House Of Legions (The Angel Descendants book 1)
Chapter 19 (Clare)
Her mother was so quiet, body blazing. Not able to see her mother's face as Franchesca was mid-air between Clare, separating the three of them from Barbatos. Clare yelled at her mother to get her attention but she didn't acknowledge Clare.
About to yell again, she caught the movement from the corner of her eye as a man from the back of Barbatos flew straight up in the air screaming something. Lifting her head toward the man attacking the Tempter. Everything moved so fast, her eyes barely able to keep steady to see what was happening. With the same flaming eyes as her mother, the unknown man plunged a thin sword from the top of the Tempters head down his middle section, swift and elegant.
Mouth opened wide, a huff left Clare at feeling instant relief of this unsightly occurrence and uttered disbelief of her own eyes. Ignoring the persistent urgings from her brother to leave, she looked closer and saw the demon's body knit together, healing fast.
A brisk and steadied movement later Barbatos bolted straight for Franchesca, plunging his hand into her body.
Everything slowed as Clare and the others watched Franchesca’s body fall lifelessly to the cold hard cemented floor, leaving her dripping heart in Barbatos's hands. Clare bared witness to the entire thing, she broke free of her brother’s grasp and ran to Franchesca’s side screaming,
“Mom, talk to me, mom, MOM, mom,” she lifted her mother’s head onto her hand, holding it screaming,
don’t leave, MOM, mom.” She slapped her
at the Tempter, holding her mother’s heart like a trophy to be discarded, Barbatos, duke of hell. And
tears shed her eyes, no thought deluded her mind as Clare gently put her mother’s head on the ground. Her challenging gaze never left Barbatos as she got up. A taunt, he tightened his fingers around her mother’s
body by millimeters. Barbatos taking his position gleefully to defend himself, making his answer
torching her skin like a skillet burns to stop her in her tracks. Turning to punch the person, she came face to face with a pissed-off Kalbreal. Teeth grinding as the burn worsened but he didn't let go, she growled, “Lemme go.” He pushed her slightly but
“Gustav.” No second wasted, he plunged it into the Tempters brain. Feet slightly parted, sword dripping of blood, Kalbreal watched Barbatos, as the Tempter
yield thee grace when thy sire naught Infinity nay Paros.” Kalbreal smiled, and with a quick brisk of his feet, he moved whilst using the sword to slice off Barbatos head. The Tempters body burst into blue and green flames melting into lava that
just seen her for the first time. Feeling uncomfortable with the way he stared, she focused on his chest, surprised to see it not moving at all, like he didn’t just kill a Tempter, like it took no strength at all.
softened, eyes dropped, “I was too late, MY APOLOGIES
them. Clare didn’t take a minute longer to register what had just happened before she rushed to her mothers’ side.
screamed but Clare couldn't do it. Even as the tears ran silently down her cheeks, passing her lips, landing onto her mother's face, she couldn't break down. It wouldn't change faith, it wouldn't bring her mother back. No amount of weakness would bring her back. But Clare knew that in her strength, as she looked at her lifeless mother in her arms, she would seek justice until her own death.