Infernal God

15

"It doesn't need to be like this," he said. "Not anymore. We're the same now. Two Horsemen of the Apocalypse, with the same goals of spreading chaos upon the land. We can forget the past—hell, you've already done that—and move forward as brothers. Once we release Famine and Death we'll be even stronger. We'll rule all the realms—even Void itself."

I stepped closer to him, forcing him back against the wall, my hands balled into fists. "I'm already the king here, and I'm not good at sharing. Get the f**k out of here before I destroy you."

He met my gaze, one corner of his lips lifting. "You can try, but you both know we can't be killed."

"Pestilence can't—but that body can."

I brought one of my fists up and landed it on his face, bursting one of the throbbing pustules there. The fluid inside it burned like acid as it ran over my skin, but I shook it off. I wasn’t done. I summoned my sword and prepared to strike him down, but he slithered away like the slippery beast he was.

When I turned to face him, he stood on the other side of the bar wielding a bow and arrows. Each tip pulsed with yellow and black power, a combination of his Pestilence sickness and his Fallen darkness. He unleashed arrows faster than humanly possible, but I threw up a shield of darkness to stop him, then blasted him with blue hellfire laced with red rage. He launched over it with sickly gray wings that had lost a lot of feathers, and he was surprisingly spry for someone who looked so ill. I released my gargoyle guards and they leaped in front of him, blocking his path. He turned back to me and fired off more arrows, but he wasn't fast enough against me, a being created for one purpose: to fight.

I launched myself forward and sliced into him with my sword. He let out a horrifying screech, then managed to stab me with one of his arrows. Weakness and disease coursed through me, trying to slow me down, but I struggled against his powers, refusing to let him stop me. I couldn't let him get to that woman or my child. I'd burn this whole place down before I let that happen.

I lifted the sword and slashed at him, cutting into his shoulder and down his chest. He let out a horrifying screech as the hellfire stung him, and then he barreled through the gargoyles as he flew out of the casino. I rushed after him, my own wings giving me speed, but once I made it outside I saw him jump on his horse and ride away, slipping into the crowd of tourists and gamblers. Screams followed in his wake, but his horse was so fast, many had barely any time to react as he passed by them.

"Follow him," I commanded my gargoyles. They weren't as fast as his horse was, but since he was injured, they might have a chance of catching up. I could have gone after him, but I had more pressing business here, and I was satisfied that the fucker wouldn't return to challenge me anytime soon.

Besides, I had to check on the woman before I did anything else. Though I felt only hatred and rage toward her, I needed to be sure my child was protected.

I flew up to the penthouse, but it was dark. There was no one inside.

The woman was gone.

10

Hannah

H

uge white columns soared into the air, gleaming under the soft moonlight at the temple where Famine's tomb was located. Our griffins circled over it, allowing us to take in the entire structure. It clearly hadn't been touched in many years, and nature had nearly swallowed it up entirely. All except for the massive statue of Oberon at the front of it. It had to be at least forty feet tall and depicted him seated on a throne decorated with gold and precious stones, while wearing a crown and holding a scepter in one hand. The entrance to the temple was underneath the throne, so you had to pass under Oberon's watchful eyes to enter.

There had once been a similar statue on Earth in Greece, depicting Oberon in his guise as Zeus. For many years he'd been worshiped on Earth under that name, but the statue had been destroyed long ago. Only its counterpart here in Faerie remained.

The day had passed from the awakening of spring, though the heat of midsummer, and now we were relaxing in a temperate fall that was rapidly cooling to winter. The light had changed, growing softer, falling in pale strips between the columns as our griffins sat down in front of the statue. I dismounted, taking in the untouched surroundings. I hadn't been here since I was Eve, when we first sealed Famine away. Belial had only been a child then. There was nothing else for miles except for this temple and the thick, dark forest surrounding it.

"Of course the entrance to the tomb would be under his feet," Belial muttered, as we took in the stone doors in front of us. They were covered in vines and other plants that had grown wild, but I flicked a hand and they released their hold on the stone and retreated back into the earth.

Damien cast his eyes up at the statue with distaste. "Yes. Oberon would trust no one else to guard a thing as dangerous as Famine.” I turned back to take in the large group of people who had come with me on this mission. My sons, all three of them eager and determined to save their father, despite any issues they had with him. My nephew Callan, hovering near me protectively, and Azazel, who stood with a grim set to her mouth. Theo was organizing his gargoyle guards into a formation around the tomb, while the fae warriors sent by High King Oberon stood impassively to the side, as if they could only be bothered to get involved should something go wrong. Our messenger Mirabella, who I'd learned had a father in the Autumn Court, stood apart from them, ready to open a portal for us back to Earth whenever we wished.