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Audrey
I don’t even know where I am, but I will never give up. Not until I die.
I open my eyes. I’m back at Olympus. It’s the middle of the day, and I’m on the roof of the HQ.
My hand... It feels warm. I look to my left. I nearly fall off the building in surprise.
“Trevor?!” I ask in shock.
I place my free hand on his face. His brow furrows. His short blonde hair is neat and tidy as always. He feels and looks real.
“Are you okay? You suddenly spaced out. I don’t have something on my face, do I? Besides the look of shame from you pummeling me in the war simulator, I mean.” He smiles.
I know when this is. The afternoon after Luke came to find me in the war simulator. I’m dreaming, or is this my life flashing through my eyes? If so, I sure did skip a lot.
“No, you don’t have anything on your face. Sorry, I just freaked out for a second.” I say. I sure do miss you though. I wish you could understand that.
He asks quietly, “Did you have another flashback from the lunchroom?”
“The lunchroom? Right! That’s exactly what it was! I just can’t get those demons out of my head. The way they took everything from us.” I say. That was a good coverup. What am I saying? This isn’t even real.
“But that did bring us together. I don’t know why I felt like I could trust you with anything the moment I met you.” He says.
I squeeze his hand, “I feel the same.” I hold back the emotions swirling in me.
That is the truth. He is a quiet guy but very thoughtful. Every guy back at my school that wanted to date me never listened to me. They never tried to get to know me. It’s only been a few weeks, but I can tell Trevor listens. I could tell. He’s gone, Audrey. Why am I letting myself get caught in this dream? This fantasy...
“You care for someone else though. I can tell. Is it Luke?” He asks suddenly.
I freeze for a moment. This definitely wasn’t a part of that day. What is my stupid brain trying to say?
I turn my gaze down to the streets of Olympus, “It’s not really like that. I care about Luke, but it’s more like in a family type of way. We’ve been together for so long. I have to protect him because he rescued me...from myself.”
Trevor chuckles softly, “He gives you a reason to fight instead of only for yourself. I can understand that. My friend family does the same thing to me.” He pauses, “I-I used to be a part of a dark ops squad on Olympus. I was their tactician...and assassin. I would silence people that Olympus saw as threats, even if they were only potential enemies. I wanted out of that life.”
I don’t know what to say. I’ve never heard this before. What is happening? Is this...not a flashback?
He continues, “Gabriel helped me out of that life.”
I turn to him, “Gabriel did?”
He nods his head, “I confided in him that I wanted out. He asked me what my next target was. I told him. It was the leader of a large army. Gabriel led a small force and blew my cover. The leader got away, and Gabriel was dishonored. He was removed from the archangels, and I was put on permanent leave. I’m forever thankful to him for that. Although, I’ll never know why he decided to help me. Why risk your eternal status for the fate of one boy? A boy who would die a few years later anyways.”
I let go of his hand and stand up, “Trevor... It is you, isn’t it?”
He doesn’t face me, “Yeah, I’m sorry. I just wanted a few more moments with you. You’re unconscious, and I entered your mind. I’m the one who kept you from falling.”
“Kaleb and Katie?” I ask.
He shakes his head, “I don’t know. We’re at the bottom of the hole. I can’t have Katie see me like this though.”
“Like this? How did you escape Hell?” I ask.
“I didn’t...they...recruited me.” He says sadly.
My body runs cold, “You’re working with them?”
Dark wings grow from his back. A scar appears across his forehead. He grows thinner.
He won’t look at my eyes, “More like forced into servitude but no. Not right now. I’m here to help you. Against my orders. My objective is the same as yours. To find the piece of Luke’s soul.”
“So, they did know. How?” I demand.
“I don’t know. Hell does have spies on Olympus. You could probably narrow it down though. I wouldn’t imagine many people would know about this mission.” He answers.
That would mean...it would have to be someone who was there that day when we discussed the mission. The court wasn’t even filled in on all the details. I know I can cut out our immediate group, but...what if Kaleb’s brainwashing wasn’t completely reversed like we thought or Katie’s. Then there is Kale. His dad, Hermes, played a major role against us.
Stop it, Audrey. Get ahold of yourself. There isn’t any reason to think like this now. I’ll smoke out whoever it is later.
“Wake me up, Trevor.” I say.
He nods his head. His mesmerizing voice echoes through the dream, “Those...in the sleeping world...wake from your slumber.”
