The Ascended (The Saving Angels 3)

"NOOOOOO!" An angry shout rang throughout the room.

Finally able to focus again, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw Harmony lying in a pool of blood. Victor and Mason stood where she lay. I took in the enraged look on Victor's face as he lifted Mason up off the ground with one hand wrapped around his throat, using strength beyond any I had ever seen. The bloody scalpel Mason clutched in his hand clattered to the floor. Confused, I tried to sort through what I was seeing. I watched horrified as Mason's air supply began to run out. Time seemed to move in slow motion as I watched his face take on a peaceful expression, losing the dazed look he had worn before. I reached out with my emotions and could feel the tangible peace Mason felt as I finally peered into his soul. His thoughts were much like the ones I had glimpsed in Harmony, but instead of manifesting into anger, he remained pure, always believing in The Light, despite being surrounded by so much darkness. I could see how he had struggled against Harmony's oppression over the years, but lacked the support of a superior being. My heart wept for the boy that had been left alone to fend for himself amongst so much evil. Within moments, I had a glimpse into his entire life. I pulled my emotions together and sent all the love I could gather his way, showering him with more caring than he had seen since his parents had been brutally murdered so many years ago. His eyes met mine, accepting the only gift I could give him as his eyes glazed over and time resumed its normal speed.

I was watching him so intently that I never saw the person that rushed by me until he crashed into Victor and Mason, knocking them both to the ground. Bewildered, I realized it was Mark that had rushed to the aid of Mason. Within seconds, every Daemon in the room rushed to the aid of their earthly master. Three of them grasped onto Mark pulling him away.

Victor pulled himself to his feet, looking at the two lifeless bodies on the floor. There was no need for me to seek out his emotions, I could feel the rage that surrounded him. For the first time since I met him, Victor was no longer the controlled, dominating person I had come to expect. He kicked at Mason's body one last time with little respect.

"You did this," he said, practically spitting the words at Mark. "You and your whore of a girlfriend," he continued, striding toward me as I backed away. My injured leg threatened to buckle out from under me as I tried to keep distance between us.

"Stay away from her!" Mark yelled, still struggling against his Daemon restraints.

Victor ignored him, continuing to stalk me. His eyes glowed brightly red and I shuddered, realizing he had finally accepted The Dark One into himself. He had Descended. I was shocked to realize that the death of his lackey was the straw that had broken the camel's back. I couldn't help wondering what was so special about Harmony that her death would make him become something he had rejected for years.

"Why?" I finally asked him as I bumped into the concrete wall, running out of space to retreat.

"Why what?" he snarled.

"Why would you do all this," I said, sweeping my hands out to indicate the lifeless bodies of Harmony and Mason. "Now you decide to Descend? Why torture your own flesh and blood if all you were going to do was Descend in the end? Why turn her into a monster?"

"She was NOT a monster, she was a work of art!" He yelled in my face, showering me with his rancid saliva as he backhanded me.

Reeling from the blow that lifted me off the ground, I worked to hold my footing. I could hear scuffling behind him, but I could not see around Victor's bulk. I cringed as I thought about what the Daemons were doing to Mark. I raised a hand to my cheek, feeling the swollen skin that stretched from my lip to the corner of my left eye.

"Is that the best you got?" I mocked, using a tone I was sure would get under his skin. I fought back a small smile as my words had their desired effect.

"You are as foolish as you are insolent, standing there so proud. Are you expecting some kind of miracle? Perhaps you're wondering where your Archangel is. He won't be swooping in to save the day. He cannot enter this area. It's sacred," he said, wrapping a hand around my throat much like he had Mason. "You have to be invited by a greater being, and just put it this way, I won't be calling your Angel in anytime soon."

"Sacred?" I asked, not understanding.

"I chose this space for my lab specifically. It is centered directly over a gateway The Dark One himself uses. The folklore surrounding the mountain is true, although instead of aliens like the locals believe, it is The Dark One and his loyal servants that inhabit this space."

"If that's true, why would he allow you to build this monstrosity on his sacred ground?" I asked, trying to make sense of his words.

"Because my dear naïve girl, I have given him what he craves the most over the years."

"What?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"Forgotten Souls."

"Forgotten Souls?" I asked as bile climbed its way up my throat. "You give him humans that are still alive?"

"Well, just put it this way, they're no longer human once they make the journey through the gateway," he said, using the same mocking tone I was completely sick of by now. His fingers tightened slightly around my throat, limiting my air supply. "Would you like to see what Forgotten Souls feed on when they come back?" He asked, shifting our bodies so I could see the mayhem behind us.

The Light inside me extinguished as I reached out with my emotions and discovered the Daemons were feasting on my friends' souls.

"NO!" I shrieked, trying to squirm out of his hold.

His fingers tightened further, "Yes my dear. They take what they have lost, their souls. They may not be the sharpest tacks, but they are loyal servants, and will follow me wherever I choose to go."

My oxygen level declined as I scraped feebly at the back of his hand, trying to break free. My vision began to cloud, and for the first time since we had entered the mountain, I called out in vain for Haniel. I knew all was lost and my only regret was that Victor would continue to wreak havoc on the earthly realm once we were gone. I closed my eyes, praying the end would come quickly.

"Let go of her!" A voice thundered across the lab.

My eyes flew open in time to see Victor's incredulous expression as he released his deathly grip on my throat.

I slid down the wall, trying to catch my breath. The ground beneath me began to shake and shudder as Victor turned toward the voice.

"How are you here?" Victor asked, sounding confused for the first time.