Epilogue
Well, I was being sent to Hell. Jonah, apparently, was not. I sat next to him on the edge of the bed, my hands shaking as I held the scroll. I had already read it more times than I could count, and yet the words still wouldn’t sink in.
The Legion of the Angels, upon recognizing the talent and skill of Mission Team One, hereby assigns the members thereof, a most important duty. Several months ago, a contingent of Angels was sent out on a highly secretive mission. They never returned, and intelligence tells us that they may have been captured by Dark Angels. It is the new assignment of Mission Team One to find our missing Angels, and should they still be alive, bring them back to High Command. You will be supplied with extra weapons. A briefing session with Prince Michael will be held this afternoon. This is a mission that will be extensive and intense, and it will require the top warriors in our ranks.
Please note that the members of Mission Team One shall be altered. By the command of Prince Michael, Hannah shall be replaced by Nathaniel due to injury. Jonah shall be replaced by Hasmal.
“What?” I whispered, thinking that I had probably already done so. It was enough of a shock to know that we were going to fight Dark Angels, but it was even more surprising to see that Jonah wasn’t assigned to join us.
He stood up and pulled on his clothes, covering up the magnificent form of his naked body so that he could pace across the room. His eyebrows were lowered, tense, and his shoulders stiff. “I should have known.”
“Known what? Explain it to me.” Jonah had been a fantastic warrior when we had obliterated the Elders of Alabaster. He had fought his way through those maze-like tunnels and made valiant efforts to keep the vampire forces at bay until backup arrived. There was no reason that he shouldn’t be assigned to this mission. It made no sense.
Jonah stopped in front of the window, his fists on the frame and his shoulder blades twitching as though he was fighting to keep his wings inside. “It’s my father’s doing.”
“Why wouldn’t he want you to go?” I demanded. I stood, but I stopped myself from going to him. His anger was a palpable halo around him, and there was nothing I was going to be able to do to make it better. “If we’re successful on this mission—no, when we’re successful on this mission—it’s going to be one for the history scrolls. Wouldn’t he want you to be a part of that, to make a name for yourself just as he’s done?”
He shook his head, his expression one of sadness, mixed with irritation. “You would think so, but clearly that’s not in his plan.”
“Have you talked to him about it?” I had to admit that I wasn’t always the first person to listen to reason and offer to talk something out. I usually dove in sword-first and asked questions later. But this was Jonah’s father. Surely, he would understand that his son would want to join this mission.
Jonah shook his head again. “I don’t have to. He spoke to me, as the scroll was delivered. You forget that Michael can get through any psychic barriers he wants to, and he doesn’t exactly leave any room for discussion.”
I stared at him for a moment, letting that information sink in. “What did he say?” Getting the information out of Jonah was starting to feel like pulling teeth, but I knew it wasn’t easy for him, either.
He turned and loosely took my hands in his, keeping his eyes focused on our entwined fingers. “Going to Hell is a big deal for any Angel. But my father says that the Dark Angels would immediately know who I was, and that they would work all the harder to go after me.”
“But you’re an excellent fighter. Who cares if they know who you are? You’ll just slay them and move on.” I sounded desperate, and I didn’t care. I couldn’t imagine going to Hell without him. I was at my best when he was at my side, and there was no telling what might happen if he wasn’t there with me.
“Things are different down there, and he says that it’s too dangerous.” He looked up, into my eyes, the steel irises glinting like the daggers we had received the night before. “But I’m going anyway.”
I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my cheeks. I shouldn’t have been encouraging him to do such a thing, not when the Prince of Angels had just told him otherwise, but it sent a certain thrill through my core that made me feel light and confident. “You shouldn’t,” I said despite the way my cheeks pulled back as though tied to strings. “It would be wonderful, but you can’t disobey your father.”
“I can and I will,” he replied, his expression somber. “Rumor, I love you, and there’s no way you’re heading out on a mission like this without me by your side.” He pulled me into his arms. “I don’t care what happens. I’m coming with you.”
“But I won’t be alone,” I argued. I wanted him to join me, of course, but I didn’t want him to suffer the consequences. Losing his standing in the Legion of Angels would affect his future, and bring added strain to his relationship with his father. “Trinity and Oriel with be there, and Hasmal, as well as many others.”
