Page 164 of An Unexpected Ascension
Chapter 59
The Demon
Fucking Hell!
How was I supposed to know that Garroway fathered Greygore? How was I supposed to know that the undying beast was destructible only by the God who created him?
My intestines twist with whatever trickery Achaz is bestowing. They squirm and wriggle until they’re knotted and strained. The agony is blinding.
I double over and a part of me wants this to be it. To let go and cease to exist anymore. I would love to move on and never have to endure another ounce of pain again, but how selfish of me would that be? To leave my Angel to the fate I’ve escaped?
With trembling hands, I grip a dagger at my side – the sword along my back just too far to reach – and slam the blade into the ground once... then once more.
The screeching of metal against stone sounds out and I wait for the end. I wait for the Mortifier to spear through Achaz’s head and annihilate him. I wait for the other Gods to retaliate.
Except, none of that happens.
I begin to wonder if Greygore’s tormented cries distracted Briarfrom listening out for the signal. As I peer over at the pile of ashes where he once stood, where Lucifer now stands bewildered and enraged, I tap my blade again.
Nothing...
And then Hell falls over the Heavens. True Hell. Crashing down in Primordilias, eviscerating the utopian world as Ambrose approaches with Briar in hand.
Her eyes are alive with pure terror as they finally meet mine. None of this war is playing out to plan.
“Look who I found, my God.” Ambrose titters. “The one who got away.”
“Ah, what justice!” Achaz grins, pushing himself to stand. “The one who touched my tree and stole our secrets. Tell me, girl, did you think you would get away with it?”
He inches forward, closer to Briar and my guts tighten again. I lurch forward, now on my hands and knees. In this moment, I know what must be done.
Chapter 60
The Angel
The edge of Ambrose’s blade digs into the skin of my neck while his other arm wraps around my waist. There’s a sickness in the way his heartbeat escalates and makes his excitement known.
Lucifer steps forward, placing himself between us and Lynx. He must know what it would do to him to watch me suffer.
“What does it matter to you? She was condemned the moment she touched that tree. Is your ego really that big that you might have done the damning yourself?” The Devil challenges, then brings his gaze to the others, pivoting on his feet. “Do you, Kao, agree with what this God stands for? To eradicate your own people? To let them fall at your feet like nothing but wasted skin and bones?”
The God of Nature stiffens, discomfort clear in the hardened features of his face.
“And you, Amadeus. Do you believe it is just to allow rotten soul after rotten soul into a house that was meant to be pure and free of evil? For a God whose entire purpose revolves around love, you sure do accept the blackest of hate.”
Amadeus scowls but doesn’t dare meet Lucifer’s gaze. No, theshame is written all over his face and in the way his chin dips to his shoulder.
It’s only Garroway that rolls his eyes and scoffs. “Do you forget that we are Gods?”
A bead of sweat rolls down the side of my face and splashes against the blade still held at my neck. The metal slips with how slippery my skin is, and a small sting emanates from the cut.
Lynx fights through shivers of pain while he stumbles to his feet and pushes himself to stand. There, he trembles as he straightens to his fullest height before Achaz. With an unnatural movement, his head snaps towards me. Only, he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at Ambrose.
I watch his Adam’s Apple bob as he swallows, then wince with another bout of pain.
“Save your energy, son.”
“Fuck... You...” He spits between ragged gasps. “My sister?—”
