The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)
The Book of Azrael: Chapter 15

A Few Hours Prior

“THE CONVOYS ARE READY FOR TRANSPORTATION,” Peter said. He was one of many celestials that had moved higher in rank after the explosion. Vincent had spoken highly of him. He, along with a few other recent graduates, seemed to want to help as much as possible. They even offered advice when needed, which Vincent liked. They all had the potential to be more, which was good if war was where we were headed.

I turned, nodding toward him and moving from the large window. Peter and three other men stood at attention, their hands behind their backs and eyes forward. All seemed right, but something felt off about Peter and a few others. I could not pinpoint the issue, so I just blamed it on not being around anyone for centuries. They all seemed so willing to help and offer advice, and Vincent listened. Back during my father’s rule, only the council or high-ranking officials had the ear of their superiors.

‘You are dismissed,’ I said, and one by one, they nodded and exited the room. I took one last look at the fog rolling off the mountains. Arariel was magnificent, but nothing compared to anything on Rashearim. These mountains, although beautiful, were small and their foliage dull in comparison. I just wanted to be done with this and go home. The longer I stayed, the worse the blasted headaches were becoming. It did not help that I had not slept and had no intention of doing so.

I did appreciate all the various ways the mortals and celestials had found to burn off excess energy. Logan had shown me the gym, and that was where I spent most of my time. As I worked my body, I tried to figure out what these creatures were after and what their next move would be. It kept me awake, but so did the fear. I did not fear the Ig’Morruthen in the lower levels, but I did fear what would happen if I slept. I needed this to be done so I could leave. The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts.

‘We are ready,’ Logan said, opening the door, Vincent and Neverra filing into the room after him. They bristled with weapons and wore the new armored suits I had ordered. I may have been fireproof to some degree, but they were not. If she could wield such power, who was to say the others couldn’t as well? It was a necessary precaution to move her, but I would make sure they were as safe as I could make them.

I nodded and turned away from the view. I headed out of the room, and they fell in behind me. We’d made it halfway down the hallway before Vincent said, ‘You were too kind.’

He flanked me on my left while Logan and Neverra took up my right. I knew this was a topic they had previously discussed from the way they tensed. Vincent and I had always held each other to a high standard. Our friendship began on Rashearim when I was just the Son of Unir. He had no qualms about questioning me. I sometimes liked it, but there were those moments he annoyed me to no end. ‘Was I now? Was torturing the beast not enough?’

‘The clothes and food sent down afterward? What for? After what she and her kind did, let them starve,’ he said, a muscle in his jaw twitching. His anger and hatred had matured over the centuries. ‘I knew it wouldn’t work. There is no kindness inside of them. Unir taught us that. All the gods did. She is a monster.’

Several celestials bowed as we passed, and I grimaced. I despised it. Logan, Vincent, and Neverra headed toward the elevator but stopped when I shook my head. My control over my powers was erratic at times, but I did not care to share that information with them. Instead, I led the way to the stairs, and we took them down to the main foyer. It was an open –ended space that led toward the front of the building. ‘Yes, that is correct, but I feel there is more. There is more to than just evil and destruction. I merely tried to appease it. Besides, I cannot question a dried –up husk, and that’s what she will become if she does not eat.’

‘Yes, but we cannot forget she murdered almost the entirety of the mortal counsel. The ones that managed to survive have burns covering half of their bodies. Then there is the fact that she is the reason Zekiel isn’t here.’

I stopped. Logan and Neverra did the same as I turned to face Vincent. ‘How could I not? Was I not there? I witnessed her raise her hands, saw the flames dance, and reacted a fraction of a second too late.’

‘And what of Zekiel?’

‘Vincent.’

‘Zekiel is gone, and you act as if coming back here is a tedious task. He cared about you, just as we do, yet you don’t seem to be mourning him at all.’

I closed my eyes, the throbbing in my head coming back tenfold. Several lower –ranking celestials cleared the area as power swirled around us. The lights flickered before flaring a shade brighter. ‘Mourn? When do I have time to mourn? I am glad you have that luxury. Yes, Zekiel died. Many have, and we are on the brink of war again. There are always casualties, or have you already forgotten?’

Vincent’s eyes narrowed. ‘I have done what was needed here, remember? You left me in charge. I know Logan won’t say it because he is scared to hurt your feelings.’

‘Hey, woah, woah,’ Logan interrupted, stepping closer and raising his hand.

