From Hell with Love (45 page)

“Kings?” it asked before laughing, leaning its head against its right shoulder.  “They are other angels, no more.  That is the nature of angels.  They rise when they feel more powerful than they are.”

“They’re pretty damn powerful,” Niccolo said before crossing his arms and using his foot to trace a line in the sand in front of him.

“To a human, it must seem that way.  Though,” the creature said before leaning forward and extending its neck toward Niccolo, “not so much that
you
should worry.”  It turned to Cadmus and tilted its head to the side.  “Nor you.”

“What are you talking about?” Cadmus asked, approaching the elder creature slowly.  Its mask tilted to watch the Horseman walking forward.

“Do you not notice?  No, Moloch supposes you do not.  Interesting that the angel decided to take that route.  Why are you here, in Moloch’s cave?” it suddenly asked, turning to the other souls in his domain.

“Lucifer told us to get you,” Niccolo said with annoyance, walking up to the nearest stone monolith and leaning against it.  “And we don’t have much time.”

“Do not touch that stone,” the creature said, its tone much more serious.  It caused Niccolo to slowly remove himself and look at it before turning back to Moloch.

“Why?”

“That is a great symbol.  There is power in it.  Moloch put that power there, when the angels first came to Hell,” it said, causing Cadmus to stop in his tracks and gesture toward the circle of stones.

“You set these here when Lucifer and the others retreated to Hell?” he asked, drawing the “gaze” of the masked creature.  It nodded, shifting its upper arms so that he could gesture to the circle of monoliths.

“Yes.  They allowed for the angels to stay here away from Adonai.  The cousin was not happy with them at the beginning,” it said before looking at Niccolo.  “So do not touch Moloch’s stones.”

“They allowed for the angels to escape God’s wrath?” Cadmus asked, his nervousness completely forgotten.  “And you were here before the rebellion?”  The masked creature drew back onto its hind legs before rocking back so that he was sitting before the three souls.

“Yes, eleven stones were created for the seal.  Eleven souls were tied to the stones and their life gives the seal its power.  Moloch helped the angel king and his followers, though they do not like the darkness like Moloch,” he said before seeming to yawn, bringing one of its closed hands to the white mask before turning back to Cadmus.  “Moloch has been here for much longer than the rebellion, human.”

“So it’s true,” Niccolo muttered, drawing the attention of the massive creature.  “You’re like God.”

“You are speaking of Adonai?” it asked before rising up and knuckle-walking toward the leper, stopping near the brazier and Cimeries in the center of the circle.  “He is no god, though he might look like one to you.  He is a…
cousin
.”

“So…you’re as powerful as…Adonai?” Cadmus asked behind him, causing the creature to straighten its back before curving backward, dropping its head so that the mask could answer Cadmus directly.

“No.  Adonai is stronger.  He ran, as well, but Moloch is small in comparison.”

“These stones are important to you, Moloch?” Niccolo asked as a plan formed in his mind.  The creature was still turning back to look at him as the handle of Niccolo’s sword solidified in his left hand.  Moloch was looking down at him as the green blade bubbled forth.

“They are important.  It makes no difference if they are important to Moloch,” it said, curling back down so that its knuckles fell against the sand.

“So if I destroy them, it’s a bad thing, right?” Niccolo asked before bringing the edge of his blade against the surface of the rock.

“Do not touch the stone.  It has power you do not understand,” it said, the creature’s voice lowering as it considered Niccolo’s actions.

“We need you to come to the palace, Moloch.  You can come back to your stones afterward.  There is all of eternity to stare at eleven rocks, alright?” he said before drawing back his blade.  “Your choice.”

“Do not touch the stone, Horseman,” it said, its upper arms motioning for him to stop.  “Stone is more important to
you
than Moloch.”

“Well, let’s just say I destroy this one and we’ll figure it out from there,” Niccolo said before swinging his blade forward, hoping that he was not doing anything
too
foolish.

