I hold my shiny blade out for them to see. Eyes glow red all around me.
Belial challenges the other Dukes to consider returning to heaven, and they argue fiercely among themselves. I watch Father carefully, waiting for the moment I can extract Anna from his grip. He’s loosening his hold as he joins the argument, and has got her only by the wrist now. I’m about to rush the center of the room to make my move when something incredible happens.
The Neph Marek brilliantly pulls something from under the back of his shirt and tosses it to Anna, who snatches it from the air. Father leaps away when he realizes what it is, and I run to Anna’s side as the blade brilliantly bursts to life in her hands. She wields the sword, bathing the room in its celestial glow.
It’s absolutely beautiful. And so is she. My warrior.
Screams and shouts erupt as the Dukes and whisperers knock into each other, clamoring to distance themselves from the Sword of Righteousness.
Belial, Marek, Blake, the twins, Zania, Kopano, and his brothers all join me as we stand behind Anna. The Dukes slink back, looking as if they might piss themselves, and the spirits overhead hiss and stir.
I’m still expecting, hoping, the angels will come at any moment. How will Anna get rid of the demons on her own? The room holds more than a hundred Neph, but I’m certain not all of them will want to fight. Some are too old, or too young. Some of them are loyal to their fathers and will fight against us.
I bloody hate it that I cannot figure out a strategy. It’s beyond me. Anxiousness is threatening to overtake me when something horrendous happens.
It’s Patti. They bring her in through the hidden door I’d noticed. They captured poor Patti and dragged her here, to torture her in front of Anna.
I have witnessed my share of heartbreaking events, but none has affected me like this. When Anna sees her earthly mum, her wail is agonizing to my ears. Patti’s love blooms out from her body when she hears Anna’s voice, and then she’s surrounded by an aura of peace. I’ve always admired this woman, from the day I met her, long before I knew she’d become my mother-in-law. She’s the only woman who’s ever loved me in a purely motherly way.
My eyes burn. She’s been like a mum to me—to all of us.
Anna holds the sword in both hands, moving her weight from foot to foot. Tears stream down her face, and the twins are silently crying. I am dizzy with the horror of it all. I hold my knife, keeping my wrist loose.
Thamuz cuts Patti across the face, but Belial grabs my arm before I can throw my knife. His eyes are pained as he shakes his head. How can he stand there and let this happen? I know it’s some bloody test of faith for Anna, but this is wrong!
I could ignore Belial and kill Thamuz now. I can see Anna wants to leap forward, wants to run to her, but if she gets herself in the thick of the Dukes she will be overpowered, even if she manages to take out one or two before she goes down.
I understand all of this, but I hate it. Two seconds ago we were gaining an upper hand, and now it’s like we’re powerless all over again. They’ve got one of ours for leverage. One of our most beloved.
When Thamuz attacks Patti, stabbing her, I grasp Anna to hold her up. The shrieks from Anna and the twins are the sounds of night terrors. Everything in me feels heavy and hollow.
“Bastards,” I say through gritted teeth.
Thamuz raises the knife again, but I cannot let it happen. This must stop now. Anna mirrors my thoughts: “Stop him, Kai.”
With pleasure.
Thamuz is turned away from us, facing Patti with his arm raised, and I hurl my knife into the back of his thick neck. When his feral spirit heaves itself from its body and comes racing jaggedly toward us, Anna slashes him through. We watch as his spirit evaporates. Disappears. The Dukes back away—watching another from their ranks obliterated seems to stun them. I can see their minds working, though they make no move to fight.
Belial scoops up Patti and brings her to Anna. It’s not good. She’s only human. She can’t heal from this kind of injury on her own. Patti’s eyes move to each of our faces in turn, to say her good-byes. When her eyes meet mine she tries to smile and I’m slammed with angry sorrow. Anna is crying, still clenching the hilt in her hands, and I hold her by the shoulder, wishing I could fix this.
“I’m not scared, honey,” Patti says to Anna. “I’m ready.” We watch, helpless, as she takes her last breath, and her spirit rises gracefully from her body, smaller than an angel, and without wings, but beautiful in its own way. Her guardian angel bows its head over her, gathering her close. It lifts her straight up and out of sight, taking her home. Anna grits her teeth, her face wet and her eyes filled with the shock of loss.
Pandemonium arises as Neph, fed up from years of abuse, stampede toward the Dukes. Other Neph, who’re loyal to their fathers, try to shield them, and the fighting begins.
“Work to disarm them!” Belial shouts.
Belial is right. Several of the Dukes have guns. They have to be dealt with first. I stand in front of Anna with Belial at my side, blocking her from any stray bullets as our allies bear down on the Dukes with weapons.
Fighting back, rebelling, is far more exhilarating than I ever expected. The fear is still there, but when it blends with all the other feelings, the need for revenge, for freedom, it adds to the ripe recklessness within. I grasp this feeling, holding tight.
To the left, Duke Kobal tries to aim at Anna, leaning to the side. I instinctually lean as well, shielding her.
“Get Kobal!” I yell, and point at him.