“It’s not the same, Rumor, and you know it. I want to be there with you, fighting by your side.”
“What’s going to happen to you if you disobey?” I asked. “Even if we’re successful, what happens when we get back? Is your father going to banish you from the Legion? He can’t really do that, can he?”
Jonah shrugged. “Of course, he can kick me out, and I don’t doubt that he will. But that doesn’t matter to me. I’m happy to go back to regular, day-to-day demon slaying if it means I get to be with you.”
My heart had been slowly swelling inside my chest. I had admitted to myself and to Jonah that I had feelings for him, and then everything had culminated into an unforgettable night of intense passion. Up until I had read that scroll, I had high hopes for a future together. Now, my heart threatened to crumble into a thousand pieces. I couldn’t let this happen. No matter how much I wanted to be with Jonah, I couldn’t let him sacrifice everything he had worked so hard for just for me.
“No,” I said, straining to keep my voice calm. “You can’t do this, and you aren’t going to.”
“Rumor—”
“Don’t argue with me about this.” I placed my hands on his cheeks. His skin was rough with the stubble that had grown overnight, and it glistened in the morning sunlight. He was so beautiful, and I didn’t want to let him go. But I knew what I had to do. “You’re not going on that mission. You can’t disobey your father. I won’t let you.”
“Let me?” He cocked an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk.
I turned from him and began gathering my things, slipping my clothes back on and running my fingers through my hair to work out the tangles.
“You can’t stop me, Rumor.”
Keeping my back to him so he wouldn’t see the lie on my face, I took a deep breath. “I don’t want you to come.”
“You don’t mean that.” His hand touched my shoulder, reaching out to pull me back to him. It would have been so easy to give in, to seek comfort in his strong embrace, to let him tell me that everything was going to be all right, and that we would never leave each other’s side again. But if I did that, if I gave in to my own selfish desires, I knew he could lose everything.
I shook my shoulder free from his grasp. “I do mean that. I’ll be a better fighter without you there. I don’t need the distraction when I’m facing an enemy as dangerous as a Dark Angel. I need to be focused, and I won’t be if you’re there with me.” There was nothing left to do but turn toward the door, but to do that I had to face him.
Jonah’s eyes were filled with pain, as they searched my face, trying to make sense of my words. He could have simply broken through my psychic shield—I knew it couldn’t withstand his efforts for long, if he tried—but he didn’t, clearly wanting me to explain, to make him understand. I knew that was impossible because there was nothing more I wanted than for him to join me, to stand and fight by my side.
“What did I do wrong?” he whispered. “Why are you being like this?”
I firmed my chin and shot him a look that let him know I was serious. If I let that stony expression slip for just a second, I knew it would be replaced by tears. I needed Jonah to believe that this was what I wanted, even if it was the furthest thing from the truth. “You did nothing wrong, Jonah…but this, it just isn’t going to work. It’s not our time. Not now. Not here.”
I swept out of the cottage before he could say another word, my heart aching. I truly loved Jonah, more than I had ever loved anyone else, and it destroyed me to hurt him, but I knew I had to do it. I had to put what was best for him above my own desires.
My feet suddenly felt as heavy as my heart, as I made my way back to my cottage. The ground blurred as I kept my head down, watching the path through teary eyes. Even the bright, glittering beauty of High Command couldn’t shake the darkness that now surrounded me and took up residence in my heart.
I was leaving Jonah behind, and I knew that the Hell I was about to discover on my next mission would pale in comparison to the hell in my heart at the thought of leaving him behind.
* * *
Never had I wished to see Ember more than I did that morning, but she was still off on her mission and wasn’t due to return to High Command for a few days. I’d be long gone by then, battling the darkest forces of the Underworld. I hoped she was doing well, and that she would be here when I returned. I missed her so much.
With a heavy heart, I made my way toward the center of the city to find out more about our next mission. My usual excitement had been replaced with the sharp ache of sadness that wrapped itself around me, cocooning me in a blanket of self-pity.
I was in love with him, but it was more than that. He inspired me to be the best slayer I could possibly be. He was my equal, someone I trusted would always have my back. He was my friend.
