“Ugh!” Cole grunted as he regained consciousness. Had his head been hit by a freight train? Sure felt like it. Blurred vision, ringing ears, and numbness all wracked his body. Questions crept into his awareness.

Am I dead?

He lay on his back. The darkness above him came slowly into focus. He was staring at a clear night sky; the stars and moon shone brightly. When the ringing in his ears faded, he could hear the peaceful sounds of crickets and owls in the distance.

Cole’s leg muscles stopped twitching. He found the strength to stand, and took in his surroundings. He was outside in a small clearing of knee high grass illuminated by moonlight. A gentle breeze swept across the plains and kissed his face.

Where am I?

With no knowledge of where he was or how he got to his current location, Cole tried to figure out what to do. “Keep going in one direction,” he thought. “Bound to run into something or someone eventually.”

Trees surrounded Cole in the near distance, broken only by a gap under the brightly burnished full moon. “I’ll just get lost if I wander through the woods at night.” He chose his direction and began his journey into the unknown night.

He walked on shaky legs for what seemed like forever through the grassy field until a faint sound stopped him in his tracks. He listened closely; it was a woman’s voice, humming or singing.

Why would someone be singing out here in the middle of nowhere? No matter; at least this person could tell him where he was.

Cole followed the sound. The angelic voice gained audibility as he pressed onward. He came to a small forest grove that blocked his path toward the voice. Knowing the risks, he moved into the dense trees.

It was completely dark. Cole reached out, careful to not let a branch smack his face. All he had to guide him was the light voice. The creepy stirring of trees and howling of nearby wolves unnerved him. He quickened his pace.

He saw a faint light through the thick forest. The voice becoming louder with every step. His resolve tightened as he hoped for a way out of this mess; he pressed brusquely through the branches.

As Cole pushed the final branch out of his way, he focused his eyes on the source of the mesmerizing voice. It was indeed a woman, humming with her back turned towards him. Her long blonde hair and light blue dress blew gently in the midnight breeze.

“Hello?” Cole called out.

She gave no response but continued her enchanting melody. Cole approached the woman slowly, careful not to startle her.

“Excuse me. I seem to be lost. Could you tell me where I am?”

Again, no response. Was she deaf? No, that cannot be. A deaf person does not sing so heavenly.

“Hello?” Cole spoke louder as he reached his hand out to touch her shoulder. Shock overwhelmed him as his hand passed through her body as if he were a ghost.

“What the hell?!”

Cole looked ahead. A cliff with jagged rocks fell just a few feet before them, offering quite a view of the moonlit countryside. He looked down the steep ledge and saw a primitive-looking village of decent size. The settlement looked quiet but not abandoned, apparent from lit torches and small camp fires.

Turning back around, Cole eyes widened as he looked at the woman with the mesmerizing voice. He instantly recognized those facial features.

“Zafira?!”

She was different, however. Her raven colored hair was now blonde. Her eyes were a bright blue that sparkled in the moonlight. Her figure remained otherwise unchanged, as far as he could tell. Her attire was very modest, covering most of her body, much unlike the Zafira he knew.

“Where are we?” Cole asked.

The sound of a galloping horse approaching behind her diverted her attention. Atop the horse was a young-looking dark-haired man wearing chain mail and red-accented clothing.

“Simon!” she shouted, rushing to greet him.

“Rosa!” the man said as he hopped off his horse and held her in his arms. They held each other in a tight lover’s embrace.

Rosa? Was that Zafira’s real name? Or was she someone else? Cole had been confused the moment he awakened. Things made less and less sense the longer he stayed here, wherever here actually was.

He had to think. “You’re a detective, figure it out!” he told himself. Obviously he was not in Chicago anymore, nor did he believe even the same time period. As absurd as it sounded, he wondered if Zafira sent him back in time. Then why does no one notice him? There must be more it.

“I’m so glad you’re safe!” Rosa said, leaning her head against Simon’s chest.

“I wish I could say the same for Christoph,” he sighed.

Rosa looked into Simon’s eyes. She could see the pain he hid behind them. “Did you find him?”

A tear escaped his sorrowful eyes. “We tracked him to an abandoned church just over the horizon. The fool knew demons were hiding there! I told him not to go alone! We found his body in pieces, his head impaled on a spear.”