My eyes open to see nothing but darkness around me. My head still hurts from earlier. I don’t think it’s too serious. I speak into my book, and the room lights up around me.
We’ve fallen down into a deeper section of the base. The technology down here seems way more advanced than those broken-down computers up top. Nothing is on though, so the power must be separate from up there.
All of this hiding underneath Olympus’s nose. Or was it? Maybe Olympus knew all along. I wouldn’t put it past them. I’m sure every single one of those gods has at least fifty secrets apiece. I’d also like to know who that girl in the tree was. I need to get back to Kaleb soon.
But first, “Trevor?” I call out.
He says from behind me, “I’m here. We should get Luke’s orb before meeting up with your friends. No doubt the rest of Hell’s forces in the area are on their way now. Sorry, I was able to hear your mind as I was exiting.”
His appearance really did change. He looks so thin. That scar and those wings...I...wish we could have helped him.
I have to stay strong, “It’s fine. Why would they just now be catching up? I know Astaroth was ahead of us before.”
“That woman’s power. Her tree form was emitting a strong aura keeping them back. Astaroth has been trying to find a way past it for a while. For some reason, it didn’t affect me.” Trevor says.
“Do you know who she is?” I ask.
He shakes his head, “I do not. I believe she is a friendly to you all though.”
He offers me his hand. I take it, and he helps me to my feet. His eyes are still the same. I’m not naïve enough to think this couldn’t be a trap, but for now, I’m going to hope it’s not.
The room around us lights up, and the computers whirl. At least I don’t have to use my power anymore. I turn my book into its pocket size which makes it have less power until changed back but easier to carry around. It becomes annoying having to lug it around all the time.
“They seem to be making good progress despite none of them being well suited for head on combat. We should get moving. I don’t know if it is the soul piece, but I do feel something in this direction.” Trevor points to a hall down our right.
He brought up a good point. Katie’s powers are mainly for traps, and Kaleb doesn’t know much about his own, I don’t think. Still, Kaleb is smart, and Katie has experience. The new girl is an unknown factor, but I’ll have to trust that they will be alright.
As we walk, Trevor says, “I’m sorry you had to see me in that even more pathetic state in the jail cells of Hell.”
The terrified look on his face. His crazed screaming. It still haunts my dreams.
“No, I’m sorry there wasn’t anything we could do for you. We wanted to, Trevor. We really did.” I say sadly.
“I know. Audrey, when you get back, I would like you to look more into Olympus. Many of us that grew up as soldiers from the beginning are told that we will go to Heaven simply for our work in the army. It doesn’t come from the gods or angels. Honestly, I’m not sure they even know, but someone is spreading lies throughout the army. Someone with influence. I think...they want us to believe that, so eventually we will become new demons for Hell’s forces. It’s just a theory, but if it’s true, well, I don’t want anyone else to experience this.” He says.
That’s a lot to take in. I would say it surprises me, but with someone like Hermes being a traitor, it isn’t so big of a stretch to imagine there are others that high on the command chain. I don’t know how Trevor expects me to look into this. I’m still relatively new to their world.
“I’ll do what I can, but Luke comes first. Is there any way you could be helped?” I ask him.
He shakes his head, “None that are known. I’m sure I’ll be a demon for the rest of my existence. Hell will always be my fate now, but maybe one day I can escape my servitude at least.”
We come out into a large room. It almost appears to be a makeshift arena of some sort. What were those researchers doing down here? In the middle of the arena is a large curved red blade stuck into the ground. The hilt is made of what seems to be cooled molten rock. Next to it is a palm sized black orb. I can feel its presence from here. It feels... familiar. It must be Luke’s soul piece.
A long whistle comes from behind us, “Boy howdy, I figured jumping into that hole the giant tree left behind would be a good idea, but I didn’t expect an almost straight shot.”
Trevor and I jump forward towards the red blade and turn. It’s Astaroth. The smoke from his cigar is wafting slightly. His yellow eyes are looking at the blade behind us with interest.
“Astaroth! Stay back!” Trevor yells.
Astaroth rubs the stubble on his chin, “Well, well. If it isn’t our newest demon with the little lady I fought earlier. I wondered where you ran off to when Croatoan was having his feast. You wouldn’t happen to be helping her, would ya, sonny boy?”
Trevor’s eyes burn, “Lucifer hoped that they wouldn’t go all out by having me here. As a former tactician, that was obvious, but I don’t plan on making it so easy for him.”
