The Dragon's Descent (37 page)

27

PAX

G
reer caught Pax before he hit the ground. She gently lowered him down in her arms, cradling him. The others gazed on in horror; even Kane looked upset at the sight of Pax bleeding to death in Greer's arms.

Lilith cackled triumphantly. She stepped forward toward Vero, until X held out his sword, stopping her.

“Get Michael!” Greer yelled to the others. “Find an archangel! They can save him.”

Ada, with tears streaming down her face, flew off to find an archangel. “Give me the stone or you're next,” Lilith said in an icy tone, eyeing Vero.

Vero become enraged, and the muscles in his neck swelled. He charged Lilith, swiping wildly like a madman. X joined him as they battled Lilith who grabbed Kane and disappeared into the mob of fighting angels and maltures. X and Vero ran back to Pax.

“I was hoping he'd change his mind and come back to us.” Pax weakly smiled to Greer as she held him.

“I don't care about him,” Greer said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Do you think I'll go to the choir?” Pax said, gurgling.

“No, you're gonna be all right,” Greer said, her voice breaking. Her eyes wildly darted around. “Where are the archangels?” Greer screamed.

“Hey, you have my back . . . like you promised,” Pax mumbled.

“No, not like this!” Greer shook her head.

“Come on, Pax,” Vero said, kneeling down to him. “Stay with us.”

Pax locked eyes with Vero. “Don't let her get the book,” he whispered. “You were right, Vero . . . I'm not scared.” Pax's eyes rolled back into his head, and his breathing ceased. His body went completely limp. Greer let out a heart-wrenching wail as she hugged Pax's lifeless body to her own. Vero cried, placing a comforting hand on Greer's shoulder. X looked down at Pax and reverently closed his friend's eyes. A moment later, a white mist emanated from Pax's chest with the sound of a small tinkling bell. The mist grew heavy and swirled around his body, wrapping itself around him. Then the mist vanished, taking Pax's body with it.

“What a touching little scene,” Lilith scoffed as she reemerged from the battle above.

All heads turned to see that Lilith had returned with Kane. Looking up at Lilith, hatred rose in Greer, igniting her. She met Lilith's eyes.

“Today is your last day to prowl this world or any other,” Greer said in a steely voice.

Greer's sword shot from her palm, and she charged Lilith with an almost supernatural strength. Lilith raised her scythe, and the flat side of her blade met the tip of Greer's. Greer pulled her arm back, and in a fluid motion struck Lilith across her forehead, leaving a long gash, temple to temple. Black ooze dripped down her face, making her appear even more monstrous.

Lilith grew enraged. A scythe shot out from her other palm. She raised both toward Greer, but Greer met Lilith's gaze with a defiant stare.

Lilith swung both scythes violently at Greer, who somersaulted over Lilith's head, landing behind her. As Lilith wheeled, Greer brought her sword down, missing only because the hag stepped back.

Vero felt a puff of air as Kane's blade narrowly missed his head. X thrust his sword at Kane. As Vero and X dueled Kane, Vero could see Kane was breathing heavy as his reflexes began to slow, and his hair clung to his head with sweat.

Through his own sweat dripping down his forehead and into his eyes, Vero looked over and saw Greer skillfully and relentlessly attacking Lilith. Then his eyes went wide with fear as Greer lunged at Lilith with all her might but missed her target. Greer's own force caused her to trip and fall.

“Greer! Look out!” Vero shouted.

Both scythes came down on Greer, who rolled out of the way of the curved blades at the last second. Lilith attacked again, but Greer kicked out her foot, tripping Lilith, who fell facedown on the ground with her arms splayed. Greer jumped up, and with her right foot stomped her boot onto the back of Lilith's bald head, pushing her face farther into the dirt.

Quickly and expertly, Greer ran the sharp blade of her sword across Lilith's wrists, severing both her scythes.

Lilith hissed and howled in searing pain. A look of disbelief came over Kane, who ran into the melee of battling angels and maltures. Vero searched for Kane in the mob, but quickly lost sight of him.

“I told you today was your last day,” Greer triumphantly said, removing her boot from Lilith's wretched head.

Shrieking, Lilith stumbled to her feet. She lifted her arms. They were stumps at the ends, black ooze spilling to the ground. She snarled and hissed at her attacker, lunging, almost grabbing Greer before a deafening clicking sound filled the air. It sent shivers down Vero's spine—he knew exactly what the noises meant. A mound of dirt formed, and the ground began to rumble.

“No! No!” Lilith shrieked.

Heavy black chains shot out of the mound. Vero protectively pushed X and Greer behind him, forming a tight circle. Like snakes attacking their prey, the chains slithered straight toward Lilith. They lassoed themselves around her legs, knocking her into the dirt.

“No!” Lilith screamed. “Lucifer, save me . . . your bride!”

