The Angel's Covenant (The Covenant series) (12 page)

Soon they are surrounded by mountains risings up like tortured souls trying to claw their way back up towards the light. Dropping quickly through the peaks Jake follows the thread, as it disappears deep into a cavernous trench.  Slipping through a crevice in the rocky wall Jake hears a whimpering, and moaning coming from the room in front of him. Dreading what he might find on the other side, he hesitates until he feels the others come up behind him. Family he thinks, as Elina rests her hand on his shoulder. He motions to Ronnie for them to split up as they enter the cavern. Jake slips into the room and stares in shock at the horror before him.
      Elsbeth is suspended in midair, encased in a blue light rising up out of the ground. She floats on her back with her eyes wide open in terror. She is paralyzed by the creature intent upon his work. Her wrists and legs are shackled by the tentacles exploding from its large naked back. Standing in front of Elina with its head thrown back in rapture, is a demonic creature. Each of its large tentacles is suctioned to different points on Elsbeth's body leaching, pulling, and drawing the life from her. He is a larger red skinned demon with massive muscular arms, and legs. Each taloned hand is running over Elsbeth's body massaging and touching her. He strokes her blonde hair, down her neck cupping her breasts like a lover, while two tentacles release their hold, dripping venom they slither up her calves. He leans down to her neck inhaling the sweet nectar of her fear, and that is when he catches the scent of the others.

Turning slowly he smiles at the group, sticking out a black forked tongue as if testing the air. He says "I ssssmell the deliciouss sstench of your fear little brother," pinning Jake with his yellow snake like eyes. The pupils of his eyes are vertical and lidless. Jakes fear for Elsbeth turns to fury and he feels his power begin to hum. The demon begins to unravel his hold on Elsbeth, standing to his full height of eight feet he is now gro
wing larger by the second.

Elina moves in closer to Jake as Ronnie and Ruby make their wake a
round the edge of the cavern towards Elsbeth. He hisses at them lashing out with one of his long black tentacles snapping the air like a whip. Elina senses Jakes power is building so she steps forward, saying "Demon, If you release her we will not harm you."

"You are all mine!" He hisses at her, whipping at her with a tentacle. Elina does a back flip landing a few feet away. The demon smiles at her and she says tauntingly "You know you are kind of sexy for demon. You almost look human except for your snake eyes, red skin, and tentacles
growing out of your back."

Not sure what kind of game Elina is playing, Jake tries to get the demons attention away from her,
"Are you crazy, he's damn ugly" Jake responds preparing to jump back as the creature moves into a fighting stance.

Releasing all his tentacles with a wet sucking sound he hisses at them saying "I will take my time with you both, and I promise ," he says looking at Elina "you will scream for more ssssso loud and ssssoo long that you will beg for death.” Turning his reptilian gaze on Jake he promises "You I will ssssuck dry while your sister watches, then I will take your body and kill everyone you know." Looking longingly at Elsbeth he strokes her with one black tentacle sinking its hooks deep into her pale flesh, releasing more venom caus
ing her to jump and moan.

Raging Jake runs straight for the Demon picturing a shield
of white light around himself. Elina sighs and shakes her head as Jake is jerked into the air by one large tentacle. Elina reaches behind her and creates a short curved blade, spinning it through the air it sinks deep into the demons left eye. Howling in rage he starts to run towards her just as Elina sends two more blades longer than the first, spinning at him. The demon dodges one, but the second blade hits its mark severing the tentacle holding Jake.

Screaming in pain with one clawed hand over his eye, he is distracted allowing Ruby and Ronnie to get closer to Elsbeth and pull her free from the light. Jake lands with a thud, on his back, and imagines a beam of ice encasing the demons feet. He sends it and rolls quickly running towards Elina. Realizing what Jake has done, she reaches for his hand and builds her power. Clutching hands tightly she sends him an image in his mind of
the demon encased in ice.

