Chapter Twenty-Three

I had no idea where I was going, so long as it was safe and away from the people who ruined my normal life.

My bare feet smashed down the wet grass, making wet slapping noises as the rain spewed down from the dark, grumbling clouds. I was completely soaking wet, my cloak flapping behind me as I ran through the grass and closer to the woods that were encased on the school’s property. As soon as I ran past the trees, I felt way safer even if it wasn’t even a mile away from the school. I just felt safer amongst the trees as they towered over me, reaching for the sky that boomed with thunder, almost shaking the planet itself.

I leapt over broken branches and fallen trees, twigs snapping under my feet and puddles splashing up at my knees. I finally slowed down as I came near a cluster of trees that surrounded another fallen tree, like they’d come to mourn the loss at a funeral. I plopped down on the fallen tree, breathing hard and my chest aching. My feet burned and my wrist stung, but other than that…

I felt fantastic.

I was outside.

I felt free here, safer. I finally shut my eyes and tipped my head back to let the rain come down on my face like a shower, only pure and clean. I sighed in bliss, but only lasted so long as I remembered everything that I had run from.

I’d fled school.

I left Asmodeus, Michael, Stephen, Akira, Dustin, and most of all…

Zeke.

He was helping Michael fight Asmodeus and I was out here, trying to run away from it all. A voice in my head scolded me for it, calling me a coward and I cringed, tensing up and clenching my fists on my knees as I sat in the rain. The only sounds around me were the rain drops trickling on the tree leaves, thunder growling in the sky, animals scurrying for cover.

I shouldn’t be here, I realized with a grimace. I shouldn’t have left Zeke, even if I did know that my blood would drive him nuts. I should’ve done something, instead of the small things and running around. This was my fault too. They weren’t the only ones causing this mess.

I finally rose to my feet, taking a deep breath before bolting forward, back toward the school and back to where I was about to kick some serious Satanic ass and it was all going to start with Stephen.

A kick of power flooded through me, making me pause in the middle of the woods, taking a deep breath. I shut my eyes, letting my fingertips tingle with power and my back felt like it was bubbling for a moment before I felt it.

The familiar soft weight of my wings on my back.

Asmodeus was right when he said it didn’t hurt as much when they came out the next time. I barely felt the pinpricks and cuts of the wings springing out freely as they tore holes in my cloak.

I let them unfurl and spread open in the air, collecting the raindrops and greeting the thunder that crackled through the sky. They fluttered and wavered before folding back in behind me. I took a deep breath and started running again, my wings fluttering at the movement. My feet pounded the wet ground, splashing up puddles as I pumped my fists beside me, breathing hard. I could see the school coming into view again and I was about to burst through when I saw someone standing just on the edge of the forest and I wasn’t surprised to see Stephen standing there, smirking greedily at me with blood mingling with rain down his face.

“Hello again, Matthew. What lovely wings you have. I’ll be sure to take a photo of them before I clip them.” He mocked, but I just spat in his direction.

“Bite me, asshole.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” With that, he was darting at me. I took a sharp step back, but ducked down and grabbed the nearest thing to me that happened to be a thick tree branch. I shot back up and swung the branch out, catching Stephen upside the head. He barked in pain, smacking the branch away in time for me to kick him in the stomach. I was surprised to see him fly back several feet and slam into a tree, causing it to tremble and creak. Stephen fumed, scrambling to his feet and baring his fangs.

I darted to the side just as he charged me, whirling around to grab the front of my cloak, but I smacked his hand away and thrust my head forehead, head butting him hard in the head. My ears rang and I winced in pain, withdrawing again as Stephen seethed, grasping at his forehead.

He recovered quickly and grabbed the front of my cloak, jerking me close for a moment before he swung me around and slammed me into a tree. My wings spread out wide, fluttering and furling as pain spread up through my back to my limbs and head. I hissed in pain as Stephen pinned me to the tree, his fangs flashing brightly.

“I’ve had enough of you,” Stephen sneered, rain streaming down his face, “I’m going to fuck you so hard, you’ll be wishing you hadn’t attacked me.”

“You attacked me,” I seethed, “And just so you know, I rather die than be touched by you. You’re fucking revolting and I can’t wait to kill you. How you ever became an angel is beyond me.” Stephen snarled, snapping his fangs in my face and slamming me into the tree again.

“Why don’t you shut up, you fucking parrot? You sound like Michael. Then again, like father like son, huh?” He mused. I glared at him, then knocked his hands off my cloak, instead grabbing the front of his uniform, making him wince.

