“So, little brother thinks he can save the great Keeper of the Light? She is mine! I am going to drain her dry, then hang her head from my throne. No one will save her!”
Still watching Alex, he fashions a chord of energy around Elina’s leg then attaches it to his sword belt. With a push of wings, he flies towards the angels fighting his sons. As he nears the group he drops her knowing they will try to save her.
“Live bait!” he laughs releasing her. Elina screams of agony ripples across the battlefield. Through the haze of pain Elina calls for help. Alex and Jake both try to port her away from the Mocker but they are blocked.
“It must be the chord tying her to him!” Jake yells. Alex screams for Malach as he is fighting his way to the other keepers who are being overrun with Nightwalker demons. The creature’s massive claws dig great gouges in the earth leaping at them, only to flash to cinders as they are struck by the holy fire of the Keepers weapons.
“Malach, Malach! He has her! We need help!” Alex calls looking to the sky for the massive dragon. He is nowhere to be seen. Alex pushes his senses out looking for the angel knowing he can help if they can find him.
The roar of the mighty dragon is heard as he attempts to leap to Elina’s aid, only to be drug from the very sky by a writhing mass of demons crawling all over his body.
His wings are held down by great rock creatures while smaller demons, with huge mouths filled with rotting sharp teeth gnash and tear at the beautiful hide.
The dragon is fighting with claws as sharp as swords and a tail that pounds cracks into the earth. With every flick he smashes any creature within his grasp. Great gouts of flame erupt from his mouth burning any close enough to ash and the very air is choked with smoke and fire as everything erupts to flame around them.
“Don’t, let him take her! She is the final part of the book! Do what you must!” Malach sends his thoughts to Jake and Alex.
“What does he mean, do what you must?” Alex asks but he is greeted with nothing but the sounds of the battle and death around him. “Jake?”
A Nightwalker leaps at Jake before he can answer only to fall backward missing most of its head and giving them a moment to breath.
“Alex, think! The tattoos on her skin are the final part. We have to get her into the Ketuwah to complete the covenant.”
“What will happen to her, will she be okay?” Fear for his sister shows on his face and in his voice.
“I, I, I don’t know. We just have to get her there and right now the Mocker has her. We need to move and get her back!” Both of them search the sky for them. Makaio and Loe can be heard fighting behind them holding the demons at bay.
Jake is the first to see him, “There I see him! He is headed to the portal!”
“Got him, how do we get her back?’
Jake pulls his pistol, “Alex, add your power to my shot and I should be able to sever the chord from his waist!”
“Are you crazy? She will fall, Jake!” Jake places a hand over Alex and ports them with a flash to where the Mocker is flying overhead and sends Malach the plan.
“Alex she should be able to port to safety. We don’t really have a choice. This has to work!” Jake yells, praying he is right.
“Jake, you must keep the covenant!” Elina calls to his mind. “There’s not much time!”
With a sick feeling Alex looks up and sees the Mocker laughing and flying with Elina dangling like a fish on a line. Demons beneath leap skyward and fight each other for a piece of the mighty Keeper.
“Okay, let’s do this!” Alex says watching his sister dying before him.
Together they build their power and Jake takes aim. “Aim for his lower spine, maybe we can break his back as a bonus. Together now!”
Malach breaks free just before Jake pulls the trigger and fights his way towards them.
Elina feels the power surge below her and looks down at her brother and Jake. The entire area surrounding them is smoking from the gathered energy. They are illuminated by a deep blue light pulsing from their bodies.
The surrounding demons are unable to break through the shield Alex provides. Her life force is fading. She looks up at her captor and sees he is intent on the battle with his sons and the Archangels. He has yet to notice Jake and Alex.
“Malach? Where are you? There is no time left.” She has to get to the Ketuwah and complete the covenant.
Malach turns distracted by the weakened call and the demons attack him again.
“I need your help, my love,” she reaches out and finds him fighting to free himself as they drag his dragon body back to the earth. His hide is bleeding, his wings are torn but he fights with all of his being, burning and clawing his way into the air.
“Fight Malach, fight! It is time!”
Elina turns back to Alex, and pools all of her power as the Keeper of the Light. All of the gifts given to her by God and the knowledge imparted to her by her mentor. She pushes into one single surge for her brother and she waits for Jake to pull the trigger.
Alex drops the shield and Jake fires. The power released is immense, the sky lights with the passage of the beam. For a single moment they are connected to the Mocker with beams of cyan blue light. The report of the passing bullet rolls a thunderous boom across the village, causing all to
