A few dozen blood thristy Nephillim came barrelliling out of the dark. Among them was my BFF Seth.
'Pulverize him!' He screamed.
His cruel eyes glowed with a vengeful malice.
He brandished a broadsword. But the other Nephilim had only the standardissue blades – not that that would make it hurt any less.
They chargedd me and there was no help in
sight. I was left with too choices: turn tail and run, or probably die here.
'Stop.'
The single word cut through Seth's battle cry like a blade, cold and absolute. The Nephilim froze mid-charge, parting like a tide before a familiar female.
I remembered her. Rachel.
My heart skipped a beat, and for once it wasn't because I was terrified.
As w'eve already established she was kind of super hot... mesmerizing. Every contour of her face, every strand of her golden.
But it wasn't her beauty that made the air in his lungs feel heavier—it was her eyes.
Icy, ruthless, unforgiving. In comparison Seth seemed like a party boy.
"You really think you lot can win?" she said disdainfully. "I always win."
Before i could give some smart mouth response she was on me.
The golden lasso came out of nowhere, wrapping around my wasit like a python. In a scarily seif motiom, she yanked my blade from my hand and swept my legs out from under me.
Pain shot through my back as I hit the ground, hard.
I groaned, trying to push himself up, but a crack like a whip split the air.
Then came the pain—searing and unbearable. The lash struck his back, slicing through his shirt and skin alike. Warm blood trickled down his side as I collapsed again.
"You're pathetic," Rachel spat, she was angry for some reason. Around me, Seth and his buddies roared with laughter, they were enjoying this way tok much, but I couldnt see it.
My vision blurred, my surroundings flickering in and out pf my view like a bad signal. But then... I felt it.
Vibrations.
A faint hum, like the earth itself was stirring beneath him my blood suzzled as it rollled of my body and landed on the earth which pulsed in time with my heartbeat, growing stronger with each beat.
I did not know what this meant, only faintly aware that the pain was fading
With a grunt I gritted my teeth, pushing against the pain and forcing myself up.
Rachel's lasso hissed through the air again, a blur.
But this time I was ready. My hand shot out, catching it mid-swing.
Quiet.
Even Rachel appraised me with a new interest, showing a slight smile on her lips before exploding into action once more.
With a flick of her wrist, she nearly tore the lasso from my grip, pulling me forward. But I didn't stumble this time.
Instead, I leapt.
A somersault—wild and instinctive as I brandished the meatal rope in my grasp—landed me behind her.
I dont know how I did it, bit before Rachel could react, her lasso was now wrapped around her, binding her arms to her sides.
But she didn't panic. Her eyes flared, glowing golden like twin suns.
The wave of power that exploded from her sent everyone flying. I was thrown into the air, landing hard on my feet a few yards away.
Only this time, I didnt fall.
The world snapped into focus as my senses went into overdrive. I could see the whole scene with perfect clarity.
The pain in his back had also faded to nothing as renewed strength surged through my weary limbs.
Rachel lunged at him, a gladius materializing in her hands. The blade glinted dangerously as she thrust it toward his chest.
But I was ready. I remebered the way I felt when I fought the burronjor and my body moved on its own.
My battered iron sword—still heavy and awkward—met hers in a riposte, deflecting the attack like Cain had taught. Then inn one fluid motion, he put its tip to her throat.
Silence.
Seth and his uglies stared in stunned disbelief. I could feel several stares around me, much more than there should have been.
Hundreds. Hundreds of Nephilim surrounded the clearing, looking at me with skock, fear and other indescribable emotion.
Soon enough i realised why.
Somewhere in the distance, a conch horn sounded—a signal. Cain had invaded. The other territory had fallen. Victory had won.
But no one cheered.
Cain pushed through the crowd with a banner in hand, his expression euphoric.
'Where did you train to fight like that?' He
asked.
I wasn't in the mood to answer. 'Where were you?'
'I came as fast as I could. We were about to jump in but…'
He shrugged. 'You were doing more than fine.'
Then he noticed my current state. 'Youre healed?'
He was right. The blood was gone, my armor and cloth were torn open, but somehow the flesh underneath was unharmed.
'I dont understand,' I said.
Cain was also grimacing staring intently at my forehead.
'Oh no,' he sighed. 'This is not good. I didn't think… I assumed it would be Zeta.…
I looked into the reflective surface of my sword and saw it.
A burning crimson mark on my forehead.
The Mark of Baime.
I touched it instinctively, not knowing what it meant.
The crowd's shock deepened. Rachel's lips tightened as she lowered her blade, stepping back carefully, deliberately.
'Your father,' Cain murmured.
'It is determined,' Acacius announced, having made his way to the front.
All around me, the Nephilim knelt, even Seth and his uglies.
