Authors: Randall Morris
CHAPTER 55
Gangrene saw a small group of berserkers approaching. He grinned as he saw their leader, a small demon carrying a berserker staff. Some of the Dragon’s demons looked ready to intervene, but Gangrene waved them off.
“Gangrene, we need to talk. In private.”
Gangrene nodded and led the way to his tent.
“Not sure how you ended up in charge of a bunch of berserkers. I’m guessing a lot has changed since we last ran into each other.”
“A lot of crazy shit has happened. Lilith and Shadow were able to bring Leech back.”
Gangrene’s eyes went wide.
“Shit. Are they coming back down to Hell? Are they…”
Muan raised both hands.
“It’s ok. They’re not interested in being major demons. They’re crazy powerful and we just can’t be around them anymore. It’s time for both of us to move on. Shadow let me go. I was second in command to the idiot who just attacked the Dragon. Now I’m in charge of the berserkers. I want to come back to Hell. I don’t want to be up here with nephilim anymore.”
“And how do you think you’re going to pull that off? The Dragon banished the berserkers to Earth.”
“I have
some
leverage. I still have the necklace of Iktomi that Queen Persephone gave me. I have a berserker staff. I command the only legion of berserkers that actually knows the culture. The ones in Nightmare’s army have no idea how to tap into the power properly. I just want an audience with him.”
“He’ll kill you, Muan. Probably eat you. You’re small enough.”
“Please, Gangrene. Just let me talk to him.”
“That’s stupid. That’s putting me at risk. That’s putting Raven at risk. He’ll kill all of us. He doesn’t want the berserkers back. Turn around and run away.”
“If I can’t convince him, I’ll give you the berserker staff and we’ll run. You get to present him with one of his lost relics. That should keep him from killing you.”
Gangrene thought the offer over.
“Fine. Keep in mind right before you die that I tried to talk you out of this.”
Muan grinned.
“Thanks. We’ll wait outside the Dragon’s camp until you come to get me.”
Gangrene was able to convince the Dragon to hear Muan out. He brought Muan to the Dragon and threw him down on his knees.
“Speak, little demon. Gangrene said you have something to say that’s worth my time.”
“I want to become a major demon and lead the berserkers.”
The Dragon looked angry. He changed form into Lucifer, drew his sword, and started advancing towards Muan.
“How is that any different than what the last berserker said?”
“I brought an offering with me to show the proper respect.”
The Dragon stopped and grinned.
“What did you bring, little guy?”
“Great Dragon, I know that you banished this berserker order because they allowed Nightmare to take the berserker staff from your collection. We’re in the process of making a new one and it’s already incredibly powerful. I can continue to wield it myself and channel my own rage into it, or I can offer it to you now, as is.”
“That’s it? You started making a new berserker staff?”
“I also bring a gift from your wife, Persephone. One of her treasured artifacts that she entrusted to me.”
Lucifer looked interested and sheathed his sword.
“Let’s see it.”
Muan pulled the necklace of Iktomi from his neck and handed it to Lucifer. He felt a little bad as he remembered the promise he made to Persephone when she gave him the necklace. He had mastered the power of transformation but was breaking his word and giving it to Lucifer instead of giving it back to Persephone. Muan dismissed his conscience. This was the only way to get what he wanted. Besides, he wasn’t likely to ever see Persephone again. Lucifer looked the necklace over and then put it in his pocket.
“I accept your offering. I want the berserker staff right now, too. You will be the lowest of the Six and your order is not fully restored in my eyes, but I will allow you all to return to Hell under the leadership of the little guy.”
Muan handed over the berserker staff. Lucifer turned back into the Dragon and pulled out one of his toenails. He turned back into Lucifer and called for a metal staff. He attached his toenail to the staff with heat from his hand and then handed the scythe over to Muan. Muan went to take it, but Lucifer didn’t let go.
“If your order crosses me or fails me… ever again… I will wipe the memory of berserkers from Hell, Earth, and Heaven. Do you understand me?”
Muan nodded. Lucifer held the staff for another few seconds and then let go. He turned and started walking away.
“Back to Hell, everyone. I’m sick of being up here.”
CHAPTER 56
Shadow checked the map one more time as he trudged through the snow at the top of the Earth. He was close and he could feel the Earth rumbling more and more with every passing second. Muan had found the spot where Abaddon had been sucking the life out of the Earth for the past several months and marked it on the map. Shadow planned to destroy his father before the others had time to complete their tasks and teleport to him. There was just one problem.
“I know you’ve been following me. Why don’t you come out and give me the berserker staff? That would really make my job a lot easier.”
Shadow’s remarks were met with silence other than the continuous howling of the wind.
“Sarah… come on. I know it’s sad, but I have to do this.”
Shadow heard a voice, but he couldn’t see where it was coming from.
“Why? Why do you have to kill him?”
“Because if I don’t, he’ll destroy the Earth for everyone. No more angels. No more demons. No more nephilim. Everyone else is either too stupid or too weak to deal with this… so I’m going to deal with it. If I live, I’m going to the Heavens to cut off Michael’s head too. This is pretty much all his fault. He had so many chances to fix this, but he’s too busy sitting on a gold fucking throne up there.”
“I’m pregnant.”
Shadow grinned and dismissively shook his head.
“You’re not. You’re saying that to try to convince me not to do this. It’s not going to work. Please hand over the berserker staff. Please…”
“I’m not lying. I’m sure now that I’m pregnant. Why can’t you just come stay with me? Don’t abandon your son like your…”
“No. Don’t even finish that thought. You’re not pregnant. In fact… I’m starting to wonder…”
Shadow scanned his environment again and saw no one.
“…if you’re even here. Fuck. I’m already starting to lose it.”
