Chapter one
The fires burned black as Bowen and Labith struggled out of the black smoldering pit to find Daniel. He was gone. He escaped through a small opening between the underworld and the topside. Bowen and Labith have been the caretakers of Daniel and Izzy since they were relocated to the underworld by their father. They were in hiding from Gabriel.
The underworld was the only place Gabriel could not come. Bowen’s greatest fear was that Gabriel would find Daniel and force him into the garden. Bowen knew he had to find him quickly.
Bowen and Labith could only be out of the underworld for a short period of time before the underworld would start calling to them. KoKo was left behind to locate Izzy. She was nowhere to be found.
Lucifer put him in charge of finding his only daughter. He could not lose her. Not now. He needed her with him in the underworld. KoKo franticly searched every inch of the underworld. He could hear her but there was no locating her. He feared she was in the void. A place where there is no escape.
No one understood how Daniel managed to escape. They had a good idea of why. His mother Venus was calling to him. His dead mother was reaching out for his help. She sent someone to collect her children and bring them to the garden.
A week before a priest had been marked and sent to hell. It caused quite a stir among inhabitants of the golden city and the underworld. He was widely known. He had done much humanitarian work. He was a good man.
Bowen was extremely confused as to why this man had landed in the underworld.
People are marked for the golden city, the underworld, or back to topside.
Not everyone is given the same punishment. Most people relive their worst fears or their greatest defeats over and over for eternity. They drop some into dark silence. They mark a select few for Bowen. Bowen was wrath. Bowen would make you pay for your earthly life.
In recent years, Bowen had trained Daniel as his apprentice. Daniel wanted to make his father proud, and this was his chance to do it.
Daniel and Izzy were celestial beings, not demons. They were the children of Lucifer and Venus, two souls very much in love that only wanted to have their twins and raise them in the golden city. Gabriel had other plans for the twins. The garden needed two watchers, and that was exactly what their life would be. A life of service to the garden. A life of no free will. It enraged Venus when Gabriel told her that her children would be taken and placed in the garden.
“My children will never be a part of your plans, Gabriel” She grabbed her children from him.
The mighty angel raised his wings at her and illuminated a powerful light.
His voice echoed “Your children are not yours. They belong to us. They will serve Venus or else.”
Venus began to glow; she is the morning star, and she is bright. She blinded Gabriel and took flight with her newborns.
She screamed for her husband.” Lucifer! The twins!” Venus dropped them right into his arms.
Venus and Gabriel began to battle. Lucifer fled with the twins. Bowen and Labith fled with him to earth. The plan was to hide the twins and go back for Venus.
“Labith stay with them. Bowen will go with me to get Venus. If we do not return go to the underworld and hide. The angels there will help you.“
Lucifer took flight with Bowen at his side. “Bowen grabs Venus I will handle Gabriel” Bowen acknowledged his orders and took off. He was aiming for Venus.
Gabriel sealed heaven. No one in nor out.
Neither Lucifer nor Bowen could get in. “Give us the twins, Lucifer” Gabriel was so calm. He held Venus up high over the heavens.” Give us the twins Lucifer. It would be a shame for her to fall to earth.”
Lucifer had no way to get to her. Bowen tried every portal. Nothing. No way in. The only way out was to fall.
Gabriel held the morning star above him. He had her in his left hand and a black flaming sword in the other. With one mighty cut, he clipped her wings.
“No, Gabriel, what have you done?” Lucifer screamed.
Gabriel tossed Venus from heaven. She fell to earth.
“Bowen, take the twins to the underworld. Get them away from here. Tell the gatekeeper they are my children. Tell them I’m coming home. I have to find Venus. Go!”
Bowen flew to Labith as fast as his wings would take him. Labith was hiding with them among the trees. He grabbed Daniel, and she grabbed Izzy. They found a lake to travel to the underworld.
“Labith listen to me. The babies are not going to know how to make this journey. Cover her with your wings and go as fast as you can. If you get there before I tell the gatekeeper, Lucifer is coming and these are his children.” She nodded.
She flew high above the lake, waiting for a portal to open. A flash of red came from the water. She aimed, wrapped Izzy in her left-wing, and dropped into the lake.
A journey into the underworld was not a simple drop and you are there. Knowing how to maneuver the levels of hell without getting stuck is tricky. The watchers have to be avoided.
The watchers were on each level. They serve the underworld. They have no compassion. They were once angels full of lust. Now they are the fallen. They are full of hate and vengeance.
Labith held tight to Izzy using one wing to carefully shift through the levels and the other to shield Izzy.
Labith was a mighty one. She was never a full Angel. She had apprenticed under Uriel for many centuries. She was a great weapon maker. Her hand-formed many celestial weapons. She was still a fairly new Angel, but her speed and marksmanship were unmatched. She fought in many battles under Uriel and Gabriel. Uriel cared deeply for her. He trained her as if she was his child.
