Armageddon Bound

The Continuing Downward Spiral

Less than pleased by the arrangements of our last meeting, I held out for something less confined, more neutral; Memorial Park. Set near the center of our lovely desert town, El Paseo, a short but comfortable distance from Old Town, the park was a sprawling oasis in a sea of blowing dirt and tumbleweeds. With rolling hills and wide open tracts of green grass and trees, the park was the perfect place to have our little sit down. It was quiet and out of the way.

I chose a spot on the highest hill that gave me an unobstructed view in each direction. From there, I could see all three of the intersecting roads, the railway line that passed along the edge of the park, and all the high-dollar surrounding houses. I was feeling pretty confident I’d made the right choice. I should have known better.

Almost imperceptibly, there was a rustle behind me. I spun about just as a figure burst from a nearby trash can and hurtled toward me. Before I could even draw my guns, the figure crashed into my chest, driving the breath from my lungs. I caught a glimpse of silver arcing through the air as I tumbled to the ground. It didn’t take a genius to realize it was a weapon. Page 89

And I was no genius.

I hit the ground rolling, kicking my feet out at the apex to make space. It was just enough. I struck my attacker as he tried to drop down on top of me, catching him in the arm. Off balance, he stumbled forward and I saw the blade of his knife sink into the ground. He growled as I hopped to my feet, his eyes meeting mine. I got a good look at him while he pulled his knife free. Dressed in all black, from head to toe, there wasn’t a lot to go off of. There was enough though. The cold gray eyes that peered at me through the opening of the ski mask, shined with feral determination. Lean muscle rippled beneath the skin tight clothing, and though he couldn’t have been much more than fivesix, he packed a lot of meat on his solid frame. He held the knife with confidence, waving it before him as he approached. It clearly wasn’t the first time he’d put a blade to use. I was hoping to make it his last. He must not have ever heard the saying: Never bring a knife to a gun fight. I went for my. 45’s. His blades out, he got off first. He closed the distance in a single leap, the blade flashing in a wide X before me. I felt a slight tug at my chest as I jumped back to avoid being cut open. Still reaching for my pistols, my hands came up empty. At the same time, I felt something slide down the back of my legs and land with a soft thump on the ground. Unable to slow my momentum, I tripped over the gun belt whose straps had been severed, and tumbled backward. I caught my balance after stumbling about five feet. Like a bad joke, my guns sat on the ground, splitting the distance between us. I could see the faint outline of a smile beneath his mask.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I was getting real tired of being the catcher. The assassin, on the other hand, was clearly still in the mood to pitch. He dove forward, whipping his blade toward me. I caught his wrist and answered with a quick, inside uppercut. He tucked his chin and took the shot without flinching.

Just my luck, the guy knew how to fight. A straight kick reinforced that fact. His foot caught me in the solar plexus and sent me head-overheels down the hill. Before I could adjust and turn my body into the roll, my head smacked the ground, all my weight behind it. Spots flashed before my eyes and the next thing I knew, I was laying face down on the cold, cement sidewalk.

I rolled over and hopped to a squat just in time to catch a boot to my jaw. Something phlegmy and wet spewed from my mouth as my head snapped to the side. The searing white light of pain blinded me as I spun about to land hard on my back. Dazed, I was beginning to think I wasn’t winning the fight. I opened my eyes as the assassin came to stand over me. My blurry gaze met his. I could feel the savage coldness in his eyes. He intended to finish the job.

“Who?” I asked, hoping for a second to catch my breath.

He waggled a finger at me and wrapped his hand around my throat, holding me in place. He lowered the knife toward me slowly, making sure I knew it was coming. That’s when I got a good look at it. It was a long boot knife and down its length was carved a series of magical runes. I recognized it instantly. It was the same one Eenie had used on me earlier.

“Veronica,” I muttered, his hand doing more to hold me down than choke me. Her name dripped off my tongue like bile. The assassin just nodded and tapped the tip of my nose with the blade. Bingo. Anger rose up in me like a volcano, blasting away the cobwebs in its fiery wake. I held it in check until the assassin’s blade neared my eye, then I exploded. Both hands wrapped around his knife wrist and I bucked my hips like he was the best lay I’d ever had. With every ounce of strength I could muster, I wrenched his arm to the side and swept him. He slammed onto his back and I mounted him, sitting on his chest and locking my legs together underneath to keep him there. I twisted his wrist even further, leveraging my weight behind it. The knife slipped free of his hand and bounced off down the sidewalk as I bent his arm backward. I heard a muffled snap as I dislocated his shoulder. He was a tough son of a bitch because he didn’t even cry out, but I could see the pain in his eyes. I knew I had him.

I didn’t wait for him to recover. Like Chuck Liddell on a tear, I started teeing off, raining down punches in bunches. He took the first two well enough, thrashing to get out from under me, but my third shot shattered his nose. He let out a moist grunt as blood squirted up from beneath the mask and blinded one of his eyes. I didn’t let up. I kept banging away, my fists smashing into his face like sledgehammers, until I felt his resistance cease. I hit him a few more times after that just to be sure, his consciousness having faded about twenty seconds earlier.

Not content to simply avoid being assassinated, and feeling mighty vindictive, I got up off the guy and went to retrieve the knife.

“Try to kill me, will ya?”

I walked back over and slammed the blade into his chest without hesitation, piercing his heart. His eyes popped open and he stared up at me, his throat rattling, trying to voice his surprise. Nothing came out. I could hear the sizzle of his blood and see it bubbling black where the blade entered. I snarled and pulled the hood from his head. While I didn’t recognize the guy, it was more than clear he was a demon, a minor one, but a demon nonetheless.

“See you in Hell.” I laughed, amending my statement. “Oh yeah, no I won’t. You won’t be going back. You’re dead forever.” I leaned in closer, pressing my mouth to his ear. “Hope that bitch was worth it.”

I stood up and spit on him as he twitched his last. I saw his chest heave once and settle, his final breath expended. Less than a second later, I felt my skin tingle while the hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention. A sudden warm flush ran the length of my body. I moaned as the feeling, way too pleasurable given the circumstances, set in. Thinking I’d been poisoned or something, my whirling mind raced along with my pulse. My crotch throbbed and felt like it was gonna explode. That’s when I realized what was happening. I was experiencing a soul transfer.

I stood still for a minute, letting the transfer run its course. I could feel it burning through my veins, passing on the assassin’s strength and vitality, his very essence. My pains were pushed into the background, only to disappear a moment later. When it was all said and done, I felt better than I ever had before. No wonder demons got off on killing one another. It was like taking a handful of Viagra and getting a sloppy hand job from Jessica Alba. I wanted more.