“I am nothing like Michael. I’m Matthew. Matthew Hamilton. I’m a student at St. Salvatore’s Academy for Boys. I’m failing three of my classes, but I have two best friends that make everything possible. We have plans to go on a road trip to every state we can, see everything we can, and enjoy everything we can and I’m not about to let you of all people come in between what I’ve been dreaming for ever since my parents dropped me off at this damned school.” I sneered, then smacked my palms against his chest and shoved hard.

A bright flash of light pooled around my hands and Stephen’s eyes widened as he went flying, slamming into a tree, but it didn’t stop there. The tree cracked under the pressure and slammed into another tree. Both trees fell in a crumple to the forest floor, making the earth tremble.

I blinked, looking down at my palms, but they seemed perfectly normal. I looked up, frowning as the dust and dirt cleared. I lowered my fists to my sides, walking forward cautiously, my wings fanning out before furling inwards like they were excited they were finally being used. In the sense that Asmodeus was right.

The wings weren’t just meant for flying.

Wings held power and confidence. Something I never really thought I would need until now and it made my blood boil. I neared the trees and found Stephen lying sprawled on the trees, the front of his shirt torn open and his blazer shredded. His chest was severely burned, smoking as his eyes stayed closed.

I couldn’t tell if he was dead or not and I didn’t want to stick around to find out. He was out of it and that was all that mattered now.

I whirled around and bolted back toward the school, emerging from the trees just as a huge blast of thunder exploded through the air. I gasped, stumbling to catch my balance as I grabbed onto a tree for support. I looked at the old wing, watching it shudder under the power that blasted through the air.

It wasn’t just the trembling, but it was something in the air.

A crackling shot of power that spread through the air like a thick, suffocating blanket. I breathed hard as I pushed off the tree, stumbling toward the old wing. I felt my wings shivering and I paused, closing my eyes as I remembered Asmodeus’ method of closing my wings up. I waited until they had vanished into silver dust, scattering everywhere before I ran toward the crawl space. I dropped on my hands and knees in the opening.

“Zeke?!” I yelled, then paused to listen, but no response.

“Dustin? Akira?” Still no answer.

I was getting nervous now. I got to my feet, pushing my wet hair out of my face as I looked around, my eyes landing on one of the boarded up doors to the old wing. I bolted over and began to jerk at the boards. They creaked and groaned, but snapped off a lot easier than I had expected as they were as old as the building itself. I finally got to the door and kicked it open hard, watching the wood snap off and go flying as the door flew open.

I stepped into what looked like a short hallway that led forward into a longer hallway. I walked inside quickly, cringing at the darkness and stuffy old air inside. I didn’t pause to let it bother me further, though. I could hear crashes and booms, which I had previously mistaken as thunder, but the realization hit me as the ground trembled.

The loud booms were coming from the fight below. That was dangerous, I thought with a wince and bolted down the hallway, my eyes searching for the chapel. I felt like I might run forever with how many rooms I passed by that were unfamiliar before I heard clattering from nearby.

I rounded a corner and spotted Cain, Abel, Tobias, Daniel, and Roy standing outside what seemed to be the chapel. Cain spotted me first and snorted hatefully, folding his arms over his chest.

“And just what the fuck are you doing here, angelus?” Cain demanded harshly, ignoring Abel’s mutter for him to shut up. I approached them, but cautiously.

“What’re you all standing out here for? I thought you’d want to save Beelzebub and Asmodeus. At least Dustin and Akira.” I added with a frown. Cain snorted, folding his arms over his chest and looking down his nose at me.

“We only look out for ourselves. Dustin and Akira made their choices to die fighting a couple of worthless demons.” He stated. Tobias nodded in agreement, putting a hand on his hip and glancing at me with a scrunched up nose.

“Cain’s right. Even though we’ve stuck together this long doesn’t mean we’re a team. We only used each other to survive off the curses that Michael gave us before he tossed us out of Paradise.” He explained, his raspy voice dead serious. I glared at them.

“I thought you were all brothers.” I snapped, irritated by their change in attitude. Roy scowled, leaning against the wall near the door to the chapel.

“Brothers don’t always stick together. Just as the first Cain and Abel.” He replied smoothly, shrugging. I looked at Daniel to see his opinion on the situation and he just gave me his usual placid stare.

“Counting on us is the worst mistake you could make,” He spoke at last, his voice calm and smooth like melted chocolate, “We’re good allies, I’ll admit that. We may not seem like it, but we’re as strong as Beelzebub and Lucifer. We could easily kill you right now where you stand, but we choose not to. We are here for ourselves and no one else. It’s one thing you must learn in life. Sometimes you have to be a little selfish.” I glared at him and snapped my head to look at Abel, who grimaced.

“I’m sorry, Matt. Don’t get me wrong. I like you, a lot actually,” Abel admitted with a shrug, making Cain glare at him, “But I’m not going to risk my neck for someone else again. You’re on your own.”

