Page 45 of The Human Element (The Human Element Collection #1)

When dust finally began to clear, Samuel saw what hit the stone.

Within the wreckage of stones and debris stood a menacingly large demon whom Samuel instantly recognized: Volgoth, the Slayer.

Although not high ranking within his father’s army’s higher council, he grew to be an essential asset when pure, brute strength was needed.

Although typically Samuel’s father preferred smaller, stealthier, more quietly lethal tools in his armada; occasionally he needed ones with more bulk, to more quickly wreak havoc and devastation without worrying about losing his strongest minds in the process.

Volgoth was the size of a SUV, bulbous in weight, but within that fat, were muscles that were bigger than Samuel’s entire body.

Unlike most demons whose “demon” features didn’t amount to more than a fang here, wings, varying skin colors, and maybe some small texture difference, which generally didn’t come off as ferocious or scary, allowing more likelihood to be concealed or pass as an average human—Volgoth was one of the demons where there was no hiding what he truly was; a monster.

His skin sagged under the sheer weight of him, dripping off him like candle wax melts.

A purplish-grey color, his skin was rough as dragon scales that rippled down his arms, legs and back like a suit of armor, but far thicker.

Scars were running all across his body showing the amount he’d faced and conquered in battles.

His face is a gelatinous thing with a chin that drooped, his eyes small and pure black, a smile full of jagged, razored teeth inside a mouth that seemed to have been slit further than your typical smile, taking up more space than it should've.

Finishing the terrifying look, two bat-winged horns protruded from the sides of his head.

Volgoth was made to send the masses screaming.

He was made to beat down everything in his path; and who so happened to be in his path now?

Samuel quickly realized how close to Volgoth he was and began to panic.

Volgoth was launched like a cannonball into the stones and didn’t seem to have a scratch on him, the armor-like skin having done its job.

Quickly, Samuel turned to his right to see where Volgoth came from, and his heart dropped.

At the edge of the field where they entered, stood a large section of demons that had also gone unnoticed—or did they just arrive? In any case, Samuel, Lorelei, and Daemon were now fully surrounded by angels and demons, all there looking for them.

When Samuel was looking back at Raphael, trying to gauge where his mind might be; Volgoth roared a deep, guttural noise that shook the air around him and charged directly for Lorelei and Daemon.

His massive feet left imprints with each lumbering lunge forward, and it wouldn’t be long until he was barreling his tank of a body into them.

Samuel’s breathing stopped as he began to attempt to match Volgoth’s pace and meet him head on.

His mind raced uncontrollably, screaming at him to run in the opposite direction, the direction not towards sure death.

But his body moved on, determined to save his friends.

As he ran, he shouted Daemon’s name in hopes to stir him out of his trance.

In hopes his eyes would spring open and he’d rush head first to the colossal demon and take him out in seconds.

Daemon’s eyes did not open, he did not spring forward to rescue them all.

He sat motionless and unhearing to Samuel’s shouts. Samuel was on his own.

Taking a final glance at Lorelei’s face, Samuel tried to quickly etch her features into his memory, hoping to remember until his final moments the kind, sweet girl who made him believe everything he always hoped for in humanity, in Earth, in being surrounded by people who actually cared for him.

She was the reason he found his strength, found his courage and confidence in himself—to see he was more than just the Devil’s son.

Seeing Lorelei’s face rejuvenated him more.

The thought of her death being the end of all humanity as they know it, and the end of his first true friend; was not something he would let go without a fight.

Because this time, he would fight. Fight with all he had left within him, even if it meant his own demise in the end.

Samuel threw his hands out, panting as he ran towards Volgoth.

That same tingling sensation he felt before when training with Daemon surged in his body, and pressure built at his fingertips.

Afraid it didn’t have time to build the force up enough, he grunted and felt a more shocking sensation spread and warm his body.

It couldn’t be enough to do much damage, but maybe enough to keep Volgoth’s attention on him until he figured out how to get his friends awake.

Without second-guessing, Samuel breathed deeply and focused his mind on the palm of his hand; heat rose in his fingertips, and as before at the field earlier, swirling clouds darkened the sky further, and a lightning bolt surged down for a brief moment; he looked up to see the bolt zooming towards him, and holding his out out, he caught it.

Grunting as he held it, the feeling was a combination of pin-pricking his skin and blazing heat; although at first the feeling was alarming, he was now beginning to tolerate it more.

Samuel frantically searched for Volgoth, and throwing his hand outward, propelled the bolt in his direction.

The lightning missed, searing the grass instead, cracking the ground under his feet and Volgoth’s until the very ground was singed and burning.

