Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Cain met each violent surge of power with one of his own. He also made a point of continually twisting Adam’s elemental strikes—both aggravating and mocking him.
Adam had always been an expert at shutting off his emotions when it suited him. But the ability appeared to be alluding him at this moment. Was that any surprise? The city was falling apart around him, his people were screaming and dying, and the one person he loathed above all others was now using his own power against him.
A silver shockwave rammed into Cain’s body hard enough to make him rock back a step. He acted fast, pitching a ball of dark flames right at Adam. It connected with the Aeon’s side, burning through cloth and blistering skin. Adam let out an animal cry of anger.
Cain might have smiled, but then orbs of fiercely bright light bulleted through the air toward him. He ducked and dodged, but one slammed into his chest, knocking the breath out of him—it was like being hit by a steel door. Hissing at the burning sensation it left in its wake, he sharply flicked his hand, whipping Adam with a heavy blow of power that sent him staggering backwards.
They traded yet more long distance blows. Soon, both sported burns, cuts, deep slashes, blisters, and shallow stab wounds. Adam was also covered in bee stings.
As he fought, Cain was distantly aware of his uncle still battling Emmanuel close by. The Aeon was buckling under the weight of the Ancient’s assault, but Abaddon wasn’t capitalizing on it. No, he was playing with the Aeon, inflicting as much pain upon him as possible, dragging it out.
Cain jerked aside just as a beam of white-hot light dived toward him. Before he had the chance to return the blow, a bitterly cold wind flared out and pummeled him, snatching his breath, breaking a rib, and sending ripples of pain up his side.
Grinding his teeth, Cain tossed dark smoky orbs at the Aeon. Adam coughed as they hit him full-on in the face. Taking advantage, Cain swiftly followed up his attack with balls of boiling hot power that punched Adam’s head and body, leaving horrendous burns that sizzled and crisped.
Just then, Emmanuel stumbled backwards, crashing into his brother. Adam fell to the ground, whacking his head hard, dazing himself . . . completely vulnerable to a killing blow. And so, conscious of his promise, Cain allowed his monster to surface.
Firmly in the backseat now, Cain could only observe as his creature took over, shifting in a blur of motion. It unfurled its body, glaring down at Adam, a cruel anticipation swirling in its blood.
Paling, the Aeon gaped up at the Leviathan, his face a mask of sheer unadulterated fear. A fear the creature greedily drank in. Cursing in panic, Adam shakily whipped out his arm.
The creature shrieked out its fury as waves of cold air blasted its armored scales. In no mood to duel, only to destroy, the Leviathan opened its mouth and exhaled a roaring flame of fire right at Adam, melting his body and sending his soul straight to the place it belonged.
The creature then let out a hissing shriek in triumph. One that was answered by the other Leviathans. More than satisfied, the monster didn’t fight Cain when he pushed for control.
Once more in the front seat, Cain rolled back his shoulders.
“He’s gone,” said Seth, staring at the spot on the ground where Adam had once lay. There was now only scorched grass. “And I can’t tell you how delighted I am by that.”
Taking in the rest of the city, Cain saw that few troops still lived, just as few buildings still stood.
Abaddon swiped a hand over his brow, looming over a very dead Emmanuel. “Now I need to go see if I can coax Baal to shift back. I know he’s feral, but we can’t kill him. He’s been through enough.”
“If anyone can make him listen, it’s you,” said Cain.
His uncle nodded and then hurried off in a blur . . . just as one of the Rephaim came sailing toward Cain and Seth, a bloodthirsty screech clawing out of its throat.
Shit.
A strong otherworldly breeze washed over it, and the entity stopped abruptly. It stared at Cain through eyes he couldn’t see and then cocked its head in a bird-like movement.
Cain’s gut prodded him. “Wynter?”
It let out another screech. It wasn’t one of bloodthirst this time. It was a summons. And as the floor beneath it became dark water, the rest of the Rephaim soared toward it and dived into what could only be a portal to the netherworld.
“I guess the Rephaim feel that they’re not needed anymore,” said Seth.
Only once the others were gone did the calling Rephaim shift in an explosive movement that sent blood and gore bursting outward before rebounding back on Wynter. And as her body began to fall to the ground, his heart slammed in his chest. Because the portal was still there.