The Demon of Angels (Bk. 2)

ASMODEUS LET OUT a loose chuckle, but his human form was still nowhere in sight. Zeke growled next to me, taking a step forward to guard me against the direction of his voice.

“Calm down, hybrid,” the female voice returned. Her disgust for Zeke could be heard through her scratchy tone. “We won’t harm her.”

Zeke’s eyes glowed, gazing out in the direction of the voice. I followed his eyesight, squinting, but didn’t see anything. “That doesn’t mean I’ll let you anywhere near her.” Zeke’s voice dropped dangerously low; everything about his position was possessive and poised, ready to attack if necessary. Damn, if I didn’t find it sexy.

A deep foreign rumble interrupted the silence. “If we wanted her, hybrid,” a different male spat, who I assumed was Beelzebub. His voice was low and gravelly, nearly muffled as if he were of a heavier weight. “We would take her from you, and there would be no way to stop us.” Confidence leaked through every one of his words. Unfortunately, I knew he was right. Zeke was no match for three royal demons, even with Noah and Evan.

I rested a hand on Zeke’s forearm. “They won’t harm me,” I croaked, not believing the lie I was spitting. Zeke’s eyes met mine, but the fear and protectiveness in his eyes struck me hard. He wasn’t willing to risk it.

“What do you want?” Evan barked, his glowing blue haloed eyes still scanning the area. They still haven’t shown themselves, and I was beginning to question why.

“To talk,” Leviathan, the female, replied. I cringed at her voice; it reminded me of an old witch.

“Well, that’s too bad,” Noah spoke up, crossing his arms. Fur pelted his arms through the tears in his suit, eyes glowing crimson. Canines extended, piercing his bottom lip as he let lose a warning growl. “Because we don’t feel like talking.”

Frowning, I looked down at my dress and saw similar tears in the fabric. With a small sigh, I knew I’d be missing my last High School Prom, and it ate at me for some reason.

Leviathan chuckled. “You don’t have a choice, Purebred.” She spat out the last word as if it disgusted her. My eyes rolled, nearly laughing at the irony.

“There’s always a choice,” I growled, my eyes glowing against the dark night sky. A few more muscles and tendons were slowly sewing themselves together, and most of my body was healed completely. I already felt stronger.

Noah’s eyes shone brilliant red into the night, igniting the area around us, while Zeke and I burned an unholy dark gold. My hybrid was itching to come out to play. I would have let him if the boys weren’t here, but their safety was my main concern.

“Not today, little one,” Asmodeus replied.

“Enough with this nonsense,” Beelzebub grumbled impatiently. “We have things to discuss.”

“Like what?” I barked, my anger flaming through the blood in my veins. “My father? Ooh, goody, I’ll start–” the boys snickered despite the situation. My sarcasm was on full display. “Tell the big man I said fuck off,” I growled the last two words, emphasizing my utter hatred for the sperm donor. To my surprise, the three demons openly chuckled. Crazy bastards.

“We’re not here to discuss your father, little bird,” Beelzebub grumbled. My eyes rolled at the new nicknames I was starting to adopt.

“Then what do you want?” Zeke snapped, his patience wearing thin.

He was completely on edge, his demon on the verge of taking over. His control was slipping, and I could feel it through the body heat radiating off of him. Lifting my arm, I slowly traced circles on his arm. He let out a breath through his nose, his eyes fluttering. It relaxed him enough to where he gained his control back, but he was still tense.

A moment of silence passed, and Noah huffed. “Spit it out already,” he demanded. We were all looking in the same direction now. Over the acre of flat green land laid a small patch of trees.

There was a deep sigh, and Asmodeus was the one to speak. “The prophecy, child. What do you know of it?”

My shoulders shrugged, and I answered honestly. “That I’m supposed to fight my father and save the mortal world, and what-not.”

Leviathan hissed. “She’s not even taking this seriously.”

I glared in the direction of her voice. “I am taking this seriously, asshole,” I growled. In my mind, I made it official that she’s my least favorite.

As soon as the words left my mouth, a black blob of smoke in the shape of a body flashed in front of me. Bright green orbs in place of where her eyes would be. “Watch yourself, pet,” she growled. The boys were stunned as they stared at the black shadow. They couldn’t fight against something that wasn’t even there.

Asmodeus flashed behind her in his human form, an impatient glare taking over his expression. As I remembered, he was strikingly pale, with elongated features and bright pink eyes. “Stop it, Levi,” he grumbled.

He called her Levi. How cute.

