Jesse's P.O.V.
This is so not okay. I mean what the actual fuck? Kidnapped by demons? This can't be right. Who the fuck messed this up? What would demons want with me?
I watched them from the spot on the wall they had chained me to. The place was literal hell, hotter than the devil's balls. Sweat gleamed all along my skin, matting my short hair to my forehead. I had just cut it yesterday, thank the shadows. I think I'd die if it were any longer right now.
My face itched as a bead of sweat ran down my nose and onto the clay colored ground beneath me. It sizzled as it hit the ground, evaporating into the air. I strained to hear what the demons were saying, wondering how they even got me down here. Judging by the dead body covered in ancient ruins before me, I'm going to say it was some kind of dark magic.
"You idiot, that's not her mother." I could hear one of them scolding the other in its raspy voice. One that pricked my ears like a million needles.
"It's still her family, he'll still come," the other defended. His voice was just as bad, only it didn't hurt my ears. Instead it sent a prickling sensation down my back, as if I were being lightly scratched by thorns.
"He better, or it'll be your head the boss takes." His voice stabbed my ears again, making me wipe it against my shoulder as if that would help somehow.
"What do you want from me?" I asked them again, hoping maybe they would answer this time.
'Jesse!' Luz scolded me.
'I know, bad idea, Jesse.' I sighed, already knowing she was going to lecture me.
'No shit. We don't want their attention. We need to get the hell out here.' Luz was scared shitless. Who wouldn't be when they're randomly brought to hell surrounded by a handful of powerful demons.
'Was that a pun?' Umbra laughed, taking this lightly as always. Umbra never seemed to take anything too seriously, always joking around. She was the most playful shadow to exist. I guess that's why she's an original. She's powerful and unintimidated by a lot of things.
'No it was not a pun. Will you take this seriously for once? We're in hell, Umbra. HELL!' Luz had grown annoyed with Umbra through the months, to the point I thought they may actually fight inside me. I think she was ready to kill her.
"Quiet!" The demon who's voice hurts my ears, yelled at me, only making me feel like they would bleed. His yelling hurt more than his normal voice.
"Geez, alright. Cranky much?"
What's the matter with me? I'm literally poking at a demon.
"If he doesn't come soon, I'm going to tear her tongue out before we kill her," the demon whose voice prickled my back spoke next.
"If you want me to be quiet you could just answer my question," I shrugged, saying it as if it were the simplest of answers.
I think I have a death wish.
The demon seeth, the orange cracks in its charred skin glowed brighter as its anger rose. It held its clawed hand up ready to strike when a gold feather struck through its palm. I'd never seen a feather so strong. As I looked ahead to the long dark cavern I saw the glow of Ares’ lilac eyes and Auggie’s blue flames.
They came to save me.
I pulled on Umbra feeling the power rise in me as a blue haired woman stepped through first. She was so fucking beautiful that she had me believing I loved women for a second, but then I remembered how much I love Liam's dick and the feeling faded quickly. I used Umbra, taking control of the darkness and had her pick at the lock on my shackles. A fight erupted all around me as Ares, Auggie and a dark-curly haired girl stepped in. She was the one that had thrown the feather seeing as her wings held a million more of them. She jumped into the air spinning as she sent more feathers flying. What I didn't expect was for them to now be coated in fire as well.
What is she?
More demons poured in from the left and right, quickly outnumbering us. The curly haired girl pulled a sword out of thin air, one that flamed to life beside her. The sword of the righteous is what Toni called it. She must be part angel.
"You won't be getting out of this alive. If you want her back you'll have to trade. Who do you love more, your sister or your daughter?" The demon spoke to Ares with a chuckle in his voice.
"Obviously his daughter. I see why you wanted to get Andy instead. Tougher choice, but I would gladly die for my niece," I interjected just as the shackles were released from my wrists.
I rubbed at them as I locked eyes with the demon in charge. His bright orange holes for eyes seemed to grow brighter as the hell fire in him rose. I traveled beside Ares, glad I had continued to practice with the darkness all summer long. It didn't strain me as much to use it now.
"No one is dying here today."
"Time to go, dearies,” the blue haired woman said.
She winked at me as a white fog began to wrap around my ankles, moving up and slithering around my whole body. The demons all lunged at once as the curly haired angel sliced a few of their heads off before we all traveled out together. I'd never traveled through light before. It was warm, unlike the icy embrace of my shadows.
We were out of hell, allowing me to breathe in the cool fresh air. I almost shivered even though there was a warm summer breeze. It felt oddly cold compared to the heat of hell. I looked around finding tall trees and a familiar crack in the air. Only this one didn't feel like the ethereal plane crack I'd traveled to before. Although still enchanting, it didn't give off the same inviting feel. It called to the dark side of me, pulling me towards it, but my soul knew it was not a good place. The blue haired woman stood before me as she placed her hands on either side of the crack. She pushed it together, ultimately sealing it shut.
"Well, that was a lot easier than I thought it'd be. I swear gods can be so over dramatic sometimes." She rolled her eyes as she waved her hand down in complaint.
"I don't think we're done," the curly haired girl chimed in just as demons and ghouls began to surround us.
"I knew that was too easy," Auggie complained, letting his flames grow tall.
"We got this," the blue-haired hottie smiled, taking a spot beside me for some reason. "I'm in charge of keeping you safe, so I won't be but a few feet away from you, cutie."
Her wink caused me to blush for some reason, making me feel like the school girl I was. I shook my head, trying to focus on the battle ahead. These weird thoughts, and feelings can wait until after battle. I took a stance, but this blue haired beauty grabbed my hand. I was about to complain when I was suddenly struck with immense power. Her hand held mine tightly as she shared her strength with me. It was euphoric, like tasting heaven. I moaned as it rushed through my body from my head down to my toes.