I shook myself free from my melancholy as the golden tower came into view, and beside it, Oriel, Hasmal and Trinity waited patiently. They watched me warily as I approached and I could see from their pained expressions that they had heard the news and felt terrible for Jonah.
“I’m so sorry that Jonah won’t be joining us,” Oriel said, a frown on his face. “He’s one of the finest warriors I’ve ever had the pleasure to fight alongside.”
“He’ll come on the next mission,” Hasmal added, reaching out to squeeze my arm. “And it’ll be epic.”
“More epic than going to Hell to rescue Angels and slay the darkest demons?” I replied, and immediately wish I hadn’t. Hasmal was trying to show his support, and where I should have felt appreciation, I found only resentment that he was the one replacing Jonah. It wasn’t his call, of course, but it didn’t make it any easier.
The rest of the group finally arrived, a mixture of familiar faces and ones I didn’t recognize. It was then that I realized there were multiple teams being assigned to this mission. It made sense, with a mission of this magnitude, but for some reason I wasn’t prepared to meet so many new people. My heart was splintered, and I knew I had to pull myself together before we departed on what could be the greatest mission of our lives.
There were lives on the line, and I couldn’t let my own heartache stand in the way of success.
Michael finally arrived, opening the door to the golden tower and beckoning us to follow him inside. We moved into the large, gleaming space where a table had been set up in the middle of the room, its wooden surface sanded to a glasslike finish, with a trim of shining gold. He gestured for us to take a seat, but he remained standing in front of us, one hand on the hilt of his sword, the other floating in the air as he spoke.
“Hell is unlike any other place you have ever seen, or will ever see again in your lifetime,” he began. “I know that this is a lot to ask of you, but I have faith that you will be successful.”
His golden armor gleamed brightly in the sunlight that floated through the windows of the tower, a striking contrast to the somber tone of his words. “Some of our very own have been taken…likely enslaved in the depths of Hell. We must find them and bring them home.”
The words that tumbled from his lips sent a sharp pain through my chest, raking across my heart, and threatening to pull me into a haunted garden of memories.
Enslaved in the depths of Hell.
The memory of the witch-demon’s cruel and taunting words came rushing back. I felt sick to my stomach, my head was dizzy and my breathing suddenly turned shallow. I tried to steady myself, to hide the shock on my face, and to stop the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks.
If Michael, or my team sensed my reaction they didn’t show it, and as Michael’s thunderous voice continued to explain what our mission involved, I fought to come back to the present, to free myself of the dark thoughts that had quickly invaded the corners of my mind, of the idea that my parents could have been taken as slaves so many years ago.
His voice returned to me, and I clenched my jaw and bit down on my back teeth to focus.
“Hell is a place of deceit and lies. The halls of darkness will attempt to trick you, to use your own hopes and dreams against you, as well as your pain. You must stay strong and focused when you wander into the depths of the Underworld, and always remember who you are and why I have sent you.”
“Are we to use the portals?” Oriel asked quietly. Everyone, but me, looked at him in confusion.
Michael nodded. “Yes. I will summon the dark portal when the time comes.”
Oriel, who was almost never anything but calm and purposeful, suddenly looked uncomfortable. He scratched his head thoughtfully, then nodded.
I wasn’t surprised by Oriel’s reaction as I thought back to a conversation I had with my father when I was only a young girl. He told me about the dark portals, explaining how dangerous they were, because if the portal remained open for too long, the darkness could invade, bringing with it the most terrifying evil in existence. I shuddered at the memory.
When the meeting was over, I left the golden tower, walking aimlessly down the path. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted, and far too twisted up inside to even think about rest. I knew that it was for the best that Jonah stay behind as his father had ordered, but my heart refused to agree.
A hand on my arm stopped me, and I turned around with hope in my heart. I needed so badly to see Jonah and apologize to him, or to see Ember one more time before I left. But it was Oriel, his eyes full of sympathy.
“I just want you to know that excluding Jonah from this mission wasn’t my choice,” he said quietly, falling in step alongside me. “I know how important he is, not just to you, but to our team. It won’t be the same without him.”
