Mystery's Choice (Vengeance Of The Fallen Book 1) (45 page)

The brunette steadied herself before she could fall. “Serafina. I just thought you should know the name of the person who kills you.”

“Felicity. Ditto.” Felicity threw one of the banishment vials at her. Serafina screamed as it ate away at her skin.

She stopped screaming and turned her focus on Felicity’s chest and flung Magick at her. Felicity shielded and it bounced off taking a chunk out of the wall. Felicity focused on Serafina and she went up in flames. Felicity cringed when Serafina’s laughter came from the flames and they slowly died.

“I live in Hell, Wicca, flames can not harm me.” She stood whole and unburned, laughing at Felicity.

Felicity concentrated and flung energy at her, blasting her back into the wall, she took her revolver and emptied it into Serafina. Then she slammed her into the wall a few more times until she was unrecognizable. Serafina crumpled to the floor, still. Felicity slowly edged past the body and was about to enter the nursery when she heard Sam scream. She turned and ran towards his screams.

When she was gone Serafina opened her eyes and slowly and painfully stood, leaning against the wall for support. She was astonished the Wicca had such power and decided to feign death rather than risk being detoured from her mission. She limped down the corridor and went to the nursery. Kasdeya was lying in her ancient cradle playing with her toes she glowed with power. Serafina scooped her up and wrapped her in blankets. She slunk back through the aerie. Cautiously she entered the tunnels. She climbed over the bodies of the guards and went out through the tunnel entrance. Outside she found a car and placing the squirming baby on the passenger’s seat, she got in, started the car and drove away from the compound.

Ryan stepped up to the worn rock ledge and gasped in awe at the huge chamber below. The chamber stretched the length of the mountain, and he could see stairways leading up and down into the other parts of the mountain. Dozens of torches lit the room, the rock floor shone wetly in their light. In the center of the chamber a stone dais rose. Steps led up to it and from above Ryan could see it was shaped like a pentagram. At the center of the dais was a giant, smooth stone; ancient symbols were carved into its sides. At the base of the pentagram a giant statue of The Goat of Mendes reared its onyx head back in triumph. One hand-held The Serpent made out of Jade and the other hand held an apple made out of a ruby.

Kneeling at its feet in prayer was his adversary. Cain’s hair gleamed in the torchlight and his amethyst robe was trimmed in gold. Ryan thought to himself, kneeling there Cain looked like a fallen angel. Cold and perfect. He could feel the evil emanating from him.

“Why, thank you for the compliment, Preacher Man.”  Cain said mockingly as he rose to his feet. He gestured to the staircase. “Come, join me.”

Ryan strolled slowly down the stairs, “Where is Jeremiah, Cain?”

“He’s here in the aerie.” Cain turned in a slow expressive circle. “All you have to do is find him.”  He smiled his most malevolent smile, “And get past me.”

Ryan stepped off the last step and walked into the room. “Shouldn’t be too hard.”

Cain laughed, the musical sound echoing off the rock walls. “Confident, I like confidence in my prey. I look forward to hearing you beg to die.”

Ryan felt the floor move beneath his feet. He jumped back when a crack split the chamber floor. He gagged at the fetid stench, which rose from the crevice and backed up a step. Claws came over the sides as the first shrieks filled the air. Ryan watched in horrified fascination as tiny, winged demons climbed from the crack by the dozens, smacking their razor sharp teeth. Each turned and trained their yellow eyes on him. Their little, clawed feet scraping on the floor as they started for him.

“Just a little something to keep you busy. It seems Mystery has been up to no good. I must go straighten her out.” Cain said and disappeared.

“Dirty, Cain. Dirty.” Ryan deflected the first swooping demon.

Cain’s laughter filled the chamber.

Ryan concentrated and began spreading his power through the room. The torches flared until they were impossibly bright. Lighting the chamber with the light of the noonday sun. The demons stopped coming towards him and covered their beady little eyes with their clawed hands. As the light grew they began to scream in agony and scramble for the crevice. When the last one climbed back in, Ryan said a prayer and the crevice closed. The torches went back to their normal brightness, casting subtle shadows on the wall. Ryan centered his thoughts and searched for Mystery, when he found her, his breath caught.

“Release the child, daughter!” Cain roared.

