Kobal
The silence following Magnus’s statement was so profound it reminded me of what it was like to stand outside of the seals. Traversing the walkway beside the seals, I had peered into each cell to watch those who had been locked away. Though they screamed and carried on, nothing of what they said or did could be heard outside of those cells.
“I don’t understand,” River finally said.
“Throughout all the years, it was believed the children of the angels could walk in all three worlds. Earth, Heaven, and Hell,” Magnus said.
“Yes, I’ve heard it before,” River replied with an impatient wave of her hand.
“However, none of them would have survived Hell in their mortal form.”
“You can’t possibly know that,” River said.
“Yes, he can,” I replied as understanding dawned on me. “Your ancestors drew enough life from the earth to let them live longer lives. However, they weren’t drawing it strongly enough to be able to walk amongst these caverns, not as you are.”
“You can’t know that,” River insisted.
Grasping her chin, I turned her head to me. “I’ve been so focused on the mission, keeping you safe, and teaching you to draw on your ability to wield life that I missed something.”
Her forehead furrowed as confusion swam in her eyes. “What?”
“Out of all the many miracles and atrocities your ancestors committed throughout the years, none of them wielded fire and life.”
“So I don’t possess telekinesis, and God and I have never sat down to chat before,” she said. “I can’t do any illusions, and my visions aren’t exactly earth-shattering.”
“I told you once that your ability to draw on life was a purely angelic ability—”
“Yes, I remember,” she interjected.
“And fire is a purely demonic ability,” I continued. “You are the only descendant who has exhibited the ability to wield and control abilities solely attributed to one species or the other. None of the others have. In fact, most of them possessed traits that are shared between demons and angels such as telekinesis, illusions, and visions. The closest one would have been Moses with his long life and the burning bush, but he could not wield life as you do.”
“You are standing here with us now, and yet you are drawing on your angel ability,” Magnus said. “If you were to enter Heaven, I believe you would be able to wield fire still.”
River continued to stare at me as she tried to process what Magnus had revealed. “But why me?” she finally asked.
“I don’t know,” Magnus answered. “It may have been set into motion thousands of years ago that one day the powers would coalesce so strongly within you. Finding Kobal most certainly fueled it, but I believe there is more to it than that. What it is, we may never know, but you are the first true World Walker to be born. Us demons may be able to enter Heaven as Lucifer and the angels entered Hell, but we would most likely lose something, or transform into something different as the angels did when they came into our world. You will not.”
River turned to look at Magnus. “So what does it all mean? What difference does it make, really?”
“It means your father is going to do everything he can to get his hands on you. The good thing is, he wants you alive.”
A cold chill went down my spine when I lifted my gaze from River’s pale countenance to look at Magnus again. “He doesn’t just want Earth,” I realized. “He wants back into Heaven too. That’s why he’s been waiting so long before going above, why he’s opening the seals. He thinks he might be able to lure the angels into a battle too if the odds become too greatly stacked against us, or that she could somehow open a gateway into Heaven.”
“Yes, I believe he is trying to get back in, and I believe he thinks she may be the key to opening those pearly gates. As much as we would all gladly pluck an angel and use their feathers as stuffing, they may have no choice but to become involved if humanity’s existence, and therefore Heaven and Hell, hang in the balance.”
“Fuck!” I exploded, causing those around me, except for River, to jump. She remained motionless beside me, looking as if she were about to fall over. “I should have seen this sooner.”
“He’s never shown any interest in getting back into Heaven before,” Morax said.
“To be honest, none of us have ever known what he’s wanted or planned before,” Magnus said. “We didn’t particularly care when all we wanted was to destroy him before he destroyed all of us. He’s also never had the key to possibly returning to the land he was cast from. He figured out how to open a gateway into Hell before. He may know how to open one into Heaven too.”
“Wouldn’t he have opened a gateway into Heaven, instead of coming here, if he could?” River asked.
“I don’t think he can, but he may know how to use you, or at least think there is a possibility he can use you, to open a gateway into Heaven,” I said.
“Delightful,” River muttered. “But the joke’s on him. I can’t open or close anything. We wouldn’t be standing here if I could.”
“As far as you know,” Magnus said. “Just because you don’t know the key to doing it, doesn’t mean it’s not possible for you to do so.”
