Babylon (Eden Saga Book 2) Read online

  “No,” she said aloud. “I’m not going to die here. I will face Eden with more knowledge and purpose this time.”

  As she began her long walk into the wasteland, Koneh’s words reverberated in her mind:

  “You are stronger than this.”

  Well, she thought, I guess we both get to find out.

  Alexandra silently vowed to unravel the mystery of Eden and the truths behind the Crone’s motives. She no longer felt trapped by the events around her. Instead, she recognized her vested interest in the people in her life. General Ryan struggled against the darkness, trying to make a better life for the people in his charge. Medina was with Padre Hernon, whatever that meant. Benjamin needed her. Nicole’s death required a voice of remembrance, or vengeance. Even Erzulie would require guidance with her newfound emotions.

  Alexandra couldn’t abandon them. Was that the point Koneh was trying to drive through her thick skull?

  As far as the rest of the world, Alexandra wasn’t as keen on helping it. Demons hunted her. The Church had already attempted to execute her. A witch, for lack of a better descriptor, tried to kill her. People expected her to heal and save them. No, she decided, the world was on its own.

  Her anger fueled her steps southward. One foot and then the other, she repeated to herself.

  “For as long as it takes,” she said aloud.

  There were no more people. She estimated she was south of Buenos Ares when Via stole her jeep. The last time she came that way, there also weren’t any people. The route was even emptier than before, but she did manage to find some food and water amongst the ruins of the old world. The air wasn’t as frigid as she remembered and she refrained from adding the extra weight of cold weather clothing until she needed it.

  The hours of lonely trudging turned into days. Like before, she fell into an automatic rhythm. Her thoughts roamed but this time she was in control. She wasn’t being led to a place, she was blazing a path. Led by her intuition, she felt she was on the right course towards her friends. She slept where she found shelter and her legs burned.

  She wondered where the lawyer from San Antonio had gone. She felt completely disconnected from her previous self. When the world was freshly destroyed, she longed for her silk sheets and a warm bath. Now, she craved only enough provisions to see her to her destination. Life was rough and cold, yet somehow familiar. She felt more at home in the wasteland than she thought she would. Was she really genetically coded for this life, as Koneh had suggested? Was this her place?

  Like a shadow in the next room, the whole picture kept slinking from view. Alexandra knew it was there, waiting for her to discover it. But she realized a few areas of the canvas were missing paint. If she were ever to complete the picture, Alexandra believed she would find her way.

  All signs led to Eden. She shouldn’t have left.

  “I should have stayed and figured everything out,” she said, aloud to the world again.

  She was afraid of dying before. Circumstances were so dire and she really didn’t have a handle on things. She was reacting instead of acting. With a clearer head, thanks to Koneh’s slap in the face, she was confident she could get to the root of all things and act.

  What would that act be? Well, she hadn’t worked that part out yet, but she was determined to secure a brighter future than the one Elah had prepared for her.

  From a place deep within her soul, Alexandra felt the desire to reforge things. If Eden worked the way she witnessed, then that lie maybe wasn’t the answer. People didn’t need a place to live eternally, rewarded for their unblemished soul.

  “What, then?” she asked herself as she stopped and examined the wasteland before her. “This?”

  She shook her head and continued her trek. No, not the wasteland. And not the sprawling civilization that existed before the earthquake. Though she didn’t experience it, she felt a knowledge of a time long past. A time where humans lived in harmony with the Earth, instead of desiring to master it. There was a period of accord and mutual respect. Humans were but another creature on the planet and all was in balance. Somewhere along the way that balance was disrupted.

  “Who am I to decide this?”

  Maybe she was the one to decide. Perhaps her DNA was encoded with a rewind button, a way to recall a more harmonized time. The ability to rebuild the world?

  She stopped again. The idea was preposterous.

  Maybe humans had it right with all the technology and cities we built, she thought as she continued her pace. Maybe that was the correct course. A course of progress and innovation, founded in science and mutual society.