“NO!” Mystery placed herself between her father and her child.

“Release him, or your lover and your friends die, at my hands.” Cain said calmly.

“No.” she replied equally calm.

“Why are you doing this?” He walked towards her only to be blocked by an invisible wall. He sighed and after a moment reached through it to grasp Mystery’s arms. “I do not want to hurt you.” He tipped her face up so he could gaze into her confused eyes, “I love you. But father has commanded Jeremiah’s death and I must obey.” He ran his hands down her hair and her shoulders.

“How can you butcher your own grandchild, he has been with you all this time? I know you love him, I have seen it in your face.” She leaned into him, breathing in his scent. “What possible use can He have for him? What could a child so small, have done to anger a God?” She stepped away from him and began to pace the room.

“Our obedience.” He stopped her pacing and took her in his arms. “He wants, what he always wants our obedience, not questions, not hesitation, or silly mortal folly, but unquestioning obedience.”

Mystery pushed away again. “He sounds exactly like the God he wars against. All he wants is blind obedience, acceptance that he is in control and we have no choice over our lives. I thought the whole reason the war began is because Satan disapproved of mindless obedience.” She turned her piercing green eyes on him. He watched as they began to harden.

“Mystery, no father has loved or been as proud of his daughter as I. You have become so precious to me.” He brushed her cheek. “I do not blindly follow him, I trust him with my life. I trust if this is what he asks of me, he can see no other way to be sure.”

“Sure of what?” Mystery asked as the last vestige of warmth left her eyes.

“Jeremiah will not thwart his future plans. I begged him to find another way.” His blue eyes were full of agony as he looked at her. “I begged him, I question him, and I have defied him. All things I have never done in all these centuries, I did for Jeremiah and for you.” He straightened himself, his eyes losing warmth and becoming shards of deep blue ice, for once the slightly amused pose of his perfect face was gone. “And I will kill who I love if I am forced to.”

Mystery stepped back in front of the crib, just outside the circle of protection and squared her slender shoulders. “If you can, as you have said before, I am more powerful than even your master had predicted. And while I love you, I will not allow you or anyone else to kill my son.”

When Cain looked up at her, his eyes were slightly amused again. “Maybe you can kill me. Maybe you have the power to do so. However, whatever happens here, now, Father will kill him if he wants him to die and if he is pissed, he will be cruel. You and I both know the caim can not keep him out.” His face softened again. “You don’t want Jeremiah to suffer at Father’s hand, do you? Whatever I did to him would be quick and painless, Father will not show such mercy.”

Mystery gasped, she knew her father’s word to be true. Jeremiah would suffer in her grandfather’s care. Cain loved him and would make it quick. She lifted her arms above her head and began to say the caim backwards, to release it. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as Jeremiah began to wail.

“Thank you, my child, it is for the best.” Cain said as he went to stand on the other side of the room. He turned around to give his daughter a few moments alone with her son.

“Mystery, no!” Ryan burst into the room, before she could complete the reverse caim and scooped up the screaming infant. Mystery’s knees went weak with relief as she watched Ryan disappear out of sight with Jeremiah safe in his arms.

Cain howled in rage, shook his head in sorrow at his daughter and disappeared.

Ryan fled down the hall, Jeremiah settling in his arms, until he was just sniffling. He ran up the stairs in front of him and screamed in fury when it appeared to be a dead end. Ryan looked around him anxiously for someplace to hide the child, so he could fight Cain.

A portion of the rock wall slid out and Ryan watched in apprehension, for he could feel Cain’s presence drawing near. He sighed in relief, when Sam walked out of the opening. Cain’s howls of rage filled the air and Ryan could feel his power thickening the air. He shoved Jeremiah into Sam’s arms.

“Run, Sam!” He yelled as he pushed Sam back through the opening.

He didn’t have a chance to see them safe because Cain appeared and grabbed him by the throat.

“Die, Preacher Man, Die!” Cain muttered his face contorted with fury, his eyes crazed.

Ryan fought to focus his thoughts, so he could repel Cain, but he couldn’t get any air. Spots began to drift in front of his eyes, he felt his knees start to give, and tried to pull Cain’s hands away from his throat. Cain’s satisfied laughter filled his ears as Ryan clung desperately to consciousness.

