The Devil's Daughter

Chapter 31 ~ A Chain of Events

Chapter 31 ~ Abbegael

"He was right. They are here." A familiar lilting voice interrupts my focus on Zak and I turn to see Isa's familiar fiery locks and Carita's imposing figure a short distance away.

"Isa. Carita. What are you doing here? I didn't expect to see you this soon. Did you convince any of the other Nephilim to join us?" Gabriael calls, towing Yzriel along as she strides toward the pair, leaving me to follow along in their wake.

"We found Carita and Milli's cousin Dustria he... "

"It's Dusty, Isa. If he finds out you're still calling him by his full name," Carita shakes his head, "I don't think you quite grasp how easily he could destroy any one of us. I still don't think we should have involved him. He's can't be trusted."

"I'm sure he doesn't hate it that much, it will be fine, and besides he's been right so far," Isa teases before turning her attention back Gabriael and the Fallen in angel irons behind her, "Dustria thinks he has a way to get Mikhael to join the battle. He told us to come here. That we would find the two of you. He even mentioned the Fallen prisoner." She nods in Yzriel's direction.

"How can we get Mikhael to join us? What is his plan? And how does he know all of this? Is he a seer? "

"No," Carita grates out, "Not exactly. He sees what events need to occur in order to create a certain outcome in the future."

"Yeah, it's more like he can control the future, rather than see it." Isa agrees, a grin on her face.

"He can control the future? So what do we need to do to get Mikhael to join us?" Gabriael queries once more.

"Well, he hasn't told us specifics about that, just that we needed to come here, find you and wait." Isa explains.

"This is my point. Dustria cannot be trusted. We never should have accepted his help."

"Talking about me again are we? Haven't we been through this before?" The unfamiliar raucous tone snaps me to attention, a broad grin stretches over Isa's face and Carita stiffens almost imperceptibly as the bearer of the voice joins our small group.

Almost as tall as Carita, he strikes an imposing figure, but it is the ghost like pallor and pale snaking blue veins crossing his skin that both set him apart and identify him to me.

"Dusty," It is a statement rather than a question but he turns ice blue eyes on me and responds anyway.

"Yes. That would be me. Glad to see you made it in time."

"In time for what?" Gabriael demands just as a shudder rocks the ground beneath us and a familiar spine tingling cacophony of sound fills our ears. The memory of Zak walking into a room overflowing with demons flashes through my mind as we turn as one to face the oncoming horde. My eyes drift back to Dusty's pale face, a grin has tugged up the sides of his lips and a spark lights his icy eyes.

This was a trap. He led all of us here to be killed by Lucifer's demons. There's no way Gabriael's army will get here in time to save us.

"Release Yzriel," I shout to Gabby, trying to be heard over the ever rising screeches of the demons. She hesitates for barely a second before turning to the Fallen and removing his restraints.

I feel Zak's terror hit me in an inexorable wave as he realises what has happened. He rushes towards us, trying to overtake the demons but I know there are too many. He won't make it to us in time. I love you. I murmur to him, sword in hand as the demons approach. The six of us stand crouched and ready in small line, I notice Dusty stands with us but don't have time to question it as the first misshapen figure comes within sword reach.