From Heaven To Earth (The Faith of the Fallen) Read online

  Poison... Two-faced bitch. Shrazz spoke to Riell telepathically, his thoughts broken and fading.

  I can’t let you drain anymore of his energy. I can’t imagine what would happen if I let you, Riell thought back at him.

  No, you will die.

  Shrazz’s right hand pulsed with heat. He threw a fireball from it at Riell, who dodged the poorly thrown attack easily.

  “Stop this!” she yelled at him. “I don’t want to have to do this, Shrazz! Not after Dejanto earlier! Please I beg of you!”

  Shrazz sunk to his knees, and then stood back up. His eyes burned with determination.

  Die.

  Shrazz tossed more fireballs, missed her and set fire to the forest.

  Terror welled up in Riell as the flames spread around her. London burned in its stead. She was frozen: numb from the fire. Shrazz had ignited the fire in London accidentally. He had been her savior then, with nurturing warmth she fell in love with. It had been easy to forgive him for that.

  She snapped out of her reverie and saw him. She could see he was only sadistic now. It had consumed him, and she knew he could now fulfill his dream of being a torch of violence. He could set worlds ablaze: indelibly scarring them and their helpless populations. It was unacceptable.

  “I love you, Shrazz and I always will,” she pulled her drawstring back again, “but I can’t let you bring any harm to anyone else.”

  Riell loosed several more arrows. They struck Shrazz’s head and knocked him backward. Shrazz’s connection with Riell’s mind faded as his body convulsed and lay still. Riell walked over to it and stroked his head.

  She closed her eyes and willed the other shadowpuppet to reveal itself to Verill.

  Her shadowpuppet told Verill that Shrazz was dead and that she would lead him to him to prove it. Riell tried to gauge how much time she had to return to Verill herself as a groan issued from the crater behind Shrazz’s body. She could see the forest’s blaze was spreading. She prayed Feit’s charlatans would put the flames out as she did not have the energy to do so.

  “Gerald, are you alive?!” Riell slid down to him.

  “Yeah, I’m alive. Don’t know how long that will last though...” He coughed and wheezed.

  “Let me help you out of there.” Riell threw Gerald over her shoulder and took him from the crater.

  “Whoa! What the hell is that?!” His eyes were fixed on the body of Shrazz. “That’s not...”

  “Yeah, it’s Shrazz,” Riell said.

  He saw the arrows protruding from Shrazz’s body.

  “Damn, did you take him out?”

  “Yeah he wouldn’t put you down. He was going to kill you, and then he tried to kill me,” she said.

  “Well,” Gerald coughed, his voice hoarse, “thanks for the save...” He passed out.

  “Gerald!” She laid him down and put her ear close to his mouth. “Shit. He’s not breathing.”

  She looked back at Shrazz again and cried. She hated what he had made her do. If Verill had killed him his death would have been honorless. It was best this way. Shrazz would have wanted it to be her.

  She nodded and rubbed her eyes.

  “You always said I was a beautiful fighter,” she said and realized Gerald was still not breathing. She performed CPR on him until she heard heavy footfalls above her. She closed her eyes, moved her consciousness to the shadowpuppet, made it yell Gerald’s name and run ahead and out of sight of Verill. The shadowpuppet slid down into the crater to its master and disappeared before Verill arrived. Riell kept performing CPR. He breathed but did not wake.

  Verill laughed at Shrazz’s dead body, jumped down to it and punched it.

  “He ate bad angel. He beast. I have good angel! Good angel!”

  He laughed.

  Riell notched an arrow into her bow and leveled it at Verill.

  “Put Drean down. Now.”

  Verill turned to her and grunted. “You fire? He die. You die. I? I no die.”

  One of his fingers from his free hand lengthened and stretched into his chest. His chest rippled and his scales and flesh beneath it moved aside: a hole that Riell could see through. His finger poked through the hole and his digit retracted like it was spring loaded. The hole in his chest closed simultaneously.

  At that moment she realized how helpless she really was, un-summoned her bow and threw the quiver in front of her.

  “Kill me now. Just do it.”

  Verill laughed. “No. You ransom for Curtain. You ransom. Or he die. We go. I lead.”

