When the footsteps are heard and loud voices occur the old man quickly returns to his table. Nameed shields Alex, protecting him from what is coming.
They are not demons, but humans. Soldiers rush in and Alex is forced to watch as the man is struck down and his blood splatters the floor. The soldiers take the pen he was working on and the tea set and set fire to the small workroom before leaving, laughing at the mess they made.
Nameed releases his hold on Alex.
“Why didn’t you let me help? We could have saved…” Alex’s voice fades out when the first glow appears.
The old man stands young once more. He smiles at Alex and nods his head at Nameed before turning towards the bright light. From inside the glow, voices call and he runs into the arms of his family.
Alex turns away feeling ashamed for a moment. He envy’s this man, his family waits. What would he give to meet his Father, Mother and brother? He should not question God’s plan. He knows better, but the pain is always with him like a wound that will not heal.
“There is no shame in being human, Alex. Angels know that every breath you take is measured, by a loving hand. Every moment of your life is a gift. Your family will be waiting for you, one day. This I promise you.”
Chapter 30
The sun has set and darkness arrives, bringing with it a silence among the streets. The fish markets are still as Jake, Makaio, and Lao hurry towards the docks using the cover of alleys and doorways to conceal their movements.
In the distance they see flashes of bright light with the sounds of low thundering reports. A scent floats on the air, catching Jakes attention. The trio pauses when they realize it is smoke. Fire!
They begin to run and when the docks come into view, they skid to a halt.
The regal ships that had once greeted the dawn, now stand covered in demons, fire and death. The creatures creep across every inch of the ships and docks.
The humans crawl along, screaming silent screams as their souls are leached from them. Some of the stronger dock workers try to fight with the unseen enemies by swinging makeshift clubs and short work knives, but they are powerless against such evil.
Jake sees Elina standing on the top deck of a huge black and red ship, fighting back to back with Malach. They face monsters on every side and calmly fight as if one being. Fluid in their motions like a choreographed dance, where one motion ends the other begins it again. They are beautiful to watch as they fight in tandem. The demons attacking cannot find a gap to strike them.
Malach’s great sword is covered with the blood of innumerous beings. The demons are struck so fast they do not realize they are dead until falling over, cleaved in two. Elina is no less efficient at dispatching the foes in front of her. The difference is when she strikes with her obsidian sword, it burns in a bright arcing flash.
She yells to Malach, “In coming,” and ducks. Malach immediately stretches his wings out over them to protect them from a dark energy blast one of the demons has shot at them. With a loud boom and a flash of pure blackness, the explosion rolls over them.
Sensing an opening, the horde rushes at the Keeper and the Archangel trying to overrun them. Instead, the closest ones are met with the powerful edges of Malach’s wings as he sweeps them open and Elina bursts forth carving into the mass of muscle and bone.
A great rippling wave from her powerful swing and she ends the existence of the line of demons facing her.
Malach wades into the fray again using his fists as well. With every strike an unfortunate creature falls over the railing screaming in agony. Those are the lucky ones that are still alive. Most he hammers to the deck with a crunch of bone and gristle. The blood of the fallen covers the once beautiful wooden planking of the ship.
Jake, Makaio and Loe have made an entrance of their own as they have fought their way down the pier towards the ship that Elina and Malach are on. The trail of broken and burning bodies lingers behind them. They are within striking distance of the gangplank to the ship when Jake feels a tremor through the old wood of the pier beneath his feet. He stops moving and looks at Makaio.
“What was that?” Jake asks.
Loe is already looking around to locate the source, “I have no idea, but it is big!”
Makaio is looking towards the city when he sees a flash of bright light and the ground vibrates once more. “I think it would be a good idea to put some space between us!” He says pointing down the pier.
Jake looks and sees a being walking slowly toward them. “Mocker,” he murmurs.
The being raises his arms, a bright light fills the sky and the pier begins to hum from the power emanating from him. Every step he takes reverberates through the pier and the ship. With a contemptuous look he slams his hands together, creating a rolling thunderclap and all noise ceases except for the flapping of demonic wings.
Loe begins pulling Jake with him while he quickly reloads his pistol. A glance up to the sky has Jake chilled to the bone. The sky behind the Mocker is thick with an army of demons and fallen angels who follow him.
He looks at Loe, “It looks like you will have the fight you were hoping for!”
Makaio chuckles, “And we were having such a good time.” He swings his shark toothed battle club while rolling his shoulders, preparing for what