“Fine,” I snapped, glaring at every one of them, “Sit back and hide. I don’t give a shit, but I’m going down there and I’m going to help Zeke because Zeke has done the same for me countless times. So you’re wrong. Not all of you are selfish.” Daniel looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it and shook his head. I scowled and whirled around, throwing open the chapel door just as another blast of power shot through the area.

I stumbled and almost fell over, but managed to keep my balance just barely as I tripped over to the door behind the tapestry of Lucifer. I paused to glare at the thing. Lucifer’s eyes seemed to watch me, as if he were accusing me of not letting him out.

Good.

I didn’t want him out.

I tore the tapestry down, stepping on it purposely to vent before I stepped up to the door, kicking it open hard. It popped off its hinges and clattered off the side of the stairs. I started down the stairs carefully as tremors shook the building. Rocks clattered to the floor, rolling and almost crushing me as they varied in size. I bolted down the hallway, running as fast as I could and trying not to fall as I made my way to the main door that led to the chamber that had been my prison.

I hesitated at the door before grabbing the handle and heaving it open, gritting my teeth against the weight of it. I poked my head inside, then yelped, ducking back as a huge rock crashed into the ground. I winced as a chip of rock shot across my cheek, slicing it open, but I ignored the sting and darted inside, ducking as another rock slammed into the ground. I panted hard before rushing to the alter doorway that was still blocked by a pile of rocks and rubble.

I hesitated, pressing my hands against the rocks before closing my eyes.

Concentrate.

I want the rocks gone. Go away, disappear, explode into dust, something, anything, just get out of my way! A surge of power burned through my veins as my back seemed to bubble and crack. I hissed past clenched teeth, feeling my wings force themselves out, silver dust falling in front of me. The rocks trembled under my hands and crackled to pieces, turning to dust that fluttered to the ground. I looked up to see a pile of rocks just barely supporting a beam over my head.

I had to hurry up and grab Zeke before that broke. I kept that in mind as I darted in just in time to see Zeke go flying past. I winced as he slammed into the rocky ground, breathing hard as blood dribbled from the corners of his mouth. A bruise swelled on his left cheek, angry and purple. His shirt was torn open to reveal his bloody, wounded chest and half his right pant leg was missing. My heart clenched and I turned my head to see Asmodeus there.

Or at least…

What had to be Asmodeus.

The creature still looked somewhat human, but this time, its claws were bigger and its legs were bent and gnarled, looking something along the lines of a raptor’s. Its skin was marbled dark red and black with glowing red pentacles lining down its cheeks. The whites of its eyes were completely gone replaced with pitch black voids drilled into its skull. A long barbed tail curled down from its spine, coiling like a cobra’s.

Not far from the monster was Michael. He was bleeding profusely, a gash etched into the left side of his forehead. His leather jacket was scorched and bloody as were his jeans. His spear lay just a few feet away, smoking.

Asmodeus started for Zeke again, but this time, I wasn’t going to let him attack him.

“Hey, dog breath!” I barked. Asmodeus snarled and whirled to face me, looking surprised to see me before he bared his teeth. Rows and rows of jagged sharp teeth that would make a Great White Shark jealous. His tongue was longer, coiling out to at least two feet before sucking itself back in.

“Quit beating the shit out of them! I’m the one that pisses you off, right? I mean, I killed one of your little henchmen and I keep reminding you of Michael! Michael! Michael!” I repeated his name. Asmodeus screamed, his jaw dislocating to reveal his teeth before he lunged at me, pushing off the ground with his long clawed feet. I gasped and stepped back before throwing my palms up.

Please work.

Please work.

Please work.

I felt something warm on my palms and peeked open my eyes to see the warm light glowing from my hands that shot forward like huge rays of sunlight. Asmodeus snarled like an animal and withdrew, squeezing his eyes shut against the light as he scrambled back by one of the pillars.

The power pulsed through my veins, but it started to hurt. I felt my arms shake and the light faded as I panted hard, taking another step back. I quickly glanced at Zeke, who was struggling to stand up.

“What the hell was that?” He asked me shakily, stumbling over to grab me in his arms. I blinked, surprised by his fierce hug before he let go of me to brush the hair from my face.

“You tell me. I was fighting Stephen outside and that happened and he just… Hell, I don’t even know if he’s dead. One can only hope.” I muttered. Zeke smiled for a split second, then glanced at Michael with a grimace.

“We need help. Asmodeus has gotten stronger since his last chaotic situation. Force isn’t working either. We need to get him unconscious somehow and have Michael set a hibernate spell.” He explained firmly.

“Hibernate? Why can’t you kill him?” I asked, confused. Zeke frowned.

