Ahead of him the ground rose where the iron hatch fit into the ceiling. It took far longer than it should’ve to shove open the metal hatch. A dying Andre had little more strength than a mortal man.
He hissed as he pressed a forearm against the iron and pushed, the position causing his wound to tear further. His lips curled inwards at the searing pain, but he pressed on, the need to be outside now singing through his veins. With a deep groan, the door released, smacking into the ground with a heavy thump.
Andre braced himself for more agony as he hauled himself up by his arms. It was all he could do not to cry out like a babe.
Bloody heavens above, that hurt.
Once he dragged himself onto the grass, he rolled to his back, took a fortifying breath, then pushed to his feet. His free hand went to the hilt of his sword as he scanned the horizon.
The fields surrounding his home were overrun with supernatural creatures. Among them were the Fallen, the devil’s most coveted demons because, like him, they were once angels. He caught sight of Lila, that hateful cambion, urging men on with her voice.
Distinctly fewer vampires were out here now. He had to press his lips together when he caught sight of the piles of clothes. They’d died defending him, knowing as they fought that if they fell, it would be to their doom. Had he ever doubted their loyalty, he did no longer.
Flashes of light arced across the sky as witches and sorcerers threw spells. Sparks flew as the swords of angels clashed against the claws of winged demons. The entire place looked like a swirling stew of light and shadow.
Chaos.
Andre could imagine it devolving further—each creature losing their form, creation unmaking itself until the world returned to the primordial place where it began.
He blinked and the sharpness of the landscape roared back to life around him. As soon as fighters caught sight of him, he’d become a target. And just about everyone out here wanted him dead.
He gritted his teeth as he pulled the sword from its sheath, the metal zinging as he did so. To die on the battlefield was a glorious death.
Right in the middle of the melee, the devil slashed through beings indiscriminately with Andre’s sword, a maniacal smile on his face. He must’ve felt Andre’s stare because he turned and his gaze locked on the vampire king.
The devil’s eyes narrowed.
Straightening his stance, Andre stalked forward. The devil should’ve taken his head when he had the opportunity. Andre was going to make him regret it.
Only he never got the chance.
Gabrielle
I searched the fire for my soulmate, used every sense I could to probe the vast reaches of hell.
Nothing.
Despair was giving way to panic.
“Andre!” I shouted. My voice got lost in the roar of the fire and screams of the doomed.
Above me, the souls I’d released were descending back towards the flames. Why were they returning? My power rushed over me, pushing my selfish thoughts back, urging me to lift my hands to these souls and embrace them.
No.
I dug my heels in and fought against the instinct to give in.
“Andre!” I shouted again, moving away from the souls.
They followed me, closing in from all sides. I tried to push past them only to feel their phantom hands latch onto me. I shrugged them off only to feel more grab me.
They’d done this before, but then I’d had no real reason not to follow them. Now I had plenty. I forced my way through them, noticing absently that the fire no longer had the ability to burn them.
I managed to slog several feet before too many had hold of me. I called on my power, seeking to magically force them off, only to feel it shy away from me.
Traitorous thing!
My feet left the ground as the souls lifted me up.
“Wait, stop!” I struggled against them.
The spirits wouldn’t let me go, and together we rose high above the flames. The souls that remained tethered to the fire screamed louder, echoing my own thoughts. “Let me go!”
A familiar soul brushed against my cheek. I opened my eyes, and my father stared back at me. He shook his head then tilted his face to the darkness above us, where thousands upon thousands of souls floated. He took my hand, and with a small smile, led me up.
His message was clear enough. We were all leaving this place.
“N-no,” I sobbed out.
This should’ve been joyous. My father held my hand, and we were rising from the pits of hell. But the farther away we moved, the more certain I was that I would not be returning. I couldn’t save Andre if I never came back.
Then and there I made myself a vow: I’d see this through. And despite whatever came to pass, I wouldn’t rest until Andre was in my arms again. Only then did I stop fighting and allow these souls to sweep me away.
The darkness above us receded as thousands of glowing spirits illuminated our surroundings. So many surrounded me that I could barely see beyond them. I caught the barest glimpse of the Underworld’s cavernous roof.