All Hell Breaks Loose: Hellscourge, #9

Chapter One

DOING MY BEST TO IGNORE the three pairs of eyes that were watching me, I focused on eating my breakfast. Nathan, Sophia and Elijah knew I was planning something, but they didn’t know what it was yet. I’d come up with an idea that would hopefully destroy the toxin that was killing me. I didn’t like the scheme either and had tossed and turned when I’d gone to bed last night. After several hours of weighing up my options, I’d reached the conclusion that there was no other way to rid myself of the taint. I would have to stick to my original reckless scheme.

Cutting a glance at Nathan, his cobalt eyes met mine. I had to tear my gaze away before I was ensnared by his hypnotic beauty. He was aware that I was ill and that it was growing worse by the minute. He’d been my guardian angel since my birth and he’d also been the one to remove my soul. My missing essence was the reason I was going to have to take such a drastic step to heal my body. Without it, I was powerless. I needed to call on the legion inside me before I could do anything magical.

I’d learned that Fate had been behind the theft of my soul. She needed me to become a warrior and she’d manipulated me so I would end up on the brink of despair. Only after I’d thought Nathan had betrayed me and had become a plaything of Lord Vepar had I been finally tipped over the edge. I’d succumbed to the darkness within me and had achieved the rank of a Demon Princess. It was unprecedented for a female to reach that high, but I was unlike any being that had ever existed before.

Are you going to keep us in suspense forever, or are you going to divulge your plan to us? Sophia said with a hint of impatience.

Finishing off the last of my cereal, I picked up my cup of tea to delay for a few more seconds. Elijah shifted on his seat and gave me a stern look. I’ll tell you in a second, I said before he could berate me next. I’m just gathering my thoughts.

You are trying to find the words to soften the blow, Nathan guessed correctly. I hope you are not planning what I suspect. It would be very foolish to hand yourself over to Hagith and Orifiel.

Sophia looked stricken at the possibility. Tell me that is not what you intend to do, she said in an appalled tone.

Believe me, I don’t want to, I replied with a grimace. I knew what would happen to me once Hag and Orifice, as I’d mockingly nicknamed them, got their hands on me again. I would be punished horribly for defying them and for being a Nephilim. My kind were considered to be an abomination and were abhorred by God himself. The angels would keep me locked up in a cell until they could contact Vepar. The Demon Lord would be ecstatic to take out her fury on me for stealing Nathan away from her.

Why would you even contemplate doing such a thing? Elijah asked. In his sixties, he had white hair and a comfortable paunch. His blue eyes were usually warm and friendly, but right now they were piercing. He was a priest and his faith was powerful enough to have consecrated Sophia’s store to keep it safe from demons.

There’s something I haven’t told you, I said and took another sip of tea to procrastinate. This was something that I hadn’t wanted them to discover, but was unavoidable now.

Whatever it is, it will not change how we feel about you, Nathan told me confidently.

He’d already seen the monstrous form I took on in hell and he’d told me I was still beautiful to him. If he could look upon the face of a Demon Princess and not run screaming, then he truly did love me. I hadn’t divulged my transformation to Sophia or Elijah yet. Jed and Dom, our angelic allies, had seen me before they’d purged me yesterday. They’d handled it better than I’d expected, so maybe my closest friends wouldn’t freak out when I told them.

When the Wraith Warrior marked me with the toxin, he started a chain of events, I began. He planted the seed of evil inside me and made my transformation in the underworld a lot faster than it should have been.

Are you saying that you are already turning into an imp when you are in hell? Sophia asked.

It’s way worse than that, I said and shook my head. You know I’m a Nephilim, but I’m not like the ones that were eradicated eons ago. A totally new breed has been created now. I’d been the first successful experiment of demons impregnating harvested female angels. There are others and I’m not like them, either. I had both angelic and demonic essence. They just have demonic essence, so they look something like a cross between a captain and a Demon Lord when they’re in hell. When they’re here, they just look human.

You have met another Nephilim? Elijah asked.

I gave a bitter laugh at that. I didn’t just meet one, I was dating one. Nathan already knew about this, so he was the only one who wasn’t shocked. I’d told him what Zach was when I’d rescued him from a cell in Vepar’s basement in hell.

Zachariah is a Nephilim? Sophia asked in stunned amazement. Why did I not see this when I performed the reading for you? Not to mention the readings I did for Candice and her mother, Clarice?

I shrugged and held onto my cup for warmth. I guess because he’s human in this dimension. Maybe you can’t see what he’s like in other realms.

Just as disturbed as Sophia, Elijah frowned and returned us to my original point of what I’d been trying to tell them. So, you’re changing into the same type of demon when you’re in hell?

I exchanged a look with Nathan then blew out a sigh. Not exactly, I hedged.

Violet has become a Demon Princess, Nathan said for me and silence descended.

