The Virtue Of My Dark Angel, Dark Angels of the Apocalypse Book 3

Chapter Fifteen: The Cat, The Bear And The Bull

Barbatos..

He ran in his Demon form, leaving the safety of their little pocket Dimension behind. He needed to see if he was right. If his proximity to Bethany blinded him. If she was eroding his power. And if she was..

Shouldn’t he be glad about that?

After all, the Virtue had clung to him like cobwebs, refusing to let go. The gifts that came with that status had tormented him and caused him no end of suffering. IN a way, he would have thought it was one more sick and twisted punishment from his Homeworld-

If it wasn’t for the pursuit by those very same people to retrieve the power he still possessed.

As if they’d ever be able to retrieve it over anything other than his cold, dead body.

In a tongue he thought he’d never utter again, he yelled to the Heavens as he ran, twisting this way and that, looking skyward. The language burned as he forced it from his lips. Not physically, oh no. This was a mental anguish all his own at having to call on the very people he loathed for aid. “Where are you?” He roared, his tongue tripping over the words as if it was a burden to speak them. “Get out here! SHow yourselves!” Even though this form wasn’t necessarily meant for it, he stood on his hind legs, turning a circle, glaring daggers at the sky, waiting for the familiar zap of lightning or flap of wings. But none came, and the Virtue’s gifts were oddly silent, his vision remained whole.

Even as he tried to call up his myriad leftover gifts, he received nothing. Not even the usual visions of Bethany that plagued him endlessly. His mind was too damn turbulent to concentrate, and he couldn’t get the two sides of his nature to stop warring with each other long enough to cooperate, to calm enough to open for the fractured vision he usually fell prey to.

“Damn it all, you hound me relentlessly until I need you, and then WHERE ARE YOU?!” Barbatos bellowed at the sky before collapsing back onto all fours, to the relief of his hind leg joints. His fur bristled and his tail lashed at his impotence. He needed answers, and if he couldn’t get them, he needed the danger that would force the Virtue’s gifts into play.

“My, my, my, what a terrible racket you create.” A smooth voice echoed through the trees around Barbatos.

“What do you want?” Barbatos snapped, turning a slow circle, looking for the Deceiver.

“Oh, you know, I just heard a brother in distress, and I thought I’d come to see if I could offer any assistance..” The voice floated from behind Barbatos now, and he spun with a growl, trying to locate it.

“You may have our Homeland deceived, and even some of the Fallen, but not me.” barbatos snarled, teeth bared in a full threatening display. A bird gave a shrill call, warning others of an intruder, and Barbatos spun again, facing that direction. A gentle tsk was followed by the flutter of wings. Too many wings. And large ones at that.

“Oh dear. I’m sure I have no idea what you mean.” Out of the shadows walked a very beautiful and well-dressed man with six wings folding neatly around his body. Some wrapped around him like a cape, trailing down over his arms, chest and back while almost giving a boneless appearance. Stray feathers stuck up around his neck and head like some kind of strange hood or elaborate neck-piece. It was unnatural, the wings never meant to bend that way. If Barbatos’ hair could bristle any further, it would, not only because of the unnatural way the wings lay, but just at the sight of the Being himself.

“You may walk between worlds pretending to take care of your duties, but I know better.” Barbatos growled, and the beautiful Being’s polite expression dropped into a frown.

“Oh yes, Virtue.” Spat the six-winged Deceiver. “Or should I say, former Virtue, since that classification clings to you like a death-shroud?” Barbatos felt his lips peel back even further from his teeth. “Tell me, how long do you think that your rank and file as Virtue will be able to co-exist with your new.. Hmm, shall we say.. Position?” Barbatos’ expression built into a threatening growl, but the Deceiver merely feigned thoughtfulness, tapping a long, slender finger against his chin.

“Funnily enough, that famed foresight of yours didn’t seem to warn you I was coming, now did it?” The Deceiver's eyes lit up with glee, and Barbatos snarled wildly, swinging sharp claws in the Deceiver’s direction, losing himself to his baser nature for moment or two.