Snaking out its forked tongue, he looks at them bleeding and laughs saying "Do you think it will be that easy?" He points a hand toward a pile of rocks sending them shooting towards Jake and Elina. Quickly he uses his tentacles to leap sideways, breaking free of the ice and sticks to the cave
rn wall. Elina and Jake follow building a current of arctic air, the room begins to fill with an ice cold mist. Clinging to the wall the demon lashes out at Elina, with one long tentacle. Looking at her he says "I know who you are keeper, sssomeone was looking for you!" Startled Elina realizes she cannot let him live. The picture in her mind changes, Jake looks at her and nods in understanding, causing the temperature to drop more.

Needing the humidity to
; the icy mist begins to take its toll. The demons reactions are slowing and he grows more desperate. Panicking as he sees Elsbeth being pulled to freedom, he tries to flee further up the wall. Only to find Jake has shackled his ankles to the wall with white cuffs of light. Scrambling he reaches higher up the wall trying to break free and that gives Elina the opening she needs, pinning his wrists to the cavern wall with two throwing blades. Screaming in rage he tries to break free but he is too late. Elina releases Jakes hand and punches into the ground beneath her feet. Sinking her hand deep and pulls a rod of molten lava free from the fiery depths.

Jake rushes to help free Elsbeth. Elina cools the rod in her hand turning it to a bl
ack iron pike. She says to the demon "you chose the wrong soul this time."
"Who says I chose the wrong soul, keeper, Free me" he rages struggling against his bonds "and I will tell you everything!"

Elina glances over and sees Jake holding his catatonic sister in his arms. Seeing the portion of tentacle on the ground still twitching she makes her choice. With pity in her eyes she says "I will find my answers another way" and spears him through his mouth; as he screams sinking deep
into the wall behind him.

Through the eyes of death he watches as the keeper walks over to his severed tentacle and picks it up. Careful to avoid the venomous hooks she closes her eyes and sees him bowing before the master. Crucified to the cavern wall the demon shudders one last time before his light is extinguished. Elina feels the moment he ceases to exist and
concentrates on the vision.

Bowing before the master he is too afraid to raise his eyes, even when he begins to speak. "Asa, for your loyalty and devotion I have a gift for you. Bring
her in" he commands.

Asa
hears her pleas for freedom, and smiles, tasting the air with his forked tongue. Growing in size with each tear shed. Elsbeth begins to fight in earnest, struggling and screaming the closer he gets. Snaking out his tentacles he traps her wrists and sinks his venomous hooks to the side of her neck, immobilizing her with his poison.

"Excellent Asa, she was getting on my nerves," his master says.
"Thank you, Father," Asa hisses.
"Spread the word, any who swear loyalty to me will be rewarded. Follow the golden threads to find the watchers. Destroy them and bring me the book!" he roars.

Dropping the tentacle Elina rushes to the others, just as the ground begins to rumble. "We have to go now, just imagine your body Jake and you will be back! I will bring Elsbeth!" Ronnie and Ruby return quickly with Jake following. Elina thinks quickly and wraps her arms around Elsbeth and imagines the arms of her maker lifting the traumatized soul and placing it back in her body, and then watches as a
soft white light surrounds Elsbeth. The rumble grows stronger and the ground begins to crack as rocks tumble. The mountain comes alive with a hoard of demons closing in on Elina. Relieved Elina watches as the peaceful light gently sends Elsbeth back to her body.

Free now Elina decides to send a message for those hunting the watchers. Quickly walking around the cavern she pushes her hand into the rocky wall and pulls out a baseball sized crystal. Concentrating she feeds power into the crystal, until it pulsates with energy. Walking over to the dead demon she punches the crystal into his chest cavity and draws her hand out, ignoring the sucking sound. As the crystal bomb reaches its critical point, she shields herself and backs out of the mountain. The hoard begins to break through as Elina watches from a safe distance. They fight like animals as they break into the room, each wanting a piece to return to the master with. Well over a hundred demons pour into the cavern and silence falls as they see the favorite son
, crucified on the wall.