Sophia blinked a few times, then took a deep breath. I sense this might not be the worst news that you have for us.

The Wraith Warrior’s toxin did more than just begin my transformation, I said. It also left a part of itself inside me. Over time, it grew to the point where I can call on my own Wraith Warrior. I let that sink in for a few seconds before I hit them with the final news. When the raven attacked Nathan by mistake and I drew the Hellmaster’s essence inside me, it created another warrior.

You can call on two Wraith Warriors? Elijah asked.

I can call on the female, but the male is different. I can’t control him at all. He’s the one who is infecting me with poison. He seems to be trying to force me to remain in hell, but I’m not sure why.

Sophia nodded in understanding. That is why I saw the vision of you dying from the toxin. He has deliberately infected you so that you will perish if you remain here too long.

Yeah. He’s spread his poison all through my body. There’s only one way I’m going to be able to get rid of him and his taint now.

You do not mean... Nathan said and trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

Holy fire has proven to be the only thing that can push it back, I confirmed. I’m convinced it’s the only thing that will be able to drive him out of me.

You could die if too much holy fire is used, he said angrily.

I’ll die anyway if I don’t try, I reminded him. After I killed the Prince of the ninth realm, my Wraith Warrior told me about her rival. She said she couldn’t stay inside me any longer because he was killing her. Look what happened once she left me. I stood and pulled my t-shirt up to show them the scar on my stomach. Ten inches long, it was thick, dark gray and hideous. Thin tendrils branched off from it. If I watched them long enough, I could see them moving.

Your scar is not as dark as it once was, Sophia observed.

Exactly, I said. Before I called on my warrior, it was black. Now that I’ve drawn her out, it’s changed color.

You think that having the second Wraith Warrior driven out of you will also draw the toxin out? Nathan summed up.

That’s my theory, I said and sat back down. I had a chat with Raziel and his two angel buddies. They agreed to zap me from the inside once they feel me being purged again. I’m hoping it will be enough to evict the warrior from me.

What will you do if this plan succeeds? Sophia asked.

I’ll try to kill him before he can return to his true master, I replied in a dark tone. Somehow, I didn’t think that would be easy to do. The Wraith Warriors were made of evil essence and weren’t solid beings. I wasn’t sure it was even possible to kill a shadow. Usually, killing their masters was the only way to get rid of them.

Being purged of the toxin wasn’t the only reason why I planned to be captured by my enemies. Leo had been taken hostage by them and I had to free him. Hopefully, Brie had enough influence to ensure he wasn’t being tortured like Nathan had been. She’d wormed her way up to the inner circle through her hatred of me. Like Dom and Jed, she was a double agent. So far, Hag and Orifice hadn’t discovered that the trio were our spies.

There was a third reason for me to return to the angels’ lair. Nathan’s grace had been stripped from him and I’d made it my personal mission to get it back. He couldn’t be my guardian without his magic. I relied on him to keep me safe from harm. I would love him even if he remained powerless, but he deserved to be restored to his former glory.

Getting his grace back was just as important as saving Leo and ridding myself of the taint. Nathan needed his magic to be able to retrieve my essence. I couldn’t face the master of hell until I had my soul back.

Allowing myself to be captured by the angels would solve some of my most pressing problems. I only hoped this plan wasn’t going to backfire on me horribly.

Chapter Two

EXACTLY HOW ARE YOU planning on being recaptured? Nathan asked when he’d recovered from the shock of learning about my scheme. Are you just going to walk up to their warehouse and knock on the door? His tone was verging on sounding annoyed, but I knew he was just worried about me.

Of course not, I said as evenly as possible. He didn’t deserve a snarky response, although it was hard to curb the urge. They’ll be suspicious if I do that. I’ll have to make it seem like they caught me against my will. I turned to Sophia and asked a question. Are they still watching our base?

She shook her head. They gave up keeping watch months ago. They do not seem to be aware that you have returned from hell yet. They most likely thought I was still being held captive by Prince Valac. The angels had formed a shaky truce with the demons, but they clearly didn’t share all pertinent information with each other. Taking a sip of tea, she mulled over our problem before offering a solution. We could pretend to rescue Leo. You could ‘accidentally’ let the sentries on duty see you. They will be certain to take you into their custody immediately.

I do not like it, Nathan said with a heavy sigh. Yet, I do not see what choice we have. He knew this was my best shot of being cured.

Have faith, Nathan, Elijah said. God is depending on Violet to save humankind. He will not allow her to die.

Elijah was the only one who wasn’t aware that God had abandoned humanity. God had dumped the responsibility of their welfare on me and had walked away. Fate will watch my back, I said. She has a stake in this, too.