Cain shrieked in pain, dropped to his knees, and released Ryan’s throat. Ryan fell to the floor, gasping for breath. He looked up to see Lily’s face as she repeatedly stabbed Cain with some kind of dagger. Cain’s shrieks finally died and Lily kicked him to make sure he was down. She stepped over his still body and pulled Ryan to his feet.

“What is that thing?” Ryan asked in a hoarse voice.

“This thing, is the real Spear of Destiny, it has been in the possession of the Roodmasi, since it pierced Jesus’ side. They have kept it, secure within the aerie dungeons all these years because it is the only blade, which can kill actual Devil Spawn when wielded by the hand of a righteous mortal. You can understand why they wouldn’t want just anyone to have it.” She leaned against the wall. “The one which was supposedly lost since the time of the last crusade, is a fake we put into circulation.” She chuckled. “It would have done Hitler absolutely no good, even if he had the real one.”

“Why?” Ryan asked in a closer to normal voice.

“Because it won’t allow the person who possesses it to rule the world. And it can only kill Devil Spawn when wielded by someone of a pure motive, who is at least partially human. So demons can not use it on each other and humans can not use it for evil.” She chuckled,

“You have to give God credit, he has a sly sense of humor.”

“So, how did it work on Cain?”

“I dipped it in Holy Water. It didn’t kill him, but it did take him out of commission for a bit. I am a demon and while my motives are not evil, they are not pure either, I did what I did out of revenge and the need to justify my evil past.” She smiled, one of her breath-stopping smiles at him. “Now go before he comes to.”

“What about you?” Ryan asked.

“I’ll slow him up a bit, while you find Sam and get Jeremiah out of here.” She looked down at the bloody mess that would soon become Cain.

“He will kill you for this, Lily.” Ryan grabbed her arm. “Come with me.”

“No, I’ll keep him here as long as I can.” she gasped as Cain began to stir. “Now! You must go!” she shoved at Ryan.

“God Bless you, Lily.” Ryan said as he turned to go.

“And you, Ryan.” She turned to the moaning Cain. “Tell Sam I will be waiting for him.”

“I will.”  Ryan fled down the corridor. He closed his eyes as Lily’s screams wrenched his chest tight.

29

Lily fought the pain and pulled the dagger from her middle, using her hand to stop the bleeding. Cain laughed and advanced on her.

“I’ve been waiting centuries for this bitch.”

“Then come and reap the spoils of your victory.” She said softly in the old language. Lily threw the dagger down and raised her arms to Cain, her skin glowing and healthy, and a soft breeze blowing her thick, shiny golden curls. She slid her tongue slowly out of her mouth and licked her lips like a cat licking milk from his mouth. She smiled, as Cain stopped in his tracks. She rubbed her hands over her breasts and lifted her shirt just a little to show her stomach on the way back up. She crooked her finger and slowly beckoned him forward. “Cain, this may be our only chance, I’ve wanted you for so long.” She drew the words out, making sure want dripped from every syllable. “Come to me, come to me!” Lily said in her siren’s voice.

Cain struggled to stay where he was, but his body wanted to go to her. Her scent was in the air swirling around him like a lover’s arms. He could feel his body preparing itself for the pleasure promised by the look in her eyes. Sweat streaked down his face and glistened on his chest as he took a hesitant step towards her.

Lily beckoned to him, whispering how much she wanted him in the silky flow of the old language, her eyes glowing with need. As Cain reached her she took him in her arms, kissing his neck with light kisses. Slowly, she worked her hand down his hard chest and stomach, and dipped it slowly down the crease in the middle, following the silky, dark hair down to the top of his pants, she slid her finger back out. When she heard him groan with need, she stroked him from outside his jeans, licking his ear and nibbling along his neck. Finally, she worked her way around to his mouth and once there she began sucking the breath from his body, her arms clamping like velvet covered vices.

Cain squirmed until he could get his arms free, and with his vision beginning to blur, he slid his arms around Lily’s slender body and squeezed with all of his might. He sunk to his knees unable to breathe, dragging Lily with him. Cain squeezed tighter and soon he was rewarded with a wet snap and Lily going limp in his arms. Cain flung her away from him and fought to breathe.

