Light of Darkness Read online

  “Yes, what if they are sent to apprehend us?” Ricilia asks, clearly still skeptical.

  “We stop them,” Arianna says with enthusiasm.

  “I like you. But believe me—be you human, angel, or Nephilim—you cannot match the power of a general.”

  “We bested you.” Ricilia says with a smug smile.

  I point to the dent in her armor, where I had pushed her. “Here’s the thing about luck...you don’t know if it’s good or bad until you have some perspective.” She scoffs and looks back to the map. “It will be up to you to destroy the first outpost. Once you do, Beal will most likely send me to apprehend you. From there on, the four of us will target the other posts.”

  “And what if the other generals are sent?”

  “That is a problem. Even with the four of us, we would have a problem defeating Bane alone.” I say crossing my arms.

  “I know of a way,” Paulina interjects. We all turn to her. “Well, there is tale of a dark sorcerer in the far west that can bind the powers of beings of light and darkness.”

  “Another troublesome human.” They all look at me. I clear my throat. “Good, and while you find the sorcerer, I will prepare.”

  “How?” Ricilia asks.

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  “So, you really expect us to believe in you? Who’s to say that you won’t just tell Beal of our location and plans, dooming us?”

  “Do you have a choice?” They all look at me with worried expressions. “Well then, to show that I am worthy of your trust, I bestow upon you three something very precious to me.” I place my hand on my chest. From deep within, my soul stirs, moving through me and to my hand. “Here, take these,” I say, out of breath. I open my hand to reveal three jewels that glow a brilliant shade of blue.

  “What are they?” asks Paulina.

  “Pieces of me, of my very soul.”

  Ricilia looks at the jewels with slight disgust. “What?”

  Arianna’s eyes grow wide with surprise. “Soul drops?”

  Confusion riddles Ricilia’s face. “Soul drops?”

  Taking the jewels from my hand, they examine them. Parcila holds a jewel up to her eye. “I have heard of these; for a being of light or darkness to give a Soul drop to another means that person pledges complete devotion to the receiver. Not many get to see them.”

  “Now that you have my word, my soul, and the plan, I’ll be taking my leave,” I say with a bow.

  “When we destroy the first outpost, how will we contact you?” Arianna asks.

  I look her in her soft, hazel eyes. “Like I said, I’ll be the first sent out, and as long as you have those, I’ll be able to find you. Understood?” They nod in agreement. “Good, till our next meeting.” I walk away before taking off in a full sprint, moving faster than I ever have before. I make it to the edge of the forest in only minutes.

  Days pass, and I finally make it back to the city. As I walk through the gate, I receive odd looks from all the soldiers; I don’t bother to greet anyone. I make my way to the catacombs and report to Beal. “Lord Beal, my mission is complete,” I say, kneeling.

  “And you are?”

  I look at him and stand. “Do you not recognize me, Beal? It’s only been three weeks.”

  Beal looks at me inquisitively. Then realization and surprise find their way onto his face. “Kross?”

  “Is there a problem, my lord?”

  He stands from the table, walks over and around me. “I sense more power within you, and you look much younger. What happened to bring about this change?”

  “My enemies didn’t escape me, body nor soul.”

  Amusement touches his eyes. “You surprise me. I didn’t think you had it in you to take a human soul. But for a change so drastic, it would’ve had to have been an army.”

  “No, there were only ten, but all of them were strong enough to wield weapons, armor and power of the light.”

  His crimson eyes seem to gleam as a sinister smile of satisfaction touches his mouth. “How was it?”

  I smile. “It was quite a rush, and very enlightening.”

  He pats me on the back. “I see. Well then, I think I can finally welcome you with open arms to our little family. You’re dismissed, and enjoy yourself, you’ve earned it.”

  With a bow, I leave him, exit the catacombs, and wander the city streets, thinking. I can’t believe he wanted me to devour souls before he would accept me. It’s not uncommon for demons to do so, but the practice has its drawbacks. You become strong yes, but you lose yourself in the process. What is his end game to all this?

