Scorn of Angels (20 page)

Moloch’s head hit the ground with a thud, his body following a moment later. Ishtar sheathed her sword and grinned at the death squad. “Get out of here. Now. And if you don’t kill Nyx, you’d better pray God takes you back to Heaven. Go!”

The fifty Angels sprang into the air and toward the Lake of Fire, where the gate to earth awaited. Ishtar turned to Beelzebub, Azazel and Astaroth. “So, all of you at once or one at a time?”

Nyx, Persephone and Arcana winged high into the sky, up to the edges of Earth’s atmosphere, to float before the Gates to Heaven. As they watched, a dozen souls floated past, slipped in through the Gates and vanished from mortal realms.

“So what’s the problem?” demanded Nyx. “It’s right there. I can see it.”

“I’m glad you can,” said Arcana. “I can’t. I can feel it, and I know it’s there, but I can’t actually see it at all.”

“Weird,” said Persephone. “So how come we can see it?”

“Because we’re not allowed to pass through it,” said Nyx. “Doesn’t matter whether we can see it or not.” She shifted in the air so she was facing Arcana. “If we guide you through it, do you think that will work?”

“It’s worth a try,” said Arcana.

“Turn all your thoughts to Heaven,” said Persephone.

“I know how it works, thanks.”

Nyx and Persephone each took one of Arcana’s hands while Arcana closed her eyes. They guided her forward, straight up to the Gate, released her hands and pushed her through it.

“Well, that was fucking easy,” said Persephone.

“You would think so,” said Arcana, floating in the air a dozen yards ahead of them.

Nyx and Persephone exchanged a look. They took Arcana’s hands and tried again. They kept their eyes on her the entire time and saw her pass through where the Gate should have taken her to Heaven.

“What. The. Fuck?” said Persephone. “That’s not possible. Are you sure you’re trying?”

Arcana calculated Pi to the hundredth digit in her head before answering, “Yes, Persephone. I am sure I am trying.”

“What else have you done to get through?”

“Everything,” said Arcana. “I’ve tried flying through; I’ve followed souls through. I’ve thrown every ounce of power I have at it in the hopes of making it open. Nothing has worked.”

“Tribunal’s sealed it, then,” said Nyx. “Probably the moment the Gates opened he made it impossible for Angels to pass from Earth to Heaven.”

“Most likely,” agreed Arcana. “But why haven’t any Angels noticed that it’s sealed on the other side? Or at least come through to see what’s happening on Earth?”

“I assume he’s blocking them as well,” said Nyx.

“Shit,” said Persephone. “How powerful is he?”

The three Angels stared at one another as they floated in the air before the Gates of Heaven.

And if he’s this powerful,
wondered Nyx,
how are we going to stop
him?

Nyx, Arcana, Persephone!
Epiphenia’s voice rang in each of their minds.
You must return, quickly!

As one, they folded their wings and dove for the Earth.

Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Azrael stood in the glade, listening. Tribunal was in Heaven. But he was not calling out to anyone and did not seem to be directing any attention toward them.

“How are we doing?”

“We have brought the
realization
,” said Raphael, using the term they had agreed upon, in case Tribunal was listening, “to fifty thousand so far. They will bring it to fifty thousand more. Then those will bring it to a hundred thousand others. By tomorrow, half a million Angels will know what has befallen us.”

“Will it be enough?” asked Raphael.

“I don’t know,” said Michael. “But I fear we are running out of time to deal with him, if we can still deal with him at all.”

“You think he grows more powerful?”

“I think he’s an aspect of God,” said Michael. “I fear he’s come to understand what that means and how much power he can draw upon.”

“So when?”

“Dawn,” said Michael. He smiled. “It’s traditional.”

“Tradition is a fine thing,” agreed Gabriel.

“And the plan is?” asked Azrael.

“We fly on the mountain to seek an audience with God,” said Michael. “All of us at once, from all directions. And if even one of us can get through, God will be able to tell us what his will is, and put a stop to whatever Tribunal is doing.”

In the center of the Sahara desert, a pit opened in the ground. Rocks and sand slid out of sight into the darkness, and the earth rumbled and shook. A deep, fetid stench rose up from the pit.

