The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)

THE SMELLS HERE WERE ATROCIOUS YET THE HORDE OF MORTALS DIDN’T SEEM TO NOTICE. I had seen a pack of D’jeern cause less destruction, and that was saying something, given they were large clumsy beasts with several horns where their eyes should be, rotten, jagged teeth, and ate the remains of dead creatures.

Although the festival was an assault on my every sense, there had been moments when I’d enjoyed myself. I would never admit it to her, but the presumptuous, dark-haired woman strolling in front of me may have had something to do with that. 

I may not want to admit it to myself, but I enjoyed her companionship. That was something else I would not share with her. To think I could be cordial, even happy, around an Ig’Morruthen was preposterous. The old gods would have thought I’d gone insane, but it was true. I wasn’t as trapped in the past when she was near.

Dianna would still have to pay for her crimes against my people and the mortal world. My chest felt heavy at the mere thought of punishing her, but it was law, and I was the enforcer. But even if this bond of ours was only temporary and fraudulent, I was thankful for the respite she had provided me.

‘You’re doing it again.’ Her euphonious voice filtered through my consciousness, snapping me back to the present. The jacket I had given her rolled off her shoulders, revealing more of that golden bronzed skin. She claimed everyone was staring at me, but I had noticed every eye that had lingered upon her since entering this obnoxious place. At last count, it was forty-five, no, wait, there was another, make it forty-six. I told myself I was only keeping track for safety reasons, nothing more. She had enemies, and I was still unsure of this alleged contact of hers. I did not need her poisoned or unconscious again.

‘Doing what, exactly?’ I asked as we rounded a corner. A line of mortals waited patiently to board baskets attached to a monstrous lit –up circle. They laughed and squealed while I cringed, hearing every piece of metal that struggled to stay together. Their lives were so short, yet they risked death needlessly. She led me past the rides and deeper into the shadows. No lights or music danced here, no mortals either. 

‘The quiet sulking thing,’ she said as she ducked beneath a few metal bars supporting a flapping piece of plastic. I followed after her, which seemed to be a common occurrence lately.

‘Must you pay so much attention to me?’

Her hair was a mass of waves and curls that danced over her shoulders as she turned, a mischievous grin curving her lush lips. I knew her next words would be snarky or crass, but before she could say anything, we heard footsteps against the gravel path. Her mood sobered, her bright smile fading. 

An ill –kept man emerged from the darkness, his clothing worn and dirty. His shirt was half –tucked into jeans that hung loosely on his hips. The odor that surrounded him in a nearly visible cloud was almost worse than the smells hanging over the festival. I stepped in front of Dianna, shielding her body. She may know this man, but I did not, and the last informant had shot needles into her.

‘You are late.’

The small, skinny male’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, man, you’re huge. Not in a bad way, though. You are just tall and, you know, big. You’re really him, aren’t you? The one everyone in the Otherworld is whispering about?’ 

Dianna came to my side, answering before I could. ‘Yes, it’s him. Now, what took so long? We have been here for hours.’ 

He held his hands up, looking at Dianna, who stood with her arms folded and hip cocked to the side. He swallowed hard, his eyes moving over her form with obvious male interest. Forty-seven. 

‘Look, you’re lucky I even showed. You’re blacklisted, sweet cheeks, which means no one from here to the Otherworld wants to help you.’ 

I felt her posture change, a bit of that cocky edge she wore so well dropping away. That bothered me. The air around us became charged as clouds billowed in the distance, my temper festering. I wouldn’t allow anything to dim her spirit. 

The thin, smelly man went on. ‘I know your connections are limited, but the Otherworld is stirring. They say he found the book.’ 

I heard her sharp intake of breath and folded my arms. I looked at him as if he were insane. ‘Your sources are lying to you. It is impossible. The book does not exist.’

He shifted from one foot to the other, looking around before he said, ‘Look, dude, I’m just telling you what I know, okay? You came back, and everyone is on edge. It’s chaos out there, and it got worse when you stole his pretty little girlfriend.’

I heard Dianna scoff next to me. He met her gaze, placing one hand in his pocket. ‘Word on the street is Kaden is beyond pissed, and he is looking for revenge in a big way.’

‘If he is so angry, why have I not seen him?’

He shrugged, still shifting from foot to foot. I could smell the anxiety seeping from his pores, and my distrust of him grew. ‘He’s smart. I don’t think he will strike unless he knows he can take you out.’

He stepped a foot closer and leaned toward Dianna. He craned his head forward and whispered, ‘I heard he doesn’t care how he gets you back. Alive or dead, he has a price on your head. I heard he would drag you back in pieces if he had to.’ 

Dianna did not move or say anything, but I felt the panic ripple through her. I looked at her and saw her struggling to maintain the cool and calm demeanor she always projected. 

Before I realized what I was doing, I had stepped in front of her again. I grabbed the front of his dingy shirt, lifting him off his feet. ‘He will try,’ I said, my voice a menacing growl even to my own ears.

His eyes widened as his feet kicked at the air, his hands scrabbling at my wrists.

‘You are wasting our time and supplying empty threats. Tell us how we can get to Zarall, or this meeting is over.’

