The Impact (Book II)

Legion

Keith's expression turned pained and he held his head with both hands. I winced sympathetically. "He's thrashing, isn't he?"

"He won't stop," Keith whined, "not unless I do what he tells me to. He wanted to kill some humans; said no one would miss them. T-that I would feel better after b-bathing in their blood...and he was right."

For a moment, his mien turned lax and he smiled, but it was not the sweet smile of an innocent child. This was the smile of a monster.

I regarded him warily. "You can't give him an inch, Keith. That only speeds up the Metamorphose."

"It's hard! He's too strong!"

I opened my mouth to speak, but the yelling downstairs grew louder in volume. Will was protesting something and then we heard rapid footsteps stomping up the stairs. I got to my feet just as Keith's door swung open and Luke stormed in. He roughly pushed me to the side when I stood in his way. Will sprinted into the room, his eyes glowing bright. When smoke rose from his shoulders I fretted he would combust.

"I told you to leave him alone, Luke!" he bellowed, rushing over to Luke.  Luke grabbed my son and lifted him. In unusual fashion, Keith did not cry for me. He was quiet. Luke grunted wetly and my hands flew to my mouth.

Keith's small hand protruded from the Angel of Death's back, dangerously close to where his heart was. When my son spoke, it was not his voice we heard. "Hmm, remarkably stupid for an Archangel; approaching an enemy snorting like a bull. So unwise."

He no longer sounded like a little boy but a grown man, his intonation almost as deep as Will's but as sweet as honey. It reminded me of Lucifer's voice, forcing a chill down my spine.

"Keith?" Will faltered, gaping at the pair. Luke shuddered and staggered backward when the Adsecula yanked his arm out of his body. The white-haired angel brought a shaking hand to the hole in his chest and pressed down in an attempt to staunch the bleeding.

"That's not Keith," I murmured as I studied the blue-black hair and luminous red eyes. Eyes that were the same shade as Rayi's.

"Legion" regarded me before turning his eyes to Will. In a second, he was on him, using his small body's agility as an advantage to avoid Will's hands. I rushed over and grabbed him around his waist as he sank his teeth into Will's shoulder. He shouted and I hauled the Adsecula away from him, who thrashed against my hold.

"Cole!" I yelled, pinning him down. He snapped at my hand and I shoved his head to the side, keeping it pressed against the carpet.

Cole appeared before his name left my mouth. He locked eyes with Keith and I felt the writhing body beneath me go limp. Panting, I hesitantly got off and checked out the bite on Will's shoulder. To my relief, it was already healing and so was Luke.

"That thing is a menace. He should be put down." Luke spat, wiping his bloody hand on his white robe.

I whirled on him, snarling, "He is not an animal! He just needs to learn how to control his Adsecula. Had I known he had one all this time I would have started his training sooner."

Will said nothing, eyeing his youngest like he was a stranger. My heart sank when I saw the familiar haze of hostility on his face. He wouldn't look at me as he questioned, "But can he be trained? Is it not too late?"

"He can be trained," I said vehemently, though there was a hint of doubt in my tone.

Luke scoffed. "The she-demon isn't sure, either. Will, allow me to put him out of his misery and be done with it."

"No!"

His scythe pressed against my throat the moment my fingertips came in contact with his neck. My other fist crackled.