So she does, Nathan agreed. It wouldn’t be wise to let Elijah know the truth. His faith was the only thing keeping our base secure from demonic invasion. Vepar had access to runes that could break through my spells to keep intruders out. She’d come close to discovering our location. The deal I’d made with her was preventing her from resuming her search. Of course, there were other Demon Lords in New York. Any one of them could take up where she’d left off and track us down. Hag and her cronies knew where we were. They were keeping the knowledge to themselves, for now. But that could change at any moment. If Elijah’s faith waned, the blessing he’d placed on the store could dissipate, leaving us vulnerable.

We should ask Calvin for his assistance again, the priest suggested. I know he would like to be a part of this.

I should have called Reynolds last night to tell him I was back, I said guiltily.

He is aware that you have returned from hell, Sophia reassured me. Nathan visited us briefly before he sought assistance from Dom and Jed to purge you when you stepped through the portal. I phoned Calvin and told him that you were both back. He will be so relieved to hear you are safely back here now.

Normally, I’d use my cell phone to call the detective. I don’t even know where my phone is, I said. Leo would usually have looked after it for me. He would have sent text messages to Zach while I was supposedly in Boston having treatments for my mysterious illness. Instead, Leo was a prisoner and my ex-boyfriend had turned out to be a monster.

I put it in your nightstand, Sophia told me. You left it behind with your dagger when Leo took you to watch Nathan being rescued. I made sure to recharge it periodically so the battery would not go flat. She was just as ancient as the other angels, but she wasn’t behind the times when it came to technology.

Thanks, Sophia, I said gratefully. I might as well call Reynolds now. The sooner we hatch out a plan, the better.

They clearly didn’t share my sentiment. I’d only just returned and now I would be back in the clutches of our enemies again far too soon. I had no idea how I was going to break free once the taint had been purged, let alone how I was going to rescue Leo and find Nathan’s grace.

Heading to the kitchen, I stopped to rinse out my dishes before going upstairs. Once I was in my room, I searched my nightstand first and found my cell phone stashed in the top drawer.

Taking a couple of items out of my pockets, I studied the wooden carving that Leo had made for me. It was an angel sitting down with his knees drawn up to his chest. His head was resting against his knees so his face was hidden from view. His wings were wrapped around him protectively. Even though his face wasn’t visible, I knew it was Nathan. Leo knew how much I loved my guardian and this was a wonderful gift.

Nestled beside the carving was a sapphire stone that had a demonic rune on it. Nathan had carved the rune, which had linked it to him. I could use both items to call Nathan and Leo to me. It was a magic that seemed to be unique to me. I’d once had rune stones that had been created by Dom and Jed, but they’d been taken from me by Zach when he and his father had captured me. They had probably been thrown away or destroyed by now.

The carving and sapphire stone were my good luck charms, just like my favorite jacket that hung from a hook on the back of my door. I never went to hell without the jacket. It had become my armor and I wasn’t sure what I would do without it. Then again, I’d somehow called my dagger to me across dimensions. Maybe I would be able to do the same with my armor. Unwilling to leave the precious items behind, I slipped them into my pocket again.

Checking my phone, the battery was fully charged, just as Sophia had said. Instead of calling Reynolds, I texted him. His partner, Gomez, had been possessed by a demon. I could never be sure when it was safe to talk to him. He called me back immediately and I answered it straight away.

It’s great to hear from you, Alice, he said. It’s been a while.

The fake name was a warning that unfriendly ears were listening in. You know how life can be, I said. It can get pretty crazy sometimes.

Have things settled down for you now?

Not really. One of my friends is in trouble and I was wondering if I could talk to you about him?

Sure. I can meet you for lunch at twelve.

That would be great. Where do you want to meet?

How about our favorite diner?

That’ll be fine. I’ll see you in a few hours.

The diner was just a short distance from the church where I’d been shot twice and had almost fallen to my death. Nathan had caught me and had healed my wounds. Without his essence, he wasn’t going to be able to come to the rescue like that again. He also couldn’t teleport us there. We would have to either take the subway, or catch a cab.

I’d grown used to being instantly shifted to another location by my friends or allies. It was going to be hard to return to using normal modes of transportation. We were at a severe disadvantage now that none of us could teleport. My ability to do so was unreliable at best and I couldn’t count on it.

Heading for the stairs, I slipped my phone into my pocket. Sophia and Nathan had overheard my conversation and had relayed it to Elijah. Their grace might be gone, but their enhanced hearing abilities were still in excellent working order. Now that Nathan was back on Earth, he should be able to repair his injuries much faster. He would also have far greater strength and speed than a normal human.

Neither he nor Sophia could call on their holy swords, which meant they would be defenseless against demons. At least the bracelets Brie had created for us still worked. Their spells would make it hard for hell spawn to register our presence. It wasn’t as good as Sam’s camouflage ability, but it was far better than nothing.

