Page 43 of Unbroken

“I love you more, Rodyn Larrieux.” I wink as Marcus rolls his eyes a few feet away. Rodyn takes my hand and pulls me behind him as we join the line.

Rook and Lyrik arrive with Professor Maverick and a few more Professors who want to fight today. After what happened at HellNight Academy a lot of them want to help see this through to the end.

I clear my throat and address everyone. “Remember that the Light Guardians are not themselves. I will do my damnedest to break the connection between them and Michael. Until then, please try not to kill them. They have no free will.” I crack my neck to the side and roll my shoulders and I walk forward with my little army at my back.

* * *

I cut through the trees alone, walking up to the cloaking barrier at the back of the Academy like I’m on a leisurely stroll. I whistle to myself as my hands reach out to press against the wards, only for them to fall away before I can touch them. They fall away like an invisible curtain. There in the field in front of me is row upon row of Light Guardians. All of them stand at attention with their Enochian tattoos glowing bright blue, leather armor strapped to their chests on top of their standard white tank tops and black cargo pants. Knives, daggers, swords, and naginatas at the ready as they all stare blankly ahead. Of course Michael had them out here waiting, but I anticipated this as well. Above them, floating high in the sky are the Archangels, their white and gold breastplates are similar to Bishop’s, with cream and white clothing underneath.

The middle lines of Light Guardians part and the asshole himself walks down the center. His face a mask of calm, arms clasped in front of him like some deranged priest, in a long white tunic, the hem brushing against his bare feet. Brown leather straps crisscross over his chest holding a long sword holstered to his back. I guess someone decided to go old school, keeping it authentic. Well, that’s fine with me. The better to stab you with, Big Bad Wolf.

He spreads his arms wide like a gracious host and stops beside a petite Guardian with light brown skin and brown doe eyes, her hair is braided down in cornrows and her hand and fingers are tattooed, glowing blue. This must be Bryelle, and hey, if we weren’t about to possibly kill each other, I would approve.

“Micah Jones, have you come to surrender? I know you wouldn’t make it that easy, would you?” He snaps his fingers as more Light Guardians come marching out of the trees from left to right, almost boxing me in. We are definitely outnumbered, and if I want to pull this off, I will have to focus and move quickly from one squadron to another.

“Well, where would be the fun in that.” My smirk grows as my army of Supernatural beings comes marching from the trees at my back. Bishop lands beside me, all formidable and fatherly, trying to protect me by standing slightly in front of me.

“Azrael, you wound me. Or is it, Bishop?” Michael steps forward and so does Bishop.

“You can skip the pleasantries, Brother. You forget I know you.” Bishop tenses, his wings stretching out wide in preparation.

Michael’s hard green eyes catch mine and then shift back to Bishop’s, he smiles and shrugs. “Yes, I guess there’s no need, as you say, Brother, you know me.” He claps his hands, and the entire unit of Light Guardians begins to move as one. Michael allows them to take six steps to close us in, then he raises his hand and forms a fist, and they halt. Like puppets on a string, he commands them against their will, and it makes my blood simmer in indignation.

“So, I guess you’re here for Verity. Well, Brother, you can have what’s left of her.” He holds up one finger in Bishop’s face. “If you can reach her,” Michael says confidently. I can’t see Bishop’s expression in response to Michael’s threat, but by the absolute stillness of his body I can see he’s about to strike.

I slowly reach for my daggers, the cool metal handle touches my skin in greeting and I feel complete. I have my magic, yes, but nothing compares to the focus of a physical fight. I have my dad to thank for that. I am not dependent on just one means of defense. Michael turns his back on Bishop as a blur of black wings shoots up out of the trees and into the sky. The figure arches, then flies like a torpedo towards the ground, only to stop short dramatically.

Bishop groans so low that I almost don’t hear him. If we weren’t about to fight for our lives I would double over in laughter. Yep, he’s dramatic alright. Lucifer hovers, black wings spread wide, in gold sparkling armor with a helmet and bright red plumes sticking out of it, like a Roman General. He lands in front of Michael, stopping his progress, his back to the Light Guardians without a care if they attack or not.

“Well, I can’t let you all have fun without me, now, can I? Honestly, I can’t stand to hear another word out of your mouth.” Lucifer pulls his sword from his back and points it at Michael. If there is anyone who would set Michael off, it is the sight of his greatest adversary and the very reason we are all here.

“Kill them all! Bring the Nephilim to me! Fight for Heaven!” Michael roars and charges Lucifer, his sword appearing from out of nowhere as they both launch themselves high in the sky. The Light Guardians charge and I don’t spare a glance at my own people at my back. They know what needs to be done today and so do I. Bishop turns to me and inclines his head, the gesture full of so many things we can’t say to each other, but I hear him loud and clear. Be safe, stay alive. Then he spreads his wings wide and shoots straight into the sky as the other Archangels converge on him in an aerial battle of swords and staffs. The roar of the Demons behind me has my eyes snapping forward as the first wave of Guardians hit me.