'My father?' I asked, completely bewildered.
'Orion,' said Acacius. 'Lord of Earth, Wrath of Titan, Doom of Hoth.
Hail, Abel Hayes, True blood Nephilim, Son of the crimson warlord.'
....
The next morning, I was moved to the isle of Orion.
It was all mine. I basically had a moutain all to myself, plenty of room for all my stuff and luxuries I jad never had access to before.
I could do whatever I wanted without having to listen to anyone.
But it all felt wrong.
Just when I'd started to not feel so alone, to feel like I had a friends on the ilse of the lost, I'd been quarantined like I was radioactive.
Everyone was panicking.
They now knew that: one, that I was
A half Celestial; and two, every demon in Hoth was out for blood, my blood. They would stop at nothing and like before could even invade the dreamtime.
Everyone treated me like a Pariah. No one would spar with me after witnessinflg what I had done in the woods, so my lessons with Cain became one-on-one.
He showed me no mercy, trying to prepare me by being worse than any demon.
'You need to get stronger if you are to survive,' he promised, as we were working with javeline and polearms.
'Now let's try that disarming techinque again.'
Even Seth kept his distance, though he never failed to make a throat slitting motion whenever oir gazes clashed. It was funny, but I was actually grateful for his unconditional hate, it was better than being treated with indifference.
That night I had my most bizarre dream.
I was in dreary graveyard.
It was twilight.
A voice at my shoulder said, 'Sad, isn't it?'
I flinched, surprised.
Standing next to me, gazing at the tombstone, was a woman with chalk white skin and long dark hair.
In profile, she looked heart-wrenchungly beautiful, about thirty years old at the oldest.
Her dark green cloak hid an obviously seductive figure.
When she turned towards me, my breath involuntarily left my lungs.
'Who are?' I asked. 'Where am I?'
'How saddening, young hero. I thought you would know. And after all the lesssons poor Mr Kamau prepared.'
Her words prompted me to search the stories I remembered. I knew her.
You're Hel.' I realised.
She brushed a lock of pitch black hair behind her perfect ear.
'I am Hel,' she agreed. 'The Celestial of soul, and the gate keeper of Hoth.'
'Wh-what do you want?' I asked. 'I'm not dead yet.'
She showed me am eerie smile.
'I know that, young hero. I don't want your soul. I've gotten bored of collecting those.
I just thought it was high time we were introduced. You are a half Celestial after all; Part of my extended family.'
She began to circle me with interest, her perfect form befuddling my mind at every turn.
"Your time has come. Soon you will leave on your quest," she said, her tone almost casual, 'to head north and find the missing aetifact."
"What artifact?" I asked, trying te keep the quivering out of my voice, despite Hels demonoc presence giving me little choice.
She grasped my chin woth her fingers, smooth as Satin and said coyly. "Now, now. Where's the fun in spoilers? You'll know in due time. So many horrible surprises lie in wait, you'll see, youll love them!"
I foight a shiver. 'I want nothing to do with any of you Celestials and none of this matters to me.'
An eerie smile drew itaelf across her pale lips. "Oh defiance. What a refreshing change of pace"
She stepped closer until her lips were right besides my ear, her voice drippong with an irresistible, sultry charm. "The Celestials wll reward obedience, young hero. If you succeed, I have been ordered to grant your heaets desire: to return to you...your mother."
The words hit me like a battering ram. 'You can her bring her back?" I stammered, my voice barely audible.
"Yes," she cooed in a magical voice. "She lingers on the edge as many souls do. But when she arrives at my gates — if it is my will can return her to you, whole and alive. A gift only I can grant."
Tears streamed down my face, I hated that I was showing weakness, but my rears refused to stop. After a while I finslly choked out: "And if I fail?" I asked.
She flashed a cruel smile. "Then I will do what I should," she said coldly. "When your mother's soul arrives at my gates, I will raze it to nothing. She will be gone, and it will be by your failure."
My pupils shook wildly. "You can't—"
'I can," she interrupted cruelly, her voice as detached as ice, having lost all its previous warmth. "And I will if I must."
She leaned in closer until our noses almost toiched. "And if you betray us, young Nephilim, there will be no realm to escape to. Your heritage makes you many things, but untouchable is not one of them."
Tremble...Tremble....Tremble...
I noticed too late that I was actually shivering.
Hel finally showed a satisfied smile beofre dissolving into the shadows.
Here voice reverberated with a cruel finality. "Consider this your only warning. You have been given the benfit of the doubt. Do not mess up."
And then my surroundings were no more.
I was jolted awake with a gasp, drenched in sweat, with my heart pounding like a war drum.
I could still hear the echoes of her laugh.
My mother.
I could save her....but just whay would I have to do...