Tears choked my words and I simply nodded. I didn’t just want Jonah by my side, I needed him. It brought me comfort to know that Oriel understood that.
“Thank you,” I replied. I didn’t even try to fake a smile. My heart just wasn’t into it right now, and I knew that Oriel would see right through it anyway. Instead, I squeezed his arm affectionately, and then slowly made my way back to my room.
The sun was setting when I finally curled up into bed, tears spilling over my pillow like an endless river that refused to run dry. I pulled the blankets over my head, wishing for darkness, so I could be relieved of this heartache through slumber, if for only a few hours.
When sleep finally took me, I dreamt of desolation and heartache. Even in my deepest dreams, I could not escape the anguish I felt at having to say goodbye to Jonah.
* * *
I woke up to the immediate sadness at the thought of leaving this place, and Jonah, in just a few short hours. Staying in bed, tucked under my fortress of blankets wouldn’t stop the day from moving forward, and so I swung my feet over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching and rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Nothing I could do would prepare me for the journey ahead, and the troubled thoughts that had plagued my mind since the revelation that Angels were enslaved by the darkness. What I had so badly wanted to believe was just a lie spewed from the lips of a hateful creature back on Earth, had become a reality.
I wasn’t sure I was ready for this mission, but I knew that I could not refuse orders and that I had to have faith in myself, and my abilities. If the Prince of Angels believed me capable of destroying the Dark Angels of the Underworld, I had to believe he knew what he was doing.
Still, questions burned in my mind that I knew would go unanswered until I ventured into the shadowy world below, and faced the darkness around me, and within my mind.
I walked over to my closet, pulling on a black tank top and jeans. I laced up my combat boots and wove my hair into a tight red braid. With my sword on one side and my dagger on the other, I was ready to go.
As I made my way toward the center of the city once again, I was swept up in a crowd of Angels. It was clear they were all headed to the same place, eager to see us off. Those who recognized me smiled with respect, and I couldn’t help but feel proud that I had been assigned to such an important mission, as terrifying as it would be.
When I finally reached my destination, it took me some time to get through the wave of bodies as I moved to the front, where my team had already gathered. Michael waited patiently, his expression a serious one, but the lines of his face softened when he saw me enter the area as he smiled warmly.
I stood next to my team, my stomach a cage of butterflies that flapped their wings wildly, wanting to escape. I could tell that Trinity was nervous by the way she chewed her bottom lip, so I reached out and squeezed her arm gently. She took a deep breath, and when she looked at me her eyes were filled with appreciation.
Suddenly, I felt more confident about this mission than I ever had. This was my team, a strong, unified group of skilled slayers, who had experience and determination behind us.
We were going to survive this mission. We were going to defeat the Dark Angels and return to safety.
I scanned the crowd for Jonah’s face, hoping in my heart of hearts that he would be there to say goodbye. I saw Hannah standing off to the right and when our eyes met, she smiled.
Jonah, however, was nowhere in sight and my heart dropped. Surely, he would want to see me before I left on such a dangerous mission?
The crowd suddenly shifted, moving to surround us, our comrades watching with anticipation at what was about to take place. I suddenly felt the urge to lay a hand on the hilt of my sword, to double-check that it was there. My chest heaved, and I struggled to calm my nerves and stay focused.
The Prince of Angels stood tall and grim, his eyes neutral as he, too, surveyed the crowd. I wondered if he was looking for Jonah as well. Had he asked his son to show up and support his decision? But I hadn’t seen Jonah since I’d left him at his cottage, and I had the feeling that Michael hadn’t either. The crowd grew silent and tense, waiting.
“As you all know,” Michael began, his booming voice spreading out over the crowd, “This team is about to embark on a very important mission. I ask that you all keep them in your prayers until their safe return.” He turned to us, his long hair blowing slightly in the morning breeze and his eyes steely. “Please know that my thoughts will be with you, and God is always by your side.”
There was no chance for us to acknowledge his words, or to ask questions. The time for discussion was long over. He raised his arms, a thick staff in his left hand, and began muttering words that I couldn’t understand.