“Stop!” Cimeries shouted, but there was nothing the Amazon or the reaper could do to stop Niccolo’s blade.  Even Niccolo was helpless to stop its momentum as it sailed forward, the blade gleaming as it continued.  The Horseman actually regretted his action as his sword inched closer to the white stone, but he was saved from his foolishness by the three-fingered hand which flew in front of his bastard sword and then wrapped around the blade.  The sudden stop threw Niccolo slightly off balance, but he was more shocked by the white blood flowing out from the deep cut he had made into Moloch’s finger.

“Foolish little soul,” Moloch said before drawing his hand back, and with it Niccolo’s sword, but he let go of the green blade before bringing his hand back to inspect the wound.  “But now I see why the angel uses you as a pawn.”

“We are not his
pawns
,” Niccolo said, trying to regain his confidence after being completely stopped by the older creature, but he was met with an extended chuckle from Moloch as it turned over its finger.

“Perhaps not, human.  Perhaps.  Now, Moloch will go with you to the palace,” it said before using its hands to walk toward the entrance of the cave.

“Just like that?” Cimeries asked, walking after the masked demon.

“Moloch does not want to kill interesting humans, but does not want stones to fall, either.  Only way to stop foolish behavior is by giving in.  Moloch will go with you,” it said, not bothering to look back at the three humans.  Cimeries looked at the Horsemen and shook her head, wondering how an audacious man like Niccolo had come to such a powerful position.  After letting his sword dissolve into his arm, Niccolo looked back at Cadmus, who was still breathing heavily from the leper’s actions, and decided not to push his luck with any humor.  He could tell that the reaper did not approve.

Moloch exited the cave and sighed, thinking that it was strange to see humans who would go to such lengths to convince him of anything.  That the new one was able to cut into his skin was most curious, as some of the so-called
kings
did not have that power.  He looked at his skin again before chuckling, wondering if the young soul could tell if the angel's life was tied to that stone he had almost destroyed.  When he looked down at the humans at his side, he watched their faces intently.  They all looked so horrified.  That was because they were not thinking about the eleven monoliths in Moloch’s cave.

They were just watching the flames rising from Lucifer’s palace.

***

“C’mon, hurry!” Niccolo screamed, not being able to keep his composure any longer.  A green mist exploded into the air, solidifying into an already galloping black horse which Niccolo spurred to go even faster.  Plague did not argue this time, but increased his pace and set the ground flying beneath them.  According to Räum’s vision, they did not have time to lose.

Niccolo heard a rumbling coming from behind them and a series of shouts between Cimeries and Cadmus, but all he could think about was how they were too late.  They did not bother to follow the lava stream this time around, Plague galloped directly toward the entrance to the Famine Quarter, his hooves landing recklessly among lava rock and mud and all of the other dark things hidden underneath them.  The green light from Plague’s eyes was the only thing they could see by.

It had to be enough.

Tears were streaming out of Niccolo’s eyes, both the healthy and ruined ones, but he did not notice them falling down his cheeks.  He just sniffed as the air whipped past him, Plague running fast enough that his skin started to warp from the pressure of the air flying by.

“Hurry, Plague,” Niccolo said weakly, unable to keep up any pretense of masculinity or power.  His horse understood; the beast somehow increased its speed and each time it struck the ground it seemed to leap forward an even greater distance.

I’m trying, Nico.  We won’t let this happen
, Plague’s voice consoled him, the words coming with a distinct feeling of labor.  As Niccolo wrapped his arms around the black horse’s neck, he felt a greater affection for the beast than he thought possible.  Except for Cadmus and Lucifer, there was no one more important to him.

The Horseman looked up after his embrace and was shocked to see a gleaming, white horse to his right.  His face twisted in confusion, Niccolo looked over the man and the woman in the saddle, their faces made of stone.  Soon, Cadmus made eye contact with the leper and gave a look of sympathy.  He knew just what Niccolo was thinking and was determined to stop the events which were already coming to pass.

The rumbling increased in volume enough that Niccolo looked to his left, shocked by the appearance of Moloch, who was using his powerful arms and legs to throw himself forward, tumbling across the landscape with ease and causing Niccolo to reconsider his earlier actions.  If things had gone differently, he might have had to fight the masked creature.