  He walked back into the forest. The charlatans had doused most of the fire.

  “I need to bury Shrazz, and we can’t leave Gerald.”

  “Leave bad angel. He dead. Shrazz dead too.”

  “I have to bury him.” Riell tried not to cry.

  Verill walked past Riell, trilled his lips and covered her face in saliva.

  “I bury. Silly girl.” He watched her, kicked Gerald into the crater and kicked mounds of dirt behind him with his feet.

  “They buried. Go.”

  Riell cursed silently, walked behind him and glanced back at Gerald. He was partially covered by dirt. She could not tell if he was still breathing.

  Drean awoke with a scream and squirmed.

  “Quiet, angel. Quiet or both die. You. Riell. Die.”

  He didn’t stop.

  “Drean, stop he’ll kill us both!” Riell said.

  He stopped moving and looked around frantically like he was lost.

  “We’re in The Park still,” Riell said.

  “He’s, he’s here,” Drean said.

  “Who?”

  “The one who killed God.”

  Verill stopped and turned around. “God dead? God-killer here? Where, angel?”

  He set Drean down. He pointed at the crater.

  “Stay here. You leave? I know!” Verill ran to the crater and his excited shouts of “God-killer” filled The Park.

  “He’s going to get himself killed,” Drean said.

  “Good. We need to get Gerald and get out of here if what you said is true. I’m too weak to fight. How are you feeling?”

  “Not well enough to fight. That poison sapped my strength from me. Let’s try to save Gerald while Verill is distracted.”

  They crept closer to the crater. Riell flew up into a tree to get a better look and pulled Drean up with her.

  “No talking or thinking now. I feel him.”

  Riell nodded.

  Drean pointed in the direction of Shrazz’s grave. Park lights blinked out one by one in that area. Verill’s head became a mass of eyes. He walked past the crater to investigate the forest beyond.

  The temperature dropped drastically. Riell and Drean shivered in silence and peered into the shadows.

  Whispers and moans came from the forest. Drean jerked his head around to see if it was Riell, but she looked as confused as he did. As the whispering grew closer they could see dim white lights drifting from the forest.

  Riell glanced at Drean with alarmed eyes. Drean motioned for her to stay calm. He was able to see what the light came from. He tapped Riell on the shoulder and mouthed out:

  The dead.

  Small globes of light flitted closer and closer until they passed by them and continued to where Dejanto stood. As one passed, a translucent naked man faded into view.

  “The light,” he said, “must go to the light.” He sauntered away and became a globe of light again.

  Drean knew without a doubt that “the light” was the being that killed God. He guessed that the spirits could perceive something inherent of him that he could not. Perhaps it meant a part of God was still alive, an indestructible un-corruptible part of Him, that, or the being was everything God had once been. Drean desired vengeance. Never once had he hated, but his Father’s death had instilled and built it up within him. His muscles shook from the pressure and begged for release.

  Riell touched his arm and looked into his eyes, a reminder that she cared. Drean calmed. If he
gave his position away it would mean danger for her: reason enough for him to put his want aside.

  As the globes passed by, more men, women and children were visible. They were all headed for the crater and gathered at the top of it. Soon a large crowd of spirits attended it.

  “Why are these imbeciles coming to me here?!” The voice of Dejanto could be heard from the inside of the crater. “I am He, I am the Lord! I command you to meld with my spirit in Heaven!”

  “God-killer!”

  Verill’s footfalls neared the crater.

  The whispering ceased, and the globes of light vanished.

  “Back to the task at hand,” he said. “Yes, I know they’re here. You don’t have to tell me.”

  Drean looked at Riell. She shrugged.

  “Focus, Dejanto. Arise, Shrazz. I bind your wounds. Arise!”

  Shrazz’s head exploded out of the ground. He roared and tried to pull himself out.

  “I may be of assistance,” Leoran said.

  Leoran drew Shrazz out of the ground telepathically. The demon hovered in the air caked with dirt. Leoran put him on the ground behind him, away from the crater. Shrazz shook his body violently and flung most of the dirt off.

  “Congratulations on your victory. It has earned you a leash.”

  When he saw Leoran he growled and bared his teeth.

