Chapter Fourteen

I never expected Lust and Envy to go hand in hand, but now that I think about it-and when I put it in a scenario-they kind of do; you can be envious of your best friend for having a girl you’ve had a thing for for years. Maybe that’s something completely different, I’m only in my teens so what do I know? But Asmodeus and Leviathan-they’re a dangerous tag-team. When Asmodeus unleashes a massive gust of wind in a desert a few things can happen:

First thing that could happen is that you can be ripped to shreds, I don’t know how he does it but it feels like a million needles are chipping away my skin; it was probably what Shelly felt.

The second thing is that you get sand in your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth and then you could end up being buried if you’re not quick to recover.

The third is Leviathan could attack you directly or with his little fire tricks.

Sometimes it’s a combination of all three.

I can’t see at the moment and a shriek from Gaap almost causes me to lose my concentration, I think I’m trapped in some miniature tornado with streams of wind cutting at me every now and again; I strain my ears to listen for the next attack and move just in time to avoid three huge fire balls-the punch in the gut wasn’t something I expected. I drop to my knees and take a kick to the ribs.

“Why can’t you just play fair and give us your blood?” Leviathan whines over the roar of the tornado. “You’re one of us anyway and I‘m getting bored of this game.”

“Because things are never that simple.” I tell him and slowly get to my feet; I can just about make him out.

“I still don’t see why you’re the special one; I’m the youngest after all.”

“That doesn’t make you special, kid.” I laugh and he leaps at me, swinging his foot around; I grab it and spin him around until he demands that I let him go. So I do, right through the tornado and into Asmodeus-that’s just my dumb luck for you. There’s another shriek from Gaap but I don’t have time to glance at what’s happening; Asmodeus and Leviathan decide to try the direct approach, throwing simultaneous punches and kicks that I’m just barely able to block-I twist my body to the side and leap to avoid the kick to the face from Asmodeus and the low sweeping kick from Leviathan. Where did I learn a sweet move like that? I have no clue. I punch Asmodeus across the jaw and belt Leviathan in the ribs, they both stumble back and out of the corner of my eye I can see Rick dangling in Gaap’s grip with a weird bubble forming around his head.

“Rick!” I make my run towards him. Gaap’s arm is completely split in two up to the elbow and blood is just pouring out; Rick is struggling to breathe and begins to claw helplessly at the bubble. Suddenly, there’s a weight on my back and I stumble-hitting the ground- Leviathan grabs my hair roughly and slams my face into the ground one, twice, three times and blood gushes from my nose.

“Bleed! Bleed!” He laughs. “I want to see Mammon!” There’s a final scream from Gaap that causes Leviathan to pause, I take that moment to throw my body weight to one side and throw him off; I pin him down by the neck and fish out a holy ball from my pocket.

“You want to see Mammon, huh?” I snarl. “Maybe if she finds a way out of Hell like you did I’ll send her right to you!” I stuff the ball into his mouth and upper cut him, the glass shatters and he begins to choke as the holy water flows down his throat and windpipe; I slowly stand as he begins to thrash and quickly whip out the small blade-throwing it with such precision and expertise that I hit Asmodeus between the eyes. I race over to Rick and skid along me knees to his side, his face and hair are already drying in the desert heat, I pulled off my gloves to check for a pulse and my blood ran cold when I didn’t feel one; I pull at my hair for a moment while I try to think and perform CPR.

“Breathe Rick.” I beg. “Please, just breathe!” My eyes begin to sting, a lump forms in my throat and I break; I bury my face in his shirt and grasp it with one hand. “It‘s not his time!!” I cry out and slowly sit back, looking to the sky. “Not now-not like this! Bring him back!” I scream and punch the ground repeatedly next to me with one hand. “What’s the point in being an Angel if I can’t save my friend!?” I give the ground one last fierce punch and it cracks; I move my hand back so fast you’d think I’d been bitten, there’s blood on my knuckles and the crack quickly spreads under Rick. I pick him up and jump back as the crack widens into a huge hole. “What’s going on?”

“You hit the Gate.” I’m startled by Asmodeus, the dagger is still in his face- it’s not exactly a kill spot but I’m still surprised he’s still alive. A twisted smile spreads across his face. “The Sins will rise.” The wind suddenly picks up, he slowly turns to ash and he vanishes across the desert.

A blast off heat erupts from the gate and a low rumble shakes the earth, the first of the remaining Sins slowly climbs out of the Gate; it’s a woman, she’s tall and slender with short black hair down to her ears that is slightly curled, red eyes and is wearing tight black pants and a black tube top. She takes a deep breath and smiles.

“This realm smells great, and it’s much cooler! Time to grab moody ‘Modie and hit the Casinos!” She looks around, twirling on the heel of her knee high black boots. “And Levi can come too.” From the way she’s talking I guess she’s Mammon, the Sin of Greed. “Move your asses, guys!” She calls back into the Gate.

“I need a hand, Mammon.” A huge, chubby hand pokes out of the Gate and Mammon rolls her eyes, she grabs the hand and pulls a very large girl in a long black dress onto the earth with little effort. Beelzebub, Gluttony, has shoulder length hair and red eyes but is barefoot.

“Belphie!” Mammon calls. “Hurry up!”

“Don’t call me ‘Belphie’.” Belphegor grunts and a huge gray hand lifts him out of the gate. He’s tall, with neat hair and a bored look in his eyes; he’s wearing loose black pants, a baggy shirt and what look to be black trainers.

“You’re so boring; I can’t wait to hang with ‘Modie and Levi’.” Mammon looks around again. “Where are they? Gaap too.”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Belphegor nods his head towards me and I nearly drop Rick. I expected them to be a little more…fierce, but their mood could change when they learn I killed their comrades and where in Hell was Pride? Would he be joining them? What in Hell had I just unleashed?

“Oh shit…”

Again, i am sorry!