Cole then noticed the small cross branded on the side of Simon’s neck. He was a Crusader. No wonder he knew of demons. Zafira once said their order was old, spanning many centuries. Apparently, she was not mistaken.

“I’m so sorry!” Rosa said, trying to comfort him. “Your brother was a good man.””He was always trying to prove he was better than me, especially since we were twins. We sparred all the time, training ourselves to the limit. It’s how he got that scar across his left eye. I swung my sword too fast and it grazed him. I felt so bad about it, but his vision turned out to be fine. He shrugged the incident off, said the scar served as a reminder to always train harder.”

There was a long period of silence. Rosa held her lover tightly in her arms, loathing to let him go. “I was worried you wouldn’t return. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you.”

Simon lifted her chin. “Do not worry. We will be married soon and I will take you far away from these tainted lands. I’ll always be there to protect you. I love you, Rosa, with every fiber of my being.”

Cole watched on as the two lovers engaged in a slow passionate kiss. He could tell it was pure genuine love by the fiery look in their eyes and the hunger behind their lips.

Rosa… Just who was she? Her resemblance to Zafira could not be purely coincidental. He was drawn here by her voice, as if someone or some thing intended for him to see this.

The three of them jumped when a loud boom shook the very ground they stood on. Simon held Rosa close with one arm, his other ready to draw his sword. Another earth shattering boom sounded seconds later, striking fear in their hearts.

Simon and Rosa peered over the edge of the cliff.

“The village!” Rosa screamed.

Cole looked down. The quaint village below was no longer silent, stirred by fire that engulfed several homes. Boom blared again as a flimsy shelter exploded, sending fiery debris through the air.

“The demons!” Simon shouted. “They must have followed us back to the village!”

Simon quickly mounted his horse. Rosa cried, “Simon! What are you doing?!”

“Whatever I can! Stay here Rosa, it is far too dangerous elsewhere. I’ll come back here after we drive them off.”

Rosa’s face was full of worry. She knew she would not be able to stop him, no matter how much she begged. “Please be careful, Simon!”

Simon nodded. With a loud “Yah!” and a stinging of spurred heels, the horse took off like greased lightning. Rosa watched him vanish down the small path and out of her sight.

She turned towards the cliff edge and fearfully tried to discern what was happening below. The village was ablaze with smoke thick enough to obstruct her view. She paced nervously, uncertain of what to do.

That was when Cole’s brain sparked with realization. He had seen this exact scene once before. The painting in Zafira’s lair that seemed suspiciously out of place. This was not some trip back in time, or a random dream. This was Zafira’s memories. She must have wanted him to see this. But, why?

Rosa was unable to stand idle any longer. She sprinted down the path after Simon. “Wait!” Cole shouted, running after her. She ran as fast as she could, dodging tree limbs, jumping down stairs of rocks. Cole struggled to keep up. She obviously knew this path like the back of her hand.

They reached the bottom. The village was only a short distance ahead. As Cole chased after Rosa he could hear the screaming of the villagers and the roaring of the fire. Amongst the chaos was also the clanging clatter of steel hitting steel; a great battle was taking place.

With no regard for danger at hand, Rosa dashed past the burning front gates. Cole chased after her but lost sight of her form as he chased her into the burning maelstrom. Everywhere he looked was either engulfed in flames or blocked by soldiers battling fearsome winged demons.

Winged demons that resembled Zafira.

Even though the soldiers appeared to have greater numbers, they were no match for the powerful succubi who easily controlled their minds, forcing them to fight against each other.

A single open roadway remained unobstructed. She must have gone that way. He sprinted to the path leading to the town square, the community’s center.

The area was thick with succubi, as well as their male counterparts: incubi. Zafira never spoke of them but Cole had learned of incubi while researching myths and legends about succubi. According to the legends, incubi possessed the same powers as succubi. The only difference was incubi sought to corrupt women, while succubi hunted men.

Cole reached the edge of the town square. He noticed several crusaders taken prisoner. Among the captives was Simon, forced on his knees with his hands tied behind his back.

