I quickly catalog the body position of all our enemies. None see us in our hiding-spot. Instead, they’re all focused on the massive Manus demon at the center of the crowd. This gorilla-like monster is the largest creature I’ve ever seen. Hoisting its long arms high above its head, the Manus slams its fists onto the desert floor, scooping up piles of sand and throwing them off to one side. With each throw, I feel my heart sink a little lower. He’s almost uncovered the circular metal portal that marks the doorway to our bunker. Not good.
My eyes grow large with understanding. So that’s what’s been rattling over our heads. The Manus demon’s trying to break in, or scare us into coming out. I scan its boulder-sized body and trunk-like limbs. Dang, that thing looks tough to kill. Who knows how hard it will be to move to Hell?
The circular door springs to life, igniting into a ring of white flame. The Manus demon leaps out of the fire’s path. The muscles around my throat tighten. Those flames are Mom, Cissy, and Zeke, about to face a horde of demons. Hells bells.
Armageddon sneers. “At last.” His three-knuckled fingers twitch at his sides, anxious to touch his victim’s flesh and suck out their souls.
If he lays a finger on them, I’ll lose it.
The great circular door lifts from the sands. It’s a flat disc held up by four white pillars. On the floor between those columns stands my mother, Cissy, and Zeke, their bodies twitching as Armageddon’s aura slams into them. Adrenaline rockets through me. Every fiber in me wants to leap down the rock face and start kicking ass. I dig my hands and feet deeper in the warm sand, trying to root myself to the spot.
Armageddon steps to the edge of the circular platform, his nasty grin stretching wide. “Greetings, Senator.” He grins. “Come out to parlay?”
Straightening her shoulders, Mom speaks in a calm voice that echoes through the desert. “I come here today on behalf of angels, ghouls, thrax, and quasis.” She’s doing a really good job of fighting the terror of being close to a greater demon. “This unwarranted invasion of our–”
Lincoln gently sets his hand on my upper arm. “We’re on.”
I inhale a shaky breath. The distraction’s working. Now it’s all up to me. My body almost vibrates with fear. I’ve never felt this scared before.
I wiggle my body into the sand. The warm granules press comfortably against my belly. Closing my eyes, I raise my hand and call out to the igni. My heart thuds so hard, my pulse booms in my ears. Please, let the igni hear me.
Child-like laughter sounds in my head. A few tiny lightning bolts spin about my palm. My body tenses with excitement.
Lincoln’s voice rings in my ears: “Great, Myla. You’re doing it.”
The laughter grows louder. Then, it’s drowned out by Armageddon’s voice. “I have a surprise for you, Camilla.”
My eyes pop open. What’s he up to?
Mom folds her arms over her chest. “What could you possibly do to surprise me?”
The King of Hell snaps his fingers once.
Although I’m aware of my mother and Armageddon, my consciousness stays fixed on the power dancing about my hand. The igni multiply, their thin bodies tickling my skin, their voices growing louder.
A dark spot appears in the Gray Sea sky. It grows larger, turning into a massive pair of flying demons with the eagle bodies, lizard heads, and bat wings. In their claws they carry a giant metal box. With a great thud, they drop their burden onto the gray sand.
I squint through the fierce wind. A rusted container about eight feet square sits on the desert floor. My attention’s drawn to it; something important lies inside.
Fewer igni circle my palm. Their music fades from my mind.
Armageddon knocks on the metal container. “This is for you.” The sides of the box fly open, killing a few demons in the process. Armageddon doesn’t glance in their direction; instead his focus is riveted on the body chained to the box’s floor.
I can’t help but stare as well. A figure crouches along the bottom of the container, heavy chains wrapped about his hands and feet. He has matted hair, a grizzled beard, and cocoa skin that’s covered in purple bruises and oozing wounds. Scraps of gray fabric hang about his broken body and dirty wings. He’s an angel, or what’s left of one.
Armageddon gestures to the broken figure. “Senator, may I present the archangel Xavier.”
All breath leaves my body. This is my father, the one who traded an eternity in Hell for my mother’s life.
Mom stares at the broken angel. Tears well in her eyes. She half-turns to my hiding place on the ridge, but catches herself before going too far. She stops, steels her shoulders and swings her attention back to Armageddon. “I fail to understand how your surprise relates to this hostile invasion, Armageddon.”
A chill crawls over me. My body freezes with shock. More lightning bolts fade from my hand.
Armageddon grins, showing a mouth of pointed teeth. “Ah, but you haven’t seen the best part yet.” He snaps his fingers again. The pair of flying monsters take to the air. Their talons sink into my father’s back and begin to heave.
Oh, my sweet evil. They’re pulling off his wings.
My gaze flicks to my father’s bearded face, contorted in pain. He grips his heavy chains, teeth gritted in agony. The lightning bolts around my hand die out.
Lincoln grips my shoulder. “What’s going on, Myla? The igni are gone.”