“Remember to hold them back,” I shout as I throw my hands out and sweep a group of them aside with my telekinesis. I watch them fly through the air across the field, only to catch them safely on a pocket of Air Elemental magic. But there’s no time to celebrate my magical win. Even though I want to do a happy dance. The Light Guardians just keep coming, wave after wave. Demons and Guardians are battling all around me. I duck, parry, and fight with my daggers as I fight off two Guardians at a time. They are relentless in their pursuit to harm me. I take hit after hit, blocking the two females, whose faces remain blank and expressionless.

Suddenly, they vanish, and I spin in a circle searching for them in time to see black and white mist roll over the mass of fighters, disabling them, snatching them up and incapacitating them. I turn as I catch sight of Ty and Trys side by side, levitating in the air above the fight, as they use their Necromantic power to put as many of the Light Guardians to sleep as possible.

Trys has the nerve to blow me a kiss across the field, but I don’t have time to respond as a beast of a Guardian towers over me. He brings his naginata down so fast, I twist out of the way before he strikes true. The Guardian twirls his weapon through the air and the sharp blade grazes the ground, sending grass and dirt into the sky. Well, thanks for that. I use the dirt and grass, controlling it with my Earth Elemental power and smash it into his face. The big guy flails wildly as his weapon falls to the ground and he wipes furiously at his face. With a flick of my wrist, I send him flying away from me as Rook materializes out of the shadows of the trees, catching the Guardian in mid-air.

We fight like this until my limbs ache, and I know we all can’t keep playing catch, hold, and contain much longer. There’s too many of them. Rodyn and Marcus are fighting back-to-back, swords clashing, fists flying, it’s an all-out melee as Demons begin to fall under the attack. I gave an impassioned speech about not losing anyone today, and although it’s the cost of war, I still feel as if I am failing.

I spot Lyrik’s purple essence flowing in the center of the fight, holding Guardians at bay as Professor Maverick fights in Wolf form beside him. Everyone is tiring and that’s when mistakes are made, and people die unnecessarily. I need to act.

“Mi, it’s time! We are trying not to hurt them, but it’s damn near impossible. I’ll hold them off and give you the space you need!” Marcus shouts, suddenly beside me, his leather armor is slashed but I don’t have time to check him over. He stands in front of me, sword at the ready and pushes back the Guardians as I close my eyes.

“I’m here, baby girl. Do it,” Rook says beside me, and I don’t have to open my eyes to know he is protecting me along with my brother. I focus my power, feeling it burn white hot inside of me. I channel my rage and I give it intention. I want to break Michael’s control. He doesn’t have the right to use God’s creations as cannon fodder. We have a right to choose what side we want to fight on. He never gave any of these Guardians a choice. He has hidden behind his hate and self-righteousness for far too long.

The fire builds, spreading like a slowly inflating balloon as I feed it more and more power until it’s too much to hold on to. My body begins to levitate, my feet leave the ground, until I am hovering over the battlefield. Instead of freaking out, I let the power flow through me and let my will be done. My chest feels like it’s about to explode as my head falls back and I scream into the sky. Bright white Angel Fire shoots out of my chest, rolling out of my hands, aiming for each and every Light Guardian before me. I can’t see what’s happening, my eyes are unseeing, but I can feel it. I can feel them all as the ground below me goes quiet and still. Then, I fall.

ChapterTwenty-Five

LYRIK

Istare up in wonder as Micah hovers over the ground, her eyes are two orange flames, as six sets of golden wings burst from her back. I stumble at the sight; I thought I would never marvel at the sight of a Seraph ever again. Not since the fall. The highest of the high. My Mate is God blessed, only he can give her the wings of his most high.

“Holy shit, a Nephilim with Seraphim wings!” Rook shouts so loud I can hear him over the high-pitched buzz in the air, the sound almost like rolling thunder. With a great boom, Micah screams as Angel Fire erupts from her chest and hands. Ripping a hole in her tank top, her smooth, perfect skin untouched by the blaze. The stream of fire acts with a mind of its own, searching and seeking out each Light Guardian and wrapping them in white light. Not an uncontrollable blast like the day in Headmistress Larrieux’s office or the chest shot like Marcus received. No, my Mate has found a way to do it without harming them. They all drop like flies, collapsing to the ground, as the blue light of their Enochian tattoos blink out, glowing no more. It happens so fast that I don’t register the silence. Wind whips up around us as Micah’s wings pull back into her body and she falls out of the sky.

I’m running, not thinking about anything but the need to get to her. Rook catches her out of the sky, cradling her against his chest. Dropping to his knees, he immediately takes care of our Mate. Rook sees her tattered clothes and quickly pulls his shirt off to cover the top half of her body. I roll my eyes, of course he’s shirtless again, it’s as if the Demon needs to always have his sculpted chest on display. I breathe a sigh of relief as all of us, Ty, Trys, and Rodyn make a bee-line straight for her.

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