Broken Wings (Hidden Wings Series Book Two) (14 page)

“
I’ve already taken mine. Please. It will help to manage the heat,” he said, handing it back to me. He was still trying to protect me. Still trying to be my Guardian.

As
I reached for the vial, our fingers touched. I missed the shocks I’d get whenever he’d touch me, but he still made my pulse race.

I took a sip of the liquid, and thi
s time it felt like a tall glass of ice water, running down and coating my parched throat. I closed my eyes and let the chill continue to run its course through my veins, cooling every cell. Whatever was in this bottle was amazing. This liquid could change the world and help a lot of people. But, in the wrong hands... Oh God. I didn’t even want to think about that.  

After the potion took its effect
I felt as normal as one could ever feel given the circumstances.

“So what’s
next?” I questioned.

“Well,
that was the easy part,” Danyel said. “From here on, it’ll be a difficult and deadly journey ahead. We haven’t even reached the first level yet and there are five. That’s even before we reach the last gate to Lucifer, if we’re lucky to get that far.”

I exhaled
, and along with my breath went a bit of my hope.

“But
we’re here, and if we all work together, I believe we can get through this. We will all make sure of your safety, Emma,” Samuel said.

“Till
death,” Kade and Danyel agreed.

“I don’t want you to risk your lives
for me. I just want all of us to get out of here together,” I said. And that was the truth.

I shook my head as they pulled out their weapons. Danyel had a samurai looking sword str
apped to his back. Samuel had a beautiful sword that looked like it belonged to a Knight, and Kade had his own sword, the one he’d already used so many times to save my life…all razor sharp. All immortal blades.

Samuel took
Kade and went up ahead to see if the area was clear. I decided to pull out my dagger and hold it in my hand. If it were out, it would be easier to use.

“Where did you get that?” Danyel
asked, taking my wrist, and holding it up so he could observe the blade closer.

“Do
minic gave it to me.”

“
This dagger looks familiar. Like that of the Archangel Michael,” he whispered.

“It is
,” I replied. “Dominic told me that Michael gave it to him.”

His eyes
widened.

“Michael
gave Dominic his dagger?” He looked completely baffled. “Angels never give their weapons, especially unique weapons such as this. The only reason they would, is if they know of a greater purpose for them,” he said, still holding my wrist in his grip.

Kade and Samuel appeared from around the corner.

“Hide,” Samuel urged. We all ducked into a small cave and waited as a bunch of loud voices passed. A handful of drunken Fallen passed by, laughing and spurting obscenities.

“So is there an easier
way to get down to the lower level without being seen?” I asked.

“
Usually when a member brings a soul into Hell, they take it to a special place. A collection area. They do not actually deliver the soul themselves, they just drop it off. There is no way we would be able to go that way, because that place is riddled with Fallen. We’d be spotted and killed for sure.”

“So what’s our
other option?”

“
We travel through the five levels of Hell, and deal with each one of the horrors that guard them.”

“Are they worse than the Fallen?” I questioned.

“Let’s just say that if we go the first way, we will be met with hundreds of Fallen all at once. If you go through the levels, you will meet whatever was placed there. Each gate has a Guardian, specifically placed by Lucifer, to assure that no one would dare or attempt to pass. Each Guardian is worse than the last, and no one has ever survived.”

“Until now,” Samuel said
, patting my shoulder.

“
Until now,” Danyel said, with a grin.

Oh God. What had we gotten ourselves into?
No survivors? And, I was pretty much worthless when it came to fighting.

But, I did have two
Fallen warriors with me, and my kick-ass Guardian.

“Don’t worry, Emma,” Samuel whispered. “We’ll take each level slowly, and make sure everyone gets through safely.”

I nodded, because there wasn’t much more I could say. What he said sounded easy enough, but I had a sinking feeling that taking it slow wouldn’t matter. 

Samuel stood
, and the others followed.

“
Level one is a few hundred yards away, and we need to get moving. I need to go over all the rules first. No deviations. No questioning. If any of us should get separated, the remaining ones will continue on with Emma. If one is hurt and cannot continue, the others must leave and continue. If one is killed, the same applies. The only way we retreat is if Emma gets injured and needs to be taken to safety. We have one goal, and that is to get Emma to Lucifer. If she doesn’t make it, we fail, and all of the others will die. Failing is not an option. Do you understand?” Samuel was dead serious, looking at Danyel and Kade.

“Yes,” they agreed, and t
hen hugged each other in the manliest way possible.

That speech was good for them, but totally
sucked for me. There was no way that I could walk away if I saw any one of them injured, or worse, and there was no way I’d be able to move on knowing that someone was lost. It was not going to happen. Yes, we needed to complete this quest, but no one was going to be left behind. Not on my account.

“Are you ready, Emma,” Danyel asked, holding his hand out to me.

“Yes,” I answered, taking hold of it.

“You’ll need help walking.”

“Walking? Why would I need help walking?”

“You’ll see,” he returned.

Chapter 7

Level 1
:

Our decent into the depths of
Hell felt like we were slowly being boiled alive.

Hot as H
ell.