“Now, now..” Tutted the Deceiver. “You wouldn’t want to get into a fight with someone who outranks you, now would you? Especially someone who still retains all their power?” The Deceiver practically purred at Barbatos with a wide grin. Barbatos let out a wildcat scream, due in part to the frustration of the moment, and stood again on his hind legs.

“You forget, brother,” Spat Barbatos. “That when I Fell from the grace of our Homeworld, my power was enough to grant me status in the Hell I called my new homeland. It’s not just me you have to contend with!” And with that, Barbatos reached through the open doorway to the Dimension the humans called Hell and called for the army that was at his disposal. The sound of horns blasted around them, sirens going off in warning, a rallying call to those under his control to come to his aid, and the Deceiver snarled at Barbatos. One Fallen Virtue he may have overpowered, true. But the countless Demons Barbatos could summon at his command?

“You’re lucky I don’t want my movements here known!” Spat the Deceiver as the first of the summoned Demons could be heard arguing and snapping at each other as they approached the opening Barbatos had ripped through space and time. Six wings extended with the sound of ruffling feathers, and with a glance skyward, the Deceiver jumped upward, leaving Barbatos to release his hold on the Demons he had summoned from beyond the gate and this Dimension. He slumped from the power drain, still not entirely recovered from his efforts during his travels with Bethany. If he could only sleep, it would help. But every time his Virtue was awakened by her dreams, it drained him a little more. Collapsing to the forest floor in full Demon form, he considered napping, only to straighten immediately when someone cleared their throat.

“You gonna send ‘em back?” A hulking figure cleared the trees, horns swinging to free a branch from them as the Demon shook his head, and Barbatos slumped once more.

“Too tired. What’s a few more Demons anyway?” Barbatos sighed. Morax frowned. He was an odd sight in his Demon-form, with his human head and bull body, walking around on his hind-legs like it was a party trick.

“No offense to ya, Barbatos, but some of the crew you command are less than savory.” There was a great crack, and the sound of screaming and cursing, and then Morax turned back to face Barbatos. “Hope you don’t mind, but I took care of it. Not everyone made it through when the gates first opened, and not everyone should.” Barbatos gritted his teeth, but bobbed his head in an aborted nod.

“Thanks.” He struggled to pull himself to his feet, but Morax stepped up and offered him a fully human hand, having changed forms sometime before reaching Barbatos’ side. When it was obvious Barbatos wasn’t going to manage to struggle to his feet on his own, he glared at Morax’s offered hand, but Morax seemed unperturbed by Barbatos’ constant foul mood. “What are you doing here anyway?” Barbatos growled, finally taking the offered hand, and digging sharp claws into Morax’s arm as he allowed the other Demon to help him up. Morax didn’t even flinch, and Barbatos was disturbed by the lack of blood coming from Morax’s thick hide.

“Oh, I have territory nearby. With the sound of all those sirens and horns.. You honestly can’t expect I wouldn’t have noticed, my friend.” Morax stated almost cheerfully, and Barbatos automatically checked the sky, so used to being pursued that he couldn’t relax, even in the presence of another Demon that was not necessarily a threat to him.

“What is it, Barbatos? You seem on edge.” Morax had pulled him to his feet, and now clapped a hand on his shoulder, making Barbatos snarl. Morax immediately lifted both hands in the air with an apologetic grin. “My bad, my friend. I forgot you prefer not to be touched, but you must admit, you are edgier than usual.” Morax’s voice was free from recrimination, so barbatos chose to ignore him, looking around once more.

“Yes well, I just had a run-in with the Deceiver himself, and his minions could be anywhere nearby.” Barbatos murmured, trying to listen to the sounds of the forest around him even as Morax’s expression soured.

“The Deceiver! He was here?! You mean Lu-” Morax grunted as Barbatos’ hand slapped across the Demon’s mouth. Morax’s beard scratched at Barbatos’ palm and Barbatos took his hand away in disgust, wiping it along the fading fur on his thigh.

“Don’t say his name unless you want him back here. Or one of his little minions.” Barbatos growled at Morax, who looked skeptical.

“But why was he even here? It doesn’t make any sense when he doesn’t usually get involved in anything that’s not big. You know, powerful people, places and events. He hates humans. The big stuff that happens between Dimensions is all he ever seems to rally energy for. No offense Barbatos..” Morax offered, and Barbatos turned away.