“Asmodeus is one of the oldest demons in history. That also makes him one of the strongest. He’s not known for his battle skills, but he has enough to easily bring us down. Michael’s already been stabbed by Asmodeus’ claws at least three times, so he’s slower with the poison in his system.” He explained.

“Every one has a weakness, though. The poison is Michael’s. What’s Asmodeus’?” I asked desperately, looking at Michael in pain. He looked fragile now as he breathed hard, struggling to get to his feet and snatch up his spear. His legs trembled and he almost fell twice.

“The back of his skull,” He announced, making Zeke and I jump at the sound of his hoarse voice, “Hit the back of his skull as hard as you can. If you can do that, he’ll be felled long enough for me to cast the spell, but you have to move… quickly. I need to get to the Garden of Eden to get rid of the poison.” Zeke and I shared quick looks before nodding. Michael seemed relieved to have the help, but quickly put his guard up as we heard Asmodeus hissing.

He’d moved his position to the ceiling, his tail whipping out at Michael, who blocked with his spear, but slid back a few feet and almost fell. I put my hands up again, holding my breath as I willed the bright light to return. My palms glowed and I noticed that Zeke withdrew, covering his eyes and gritting his teeth in pain.

I only kept the light on long enough to make Asmodeus scream in rage, dropping from the ceiling before lunging at me. I dropped my palms and quickly drew back. I grabbed the nearest thing to me that happened to be a few rocks. I aimed and threw quickly, catching him in the forehead a couple times and making him shriek, snapping his jaws at me.

“Zeke!” I barked once I’d backed up into a wall. Zeke easily recovered from the bright light, looking at Michael, who approached quickly and handed him the spear. Zeke snatched the spear and slammed it into Asmodeus’ back. Asmodeus snarled and whirled to bite Zeke, but Zeke had dodged to the side, still holding onto the spear and using it to get on Asmodeus’ back.

Zeke bared his fangs and sank them into the back of Asmodeus’ neck. Asmodeus howled and thrashed, reaching behind him and struggling to rip Zeke off his back. Michael took his chance and stole the spear out of Asmodeus’ back, giving way to a flow of blood that splattered to the ground. Asmodeus collapsed to his knees, still trying to rip Zeke off his back.

Michael twirled the spear and slammed it into the back of Asmodeus’ tail, making him scream in pain. Zeke immediately withdrew, hissing in pain as he held a hand over his mouth. He stumbled back until he was standing beside me.

Asmodeus panted hard, holding himself up on his hands and knees as Michael started to chant something in Latin, then a language that I didn’t recognize. It was ancient and wise, powerful and secure. Something about it actually sounded familiar near the end, but at the same time, I couldn’t pinpoint the language.

Asmodeus wailed, clasping the sides of his head now. His tail shriveled and burst into dust. His legs cracked and snapped, returning to their normal selves. His teeth slid back, flattening out save for his everlasting fangs. His skin faded in color until it was the usual warm sun kissed shade.

Michael started chanting louder and louder, his voice echoing off the walls. Zeke grimaced and immediately drew me close. I was surprised, but didn’t fight against him, only held him close to myself in return. We watched as Asmodeus slumped to his side, clawing at the ground for a moment before his struggles became only small twitches at his fingertips. His eyes slowly became normal, the irises turning black until he was still on the ground, staring at nothing.

“What did you do?” I managed at last as Michael finished. Michael wobbled a little, sucking in a deep breath.

“Hibernation. Asmodeus will be trapped in sleep until someone wakes him up. The ritual that you stupidly fell into, so don’t go cutting yourself around anyone who wants to wake him up.” He muttered shakily.

“Are you going to be okay?” I asked, concerned as I broke away from Zeke to approach Michael, who just managed a weak smile.

“Perfectly. I must return to the Garden of Eden. You need to seal this room off and not make it easy to come down here, is that understood?” He asked. Zeke and I nodded. Michael sighed in relief and looked around for a moment and that’s when I realized that Beelzebub, Dustin, and Akira were nowhere in sight.

“Where’re Dustin and Akira?” I asked in alarm.

“Beelzebub fled,” Michael informed me, “Dustin and Akira took the crawl space out after I ordered them to evacuate. I must go now. Remember what I said. Watch this place cautiously and watch yourselves cautiously. Asmodeus may be out of commission, but that doesn’t mean the war is over. Just the battle. Lucifer has many more demons he could send to Earth to secure his revenge.”

“Got it. I’ll make sure to never do anything stupid again.” I added with a grunt. Zeke smiled and brushed the hair back from my face. I smiled at him tiredly, then glanced at Michael to see him making a face before closing his eyes and vanishing, leaving behind silver dust from his wings. The room was plunged into silence as Zeke and I looked at Asmodeus one last time.

He just lay there on his side, his eyes staring into nothingness.

And that’s how he was going to stay.

Forever.