Another black blob appeared, floating to Asmodeus’ right-hand side, white orbs for eyes. I could have sworn the blob crossed its arms just then, eyeing Leviathan. “He’s right, little sister. Calm yourself.”

There was a moment of heavy silence as we all waited for her next move. I didn’t think she could do much considering her form, but I also didn’t feel like doubting a royal demon of Hell.

Finally, Levi floated back to Asmodeus’ left side, her green orbs never leaving my face. At that moment, I really wanted to stick my tongue out at her, but I decided against it. Pushing her buttons didn’t seem like a smart idea at the moment.

The demon in the middle focused his attention on me, a hard look on his boney face. I kind of wanted to laugh. “That Archangel of yours has held out quite a bit of information, hasn’t he?” he made it sound like a rhetorical question, so I didn’t answer. I preferred to leave Michael out of any situation I could.

Sighing, Asmodeus rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Your time is coming, little one, and you only have so much time left to prepare.”

“We know of the timeline,” Evan interrupted, walking to stand by my feet and turning to face the demons. “Who’s side on you on?” It was the question that was on all of our minds at the moment. Evan just had the balls to ask it.

Levi let out a crooked laugh. “We want the Death Scythe destroyed; he’s been a pain in our side for far too long,” she said as if stating the obvious. She was treating us like immature children, and it was beginning to piss me off. Zeke rubbed circles on my lower back, soothing the anger.

“Why not?” I asked, brows furrowed as my bicep and quad finally mended back together. I suppressed a heavy groan.

“What he wants will only start a much larger war with the heavens. That is something none of us want,” Asmodeus explained. “He’s strong, as he is the Demon of Death, but he’s not unkillable. And as stated in the prophecy, it is only you who can stop him.”

“But why only me?” I blurted. “Why not you guys?” I gestured to the three of them.

The black blob to the left of Asmodeus inched forward. “Not only is it not our place, but we don’t have the correct…” Beelzebub paused. “... the power to send him the Oblivion.”

“And I do?” I asked at the same time Evan stepped forward.

“The Oblivion?”

Asmodeus firmly nodded, meeting my gaze. “Once the time is right, you will. However, do not forget that your choices determine everyone’s fate.” My eyes widened at his proclamation. Amosdeous turned his attention to Evan then. “The Oblivion is the space between Heaven and Hell, where banished creatures that don’t belong in either realm are stored.”

“Could they ever get out?” Noah asked.

Levi cackled. “Dear boy, not only do you need the blood of the person you’re trying to bring back, but immense power.”

I tried not to shiver, thinking about the possible creatures locked away and banished into Oblivion. “What else do I need to know?”

“We can’t tell you much. It is not our place and is simply for you to figure out on your own. But, you must know that your father plans to use you to take Lucifer’s throne.” Asmodeus informed.

“WHAT?” All four of us shouted simultaneously.

“Why?” Noah asked.

“That shouldn’t be possible,” Evan mumbled to himself.

Zeke was the one who offered reason with a shake of his head. “Hybrids, if given access to their full power and trained, could rival Lucifer with their power. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been hunted for so long and why my mother wanted me in the first place.” A pang of sadness crept into his voice, and my heart ached for Zeke.

Evan piped up, looking at his brother. “June 21st, then.”

“Less than two months,” Zeke groveled, unhappy with the information.

Amosdeous shook his head, frowning. “No, I would say you have even less than that. When is your high school graduation?”

Noah frowned. “May 29th, why?”

Beelzebub nodded, seemingly on the same train of thought as his fellow Demon Prince. “Your father wants you submissive by the time June 21st comes around. He’s going throw everything at you until then to weaken you until you give yourself over, or you kill him.”

“Graduation is in two weeks,” I offered, terrified of what they would say next while gnawing on my bottom lip.

Levi confirmed my fears. “Then that is your timeline to prepare your forces.”

Zeke stepped forward. “Forces?”

Asmodeus gave me a concerned look. “Your father will come at you with an army; if you don’t have any more than what’s standing before me, then you’re as good as dead.”

“Yes, and if he wins, the Solstice will be the first day he reigns Hell down upon the Earth and take Lucifer’s throne,” Levi added with a scowl.

“How is that even possible?” Evan asked.

Asmodeus motioned to me. “Her.”

I give the demon of Lust the best-dumbfounded look I could muster. “How does he exactly plan to use me?” White eyes gave me a questioning glance, probably wondering if I’m that clueless.

“Death stole the keys to Hell centuries ago,” Levi answered for him. “But he couldn’t use them because shortly after Lucifer banished him, but Death managed to escape before Lucifer put him in the Oblivion. So, he came up with a plan to overthrow Lucifer throughout his time here on Earth.”