  “No, you will not lay a hand on your master,” Leoran said.

  At the word master Shrazz pounced.

  Leoran raised his hand in the air, palm-facing Shrazz in a halting motion. Shrazz stopped right in front of Leoran, his face inch’s from his.

  “No, beast. I am not the one you want.”

  “I... no beast, Keep.” Shrazz struggled to speak. Animalism had begun to affect his mind.

  “Don’t fight it Shrazz. Embrace that rage you feel inside.”

  “I will not!” Shrazz growled.

  “Perhaps you will recall your true nature after you taste your prey again.” Leoran turned in the direction where Drean and Riell were.

  Drean and Riell’s muscles became rigid, incapable of movement. All they could do was watch. He lifted Gerald into the air, and left him hovering in front of Shrazz.

  “Yes, fools, I know you’re there.” Leoran chuckled. “I know you will enjoy this. Feast Shrazz.”

  At the sight of Gerald flame rose from Shrazz’s eyes. He seized him immediately.

  Gerald woke and struggled, but it was futile.

  Shrazz inhaled deeply and shuddered with delight.

  “Yes, you remember now,” Leoran commented.

  Gerald closed his eyes and slumped over.

  Shrazz’s body shuddered visibly, and he threw Gerald almost disdainfully into the forest right before Verill tackled him.

  Leoran leapt away instinctively and would have killed Verill instantly had he not felt something odd emanate from Shrazz. Shrazz roared loudly and then shrieked. He gripped his head in his claws and doubled over. Verill stood and watched him.

  The demon’s body is reacting to the energy. It looks like he could ascend past that of a lesser divine at this rate. Leoran smiled at this notion. “Don’t fight it. Embrace it!” he said.

  Shrazz’s body doubled in size and knocked Verill over. He scrambled away in fear.

  “Yes!” Leoran jumped far away to watch Shrazz from a safe distance.

  Shrazz doubled in size again and thrashed and moaned. His neck and tail elongated even more so than before. He whipped his tail over Leoran’s head and ripped trees apart behind him. Leoran could not keep his surprise in check as he viewed the destruction. He instinctively took a step away from the beast.

  Oh my God, Riell thought.

  Leoran laughed.

  “My God indeed.” He gaped at Shrazz appreciatively as two enormous wings comprised of a rainbow of feathers grew from tendons on his back.

  Shrazz’s snout shrank into his face and curved into a beak. Two long horns sprang from either side of it. His legs fell away into ash as his body became serpentine. His scales cracked and fell away to give way for new long legs with webbed feet and six wiry arms with massive taloned human hands. He cried out and let forth a geyser of flame into the night sky. Shrazz’s movements were sluggish, and his eyes rolled back into his head. He vomited a sulfuric smelling liquid that hissed when it hit the ground, and he collapsed from exhaustion.

  “Welcome to the ranks of the divine, beast,” Leoran said.

  “He’s a vagaru, a faithwyrm,” Riell said.

  “A what?” Drean stared at Shrazz in wonder.

  “They are shapechangers. Corrupted divines. Abominations,” Riell said.

  “Yes, Riell,” Leoran interrupted. “How ironic. Corrupted by gluttony. You would think he would have been prudent, but it seems he is merely a hypocrite like the rest of you.”

  “Who are you?!” Drean yelled.

  “Leoran,” he answered, turning at Drean’s inquisition. “And you’re Drean. It’s wonderful that we finally get to meet face to face.”

  The archangel that was closest to Lucifer. Drean remembered him. That would make sense. How was he able to remain close to God after the war?

  “Let Dejanto go! He doesn’t want anything to do with you!” he yelled at him.

  “Actually, angel, he’s the one that called out to me,” Leoran said, as he turned back around to watch Shrazz. “I simply accepted his offering and put him in my service,” Leoran said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

  “You lying bastard!” Riell screamed.

  “I am the Father, you little wench.” He didn’t even turn to look at her. “It is impossible for me to be a bastard.” Leoran laughed. “Enough of this.” Leoran walked over to Shrazz and prodded him. “Shrazz awaken. It’s time for us to leave.”

  Shrazz yawned and stretched as a cat would after napping.