River’s head fell into her hands, and she rubbed at her temples. Wrapping my hand around her nape, I held her against me as I massaged the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders.
“Even if Lucifer doesn’t plan to return to Heaven and take revenge on all of those who cast him out, he’ll still want her,” Magnus said.
“Why?” Shax inquired.
“Because she is one of the most powerful beings ever created, she is Kobal’s Chosen, and she is his daughter. He’ll do everything he can to get his hands on her and turn her to his side.”
“He knew he had a better shot at getting to me in Hell than he would on Earth, and we walked right into his hands,” River said.
“No,” Magnus said. “He was fully preparing for you to remain on Earth and for him to have to come to you, another reason he’s been opening the seals.”
“We must get moving then,” Verin said as she brushed back her yellow hair, “before he realizes she’s here.”
Taking hold of River’s chin, I gazed at her turbulent expression. I would not ask her again if she would prefer to leave. I knew she wouldn’t change her mind. Instead, I stroked my finger over her chin and bent to kiss her.
“When this is over, I will take you somewhere no one can bother us for at least a month,” I murmured against her lips.
Her mouth quirked into a smile against mine. “You had better.”
***
River
I stared at the illusion Magnus had created of thousands of troops standing behind the hundred plus demons and skelleins who had entered Hell. I kept my lips pressed together as I tried not to gawk at the size of the manifested army. It was like fun house mirrors except these weren’t reflections. Granted, the illusions weren’t as detailed as the real troops, but they looked as corporeal as the demon standing before me, the one I knew was real.
Amid the troops, I spotted images of myself, Kobal, and the others who would be staying with us. My skin crawled as I took in the visage Magnus had created of me as she gazed straight ahead, unaware of her surroundings. Kobal’s image stood beside her, the same resolute stare in his eyes.
I turned away from the discombobulating spectacle. “Why are we in there?” I asked Magnus.
“To distract Lucifer. He’ll think we’re coming at him head-on and not trying to stop the falling of the seals first,” Magnus replied. “These will keep him busy for a while.”
“How will we know when these troops engage with Lucifer’s?”
“Morax will let me know,” Kobal answered. “He’ll also let me know if something goes wrong, or if they walk into a trap.”
Kobal’s gaze slid toward Magnus who assumed an innocent expression that made my eyes roll. “And if that happens,” Kobal growled, “it will be the end of you, Magnus.”
“I understand, but I have always remained loyal to you, Kobal.”
Kobal continued to stare unrelentingly at him. “Can the illusions fight?” I asked to break the tension between them.
“They can move as if they’re fighting, but they can’t inflict damage,” Magnus said. “If they’re touched, they will disappear, but more will rise up to take their place.”
“You really would have been handy on the wall,” I murmured.
A smug smile pulled at his lips. “You can’t decide if you like me or not now, imagine how normal humans would react around me.”
“Good point.”
“Should we gather more troops?” Verin asked as her sun-colored eyes surveyed the masses before us.
“I have sent word out to those who remain loyal to Kobal but stayed in Hell,” Magnus replied. “They will join in with this army as it marches onward.”
“There are thousands of demons above too, at the wall,” Verin said.
“It would take too much time for them to arrive here, and they must remain behind to protect what will be left if we fail,” Kobal replied, his eyes coolly surveying the group before him. “Large numbers of troops have never succeeded against Lucifer before. It is time to try something new. Send them in.”
“Where will they be going?” I asked.
“Lucifer’s lair is deep within the bowels of Hell. They’ll head straight for it while we take a back road.”
“There’s a back road?” Hawk inquired.
“There’s always a back road in this place,” Corson replied with a stiff smile. It wasn’t his normally, easy-going smile. I found it odd to see him without his customary earrings from the latest girl he’d slept with dangling from his ears, but they remained bare now. I’m sure Kobal approved of this while it made me realize Corson’s personality was somehow diminished by this place.
I watched as the troops, both real and illusionary, moved out with Shax, Verin, and Morax leading the way. Shax had informed us that all the humans had survived the trip back out of Hell and were safe with the demons and skelleins who remained above to protect them.