Shadow realized that the noises that led him to believe that he was being followed could have easily been conjured by his own mind. Either that or Abaddon was playing mind games with him.
Shadow made his way to the top of a snowy embankment and saw his father as he looked down. Abaddon stood in a large area of scorched land and had two claws sunk into the Earth. He was pulling some kind of life force from the Earth itself. Shadow was intimidated at first. His father was as large and as powerful looking as Michael and the Dragon. The last time he had fought the Dragon, he was Legion with five other major demons with him. That wasn’t an option now. Shadow exhaled loudly, pulled his angelic short blade from his belt, and shot a wave of blinding light into the area. Abaddon looked up, then removed his claws from the Earth and stood.
“Who the hell are you and why do you have my sword?”
“An interesting question. I used to think that you gave it to me. It turns out that was a bullshit memory my uncle gave me. You see, he felt guilty about betraying you and trained me to be a weapon. I was supposed to free you. I provided the distraction that gave you the opportunity to run. This sword…”
Shadow pointed his short blade at Abaddon.
“…was actually given to me by my grandmother, Persephone. It belonged to Michael before it was given to you.”
“Why would Persephone give you my sword?”
“Because I’m your son.”
Abaddon laughed.
“So I impregnated one of the demoness whores? Which one?”
“My mother’s name is none of your business. I’m here to give you two options, Abaddon. Either you can stop sucking the soul out of the Earth and killing the inhabitants or I’ll kill you.”
Abaddon looked amused.
“If Cain wanted me put down, he should have come himself… or maybe Baal sent you. It doesn’t really matter. I can sense power in you, but it’s not enough. Throw down my sword, turn around, and walk away. This is your one chance to turn back,
son
.”
Abaddon said the last word in a mocking tone. Shadow took Damnation in his right hand and Michael’s short blade in his left.
“Cain and Baal are dead. You don’t have a reason to…”
“A reason? I’m fucking insane. I’ve been tortured for longer than you’ve been alive. That’s the only reason I need to do
anything
I want to. The moment has passed. It’s time for you to die.”
Shadow charged, knowing that there was a good chance that he wouldn’t survive this fight.
CHAPTER 57
When Leech and Azazel entered Leech’s mind, the nephilim immediately bound them both in chains and hit them hard until they were both on their knees. Leech looked to Sol and Sol started pacing.
“Recent developments have made us question which of you we should believe. Either one of you is powerful enough to take over this body. We just need to decide who that will be.”
Leech tried to shake himself free.
“You promised me that…”
“Unfair bargaining position. We made that agreement under duress. What choice did we have? We’re trapped in
your
head.”
Azazel stood and was knocked back down.
“Leech killed all of you. Why is it even a question? Let me take over and dispose of the demon that murdered you.”
“You see… we can’t really trust you either, Azazel. You apparently killed dozens of nephilim and kept their souls in your workshop. We heard you admit as much to Leech. You’re a kin-slayer just as much as Leech is a murderer.”
Leech stopped struggling.
“So what do you want to do about this? I’ll fight him again if that’s what you want. I’d be happy to kill him.”
Sol shook his head.
“No. We’ve already watched the two of you fight. We’re not really interested in the outcome. We’ve heard your arguments regarding why we should side with you, Leech. Now it’s time to hear from Azazel.”
The nephilim turned to look at Azazel.
“It really comes down to whether you believe in Shadow or Abaddon. If Abaddon prevails, I should be your choice. If you think Shadow’s strong enough to kill him, side with Leech. I think the victor of that fight should be easy to figure out.”
“Any rebuttal, Leech? Keep it brief.”
“Two points. First, if Abaddon wins, we will all fucking starve. He’s killing off humans which means he’s killing off our food source. Second, if Azazel is given control and Abaddon wins, he might just kill us anyways. He won’t recognize Azazel in
my
body.”
Several nephilim nodded as if what Leech was saying made sense. Sol turned to the nephilim.
“Let’s make this quick. Majority rules. Who votes for Azazel?”
A number of nephilim hands went up. Leech guessed it was about half. Sol counted the votes and nodded.
“Alright and everyone for Leech.”
The rest of the nephilim raised their hands, including Sol. Sol counted and grinned.
“Leech wins by three votes. Free Leech and throw Azazel in the pit.”
The nephilim approached Azazel, but he melted through the chains and prepared to attack.
“You won’t be throwing me in a pit. I’ll take what I want by force. I don’t take orders from weak nephilim that were killed by a demon runt. I…”
The nephilim all attacked Azazel at once, including those who had just voted for him. They punched and kicked him until he lost consciousness, rewrapped him in chains, and threw him in the pit. One of the larger nephilim found a large boulder and rolled it over the pit. Leech shook hands with Sol.
“Thanks. I did a quick count. I don’t think I won by three. In fact…”
Sol grinned and spoke through his teeth.
“Shut up. Just go with it.”
Leech left his mind and returned to his body.
“Azazel is dead.”
Lilith handed Lucia back over to Thanatos and ran to Leech. She kissed him deeply. Steam started to speak, but Leech raised a finger signaling for him to wait. As he started to make out with Lilith, Steam started to wonder if he was going to get the chance to speak. Leech and Lilith finally pulled apart and Leech grinned as he caught his breath.
“So you’re sure he’s dead? He’s not hanging around somewhere?”
“No. He’s dead. He was technically dead shortly after he teleported out of that circle. In my mind, the nephilim beat him, chained him up, and threw him in a pit. Then they covered the pit with a boulder. I can’t hear him in my subconscious and I don’t think I have access to his powers. That’s about as dead as he’s ever going to be. Hopefully that spell you cast agrees and we teleport to Shadow.”
Thanatos looked at Lucia.
“We’re going to teleport now. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
Lucia clapped and nodded at her uncle.