Cole marched closer. He saw Rosa standing before an intimidating winged demon riding atop a skeletal horse. Nested between the grey skinned silver-haired demon’s curved horns was a grim crown formed from twisted finger bones of humans. The demon’s eyes glowed a dark tone of purple; his bare chest was pristine with toned athletic muscles. The creature projected a vibe that screamed of absolute evil.

As intimidating as this creature was, Rosa was undeterred. She recklessly approached the powerful incubus, the leader of the demons attacking her village.

“Please!” Rosa pleaded, “Leave them alone! I beg of you!”

The demon turned to her. His violet eyes turned black as night as a gleeful grin stretched across his face.

“Well, what do we have here?” The demon spoke in a eerie sinister voice. “A pure soul and a virgin! This is a rare treat indeed!”

“Rosa’s soul is pure? Like mine?” Cole pondered.

The demon leapt high into the sky, then plummeted to the ground, landing behind Rosa with great force. Startled, she quickly spun around to face the tall incubus invading her personal space. She now had his undivided attention.

“It takes a substantial amount of courage to approach the Aspect of Lust so boldly. I am Asmodeus, and to whom do I owe this honor?”

“R-Rosa,” she trembled. “My name is Rosa.”

Asmodeus stepped forward and gripped her chin in his hand. “Rosa. Such a beautiful name.”

She jerked away, uninterested in his charms. “Please stop this!”

He crossed his arms, “And why would I do such a thing? The souls of your friends are so delicious!” He raised his hand. A nearby crusader cried out in agony as his body shriveled into nothing, the victim’s soul drawn to Asmodeus’ body.

“Stop!” Rosa cried. “I’ll do anything if you’ll just spare everyone! Please!”

Asmodeus was intrigued by her proposal. “Anything?” he smirked.

Rosa gulped. “Yes. Anything.”

Asmodeus clicked his fingers. All of his minions obeyed his will and stood down from combat. They gathered around him and Rosa.

“As you can see, I am capable of mercy. However, such kindness from the Lord of Lust does have it’s price. Submit your body and soul to me, Rosa, and I will spare the lives of your friends.”

“Don’t do it, Rosa!” Simon shouted.

“You realize I can take it by force if need be. However, a pure soul is so much sweeter to the taste when a mortal willingly sacrifices themselves. This is the only way you can save these people.”

“How do I know you won’t kill them anyway?”

The arch-demon stood proud. “My word is my bond. Lies have no place in the Realm of Lust.”

Tears of sorrow ran down Rosa’s face. She approached Simon; he was held prisoner by two succubi. Her lips pressed against his, taking in his scent one last time. “I’ll always love you Simon. Never forget that. But there is no other way. It’s either me, or all of us. I’m sorry.”

“Rosa! ROSA!” Simon shouted, struggling to free himself as she returned to Asmodeus. The succubi were too strong. They pinned him down firmly to the dirty ground.

Rosa approached Asmodeus and knelt at his feet. “I submit myself you.”

Asmodeus cackled, eager to claim his prize. “Excellent! First, I’ll take your body. Then I’ll take your soul.”

He unfastened his belt, letting the tattered fabric covering his waist fall to the ground. His massive grey-skinned cock stuck out mere inches from Rosa’s face. Her eyes widened in pure astonishment. What she was supposed to do with that??

“Pleasure me,” the incubus commanded after reading Rosa’s thoughts. “Or shall I allow the massacre to continue?”

She had no choice. She hesitantly placed her hand on his thick shaft but was unable to get her small fingers around it completely. Slowly, she stroked up and down his rigid veiny cock, his skin smooth and stretchy. Cole was sure this was the first time Rosa had done anything like this; her reluctance and nervousness were clear as day.

“Open your mouth!”

She obeyed his command. The tip of his cock parted her lips and entered her mouth. He pushed his massive shaft in too far, making her gag and spit as she withdrew from him.

“You will take it! all of it! Or your friends die!”

Cole and Simon cringed as they watched Rosa forced to pleasure this demon of lust. Her body and soul were innocent and pure. To deflower her in such a manner was beyond repulsive. That she was so brave and noble to sacrifice herself for the lives of those she loved made the scene all the more gut-wrenching to Cole.