Before I could get too carried away with my analogies, a black Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows rolled up and stopped a short distance from me. I grumbled to myself and took a deep calming breath as I waited to see what was next. A second later, I had my answer. The doors swung open and Baalth and Marcus stepped from the vehicle. Marcus, of course, Page 94 had his gun out, pointed in my general direction. Baalth clapped. “Well done.” He gestured to the body on the sidewalk. “You’re no longer a virgin. You’ve popped your soul transfer cherry.”

“While you sat there and watched. How naughty of you.” I was starting to think Baalth had a hand in the attempts on my life. While the assassins, both the longhairs and the demon fellow, had confirmed it was Veronica, I imagined she wasn’t doing it alone. There was too much going on around Baalth for it all to be coincidence. I’m no firm believer in serendipity. He shrugged. “If you can’t handle a lowly demon by yourself, you’re not worth saving.”

I ignored him and snatched the blade, wiping the blood off on the corpse’s shirt. I slipped it into my waistband, making a show of it. I glared at Marcus, testing his resolve. He stared back without flinching.

“Relax, Frank. You called me, remember? I’m not here to fight.” He waved Marcus off, sending him back to the SUV. As his goon returned to the vehicle, he gestured for me to walk with him. “There, now tell me why we’re here.”

I sighed, putting my suspicion away for the moment. It wouldn’t make things easier. “Asmoday has captured an angel and has been using him to draw power from the Demonarch.”

A quiet hiss, and almost silent drawing of breath, was his only reaction. That was the only time

I’d ever seen Baalth appear even remotely concerned. It lasted only a quarter second before he regained his composure. In that instant, I learned an awful lot about what we were facing.

“Continue.”

I did. “As I’m sure you’ve figured out, he’s going to use that power to come after you.”

“So, what do you want from me? I’ve already engaged Asmoday. As we speak, my men are seeking out his and wreaking as much havoc as we can without drawing human law enforcement attention.”

That was demon-speak, which meant he was doing only just enough to fulfill his contract to me, and not a pubic hair more.

Even knowing what Asmoday intended, and its consequences for him personally, Baalth still played the role of uninvolved. Gotta hand it to him, he was one smooth operator. Even on his death bed, he’d be wracking up favors. I turned to face him so he could see how angry I was.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Baalth. This isn’t some petty coup attempt you can put down with guns and goons. Asmoday has drawn so much power from the Demonarch the dimensional walls are crumbling in its wake.” I saw his eyes narrow. It was clear he hadn’t noticed, or hadn’t realized the extent of the damage. “The fact he hasn’t already butchered the angel and stolen his soul to come after you tells me he Page 96 intends to draw even more. It’s likely his next attempt will shatter the wall and free the dimensions to merge. What then?”

He didn’t answer.

“Fine, I’ll tell you what.” I poked my finger into his chest. He took it well. I didn’t lose it. “Heaven and Hell will flood into Earth and all of creation will explode with war. Everything you’ve worked for since Lucifer disappeared will be washed away. If you survive, big if, you’ll be beholden to Asmoday as he’ll have the biggest dick in this pissing contest of yours. How do you think he’s gonna treat you after all you’ve done to thwart him? Let me tell you how. You’re gonna be his bitch. I hope you like taking it up the ass, buddy, because that’s how it’s gonna be from here on out.“You finished?” Baalth put his hands on his hips and raised his eyebrows. His eyes glowered at me. I could feel emanations of power wafting off him as his anger simmered inside. I thought about continuing for a second, but I figured I’d pushed my luck far enough. “Yeah, I’m done.”

“Good.” He remained calm, much to my surprise.

“I don’t know what your organization has planned, but I’m sure it hinges on my hitting Asmoday before he strikes at me.” He paused to gauge my response. I imagine my face told him everything he needed to know because he continued. “I will do as you ask, but be warned, given the circumstances, I cannot commit the entirety of my resources to this. I must hold them in reserve to defend myself should you fail.”

I groaned quietly, knowing that was the best I was gonna get. At least I didn’t have to trade another favor to get it. “Fine, but you’ve got to do it soon and it’s gotta pack a punch. We’ve only got about a day and a half before Asmoday kicks down our house of cards.”

Baalth nodded and waved to his men. The Escalade pulled up alongside us and the back door swung open. I saw Poe peering out at me with cold eyes. Marcus glared at me from beyond the mentalist, his gun visible in his lap.

“I’ll do what I can, but after that, you’re on your own.” Baalth climbed into the SUV. “Make it count.”

He closed the door and the Escalade sped off. I watched until its taillights disappeared before I relaxed.

“I guess it’s just you and me now.” I turned to the assassin’s body. It wasn’t there. “Or not.” In its place was a pile of clothes soaked in a thick black goo, which resembled tar. Albeit nasty, it sure saved on my having to dispose of a body. My buddies at the local cemetery would appreciate the break, I’m sure. They were good guys. They let me dig a lot of holes. Presuming the assassin was smart enough to not carry any clues as to the whereabouts of Veronica, I left his mushy remains behind and went up the hill. Fortunately, my guns were still there. I could just picture some homeless guy stumbling onto them and Page 98 going on a rampage at a liquor store. That would just make Abraham so happy.

Bum crisis avoided, I scooped them up and headed for the car, kicking over every trash can I came across. I didn’t have the time to deal with my succubus ex-wife, but I reiterated my earlier promise to myself. The first spare moment I got, she was going down. And I didn’t mean in a good way.

Behold the Light

I had just started the car when I heard a whispered voice. I jumped at the sound and spun around, searching the vehicle. There was no one there. Then I heard it again, this time more clearly inside my head. I laughed when I realized what it was. Rather than use unreliable cell phones or twoway radios whose signals could be interrupted or intercepted, DRAC uses telepaths to contact their members. They have several on staff, their abilities varying from a range of a few miles all the way up to global and dimensional communication. As such, DRAC could call any of their people without the fear of eavesdropping. The only real drawback of the system was it only worked one direction. I couldn’t contact them through the link. That and it was rather disturbing hearing someone else inhabiting the same space as my mind. I always felt dirty afterward. More so than usual, that is.

I answered aloud. I never quite got the hang of thinking an answer. It always got muddled up with whatever other thoughts were rutting about in there. Let me tell ya, the last time I tried, the telepath got way more information than she ever wanted to know.

Trust me. It was real bad timing on her part. I heard she turned a beautiful shade of magenta and went rushing off to the bathroom. She doesn’t handle my calls anymore.

It’s too bad, she had a sexy voice.

Abraham’s not so sexy voice echoed inside my brain, interrupting my reverie. “Frank?”

“I’m here.”

“Rachelle has picked up a massive spike in magical activity near where the other three incidents occurred.” A map image appeared in my head, showing me the location. It wasn’t too far from where I was. And of course, it was in Old Town. I was getting real sick of that place. One day there’d be a barrel of gasoline and a match with Old Town’s name on it.

“It’s a little soon, isn’t it?”

“Magic isn’t an exact science, Frank. You know there’s no way to be sure. Just head over there and see what’s happening. If Asmoday is drawing more power, we need to stop him. Katon and Rahim have been informed and will be there shortly.”