‘But you’re different, now, colder. Liam, you have been gone for centuries, and I get it. You lost a lot, but so did we. You spent all that time on the remains of Rashearim, locked far away from the council. Imogen told us she hasn’t been able to reach you, no matter how many times she has tried. You are not the same man who freed me from that wretched goddess, Nismera. You are not the same man who laughed and joked and drank with us like we were brothers. You are not the same man who forged The Hand long before the war. What happened to the man who thought to forge a world where celestials are treated as equals instead of the mindless, fucking puppets the gods made?’

‘You are overstepping.’ I walked forward, invading his space. Several lights busted in the hallway, and I heard Neverra usher out the remaining celestials.

‘Someone has to,’ he retorted. ‘Are we brothers? Are we family or just casualties to you now? You were always so afraid you would become as emotionless as your father. Well, look at you now. I don’t see Samkiel anymore. I only see Unir. You are no better than him.’

‘Am I?’ The room shook, and I knew the emotions and anger I kept at bay were on the brink of breaking free. ‘I do not wish to be a judge and executioner as he was. Someone needs to make accurate and concise decisions, and that has to be me. I left you in charge. You’re right. You wanted to rule. That has always been your goal, and what do I come back to replace? Half of the world is in turmoil, a mortal council that does not respect you, and creatures from legends. They are destroying our places, killing our people, and you have no leads or a plan to stop them.’

Logan stepped between us, placing one hand on Vincent’s chest and his other on mine, pushing us further apart.

Vincent’s eyes darted away from mine, a submissive tactic and one I had seen all too often with him. ‘I’m trying.’

‘Try harder.’ He was right. I was cold, callous, and empty of emotion. The problem was that I didn’t know how to fix it.

I stepped away from Logan’s hand and turned, heading toward the sliding doors. ‘Logan, you will escort the prisoner to The Silver City. Neverra and Vincent, you are with me. None of this is up for discussion.’

No one else spoke as we walked out the doors into the garage. Several celestials were packing ammunition and supplies into the armored cars. The precaution was not for but the one she refused to mention. Someone had a strong enough hold over her that she had not broken no matter what I did. I would admire that kind of loyalty if it was not attached to such a creature.

‘Sir,’ a young celestial said as he opened the door of the nearest vehicle. I despised that as well. In my youth, I might have enjoyed the attention and praise, but I had come to realize it came with blood and death.

My jaw clenched as I slid into the back of the luxury armored vehicle. It had two rows of seats, which seemed excessive, and I opted for the one closest to the window. I turned my head just as Logan and Neverra were saying their goodbyes. She watched him leave before climbing into the car with me. Logan had supplied me with more videos of the human world, so I at least knew what these mechanical boxes were called now.

I watched Vincent take the lead vehicle with several other celestials, who beamed in his presence. He was right. He had led them while I was away, and I respected that. I would gladly hand it back to him the minute this was over. He was still upset. I could sense it, and I didn’t blame him. I had come back and taken the title he loved so much from him. He probably hated me, but he could not hate me more than I hated myself.

Six cars would go with me to Hayyel before taking the underwater convoy to The Silver City. Four armored trucks would transport the Ig’Morruthen the same way. We had a meeting with the new ambassador of Ecanus. He would take over this region after the last one perished in the fire. Elijah was his name and the reason for this transport. I was not comfortable with her staying here while I was not present, and I couldn’t risk the others coming for her.

It had been two weeks since the attack, and I wanted to leave with every cell in my body. I had not slept, and I knew my body would take the choice from me at some point. When that time came, the night terrors would overwhelm me, but I did not want to be here when that happened. I did not want them to see the shell of a man I’d become.

Regardless of what I did and what decision I made, I just felt isolated and alone. I’d spent my entire life being told who I was, what I was, and how to lead. But who was I really? I did not know, not truly. In my youth, I’d avoided my lessons while my father insisted I pay attention. I’d drowned the demons that tried to claim me in men, women, liquor, and training, pushing myself to be faster and stronger.

I strove to be something he would be proud of and worthy of the love they all gave me. It worked for a while, but everything I tried just seemed to cause more problems. When I recruited for The Hand, I’d taken the generals from the other gods, creating my own network because until then, I was alone. It was selfish, and I knew it. I had no siblings. My mother passed away when I was young, and my father only cared about me becoming king. A king had to love, and love was not selfish or cruel. I wasn’t sure I knew how to love if I was truly honest with myself.