High above, Nyx, Arcana, and Persephone all sensed the arrivals of the Descended at the same time. They steepened their dive, falling on the island like streaks of fire.

In the darkest parts of the jungle along the Amazon River, where no human had ever ventured and returned, another pit opened.

In the wild steppes of northeastern Asia, a third pit opened.

A fourth opened in a place called Agu by its people—a place that would eventually be called Australia.

The fifth opened in southern India, in a temple dedicated to Kali.

Ten Descended Angels crawled from each one.

On the Island, Arcana, Persephone, and Nyx landed with a force that sent sand and wind flying and knocked over several small trees. “Fifty of them,” said Arcana. “All Descended. All tough.”

“All hunting for us?” asked Persephone.

“Only reason they’d come here,” said Nyx.

“Why only them?” asked Arcana. “Lucifer knows you are here; he knows how powerful you are, Nyx. And even this one —” She tossed a dismissive wave in Persephone’s direction— “is not without skill. Why send so few?”

“Fifty Descended is hardly few,” protested Persephone. “They could give you a run for your money.”

“Any twenty of them might,” said Arcana. “The same for Nyx. For you, probably ten would be enough. But they’re all separate. Which means we could fly to each group and destroy them. Why?”

“Because Lucifer and Tribunal aren’t ready to unleash the hordes of Hell onto the Earth yet, and they want to make sure we’re too preoccupied to stop them,” said Nyx. “Though I’m sure he wouldn’t mind at all if they killed us.” She turned her attention outward and spread her senses to the world. The Descended had spotted them and were winging their way toward the island. “They’re coming.”

“They can sense us,” said Arcana.

“I know,” said Nyx. “How do you think I found Caelum and Orion? There’s no place on Earth that one Angel can’t sense another.”

“They can’t sense me,” said Epiphenia in her musical voice. “I’m of the Earth and they only sense me as part of it, not as a separate entity.”

“Can you destroy them?” asked Nyx.

“Yes,” said Epiphenia. “But it will take time and power, and right now we have neither to spare if we are to get Arcana to Heaven.”

Nyx frowned. “Do you think you have enough power to open the Gate?”

Epiphenia shrugged. “I don’t know. But I can try.”

Nyx scanned the sky, waiting for the first Descended to come into sight. “We have to get Arcana to Heaven to tell God what’s going on. Anything else is secondary.” She paced up and down the beach, thinking. “Epiphenia, you said they can’t detect you. Can you make it so they can’t detect us?”

Epiphenia thought a moment. “I believe so.”

“Do it. Then go to the Gates. See if you can open them. We’ll get out of here for now.”

“Can we go to Greece?” asked Persephone. “And get some wine and grapes and meat?” Both Nyx and Arcana gave her a look. She shrugged. “I’ve been in Hell for twenty years. I miss food.”

“This may hurt,” warned Epiphenia. She touched Nyx’s cheek and once more Nyx felt her body being invaded. It hurt much less this time. Persephone swore and grimaced when Epiphenia touched her cheek. Arcana didn’t make a sound. A moment later, awareness of both Angel’s presences vanished from Nyx’s mind, though she could see them standing in front of her.

“This is just weird,” said Persephone.

Nyx reached out with her mind and found the other Descended, still winging toward them. “We need to go. Now.”

The four launched into the air and flew. Arcana kept going straight up into the sky. Nyx led the others on a zigzag course that took them across the Pacific and over the North Pole to Europe.

How does the south of France sound?
She sent to Persephone.

Very, very good,
sent Persephone
. Think Epiphenia can get Arcana into
Heaven?

I hope so,
sent Nyx.
Or we are in big
trouble.

Chapter 10

I
shtar walked across
the spiked plains of Hell, reveling in the screams and cries of the damned. The heads of Moloch, Beelzebub, Azazel, and Astaroth dragged behind her, secured by a long, hooked wire of Hellstone that ran in through each one’s mouth and out through the hole where each head had once been attached to its neck. Behind her, dozens of small demons fought over the remains of the Descended captains’ bodies.