“All right, I’m on my way.” The Lone Ranger to the rescue. I couldn’t get the image of being scalped out of my head as the telepath broke the connection. I hit the gas and headed out. Less than five minutes later, I rolled up near the address. As usual, I parked a block or so away and walked over. No point in advertising I was there. The site turned out to be another abandoned warehouse. I sighed when I saw it. Things hadn’t worked out so well at the last one so I didn’t expect it to be much better this time around. I debated on waiting for Rahim and Katon, but I didn’t know what kind of time schedule I was working with. So, rather than risk being too late I decided to go it alone. Besides, if I died in the line of duty they’d call me a hero. I’d get a better epitaph, at least. You gotta have priorities.

I extended my senses and let the psychic feelers wander out. I could tell there had been some sort of magical outburst here, but the footprint didn’t feel the same as it had at the other locations. That could only mean one of two things. One, this was a trap. No big surprise there. Or two, this incident was unrelated to our Asmoday problem and I was walking in on something I didn’t want to deal with at this point. Neither was appealing. I guessed the only way to find out was to go inside.

I drew one of my guns from my waistband, bitching to myself about not having a holster anymore, and went in through the open gate. The yard was windblown, with debris scattered along the base of the wire fence. Despite the fact the scene felt and looked different than the other locations, I couldn’t let my guard down. I ran to the docks and crept up the ramp slowly. At the top, the rolling door stood open. I had this strange sense of deja vu hit me, broken only by the fact that the lights were on inside the building and there weren’t any of the long lines of shelves like the last place had. Too late to worry about it, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and went inside. Less than fifty yards into the barren warehouse, a man stood staring at me as I approached. I recognized him immediately. It was Asmoday. My first guess this was a trap was right. Chalk one up for me. Tall and lanky, Asmoday was dressed in an expensive, black business suit, cut to his thin figure. He wore an understated black and red tie, which hung from his narrow neck, a gold upside down cross pinned in the center of it. Light-complected, his full beard and short hair were jet black, so much so shimmers of blue appeared in them when he shifted under the lights. His lean face looked chiseled in wood, cut with sharp lines and delicate angles. His brown eyes, so dark as to appear black, settled on me. I could feel the weight of their stare. If ever a man truly fit the description of sinister, Asmoday was it.

“Come in Triggaltheron, I was hoping it was you who would arrive first. I wanted to speak with you.” He waved me forward.

Damn demons and their penchant for given names. Some people say true names give the wielder power over the named. That’s superstitious crap at its finest, but it definitely makes a guy uncomfortable when someone knows you well enough to name you fully. It sets a defensive tone to the whole encounter. I walked up to him, shaking my head. “Said the spider to the fly.”

“Come now, do you truly think so little of me?”

He feigned hurt.

“I gotta say I’m not exactly a fan of anyone who lists wiping out existence as their top priority.”

“But it’s in our nature. Are we not what God has made us to be?”

He had a point. Damn demons. I hated these philosophical arguments. I always lost.

“What do you want, Asmoday?”

He didn’t hesitate to answer. “To know why you’ve turned away from your uncle’s path. He had such high hopes for you.”

I tried my best to keep my expression neutral. I doubt I succeeded. My acting skills made Keanu Reeves look expressive.

Years ago, when Lucifer came to me and told me my true nature, he threw my world into chaos. Raised by my mother until I was fifteen, I had no clue I was part devil. I had known I was different, but not even in my worst nightmares could I have imagined what I really was or what plans had been made for me. You see, while I was eventually able to accept my lineage, that wasn’t the worst of it. After decades of acclimating to Hell and learning about the abilities my heritage would one day grant me, I was told of my Page 104 destiny. I was to be the next Anti-Christ. Talk about a head trip.

“Lucifer’s path was never mine.”

Asmoday shook his head. “You turned your back on your uncle, snubbing his inheritance. You passed on the greatest gift of power since God willed Lucifer into existence and for what? So you could pretend to be human?” He laughed, his voice melodic yet arctic cold. “There is no room for you amongst humanity. They would just as soon cast you to the pyre like the witches of old before they would ever accept you. You are pariah.”

“Thanks for talking me up. I feel much better now.” The truth hurts sometimes.

A semblance of warmth softened his features.

“While your opportunity to take up the mantle of the Anti-Christ has passed, there are other offers to consider.” His eyes locked onto mine. “Embrace your true self. Join me and let us bring about the final days together, as your uncle decreed. Make him proud.”

I’d always wondered what I’d given up, and for what. Life hadn’t exactly been all blowjobs and free porn since I’d returned to Earth. It had been rough. For as long as I could remember, I’d had to fight for every scrap that crossed my plate, for every penny that kept me off the streets. I’d passed up the chance at power unimagined, the means to make all my sordid dreams come true.

“Accept my offer and I will grant your friends at DRAC clemency. I will spare their lives and give them a place of honor in the new order. I will even spare your angelic cousin, if that is what you desire.”

I couldn’t help but think about it. I could save my friends and family and make something of myself. It appealed to me, I can’t lie. The part of me related to Lucifer called for me to say yes, but all I could see was my mother’s face.

I shook my head. “I can’t.” I’d always been too human.

He sighed, his shoulders sagging, and reached out to me. “I will not extend my hand again, Triggaltheron. Take it now or be swept away by the tides of Armageddon.”

“I guess I better get my surfboard out of hock.”

He pulled his hand back, clenching it into a tight fist. “You will regret this.”

“It’s kinda hard to regret something when I’m dead.” A shiver ran down my spine as I spoke. Being a realist can be a serious downer sometimes. Asmoday took a step back. “Then our business is concluded.” He met my eyes again. I could see disappointment in his. There was a terrible certainty as well. “Farewell, Triggaltheron. We will not meet again.”

Ah crap. I wasn’t so dense I didn’t recognize a threat when I heard one.

Asmoday’s form wavered and turned indistinct, swallowed by a swelling mist of blackness. In a great plume of whirling obsidian, he drifted up and through the roof of the warehouse leaving behind an inky black cloud. At the same time Asmoday rose up, four shafts of brilliant white light descended. I squinted and put my hand up to shade my eyes as the shafts coalesced and took form. When the light faded, four angels stood before me. None of them looked thrilled to see me. Dressed in flowing white robes and barehanded, the angels began to fan out and circle around me. I could tell by the look in their gold eyes, they weren’t here to convert me. They were planning to go Old Testament on my ass.

A lot like demons, angels trended toward simplicity in violence. They didn’t rely on a bunch of modern weaponry, in fact, they rarely used anything more than a sword, preferring to crush their opponents with their bare hands. They restricted their magic use to augmenting their strikes or to deflect blows, and occasionally they might toss out an energy blast if it seemed reasonable, but they liked their combat up close and personal.

