The creak of the double doors was deafening to Angel as he pushed one open just enough to peek into the hallway, which appeared to be empty. Well, almost empty. His eyes landed on the sentry that had been ordered to stand guard, now gutted into two pieces, lying a few feet away on the floor. The gruesome sight made him hesitate, recalling his own injuries caused by the claws of the hellhound.
"Is someone coming?" Charlie asked, whispering close to his ear.
Shaking his head, Angel swung the door open enough for the girls to follow him out into the hallway.
The princess let out a small gasp of surprise at seeing the body, and though the sentry had worked for Bible, she bowed her head in sorrow.
Next to her, Cassie heaved a sigh; she had seen the dead man when she returned. Like Charlie, she didn't wish such a fate on him or anyone. Turning to look back into the room behind them, she amended her feelings. Samedi definitely deserved what he got.
Aware of the girls' reaction to the body, Angel silently agreed, but it also brought up a bit of concern. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Cassie and pressed, needing reassurance. "Rygen's gone, right?"
"Sent the fucker back to Hell!" Cassie tucked her loose hair under her field cap, her eyes sparkling in the dim hallway light. "And with Samedi dead, he can't come back."
"Good!" Angel knelt carefully to avoid getting more blood on himself—he already had plenty from his beatings—and slipped the guard's rifle from the cold, stiff fingers. He stood, shivered, and admitted, "Cause, except for Charlie, I hope I never see another demon for as long as I live."
"I'm not a demon," Charlie stated plainly.
The siblings locked eyes. Contrite, Angel raised a hand, "I didn't mean it that way, hon, I'm sorry."
"I know." She assured him with a gentle smile. "I wasn't offended." She leaned over and kissed him gently. "I'm the daughter of an angel and a human—some stories identify me as a Nephilim."
Whistling low, Cassie shook her head, "Yet another aspect that religion got wrong. Nephilim were described as giant men, spawned by the sons of God and human women."
"I read a few of the passages," Charlie admitted, "at the time I was trying to see if anything in the book could help me remember my past." Rolling her eyes, now that she had her memories back, Charlie chuckled, "But damn if your historians made up all kinds of bullshit."
Slipping his hand around the princess's waist, Angel added, "Can't argue with that anymore. Not with all I've learned in the past few months. And I'm definitely glad they got the idea of Nephilim wrong."
"Yup! I'm all woman," Charlie beamed, but the smile faded as she recalled what Seed had revealed—that she was meant for much more. Shaking that thought away, she tapped Angel's chest. "But for the ones we haunt, I am the monster in the darkness."
"And a sexy one at that," Angel flirted with a wink.
Sighing with a smile, Cassie waved them forward. "Okay, you two, focus! Let's get to the foyer. I'll head down to rendezvous with the team and organize our escape while you two go and take care of that son of a bitch."
Angel inspected the gun and glanced at his sister, uncertain. "I don't know. Maybe we should stick with you until we find the others."
Before Cassie could reply, shouts rang out as two soldiers sprinted down the hallway toward them, their AR rifles raised threateningly. "Halt! Stay where you are!"
"We don't have time for this," Cassie snapped.
Green energy shimmered around her eyes as she waved her hand at the approaching guards. The two men shouted in shock as they were lifted off the ground and flung backward about ten yards. They hit the stone floor with two solid thuds, their rifles clattering to the ground.
As they scrambled to their feet and reached for their sidearms, Charlie materialized between them, startling them. She quickly positioned her Bō horizontally, with one end behind the left soldier's head and the other in front of the right soldier.
Drawing on her demonic strength, she jerked the staff to strike one in the face and the other in the back of the head simultaneously. Following through with her motions, she sent both men crashing to the floor. One landed on his back, his head hitting the stone with a skull-cracking thud, while the other fell face-first, the crunch of his broken nose blending with his cry of pain. Blood spurted from his nostrils as he writhed on the ground.
Bloodied and broken, they looked up to find Charlie hovering above them, now in her full demon form. She hissed deeply, voice reverberating off the stone walls: "Run, assholes."
Both men shrieked in panic. As they struggled to stand, they grabbed each other for support, stumbling away together and tripping over each other as they ran.
Charlie pulled her mass inward and returned to her hybrid form as she landed on the floor and turned toward the siblings, tail swishing in a playful wag. "How'd I do, sis?"
Clapping her hands together, Cassie grinned. "Excellent form, sis!"
Amused, Angel shook his head as he stepped up next to his sister. Shrugging, he conceded, "Never mind. You're good."
"Damn right, I am!" Cassie looked at her hands with a curious frown. "But this is strange. I didn't feel this powerful until I ran from the altar room earlier tonight." Raising her gaze to Charlie, she continued, "When I broke Samedi's spell, the power in me felt like your aura, Charlie."
"Mine?" Charlie blinked as she rejoined them. "How?"
Clearing his throat, Angel gestured forward, "As fascinating as this might be, ladies, we're short on time."
"Right." Nodding, Cassie adjusted her fanny pack. "We can look into it later."
Angel patted Cassie's shoulder before hoisting his rifle, taking point, and ushering them along. "Those were only two sentries, which tells me Tag's forces are depleted or are otherwise repositioning for a second attack. Charlie and I need to get to Tag, carry out our plan, and end this."
"I'm ready," Charlie affirmed.
Angel gestured behind him and commanded, "Cassie, on my six." Then he pointed to the ceiling, "Charlie, cover us from above!"
"Yes, Sir!" Charlie rose to the ceiling, her body twisting upside down to sink her claws into the stone. She swiftly pulled her mass along, matching Cassie and Angel's pace, ready to ambush anyone who got in their way.
A few minutes later, the three reached the foyer. Angel held up his arm and clenched his fist to silently order them to halt. Scanning the room, he saw no one.
"Clear!" He then motioned them into the foyer.
Cassie pointed toward the balcony. "Tag greeted us from up there." Her eyes closed momentarily. "I sense him, so his office or whatever should be down the hallway."
"Copy," Angel nodded.
Looking down the hall toward the outside entrance, Cassie stated, "With all those explosions, there's little doubt that Shrapnel has already cleared an escape route for us. I'll head out to meet them."
Angel handed the rifle to her. "I won't need this for the next part of the plan."
She took the weapon, slung it over her shoulder, and hugged him. "Be careful, Kevin."
He hugged her back tightly. "You too, sis."
Stepping back, Cassie glanced at Charlie, who remained stationed on the ceiling, crimson eyes scanning the room for trouble. "And you, dear sister, be safe."
The demon's eyes transitioned to gentle yellow and softened. She winked, her human voice resonating from within the black mass. "We promise, sis. Go help the others. We got this!"
With a nod to both of them, Cassie turned and ran down the hallway.
Watching her go, Angel realized he wasn't concerned for her at all. No, instead, he felt pity for whoever stood in her way. Taking a deep breath, he looked over his shoulder. "If you're ready, it's time to finish this!"
The black mass that was his girlfriend erupted outward, engulfing him much like the night at the warehouse. Only this time, he held out his arms in acceptance as she swarmed him, sweeping them up and over the railing, and onward for a final showdown with their greatest enemy: Colonel Robert "Bible" Tag.