Page 2

Family Ties

I had to admit, the very last place I thought I would find myself was standing outside Ella’s family home so soon after battle. But this was literally my last hope.

Before coming here, we first had to make our way back to what was left of our army.

To be honest, we all knew that it could have been a lot worse.

Because if Ella hadn’t passed out, then the fight would have gone on for far longer, until the numbers would have overwhelmed us.

Even in that short time, we had lost over half of our men, numbers that would have been much higher had we not had a backup plan to end the battle quickly.

Adam had been that plan.

But as for next time, we had no idea if it would work again.

Because Abaddon was too unpredictable to let loose for too long and there was no saying he wouldn’t just turn against our own army.

After all, it wasn’t like his beast could be reasoned with.

Which meant that more than likely, it had been a one-shot deal.

As for the battle, it had been one we’d had no choice but to fight, doing so with the aim to get Ella back and out of Garmr’s clutches.

Because we all knew something far bigger was coming.

Garmr was waiting for something, we just didn’t know what yet.

Whatever it was, it was powerful enough to release Ragnarok upon the world.

Something we couldn’t allow to happen.

Despite this failure, it hadn’t been without any gain.

Because we had managed to annihilate some of Garmr’s army, their bodies completely crushed beneath the tons of stone, thanks to the fall of Hades’ statue.

Lost souls even Ella wouldn’t be able to bring back, for the time to do that had passed and with it, their souls.

Bodies she could not get to, bones crushed to dust and therefore the unseen could not be brought back.

As for me though, the bitterness I felt was still far too fresh to see any good outcome from the battle. And now that fucker had my brother! My connection to him felt severed, and I was trying like fuck to believe it wasn’t the reason I feared the most. That death had taken him.

Hope… this was the only thing I had left to cling onto now.

Of course, the first people to rush to me when entering the camp had been the women.

Keira, Amelia, and of course, Lerna. They had all wanted to know what had happened and let’s just say, talking about my failure hadn’t been an easy task.

I was physically shaking by the end of it, something Keira noticed first as she threw her arms around me and held me to her.

Her whispered promise in my ear feeding that hope.

“We will get her back, Jared, I promise you this, we just have to trust in Fate.”

My reply to this was a nod, as no words would make it past my lips.

My damn throat felt as if it was closing up as tears started to blur my vision.

Tears I would not allow to fall, for now was not the time for me to lose myself to the depths of my misery.

I had the next mission to plan for. We needed something strong enough to anchor Ella back to her old life and despite how painful it was, I knew that it wasn’t me.

But then, Garmr had ensured that, hadn’t he?

Because I was his biggest threat. The one he would have considered first. Then he would have done anything to rectify his mistake, as he must have realized how Lerna had got her out all those years ago.

Which meant he knew that in order to prevent that, he needed to stay close to her so as to stop it happening again.

Because I had seen that recognition hit her eyes before he had called her name. Before he had snapped her out of it.

Therefore, we had two problems on our hands. The first being how to get her away from Garmr. Because no matter whether we had the anchor she needed or not, unless she was free of that maniac, we wouldn’t have a chance.

Which was why the moment we made it through the portal Dariush created, I turned to Dom and pointed out this fact.

“You know this may not work unless we get her far from Garmr’s influence.”

Dom gave me a look of understanding, before looking to Keira who had insisted on following us through.

“I agree, but first things first,” he replied, looking back to Lucius and Amelia, who completed our party.

Everyone else had stayed at the camp, as time worked differently in Hell than it did the mortal realm.

The short time spent here would mean much longer where we had just left.

Which meant time was literally of the essence as in, we couldn’t afford to lose any.

Hence why we all lived in hope that by the time we made it back, our numbers would have increased exponentially.

As we had armies from neighboring realms on all sides trying to get to us to join in the fight.

Our saving grace was that we knew Garmr would not risk another battle with fewer numbers than before.

Which meant that he too would need to find reinforcements.

Especially if his spies brought back word that we were growing in number.