  Stopping yet again, she felt like another stroke of the brush passed over the canvas.

  “There is no right and wrong,” she said aloud. “Technology, nature - they are both part of this world.”

  More of the picture came into focus. Everything in the world was connected in some way she couldn’t quite see. Yet, she knew that connection to be truth. Elah tapped into that relationship to make Eden a final destination for some souls. The pool Alexandra used to appear next to her friends was a tool to manipulate that connection. Koneh’s longevity was simply a stronger than normal bond between his body and the forces of nature that hold a person together. Somehow, someway – everything was connected into a lattice she couldn’t see nor understand.

  Not yet, at least, she told herself.

  She focused her eyes forward and resumed the act of placing one foot in front of the other.

  Chapter 10

  Days fell behind Alexandra as she mulled over trivial matters and also her new theories. To try and keep sane during the trek, she allowed her mind to fantasize about her old life. She cycled through her last few cases before she decided to take the trip into Mexico. Conversations with superior court judges and colleagues bubbled to her surface thoughts. She imagined she had calls to make and work to complete when she was done here.

  Of course, those thoughts were indeed just fantasies. No office waited for her in San Antonio. Her cell was lost somewhere near that overturned bus. And her Riverwalk apartment was but a distant, mute memory.

  The wasteland was her new office.

  Weary from her trip, she decided to seek solace in a car junkyard. Rusted hulks and mounds of tires rose like small mountains around her, providing cover. A few of the seats offered comfort, but none of the vehicles she inspected were operational. Unfortunately, her colleges didn’t teach her how to rebuild a transmission.

  During her reprieve from the harsh wind and unforgiving terrain, she mused deeper into her fantasy. She imagined she was just on her way to the airport, headed home. Closing her eyes, she allowed the surprisingly warm thoughts envelope her. For a while she lost herself in her near-dream state. Old world. Old comforts. Just by imagining them, she was able to conjure the embrace of her old home.

  Returning to that home held some interest for her, but she was positive that Eden was superior. After all, Koneh was there. Richard was there. No cares and no regrets – Eden offered it all.

  After two days in the junkyard, she was ready to continue. Benjamin and his impending execution waited and she couldn’t afford to slip into a longer nostalgic reprieve. When she felt ready to continue, her sharpened ears heard the distant flapping of wings and she dashed for cover back inside the junkyard.

  Moments later, several demons landed and scattered to search the area. A few of them entered the junkyard, while others headed for the nearby gas station and ranches. Alexandra had already found the surrounding area to be devoid of life. What were they looking for? Did they spot her?

  Not everything is about you, she scolded herself. Perhaps they were on another errand which happened to take them into a deserted junkyard. Okay, she admitted, maybe they did see me before and are searching the area. But why are they so confident? They obviously don’t feel threatened because they are searching solo.

  As Alexandra quietly slid her sword from her sheath, she decided to follow one of them. After all, t
he junkyard was enormous and she would have the advantage if she could take them one at a time.

  Deal with them now or later, she thought. After all, she lacked wings and she remembered Ael’s advantage in that arena. There was no outrunning a flier.

  Slipping around the piles of scrap metal and tires, she shadowed a horned demon as it picked its way deeper into the junkyard. It glanced into the cabins of vehicles and snarled from time to time. Brownish-orange saliva dripped from its jowls. Though it had a curved sword in its hand, the creature wore no armor. Erzulie once explained that fast groups of fliers would forgo armor to avoid tiring on long trips. Alexandra wondered how far this group had come and how skilled this horned demon was with its sword.

  Confident she wouldn’t alert the other demons, she picked her moment to strike. Her target knelt to inspect something on the ground and Alexandra dashed from her hiding spot. At the last moment, the creature heard her footsteps. It was too late. Alexandra swung her sword in a tight arc and decapitated the beast. Yellowed bone protruded from the base of its neck and dark blood sprayed the dented door of a nearby vehicle as the demon fell to the ground.