Though they loved a good battle, some of the skelleins had been convinced to stay on Earth for the battles that were certain to unfold above and to keep Erin safe. Shax had said her safety was the main selling point for them to stay out of Hell, and they’d been happily bouncing riddles off her when he’d left to meet us here.
My fingers twitched at my sides as I thought of Erin and Vargas. I hoped I’d be able to see them again, but I’d take dying in this pit if it meant they survived above. Lisa would take care of Gage and Bailey for me, my brothers would be safe, and they would grow to live long, hopefully, happy lives.
I frowned as I watched some of the skelleins storm past us in the illusory crowd. For the first time, I realized they were still chugging alcohol like it was water, but none of them wore the clothing differentiating their sexes and personalities. Now, they all looked exactly alike.
All of these demons may be from Hell, but it was on Earth they had flourished. They’d differentiated themselves and developed a personality beyond fighting and death. In here again, all that remained for them was the fighting and death once more.
Taking a deep breath, I watched as the last of the troops vanished from view. “What if something happens to you?” I asked Magnus.
“They’ll all vanish if I’m killed.”
I glanced down at my clothes. I had no idea where he’d managed to uncover them. The material was the same shiny, lightweight material as what he wore. The pants and shirt were entirely black as they clung to my body far better than I would have expected for something borrowed from someone else, or whatever he’d done to get them.
“You better make sure I stay alive unless you want to be flashing everyone in Hell,” Magnus said.
“I think I’ll take my bloody clothes back,” I muttered.
“Too late, burned ‘em.”
“You’re kind of an asshole,” I blurted.
He chuckled as he turned away from me. “Definitely been called worse before, but don’t fret, Your Highness, those clothes were left behind by a lady friend years ago. They’re as real as you are.”
With tender hands, Kobal turned me so my back was to him. He pulled my katana from its sheath before sliding it back into place. I had given my guns to Hawk. Every weapon counted in here, but I was coming to rely on my innate abilities more while, for now, Hawk was still mainly relying on his human instincts.
“Though normally, we don’t wear so much. Not down here, but it seems your human sensitivities have rubbed off on those demons who went above, and I would not wish to offend you by baring all of myself. Or excite you,” Magnus added with a wink.
“Enough!” Kobal barked at him. “You may need your limbs for this battle, but it will take time for your tongue to regenerate if you keep speaking.”
Magnus clamped his jaw shut. He turned away from us and walked over to stand by Corson, who smirked at him.
Kobal tore his gaze away from Magnus to focus on Hawk. “We will be going through the Forest of Prurience. It’s where the nymphs and canagh demons originate from.”
The color drained from Hawk’s face as he took an abrupt step forward. “Canaghs?”
“Not all of them are bad,” Bale reminded him.
“And most went above. Only the tree nymphs remain in the forest,” Magnus said.
“It may be difficult for you,” Kobal said to Hawk.
Hawk’s full lips compressed. “I’ll be fine.”
Kobal’s hands constricted on my shoulders. “I’m sure you will.”
Turning, I looked at Kobal over my shoulder. “Have you tried to attack Lucifer with so many troops before?” I inquired as a way to distract Kobal and Hawk from where this journey would take us.
“When I was still foolish enough to believe strength alone would take someone down, I went at him a few times with a large number of demons. I spent weeks trying to heal from my injuries after one attack, and Crux was nearly captured. Since then, our battles have been more strategic, but no ground has ever been gained one way or the other. We’ve both lost followers.”
“What do you believe is enough to take someone down now?” I inquired.
“Brains, brawn, and beauty,” he replied with a grin.
“Kobal—”
“A secret weapon then,” he said and kissed my forehead before releasing me.
“Yes,” I said, having decided that trying to brazen my way through this was better than being a walking, talking, self-doubting mess. “What happens if you lose one of the hounds?” I asked as I fell into step beside him.
“The hounds within me can be wounded so badly they have to return to me to heal, or they can be captured, but the only way they can die is if I die. However, I am weakened without the both of them.”
I was determined to make sure he was never without them. “How old were you when you were hurt so badly?”
“I was a child then, barely over three hundred years old.”
“Is that all?” I said with a laugh. “You’re right, you were only a child.”
The look he shot me warmed my soul as he surveyed me from under his thick lashes. “I’ve learned and grown much since then.”