Now
I completely understood the saying, and I quickly understood why Danyel asked for my hand. It was to help guide me through a steep, narrow path littered with large razor-sharp stones. A hellish nightmare. On one side of the path was a wall covered in sharp rocks, and on the other was a straight drop down into a hot lake of lava about a thousand feet below. Above us hung large stalactites, deadly, and ready to fall and pierce any one of us.

T
he cooling effects of the potion were beginning to wear off, and sweat began to pour down my face. As we traveled downward, it became even hotter and hotter, and even the suit was having a hard time keeping me cool.

Come on,
cool me down. If you don’t I’ll die
.

All right
, I was talking to my super suit. I was definitely losing it, but the crazy thing was that after I thought it, I could actually feel myself get a little cooler. Whoa. This suit could actually read my thoughts. That was freaky. Cool, but freaky.

Thank you.
I wanted to make sure that if it did read my mind, that I was thankful. Thank goodness it didn’t talk back.

“Once we pass the first
gate the heat won’t be as bad. It’s hotter here because we are exposed to the heat from the lava below, but it’ll be a little more bearable once we get into the caves,” Danyel said.  

We were nearing a large dark cav
e when Danyel stopped me, and held up his hand. We all paused. My heart began hammering a thousand beats a minute and the Bloodstone started glowing bright red.

“What is it?” I whispered.

Danyel sniffed the air.

“We need t
o be careful. The first Guardian is very near. Probably right beyond the veil of darkness, watching us,” he said softly, his eyes locked into the darkness of the cave. I strained to see whatever it was he was talking about, but before I saw it, I heard it.

T
he ground quaked all around us, from steps being taken by whatever humongous creature was coming. My breath quickened and my heart hammered loudly. I slowly stepped behind Danyel.

Kade came and stood
right behind me and. I leaned back into him, not only for support, but because knowing he was there, gave me strength. My body was trembling, but his was firm and unshaken.

Kade’s lips ligh
tly brushed against my ear, and then he softly whispered, “I’ll still protect you, no matter what. I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered back
. My heart fluttered with his words.

I didn’t realize how fast my heart had fallen for him, but it had. If what Samuel and Alaine had told me was true, then the moment we touched, our hearts had become bonded. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t feel it. I’d never felt like I wanted to be so close
to someone before; a knowing that we were meant to be together.

H
is arms wrapped tightly around me, so I closed my eyes and focused on being safe in his strong embrace. His beautiful face was so close to mine, and his voice so warm and comforting.

The moment didn’
t last long, and I didn’t expect it to. We were in Hell after all.

Danyel whispered
and motioned for us to move back.

The thunderous steps from whatever was coming, was still making everything around us quake
, sending the sharp rocks from above crashing down all around us.

Danyel
and Samuel had taken crouching positions, ready to battle whatever showed itself from the darkness. A horrifying growl echoed through the cavern. A growl, unlike any I’d ever heard on earth. It sounded evil. Very, very evil.

The closer it got, t
he more the earth shook, throwing my balance off. I turned and wrapped my arms around Kade’s neck and he held me tightly to him.

“
Here it comes,” Danyel warned.

“What’s coming
?” I asked Kade, with my face buried in his chest.

“I don’t know,” he answered.
“This is my first time into Hell too.”

I
had to look. I had to see what was coming, so I pulled away from Kade and turned around. Two huge, glowing eyes, eyes which looked like they were on fire, suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Kade quickly stepped in front of me, readying his sword.

“You’ll be fine
, Emma,” Samuel said, attempting to reassure me. “Kade, stay back with her.”

“I will,” he answered.

As Samuel moved closer to Danyel, Kade grabbed hold of my hand and laced his fingers in mine. I was glad he did, because it connected us. His steadfastness and bravery transferred to me, and I didn’t want him to let go. I needed his strength now.

The ground shook
again, and I tried to peer around Kade. But just when I thought the flaming eyes were terrifying, what stepped out of the cave made my knees weak.

It was like no other creature I’d ever seen.
It was huge, towering over twenty feet tall. It had the face of a gargoyle. A gray monstrous face carved from rock, which ran down its neck. Long pointy horns protruded from its head. But its body was different, and I recognized the fur instantly; a desert sand color, with huge paws and sharp claws. It was a lion. But tucked onto its back were long, shiny black wings.

I
t stepped out and pounced at Danyel, its mouth opened and filled with razor sharp teeth, but Danyel leapt out of the way.

S
omething snapped from behind the creature, crashing only inches away from Danyel.

I screamed.

The creature had a tail… and not just any tail, the tail of a frickin’ scorpion!

It steppe
d into the dim light and now glared at Samuel, baring its sharp teeth.

“State your business her
e,” its deep voice rumbled, and as it spoke, fire spewed from its mouth.

Holy crap!
That creature just
talked
, and breathed fire! This was not happening. If this was the first guard, and there were supposed to be five,
and
each gets worse?

I could feel myself start to hyperventilate
, and I didn’t think the super suit would be able to help me.

“We wish to see
Lucifer. We have urgent news regarding his son, and a threat placed upon his life by Lucian,” Danyel answered, and that was the truth.

“You know t
hat is not possible. Lucifer sees no one unless he calls for them. If you do not heed my warning, I will feed on your corpse, and throw your bones into a pile to rot for all eternity. So, leave now and return from whence you came,” the creature growled, pointing his sharp claws towards the exit.