Rosa closed her eyes and summoned all of her courage. She relaxed her throat as she took him into her mouth again, slowly inching him inside. His tip poked at her throat, trying to trigger her gag reflex, but she pressed further, her mind in deep meditation. After pressing her lips to her hand gripping the base of his cock, she withdrew, leaving behind a trail of saliva.

“Impressive!” he praised. “More!”

Rosa grasped his cock at the base again and spit on her right hand. Again, she slid her lips down his hellish thick shaft, this time only going half way. She stroked the lower half with her slick wet hand, matching the pace of her mouth. The demon groaned as the virgin beauty worked his cock like a filthy whore.

“That’s a good girl. Suck my cock in front of your little lover. Make him regret not taking you for himself.”

“You bastard! I’ll kill you!” Simon yelled, struggling in vain against his captors.

Asmodeus laughed. “I think he wants to see you do more, Rosa.” He motioned for two other incubi to step forward. They stood on either side of her, presenting their erect cocks.

“Now, my precious Rosa, you will pleasure my minions as well. Stroke their cocks while sucking mine!”

Rosa did as he commanded. Simon’s life, and everyone else’s, depended on her obedience. She would not falter.

With Asmodeus’ cock in her mouth, she placed each of her hands on the cocks at her sides, and stroked. Her hands moved in perfect rhythm with her sucking mouth. The two subordinates voiced their approval, roaring loudly.

“Keep it up Rosa! You’re going to be drenched in demon cum soon. Now stand!”

With a fist full of Rosa’s hair, he held her head on his cock as she tried to stand. She made it to her feet, bent over crookedly, as Asmodeus thrust his hips forward and back, relentlessly fucking her mouth. She continued to stroke the other two demons, pumping their long cocks faster and faster.

Rosa withdrew her mouth and gazed up into Asmodeus’ eyes. “I want more. Please!” she begged in a sultry tone.

Asmodeus was caught off guard. “More? You’re certainly full of surprises. If more is what you want, more is what you’ll get!”

Cole could not believe her words. She did not appear to be enjoying what she was doing. It was as if Rosa was trying to out sex the Aspect of Lust himself. Her resolve was strengthened by those she cared for, especially Simon.

Rosa went back to blowing Asmodeus, taking as much of his cock as she could. He summoned forth two more minions; two succubi. The succubi stripped off their flimsy black garments, and grinned. They ripped Rosa’s blue dress from her body to expose her nakedness to the crowd. One succubus knelt behind Rosa’s perfectly shaped ass; the other hovered above it. They simultaneously drove their tongues into Rosa and licked her inside passages.

Rosa moaned on Asmodeus’ cock, still lodged deep in her throat. She rolled her hips against the slithering tongues of the succubi that penetrated both her virgin holes.

Lost in pleasure, she stroked the two minor incubis’ cocks vigorously. She felt hot liquid on the sides of her face; the two incubi had erupted and spewed their demonic cum all over her.

Rosa was possessed now, enslaved by her own sexuality. “More!” she called out again.

Stunned, Asmodeus was unable to comprehend this mortal’s sexual strength. “Fine. But you won’t be able to take much of what comes next!”

He lay down on his back, his towering erection pointing to the sky. He did not have to tell Rosa what he wanted her to do. She promptly straddled his stomach, scooting her dripping pussy towards his crotch, his thick shaft wedged between her luscious round ass cheeks.

Perching herself above him, Rosa took a deep breath and slowly eased onto him. The thickness of his head sought to rip her pussy apart, but she maintained. She bit her lower lip; the pain was almost too much to bear.

Concentrating, she lowered herself further; his cock pushed past her hymen. She winced as surges of pain shot through her mortal body like sharp electric shocks. She was determined not to give up. She dropped further, her ass finally resting on his muscled thighs.

She had taken him. All of him.

Rosa breathed heavily as she remained impaled on Asmodeus. A cold sweat beaded her skin; her nipples stood erect and protruding. A wry smile crept over her face, victorious and triumphant.

“Well done! But this is far from over!”

Asmodeus grabbed Rosa by her hips and raised her up. He withdrew, then slammed his cock hard into her overly tight pussy.

“Aaahh!” Rosa screamed.