The opposite of humans, who’d refined handto-hand down to an art, supernatural fighters were all about sheer, unbridled brutality. They loved to brawl. Ugly, cold, and efficient, there was no science to it. By the look in the eyes of these guys, they fit nicely into the stereotype.

Though I had a damn good idea how this was gonna go down, I didn’t wait around to see it played out. I started strafing. Sweeping to the left to avoid them getting behind me, I started firing, drawing my second pistol as I moved. I guessed they didn’t know what kind of ammo I was packing because they charged recklessly forward into the hail of gunfire. Didn’t take but an instant for them to realize that was a mistake. The closest angel, who stepped to the front of the line, took three in the chest at close range. Each bullet hit with a solid, bone-shattering thud. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide as spurts of shimmering yellow-gold blood sprung from the wounds. I held my fire, waiting to see what effect my guns had before I committed any more bullets. Never having the opportunity to shoot an angel before, I wanted some assurance it’d be effective before I blew my wad. As such, I didn’t leave my fate in the hands of DRAC’s demon-forged bullets. I kept backing toward the exit, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from the scene unfolding before me.

The wounded angel put his hands to his chest and looked down, muttering something incoherent. He collapsed an instant later. The other three went to his aid, covering him in comforting hands. It wouldn’t be enough. One second they were fluttering above him whispering words of encouragement, the next they froze, their faces going slack. Each raised his tear-stained face to Heaven and let loose a wailing dirge that rattled the dust from the rafters. That was my cue to get the hell out of Dodge.

I popped off a few more shots as they lowered their faces to glare at me, murder in their eyes. While I did, a ripple of energy tickled across my skin. As I’d just recently experienced it, I recognized the feeling instantly. It was the soul transfer. I’d forgotten it worked with angels as well.

“Damn it,” I complained just as the flush of orgasmic energy rippled through me, halting my retreat. My eyes fluttered closed.

An instant later, in the throes of what amounted to the equal of the best sex I’d ever had, one of the angels slammed into me. I almost didn’t feel it. I did feel the wall though, as we smashed through it. Surprisingly, it didn’t really hurt much.

Carried by the tackling angel’s momentum, we flew about a hundred feet out across the parking lot. We came down hard, the angel maneuvering me through my daze to take the brunt of the landing. We hit the asphalt with a fleshy slap, tumbling into a roll. After about fifteen feet and a serious case of road rash, we came to a stop. Turned out, I ended up on top. Even better, thanks to the ongoing transfer, my wounds had barely opened before they were stitching themselves shut. Man, I loved this stuff. I decided to go for seconds. With a smile so wide it hurt my jaw, I put my Page 109 gun to the forehead of the angel beneath me.

“Repeat after me. If I should die before I wake, I pray for Trigg my soul to take.”

You’d think I’d have learned from all the movie villains who get beat while monologuing. Guess not. Before I could pull the trigger, I caught a kick to the face. Apparently the transfer had run its course because I felt every bit of that one.

I heard my nose snap and felt a warm gush explode from it. Lightning bolts of pain shot through my eyes and I flew backwards and landed in a heap. My head felt like used Jell-o.

You figure it out.

I knew I couldn’t just sit there so I jumped to my feet, raised my guns and started blasting away at random, spinning in a tight circle. My eyes were so blurry everything was a wet blob so I aimed and shot at the darker blotches as I got to my feet. Meanwhile, I blinked hard and shook my head, hoping to clear my eyes without having to pull one of my guns from service. I managed to sluice a bit of the moisture away just as a shadow engulfed me. I growled at my stupidity. I had forgotten angels could fly.

I never had a chance. From above me there was a rush of wind just as two vice-like hands seized my shoulders. I felt myself spun about and pressed face first to the ground, a steely weight pinning me down. I was about to start bucking when I realized the maneuver hadn’t been aggressive. On top of that, I felt a woman’s boobs pressed into my back.

At least I hoped they were a woman’s. It could have been a really fat guy, but I preferred not to think of that possibility.

Right then, I felt the air pressure change. My lungs burned as the breath was ripped from them. My gasp was drowned out by the sonic boom that ripped open the sky as if a thousand thunder storms had been unleashed at once. I heard the sound of wrenching steel buried beneath the cacophony of destruction and smelled the tangy scent of burning wood and metal on the heated air. A heartbeat later, I felt the temperature drop about thirty degrees and the ground danced beneath me. I held on for dear life. Through it all, the boobs were an ever present comfort.

It ended a moment later. Everything had gone quiet. It was as if the world had been put on mute. I felt the restraining grip relax as my captor rolled off me. I opened my eyes and turned to see who’d held me. I met Scarlett’s green eyes. Her face was pensive and she seemed none too pleased.

“Was it good for you?” I asked.

She shoved me away and stood up, making an ugly face. The moment ruined, I sat up and looked to the warehouse.

It was gone.

All that was left was smoldering ruin. Like a miniature Nagasaki, the place had been nuked into non-existence. Twisted metal and pieces of smoking concrete lay scattered about the perimeter. The asphalt surrounding the warehouse was slagged into a black soup that glistened with tiny sputtering firelights. The destruction was impressive. I glanced behind me to see who’d pulled the trigger.

Rahim Alakha stood rigid with his hands extended toward the warehouse, wisps of white smoke emanating from his dark fingers. The whirling glow of his eyes faded as I watched, then disappeared. He drew in a deep breath and relaxed, his arms dropping to his side. He walked over to us, shaking his arms out as I climbed to my feet and stood beside Scarlett. Katon joined us a moment later as I put my guns away.

“Way to go, Oppenheimer.” My voice sounded wet and thick, thanks to the blood draining down my throat. “So much for low profile.”

Rahim shook his head. “I think the appropriate response would be to say thanks.”

“I was doing all right.”

He looked at my face and smirked. “I can tell.”

Scarlett drew my attention. Her eyes were wet.

“An angel died here. What happened?”

“You saw them when you got here.” I tried to look sympathetic, but I’m sure you can figure out how well that worked. “I showed up and Asmoday was waiting with a sales pitch. I told him to take a hike and the next thing I know four of your brothers pop in and start coming after me. I did what I had to.” The death had hit her hard, but she didn’t say anything about it. I think she was starting to understand it was a sign of things to come in our new age. It didn’t help to dwell on it.

Katon went to examine the wreckage as Rahim turned to me. “Asmoday has angelic assistance.” It was more of a statement than a question. I think he was disappointed more than surprised.“It looks that way. It’s too much of a coincidence for it to be otherwise. He threatened me and bailed just as the winged goon squad arrived.”

Katon shouted from the remains of the warehouse. “There’s a body.”

“Only one?” I asked back. I’d figured the other three fled when Rahim blasted the warehouse based off of Scarlett’s comments, but it didn’t hurt to be sure. I was hoping Rahim had gotten the rest. I didn’t want to run into them again.