  “There doesn’t seem to be a place for me to sit,” Leoran said after he examined Shrazz’s back. “Now don’t move, wyrm. I would not want to conjure this in the wrong spot.”

  Shrazz stood still for him.

  Leoran raised a hand. Tendrils of darkness extended from it and washed over Shrazz’s back, sides and underbelly. It hardened and shaped into a black leather saddle, trimmed in corrupted celestinite. Leoran settled on the saddle and made himself comfortable.

  “Very nice material.” He ran his hand up and down the seat and the pommel. It could use a little more black though. Wouldn’t you say, Drean?” Leoran grinned underneath his helmet.

  “Go to Hell, Leoran.”

  “See you there. If you’re quick enough that is. Fly, Shrazz. Seek out the Faithstream.”

  Verill walked out of the forest muttering. He had been watching the whole time. Leoran stared at him.

  “And who are you?” Leoran asked. “His old nemesis,” Leoran said after looking him over. He dismounted.

  “Kill him, Shrazz.”

  Shrazz roared and attempted to tackle Verill. Verill liquefied and became a massive black scaled snake: twice as long as Shrazz from head to tail. He curled himself around the wyrm, squeezed and wrestled him to the ground. Shrazz immolated himself and incinerated his opponent.

  “I was in your head. You thought all of that out. Leaving yourself open for him to use that specific strategy on you so you could foil it. You’re a brilliant fighter even in this form.”

  Shrazz growled a warning to Leoran: Drean and Riell had snuck to Gerald to pull him out of the crater.

  “I got excited and lost my concentration I suppose.”

  Leoran exerted his will on them once again and they froze where they stood with Gerald on their shoulders.

  He walked over to them, liquid shadow collected in his hand and solidified into a greatsword.

  He pulled his arm back and stabbed Drean.

  Drean watched as the blade liquefied and divided before it impaled him. The sword looked like a twisted black tuning fork. Leoran pulled the sword upright and it became normal.

  I really cannot harm him.
r />   “You know, I think I want to kill Riell in front of you first.” He lifted the sword above his head with both hands to cut her down.

  Shrazz struck him with his tail, jumped at him and held him down. Fingers of his other hands molded into sharp spear points and he battered Leoran’s armor.

  Drean found he could move, drew Riell’s sword before she could say anything and ran for Leoran as fast as he could. Her sword stung his hand, but he gripped it and ran. He was going to kill him, for love of Riell, for the hate of everything Leoran was and what the archangel would be if he did not.

  “Beast! Release me!”

  Shrazz roared in protest but complied.

  Drean roared as he battered him with the blade, leaving dents in Dejanto’s armor.

  You try to hit him, Dejanto.

  Leoran gave control to Dejanto. The black knight struck Drean on the head, and Drean crumpled to the ground. Drean’s consciousness slipped from him, but his love for Riell did not, his hate for Leoran did not. They swelled in his unconsciousness.

  He opened his eyes minutes later.

  He saw Leoran on the other side of the crater with Shrazz. Riell knelt before Shrazz. Drean was too weak to move.

  “Swallow her whole, Shrazz.”

  Drean heard Leoran’s command and saw Shrazz hesitate.

  The angel struggled to stand.

  “Do it, wyrm!” Leoran bellowed. “I command you!”

  Shrazz opened his maw wide.

  “No...” Drean rasped.

  Shrazz dipped his neck down to scoop Riell up with his jaws.

  Drean had to save Riell. He had to.

  His desire and his abhorrence for Leoran swelled in him. As it did, he felt a spark of divinity in him, energy he had not felt since God had taken his wings.

  A howl of despair left Drean’s lips. He felt new vigor and stood.

  Simultaneously, snow white energy exploded from him and screeched though the air for Shrazz and Leoran.

  Shrazz dodged in time. Leoran did not.

  His blast connected with the archangel: the tremendous force of the impact toppled trees and deafened them all.

  Shrazz flew out of the cloud of debris with Leoran on his back. The two of them ascended into the night air.

  Drean focused his emotion as he had before: his hands filled with white flame born of his angelic energy. He hurled the fiery energy as Shrazz flew higher. Shrazz’s arms and legs melded with his body, and he easily avoided Drean’s blasts. They escaped.