Evenstar Read Free Page B

  He put his lips to his ear.   “Uriel has many things planned for your sister, just like last time.”  
    Red light erupted at the side of the shield.   Uriel was thrown onto the grass.   Paimon pounced on him and pounded on his face with glowing red fists.  
    Michael stepped away from Helion.   “How did he get in?   What is going on?”
    Paimon ignored Michael’s questions and smashed Uriel’s nose into pulp.   “Motherfucker!   I notice you’re not smiling anymore, Uriel!”   Uriel’s face looked concave beneath the blows.   A blood spattered Paimon hefted Uriel’s deadweight over his head.   He smiled and threw Uriel into Michael, knocking both Archangels to the ground.
    Lucifer took his chance.   He crawled to Helion, ignoring the pain in his chest.   He covered Helion’s mouth and whispered in his ear, “Whitney needs you, you are her guardian angel.   Do your duty despite your pain.   Retreat and follow Andrealphus.”
    Helion’s pupils were pinpoints.   With Lucifer’s help, he managed to stand.   His remaining wing flapped feebly, blood from the stump of the other painted his back red.  
    Whitney ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.   Helion picked her up and dashed out of the net.   He sprinted in the direction that Andy had taken off from.   His steps were uneven, half flight half jumps.   Pain blinded him.   He knew nothing but agony.   He babbled.   Tears ran down his face, and he was unaware of what he said, “Retreat, find Andy.   Find Andy and Dahlia.   Find.   Retreat.”  
    Whitney clung to his neck, unable to stop his pain or offer any solace.
    ***
    Michael threw Uriel off him and roared.  
    Paimon screamed in response and leapt onto both of them.   Michael could not see through the blood red glow that engulfed Paimon, and his blows were easily dodged.   Paimon’s were not.  
    Paimon grabbed Michael by his hair and lifted him off his feet.   He shook him like a rag doll and slammed him back into the ground.   Paimon broke Michael’s arms and sat on his chest.   He unwrapped Dahlia’s pendant from around his fist and held it in front of Michael’s face.   He looked Michael in the eye.   “Tell my brother hello.”
    Paimon stuffed Dahlia’s pendant in his mouth and bit down.   The unspent energy inside was released in a split second burst.   Pillars of red light and fire erupted from the spot.   Ladriam’s energy overpowered that of Heaven and tore the net asunder.   The force launched Paimon into the air.   The pendants the Archangels possessed dissolved, rendering them vulnerable.   Uriel and Michael flickered into the physical realm.   Their bodies took on flesh.   They stumbled and crawled away from the fire.  
    Above them Paimon laughed and called down, “No longer very strong without your trinkets are you?!”
    Uriel unfurled his wings and took off.   Michael grabbed the spear and followed after him.   The Archangels flew for space.   They raced against the growing ache in their bodies as they passed into mortal flesh.   Their pores bled, throbbing waves of pain and nausea overwhelmed their senses.  
    Paimon watched them go and launched red fireballs after them, conflagrations that burnt their skin and wings.   The Archangels crossed into space, past Ladriam’s shield, and disappeared back into the ethers of Heaven.
    Paimon’s light went out and he plummeted towards the earth.   Berith caught him and set him on his feet.   Paimon shook himself off.   He spit out the remaining pieces of Dahlia’s pendant.   “See you in the City.”   He pushed away from Berith and ran to Furcas.
    Berith and Apple picked Lucifer up from where he lay on the ground.   Lucifer kept in a scream, the wound in his abdomen excruciating.   His vision blurred.   Lucifer gasped.   “Follow Andy, now .”
    Berith shook his head.   “You need to get to the City, you need a healer.”
    Lucifer ignored the obvious.   “She does