Katon nodded as Scarlett raced to the downed angel’s side. Rahim went after her. I took a deep breath and followed behind. As we reached the dead angel, Katon turned to me.

“Three in the chest.” He nodded in silent approval. “Guess our forgers need a pay raise too.”

Scarlett growled at him and knelt down beside the body. She cradled the fallen angel’s head in her lap, her tears flowing freely. Katon took a step back to give her room, realizing he’d upset her. After a moment, she looked up at me, anger flashing in her eyes.

“This is Israfil.” As if telling me who he was changed anything.

I recognized the name, though. He was the angel destined to sound the horn that ushered in Armageddon.

“That blows.” I couldn’t help myself. Furious, she bared her teeth, the green of her eyes whirling.

I raised my hands to ward her off. “They came after me, Scarlett. It’s not like I wanted this.” The lie tasted bitter. Yeah, I admit I lost a little control after the first soul transfer, but it wasn’t like I sought them out to kill them. They attacked me. “Besides, they’re working for Asmoday. I’m sorry if I hurt someone you know, but if he’s pro-Armageddon, he’s an enemy, plain and simple. That applies to all of them. That’s just the way it is.” I tried my best to look apologetic. I never realized how hard it could be.

She sighed deeply, her expression softening as she put it all into perspective. Her anger at the angel’s death made way for sadness. She gave a shallow nod. Rahim, who’d stayed out of our philosophical debate, stood surveying the scene when he suddenly went rigid. He looked up with seeking eyes. Scarlett turned to the sky as well, her face slack with surprise. Page 114

“Move away from the body,” Rahim shouted, his voice filled with reedy tension.

I was gone in a flash. Anything that could spook Rahim was something I didn’t want to play with. Even Scarlett abandoned Israfil’s body and retreated with us. I watched the dark sky to see if I could determine what was coming our way. I didn’t have long to wait. Brilliant sparkles of light illuminated the night, washing the stars away. I shielded my eyes from the brunt of the glare and kept watching as thousands of glowing beams struck the ground at once, then dissipated. A nebulous cloud of swirling energy floated toward us, the air crackling. A chill settled around us as I heard what sounded like singing. It was amorphous, yet beautiful. I realized who it was. Gabriel.

He appeared in all his glory as I thought his name. The cloud reached the ground and broke apart, drifting away to reveal the archangel. Like the stories of old, he looked every bit the archetypical angel; flowing long hair, bronzed skin, and perfect chiseled features. Dressed in an ivory white breastplate emblazoned with a gold cross, a bejeweled sword at his side, he smiled at us. It was the smile of a predator. I saw no hint of God’s mercy in it.

His majestic wings, made of shimmering golden light, folded behind his back and faded away as he knelt beside the downed angel, his face going blank. He set his hand upon Israfil’s chest and bowed his head, muttering a quiet prayer. To whom, I had no idea. It wasn’t as if God was listening. A moment later, he stood and returned his attention to us. There was no longer even the pretense of kindness, the smile gone from his face.

“You have struck down one of the Lord’s faithful.” His eyes settled on me.

Not willing to be bullied, I stood my ground. “I can’t imagine God would be real happy to know your angel was cavorting with demons.”

Gabriel didn’t look surprised. “God is forgiving. And in these difficult times, I have no doubt He would reward those who serve His desires so fervently, be they angel, man, or demon.”

“The end justifies the means, huh?” I could feel my anger getting the better of me.

Scarlett stepped in. “We know not God’s will, Gabriel.” That had to hurt for her to admit. The archangel laughed. “No, you do not know His will. You whose bloodline is tainted by the Devil’s seed could never understand His holy plan.” He sneered at her. “Do not speak to me, for your very voice curdles the blood in my veins. You are a demon in all but name.”

That wounded Scarlett deeper than any blade ever could. In one sentence, Gabriel had taken her pride from her, wounded her to her very core. Despite how much of a pain in the ass Scarlett could be, Gabriel had no right to speak to her like that. It made me angry.

“Your God is gone, His relevance with Him.” I stepped toward Gabriel. “His plans and desires don’t mean shit anymore. Had He cared, He would have told us what He wanted instead of leaving us to figure it out. So don’t go being all self-righteous like you have a clue, some secret insight into what God wants. We all know damn well know you don’t. You’re as much in the dark as everyone else.”

Gabriel matched my forward step with one of his own. His hand settled on the pommel of his sword.

“Spawn of Lucifer. Do not presume to speak of that which you cannot understand. God shall be a part of the faithful forever. It will be in His name I carve the tongue from your blasphemous mouth.”

Rahim stepped between us. I could tell that was the last place he wanted to be. I had to give the guy credit for stepping up though. “Had you intended to strike us down, it would have already been so.” He gestured to Katon, who grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back. I didn’t resist much. “So saying, why have you come?”

“You are wise, wizard.” Gabriel’s hand slid away from his sword. The smile crept back to his lips.

“Armageddon is a foregone conclusion. God has seen fit to bring it about and so it shall be. After which, there is to be a new Genesis, a rebirth of all which is good, righteous, and pious. I would rather not be forced to destroy the misguided among you because of a misunderstanding. You and your people, with but a few exceptions-” He turned and looked at me. “-are good people. You do what you believe to be right, but unintentionally, you work against God. I am but His servant, yet I know His will as if it were my own. He would be merciful to you, and as He would be, so will I.”

“And God desires the end of world?”

“It has long since become obsolete. The humans wage war under the guise of false gods, false beliefs. They pervert His holy texts with their petty schemes and defile the planet as well as each other. They commit atrocities in the name of God, which cannot be forgiven. They ravage the land, murder the children, and rape the tenets of His holy faith. Could He desire anything less?” He paused a moment, waiting for an answer. None came. “The time has come for a reckoning.”

Rahim drew in a deep breath and let it out in a whistling sigh. “What would you have us do?”

“Stand aside. Let the demons bring about their own end and allow Armageddon to move forward. This age is past. What stands before us is the true glory that God has promised. We will bask in the light of our Lord as Adam once did, knowing no evil, shame, or desire. At the end of our existence is yet another, more befitting our status as servants of the Lord.”

Son of a bitch! It was right then I realized how Asmoday had been able to capture an angel for his little science project.

Gabriel had done it for him.

“You speak of treason yet you hand over one of your own to Asmoday in order to further your cause.”

Rahim and Scarlett hissed in unison as what I’d said sunk in. It made perfect sense. I’m sure we were all surprised I was the one to figure it out. Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Glorius serves willingly. He understands his sacrifice will be the catalyst that brings about Armageddon. He was honored to give up his life so God’s will could be realized.”

“You sent Glorius to Asmoday?” Scarlett screamed at him. “He’s being tortured!”

“Glorius serves God. His pain is nothing compared to that of the world. It will soon end, ushering in a new age unburdened by sin. He will be revered, as was Christ. He accepts this. He would have it no other way.”