Ishtar reached the shore of the Lake of Fire and stopped. Demons and Descended Angels were fishing fresh-fallen souls out of the Lake and subjecting them to brutal torments. Ishtar smiled. The screams of the newly arrived were always the most satisfying. In Hell, the torment never ended, but the surprise of it did wear off. Hearing the freshly dead realize they were in Hell was always amusing.

She looked down at the line of heads trailing behind her. All four of them glared back at her. “To be fair,” she said, “I did give you all a chance to fight for it.”

The four heads mouthed soundless curses that made Ishtar smile. She remembered how they’d sneered at her when she was Lucifer’s captive. She pulled the end of the wire, making the heads roll and crack against one another. Then she began spinning it, raising it over her head and making it swing faster and faster until the heads became a blur above her. “Now,” she called to them. “In about fifty years, I’ll be pulling you out, and I’ll expect each one of you to show me how obedient you’re willing to be. If you do that, I might even let you have your bodies back.”

Ishtar released the wire and the four heads spun out into the middle of the Lake of Fire, landing with a splash and sinking immediately. Ishtar watched the flames ripple from the impact before she turned away. That was always pretty to see.

Now
,
I have some work to do,
she thought
. The Descended are going to have trouble accepting me as their leader unless I show them who is boss. So, which one do I behead
first?

Something stirred in the Lake behind her. Ishtar turned, wondering what would cause the Lake to shift. The surface bubbled, and freezing flames of Hellfire spat out of the Lake to scald the demons, souls and Descended on the lakeshore. The souls screamed, the Angels cursed, and the demons squealed. Ishtar did none of those things. She simply watched.

The surface of the Lake of Fire exploded outward in a huge wave, and from the midst of it, shedding Hellfire like water, Lucifer rose, wings wide and chest heaving, his naked flesh huge and strong and powerful, glowing like polished silver in the dim light of Hell. His rage flowed from him like the Hellfire, washing over anyone who could see him. The other Angels quailed.

Ishtar remained where she was, and thought:
Well, shit.

Lucifer landed hard on the ground in front of her. Ishtar dropped onto one knee. “My Dread Lord,” she said. “I had not expected to see you free. Ever.”

“And would that be why you’ve decided to take over Hell?” Lucifer growled as he advanced on her.

“Yes,” said Ishtar. “Why not? I learned a lot from you. But now that you’re back…” She shrugged. “I kneel to you, my Dread Lord. I am your servant and vassal and shall serve you however I may.” Her head tilted to one side. “How did you get out of there, anyway?”

“When Tribunal left, his attention to the chains left with him,” growled Lucifer. “Once that happened it was only a matter of time.”

“Impressive,” said Ishtar, rising and laying a hand on his chest. “Very impressive.” She looked up at him through her lashes and let her hand slip down. “So, would you like to fuck me while we wait to go to Earth? Or shall I fetch you some souls to fuck as well?”

“You first,” said Lucifer. “Then order my captains to me.”

“I’m your captain,” said Ishtar. “The others are in the Lake. Well, their heads are in the Lake.”

Lucifer growled and grabbed her hair, pulling her head back to a point that would have snapped a mortal’s neck. “Then you will fuck me and then carry out my orders,” he said. “I want every loyal legion prepared to fight. The rest will stay here and not share in the glory.” He pulled her back farther, knowing it hurt. Ishtar grinned and kept stroking him. She was really tired of not being in charge, but she wasn’t stupid. “When the time comes, the 666th will go out first and establish our lines in case the Heavenly Host decides to fight us. And since my captains are now gone, you will be in charge of the 666th.”

“I obey,” breathed Ishtar, reveling in the pain in her neck and back. He threw her to the ground, hard. Ishtar spread her legs and, as he mounted her, plotted his death.

Where the fuck did they go?
Berith sent.

He and his squad of Descended flew high above the ice fields of Antarctica, circling and sending their senses out in all directions. Nyx and Persephone had both been there a moment before, along with Arcana—
fucking holy bitch—
then they all vanished as if they were not on the Earth at all.

Anyone see
them?

From the other parts of the world, Pesado, Verrine, Gressil, and Sonneillon, the other leaders of the squads, answered back with the same result. Nyx, Persephone, and Arcana were gone.