  Near the barracks, I run into my young, bothersome friend. Noticing my change, his mouth hangs open. “Sir, what happ—how was the mission?”

  “Crazy. I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “Anything, sir.”

  “Gather all those you know who are loyal to me and only me.”

  “Yes, sir.” He turns to leave.

  I grab his shoulder, stopping him. He looks at me in confusion. “After your wedding, of course.” He nods and heads off. After the pleasantries are over and done with, it’s down to business.

  Six human years go by and nothing. No alarms, no whispers, nothing. I fear the worst. If those three have died, then this whole thing will have been for naught. All right, try not to worry. I put all my focus into fulfilling my duties as a general.

  It’s the first day of the week, and as we do every week, the other generals and I walk the streets of the city to show face and our solidarity to the people. Pale-skinned Bane walks just behind Beal, acting as a hulking bodyguard. He tries to smile instead of his normal scowl, but anyone can clearly see how difficult it is for him. His square jaw is clenched hard, and he fidgets, constantly running his hands through his spiky golden hair. He fixes the white-and-gold skirt-like garb humans from the ancient city of Egypt call a shendyt. “I hate this,” he says with a sigh.

  I nearly trip as the beautiful and deranged Masini hangs onto my arm like I’m a new toy. She makes sure to show off her perfect, olive-toned skin and voluptuous curves in a silken gown that hangs off her. Her long, wavy black hair smells of incense and myrrh. Masini’s fascination with me since my change has become bothersome. I haven’t been able to have moment of peace thanks to her constant badgering and questioning: Do I like torture? Can she have me? I try to pull my arm away from her, but she tightens her grip and looks at me with a cute pout. “You’re not going anywhere, unless it’s with me.”

  I turn around to see Dusk—tall, thin and lagging behind. A group of kids surround him, tugging at the sleeves of his tunic. Holding their hands, he sings songs with them. A smile spreads across his thin face as a little girl hands him a flower. He takes it and puts it in his hair. “Thank you, child.” His eyes are heavy; underneath them are dark circles. He looks like he’s never slept a day in his life.

  Beal leads, proud and smug, not a care in the world as his skin and silk shirt glisten in the sunlight. Looking back at me, he smiles that perfect smile with his arms spread wide. “We are here for you, my people. We are here for the world.” The people lining the street cheer, chanting his name. What he’s really saying is, “You are all mine. New Birth will be mine.”

  I shake my head at the thought. I’ve grown sick of being a part of this cohort of monsters. If the Nephilim really are dead, then I’ll have to come up with a new plan. From the crowd, one of the human messengers approaches and kneels before us. “Lord Beal, I have news.”

  “Explain.” The messenger stands and whispers in Beal’s ear. His demeanor changes slightly; his body stills with tension. “Understood. Leave.” The messenger bows and leaves. “Shadow.”

  I pry my arm away from Masini and walk next to Beal. “Yes?”

  “It would seem that one of the outposts has been destroyed. As you know, they are a crucial part of our power in this area. I want you to track down and kill those who would dare oppose us. Understood?” He looks at me, his eyes shining red, seething with rage
.

  It takes everything I have not to smile. “I’ll leave right away,” I say with a slight bow. Masini tries to grab me again as I walk by, but I dodge her and hurry away. On the way out of the city, I run into my young friend and his buddy, Kir, both my newly appointed lieutenants. “All right you two, you know what to do.”

  “Sir,” they both say with serious faces.

  “Relax. Try not to be too stiff while I’m gone. Make sure you smile.” They start to laugh. “That’s it. Farewell.”

  I leave the city and everything else in their hands.

  A WHOLE week has passed, and I still haven’t found the Nephilim. Pinpointing the soul drops has been difficult. I’m sure the Nephilim’s holy energy is interfering with my connection. I just have to keep looking.

  I wander deep into a black forest to the south, far beyond the demon territory. There’s barely any light here, even with it being the middle of the day. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something flicker in the distance. A fire? I doubt any normal humans would venture this deep into these woods. The Fae and monsters would make a snack out of them. I head in the direction of the flickering light. With every step, the air grows thick; the power of the light is potent here. There’s also an undeniable energy drawing me deeper into the woods—pieces of my soul calling to me.