Scarlett just stared, unable to speak. I could, but for once, I decided not to. I didn’t have anything good to say.

Rahim took the opportunity to step in. I could see by stiffness in his shoulders, the slight hunch in his stance, he was getting ready to fight. While I had always respected the man, his willingness to stand up to Gabriel earned him the ‘Biggest Balls of All Time’ award.

“With all due respect, I cannot deny my heart, nor can I ask it of those who stand by my side.” He bowed, but his eyes never left Gabriel’s. “With God gone, I cannot in good faith follow the word of any who claim to speak for Him. It is to His word alone I must cling to and I have not yet heard His call for the end. I’m sorry, but I must stand against you.”

“So be it, wizard. I know you to be a man of faith, but you have been led astray. I will look for you at the end of days where you will be given one final chance to stand up for your convictions, however errant they may be.” He nodded to Rahim. “It will be an honor to face you on the field of battle.”

In silence, Gabriel lifted the body of his angelic companion and cradled him in his arms. Despite all our bluster, no one moved to stop him. He looked to us and I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He bowed his head and his mystical wings spread from his back. With one powerful flap, he sprung into the air, a cool breeze whipping about us in his wake. In a blink of an eye, he was out of sight, obscured by the dark night. I could hear the collective sighs of those around me.

“We’re fucked.” I said it, but I knew everyone around me was thinking the same thing, albeit probably less crudely.

Scarlett waved her hands about like she was having a seizure, clearly having a hard time coping with Page 120 all we’d learned. She turned away and I thought I heard a sob. I didn’t have time to check on her before she too leaped into the air and flew away. Once she was gone, I turned back to Rahim and Katon.

“So, is my assessment correct?”

Rahim didn’t respond, but Katon laughed. It was one of those laughs you usually associate with people who have lost their minds. I think Rahim was kinda surprised it didn’t come from me.

“Gabriel’s involvement with Asmoday definitely ups the stakes,” Katon answered after he’d gotten his chuckles under control. “Even if we had Baalth’s full cooperation, we’d still be underpowered. I’ve yet to find where they’re keeping Glorius, so they’ve still got a card in play. For that matter, I’m not even sure taking him out would make a difference now. If what Gabriel said is true, he could just as easily find another angel to sacrifice himself.”

Rahim interrupted. “Keep looking for Glorius. While I don’t know about what, I got the sense Gabriel wasn’t being entirely truthful. There’s some other piece to the puzzle we aren’t seeing.”

“Angels lie?” I scoffed.

Rahim ignored me. “Katon, return to the hunt. If we can at least delay their plans, it will give us the opportunity to seek out a more permanent solution.”

The vampire nodded.

Rahim summoned his energies, sending Katon away in an explosion of glistening energy. Rahim turned back to me. “While I’ve no specific directions to help guide you, keep mucking about and see what you can find.”

“Mucking about? Is that the official term for what I do?” I gave him a dirty look. “Frank Trigg, professional mucker. He’s one bad mucker-trucker.”

Rahim shook his head, a sly smile on his lips.

“You are good at what you do, Frank. And what you do best is stumble upon trouble. I’d hardly call that a skill.”

“Yeah, well…your grandfather was a goat herder. What would you know?”

He laughed, his eyes sparkling. “At this point, I seem to know very little. That is why you are so very important. Amongst the ignorant, you are king.”

He mimed setting a crown upon my head. “Find us something, Frank. We’re desperate,” he told me, his tone turning serious.

“If only you were a woman, that kind of talk would really get me worked up.” I rolled my eyes, pushing aside the image of Rahim as a woman. I shuddered.

He patted me on the shoulder, a genuine smile gracing his lips. “Be safe. Let me know what you find.”

With that, he teleported away, leaving me behind with the wreckage and one hell of a case of the heebiejeebies.

Alone, I took a moment to think, difficult as that was sometimes. I was used to being behind the eight ball. My entire devilish life had been built around the premise of getting screwed and not in a fun, porn star way. It was most often in the prison kind of way, getting sucker punched and waking up with a sore ass with some big guy named Bubba sitting on the bunk smoking a cigarette and heating up a branding iron. Mostly human, I had always been the underdog when it came to dealing with the demons and devils of Hell, but this was different. Caught up in a war where the combatants were an archangel and two of Lucifer’s top lieutenants, I felt like France. All I wanted to do was raise my arms and shout, “I surrender.” I was feeling way outclassed, but I had an idea.

It wasn’t just a few of us who would suffer if Armageddon came to pass. It would be everyone, human, angel, and demon alike. So thinking, it was time to call up some reinforcements.

Welcome to Hell

Back at home, I stumbled inside, manacles in hand. Certain they’d come in handy at some point, I stashed them where they would be the most useful; the bedroom. I placed them in a box beneath the bed for safekeeping and quick access, right beside the jumbo tube o’ lube and my inflatable Jenna Jameson doll. One could never tell when the need to restrain a supernatural being might arise. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Just thinking about how I’d use them got my blood flowing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just my crotch that was throbbing. My nose was killing me. So to fix that, I dug out a vial and took a sip of Lucifer’s blood. Within moments, I was healed and much happier for it. I wrapped the vial in a washcloth, to help protect it, and stuffed it in my pocket. I hoped it’d fair better than the last one. I couldn’t afford to keep losing the things. Finished with my healing, I peeled off my bloody shirt and examined the chain mail underneath. Between the hole blown in the shoulder and all the damage it’d taken when I was tossed through the walls, the chain shirt was barely hanging together. The links had begun to unravel. I pulled it off, realizing it wouldn’t do me much good in the shape it was in. And since I didn’t have time to meet up with my Medieval Renaissance pal to get it repaired anytime soon, I tossed it to the side. Regrettably, it was the only one I had. I slipped on a shirt and hoped I wouldn’t need the chainmail. My cynicism laughed at me.

Cleaned up and as ready as I was gonna be, it was time to go.

I went to the spare bedroom of my house and opened the door. Long ago, I had converted the room to accommodate something other than visiting relatives, something far more useful. I didn’t feel bad about it as the only family I had was Scarlett and it’s not like she would be popping in to stay over. Not willingly, at least. Painted all black, the room seemed to swallow what little light the bulb in the hallway gave off. On the floor was an engraved silver circle, surrounded by electric lights in the shape of candles. What I lacked in magical power, I made up for in ingenuity.

Actually, it had been Lucifer’s idea. He had always been the brains of the operation. Anyway, I flipped the switch on the wall and the candles flickered to life. I shut the door, waited a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dimness, then went and sat in the middle of the circle. I picked up the small knife, which lay on the floor, and took a deep breath as I glanced around the room, feeling a bit apprehensive. I felt weird. It had been quite a while since I’d been in here last. A fine layer of gray dust covered everything. I wondered if it would still work with Lucifer gone. I figured, what the hell? I didn’t really have anything to lose. It would work or it wouldn’t.