  Alexandra paused and listened. No wings. No demonic calls. The area was quiet.

  She was about to continue when something on the ground caught her eye. Kneeling to get a closer look, she gasped when she spotted a pool of silvery liquid. Dipping her finger into the substance, she marveled at how it rolled from her skin without leaving marks or wetness.

  Angel blood.

  Her heart quickened. She scanned the area again and wondered who else was in her junkyard. Though she hadn’t walked the entirety of the compound, she hadn’t heard anyone else enter during her time there.

  That glaring fact aside, her intuition told her these demons were seeking whatever angel dropped this blood. Erzulie?

  Alexandra risked closing her eyes to concentrate. Though unsure how her abilities worked, she tried to focus upon her friend. Where was she? Was she in danger?

  Nothing happened. She opened her eyes and cursed under her breath. If Erzulie was there, Alexandra needed to know. Rising to her feet, she plotted a course to where she thought another of the demons headed. Rusted metal and debris flew past her as she raced towards the center of the junkyard. After a few moments she arrived at her destination - the central tower.

  Though not wholly intact, the building remained standing despite the quake’s best efforts to topple it. Five stories tall, the roof was open to the orange-black sky and Alexandra spotted movement there.

  No longer hesitant to enter the suspect structure, she dashed inside. The stairwell appeared to be the binding holding the building together, like the spine of an old, well-loved hardcover novel. She took the stairs two at a time, rounding the corners each mid level. When she reached the top flight, she slowed and readied her weapon. Voices carried down to her.

  “Demo no zeh,” a gravelly voice said. It was a male demon, from what Alexandra could guess.

  The next voice surprised her. Again, it was male, but his tone and words rang clear as a bell. Like Erzulie, melodious undercurrents rippled pleasantly though his words.

  “Senshi-for tai. Vincti,” the new voice said.

  Alexandra reached the exposed top floor and two figures turned towards her. Nearest was the horned demon. Though it didn’t carry a weapon, jagged bone spikes protruded from the back of each of its hands. Silvery liquid dripped from each tip. The creatures smoldering eyes bore into her with surprise and annoyance.

  The other speaker was an angel. Alexandra harbored no doubts this time. He was on the floor with his wings folded awkwardly underneath his back. His strong skull held no hair, but his white-in-white eyes widened when he noticed her. Shaped like an athlete, his muscled, pale arms and legs extended from his scratched breastplate. Parts of the armor still gleamed but it had seen recent battle. Cuts and gouges marred his otherwise perfect skin. Silvery angel blood oozed from the wounds. His feet were wrapped with a tightly bound cloth and both his shoulders held dark tattoos.

  “What?” The word escaped her mouth as her brain still worked to process the strange images of her new world.

  After what seemed to be a startled pause of his own, the angel said, “Get away, human. I cannot protect you now.”

  Alexandra ignored his warning and stepped towards the demon. Though she wasn’t sure who was right and who was wrong in everything that had transpired, she knew which of the two would more likely gut her and eat her flesh. Unfortunately for that horned demon, he was guilty by association.

  “Sorry,” Alexandra said, “this just wasn’t your lucky day.”

  The demon cocked its head to the side when it realized she was talking to it and not the wounded angel. It licked its lips with its forked tongue and advanced.

  “Is English your language? I cannot assist,” the angel said. “You must run!”

  Ignoring his words, Alexandra met the demon and they clashed weapons. Chips of bone splintered into the air as she parried the creature’s strikes. This one was skilled. Alexandra spun from its second spike and missed with her thrust. The demon raked her thigh with its claws and she tumbled from its reach. The wound was atop the cut Lilev’s demons gave her and she grit her teeth to keep from screaming. Blood poured down her leg. Her vision blurred for a moment.

  “Kini-da’hal,” the demon said as it followed her.

