Page 75 of Wicked Savior
I use the glove to grab the torque and carry it over to the portal. All six of us line up in front of the entrance.
When Lucifer gives the nod, I drop the glove and grip the torque to build upon the power I pulled earlier. I let it roll through me, filling every inch and more. Locking my jaw, I give a short nod to Lucifer.
He opens the portal wide.
Beasts stampede toward the opening, but I push them back and hold them. Five flyers rush in.
Rivan steps to my side and counts out thirty seconds. “Now!”
The five flyers dive, placing the canisters at the edge of the beasts below. One of the beasts catches Zephyra in the leg with its jaws. Lucifer dives down and kills it. The jaws fall open, releasing her, but she’s still on the ground. Daire lands nearby and uses his vampiric speed to get to her and lift her up into his arms. He takes off just as the rest of the horde reaches the area.
“Out,” I whisper, barely able to say the word. My body shakes as I use every last drop of power to keep the beasts at bay.
Rivan eyes the trembling in my hands. “Out now!”
Michael’s angels move toward the opening, swords drawn, to help any who might need it or to fight the beasts who slip from my hold.
The flyers escape one by one.
With one last push of power, I shove the beasts back, and they slam the portal shut.
Rivan catches me when I start to fall. “Feel my power flow through you. Replenish you.” A reddish-orange glow travels from him to me, and my strength returns.
“Thank you,” I tell him, reaching out a hand to pat his arm, but he quickly moves away.
Everything rocks around us and the portal in front of us bulges but holds.
The shadow warrior moves to open the portal.
“Stop,” I order. “There’s a second detonation.”
This one is much quieter.
Lucifer strides over and opens the portal a sliver, then flings it wide to show the rest of us. Beasts lie on the ground for miles and miles. He lays hellfire down to burn them all. It dies a few minutes later. Nothing remains. It’s completely empty of life.
Taking out my knife, I inscribe the portal with a spell to stop anyone from ever using it again.
I look at Michael. “What about me?” Even if I’m banned from here, I can still travel between Viridian and the Underworld. From a distance, I can help the Druids and humans.
He closes his eyes and listens. “You may stay or go, as long as you don’t interfere in the evolution of humans. This is his most successful experiment. Every day we fight to keep other worlds from taking what is ours.”
Michael turns to Lucifer. “Do you think he didn’t know the path you would choose? The choice was yours. He secretly applauded you for it. By taking that path, you took on the role of protector, freeing him and us to fight the constant threats from other species who want to destroy this world. With you here, humans have a chance.”
Lucifer steps up to Michael and bares his teeth. “Remember that when the end comes, because I’ll fight for them all.” His blue eyes swing to Gabriel, anger burning in their depths. “What happens to him?”
“He needs purpose. Something hard and meaningful. It’s past time he learned our true enemy. There are worse things than monsters out there,” Michael says, his eyes reflecting the horrors that await Gabriel.
“Take the last canister,” I urge, uncomfortable with the idea of owing him a favor. “Remember, there are two detonations.”
He flicks a hand, and the angel with the scary eyes picks up the canister and shoots up into the sky at near impossible speeds.
“One day,” he promises Lucifer. He, too, takes to the skies with the other two carrying the wingless Gabriel between them.
ChapterForty
LUCIFER
All this time, I blamed Gabriel for losing my place amongst the angels, but he never ordered me to kill Satan. He only stated that his loss would restore the balance, but I knew what needed to be done. And a part of me wanted to do it. The idea of Satan gaining a foothold over the humans burned in my blood until I could think of nothing but eliminating him.