I used the knife and poked a finger. After tossing the blade to the side, I reached down and squeezed a drop of my blood onto the circle, willing it to life. I immediately felt a surge of magical energy and saw the edges of the circle shimmer. I smiled as the gate came online, silently thanking my uncle for not taking all of his power with him.

I closed my eyes and thought hard about my destination. Once I had it fully envisioned, I willed myself through the gate. In an explosion of energy and willowy blackness, I arrived a moment later. I was in Hell.

The smell of burnt flesh and brimstone stung my nose as I drew in my first breath, grinning all the while. For all its notoriety, it felt good to be home. I glanced around the monstrous cavern halls to gain my bearing and smiled when I realized I’d appeared exactly where I intended to, the Sixth Plane. The circle had worked perfectly despite the trauma inflicted upon the dimensional walls. I wasn’t sure it would, but I was sure glad it had. Pessimism ran deep in me. I looked off in the distance and saw where I needed to be. Carved in black stone, and decorated in the gleaming white skulls of the enemies of its master, the castle cast an imposing shadow in the reddishyellow light. While glad to be back, I knew I didn’t have time to waste reminiscing, so I headed off. It only took me a few minutes to reach the castle, the roads and fields empty.

That was a little disconcerting.

It had been over fifty years since I’d been in Hell last, but I hadn’t imagined it would have changed so drastically in such a relatively short time. Normally, the Sixth Plane would be bustling with activity. As one of the more lenient Circles, the Sixth attracted the most adventurous of Hell’s denizens, which lent it an energy that couldn’t be found anywhere else. Culturally devoid and entirely lacking in morality, the carnival atmosphere prevailed. If there was something taboo you wanted to see, touch, taste, or fuck, the Sixth was where you went. There was very little that couldn’t be experienced there.

I know most people would picture the entirety of Hell as being such a place, but that’s not true. In general, it’s an ordered society with a civilized, albeit somewhat tormented, populace. It’s not the rampant serpent’s nest of evil it’s made out to be. That’s all a story made up by the Church to keep the believers in line.

There are, of course, those parts best left alone if you value your life and sanity. Places even the denizens of Hell would rather not think about, but as a whole,

Hell is little different than Earth. It’s drier, hotter, and entirely subterranean, but otherwise pretty similar. It is, after all, populated by the same people. To see the Sixth so devoid of life was disturbing. I’d spent many raucous nights here sowing all manner of seeds. Today, it felt like I was visiting a grave. Lucifer’s departure had taken away more than just Hell’s leader. It had taken its spirit as well. I shuddered and returned my focus to the castle. I didn’t like the feelings that were being dredged up. Once at the castle’s gate, I called out. I stood there for several minutes twiddling my thumbs, but there was no reply. Worried the war had taken its toll on the seat of power of the Sixth, I called out louder. Once more, there was no response.

Discouraged, I turned away from the gate and glanced out across the sputtering lava fields. They churned and bubbled in slow motion, the thick scent of sulfur from their gurgling exhalations tickled the back of my throat. I looked to the coal caves where those souls still serving penance would toil beneath the biting whip of the field masters. They too were empty, devoid of life. Even the sky seemed lifeless. The black clouds hung immobile, thick and threatening. It was as if Hell were holding its breath. Saddened, I looked once more to the gate. A pair of glowing red eyes stared back at me.

“What is your business?” the wrinkled face that Page 128 peered down at me from the top of the wall asked. Startled, it took me a second to answer. “I’ve come to see the duke.” The door guy must have been new. He didn’t seem to recognize me. Admittedly, it had been a while since I’d stopped by. I guess I couldn’t hold it against him.

“He’s not to be disturbed.”

“I need to speak to him. It’s of grave importance.”

The servant seemed unmoved by my grandeur.

“Nothing is of importance if the master does not declare it so. Go away.” He stepped away from the wall, out of sight.

“I am Triggaltheron, nephew of Lucifer.” Though I hated dropping my uncle’s name like that, I needed inside. “I must speak with the duke.” I tried my best to sound important.

I guess he wasn’t impressed, as he didn’t return. Fifty years ago, I’d have been let in so fast I’d have incurred whiplash. Today, my name and heritage didn’t carry enough wind to raise an ass hair. How quickly the past is forgotten.

I sat there for a minute longer until I decided I wasn’t gonna be let in. I’d have to make other plans. Just as I turned to leave, I heard a loud clack and the gate began to slowly rise. I looked back to see the great double doors behind the gate pulling open. Once both had cleared the way, I saw the servant waving to me from inside. I hurried through before he could change his shriveled mind.

Short, hunchbacked, and looking far too old and feeble to be of much use, the servant gestured for me to follow him. His sharp nose and disfigured arms made him look like an under cooked chicken. I doubted even Colonel Sanders would find him attractive. He hobbled along toward the main keep as I caught up.

“So, you’re the fool who refused Satan’s offer to be the Anti-Christ?”

That’s just what I needed, the help questioning my life choices. “Yeah well, the hours sucked and there weren’t any health benefits. What can I say? I could do better.”

He looked at me like I’d just praised the Pope.

“You utter such blasphemy.” A smile crept to his twisted, cracked lips. “It would explain why Lucifer held you in such high regard.”

I think I blushed.

We traveled the rest of the way in silence. At a pair of ornate double doors made of bone, we came to a stop. The servant tapped on the door and a basso welcome roared out. The doors swung open and I was ushered in.

The room beyond looked suspiciously like a church. A great red carpet led down the center of the room, rows of red velvet chairs lined either side. At the far end was a raised dais, a monstrous throne on top. The subtle scent of singed meat hung in the air, wafting up from the fleshy candles, which circled the room. My stomach rumbled.

Seated upon the throne was an old friend of my uncle, one of my mentors in the days when I lived in Hell. Duke Forcalor. He lifted his chin a bit and narrowed his eyes as I approached. He looked as regal as I’d remembered.

Clothed in the finest silks, he seemed the paragon of comfort. His long white hair was tied back tight, lending him a youthful appearance. His cleanshaven, unlined face added to the illusion. He waved me forward, his eyes sparkling. He seemed glad to see me.

“Come in, come in, young Trigg.” He remembered how much I hated my full name. It warmed my heart.

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. How are you?” He gestured to a nearby chair.

I gave a quick bow of respect, then dropped into the seat. “As well as I can be.” I tried not to sound too pessimistic. “How are you, my friend?”

“I’m wonderful, just wonderful.” He looked me over, an eyebrow creeping up. “I sense a burgeoning strength within you.” He paused a second, examining me further. A bright smile lighted across his face.

“You’ve blooded your hands.”

Though I knew it was a compliment, I felt a hint of shame well up. “I hadn’t really intended to. This war…” I left my sentence hanging.