  I finally found them. They stand around a fire, unaware of my approach. As I grow near, flashes of light blink to life from under their armor. The moment they notice it, they jump up, drawing their swords, which are set ablaze with white fire. I put my hands up. “Whoa, whoa, it’s just me. Lower your weapons.”

  Ricilia lowers her blade with a scowl. “Took you long enough.”

  “It took me a week to find you. It took you six years to find one mage and destroy the outpost,” I say, walking past her.

  Arianna’s face brightens as she sheaths her blade. “The sorcerer was quite elusive. Had to track them across three countries.”

  “Arianna, your eye.” I touch the left side of her face. There is a fresh scar stretching from her brow to the top of her cheek. “What happened?”

  She blushes nuzzling into my hand. “My emotions got the better of me, and so, too, did the enemy.”

  “Well, I’m happy you’re okay.” I take a quick assessment of the others. All of them have new scars and are much stronger than they were when we met. “I’m happy you all are okay. Did you get anything from the spell caster?”

  Paulina’s green eyes shine as a mischievous smile touches her lips. She draws a piece of parchment from a satchel and tosses it to me. The smell of blood and rotted human flesh hits my nose, and the power coming from the parchment is a bit unnerving. I hold it away from me. “It reeks, but it’s the real deal. An ungodly spell of binding.”

  I sit at the fire next to Arianna. “Now, for the next part of the plan.”

  SEVERAL HUMAN years pass by quickly, and the plan progresses accordingly. We destroy the outposts and, using the spell, bind the generals sent to apprehend us. The look on their faces when they saw me with the Nephilim was priceless. There was a minor hiccup with Dusk, but it was handled. Now, to our main target, Sodom and Beal.

  The winds whip the sand around as I walk the desert toward the western gate of Sodom. Dragging behind me are three cloaked prisoners. As we come into view, one of the sentries readies himself. “Halt, who goes there?”

  “It’s me,” I say as the face of my armor melts away.

  “General Shadow? You’re alive.” There is relief in his voice. “We feared the worst. Who are they?” he asks, looking behind me.

  I pull the three cloaked people forward by the chains fashioned from my own energy, which are secured around their necks and wrists. “Prisoners to be interrogated by Lord Beal.”

  “Of course. Open the gate!”

  The gates open, and the four of us walk into a mess of tumult and disorder. The entire base and city are in disarray. Morale is down, and fear runs rampant. The light armies are nearing, and the generals are nowhere to be found. Everyone prepares for the eminent battle, barely noticing us. I see Lieutenant Kir. Smiling, he nods, vanishing into the crowd.

  “Let’s move,” I say.

  There is normally protocol for taking in prisoners, but in all this mayhem, I’m able to walk them through the front door without much notice. We make it through the hidden door, through the catacombs and to the war room.

  “You ready? This will be our only chance.” From under their cloaks, they nod. “All right.”

  I open the giant bone doors and enter with my “prisoners” behind. “Lord Beal, I have returned bearing gifts.”

  Beal stares at me in disbelief. He looks horrible. His hair is frizzy; his eyes are bloodshot. Clearly, he hasn’t been getting much sleep. “Shadow, you’re alive? After seven human years of no word, I was sure you had met your demise at the hands of the light. Where have you been?”

  “Completing my mission, sir. Tracking down those destroying the outposts. I am sorry to say that I caught up to them much too late.”

  “Yes, very much so. And these three are?”

  I yank them forward. “The ones responsible.”

  He stands from the table and walks toward us. He stops in front them and removes their hoods one at a time, carefully examining their faces. He grabs Arianna’s face and moves it from side to side. “They are human?”

  “Nephilim, my Lord.”

  “You’re telling me that these three half-breeds destroyed my outposts and defeated my generals?”

  “I know it seems far-fetched, but their powers match that of a high-ranking being of light. I did not have the experience to deal with them, but managed to restrain them and bring them to you.”