“A hybrid sire that would do as he says,” Beelzebub continued. “He tried for decades but wasn’t successful until your mother.”

Amosdeous frowned. “From what I know, your father had deeply loved your mother until he felt she betrayed him. She stole you away after realizing his initial plans for Lucifer and his throne. Now, he’s back at it with a vengeance.”

“At one point,” Levi cut in. “I believed your father cared for you too, but his thirst for power and Lucifer’s demise has overpowered the love and the one he once had for your mother. He’s so enrooted with his plans; every soft emotion he has or had is overshadowed by anger and hatred for your mother– whom he murdered a few years ago and Lucifer.”

“Why does he hate Lucifer so much?” I asked, my brow pinching as my arms crossed over my chest and gnawed on my lip.

Asmodeus shrugged with a long sigh. “No one truly knows, but many have their suspicions that Lucifer was once friends with your father, but somehow or at some time, Death felt he was betrayed, or just hated being ordered around by the King of Hell.”

I shivered at the title, praying to Gramps up above that I never have to come across the King of Hell.

“Why hasn’t anyone been able to steal them back?” Evan interjected. “The keys, I mean,” he clarified when Asmodeus tilted his head.

The High Demon of Lust nodded, opening his mouth to answer with his eyes on me, but Noah was quick to cut him off. “They can’t,” Noah murmured, lost in thought. All of our gazes shifted to Noah, waiting for him to elaborate. After a moment, he lifted his chin and continued. “Only a descendant of the current holder of the keys can, besides the one that has them themself. Nearly anyone could have stolen the keys.” Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. “When someone holds the keys to the gates of either Heaven or Hell, the object will take their blood and brand itself as the owner’s until said owner is killed. Then the keys are transferred to the next, and so on.” I had no idea how Noah knew all of this information, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

I kept my focus on the Hellhound as I asked my next question. All the information was starting to make my head pound in overload. “Then how did my father steal the keys in the first place? Who had them before him?”

Beelzebub snorted. “Who, in Hell, do you think Lucifer trusted enough to keep hold of the keys? Someone who never left his side and has been loyal to him since nearly the beginning of time?”

I lost myself in thought then, extremely lacking in Demon History, but Evan perked up before I could come even remotely close to an answer. His head shot up, and his haloed blue glowing gaze roamed over our group with a hard swallow. “Lilith.”

Levi nodded her smokey head. “The Queen of Hell, and of all Demons.”

My eyes bulged. “Who?”

The High Demon of Envy snickered. “Lucifer’s wife.”

“Did Death kill her?” Noah asked, his expression revealing he was all too curious for the answer.

Beelzebub answered this time. “He thought he did. She was close enough to death that he managed to rip them from the ties to her soul. Lucifer found her and was able to bring her back before she slipped into Oblivion.”

I hid the disappointed frown with a mask of indifference. I could frankly care less if the Queen of Hell lived or not.

“Why were they created like that, the keys?” Zeke asked. His voice was stronger this time, his body probably fully healed by now. I was just waiting for my hands and ankles to finish mending so that I could stand up straight.

When that last thought spilled from my brain, a large pop interrupted all thoughts. I gasped with relief, then groaned. “That feels so much better,” I mumbled, shaking out my legs and hands. Noah chuckled softly; Asmodeus smirked. Zeke cast me a worried glance, but I gave him a soft smile and a nod to signify that I was okay.

“No one could truly guard the keys forever, so it only made sense– smart even for High King.” Evan answered finally, shrugging his shoulders. Asmodeus nodded, confirming the reliability of the Nephilim’s answer.

Asmodeus’ thoughtful expression caught my attention as he glanced between all three boys.

My eyes narrowed. “What?”

Asmodeus shifted his attention to me once more, a small grin toying with his lips. He ignored my question, then gestured to the boys. “Let them protect you, Little One,” he said. “They’re part of this prophecy too.”

I wanted to yell like hell they are, but I refrained and glared at the High Demon Prince instead. An urge to shield the boys from the demons eating away at me. Levi stalked forward; her green orbs seemed to be glaring down at me. “Do as he says, child, or we’re all doomed. You can’t do this alone.”

I growled, biting back the instinct to tell her where to shove that statement. Levi came forward again, each of the boys taking a step closer to me as she did.

“Easy,” Asmodeus raised his hands, palms out in a show of no harm.

