Page 73 of Roman

“We need to take his head,” Grigori piped up from the backseat.

“I agree, decapitation will be the only way to make sure he is dead,” Lucian said.

“But what about after that?”Phoenix added.“Is that even a real death?”

“Phoenix is right.Beheading may only rid us of him for a while.His soul will no doubt return to Hell, and he will be able to come back.”Roman frowned.His temper flared as he smashed his fist into the dash.

“Woah, you good?”Phoenix asked nervously.

Roman closed his eyes, picturing Charlotte and taking a deep breath.“I’m good,” he grated.“It’s a temporary fix at best.”

The thought of Azazel coming back and hunting Charlotte down made his blood boil.

“Look, let’s just get through the first problem.Get to the gate and save Charlotte.Send Azazel back to Hell, kill this bloody witch, and then we can think of a more permanent plan for the demon later,” Grigori casually spoke.

Roman actually agreed with him.He realized that was beginning to become a regular thing between the two of them.“He’s right.No point trying to figure it out now, so let’s just send him back and deal with the rest once this is all over.”

Maalik appeared in the middle of the road.Phoenix swore as he yanked the steering wheel to the left so they didn’t plow into him.Roman grabbed the dash, bracing himself, as Phoenix slammed on the brakes, bringing them to an abrupt halt.

“What the actual fuck, Maalik?”Phoenix yelled, kicking the door open angrily.“Couldn’t have popped up on the fucking side of the road?”

Roman got out of the car, watching Cael stop his vehicle with the other fallen in the middle of the road in front of Maalik.

“Sorry, but I’m in a hurry.They are at the gate, about to start the ritual, so we need to move our asses,” Maalik said with a panicked look.

“Charlotte?”Roman stalked over to his brother, grabbing him by the shoulders.“Is she okay?”

Maalik gave a quick nod.“I can see that her face is bruised, but she seems to be okay.”

Roman’s eyes burned.Someone hurt her.Anger ran like fire through his veins.They dared to touch her!

“Roman, snap out of it.”Maalik shook him out of his angry haze.“We don’t have time for this.We need to go.”

“Take me first,” Roman ordered.

Maalik gave a small nod, then turned to the others.“Be ready.It will only take me a second to flash each of you.”

Roman had no time to register as everyone disappeared, and he stood with Maalik behind a sandy stone wall in the desert.

“Don’t move,” Maalik said as he disappeared.

Roman leaned against the wall, catching his breath, waiting for the wave of nausea to fade.Armaros appeared next, then Maalik brought Phoenix, followed by Lucian, and so on, until all his brethren stood around him.All of them took a moment for the effects of the teleportation to wear off.Everyone reacted differently, some with nausea, others with dizziness.

“Okay, they have twenty guards.They are all low-level demons, so we will take them all out easily.After that, it’s just them and us.They are in the main pyramid.It’s like Armaros said, the gate is already open and glowing red as in his vision,” Maalik explained.

“Ariel, your team takes out the guards.Once they are dead, head to the gate.We will need everyone for what is to come.Armaros will occupy the witch.The rest of us are to take Azazel’s head,” Roman ordered, looking at each of them.“There is no room for mistakes.Charlotte must be unharmed.If they take her heart…” He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence, his chest aching at the thought of her dead, her heart cut from her chest.“We can’t let it happen.”Pulling his gun out, he readied himself.

The rest of the warriors followed suit, pulling out their guns, swords, whatever their favored weapon was.Those with wings unfolded them, stretching them out wide, ready to use.Roman took off his shirt, throwing it to the ground, his black and silver wings unfolding.He gave them a shake, stretching them, the feathers rustling in the breeze.

“Ready?”Ariel asked, her eyes lingering on his wings.

He couldn’t think of her pain at the loss of her wings right now.He needed to be strong.Roman had to be focused.He needed to save Charlotte.

He nodded, and in one quick movement, Ariel disappeared around the side of the building while Sabriel, Ramiel, Cael, and Marius took to the sky like silent assassins.The sound of their wings was barely a whisper.

“Let’s go,” Roman commanded.

Grigori, Armaros, and Roman shot up into the air.He watched Lucian and Phoenix follow the path Ariel had taken.Roman flew straight toward the main pyramid, the sun glinting off the sandy ruins.He caught sight of two guards, but they dropped dead, the other angels shooting at them as they approached.

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