but the wall held firm, a pathway made. With the rest of the soldiers surrendered, the mob flooded the opening. Soldiers entered, with what appeared to be Antonil leading the way. They clearly expected a fight, but instead hordes of men and women cheered and celebrated their arrival.
“The city’s taken once more,” Veliana said. “Looks like we’re finally safe.”
“This city, anyway,” Deathmask said, looking up to Avlimar. “But there’s still the matter of the demons…”
30
S ide by side, Harruq and Aurelia fought and killed. When the demons first landed, they’d retreated inward, into the golden arches and pearl walls. It seemed they attacked from every opening, through windows and enormous doorways. Harruq blocked their way, and Aurelia cast her magic around him. Every time he ducked, a lance of ice would fly over his head. Every time he sidestepped, a shard of rock and fire went screaming by. But there were too many, and the angels with them were few. So further and further in they retreated.
“Where’s the rest of them?” Harruq asked as they rushed through a series of bedrooms. “Would love to have…watch out!”
He shoved Aurelia atop one of the beds. A spear sliced through where she’d been, then embedded into the wall. Two demons crashed through the windows, their wings folded in. One landed on a second bed, the other rolling across the floor between them. Harruq stabbed the one on the ground before he could rise, twisting the blade just before tearing it out his side. Aurelia flung a pillow at the other demon, then ignited it with a word. When the demon tried to fling it aside, it instead exploded, bathing him with fire. As he writhed, Harruq slammed into him, stabbing with his twin blades.
“We need a room without windows,” Harruq said, yanking his swords free.
“Or doors,” she said, sliding off the bed. She brushed her hair away from her face, worry flashing in her eyes. Harruq sheathed one of his swords, squeezed her hand, and then pulled her along.
Outside the bedroom was a slender walkway across beautiful green grass. A series of thin pillars and an arched covering made of golden silk enclosed the walkway. Through the gaps in the pillars they saw a mad chaos of battle, angels and demons swarming across the city, killing one another. At the end of the walkway was a large tower, for what purpose, he didn’t know.
“Run fast,” he said, squeezing her hand again. “And try not to draw any attention.”
She gave him a wink, then sprinted along the pathway, Harruq in fast pursuit. In the open air, they heard death screams, friend and foe alike. Halfway there, Aurelia dived to the ground as a battling pair crashed through a pillar. The demon landed atop, and he stabbed repeatedly with a vicious spike attached to his gauntlet. Before he could notice her there, Aurelia clamored to her feet and slammed a palm against his back. Lightning arced through the demon, and he let out a single cry before dying.
Harruq didn’t slow, instead grabbing her waist and pulling her along. Three more demons crashed through the top, hurling their spears. Two struck the stone wide of the mark, and Aurelia shoved the third off course with a sudden gale.
“Faster,” Harruq said as the demons left the walkway to take flight. He glanced to either side, catching only glimpses of them through the gaps in the pillars. Just before the door to the tower, one tore through the silk and landed, his serrated sword already stained with blood. Another landed behind them, also tearing through the silk. As for the third…
“Take the one at the door,” Harruq whispered. He shoved her forward and spun as the third demon crashed through the pillars, his glaive leading. The half-orc parried it high, then stepped into the demon’s charge. Harruq’s elbow slammed into neck, and he roared when the two continued on, bouncing off into another pillar and to the grass outside. In the mad mess of wings and armor, Harruq twisted and stabbed on pure instinct. He felt warm blood splash across his face. The hairs on his neck stood up, and he twisted free. The other demon’s attack missed, and Harruq gave him no chance to recover. He head-butted him, and when he staggered back, Condemnation sliced through his stomach and spilled his innards.
“Harruq!” Aurelia shouted from the door to the tower, a smoldering corpse slumped against a pillar beside her. He looked back to see a formation of demons diving toward him, and with a curse began sprinting. But they raced to the side, not going for him, but instead Aurelia.
“No!” he screamed, knowing he would never make it in time. Aurelia looked to him, terror marring her beautiful face. And then she slammed shut the door and set it aflame. The demons forced through, four rushing inside, a fifth standing guard, his glaive raised and pointed at the half-orc.
“You can’t stop me,” Harruq said, picking up speed. “Nothing can! Aurelia!”
He saw the doubt creep into the demon’s eyes just before he hit, and that alone told him the exchange was already won. Salvation slapped aside the glaive like it were made of straw. Condemnation tore through the demon’s throat. Harruq’s weight slammed into him, burying the sword further. Snarling, he tore the blade free and kicked the body aside. When he turned to enter the tower, he stopped, for a wall of ice had formed across it, blocking the way.
“I have waited a long time to meet with you again, my dear apprentice,” said a voice from a nightmare, deep and full of promises and lies.
Harruq turned to see Velixar grinning at him, his red eyes glowing with amusement. Beside him stood Tessanna, her head bowed and her eyes downcast. And not far behind them stood…
Stood…
“Qurrah?” he said, his swords going limp in his hand. “Qurrah, what has he done?”
T essanna moved through the battle as if in a dream. All around she heard cries of death, and she knew at one time this would have exhilarated her, but no more. She knew who Velixar hunted for, what he desired. He wanted his victory, his great achievement to be complete. She would be a part of it, but only a small part. She was powerless. Helpless. A prisoner waiting to die at the hand of her lover.
“Can you sense him?” Velixar asked Qurrah after he struck down an angel using a long tendril of bone. For a moment Qurrah did nothing, then nodded. He shook as if he had fought against that nod with every muscle in his body.
“Then lead the way.”
They weaved through the city, staying outside the buildings and remaining near the outer ring, even when the bulk of the combat moved deeper into the city. Only a few angels spotted them, for the demons were swarming, great in number and on the offensive. Those that fled, died. Those that dove to attack, died faster. Each time their bodies collapsed, bleeding from gashes torn in their bodies or gasping for air with crushed lungs, Velixar laughed.
At last they reached a large tower on the northern end of Avlimar. Tessanna felt her heart leap. There he was. Qurrah’s brother.
“No,” she whispered.
Velixar saw him trying to rush inside the tower after Aurelia, so he summoned a wall of ice to block his way. Tessanna clutched her hands behind her back, feeling a lump swell in her throat. This was it. She heard the half-orc cry out Aurelia’s name, then turn to face them. She couldn’t meet his eyes. What would he think of her? Nothing good. Nothing redeemable. She’d helped murder his daughter, then taken his brother away from him. She was the path to Karak, she knew that now. May all three gods damn her, she thought. It was the least she deserved. Velixar mocked him, and her heart flared with anger.
“Qurrah?” she heard Harruq ask. “Qurrah, what has he done?”
The lump grew.
What have I done, you mean. Oh gods, Qurrah, is this how we all end?
“Don’t speak,” Velixar said to her lover. “Don’t answer. You know what you are, and what you must do. Kill him, Qurrah. Break the last chain that holds you to this mortal delusion of morality and sin.”
“Don’t!” Tessanna shouted. She couldn’t control herself. “Don’t do this!”
Velixar struck her, so hard she thought her jaw might be broken. As she crumpled to the ground, she sobbed in helpless fury. Qurrah approached Harruq, and the burning whip uncoiled from about his arm.