Volgoth covered his face and came to a sliding halt as flames started to overtake the field.

Uh oh. Not exactly my intention there.

Samuel surveyed that Volgoth would have to try to find another, less direct route to his friends, so he possibly had a moment to make another go at waking them before Volgoth; although large in size, he was not large in brain, and Samuel should have an upper hand on him for the time being.

With his fingers feeling burned from the electric charge; he was proud and terrified of what he’d done.

He had a very special power, as Daemon told him before, but it was nowhere near under his control yet.

Thus, the fire and lack of aim—definitely not part of the plan.

But it did the job for now, and all he could do was focus on how to get them to wake up; because he didn’t think he would be able to keep any others away much longer.

Although, he hoped he was able to wipe Raphael’s smirk off his face a bit and show that he too, could be intimidating.

Samuel reached the edge of the circle when he began to scream as loud as he could, hardly able to draw breath.

He didn’t know what else to do. Looking behind him, scanning the area for more threats, he could see that the groups of angels and demons were now fighting each other.

Taloned demons of various sizes lashed like animals at the elegant, deadly angels who moved like dancers rather than warriors.

But even with all the angel’s fighting beauty, this fight was nothing beautiful to witness; gnashing teeth, blood splattered across the ground, necks twisted and wings laying limp in piles taller than himself.

Samuel shuddered, holding back vomit, watching as one angel tore the head off of a demon, its greenish-black blood leaking wildly as its head, mouth agape and eyes with a look of horror, rolled along the dirt and landed to stare in Samuel’s direction. Like a deadly warning saying, “You’re next.”

That could be me.

For the first time since he joined Lorelei and Daemon, he felt the intense realization that he was the enemy to more than one lethal and powerful group. He was attached to a cause that although he believed in, the end for him was in all likelihood just that— the end.

Daemon has his weaknesses and couldn't protect both Lorelei and Samuel from every threat.

And the sad truth was that Daemon would always choose Lorelei over saving Samuel if the choice had to be made.

Samuel squeezed his eyes shut and took another breath in an attempt to calm himself.

These kinds of thoughts were no friends to him right now.

His friends; and himself; were in serious trouble. He had to wake them. And quick.

Samuel took one final glance at where he left the behemoth Volgoth, and saw he had made his way through the flames and wasn't far behind.

Frantic, he kept screaming Lorelei’s name.

To his relief, her eyes shot open and the candlelight flickered wildly in the wind.

She looked around, and as Daemon also came back to consciousness, they both leaped up, panting.

Lorelei caught Samuel’s eyes and he thought she might collapse right there.

Her eyes looked hollow and she seemed to have aged somehow, like she lived through something that took her youth away.

And the way she looked into his eyes, she looked like she had a million things to say.

He wondered if she’d call out to him, but all their attention was taken to the chaos ensuing behind them.

The fight between the demons and angels was turning uglier by the minute. Piles of bodies lay upon the ground as a torrential rain swept across the field so suddenly that they were all fully drenched in seconds.

Great! I caused a freak storm!

While Samuel’s focus was on the downpouring rain clouds he tried to will to relinquish, Volgoth grabbed him from behind and hoisted him into the air.

How Samuel hadn't noticed, was just another indication that he wasn't his Father’s son who could detect a presence from miles away.

He didn't have skill enough, or strength enough to hone the skills he did have, to stand a chance in a war like this.

Because that's what this is. A war. One he was starting to think they wouldn't win.

Volgoth’s hand wrapped tightly around his torso and squeezed him until it felt like his lungs might incinerate him from the inside out, as he feebly attempted to suck in enough air to alleviate the burn.

It felt like a million suns exploding in his chest—but he couldn't get the saving breath he needed.

Tears rolled down his cheeks, trying with the little strength he had to push against the beast’s fingers, but to no avail.

Spots danced around his eyes, and the last thing he saw before a choke barely escaped his throat, reaching an arm out towards Lorelei, was the horror on her face.

She screamed so loudly he thought it rang and reverberated in the the air.

It looked like she had so much to say; her eyes held it all and he'd never know what she knew.

He'd never be able to thank her for her kindness.

The kindness she showed him proved to him that humans were nothing like his father drummed into him and the rest of the demons.

He was wrong. Humans were strong, compassionate, and sacrificed everything for the ones they loved.

Samuel wanted to be like them. Like Lorelei.

If this was the end, the sacrifice would be worth it.

Because for the first time in his existence, he experienced love.

Love for Lorelei and for all humans who didn't deserve this fate that awaited them.

These were his final thoughts before his body went limp and the darkness descended over him, claiming him like a cocky friend who always got what it wanted.