“Yeah thanks. Nice way of telling me how you feel.” Barbatos grumped, then waved a hand as Morax tried to apologize. “I have a new Marked, let’s just say she’s affecting my reactions.” He turned back to face Morax. “In fact, I highly suspect that the Deceiver is aware of my Marked. I have been a hold-out for how long? Refusing to take a companion, and the minute I have one, he suddenly appears? It seems incredibly suspicious if you ask me.” In fact, the more Barbatos thought on it, the more certain he was, and it was with little surprise to him that his vision shattered, and he was suddenly looking at the past, present and future all at once in a thousand tiny pieces. He blinked, his head instantly exploding with pain. It took a moment or two for him to concentrate enough to realize that once again, all the little shards of his vision focused in on Bethany.

However, this time, he saw potential futures with the Deceiver in them, trying to convince Bethany to give up her hybrid children to him. Several in which he walked by her while she was behind bars of some sort, and even more where he orchestrated her capture.

Barbatos came back to himself with a snap, a growl building in his throat while his head felt like it was splitting in two. His compatriot patiently watched him and waited while he gripped his head, still growling under his breath.

“What did you see?” Morax asked gently.

“It bears looking into. I have deep suspicions that the Deceiver is behind the attacks on the Marked that belong to Stolas and the others who do not pick a side. I have to tell Stolas about this immediately! But I also need to see just how far this goes!” Barbatos paused, torn. He had left Drew and Bethany without a word, and his head swiveled in their direction. He should let them know at least that he’d be gone..

“Barbatos..” Morax murmured. “Go be with your Marked. I have none. I’ll look into this myself and carry your message to Stolas.”

“It’s not your responsibility.” Barbatos growled, head snapping back to face Morax, who had a soft, almost pitying expression on his face that made Barbatos grit his teeth.

“No, but I’m offering. Take the kindness, Barbatos, you grumpy old Demon. Choose to fight me over something more important another day. You just said you had a new Marked to attend to who was affecting your moods. Go find your balance with your new Marked. Enjoy the ride. I envy you more than I can say.” And this time, Barbatos could see that jealousy on the usually jovial face of his companion, and it softened his words enough for Barbatos to nod and take Morax’s offering.

“Fine then. Be careful. He’s not called the Deceiver for nothing.” Barbatos grumbled, and Morax’s booming laugh rang out around them.

“Aye, noted. Now, off with you. Enjoy your newly Marked little human to the fullest. I know I would.” Morax winked, and Barbatos sighed heavily, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Drew and Bethany had definitely rubbed off on him.

Drew..

He kept pausing while he went about his chores on the farm. It didn’t feel right, the way Barbatos had just stormed off on him, and even Bethany had knocked on the bedroom door a few moments later to see if everything had been alright, considering a naked Demon had stormed through the room she had been sleeping in and out the front door with barely a grumbled word.

Now they worked side by side gathering radishes, carrots and beans. Bethany grumbled to herself about the plants that refused to come out of the ground smoothly, and at first, Drew found it irritating, but the longer it went on, the funnier it got to him.

“Stupid..stuck..carrot..why won’t you just.. Let go!” Bethany griped, and Drew snorted. “It’s not funny!” She snapped, which made it worse, and Drew found himself grinning crazily in between stifled laughter.

“f*****g thing has arms and legs, I swear! It’s holding onto the dirt under there!” She complained bitterly next, and Drew found himself coughing in an attempt to cover his laughter. And there was “Why are radishes round? Who designed these things? Like how are you supposed to get them out of the dirt when they’re pretending to be big-headed stupid beachballs living right below the surface of damned packed earth!? All I’m doing is breaking the stems and leaves, and it hurts! Why do they have SPIKES?!” After Drew was done clearing his throat to cover his laugh, he took a moment or two to examine Bethany.

“I’m surprised you know what a beachball is. You look awfully young. I would have thought the Demon Apocalypse would have destroyed all that for you.” Drew stated casually.

“I’ve seen pictures!” Bethany remarked defensively, sitting back on her haunches and wiping a smear of dirt across her sweaty forehead. “My mother might not have had the mental strength to hack it, but she did love to read, and she had tons of books! At least at first.” It sounded to Drew like an argument she had used frequently, and he merely nodded his head in agreement, going back to his work without comment.

