Gods From the Machine (26 page)

Alyssa grabbed Nick
’s arm and pulled him behind her, to the sidelines. “Go! Get out of here!”

“
Our orders are to protect you at all costs,” Matt said.

However, Nick would not budge. He couldn
’t bring himself to leave them, not like this.

Bergice
’s blue eyes turned crimson. “None of you are leaving until I say so.”

With a wave of hi
s hand the walls of ice moved outwards, opening their constricted box to a much larger space. Now they were among trees and Griffon River, but still trapped with nowhere to run. Nick looked on with uncertainty.

“
This arena will serve as the perfect backdrop for your demise. Come forward, brave knights. Come meet your greatest fears.”

13
. Rage versus Fear

Things
escalated quickly. Two of his friends were ready to welcome death with open arms. If he was to save them both, he had to act fast. But even if there wasn’t a wall of solid ice blocking their path, how far could they hope to run? How could anyone escape from the Prince of Fear? From his reputation alone Nick knew he was in a league of his own. Over the years he had slaughtered some of the most fearsome knights and always emerged as the victor.

Bergice had complete mastery over his ice elemental powers. They were like two sides of the coin: he was co
ol and collected, while the burning sensation of rage intensified in Nick’s head. Nick looked to Alyssa and Matt for some direction, but from their expressions it seemed that they were also exhausted of ideas. In the face of fear itself, they weren’t searching for a way out of this situation. They remained at his side as true knights, ever vigilant and unwavering against the impossible odds.

Bergice chuckled.
“How you knights do enjoy doing that don’t you? You enjoy preaching about equality and righteousness, yet always work in numbers like flies picking the remains of dead a carcass. There’s no honor in that.” He paused, his face serious this time. “But then, two bothersome insects can be easily crushed with one strike.”

A troubl
ed thought struck Nick as he realized that Alyssa was unarmed. Even after she had revealed her true identity, she had never once mentioned proficiency in combat. She had training from the Fyria Garrison, but Peter was very protective of her. Why would he allow them to mold the last person in his bloodline to become a warrior? If anything she would have been put through medical training instead, which worried Nick more than anything else now. Without a third weapon in their arsenal, they were at an extreme disadvantage.

Matt echoed his sentiments as he held his sword steadily in position.
“Somehow I don’t think you can take him with your bare hands, Alyssa. But I guess we’re not in any position to be picky.”

“
Don’t be so sure,” she said.

Bergice looked on curiously.

“Do you know what Enochian is?” Alyssa said. “It is the ancient language spoken and written by Heralds. For centuries, people have tried to translate their tomes in order to access the secrets to their mysteries, but not one person has been successful. Even the most revered Garrison historians and scientists had their ambitions fail them. However, where they failed, I succeeded. Because the truth behind Enochian is that it cannot be mastered or studied by conventional means, but only inherited by a Herald!”

Bergice
looked on silently, anticipating what was to come next.

“
Alyssa?” Nick said.

“
It’s been so long since I’ve done this. I just hope it’s enough. Yuriel, please lend me strength.” Alyssa put her hands flatly together in a prayer and raised them to her lips, whispering in a different language. Nick couldn’t understand a word she was saying, but it was unmistakably Enochian, the lost language of the angels! A glowing circle of light in the shape of star seal appeared beneath her. She reached her right arm into the air and the light shot into the sky, engulfing her. For a brief moment it looked as if she had disappeared in the brightness. As the light dissipated, she stood carrying a large silver flail, attached by a chain link to a golden ball of crescent spikes.

For the first time, Bergice looked genuinely surprised.
“The
Morning Star
. The angelic weapon that belonged to the Herald of Justice. I have not seen it in well over a century. I wonder…why would Yuriel choose to bestow this power upon a mortal such as you?”

“
He didn’t. He gave it to Quinn Masters and to all females related by blood to inherit. Since I’m the last one, I thought I’d put it to some use,” Alyssa said.

Simply astonishing. T
he lost angelic language of Enochian was never fully recovered after the Great War, yet she spoke it fluently enough to summon the weapons of angels. Not even the archangels were given the knowledge to access weapons crafted from Sanctuary. Nick had to give some credit to Peter; he kept her away from people for so long that old scriptures were her only friends, but at the same time he had given her greater powers beyond any knight in history. Perhaps not all was lost.

Berg
ice’s eyes gleamed with delight. “I thought with the death of the Heralds, so died all of those with the knowledge of Enochian. Perhaps, if I took your life, then that accursed language will finally die.”

“
Why don’t you just try!” Matt sprang forward, Alyssa followed quickly behind. As they approached him, they were synced with each other’s steps in a flawless combat technique Nick had witnessed several times in close quarters training. However, it was the first time Nick got to see them use it in a life or death situation. Matt may have been intimidated before, but it didn’t seem to faze his abilities. They dashed forward, with Alyssa lined up behind Matt until they were within striking distance. They exploded outwards, delivering their respective strikes from both Bergice’s sides. However, their swift blows were easily evaded.

“
Too slow. The reputable holy knights are sadly performing much less impressively than one would have presumed.” Bergice grabbed them each by an arm and swung them in a circle, hurling them both in opposite directions. Alyssa rebounded hard off the ground and into one of the icy walls, while Matt was sent through a group of tall trees, catching every branch before crashing into a wall and hitting the snow headfirst.