It was always sunny and brilliant at High Command, but thunderclouds suddenly rolled in and converged over the plaza, painting everything in gray strokes. The clouds swirled above us, crashing into each other, until they began moving, faster and faster A vortex, like that of a tornado, hit the ground at the Prince’s feet. He continued to manipulate it, his expression solemn as he worked, moving his hands and his staff, continuing to move his lips. The vortex shifted and we could see the dark portal. Every fear and despair seemed to be spinning around the edges of the vortex, its center nothing but blackness.
Oriel stepped up first. He tipped his head to Michael before stepping into the portal. He disappeared in an instant, as though the whirlwind had snapped him right up. I pressed my lips together to keep from gasping.
Trinity’s braids flapped in the wind created by the vortex. She turned and gave me a half-smile as she began her journey to Hell. She blinked against the stormy winds and was gone.
I swore I could see Hasmal’s long legs shaking as he, too, stepped past Michael and stood before the vortex. His red hair was as tempestuous as the clouds, but only for a moment as he lifted his foot and stepped away from High Command.
One by one, the other Angels assigned to the mission, stepped into the dark portal, and one by one, they disappeared into the darkness.
It was finally my turn. A few Angels waited behind me for it to be their turn to step through the doorway to darkness. My heart had never beat so wildly in my chest as I peered into the darkness ahead, and the mass of gray that beckoned me into the Underworld. I knew this was my destiny—I had fought so long and hard for this very moment. Yet, something held me back.
Keeping his hands raised to control the vortex, Michael’s eyes turned to rest on me. He remained silent, unquestioning. He didn’t have to say a word. I knew we were both thinking the same thing.
I walked past him and stood in front of the portal, watching the swirling darkness that was a deep contrast to the magnificent buildings surrounding us. When I returned to High Command, I knew I would appreciate the beauty much more than ever before. I lifted my foot, watching the ends of my laces whip against the leather of my boots as I started to step inside.
A stirring at the back of the crowd stopped me and I turned abruptly, my eyes wide, my heart leaping in my throat.
“Rumor!”
The disturbance at the back of the crowd grew closer, but I couldn’t see anything beyond the mass of bodies. I didn’t have to. My heart recognized the voice, and my soul knew his presence even before he was visible, pushing his way through the crowd.
The audience parted, and there he was, rushing toward me. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his expression told me that there would be no discussion about what he was about to do. The remaining Angels stepped around me, each taking a step out of the light and into the darkness.
“You aren’t going without me,” Jonah said firmly as he came to stand in front of me. He took my hands, his steely eyes reflecting the swirling clouds of the portal behind me. “I don’t care what you say. I don’t care what happens. I won’t let you do this alone.”
“Jonah,” I whispered. “You’re here.” The relief of having him by my side brought a rush of emotion to the surface and the sting of tears to my eyes.
“Of course, I’m here. I told you before, I’m not leaving you. Not now, not ever.” He pulled me into his arms, and brought his mouth down on mine, punishing me with the force of the kiss—a kiss that spoke to the crowd, and to his father, symbolizing his commitment to me. “I know you can do this without me, Rumor, but I don’t want you to. You’re more important to me than anything, anything, and I’m not leaving your side.” Then he smiled, the sexy grin that sent a rush of fire down my back. I looked around and realized I was the only team member left on this side of the portal.
Slowly, Jonah released me, and turned to face his father. Michael’s face was frightening, a mask of anger and stony resolve. His eyes shifted between the two of us, measuring us, calculating. I waited with my heart in my throat. Michael could cast me through the portal and close it before Jonah had a chance to get a foot inside it. He was taking a great risk by coming here, the kind of risk I hadn’t wanted him to take, and yet I was so happy to have him at my side.
It was the smallest movement, a gesture so subtle that I doubted anyone else noticed it. Michael tipped his head toward the vortex, the corner of his lip curling. We didn’t need a formal proclamation or an official mission document to understand its meaning.
I turned to face the portal once again, and Jonah was at my side. He took my hand, the heat of his touch a relief against the cold winds of the vortex.
He caught my eye and smiled. “I’m going to hell and back for you, baby.”
I laughed, shaking my head. Fighting Dark Angels down in Hell was going to be difficult, but I could do anything if Jonah was at my side.
With our hands and hearts entwined, we stepped into the portal.
The End…for now.
* * *