Brie’s bracelets also enabled angels to see the red auras that surrounded demons. Out of our group, Elijah and I would be the only ones who could see them for what they were now. I could see their true faces and the preacher could see their auras. To him, demonic auras appeared black and angelic ones were white. He could spot demons instantly while I had to wait for their control to slip before they revealed themselves to me. It would be useful to have him on our team, but it would also put him in danger. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, I didn’t have the luxury of letting him sit on the sidelines. I needed all the help I could get.

Chapter Three

ELIJAH WAITED FOR ME to take a seat at the table before he spoke. I know I’m not a holy warrior, but I’m willing to step up and offer any assistance I can. I’ve asked for a replacement to take over my duties for a while and he will arrive tomorrow. I’ll be staying here until we’ve managed to put down the threat to Earth.

Sophia looked at him like a proud mother and patted his hand. That is very kind of you, Elijah. We will gladly accept your assistance.

That’s a relief, I said. I was trying to think of a way to ask you to come with me to meet Reynolds. Nathan looked down at the table, trying to hide his hurt at being excluded. "I mean, come with us to meet Reynolds," I added. My guardian’s smile warmed me to the point where I could feel myself blushing. He always affected me this way and it was hard for me to control my emotions when I was around him.

I think we should all go, Sophia said. It would be wise to stick together as much as possible.

Agreed, Nathan said. Do we take a cab, or the subway?

She looked startled for a moment, then smiled ruefully. I had forgotten about our limitations.

We can use my car, Elijah offered. It’s parked in the lot behind the store.

My eyebrows went up in surprise. That’s handy.

After Nathan told us about what Hagith did to him, I figured we’d need transportation, he explained. He was the only one who’d had the foresight to think of it.

Hopefully, once I break Leo free and get Nathan’s grace back, things will go back to normal, I said.

Nathan’s tone was wry when he responded. I am not sure that ‘normal’ is a word that could be used to describe our situation.

You know what I mean, I said in a mock cross tone.

Is there any other news you have to tell us? Sophia asked.

There is one more thing, I replied. It seems the Collectors weren’t the only ones trying to create a new race of Nephilim. At least one of the Princes was also involved.

How did you learn of this?

I found out on the same night that Zach revealed his true nature to me, I said as clinically as possible. His father was the Prince of the ninth realm.

Sophia was stunned to hear this. I should have seen this in the readings I did for Clarice. Her tone was disturbed. Instead, all I saw was an unstable man who would be dangerous for her to associate with.

At least we now know why his personality changed so drastically, I pointed out. I’d be willing to bet that Mr. Orion only hit her after he was possessed by Valac again.

Valac was one of the Princes of hell? she asked with a slight grimace. I might have known he would rise so high in the demon hierarchy. He was always far too proud of himself and he was one of the first to fall.

It didn’t surprise me that she’d known him. They’d all been angels before they’d rebelled and had been cast out of heaven.

Have you defeated all eight Princes now? Elijah asked.

Yep. They’re toast, I confirmed. Most of them warned me that I’d bring doom on mankind if I killed them all. Have you noticed anything different lately?

They shared a look, then shook their heads. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened, Sophia said. The murders stopped after you and Nathan were taken to hell. Life in New York has almost returned to normal now.

We humans tend to try to put the horrors behind us and get on with our normal routines, Elijah said dryly. They’ll forget all about the spate of deaths soon enough.

The last of Hannah’s descendants have been killed, Sophia added with a sympathetic look at my wince. Eighteen bodies have now been found. There were twenty in total, counting Heather and me. Heather’s body was still in hell, which meant I was the only direct descendant of Hannah still living.

While that news was bad, I was relieved to hear that nothing ominous had happened after I’d killed the final prince. Their warnings had been just a smokescreen after all. Or so I hoped. Maybe whatever was supposed to happen wouldn’t occur straight away. Maybe it would have a slow effect that would ramp up and explode when we least expected it.

You look pensive, Nathan said with a slight frown. What are you thinking about?

I just have a bad feeling, I guess, I replied with a shrug. Eight realms of hell might now be leaderless, but that isn’t going to stop the demons from invading us. I have to find the final piece of the object of power and get the other seven pieces back from Hag and Orifice. I had just one of the pieces of the mystery object that would supposedly help me defeat the Hellmaster. It wouldn’t be of much use to me on its own.

Elijah’s lips twitched at the nicknames I used with such relish, but he didn’t snigger outright. I suddenly missed Sam and Leo with a vengeance. Both boys understood my sense of humor and even shared it to some degree. They were my best friends and now one of them was dead and the other one was a hostage.

I would advise you not to attempt to retrieve the fragments that Hagith is hoarding, Nathan warned me. The box that contains them is heavily warded. If you touch it, it will set off an alarm and it will also cause you physical harm. Hagith and her minions will catch you before you could even open it.

That’s what I thought, I said with a sigh. "We’ll have to find a way to get them back sooner