Lily’s pain-filled rasping came to him from across the hall. He turned to see her writhing in pain. Coughing, Cain got to his feet, walked across the chamber and looked down at her. Her lovely eyes were glazed and tears ran down her perfect face. She was trying to say something, so, Cain knelt and lowered his face to hers.

“I hope Ryan makes you suffer before he sends you yelping back to your father.” Lily whispered defiantly.

“That’s nice, Lily, real nice.” He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up so she was inches from his face. “You want me to stop the pain, Lily? If you ask real nice I will stop the pain.”

Lily spat on him; he dropped her to wipe his face.

“Drop dead you bastard.” Lily closed her eyes and chewed on her lip to keep from crying out in pain.

“Sorry, but no.” Cain leaned down, concentrated, and punched his hand through Lily’s chest, she shrieked and writhed in pain. The sound stopped abruptly when he pulled out her heart. She slowly faded away.

Smiling and humming to himself, Cain tossed the heart on the ground and went down the hall to find his grandson. The heart slowly dried to dust and blew away.

Sam staggered and went to his knees.

“What is it, Sam?” Ryan knelt down beside his friend.

“Lily’s gone.” Sam whispered desolately.

“I’m sorry, Sam.”  Ryan got to his feet, his heart aching for them both. “Can you stand?”

Sam pushed to his feet and took Jeremiah from Ryan. “Give him to me so you can fight if you need to. Let’s get this little guy out of here.” He stumbled down the hall, tears streaking down his dirty cheeks.

Ryan closed his eyes, bowed his head and said a prayer for Lily. “Go with God, my friend. Go with God.” Ryan whispered and followed Sam down the hall.

Ryan and Sam came to another dead end, and Sam handed Jeremiah to Ryan. He wiped his brow and looked down at his feet.

“I think we should split up. You take Jeremiah and go right at the passage back aways, and I will take the one to the left.”

“It won’t do any good Cain would just follow me.” Ryan said.

“You can make him think I have the baby.” Sam whispered.

“It might work, but if Cain finds you and you don’t have Jeremiah, he’ll make you suffer before he kills you.” Ryan said as he took out his cross and prayed for guidance.

“I’m going to die, either way. If Jeremiah doesn’t get out of here the whole world will suffer.” Sam said as he sat down on the ground and leaned against the wall.

“Okay.” Ryan pulled Sam to his feet. “Good luck and God bless, my friend.”

“Same to you.”  Sam said as he went back down the hall.

Ryan watched him go and he prayed the plan would work.

Cain stood still and tried to feel his grandson’s presence, but all he felt was the chaos and terror of the Roodmasi as they tried to get out of the aerie. Mystery had performed a spell keeping the Roodmasi from being able to leave the aerie. The witch had set off a series of fires as she had made her way to the nursery. And now the Roodmasi panicked as the fire grew. The only part of this night, which was salvageable so far, was Samael’s strumpet had managed to get Kasdeya out of the inferno and was taking her to safety.

Cain centered his thoughts and brought Dante to him. The huge hellhound growled a greeting to his master.

“Find me the human child.” Cain ordered. Dante lifted his head and scented the air, and with a deep rumbling growl, he trotted down a set of stone steps on his left. Cain smiled and followed.

Sam moved quickly down the dimly lit corridor, as if he were hurrying to get Jeremiah out of the aerie. He could hear the screams of those trapped in the chambers above. Sam turned down another corridor and stopped. Lily’s ghost hovered over the doorway at the end.

“Go back, my love. This passage leads to Malcolm’s dungeons.”  Lily blew him a kiss and was gone.

Sam turned to go back when the door opened and a man who dwarfed Simon Thomas stepped out. In one of his huge hands he held a giant machete. He swung it through the air a couple of times, as though he was testing its weight. With what for him passed as a smile, he started down the corridor towards Sam.

Sam got off a shot and the giant knocked his gun from his hand.

“I’ll bet your Malcolm, huh?” Sam said as he backed up.

“Yes.” Malcolm’s deep voice echoed in the corridor. He swung the machete and Sam jumped back.

“I don’t suppose you would consider putting that thing down and going at it like men, you know hand to hand?”

“Yes, I would find extreme pleasure in crushing you with my bare hands.” Malcolm said as he put the machete down and advanced on Sam.