I glared past Levi and directly into his magenta eyes. “Tell your little sister to step off,” I snapped. My shoulders were tense at the very thought of my boys getting more involved than they already were. Death would not touch a single hair on their heads. I couldn’t stand to watch them get hurt over something that had to do with my father and me alone. Memories of Noah’s near-death shot through my brain, a small whimper escaping my parted lips.

Beelzebub sneered. “Get over yourself, Little Bird. You can’t protect them all and defeat your father.”

What is up with all these damn nicknames?

My gaze shifted to the black blob with eyes as white as the moon. “Watch me.”

The Demon Prince came closer, eyeing me with disdain and disappointment. “Then they will die,” he hissed, white eyes shaking with anger in the smokey shadow. “Not only will your selfishness to protect them get them killed, but you will fail, and the rest of the human race will die when Death unleashes Hell on Earth and takes Lucifer’s throne with your power.” His moon-lit eyes focused intently on me. “You need to start focusing on your destiny. You’re running out of time.” He pointed to the three boys around me, holding my beating heart in their grasp. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect them. “They’re just as much a part of this prophecy as you are.”

The tension in my shoulders loosened immediately, knowing that damn Demon Prince had a point. My first instinct would always be to protect the boys, but I couldn’t focus on them when the entire planet was on the line. No innocent life deserves to die. I had to trust the boys would be okay. They had to be.

Reluctantly, I nodded. Asmodeus let out a breath of air, watching me. “Stick together, but do not forget your purpose.” Again, I nodded, unable to think of a response.

Noah took a step forward; his eyes were still red but not as bright. He was in complete control of his demon. It was admirable and near shocking to watch his control. But knowing Noah, I highly doubted there was ever time he wasn’t in control.

“One last thing,” he cleared his throat, then glared at the two smoke blobs and the Demon Prince of Lust. “Why the fuck did you step out into the middle of the road?”

Leviathan snickered, her green eyes raking Noah up and down with admiration. I wanted to gag, the coffee I had earlier making its way back up my throat. “Because we felt like it,” was her simple reply.

“You’re lucky we didn’t crash both of your vehicles considering how reckless you children were being,” Beelzebub snarled. At his comment, I’m pretty sure all of our eyes rolled. High demons or not, they were old and felt the need to lecture us like parents.

Asmodeus’ lips curved, jerking his chin toward Evan’s car parked on the side of the road. “Go home, children,” he commanded. “And prepare yourselves. Whether you like it or not, a war is coming.”

There was a deafening silence that took hold when his statement registered. We didn’t want to admit it aloud, but it was true. A war was coming, and we had to be prepared. If we weren’t, Hell was coming for us all.

All three pairs of eyes landed on me then, and Asmodeus’s lips pressed into a hard line. “Good luck, Little One. We will not be fighting in the war, as we cannot interfere and risk Lucifer’s wrath, but we hope you succeed. Our fates, as well as the human races’, lie in your hands.”

Once the last word slipped from his lips, the three of them vanished into thin air. I jumped slightly, not expecting the sudden disappearance.

“Well,” Evan sighed, looking each of us in the eye. “Let’s go home.” Everyone nodded, making a move towards the car.

Zeke immediately pulled me into his arms, and I sighed, relaxing into his warmth. He leaned in and kissed my forehead, rubbing slow and soothing circles on my back. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“I will be,” I answered instead of the truth. He already knew the truth to his question, so I gave him something else to dwell on. The future and all of its possibilities. Zeke nodded, not pushing me further. We stepped toward our vehicles, our eyes shooting up at Noah’s shout.

“What the fuck?!”

Zeke and I raced to the vehicles, unsure of what was going on until our eyes landed on the cars in front of us. My mouth hung agape, eyeing the two black cars with wide eyes. It was as if the crash had never happened. No broken glass or even a dent in sight.

I grinned, happily accepting this gift, peace offering, or whatever you wanted to call it from the Princes and Princess of Hell.

Never thought those words would ever pour through my brain, but here we were.

Noah shook his head with a chuckle, climbing into Evan’s Jeep as if were brand new. I rounded Zeke’s GT with a small smile toying at my lips, my hand grazing the handle as Noah pipped up from the passenger side of the Jeep. “So much for Prom— after party?” He asked, eyebrows raised with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I opened my mouth to decline when Evan spoke his agreement immediately. “I’m down,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. I frowned, looking at Zeke with a raised eyebrow.

The Hybrid shrugged as well. “I’m down if you are,” he offered.

I felt all of their eyes on me as I contemplated the decision. Glancing down at my dress, I expected to see tears through the fabric, but my mouth parted into a grin when I saw it looked just as it had earlier in the night. With another shake of my head, I chuckled. “Fuck it. We only live once.”