  He lets Arianna go and looks at me, then smiles and walks away. “No, you wouldn’t, would you? But then again, you wouldn’t have to ‘deal with’ these three.”

  “Sir?”

  “Oh, stop this charade, Kross. I know you’ve been helping them,” he says, turning toward us.

  Well, there goes the element of surprise. I let go of my link, and the shackles disappear.

  “How did he know?” Paulina asks.

  “Your eyes betray you, Nephilim. Especially hers.” He points to Arianna. “I don’t see fear, but trust in the ones you’re with. Including him. Also, how could my lowest ranking subordinate take down three of the light, where my second, third, and fourth failed?”

  I flex my power, summoning my armor. The room shakes violently. “You don’t know how strong I’ve grown, Beal.”

  He looks at me, amused. “It would seem so, and in such a short time at that. I am in awe, but how could you, Kross? How could you betray your own people?”

  “We’ve been fighting for eons—not only against the light, but also amongst ourselves. My whole family has died fighting, along with thousands more among the three races. This endless war must come to an end,” I say, getting into a fighting stance. The girls follow my lead, drawing their swords.

  “Oh, and you think you are going to stop me?” He snaps his fingers. Normally, that would summon thirty elite guards, give or take, but no one appears. He glares at us. “What is this?”

  Good work, you two.

  “I don’t think we’re going to stop you; I know we are.” I dash toward Beal, claws at the ready. He looks at me with a slight smile and positions himself with one hand forward. I swing my left claw, and he blocks it, taking hold of it with his right hand. I follow up, aiming my right claw for his stomach, but he grabs it with his left. We’re at a standstill.

  “You have grown exponentially stronger since the first time I saw you fight. I dare say even stronger than Dusk.” He starts to push me back without effort. “But even still, you are no match for me.”

  Arianna and Ricilia appear on either side of us in a flash of light, their swords poised high, burning with holy fire. They slash down, aiming for Beal’s arms. Letting go of me, he pulls back far enough to catch their blazing blades with his bare hands. “Is
that it?” he spits. “Pitiful.”

  I deliver a front kick to his stomach, pushing him back. Paulina jumps over me, her sword ablaze, and slashes down. It hits his shoulder, erupting in a torrent of white fire. He lets go of the others, and they retreat next to me.

  He starts laughing as the flames grow stronger. “I am truly impressed. Not since the beginning of this war has anyone laid a hand upon me.” The room starts to tremble as his power slowly builds. “And never will it happen again.” His red eyes gleam through the white fire. A burst of energy disrupts the flames. He stands there, smoldering but unfazed.

  Before I can think to prepare myself, Beal appears in front of Paulina as if he’d always been there. He backhands her, sending her across the room. She slams into the wall, where chains come to life and begin wrapping around her neck and wrists.

  He looks over his shoulder at the rest of us, narrowing his eyes. Then, he appears in front of Arianna, ready to drive his hand into her chest. With a quick step toward her, I reach under his hand and parry it to the side of her. Without even looking at me, he takes me by the neck and lifts me off the ground. Arianna steps back out of his range. He and I lock eyes, and I can feel myself being dragged into him. His malice and anger rage on like a storm, bent on destroying everything in his path.

  Ricilia starts to rush in. With effort, I break Beal’s gaze, catching sight of his hand on the hilt of a sword holstered at his hip. Ender—the demonic long blade he used in the ancient wars. I’m surprised to see it; he never wears it anymore. I blast Ricilia and Arianna out of his range. One swing from Ender and they would cease to exist.

  They get the message and go check on Paulina. As Beal watches them leave, I aim a kick at his face, but he catches my leg. He laughs. Keeping hold of my leg, he flings me around, slamming me into the floor, then the table, and then he throws me into the wall next to the girls.

  I try to move, but I can’t put weight on my left arm. Arianna lifts me up. “Kross, are you okay?”

  I grab my shoulder. With a loud pop, I force it back into the socket. “Yeah, I’m fine. Now I see why he’s so feared. He’s not even using his full strength.”