Alyssa leapt back to her feet, shaking off the flak
es of snow while watching for some sign of life from Matt. Sure enough he was back to his feet. His clothes were covered in leaves and a bit dirty, but he seemed fine. At once they moved to engage him, almost as if teleporting back to Bergice, who stood perfectly still. They were on his front and rear this time, trying to divide his attention, effectively cutting his reaction time in half. It was a standard combat technique when trying to gain an upper hand on a single opponent.

“
Your recovery time is remarkable,” Bergice, said amused. “Perhaps there’s hope for you after all.”

“
It’s going to take a lot more than that to stop two knights,” Matt said.

“
Then show me.” Bergice motioned them over with his hand, goading them to attack.

They crisscrossed each other, flanking him on the left and right. Matt was able to latch onto to the ice demon and put him in a body hold.  Alyssa appeared in
close range, and with a quick couple of hand motions, she created a big ball of light in her palms. The Luxilight technique. It was strange however, that Bergice was completely at ease the entire time. It was almost as if he was expecting it. That was when Nick realized it, of course he knew—he
was
expecting it! But before Nick could warn his friends, it was too late.

“
Take this!” Alyssa sent a large Luxilight blast into the ice demon. An immense explosion of light shone and for a few seconds, drenched the snow in another layer of white. It was so intensely bright, it forced Nick to close his eyes and shield his face with his hands to avoid being blinded. When it cleared, Alyssa stood staring into the sky at Bergice’s lifeless body falling back down. They did it! A direct hit to an average demon would obliterate it from the face of the planet. Even if the ice demon did survive, there’s no way he’d still be in one piece. But before Nick could cheer, he realized there was something wrong. It was too easy.

Bergice plummeted into the ground, his body making a perfect outline in the blanket of snow.

“That should do it,” Matt said.

Alyssa and Matt ran
to the spot where he had landed. She gasped and turned back to Nick. “He’s not here.”

Bergice was nowhe
re to be seen, which meant this fight was far from over. To the side, snow began piling up from the ground next to Alyssa, stacking and shaping itself into something vaguely reminiscent of a person. Unbelievable. Bergice was rebuilding himself with snow!

“
Alyssa, watch out!” Nick yelled. “Behind you!”

Al
yssa twirled around and swung her flail with all her might, but it was too late. Bergice swatted the
Morning Star
out of her hands and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her high above the ground.

Matt lunged at Bergice just as a pillar of ice shot from the demon
’s free arm, which collided with the knight and launched him several yards away. The force knocked Matt out cold. Bergice turned his attention back to Alyssa.

“
Valiant effort, but surely you didn’t believe your coveted Luxilight technique could do much more than annoy me did you?” Bergice asked condescendingly. “I have defeated armies of your knights by a mere swipe of my hand! Your purpose as a distraction has been fulfilled. You will detain me no further.”

“
Get your hands off me!” Alyssa gasped for air, her fingers clawed at his arm.

“
As you wish.”

Bergice slammed Alyssa headfirst into the ground, burying her body deep into the snow with only her legs left sticking out. Any r
egular person would have died instantly, since the force would have snapped their neck like a twig. Nick’s heart sank into his chest.

Bergice had
killed her. The damn demon murdered the only person he ever loved.

“
ALYSSA!” Nick raced towards her. Bergice stepped back, almost courteously, and allowed him to pull her from the ground. He cradled her in his arms, her eyes were closed, but her breath was steady. He let a sigh of relief. She was still alive.

“
She is very well trained. The impact would have crushed her skull if she didn’t know how to absorb it at the exact moment,” Bergice said.

“
You’re going to pay for that,” Nick said, his other voiced echoed behind. He set her down gently and transformed his arms. “I’ll tear you apart!”

He threw a blow that was ea
sily caught. Bergice smiled devilishly as he held him at bay.

“
Your heart just isn’t in it.” Bergice tightened his grip on Nick’s fist. Blood gushed out of his hand as the ice demon sank his sharp nails into the flesh. Nick roared. Trying to pull away was futile. So with all his might he delivered a kick that broke Bergice’s grasp, and sent him flying.

“
Hands off!” Nick said as Bergice’s body slid across the snow and landed onto the surface of the frozen river. He then quickly lit fire underneath where Bergice landed, melting the ice and sinking him into the depths of the river.

That should keep him occupied for a few moments.

Alyssa opened her eyes, and reached out to him. “Nick… you’re not supposed to be here,” she said weakly.

Nick knelt beside her.
“Don’t be so stubborn. You and Matt tried your best, but it won’t be enough when it comes to him.” He took her cold hands into his. “It’s me he wants. He’ll do whatever it takes to get to me. I can’t sit idly by while everyone around me gets hurt for my sake.”

“
Nick, please listen to me. This might be the last time we see each other. You’re our only hope. I’m not saying this just because I love you, but because you are the key to saving this world. My grandpa saw it in you and I see it too. You have to live, for me.”

Even in this dire situation, Nick couldn
’t fight back his joy. “You love me?”

“
Yes, and that’s why you need to get out of here.”

Nick shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but that’s one thing I can’t do.”

“
You wouldn’t have gotten very far anyway,” Bergice stood a few feet in front of Nick with his arms crossed. He looked perfectly fine. In fact, he looked even better than before. That kick would have crushed the ribs of anyone else, but all it did was slow him down for a few precious moments.

“
Take it easy, Red.” Nick maintained a smile as best he could. She hadn’t noticed Bergice standing a few away and there was no need to alarm her. He set her head gently on the snow, and waited briefly for her to close her eyes. Rest well, he thought. It would all be over soon.

He stood
and turned around to size himself up against the ice demon. The flames around his arms danced wildly. The pent-up rage was making itself known.