Duty and honor, I knew. I knew how to fight and kill, but not love. As King of the Gods, my father had loved those he ruled, and I had witnessed his undying love for my mother. It had stood unwavering against all obstacles and even survived her death. Logan and Neverra had been together for centuries. They never tired of one another and never sought more outside of their relationship. They were the definition of soul mates if there ever was such a thing, and I envied what they had. I’d never felt that way about anyone. I had bedded but never loved. Not even Imogen, though she’d begged for it. Vincent was correct. I had turned cold, or perhaps I had always been cold. Zekiel had perished, and I did not mourn. I shed no tears even though he was a part of The Hand, had been with me since the beginning, and was part of the select few I called friends.

Vincent called Dianna a monster, but I knew that title belonged to me as well.

Neverra cleared her throat as the vehicle took a turn, descending the mountains. I had not realized how quiet I had been. ‘Don’t blame them. They have missed you. Even Vincent, when he isn’t being a complete ass.’ She snickered before smiling at me. ‘I missed you, too.’

I let out a long breath, stretching my legs and folding my arms. ‘That’s what everyone keeps telling me.’

‘Well, it’s nice to hear from your friends.’

I did not respond, only nodded.

‘Look, I don’t know what happened when Rashearim fell, but I know you lost more than we did. And for that, I am sorry. You have done a lot for us, Liam. In forming The Hand, you gave us a life we can be proud of. You saved so many during the war and gave us what we needed to rebuild on Onuna before you left. We have never forgotten what you did and the sacrifices you made.’

I watched out the window as the road turned, snow-capped mountains and trees surrounding us on all sides. ‘You always were kind, Neverra. No matter the battles, you never lost that.’

‘It’s my gift and how I tricked Logan into bonding with me.’

I faced her, attempting some sort of emotion. ‘I thought I helped with that?’

She smiled playfully, kicking me as the ponytail she wore swayed. ‘Not even. Although, I guess kind of. I do miss those days on Rashearim. The parties we would have, and the times we would all get together to talk shit about the gods. They were all always so uptight.’ Her eyes glazed over as she pulled at the sleeve of her tactical suit. ‘I miss Cameron, even though he is annoying at times, and I miss Xavier correcting him. I miss sparring with Imogen and the crazy dancing when she wasn’t completely wrapped around you.’

‘You know you can visit.’

She shrugged. ‘I know. Logan goes sometimes, but I can’t. Everything changed after the Gods War. I’m afraid I’ll see them again, and all the happy memories will be just memories. Everything is so different now.’

‘That it is.’

Silence fell between us once more. The road slowly widened as we reached the end of the mountain range. Towns and shops came into view, mortals going about their day.

As we turned onto the highway, I said, ‘She almost got away.’

Neverra jumped as if she hadn’t expected me to break the silence.

‘What?’

‘If I’d been a second slower, I wouldn’t have caught her. I’m not fit to be anyone’s leader, Neverra.’

Her eyes softened. ‘Liam.’

‘We are in over our heads. Both darkness and fire bend to her will, which makes her extremely dangerous, lethal even. The worst part is that I don’t think she has tapped her full potential yet. The chains barely held. You witnessed that. She refused to tell me who was with her or who her creator is, even under torture. My gut is telling me we have not even touched the surface of what is happening.’

She nodded and paused before saying, ‘We did background checks, but the name Dianna Martinez brings up nothing. There are no records, no documents, nothing. She doesn’t exist as far as the system is concerned, which probably means someone much stronger is keeping her hidden.’

‘And the relic they are searching for?’

She reached up, scratching at a single eyebrow. ‘Files, a few scrolls, and some ancient books have been taken, but nothing of importance. It’s all text describing the history of Rashearim, but nothing detrimental.’

I nodded and leaned forward, my gaze unwavering. ‘I need you all to realize how serious this situation is. We are not dealing with regular Ig’Morruthens, and we are not prepared. These are not the beasts from the legends. If they can shift at will like her, they have evolved, and we are in trouble. If they can kill a member of The Hand, attack with free will and conscious thought, we are headed for another war.’

She swallowed, fear etching her features. ‘What will you do if she won’t talk? Will you use Oblivion?’

Oblivion was another subject we rarely discussed. I absently touched the ring outlined in black on my third finger. It was a weapon I’d created during my ascension. Only The Hand and my father knew about it, and they had all kept it a secret from the other gods until they could no longer. It was an obsidian blade from the darkest depths of our legends.

I’d created it from hate, devastation, and grief, emotions a god should never nurture. The blade did what no other weapon or living being could. It delivered a permanent death with no afterlife. The ability to create and wield such a weapon was what made me so dangerous and made the other gods tremble. It had earned me my reputation. My name whispered in hushed and fearful tones throughout the realms. It was one of my biggest regrets, but I knew I would bear the weight of using it again if it came down to saving this world.

‘If I must.’