The chains continued to wrap themselves around her body. The mound burst open, and hundreds of creatures emerged. Each had the head of a man, a locust's body, and wings paired with scorpion tails. Vero shuddered at the sight of them. The head of a man with long black hair and mouth of lion's teeth arose from the mound. His body also resembled a locust's, with iron breastplates. Greer gasped, peeking out from behind Vero's wings.

“Abaddon,” Vero said in a hushed whisper.

Abaddon yanked on the chains. Kicking and screaming, Lilith thrashed against the heavy chains, but Abaddon dragged her to the hole in the middle of the mound. She flailed and shrieked, but then grew silent, disappearing into the hole with Abaddon. His locust creatures followed, and soon the hole sealed itself over with dirt, and Lilith, Abaddon, and his locusts disappeared.

“She's gone,” Greer said, stepping out from behind Vero.

As fighting continued all around them, Vero's eyes searched. “And so is Kane.”

Michael and Uriel landed with Ada in front of Vero and the others. Michael's wings were so massive, they provided a temporary shield from the surrounding battles.

“Where's Pax?” Ada asked, her voice full of dread.

Vero shook his head. Tears flooded Ada's eyes. She turned to Michael. “You can do something,” she pleaded.

“No, Ada,” Michael said. “I'm sorry.”

“Uriel, please . . .”

“Only God can give life,” Uriel said, his violet eyes downcast.

Ada cried. X wrapped her into his arms when suddenly the air was filled with the sounds of nightmarish growling. The hair on Vero's neck bristled. Michael turned to Vero.

“Run to the garden of Eden,” Michael said, calmly yet with urgency. “Lucifer has been watching and orchestrating all of this. He is now desperate.”

The growls grew louder.

“Is he coming?” Vero asked, terrified.

“Yes, and he's bringing his demons,” Michael said, looking Vero in the eyes. “We'll hold them off to give you a running start.”

“But how will I find it? I thought this was the garden,” Vero said with desperation in his eyes.

Michael placed his hand on Vero's shoulder. “Have faith, and God will lead you.”

Vero took in Michael's words then nodded.

“I'm coming with you,” Greer said to Vero.

“Me too.” X stepped forward.

Ada nodded.

“Only Vero will be granted access to the garden,” Michael said to the others. “I need you to stay here and fight. It's the only thing any of us can do to give Vero a chance.”

Michael raised his shield, and a beam of light shot from it, burning scores of maltures. Vero seized the opportunity and ran.

Clover and Tack stood on the steps leading to the top of Sri Pada. They were a little more than halfway up the mountain. Clover leaned on the railing, looking out over the landscape below for any sign of Vero. Tack stood next to her with an anxious look on his face.

“I don't think we're going to see him,” Tack said.

“Vero's in trouble,” Clover said, panicked. “I know it. But I know I have to help him!”

“Excuse me,” a boy's voice said.

Clover and Tack gazed down at the step below. A small boy in monk's robes stood there.

“Did you say Vero?” the boy asked.

“Yes, he's my brother,” Clover said. “Do you know him?”

“I do—we met at the start of our pilgrimages.” The boy quickly introduced himself as Chiko. “Is Vero in trouble?”

“He's in very grave danger,” Clover said, panicked. “He's an . . .” She stopped, catching herself.

“Angel,” Chiko said.

Clover and Tack looked to him, surprised.

“Are you one too?” Tack asked.

“No, I am studying to be a monk. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Clover looked to him. “Yes. Yes there is. You can help us pray for him by sending him good thoughts. And the more of us who do, the more strength he'll get,” Clover said.

“You've come to the right place for prayer and good, loving thoughts.” Chiko nodded over his shoulder.

Clover followed his gaze to a small, brilliant white building on the trail that was shaped like a bell.

“What's that?” Clover asked.

“A peace pagoda.”

The farther he flew away from the dead, ugly garden, the more verdant and beautiful the landscape became. But Vero had never felt more alone in all his life. He had known since the beginning only he could return the sapphire to the garden. The pressure he felt was enormous, though it was like he was on autopilot. The devil dogs, the injury to his leg, and the malture battle—they had all exhausted him, yet he kept pushing forward. And it was gnawing at him that his fellow fledglings and all the angels were involved in an epic battle, and he was flying in the other direction.

He knew on some level that he wasn't processing all the unfolding events properly. Neither Pax's demise nor the return of Abaddon seemed quite real in his mind. He felt as if his brain was compartmentalizing these things so he could move forward with his mission.

As he flew farther, the more the mist gradually gave way to rejuvenating light. Lucifer's faux garden never felt right to him. Why hadn't he listened to his gut? He vowed he would never make that mistake again.

The terrain below began to change. Ahead of him, Vero saw he was approaching massive trees. As he flew closer, they looked like redwoods, though much bigger than those on earth. He dropped down to the forest floor, as it had become difficult to fly through the dense trees. Surrounded by lush ferns as he walked, Vero looked up and saw the trees were the height of skyscrapers, blocking out much of the light. Their trunks were so wide that it would take at least a dozen people clasping hands to form a ring around the base.