Page 87 of Destined for Eternity
Chapter 29
Bartol
The compound bustled with activity, making Bartol wish he could be anyplace else. Seven archangels had arrived that morning to begin preparations—including Remiel, Jeriel, and Raguel—and about another dozen lesser angels had joined them to assist. In addition to that, a handful of nephilim had been called upon to provide perimeter security. Never before had the two races worked together as closely as they were that day, but everyone could agree they needed to put up a good show of force for when Hell’s representatives arrived. They’d gone over the plans for the timetable, defenses, and negotiations, drilling the details into everyone’s heads until everyone knew their part.
Bartol and Lucas stood at the compound gate, ready to check visitors as they arrived. New protections had been placed around the perimeter fence to stop anyone—regardless of their race or power level—from entering. The destroyed chain-link fence had been replaced with a high stone wall that rose fifteen feet in the air, preventing anyone from easily climbing it or viewing the inside. Remiel was with them as well. When visitors arrived, he would lower the magical shield after Bartol and Lucas searched for weapons.
“They’re here,” Raguel called out, barely visible at a bend in the road. It was his job to oversee the demons’ arrival from the portal they’d opened nearby and see that they came straight to the compound.
Bartol and Lucas glanced at each other, both stiffening. This was the moment of truth. How the demons behaved upon their entrance would likely reflect how the rest of their day would go. Would they choose to start another war, or did they really want a place on Earth? No one knew for certain. One thing was clear, though—darkness had begun spreading across the land, dulling the landscape and clouding the sky. The minions of Hell were numerous and powerful enough that they affected everything near them.
Tremors ran under Bartol’s feet. He frowned at the ground, then looked up. Just beyond the bend, dark shapes started to appear. Every instinct told him to pull his sword and run toward them, slashing at the demonic figures. They’d come in their true forms, not needing human hosts now that they were no longer bound to the old treaty. The creatures came in all shapes and sizes with some as large as elephants and just as heavy. They had black skin, red skin, horns, razor-sharp teeth, fangs, and the list went on with all the different features Bartol witnessed.
Each one stopped to be checked for weapons. He had to inspect one that looked like a satyr except it had tusks on its face as well as horns on its head. The creature made grunting noises as Bartol performed the fastest search possible of its body. Since it had no clothes on, there weren’t many hiding places. He waved the satyr-like demon onward after finishing.
It went on from there with only a few of Hell’s minions appearing anything like a human. Most had at least a few features comparable to animals or fables passed down through history. Lucas had been to Hell before and performed his job without showing any emotion. Bartol had a more difficult time. He couldn’t help feeling disgust and a need for a shower, but he got through the inspections as best he could, only getting jabbed once by something that looked like a human porcupine.
By the time the procession of demons ended, he’d counted twenty-five total—the exact number agreed upon for the meeting. At the end of the line, Raguel and Remiel followed them through the gate. The guests headed for the gymnasium since it was the largest building in the compound that could hold everyone. After finishing with Kerbasi a couple of days before, they’d worked to convert it into a proper meeting place.
Lucas and Bartol pulled the gate shut, and Remiel sealed it with a spell. No one could get in or out without the archangel’s assistance. He’d be going inside to head the negotiations, ensuring everyone stayed there. Well, except one person who could technically escape anytime she wanted.
“We’ve got this,” Melena said, walking up from the gym to join them with Micah following closely behind. The sensor had donned black cargo pants, a tank top, and combat boots for the occasion. Numerous weapons were strapped to her body as well. She was one of the few authorized to have pistols and knives since she had no offensive magical powers. “You guys can go.”
She and Micah would act as guards with Lucas during the meeting. They’d chosen to have Melena there as the one person present who could nullify demon magic if necessary. The sensor had been in Hell before and fought many demons, so she was the most experienced for the job within her race. Lucas and Micah had been with her for that excursion, making the three a good team.
“Do not get hurt or shed any blood,” Bartol warned the sensor. “We need the shield to stay up.”
Melena rolled her eyes. “With the spells they have on this place, it would take half my blood to nullify the protection spells on the wall alone, never mind the shield. Don’t worry. I won’t be a liability.”
That was the only problem with allowing her to be there, and why there weren’t more sensors present. The demons could use them to take down any magic spells. Lucas and Micah would both remain at the gate as well to ensure that didn’t happen, but at least this way Melena would be present should they need any magic nullified right away. They could strip the demons of weapons but not their powers.
“Let’s go, son,” Raguel said, gesturing toward the gymnasium.
Bartol nodded at the three gate guards, then he and his father followed Remiel inside. When they entered the gymnasium, they found it crowded with a mix of demons and angels. Bartol took it all in, the various power vibes grating at his skin. He might not be a sensor, but he could still feel differences between certain races, particularly when it came to Hell’s minions. Raguel’s hard gaze ran across the room, not appearing much more comfortable with so many of their enemy present. Remiel had disappeared into a side room just off the entrance.
There were two lines of tables set across from each other with chairs of various sizes and shapes to accommodate the guests. No one had taken their seats yet. Each place had a placard, letting demons and angels know where they should station themselves. For now, they stood opposite of each other in the room. The angels murmured amongst themselves, stiff and reserved. The demons were being loud and boisterous on their side. Two of them were wrestling on the floor, and a third let out a string of loud belching noises.
Bartol was not looking forward to how this would go at all.
“Where’s the food?” one of the demons shouted. It looked similar to a troll, except taller with burnt-orange skin and black hair.
Remiel stepped into the middle of the room, having changed into a gleaming white robe. This one had golden lining at the sleeves and collar. “Refreshments will be served after we’ve concluded treaty negotiations.”
“After?” the demon growled. “We ain’t talking ‘bout nothing ‘til we have food in our bellies.”
“That is not…” Remiel began.
“Excuse my associate,” a cultured voice said from somewhere in the crowd.
The demons stepped aside, opening their ranks for a tall man to make his way toward the archangel. He wore a dark blue suit that fit his large frame perfectly. His hair was dark, and he donned a neatly trimmed goatee. If not for the waves of power and evil, as well as the pitch-black eyes, Bartol wouldn’t have guessed he was a demon. There was just something different about him.
“It can’t behimleading this,” Raguel said under his breath.
Bartol glanced at his father. “What?”
“That is Samael.”
“Who?” Bartol needed to study the demon hierarchy if he was to continue hunting them.