But then, he did have Ella. Someone who could bring back the dead and also had the use of her own souls. Souls which could be stopped only for a short time but never truly beaten. Not when they could simply regain this power by returning to the book of souls.

“Well not exactly the family get together I was expecting,” Amelia said with a sigh as we all faced the house. One that no one had yet taken a step toward. Because neither of us were eager to see how this was going to play out, least of all me.

Of course, I wanted Ella back, but to know that I was going to have to admit to her father that I had lost her, was not something I was looking forward to.

“Come on, let’s get this over with,” Dom said, clearly feeling the same way, as I knew he was also struggling with this. It was his niece after all, so he felt the weight of that responsibility just as I did.

“So, what are we expecting here? Do you think Frank told my sister yet?” Keira asked as we started to make our way to the front of the wrap-around porch.

I wondered how Dom’s conversation had gone with his wife, seeing as until recently, none of us knew that Frank was one of us. Or should I say, an Angel.

Speaking of Angels…

“Where is Vincent?” I asked, despite not being surprised not to have not seen him in Hell. Not when it was a place he was forbidden to enter. Yet having him here might have been helpful, seeing his position with Frank’s kind and all.

“He has been traveling to each of our Enforcers, so as the ones that can will aid us in battle. Greed is now doing the same, as the son of Wrath has already started to aid us by sending word to his father’s armies.

“Helpful that so many of them have fathers ruling parts of Hell… what? I’m right, aren’t I?” Keira said, adding this last part when Dom raised his brow at her.

“Speaking of which, just how are we planning on getting an Angel into Hell again?” Amelia asked, making Lucius grin down at her and say,

“Leave that to me.” His wink made her groan and comment,

“Last time you said that, we were in the bedroom.”

At this Dom released a heavy sigh and said from up ahead,

“Please try and remember that as your father, I would rather not be the first King known to need therapy from listening to you two remind me that you have sex.”

Amelia laughed, whilst Lucius simply looked smug. As for Keira, she patted her husband on the arm and whispered,

“Yes, but how else will they give us grandbabies?”

“The supernatural stork… now let’s get this over with,” he replied dryly before knocking on the door.

We all collectively braced ourselves for when the door opened and I had to say, Ella’s mother Libby looked a lot healthier than she had the last time I had seen her.

Something that gave us hope that Frank had done as he said he would, by having what was no doubt a difficult conversation with her.

Although clearly, none of us had thought to look at the time, as Libby was still wearing a pair of frog pajamas.

Little frogs and lily pads to be precise, with the white T-shirt part having a larger frog across her chest with the words, ‘Let’s have a Froggy Great Time’ written below. Again, the irony wasn’t lost on me.

“Er… hey… everyone,” she replied in shock, as obviously answering the door to us all had been the last thing she had expected.

“Hey, sis, I know this looks a little odd us all turning up like this and so early, but is Frank home?” Keira said, stepping forward and giving her sister a hug. Libby frowned in question before turning and shouting,

“Frank! We have company… lots of company.” She mumbled this last part as she opened the door to let us all inside, before quickly telling us she obviously needed to get dressed. Something she looked embarrassed about. This fact causing Keira to mutter to Dom,

“And suddenly I am back to thirty years ago.”

His response was to wink down at her and ask,

“I can carry you inside, just give the word and you’re in my arms again, Vixen.”

She gave him a playful nudge with her elbow before Frank shouted,

“Be right down, honey!”

“Oh good,” she mumbled, tucking her red hair behind her ear nervously, hair that seemed to have considerably less grey in it than the last time I had seen her.

“Hey, Libby,” I said, giving her a hug when she saw me, one it was nice to see was received warmly. However, it was easy to see her weariness that quickly turned into concern when she started looking for her daughter. Something that brought a pang of pain to my chest.

“Is Ella not with you?” she asked, making me shake my head and try to mask my features from the heartache I felt.

“Not this time,” I replied, before Keira placed a hand at her shoulder and suggest quietly,

“Why don’t you go upstairs and get yourself sorted, sis, then we will explain.”