Astaroth laughs heartily, “I can respect that. As I’ve said, I just happened to be in the area. This war is no concern of mine. I’m only here for one thing...the Behemoth’s blade. A sword crafted from the nail of the legendary beast Behemoth. I had been searching for a while, but little did I know it would end up back here of all places.”
“You’ve been here before?” I ask him.
He puffs smoke from his cigar, “In a manner of speaking, you could say that. I hate to say this, but although I’m only here of my own volitions, I’ll be taking that orb with me as well.”
Trevor readies his sword. I reach into my pocket for my book. It isn’t there!
Smoke forms around Astaroth’s hand. My book appears in it. He says, “Sorry lass, my bad habit isn’t just for show.”
Without my book, I don’t have any of my powers. I have to touch it to cast my spells. Still, I’m not going to back down. I put up my fists.
Trevor holds up his arm, “No, go after the orb. I’ll hold him off.”
He turns to Trevor, “So, you still plan to fight me? Very well, I won’t even tell Lucifer. Just know, you can’t go back with them. The moment Lucifer finds out you aren’t completely on his side is when the mark of the beast will consume you. Regardless, stop me if you can.”
Astaroth rushes Trevor. His giant blade bears down on Trevor’s much smaller one. Astaroth puffs his cigar and smoke surrounds them. Trevor was never the strongest physically, so I hope he’ll be okay.
I run to the orb and the sword. I hear growling, so I glance behind me. Hellhounds are swarming from where we came. Some are coming after me while others are going to the cloud of smoke.
I hear their swords clash again, and Trevor says in his mesmerizing voice, “Those in the waking world...fall to your slumber. Never...to wake again.”
His power has grown tremendously. I can feel the wave of exhaustion pulse from here, and it wasn’t even directed for me. Hellhounds are dropping like flies.
A few of the ones coming after me are still able to move, however. I pocket the orb and put my hands on the handle of this giant sword. The red blade glows, but I can’t lift it out of the ground. It’s far too heavy. If I had my freaking book...
I struggle, “Come on you stupid thing!”
I pull as hard as I can. Nothing happens. A sharp pain shoots through my shoulder. A hellhound had pounced me and dug its teeth into me. Another bites into my leg.
Between their weight and the pain on me, it would be easy to let myself fall, but rage fills inside of me. I’m not going to let myself drop here. I continue pulling the sword and straining my body all the while.
My forehead is glowing. There is a metal ball on the end of the molten hilt. Reflecting from the ball, I see my mark, the symbol of my power, changing ever so slightly. It is in the shape of a book, but black lines are extending out of it. I don’t know what compels me, but I speak the words of Hecate’s language for one of my spells. My body glows red. Brighter than it has ever been before.
I pull the sword from the ground with ease now. I swing my foot and knock that hellhound across the room. I grab the other on my shoulder and fling it. A new phrase comes to my mind.
“HRESH OV KER!” I yell. My legs glow green while the rest of my body stays red. I’ve never had this happen before. I move towards the hellhounds that I threw.
My speed is ferocious. I make it to the hellhounds while they are still airborne. I send the sword through them which turns them to ash. On the second one, I accidently keep swinging the sword until it hits the ground. The sword glows and sends out a shockwave. The ground below shatters and sends cracks throughout the floor.
No time to think about that. In the direction of the smoke, my book shines through. It must be reacting to me even from this distance somehow. I burst off towards the smoke and swing my sword. The smoke blows away, and Trevor is lying face down on the ground. Astaroth is standing over him. His large blade is hanging over Trevor’s body. He spits his cigar to the ground.
“DON’T YOU TOUCH HIM!” I yell while swinging the Behemoth blade towards Astaroth’s head at lightning speed.
He stops the blade...with his bare hand, “Little girl, do you know why Lucifer can’t control me like his other demons? It’s because I am more powerful than his sealed-up state.”
Astaroth pulls the sword from my hands with ease. He stabs his original sword into the ground and uses his now free hand to backhand me. I speak one of my spells, and my entire body glows purple.
Still, the force of his hand sends me soaring across the room. I pound into the wall. The aura fades around me. This is the second time he would have killed me with only his hand, and just like last time...he was holding back.
My book is lying at the ground by his feet. Not that it matters. I’m spent. I can feel it. He’s walking towards me while dragging both giant blades along the ground.