“I mean, yeah she flaked out on us while I was still a kid, but ya know.. It was the Demon Apocalypse.” The last two words were mostly grunted as she pulled up a carrot. “And I mean, before that, she did her best. She just had mental problems, ya know? Emotional issues we couldn't get meds for. I mean..” As Bethany fell silent, Drew looked over to see her sitting with her fists clenched in her lap, her legs folded under her.

“Part of me was glad she was gone..is that bad?” She looked up and met his eyes. Hers were too bright, too shiny, like she was about to cry. “I had wished for it the day before, when she took a broom and bea-” Bethany shook her head, looking away, but Drew understood. Whether it was the connection the Mark had forged between them, or just his imagination running wild, he saw it in his own mind clear as day. The broom handle coming down across a very small Bethany’s back again and again as she yelled for her mother to stop, her hands held up defensively as if to ward off further attack as she hunched over, trying to make herself smaller. Drew could almost feel the hot tears on her face and the way she’d screamed her throat raw.

He jolted back to the present, realizing Bethany was still talking. “..and I dunno.. I always felt like maybe somehow I made it happen. I’d never wished for anything so hard in my life, and the next day, she was just.. Gone.” Bethany’s dirt-encrusted hands flexed, squeezing her pants and releasing them in anxious waves as she refused to look at Drew. He knelt beside her, taking one of those hands without thought.

“Hey, you did nothing wrong.” Drew asserted as gently as he could, but the words still came out like bullets, sharp and harsh. Bethany’s head swung towards him again, and she looked at him doubtfully, so he grabbed her other hand and gave both a squeeze. “How could you have? You were a kid!?” He insisted, but she shook her head.

“It’s my attitude that ran off both my parents. I’ve never been able to keep my mouth shut, I just-” As if realizing she were proving her own point, she sucked her lips into her mouth and bit down.

“Who on Earth ever gave you that idea Love? They were adults., If they couldn’t handle the chatter of a child, that’s on them. Even if it did happen to be a bit sassy.” Drew insisted, trying and failing to draw her closer to him and meet her gaze as she avoided his eyes and resisted his gentle tug on her arm.

“That’s just it! They couldn’t handle it, so they left! And they’re not the only ones either! Give it time, you already hate me, wait and see, I’ll make you leave too!” Bethany jerked her hands from his and before he could say anything, she fled the garden, Ginger following balefully after her with a last, accusatory and miserable look at Drew. Somehow, the expression on the dog’s face made him feel one-hundred times worse than he did before about upsetting Bethany.

“But I was just trying to comfort her!” He told the now empty garden. He wished fiercely Barbatos was there. He might be able to tell Drew if it was a good idea to go after Bethany or not with his Virtue abilities. But then again, those were acting up, weren’t they? Drew sighed and went back to work gathering vegetables despite the ache in his chest for Bethany, that he wasn’t entirely sure wasn’t partly her own pain echoing through their Marks anyway.

Bethany..

She was not going to admit to being slightly disappointed that Drew hadn’t done more to stop her. She was too upset to think about it.

What he’d said to her had more or less confirmed her worst fears.

It really was her fault her parents left. Because they really couldn’t take the attitude of a young girl. She sniffed, trying to blink back the tears that blinded her as she plodded onward. There was a sudden bark, and Ginger was abruptly pressed up against her shins, preventing her from moving any further forward.

“What, Ginger? What do you want?” Bethany demanded as the wolf-dog barked again and bounced against her legs as hard as he could, nearly knocking her off her feet. She stumbled backwards, the weight of the animal pushing her off balance. He shoved her again with his shoulder, and again she tripped backwards. “Good lord Ginger! What’s gotten into you? There’s nothing there-!” Bethany’s words died in her mouth as she looked up and saw the great hulking, hairy form in front of her.

“Hol-eey shiiit!” She murmured, dragging the words out while her brain stuttered to a stop. She couldn’t think. Should she run or stand still? Make a loud noise or try to look small? “Ginger, we are so dead.” She babbled as the huge bear in front of her huffed and raised its snout to get a better scent of them.