"That's a pretty sound." She smirked before letting my hand go and punching the nearby demon that lunged at me. It flew 30 feet, knocking down the tree it hit on the way. This woman was damn strong and I could feel that same power coursing through me. I hit the ghouls around us with my shadows sending them flying as well. When a demon came next I decided to see if I could punch just as strongly as her now. Turns out I could.
"Fun, isn't it?" She asked me.
"Extremely."
My mouth split into a shit eating grin as she and I fought side by side. She was amazing and the power she lent me made me feel great too.
I don't know what she is, but I hope she sticks around for a while.
AresIt was stupid, I know it was, but how could I not tell her when she thought I no longer loved her? She may have been on this planet for less than a year but mentally she was so much older, and I needed to remind myself of that.Maybe not old enough for this news, but the alternative could be worse. If I explained to her who she was and what her future determined…well it would blow everything up. There was no way of knowing for sure how she’d react, at least this way I knew she’d be focused on what was going to happen to me and nothing more.“What do you mean?” Her eyes were wide and filled with tears as she held my gaze.“Gabriel had a vision, but I’ll—”“You can’t die!” she interrupted before I could tell her the rest.My skin prickled with goosebumps as the temperature dropped around us, fogging the air with our breath. The shadows licked at her feet, tendrils up her calves. I was loosing her.“Listen to me Elara,” I spoke in a calming manner, trying to ease her.“No! I can’t lo
IcarusI still hated the idea of Lilith being Elara’s teacher, but there was no unringing that bell. Once the blood moon came, Lilith would be here to unlock Elara’s dark magic. She’d grow, body and mind at the very instant she’d touch her mother’s grimoire. I just hope that she won’t be consumed by the darkness that will flow through her. The thought alone sent a knot to my stomach so tight I thought I’d throw up. In no instance could I ever picture Elara as evil. Even though I was buying for the heavens to lose in these ultimate trials, I didn’t necessarily want Elara to fall prey to darkness. She deserves to stay pure and happy. Her parting words to me last week left me questioning everything I’d been working for. How was I supposed to get her to join me when I didn’t even want her to be part of this side of the world?“Icarus!” My attention was brought to the devil in charge. His glowing orange eyes glared into me with as much intimidation as he could seep into them. I couldn’t he
AuggieThey’ve been wrong before. Prophecies aren’t set in stone. We don’t have to choose between brining Ares back or keep Elara from falling into the hands of evil…right?These thoughts had been running through my head all day. It was delusion thinking, I knew that, but it was the only way I could get through the week. I tried to talk with Jesse but between whatever was going on with Petra and whatever traumatic thing she saw in some cave—that she won’t tell me about— she had too much on her mind to be much use. It was clear that she had accepted this fate, and decided to just let Elara be. Her reasoning was that she had passed her first trial and only needed to pass the next to succeed.I don’t like those odds.So here I was, stalking my niece like some creep in the shadows. Sombra kept me cloaked but it took extra effort since Bane couldn’t seem to contain his blazing fire. Ever since he revived me, he’s been too big for his britches. I needed him to calm his ass down and remember
Third PersonElara could still feel the remnants of the heartache that Leif caused her. It ached to feel so rejected by her closest friend. She had found comfort in Icarus who would check on her even more than Leif did while she stayed with the angel.“Got you a snack before class.” He tossed her a bag of flame roasted chick peas made by the fire elves on campus. They'd been selling these in random spots on campus as a way to raise funds to better protect themselves against vampires. It seemed these poor creatures were tired of being the vampires’ first victims on rainy days and blood moons.“Thanks, Icky.” She smiled up at the fallen angel, stirring his heart once more. It wouldn't be long now until she grew again, until he could have her the way he wanted.“I'm never getting rid of that nickname, am I?” He shook his head, causing a few short strands of his jet black hair to fall over his forehead. He ran his hand through it, pushing it back in a way that made Elara's cheeks almost tu
Third Person POVLief felt the shake in his body as if he were a bell being rung. Summoned he thought to himself. Being summoned brought a knot to any demigod or angel’s stomach, placing a fear so deep it shook his very soul.“I’ll be back, little —” Lief cut himself off remembering that just yesterday he flew away from her. She wasn’t here anymore and the emptiness it left in his home was more than he could bear. With a deep breath and a heavy sigh he traveled to the heavens — to the gods and all their fury.“Lief, come join Petra,” his god, Barus, called him forward to stand in the center of their rounded room. Where most have met their end, smited by all the gods at once. Would this be his last day? Would he die without having been able to reconcile with his little one?Lief braced himself as he took his spot beside Petra, seeing her blue hair float around her the way it would in outer space. He felt the power radiating from the ten gods that surrounded him, so strong that he almost
Jesse“Petra, there’s gotta be something you can do!” I accidentally shouted at her in my desperation, hoping that maybe she could prevent all this from happening. She was demigod for crying out loud, if anyone could do something it would be her.“I’ve already told you that I can’t Jesse. I’m not a God and even then, they can’t force anyone to do their bidding but the angels. We demigods can choose to follow their orders or not, but usually if we don’t our godly powers are weakened.” Petra sighed, tired of explaining things to me. She patted the bed beside her, hoping I would listen and come, but I was too upset to sit just yet.“He can’t die.” I warned her, as if she could make sure that didn’t happen.It was probably really out of her hands, but I didn’t care at the moment. I wanted to fool myself into believing that things could be done to prevent any of it from happening. It was obvious that Petra knew what she needed to do on this night, but she wasn’t sharing and it was pissing