Again he thrust into her. Then again. And once more. With each jab, Rosa squealed less and less, until she was fully able to suppress the pain. He fucked her slick virgin pussy as fast and hard as he could manage. It was not long before Rosa met him half way, their sexes slapping together with loud rapid claps of flesh smacking flesh. Her fingers clenched his chest hard, digging in, wounding him, leaving deep scratch marks across his otherwise flawless gray skin.

“Oh God!”

Rosa’s pleasure had reached its peak. Her very first orgasm tore through her body like a massive hurricane. Her pussy gushed and radiated torrid tingly shockwaves of sexual bliss as Asmodeus kept thrusting into her, seeking to claim what was his.

But Rosa was still alive. Coming down from her high, Rosa’s eyes glared down at Asmodeus. “More!”

“Impossible!” he called out.

Asmodeus had yet to play his trump card. He leaned forward, wrapping his arms tightly around her naked body, their eyes staring into one another. “You’re amazingly powerful. Your soul isn’t so easily taken, is it? I was originally going to consume your soul, but now I think I’d rather hold onto it for safekeeping.”

His lips met hers in a strong passionate kiss. Despite Rosa’s efforts to fight Asmodeus on his own terms, she was powerless against his magic. All her willpower escaped her body, passing out of her mouth and into his.

“You will instead serve me, as a succubus!”

Asmodeus laid back down. Rosa was completely and utterly under his control and devoid of all expression. She pounced up and down on his hard cock, loving how he made her pussy feel. While swirling her fingers over her swollen clit, the two succubi grabbed a hold of her bouncing breasts, suckling her pulsating nubs as their master prepared for her transformation.

“Cum inside her Master, make her one of us!”

With his hand between Rosa’s breasts, Asmodeus muttered an incantation, drawing her life force into his palm. The stream of blue light collected into his hand, forming a bright sapphire sphere.

Now that Rosa’s soul was in his hand, he let forth a bestial roar so loud Cole had to cover his ears. His powerful orgasm surged into Rosa’s body. Her pussy oozed the demon’s seed around the shaft still buried inside her. She tumbled to the ground, lifeless and limp.

“Rosa? ROSA!” Simon cried out, his eyes filled with tears.

Rosa’s body moved, twitching, jerking; convulsing face down in the dirt. Loud groans escaped her lips. Her limbs flailed about. Her blonde hair drained of all color, becoming the darkest black.

Something tried to escape her body between her shoulder blades. She screamed in agony as her skin rose several inches off her back and split apart with two bloody wings that forced their way out of her. In similar fashion, a blood-covered tail speared out above the crack of her behind, swinging and flailing wildly.

Cole tried to suppress an urge to vomit as he beheld her gruesome transformation. Her body, covered in her own blood, stopped convulsing. Slowly she stood, opening her red glowing eyes.

“No!” Simon cried. “Noooo!”

With a jolt, Cole felt the ground start to shake. Cracks formed in the earth, as well as in the burning buildings, even the night sky.

“What the hell?”

Reality shattered like a pane of glass struck with a sledgehammer, sending Cole spiraling down a deep dark abyss.

His weightless body twirled helplessly. He fell for what seemed like hours. Or was he falling? His mind was completely disoriented.

Cole landed on solid ground with a hefty thud. He picked himself up and surveyed his new surroundings. The land was barren and devoid of any signs of life. No village, no trees, no grass; just grey dirt, and huge rocks protruding from the ground.

“Great. Now where the fuck am I?”

Before Cole could come up with a plan of action, several beams of bright light came from the sky and blasted the ground just a few feet away. From the dust, a group of winged figures walked in Cole’s direction.

“Angels. Can they… See me?”

Cole ran the opposite direction; several dark gateways appeared in front of him, blocking his retreat. From the portals stepped a group of fearsome creatures of varied size and grotesqueness. One of them he recognized: Asmodeus.

“Oh shit!”

Cole was surrounded; nowhere run. The demons and angels charged towards him. Fuck!

Cole was convinced he was thoroughly screwed, but by some miracle, they stopped. Each side stood in a line and prepared for battle. Asmodeus stepped forward, as did a large angel with a long silver beard holding a thick tome. They met each other in the middle, right where Cole cowered in fear.