‘Hey, hey, I don’t want trouble, okay? I got the call, and I’m here to help. You need a flight to Zarall, and I got you one. You’ll meet a friend of mine. Don’t ask his name. He doesn’t want to be any more involved than he already is. He is flying a shipment in, and you guys will hitch a ride with the cargo. It’s a small plane, but it will get you in undetected.’

‘What airport?’ Dianna cut in.

‘International Airport. It is a few miles from here. He will be at one of the back hangers.’ His beady eyes glanced away from me and toward her. ‘Time is of the essence, sweet cheeks, so don’t make him wait.’

I heard the sound of her shoes scraping against the rocks as she turned and walked away. I dropped the pitiful excuse for a man, and he fell to his knees. Dianna did not bother to look back. I knew something was wrong with her, and it bothered me more than I liked to admit. 

‘It is strange to see,’ the man said as he picked himself up off the ground, wiping his hands on the knees of his jeans. ‘The son of Unir and an Ig’Morruthen working together. The stories said you two were destined to spill each other’s blood until the stars died, yet you two seem more than cozy.’

I did not respond to his comment or care for his opinion. I turned away from him and followed Dianna.

For the first time since we started our long trek, Dianna did not speak. I looked over a few times during our drive to the airport to make sure she was still in the car with me. Her face remained guarded as she drove with one hand on the steering wheel. She leaned her elbow against the window, her free hand against her lips as she chewed on her thumbnail.

‘This is the first time you’ve been silent since we started this trip.’

No response.

‘Usually, you have a million things to say in rapid succession.’

She didn’t even offer me a flick of her gaze as she maneuvered the car smoothly through another turn. The silence was all –encompassing, but I didn’t know how to help her as she had helped me the last few days. All I knew was that I had to try. I was lost in thought, trying to figure out how to make her talk to me, and was surprised when she stopped the car. I looked around and saw we were in the middle of nowhere.

The lights from the vehicle lit an abandoned road. I could see large brown metal buildings off in the distance, and chain link fences ran along both sides of the road. Overgrown grass threatened to reclaim the pavement, and small insects danced in the beams cast by the headlights. The only other light I could see from here was the blinking red one atop a tall tower. I watched as an airplane accelerated with a deep roar of sound, speeding down the runway before taking flight. 

Dianna pulled out her small black phone before getting out of the car. She did not even bother to close the door as she lifted the phone in the air and walked away. I sighed and stepped out of the car to follow her.

‘Dianna.’

She said nothing as she circled the area before climbing atop the vehicle, still holding the phone above her head. She was such a peculiar woman. 

‘I have terrible service out here,’ she said as she sat and folded her legs in front of her. With one hand, I grabbed the side of the vehicle and hoisted myself up. The car shook and leaned to the side before righting itself.

I sat close to her and watched over her shoulder as she quickly typed out a message, letting our contact know we were here and waiting. Then, she pressed the small send button and stared at the screen as if willing a response to appear. 

I glanced at her, half of her face illuminated by the glow of the phone. ‘Are you planning to remain silent for the remainder of this trip?’

Her phone made a small beeping noise as a message appeared. She quickly read the message and closed the phone before I had a chance to see what it said. She nodded, and I waited for her to answer my question, desperate for her to speak to me. I longed for her to do any of the annoying things she had pestered me with over these last few weeks. Instead, she took a breath and pulled her knees up against her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around them.

‘He will be here at dawn. So we have a while.’

‘Dianna,’ I lowered my head toward her, trying to get her to look at me, ‘will you please tell me what is troubling you?’ 

She did not speak as she tipped her head back, looking up and avoiding my eyes. I followed her line of sight, seeing what she saw. Stars dimly lit the night sky, and a crescent moon hugged the horizon. It was not as beautiful as it was on Rashearim, but it held her gaze. I leaned back and studied her profile, the cool night breeze teasing at the loose pieces of hair around her face. 

‘So all of those are other realms?’

Her question caught me off guard, but I didn’t hesitate to answer. ‘Some, yes. Some are ancient dead worlds that were alive long before even my father was born.’

She still wore my jacket, and she wrapped it tighter around herself. ‘So, there were gods before you?’

I knew she was avoiding whatever was really weighing on her, but I refused to press. I was content that she was speaking to me. ‘Oh, yes. Many. I’ll be honest. I was ignorant as a child. I should have paid more attention, but from what I recall, there are great beings that reach past even the universe. They are formless giant things. My father said that’s where you go when you pass. Another realm that even we cannot reach, beyond the stars, beyond time, everlasting peace.’ 

She nodded as her eyes scanned the glittering darkness. ‘I envy you.’

My brow furrowed as I stared at her. ‘What?’

She shrugged, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. ‘I’ll never get to see those other worlds. This realm is all I will ever know. But I wish I could see more.’

‘Maybe one day.’

She turned to me then, a small smile tugging at her lips. There were no tears in her eyes, but sadness etched her beautiful features. ‘We both know once this is over, if I am not dead, it’s whatever godly prison you have for me. We don’t have to pretend.’

