Armageddon Bound

Ambushed

Crouched on the floor of the van, I stared up at D’anatello wishing upon him the worst plagues and venereal diseases known to demon-kind. Abraham sat beside me, staring off into space. Though as brave as anyone I’d ever known, he didn’t look up to being kidnapped. I couldn’t blame him.

“Let Abraham go. He’s got nothing to do with our arrangement.” I spoke to Poe, bypassing the hulking moron who pointed my stolen gun at my head. Poe shook his head, his face a mask of cultured neutrality. “I’m sorry, Mr. Trigg, we cannot do that. Baalth has requested we bring both of you to him. That is what I must do.”

Stripped of my guns yet again, I thumped the back of my head against the van wall in frustration. I wasn’t willing to risk Abraham’s well-being just to buck Baalth, so I stayed put and tried not to let my emotions get the best of me. We rode the rest of the way in silence. A short time later, the van came to a stop and we were herded out. I stepped outside, staying close to Abraham and looked about. Rows upon rows of marble headstones spread out before my eyes, poking up out of the verdant green field that stretched out for acres. A large mausoleum painted in delicate shades of pink and gold stood in the center, casting its shadow over us. The bastards had brought us to Restland Cemetery. I knew the place well as it was where my buddies worked and I had been here more times than I should admit. After hours though, there was no one here to see us, working or otherwise. To the left of us were two freshly dug holes. Baalth stood beside them like a preacher offering up Last Rites. He waved us over. I could tell by the way his eyebrows met in the middle he was angry. I can’t say I cared all that much.

“What the hell is your problem, Baalth? We were in the middle of saving your ass, but I guess that doesn’t mean anything to you. I don’t appreciate you dragging us out here.”

“And I don’t appreciate you involving Forcalor in our business.” He postured up and stepped into my face. “What possible reason could you have for bringing him into it?”

It seemed like everyone was on the ball today but me. “How’d you find out about that?”

“Let’s just say a little bird told me. Now answer my question.”

What’s the world coming to when you can’t even trust the ugly servants to be loyal? Tired of being on the receiving end, I dug my heels in. “Fine, I’ll tell you why. Your best buddy Asmoday has gone on and found himself a new friend, one with wings, a great big halo, and one hell of an inferiority complex.” The confused look on Baalth’s face was very satisfying. “I’m talking about Gabriel. The two of them are working together to put their collective boots in your ass. You might want to start making room.”

Baalth looked to Abraham. “Is this true?”

Abraham nodded. I snapped my fingers in Baalth’s face. “Over here, big fella. You haven’t earned the right to speak to him.”

Baalth growled low in his throat. “Be careful, Triggaltheron.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me? Oh wait, Asmoday is already working on that and he’s bringing his holy enforcer to preside over the funeral. I do feel better though, knowing I’m not gonna be the only guy getting stuffed into the ground. Maybe we can be roomies.” I gestured to the open graves. “That’s the reason I made a deal with the duke. We need an equalizer.”

Baalth paced, his fists clenched tight. “What’s his angle?”

I laughed. “Don’t worry, big guy, he doesn’t want a piece of your not-so-humble little pie. His mission is to take on Gabriel, leaving the rest up to us. And by us, I mean DRAC, since you’re too busy running to contribute to your own deliverance.”

“On the backs of slaves, kingdoms are made.”

A smug smile graced his lips as he stopped his pacing.

“Don’t worry, mutt. I’ll do my fair share when the time is right.”

Page 147

A chill ran down my spine. I didn’t like the way that sounded. “What’s that supposed to mean? What do you have up your sleeve?”

He shook his head. “You just live up to your part of the deal, and I’ll worry about my end.”

I let it go, knowing I wasn’t gonna get anywhere. Baalth was nothing, if not stubborn. My pushing him would only cause me further grief. “Now that we’re finished with the pissing contest, I need addresses for some of Asmoday’s real estate. A few of the juicier ones would be best.”

Baalth raised an eyebrow.

“Relax. I’m not looking to move in. I’m just looking to put a little pressure on the bastard.”

He nodded and waved Marcus and Poe over. He turned and whispered something to the mentalist as Marcus glared at me. Poe scribbled some locations down on the back of a business card and passed it to me. I pocketed it without looking.

“Anything else?” Baalth asked.

“Yeah, how about you have Tweedle-Dumb and Tweedle-Poe give us a ride into town so we can get back to work.”

“I think we can manage that.” He turned to D’anatello. “Return Frank to wherever you found him.”

He added, “In one piece, as much as it pains me to say.”

Marcus snorted, before gesturing to the van. Abraham started to head that way when Poe reached Page 148 out and laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“You’ll be staying here, Mr. Solano.”

“No he won’t.” I growled, going back to retrieve him.

Marcus stuck the gun in my face. I stared into the black barrel, my anger building. One of these days…

“Abraham will remain with us, for a while,”

Baalth told me with a crooked smile. “He and I have a lot to discuss while you’re off saving the world.”

I took another step forward and felt the cold steel of the barrel bite in as Marcus pressed it against my forehead. I was willing to risk being shot if by doing so I could rescue Abraham and I think Poe realized that. He pulled another of my confiscated guns out from beneath his jacket and pressed it into Abraham’s side.

“I have nothing but respect for Mr. Solano, but I will not hesitate to end his life should you continue being uncooperative, Mr. Trigg.”

I’d never seen Poe with a weapon before, but I knew he meant every word he said. He had always been a cold fish. Even worse, he was a mind-reading cold fish. I hated the thought of leaving Abraham behind. It’s not that I was afraid of what they might do to him. I was afraid of what I knew they were gonna do. Abe waved me off. “I’ll be fine, Frank. Have Rahim mobilize DRAC as necessary and do what needs to be done to end Asmoday’s threat. You have more important things to worry about than me.”

“I’m not leaving you here, with him.” I pointed to Baalth.

“I won’t hurt him, Triggaltheron. I have more respect for him than that.” He gave a nod to Abraham, then looked back to me. “Go and find the angel before Asmoday makes a meal of him.” He shooed me away.

“I’ve prepared a surprise for our demon friend that should meet your needs sufficiently. I’ll contact you with the specifics when the time is right.”

I felt torn, but if I didn’t focus on the job at hand, it wouldn’t matter where Abraham was. We’d all be dead. “Make it fast, Baalth. We’re up against the clock here.”

“I understand our time restraints fully.” He smiled wide. “Now handle your business, Frank.”

Marcus pushed me toward the van. I went grudgingly, looking back at Abraham, fighting the urge to go back for him. I could tell he didn’t like the situation anymore than I did, but he was a trooper. He’d do whatever it took to save the world, even if it cost him his life. I just didn’t want to see it come down to that.

“If you harm him, Baalth, Asmoday will be the least of your worries,” I shouted as I was pushed into the back of the van.

Marcus closed the door behind me, making the smart choice of remaining outside. I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to restrain myself had he climbed inside with me. That would have made things messy. As it was, I’d let Abraham fall into the hands of the enemy and it didn’t get much worse than that. No, scratch that. It was gonna get worse. Even if we managed to save the world, Rahim was gonna kill me.

I rested my head on my knees as the van pulled away. I felt like shit leaving Abraham behind, but he was right. I had a job to do. The fate of the world rested on my shoulders.

Now would be a good time for a miracle.