“Um. Listen. I have no idea how I got here, so-”

“Uriel. I did not think the Aspect of Wisdom could come up with such a foolish idea. Yet, here you are.”

They paid no attention to Cole’s presence. Slowly, he stepped out from in front of them, hoping he was invisible.

“Underestimating the situation could be your undoing, Asmodeus. The forces of Heaven and Hell have been at each other’s throats since time immortal. All this fighting and loss of life for control of humanity, the chosen race, has gone on far enough.”

The burly angel opened his tome, the pages flipping on their own. “It is time to settle this, once and for all. Rather than full-scale war as we always have, each Aspect will choose a single champion. Each combatant will fight one versus one until their death. The side with a champion remaining will be declared the victor and win dominion over the human world.”

“I think it is you who underestimates the situation,” the demon smirked. “We’ll play along with your little ‘game’. Once I have control over the humans, I will become their God!”

“I’m sure the other demon Aspects wouldn’t hand over complete control to you without a fight.”

Asmodeus laughed. “Of course not! Power conquers all, and I have the power to destroy any who oppose me now, including you!”

“We shall see,” Uriel snorted.

The two Aspects paced back to their respective sides. “Is this how humanity’s fate is to be decided?” Cole wondered. “One big Heaven-versus-Hell pissing contest?”

Cole watched from afar as each battle unfolded. The first angel, chosen by the Aspect of Courage, struck down the champions of Pride and Gluttony before falling to Envy. Envy and Greed were killed by Fortitude. Fortitude and Kindness fell to Wrath. Wrath and Justice killed each other. Sloth was then smote by Hope.

All that remained on Hell’s side was Asmodeus’ champion.

“Our victory is at hand!” said the shorter but stout angel known as the Aspect of Hope. “They have but one champion and we have three. They cannot hope to win now.”

Uriel turned to the angel. “Don’t be so sure, Ramiel. Look at Asmodeus. He isn’t the least bit worried. Tell your champion to be on his guard.”

With a wide smirk across his face, Asmodeus rose his hand high above him with a clenched fist.

“The other champions of Hell were nothing but fodder. Meet the face of your demise, angels! Meet my champion: Zafira!”

A dark purple gateway appeared in front of Asmodeus, one that Cole was very familiar with by now. Out stepped Zafira, but she was… different. She hovered a long foot off the ground, levitated by flapping wings. Unlike the other demon champions, she wore no armor, instead opting for thigh high boots, a black leather teddy that covered her front and little else, and leather gloves extending all the way to her elbows.

A dark aura swirled around her body like some kind of magical barrier. Her cold eyes, the darkest of eyes, pierced the heart of anyone who dare gaze upon her, leaving them trembling despite her flawless beauty. The ‘good’ Cole had seen in Zafira before was mysteriously absent.

She was evil in it’s purest form.

“A succubus?” Ramiel said. “That is what you’re being so arrogant about? Their powers have no hold over angels, and they’re not very combat proficient either.”

“No matter,” the archangel smiled, “this will be an easy victory for us. Go, my champion! Strike her down as you did the last one!”

“It shall be done,” the heavily armored angel said. He carried a spear twice the length of a normal man, black with blood from his last opponent.

Zafira’s wings carried her to the battlefield as her angel opponent stepped forward. She appeared calm and collected, unfazed by the brute angel three times her size.

“Prepare to meet your end, demon!” the angel declared, taking a defensive position with his spear pointed outward.

An evil smile stretched across Zafira’s face. Gracefully, the tips of her boots touched the ground, her wings folding behind her. With a clenched fist, she drew in massive amounts of arcane power, surrounding her body in a violent torrent of energy.

Focusing the power into her hand, she hurled a massive ball of energy at the angel at blinding speed. Unable to react in time, the angel’s body exploded, decorating the ground in a mess of torn body parts and bright white blood.

“Such power!” Uriel gasped.

Asmodeus laughed maniacally. “Fools! She has consumed more pure souls than even I thought possible. The magical power that flows through her body rivals that of a God, one who obeys my will!”

Cole did not understand. She had consumed pure souls? How was that possible? Zafira said those with a pure soul were immune to the powers of a succubus. What was going on?