The smoke from his cigar on the ground has slowly been clouding the room. All I can see is his outline and piercing yellow eyes, “I have to thank you, lass. If it weren’t for your meddling, I would have never made it in here. Finally, both of these Behemoth blades are in my possession. Now, I’ll be taking that orb.”
I can barely move my arm, but I grab the orb from my pocket. I clasp it tight, “You’re...not getting this.”
Smoke wafts around me. Astaroth’s gruff voice says, “Please. You’re in no condition to stop me.”
My leg...it’s broken. I can’t stand. I use my other arm to slowly drag myself along the ground.
He’s gaining on me by just walking. He says, “Stop. This is just sad.”
I won’t stop. Not until my last breath. I’ve come too far. I cough and blood drips to the ground.
“You’re going to kill yourself. There is nothing you can do when you’re dead.” Astaroth is right behind me. He places his foot down on my broken leg. I cry out in pain.
I hold the orb tighter. It glows, and...I feel it merge slightly with my skin. My body...it’s healing. A line of darkness leads from the orb to the ground right beside me. Darkness is forming and growing at the spot. I see...Luke? No. It only looks like Luke, but his hair is black. Two silky black feathery wings are coming from his back.
The dark-haired Luke yawns and yells, “WOW! What the crap is this?! Where’s that prick, Hermes? Lucifer?” He looks over his body, “What? Luke? Lucian? Where did they go? Are they unconscious? No, I’m alone. This...is weird.” He laughs.
Astaroth clears his throat, and the dark-haired Luke turns rapidly, “Woah! Astaroth! You’re looking...well. Are you the one I healed? Wait...am I a part of YOUR body now?!”
“Beelzebub, lively as ever. It’s been a while. No, I believe you healed that girl down there.” Astaroth nods his head to me.
He doesn’t even look. His voice grows serious, “Audrey, sorry you had to take so much pain for us, and also that this is how we officially meet.”
Was he just playing dumb? That must be Luke’s demon since Astaroth knows him. My body is still healing, but it feels so exhausted.
Beelzebub leans in towards Astaroth, “Soooooo, what happens now, good buddy? You wanna go a round?”
Astaroth is unfazed by Beelzebub, “What is with this new look?”
Beelzebub slides next to one of Astaroth’s swords and easily picks it up to his face, “Nice, you got the second Behemoth blade back. Oh, I look mostly like Luke. Odd. I did think he would look better with black hair. Too bad he never listens to me.” He shrugs his shoulders, “Honestly, I forgot what I look like. It’s one of the few memories that haven’t returned to me. You...don’t happen to have a photograph, do ya buddy?”
Astaroth laughs heartily, “I don’t think we ever got around to picture day for us commanders.”
Beelzebub’s smile fades and eyes narrow, “You didn’t answer me earlier. Where do we go from here?”
Astaroth sighs, “Are you happy?”
Beelzebub looks at me straight for the first time. His eyes are Luke’s blue, but with a green ring around that. He smiles Luke’s smile.
He turns to Astaroth, “I am. These people are my home now whether they know it or not.”
Astaroth turns into the direction of Trevor, “Then, I’ll come up with something. What’s Lucifer going to do? Kick me out? Besides, if we fought, it would take hours, and who knows which of us would win. Lass, I have to take this boy back with me though. I’ll keep my word. Lucifer won’t find out he defended you.”
I can barely speak, but I’m desperate, “Trevor...please watch over him.”
Astaroth stops, “I will, lass.” He lifts Trevor over his shoulder and drags his two swords back the way we came in from.
Beelzebub sits down with his back to me, “I’m sorry. This is the second time that I’ve forced you away from Trevor. I’m the one who told Luke to leave him at the jail cells in Hell.”
I grab his arm. My voice is slowly coming back, “I know you only did that to keep us safe. There was nothing we could do.”
He nods, “Yeah, I still didn’t know it would come to this though. At least Astaroth let us off the hook...” He rubs the back of his head, “I’m actually pretty powerless right now.”
I chuckle, “Not a bad bluff. I have a question for you. Luke never told us how long you two were sealed in him, but it’s been most of his life, hasn’t it?”
All he does is shrug his shoulders as the string connecting him to the orb begins to pull him back inside. He says, “I guess my time is up. We’ll have to continue this conversation another day.” Suddenly, he howls loudly like a wolf.
Then, he’s gone. The orb pops out of my hand. I clasp it tightly, but my vision is fading. I lay on my back as the darkness takes me. Hopefully, there isn’t any dreaming this time. I’m freaking tired of dreams.