A chorus
of demonic screams are silenced in an instant as the crystal detonates; releasing its holy light. The flash is like a beacon drawing the eyes of hell towards it. The shock wave from the explosion ripples across the abyss, and Elina watches the destruction of the mountain. Satisfied, she returns to her body dropping to her knees exhausted. Lifting her head looking at the others she says "They know about our threads and they are hunting for us."

Elsbeth floats in the arms of her guardian. His golden wings protect her from the wind and pain. Comforted in his muscular arms she is not afraid, though the poison still pumps through her body. She is unable to move; frozen by the vile ones venom, knowing as long as he holds her she can endure.

The first time her angel came to her,
 she welcomed death begged for it even. He could only stay in short spurts, and she was returned once more to endure. Each time he left her with the evil one, her soul screamed for him to free her; but he would not. He told her his name was Simeon whispering in the dark stories of heaven. Singing to her and when she thought she could take no more, he told her of Jake. How her brother was scouring the earth to try to find her, fighting demons and coming to free her.

Her light grew dim; the golden thread faded more each day. The evil one called himself Asa, he claimed she was his bride; a present given to him for his loyalty. So gently and reverently he said the word as he raped her soul and violated her in every way. Unable to move or speak she had no choice but to endure and just when she thought her mind would break, she caught the sound of an eagle calling. Hope flared for an instant and so did her light. Her dark angel with the golden wings came in a bright light a
nd lifted her in his arms.

Gently Simeon places Elsbeth back in her body, and stepping away returns where he is needed. Elsbeth watches him step away and a tear slips down her cheek. The light fades and so does the golden glow of his wings. He leaves her and
her spirit weeps his name.

Jake sits by her bed holding her hand and she hears him say "It’s been twelve hours and we have no way of knowing how much poison he used."
"The venom is strong; she will fight it off soon," Aunt Ruby says reassuring Jake.

Her body feels so heavy, drugged, every movement is a struggle she turns her head toward his voice, and tries to open her eyes "Simeon
?" she whispers hoarsely.

Jake jumps as he feels movement, and then watches her struggle to come out
of the haze. "Beth its Jake!" he says through tears. Opening her eyes she closes them quickly against the glare of the lights.
Ruby quickly dims the light, and rushes out of the room to get the others. "Jakey?" Beth asks?

"Yes, Beth it's me!" He replies, ecstatic to hear her knick name for him. The others come in and watch as Elsbeth's tears begin to fall, she turns her head toward his voice and opens her eyes looking at Jake she asks "Did he leave
me again?"

"The demon is dead
Beth; he will never hurt you again!" Jake says vehemently.
Slowly turning her head she looks around the room, as her tears flow faster "Where's Simeon?" Hiccupping, and sobbing, she begins to panic "Where is he Jake!"
"I don't know, Elsbeth." Jake responds looking at Elina in confusion. Thinking maybe she is still under the venoms effect. “Let me help,” Ruby says and takes her hand reading Elsbeth's memories. Horror fills her face and she struggles to stay on her feet. Ronnie pulls her back against him stabilizing her, as Ruby struggles not to cry.

"He shielded her," she states in wonder. "An angel protected
her until we could get to her.” Releasing Elsbeth's hand Ruby looks at Jake telling him "she is asking for her guardian angel."

Ronnie takes Ruby
leading her from the room, knowing she will need him and Elina steps forward hoping to calm Elsbeth. Taking deep heaving breaths, her tear filled eyes are wide with panic; she searches frantically for him, struggling to move her arms and legs. "Simeeoonn." she begs "don't leave me here, don't leave meeeee!!!!" she says screaming.

"Beth!" Jake says "you are safe now, you’re safe" he repeats gathering her in his arms, rocking her gently, waiting for her to calm down.
Elina knows what it means to spend time with an Angel, so she sits on the side of the bed next to them, and says to her "Elsbeth, you will see him again. They never go far and always watch over us. Do you hear me? You will see him again."
Looking at Elina with hollow eyes she says "He left me again.”