Due to the speed of their horses, they made it to the Famine Quarter within minutes of leaving Moloch’s cave, Mercy and Plague’s hooves thundering against the stones of the street so fast that it gave Niccolo a headache.  That was nothing to Moloch’s entrance, as the creature barreled into the house on the left and then made his way
through
it with no effort, sending wooden frames and stonework crashing all around him.  Niccolo watched the display with horror before Plague stopped galloping and almost broke his legs trying to arrest his momentum in such a short distance.  Niccolo was about to ask what the horse was doing, but then felt the gnawing concern emanating from Plague.  The leper looked up to see something he had not expected.

There, standing in the middle of the road, was a mob of demons and, in the middle of that group, a short woman next to a massive bear.

“There you are, human,” Balam growled, exposing his goat teeth in his arrogance.  “Did you think you were going to escape from me after that insult?”

“What are you doing here?” Cadmus asked, bringing his scythe down to his right side and holding Mercy’s reins with his left hand.  The woman in the tight, grey clothing stepped forward and cocked out her hip before purring.

“We’re here to kill you, Horsemen.  We’ve waited for a very long time to take power from Lucifer.  A long,
long
time.  But honestly, they don’t need
all
of us up there,” Viné said before pointing at the burning palace on the horizon.  “Balam and I decided that it would be best to kill you before you could get back to your daddy.”

“You traitors,” Cimeries said before pushing off Mercy’s saddle, landing in front of them before picking herself up and pointing the end of her pike toward the assembled demons.  “Have you
no
respect for your blood?”

“Why should we?” Balam said as he walked forward, the ground resonating with each step.  “He led us down here and then left us to rot! 
Now
we’re looking out for
us
.”

“That doesn’t surprise me at all,” Niccolo said before dropping to the ground, ignoring Plague’s warnings in his mind.  He grabbed the gnarled black bow from his back along with a pair of arrows, nocking them against the tense string.  “Seems that honor is hard to find these days.”

“Honor, human?” Balam roared, motioning for his men to walk forward.  They were brutes, clearly from the barbarian tribes of Northern Europe, and they were holding massive clubs, axes and hammers.  “It is not, and never
was,
about
honor
.”

“Lucifer was the one who lifted up you little humans, defying our father, and we felt like it was time to take our due,” Viné said as she walked forward, the grey clothing somehow getting tighter as she walked.  Her feline eyes flared as she approached.  Silver blades grew out of her joints, those closest to the ground clinking against the stone.  “For some of us, that little rebellion was just about power.”

“Power we were not given,” Balam said, cracking his neck before pawing at the ground with his left hand.  “So now, since Lucifer has clearly failed us, we’re
taking
the power we deserve!”

“So this is just about taking over Hell?” Cimeries asked, warily advancing toward the hulking demons who were almost within striking distance, holding their clubs and axes with the intention of violence.  Viné stopped in her tracks before looking at the beast beside her and laughing.  When she turned back to her enemies, rows of cat fangs were descending from her gums.

“
Hardly
!  This is about taking over Earth!  We’ll kill the necessary amount of kings and then we’ll take over that paradise from your stinking, human filth!” she said before licking her lips and falling down to her hands and feet.

“Taking over Earth?” Niccolo asked, drawing back his string and aiming at the ursine demon foaming at the mouth.  “What the hell are you talking about?”

“What are
you
talking about, human? 
You
should know if you got Moloch,” Balam said in confusion but soon it shook its head in frustration.  “Enough of this!  Get him!” he roared before pointing at Niccolo and the others, sending a wave of brutish demons toward them.  Niccolo did not have the option of asking them anymore questions and set to loosing arrows at the approaching enemies.  Balam’s body was soon blocked by the arrival of his soldiers, so Niccolo just sent the dual arrows into the wall of flesh coming against them.

Though the arrows sank deep into the chest of an approaching soldier wielding a massive club which had sharp, volcanic stone moored into the petrified wood, Niccolo could tell from the demon’s speed that arrows would be useless here.  He formed the handle of his sword quickly but had to abandon any counter attack, as the heavy club fell down and crashed into the street where he had just been.  A quick roll to the side was all that prevented his body from being crushed.