  The demon lifted into the air and drove a spike down towards her. Alexandra wheeled and dodged the strike. She then kicked its hand away as it tried to claw her again. The demon stumbled and Alexandra opened a gash between its ribs. It howled and tried to take to the air. Alexandra swung down with her sword and severed its wing.

  “Now you listen to me,” she said as the demon scrambled towards the edge of the roof. “Who do you serve?”

  “This one likely cannot understand you,” the angel said. “Kill it before it alerts the others.”

  An angel’s word was good enough for her. Alexandra ran her sword through the creature’s chest and it gurgled as it ceased movement.

  Adrenaline still pumped through her veins and she listened for the sound of wings. Silence. She exhaled and approached the angel.

  “What’s your name?” she asked.

  “I feel I should be asking you the same,” he said, bewildered. “My name, however, is Zaph of the sacred-”

  “Zaph,” she said as she knelt beside him, her thigh tender and enflamed, “got it. Listen, Zaph, I need to get you off this rooftop. When the others take to the air, they will see you.”

  Zaph examined her and said, “But I cannot move. I require time to-”

  “Come on,” she said as she sheathed her sword and pulled his arm over her shoulder. “You’re not the first angel I’ve carried like this.”

  “By His glory!” Zaph said, raising his voice.

  “What?”

  Expecting a flock of demons, Alexandra scanned the sky. She reached for her sword but didn’t sense any enemies.

  “Are you are the Mih’darl?”

  Not this again, Alexandra thought.

  “I need your help here,” she said. “We can talk once we’re out of sight.”

  “As you command,” Zaph said, the wonderment still thick in his words.

  They stumbled down the stairwell and onto the landing for the lower floor. Her wound screamed for attention and she left a trail of blood the whole way. Safe from the sky, Alexandra propped Zaph as best she could. She panted and rested against the cold concrete wall. Angels were heavy, especially with a bum thigh.

  “This is so unexpected,” Zaph said. “Are you grievously injured? I have so many questions.”

  Alexandra held the palm of her hand towards him and said, “Me first. Just, let me catch my breath.”

  “Of course.” His eyes traveled the length of her body several times. Then he said, “You’re not what we expected.”

  Alexandra opened the rip in her fatigues further to inspect her thigh.

  “Damn
,” she said, “it got me good.”

  “Do you require medical attention?”

  She applied pressure on the claw marks with her hands and shook her head. “I have supplies down below, in my backpack on the first floor. Shouldn’t be too difficult to clean and dress.”

  After taking a moment to absorb her words, Zaph said, “I can see this isn’t the first battle in which you have taken part.”

  The mob, the cruise ship, Brasilia, Eden and Lilev all crowded together into one bloody collage.

  “No,” she said distantly. The pain was migrating from burning to smoldering and she wasn’t sure that was a step in the right direction. She wrapped her scarf around her thigh to staunch the blood. A temporary solution until she could reach her backpack.

  With the bleeding under control for the moment, Alexandra sighed and limped towards the roof again.

  “Where are you going?” asked Zaph.

  “The body,” she said. “I forgot to dispose of my evidence.”

  As she dragged the husk of the demon down the stairs, she realized her first victim would likely be discovered. That meant her enemies might stick around until they found her. The horned demon’s skin was like the outside of a burnt log - cracked and hard. However, it was rugged enough to grant her an excellent grip for the task at hand.

  “Where’s your sword?” Alexandra asked, dropping the body next to her new friend.

  “Not anywhere near, for certain,” he said.

  Alexandra pinned the dead demon’s hand to the ground and pulled on his arm spike. With a loud crack, the weapon dislodged from the carcass. After repeating the motion on the other hand, she offered the bone weapons to the wounded angel.

  “Here you go,” she said. “Only until we can get you something better.”

  As he accepted the grisly implements, he said, “Not what we expected at all.”

  Leaning against the wall again, she said, “We really should get out of here. It’s only a matter of time before they find us.”

  “You’re too important to risk your life for me,” Zaph said. “Surely you can move much faster without me. Please go. Get to the safety of Babylon.”