He swung one of his massive fists at Sam and Sam ducked and grabbed the torch lighting the corridor. He touched the torch to Malcolm’s huge back and Malcolm howled in pain and rage backhanding Sam in the process. Sam went flying into the wall. He felt his head hit and the darkness closed in on him. Malcolm walked over to Sam’s unconscious body, his steps thudding loudly on the rock floor. He stopped and checked to make sure there was a pulse. He grunted there was a strange pain in his chest. When he looked down he saw the machete sticking out of it. He turned slowly and saw a tall woman, standing behind him and he fell to the floor dead.

Felicity squatted on the floor and checked Sam’s pulse. She was relieved when he moaned and moved. His eyes finally opened and focused on her. He looked over to where the giant lay dead.

“Thanks.”

Felicity helped him up. “No problem.”

“I am supposed to be decoying Cain so he will follow me and not Ryan.”  Sam said as he wearily got to his feet.

“Good. I am heading to see how Mary Kate did with the charges. You be careful, Sam. And hopefully we will see each other again in this life.”

“Likewise. Thanks again.”

“I am sorry about Lily.”

“I’ll be with her soon.”

“Very true my friend, Blessed Be.” She turned and ran silently toward the tunnel entrance.

Sam watched her go and he continued out and went the opposite direction. Sam looked at his watch and saw they had less than thirty minutes before the tunnels blew. He prayed the others were already out; he caught himself. Just whom was he praying to? The god he had forsaken or the god who was going to torture him for eternity for participating in the Roodmasi’s demise. Chuckling at himself, he shook his head and kept moving.

Sam had gone the long way to the tunnel entrance and he was almost out. Sam heard someone behind him, so he jogged down the corridor; it took a turn and dead-ended. He cautiously made his way back where he had come from. Sam screamed as a huge dog lunged from the shadows and pinned him to the floor. Sam fought to keep the razor-sharp teeth out of his throat.

“Dante.” Cain stepped from the shadows and with a growl the dog sat and waited patiently. “Where is my grandson?”

“I don’t have him.”  Dante growled and licked his chops. “I have no idea where he is.”

“One last chance, Detective. Where is Jeremiah?”

“It was a trick so you would follow me, while Ryan escaped.”  Sam was tired and he missed Lily.

“I can see you are telling me the truth.” Cain turned and walked away. “Dante.”

Sam’s screams echoed through the aerie as Dante fed.

Ryan placed Jeremiah gently on the ground behind the boulders outside, he raised his hands and raised a shield around the child, so he couldn’t wander and no one would be able to take him. He kissed his nephew and went back inside to finish Cain.

Ryan made his way down the tunnel and back into the aerie. He stepped out into a main corridor and was knocked into the wall hard enough it crumbled and rained bits of rock down on him. He shook his head and pulled himself up until he was standing.

“Cain.” Ryan held onto the wall, while the dizziness passed.

“Ryan. I would like you to meet, Dante, my friend and companion.”

Ryan finally got a good look at what had knocked him into the wall. The huge black dog growled and Ryan could see flesh in his fangs. The dog stalked slowly towards Ryan, and bunched his powerful muscles to leap. Ryan pulled one of Felicity’s vials and popped off the lid. When the dog leaped, Ryan shoved the vial in its mouth. The dog fell to the floor shaking and howled in pain. The contents ate away at him like acid. Finally, it gurgled and went still.

Ryan took another vial and threw the contents on Cain, he screamed. He concentrated on his arm and chest where the liquid had landed and they returned to normal. Cain chuckled and backhanded Ryan. Ryan went sprawling and slid into the wall. He kissed his crucifix, said a prayer and flung it at Cain. Cain caught it reflexively and went up in flames. While he burned, Ryan got to his feet. Cain stopped the flames and charged Ryan. Ryan met him halfway down the corridor and each man started swinging. The loud thuds of the blows rebounded in the smoky air as they each landed punches. Cain stepped back a couple of steps and Ryan followed. Cain put his hand into the air and a smoking arrow appeared, he jabbed it at Ryan and managed to scrape his arm. Ryan groaned, wobbled and fell, fighting to breathe.

“I borrowed this arrow from, Leonard, an old friend. I assure you the poison is quite lethal.” He bent over Ryan. “Where is Jeremiah?”