They didn’t open a gate,
sent Berith.
We all would have felt that. So they’re here
somewhere.

It’s a big planet,
returned Sonneillon.
We don’t have the numbers to search it
all.

Ev
eryone shut up,
Gressil said.
Listen for their names.
If they’re here, they will speak, and we will find
them.

Good idea,
sent Verrine.
Who thought of it for
you?

Gressil snarled but didn’t reply. They all fell silent and listened.

The first voice to call Nyx’s name belonged to a mortal. So did the second, and the third, and the hundred that came after. Berith listened in shock as thousands of mortals sent prayers to Nyx.

I don’t believe it!
Pesado sent.
That bitch built a
religion!

Berith’s eyes narrowed and a smile went over his face.
Think she’ll save her
followers?

He could sense the eagerness in the other Descended, even the ones thousands of miles away.

Follow me!
Berith sent to his troops.
Let’s see if we can flush the bitch
out!

Epiphenia hovered in the air in front of the Gates of Heaven. She could see the Gates and the souls passing through them. She could sense Heaven on the other side. She reached out with her hand and felt something solid, though she could see no barrier. She closed her eyes and let her mind go forward. To her surprise, it slipped easily through the barrier.

Which makes sense,
thought Epiphenia.
Tribunal thinks I’m dead, and I’m not of Heaven or Hell, so why would the barrier be designed to keep me from reaching God? For all his power, he probably doesn’t have any to
spare.

She reached forward with her hand. It stopped at the edge of the Gate. Epiphenia smiled. Her mind might be allowed forward, but not her person. God had not designed Heaven for her—
or maybe I am not designed for Heaven—
so she could not go in physically. Still, she could and did reach past the barrier with her mind.

God was everywhere. His presence rumbled through Heaven like the continuous beat of a timpani; a deep vibration that echoed through all things. It was a vibration of warmth and love and power, a sense of the eternal and infinite all in one. The sweetness of mortal flesh, of the Earth’s green growing things, was raised to a pitch where it became something else, where death was shucked off like an old skin. It was fascinating to Epiphenia, and it took all her will not to lose herself in the exploration of it.

There was another, lighter vibration below the first, equally as pervasive though not as strong.
Tribunal.
Epiphenia recoiled from it at first, sure that her presence would be detected. When nothing happened, she ventured forth again and opened her mind.

Tribunal had cast a glamor over all of Heaven, making those inside forget any desire to think about or look at Earth. It was exquisitely crafted and using up a great deal of power. So was the block on the Gate. Epiphenia immersed herself in the vibration that was Tribunal’s presence. She felt it go through her, felt it going through the entirety of Heaven.

When she slipped out of it, she was trembling with fear.

He has so much power.

So much
anger.

Epiphenia extended her mind out again, exploring the barrier, searching for a weakness. There wasn’t one. No Angel would be able to pass through that barrier as long as it was up. She began applying gentle pressure to the barrier, to see if it would respond. It didn’t react at all.

Epiphenia’s lips pushed tight against one another.
This is very irritating.
She applied more power; the result was the same. The barrier reacted as if she were not really there.

She stopped and sent her mind out again. She slipped it into the streams of thought in Heaven, and looked for the great power that was God. If she could reach him, she could speak to him, and since she could feel him, maybe there was a way…

Will he love me too? I am neither good nor evil. Yet I am better than Tribunal. I do not want the world to
die.

Tribunal’s power was wrapped around God’s presence like the peel on an orange. It was part of God’s presence, but definitely different from it. She felt a stab of disappointment that she couldn’t reach God, for herself as well as her mission. She had questions.

I wonder if anyone else in Heaven can feel what Tribunal is
doing?

I wonder if I can reach anyone else in
Heaven?

Epiphenia reached out again with her mind to find out.

The city of Gnyozdovo was quieter at night, though not fully quiet. It was a major trading town and a fortress, and so there were comings and goings at all hours, especially near the river where ships came in to dock and men and women waited to serve the sailors food and drink and sex, and whatever else they desired. Men stood watch along the walls of the fortress, and others stood ready at the docks to keep the peace, should any quarrels grow out of hand.