Godly or not, Uriel was determined to end this conflict. “Go, my champion. Be prepared for anything. Find her weakness and exploit it.”

“I shall not fail, my lord.”

Uriel’s champion was much smaller than Ramiel’s and was armed with only a golden scepter with a large diamond ornament radiating arcane power. His ivory wings protruded from the back of his golden robes as he stepped forward to face Zafira.

The angel wasted no time with formalities or chivalry. He pointed his scepter at her and fired a massive beam of blinding light.

She merely stood in place. Her hand deflected Heaven’s magic as if she was shading her eyes from a gentle ray of sunlight.

Focusing more power into his scepter, the angel fired again, releasing a larger beam that tore at the ground along its path.

Again her hand blocked the angel’s onslaught without so much as moving an inch.

Uriel’s champion was weakened; he had expended most of his energy on that last spell. “It’s not… possible!” he breathed, trying desperately to recuperate.

Zafira was not about to give him the chance.

She teleported to the hobbled angel and swiftly kicked the scepter from his grasp. Her hand grabbed his neck and she raised him over her head. The angel vainly struggled to free himself from her grip, a grip which not only deprived him of air but also drained him of all energy. He flapped his wings in hope of escape into the sky. But she would not budge; she seemed firmly anchored to the ground.

She relished in the angel’s agony, her cold eyes peering into his as each trickle of life escaped his body.

Her strangulating hold around his throat eventually won. His complexion turned dark. His body went limp. With a triumphant smile she shucked the angel’s lifeless body off to the side like he was nothing but litter.

“Hahaha!” Asmodeus boasted. “You angels are worthless against her! Once she hs finished your last champion, she will be coming for you, Uriel!”

“You dare threaten us beyond the terms of our agreement?”

“I do indeed! Let me show you how serious I am!”

The arch-demon turned his gaze toward Zafira and nodded. Zafira bowed her head in acknowledgment of his command and created a small dimensional portal above her head. Her hand reached inside and extracted a sword with a twisted crimson blade.

Cole recognized that sword. It was the one hanging on a pedestal in Zafira’s lair. The one named-

“Ragnarok!?” Uriel shouted as the other angels took a step backward. “Have you gone mad?! That cursed blade was never meant to be wielded by anyone! It could destroy reality itself if its power is ever released! All of existence would become non-existence, don’t you see that?!”

A female angel of stunning beauty put her hand on Uriel’s shoulder. “Do not let him get to you, Uriel. I sense something… off about that succubus. Do you not sense it too?”

Uriel contemplated her words and focused his thoughts on the demon who could be their demise. “Its… faint. Do you know what that is, Sophia?”

The Aspect of Love smiled. “I do. I think I know how to handle this. Allow my champion to fight.”

“Very well. Our fate is in your hands.”

An angel stepped forward, prepared for battle.

“Not you,” Sophia dismissed the hulking angel. “You.”

She pointed to a younger angel standing behind the rest. His sword and shield looked to be made of sparkling diamond. He adjusted his armaments and stepped forward.

Simon? No. But he certainly looked like Simon, except for the scar that ran across his left eye.

Wait — that was Christoph, Simon’s twin brother who was killed by demons! His soul must have evolved into an angel after his death!

Christoph the angel walked to the battlefield. His sword was drawn and his shield steady. “Have at you, demon!”

The sinister smile Zafira had worn all this time disappeared. Something stirred inside her, momentarily diverting her attention.

Christoph swung his sword; Zafira barely dodged the swift blow. She held the cursed sword in defense and parried his every strike. Cole noticed several opportunities for Zafira to strike back, yet she remained on the defensive.

Christoph tried a new strategy. Leaping high, he slashed at the air, sending waves of deadly magical light down at Zafira. Her wings quickly propelled her aloft to avoid the barrage that ravaged the ground where she had stood.

The fight resumed in the air, swords clashing together, torrents of magic blasting at one another. Neither side gave way.

They met head on. Their cold blades and hot eyes tangled together.

Zafira unexpectedly backed off; Christoph’s sword whiffed inches in front of her. He was caught off balance. Zafira delivered a kick to his chest that hurled him toward the ground.