I said nothing. I had been thinking about what would become of her once all of this was done, and my options weighed heavily on my conscience.

‘I need another promise.’ She swallowed hard as if the words were difficult to form.

‘But I have already made you so many.’ I tried to lighten the mood. I wanted to soothe the pain I could feel radiating from her.

‘If Kaden gets his hands on me, take care of Gabby, okay?’

Her words caught me off guard. ‘Is this sudden shift in your emotions due to what that man at the festival said about Kaden?’

‘You don’t know him like I do. I have been with him for centuries. Everything he says, he means, and he will follow through. He does not make idle threats, Liam. If he says he will drag me back, even in pieces, he will.’

The way she looked at me, the way she spoke. It was as if her fate were already sealed. She was certain he would take her.

‘I will not let him have you.’

Her smile was small and did not reach her eyes. ‘I know what I signed up for, and I knew the risks. I knew when I killed Alistair and returned to you the price I would pay. The moment I decided to help you, my fate was sealed. Freedom and servitude went hand in hand with Kaden, and I gladly accepted his terms. I paid for Gabby’s life and freedom with blood. You and I both know that I am covered in it.’ 

Dianna shook her head and stared at her hands as if she could see the blood on them. My playful hellion was long gone as the reality of our situation hit some deep part of her.

‘I know I am not a good person,’ she paused and let out a short, humorless laugh. ‘Gods, I am not a person at all anymore. I know my fate, and it is one I deserve, but Gabby is innocent. She always has been. I may have been the strong one who stole so we could eat, the one who fought so we could live, but she held me together. Her only fault is that she loves me. Even when I was at my worst and lowest, she never stopped loving me. She deserves to be happy. I’ve chained her to this life for too long. So promise me. If something goes wrong and I don’t make it, promise me you will keep her safe. Please. Just promise me.’ 

Her eyes held no humor as she turned and stared at me, her vibrant light snuffed out. She was silently pleading, desperately begging me to keep her sister safe. I decided then and there that this woman should never beg. I understood she cared for her sister, but who cared for her? At that moment, she seemed soinnocent. She was not the vicious, fire-wielding woman I had first met. She was just a girl who had been born into chaos. Kaden had backed her into a corner, her choices taken until she had reformed herself into a weapon. She had become what she needed to be to protect the only person who still saw good in her. 

Not able to bear to see her so alone in the dark, I reached out and took her hand the same way she had done mine during my night terrors. It had comforted me, and I wanted to do the same for her. ‘I promise to make sure Gabby is safe. I also promise that he will never lay a hand on you again. If he even tries to take you away, I promise I’ll make him regret ever being born.’

‘There’s that ego again.’ She sniffled, shaking her head slightly.

I gave her a lopsided grin. ‘Ego? No, you have seen within my memories that I have made monsters and men beg for their lives.’ 

‘Oh, I’ve seen my fair share of begging.’

Her words caused the strangest feeling in me. It started in my diaphragm and poured outward. I threw my head back and laughed, truly laughed. It overcame me so quickly that the sound of it was a little shocking. I looked back at her, and the surprise on her face was satisfying. ‘You know way too much of me. I am afraid even The Hand would be envious.’ 

That earned me a real smile. Dianna looked down at our joined hands. ‘I promise not to tell.’ Her thumb traced over the back of mine. ‘You’re sweet when you’re homicidal.’

‘I don’t know what that means.’

She glanced at me and gave me a small smile before tugging her hand from mine.

Half of that was a lie. I knew what she meant, but I found pleasure in watching her try to explain words and phrases to me. She shifted and lay back on the vehicle. I eased down beside her as she adjusted the jacket over herself. I saw her dip her chin and inhale deeply of the sturdy material before she pulled a strip of paper from the pocket. 

‘You kept them?’ Her laugh was small and quick, but it calmed my nerves. ‘I thought you left them behind at the photo booth.’ Her eyes lit with joy as she looked at the pictures.

‘Yes, you suggested I should.’

‘I don’t know if you listen to me half the time.’

‘I always listen.’

She rolled her eyes before pointing at one of the images.

‘This one is my favorite.’ It was the one where she had been pointing at the flashing camera with one hand while trying to move my face toward it with the other. My look of pure confusion was captured forever. ‘The mighty king is friends with his arch –nemesis, the Ig’Morruthen.’ 

I scoffed, causing her to turn toward me. ‘Not my nemesis. You would actually have to best me in a fight.’

She playfully slapped my arm. Her tiny hits barely affected me, but it seemed to be some form of weird affection for her. ‘Okay, fine, not nemesis, but what about a friend?’ 

‘Yes.’ I nodded. ‘My friend.’

That answer seemed to please her. She looked back at the pictures, caressing the image. ‘I like this one because it reminds me of how much I try to force you to listen,’ she said with a laugh.

I decided that was my favorite, too. 

I didn’t remember how long we talked, but somewhere amidst her laughter and smiles, I decided I would rip the world apart for her. When she had turned into me and wrapped her arms around my chest, the world had slipped away. It was a brief reprieve as I held her body curled against mine. It was a moment of peace until the dreams that threatened to shred my soul shattered it.