He nodded. “It comes to us all, in its own time. Do not regret what you cannot control. Our existence is a violent one. We can do little about that. Relish what time you have and do not let your enemies dictate your emotions.”

Forcalor had always been a soldier, but he longed for peace. He had acknowledged his role in life, though he would never accept it. Unlike the majority of demons, the duke took no pleasure in death, or in destruction. He held no animosity for the angels still on high. In fact, he envied them. He did only what he had to do to survive, nothing more. ‘Live and let live, lest the wolves come knocking at your door,’ he’d always said. And he’d meant it. That made my mission even harder.

“I’m sorry to be so direct, but I need your help.”

He leaned back in his throne. It was clear by the look on his face he’d already known that. Why else would I come to Hell now that my uncle was gone? He gestured for me to go on.

“Asmoday has enlisted the help of Gabriel in his efforts to bring about Armageddon.”

Forcalor squinted. He hadn’t known that, or at least he put on a good act. Like with most demons, it was hard to tell the difference between their lies and the truth.

“Between them, they’re drawing power from the Demonarch, using an angel to store it until Asmoday can claim it as his own. He intends to kill Baalth.” I paused to let him take everything in.

“With Baalth’s power alone, Asmoday would be a formidable opponent. Add in what they’ve stolen from the Demonarch and he would be nigh unstoppable.”

The duke rubbed his hands together. I could tell he was thinking about the possible consequences of such a brazen move. “It makes no sense Gabriel would allow Asmoday to claim such power. It does nothing to benefit him, quite the opposite, in fact.”

I didn’t understand it either. “They’ve also badly weakened the dimensional wall through their rituals. It may soon break open, but I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“I’d sensed the damage, though its cause was a mystery to me.” He shrugged. “However, I trust in the wall to hold. It is far more resilient than most think. They’ll have to do much more to it before they run the risk of its collapse.”

That, at least, was a dab of good news floating in a sea of shit. “Even so, Asmoday is on the short track to bringing about Armageddon, wall or no wall. We’re hanging on the edge here.”

The duke leaned forward and met my eyes. His mischievous smile sparkled. “Aren’t we always? What is it you’re asking of me?”

Here came the hard part. “I know you’d rather remain uninvolved, as has been your wont since Lucifer vanished, but the time for neutrality has passed.

Asmoday is on the cusp of ending the world and those of us who know, don’t have the means to stop him. We’re all looking at being dead or enslaved, and that includes you.”

Forcalor sat back, but said nothing. I couldn’t read his expression. It was frustrating. I continued. “I know this is a lot to drop in your lap, but I’ve nowhere else to turn. You’re the only person I know who has the power to challenge Gabriel, giving us a shot at taking Asmoday down.”

“I have much to lose in a confrontation of that magnitude.”

“You have much more to lose if you do nothing.”

I couldn’t tell if I was getting anywhere. It was like trying to talk a woman into giving it up. The answer was always no until you weighted the offer sufficiently.

“Defeat Gabriel and there’s a chance you can return to Heaven.” The bait had been cast. I was looking to reel in a whopper.

The duke’s eyes glimmered. “How so?”

I felt a nibble. “Without God around, Gabriel is the final word in Heaven. Show the Angelic Choir his true intentions and take him out before he can drag them down, and you’ll be hailed as a hero. You’d be welcomed back in a heartbeat.” I stopped talking. I didn’t want to overplay my hand.

Forcalor grinned wide and clapped his hands.

“You’ve learned well.”

“I had an excellent teacher.” I lathered it on thick.

The duke laughed at me. “Had your teacher been so good, he would have taught you when to stop.”

I shrugged apologetically. We both knew I was a

‘C’ student at best.

“I will assist you, but as always there is a price to pay for my help.”

Oh great, here we go again. I knew I didn’t look excited at the prospect of selling another piece of my ass. “Of course there is. Put it on my tab.”

He called his servant to him. Old and chatty arrived with contract in hand. The little guy handed it to me and I took it without too much complaint. I looked it over real quick. It didn’t matter how close Forcalor and I were, you never, never, signed a contract with a demon without reading the fine print. I ran down the line; favor to be repaid later; first born son; blah, blah, blah; standard. I bit my hand and made my mark. It’s a good thing self-inflicted wounds healed quickly, otherwise I’d have some seriously mangled hands with all the wheeling and dealing I’d been forced to do lately.

My ass in yet another sling, I handed the contract to the duke.

He looked it over and smiled. “We have a deal.”

The servant handed him a small, black box. From within it he pulled a round gemstone, glistening blue in the dim light. He passed it over to me. “Understand first I can only aid you once, so choose your moment wisely.”

Hey, look at that, a catch.

He saw my disappointment. “Like any good teacher, we cannot help but continue the lesson.”

“With all the hot teachers banging their kids these days, why’d I have to get stuck with you?”

“Consider yourself lucky. Were your teachers these women you so profess your lust for, you would most certainly be fucked. Given the current circumstances, what could they do for you?”

I gave him the golf clap. “Good one.” Snappy comebacks were not the duke’s strong suit. He chuckled before continuing. “I cannot simply confront Gabriel without provocation. I must be drawn into the fray. More importantly, I must be drawn in by him.”

I groaned as I thought about the logistics. “It’s not like he’s gonna rush down here and pick a fight. By the time he does return to Hell, the damage will have been done.”

“It’s really not complicated, Trigg. My favor is that you serve under me until this conflict is resolved.”

I didn’t quite get it. I’d failed my Infernal Politics class. “Not sure I see what you’re getting at.”

“As my servant, an attack upon you by Gabriel is an attack on me.”

“Uh, so I’ve got to get him to come after me?”

That wasn’t exactly what I’d planned when I thought this whole scheme up. I was looking for a way to avoid having to mix it up with Gabriel. Now, I was giftwrapping my ass for him. My simple plan was becoming way too complicated.

“In essence, yes, but you must not initiate the confrontation. I cannot defend you if he is in the right in your conflict. You must find a way to provoke him without appearing to do so.”

“Excellent.” For a guy who rarely gets laid, I sure did get screwed a lot. I was beginning to regret having come here.

“Speak my name once the conditions of our agreement are met and I will come to your aid. Keep the gem close, for it is the portal through which I will arrive.”

Strapped for time and having gotten all I was gonna in the way of help, I stood. “Thank you. For everything.” I bowed to Forcalor, trying my best to hide my disappointment. I really was grateful, I had just come there hoping for more direct help, fool that I am. Duke Forcalor stood and extended his hand. I took it. “Should our fates align, we will see each other soon. If not, it was an absolute pleasure to have known the only man to have ever refused the office of AntiChrist.” He smiled wide. Devils loved rebellion, just as long as it’s not them you’re rebelling against.

I took my leave and left the castle, Forcalor’s servant showing me out. In a daze, I went back to the arrival point to trigger my departure. On the walk there I wondered if, what with all the holes I’d been digging myself into lately, I needed a longer shovel.