She arrow-ed toward him; their bodies plummeted to earth like a meteorite. They landed with a massive impact, shaking the landscape, blanketing them in a thick cloud of dust.

The dusty air settled. Christoph was pinned to the ground, his sword fallen from his hand. Zafira pointed Ragnarok at his throat, ready to claim his life.

“Finish him, Zafira!” Asmodeus commanded.

She hesitated, lost in the eyes of the angel beneath her who had accepted defeat. Her hands shook. She struggled against herself. Seeing the face of her former love, or rather someone who looked identical to her former love, had summoned forth what was left of her humanity.

A tear escaped her eye. “I can’t.”

“You what?!” Asmodeus bellowed.

Zafira stood off Christoph, tossing Ragnarok to the ground. “I can’t kill him.”

“You dare disobey me?!”

Zafira gave no reply. She dropped to her knees, surrendering.

Christoph gripped his sword and rose to his feet. He warily approached his opponent, his blade pointing down at her. “Why?”

“I don’t know. Something inside me won’t let me kill you.”

“Now Christoph! Strike her down!” Ramiel shouted.

Christoph lowered his blade. “I cannot take the life of one who has already surrendered.”

Uriel chuckled. “It seems we have a stalemate, Asmodeus,”

Humiliation fueled Asmodeus’ rage. No one made a fool of him, especially not one of his own! He formulated a twisted idea to punish Zafira for her disobedience.

Dashing to Zafira in an eye-blink, Asmodeus kicked Christoph off his feet and through the air, sending his body crashing against solid rock.

Asmodeus swiftly turned on Zafira. He gripped her throat, her feet dangling off the ground. “You disappoint me. I did not create you so you could show compassion for the angels; I created you to destroy them!”

Zafira squirmed, trying to regain breath.

“You’ve failed me, and for that, I have a fitting punishment for you.”

A blue sapphire sphere appeared in Asmodeus’ free hand. He plunged his hand into her stomach, leaving the orb inside her. A bright blue light flashed from the opening. Zafira screamed. The dazzle dissipated.

The arch-demon released his grip. Zafira fell to the ground; black blood gushed from her midsection. She seemed unconcerned with the bleeding; instead, she stared at her hands and screamed.

“I… I couldn’t have… No!”

A satisfied smirk appeared on Asmodeus’ face. “That’s right. I promised to spare your village. I never promised to save them from you! Now that I’ve returned your soul to you, your conscience has returned. You can remember every single soul you took, including your precious Simon.”

Zafira screamed with the realization. She had devoured Simon’s soul, and everyone else from her village. It was Simon’s soul that kept her from killing Christoph, the angel. Somehow, his essence was the only thing that clung to what was left of her humanity, trying desperately to save her from herself.

Anger quickly replaced remorse. Zafira snatched-up the cursed sword Ragnarok and lunged at Asmodeus.

He readily subdued her. His dark powers held her in mid-air.

“As powerful as you may be, little girl, that doesn’t change the fact I created you. That means, your abilities are powerless against me!”

A swirling purple gateway appeared behind Zafira. “I hereby banish you to the mortal realm, where you will be forced to either feed on the mortals you feel so compassionate about, or slowly die of starvation. It will be amusing to see which you choose; but I’m certain the darkness within you will win. That is, if the angels don’t hunt you down first.”

Zafira glared at him with fiery red eyes. “I will make you pay for what you’ve done!”

Asmodeus laughed as he sent Zafira into the portal. “I’ll look forward to your feeble attempt.”

The portal quickly closed, trapping Zafira on the other side.

Cole could hardly believe all of this. Zafira, the succubus he has come to think of as his friend, once held the fate of humanity in the palm of her hand. By sparing someone who resembled her lover, she also spared us all. No. It was Simon who not only saved humanity from Zafira, but also Zafira from herself.

The migraine Cole felt in his apartment before being transported here returned. His ears rang; his vision blurred.

“Aargh!” he yelled as he dropped to his knees, holding his ears.

The earth shook. Cracks formed in the ground. Everything shattered once more, even the demons and angels that had gathered to decide humanity’s fate.

Nothing remained but a black void and the pain in Cole’s skull. His weightless body tumbled until pain claimed his consciousness.

THE END OF CHAPTER NINE