and her cause. At first I refused it which brought our conversation to a stalemate. Seeing she wouldn’t budge, I swore my allegiance, or so she thought. With reluctance, she agreed to talk to me again and answer all the questions I had.

  After many failed attempts at her life, Father finally called off the bounty and gave her Purgatory. With her last battle almost ending her, she agreed to stay in her territory under the condition any souls to pass through her gates were all hers. When Father refused, she had Lucifer assist with writing their treaty. Knowing Father and Lucifer never saw eye to eye, she allowed a clause permitting a soul to be released only if Father, Lucifer, and Lilith agreed unanimously.

  Unfortunately for Father, the cunning rat had Lucifer put a loophole in the clause for the exchange of the last piece of her soul as his insurance policy that she would not attack his gates should she ever exercise the loophole. With the release of my soul, all had become fair game.

  Releasing me released Lilith of any obligations the treaty imposed on her. Free to do as she pleased, Lilith put her millennium old plan into action. She had helped Lucifer get me to the spirit world with the intention of me dethroning him. Relying on me being a Wraith such as herself, I would align my new kingdom with hers. With two women in power, it would only be a matter of time before Heaven bent to our will.

  In preparation, she had given mercy to half of the Purgatory population to build up her armies in hopes the battle in Hell would replenish her masses. Under the impression I would fight by her side, Lilith left to start the attack on Hell, while I stayed back and got my game plan together.