Labith continued quickly through the levels of hell. She kept pushing herself. She needed to reach the gatekeeper with Izzy.
Bowen waited for the portal to open. He was so focused on the opening he didn’t notice Lucifer and Gabriel coming quickly behind him. Lightning began to strike right over the lake.
Lucifer and Gabriel were fighting as they flew toward the lake. Gabriel would strike over and over with his flaming black sword. He wanted to remove Lucifer’s wings and bind him to earth. The thunder and lightning made it hard for Bowen to focus on the portal. The lake was shaking. Trees were falling into the lake.
“Bowen,” Lucifer screamed. “Get him to the underworld.”
The portal was not open yet. There was nothing Bowen could do.
“The portal is not open Lucifer” Bowen aimed for the lake. He was ready.
Gabriel aimed for Lucifer’s wings. “You will fall Lucifer,” he bellowed at him. He lowered his sword into Lucifer’s wings.
It became bright. A bright red star shone on the left side of the lake. It was Venus. She blinded Gabriel. The portal opened. Bowen flew into the lake. Lucifer flew toward the lake following the bright light.
“Go my love and care for them. I’ll be fine.” When Venus spoke, it sounded like an echo. It was not her heavenly voice.
Lucifer hesitated. He loved Venus, but the twins needed to be hidden. He slowly descended into the portal leaving her behind. She could not follow without her wings.
Lucifer descended quickly. Bowen and Daniel just ahead of him. The levels were bright. The watchers were now curious about all the excitement going on topside. They began to leave their post to see what the commotion was.
Labith landed in the underworld. Koko the gatekeeper was standing guard. He was not happy about someone landing in the underworld unannounced.
“Why are you here Labith?” he grumbled at her. She released her wing and revealed Izzy.
“I have Lucifer’s child with me, Izzy. She is the daughter of Venus and Lucifer. There has been a great battle. The children need sanctuary.” Labith began to cry. She was afraid. She was not afraid of the gatekeeper. She was afraid of what would happen next.
“Where is Daniel? Venus? Lucifer?” “What has happened?“ The gatekeeper’s attitude changed. He knew something terrible was happening.
Bowen landed with Daniel wrapped in his wing. Lucifer was immediately behind him.
“The prophecy has begun.” The gatekeeper spoke quietly. Koko opened the gate. “Amaros will settle you in. Do not worry they are safe here. We will send someone up to retrieve Venus. Once you go inside, you cannot leave again.”
They all acknowledged their fate once they entered the underworld. It was the only way to save the children. The twins had to live.
Koko gathered a few quietly to go topside to look for Venus. Leaving the underworld through the portal was always a risk.
Hell came with those who lived there. IT was inside you forever. It never leaves. It was a binding spell set to keep the dark ones in. Only one way in and no way out. If a resident of Hell left, they had 24 hours to return before they would go mad.
A human would not make it to the top without going crazy. There was no escape. A demon could leave for a short period. However, they were always spellbound to hell and could be recalled at any time or expelled straight back.
KoKo, Azazel, Baragel, and Luce entered the portal. The portal is always open from the hell side. There was no need to close it. No one could get far. They went up the tunnel quickly and came out on the other side of the lake.
As they came up, they released their wings. They had much smaller wings now. They were not as glorious as they once were when they resided in heaven. That was a long time ago before there was a need for hell. When there became a need for hell, there had to be a gatekeeper. Koko was the best angel for the job.
When they reached the surface, they split up. The sky was dark. The clouds were red. There was a storm brewing. They have to act fast.
“When you find her get to the lake and sound your horn as you enter the portal. Do not alert Gabriel we found her” Koko instructed. They each set out looking for her.
Chapter TwoTopside was a huge tropical land. It was beautiful. There were fruit trees, beautiful lakes, and amazing shorelines. Topside was a wonderland for humanity. They designed itto give them everything they could want.The garden was full of fruits and vegetables. The garden is where they found Venus.After the battle, she found her way to the gates of the garden. It was no longer protected by angels. They left itabandoned.She had to find a place to hide. She knew they marked herfor death. She wanted to survive for her children. The garden would provide her sanctuary until she could find a way into the underworld to rejoin Lucifer and the children.The garden was still just as majestic as the day they created it. Venus had been there when the garden was formed. She watched as they put each treein its place. She knew every rock in the garden. This was not her first or second trip to the garden. She
Chapter threeDaniel and Izzy were two children that escaped from a life of service. They have been hidden for so long. Izzy loved her life herein the underworld. She wanted nothingmore.Danielhadmissing puzzle pieces his entire life. He wanted to find the answers. He just did not know where to look. Until the priest showed up to corrupt Daniel and destroy the nice life they had built in the underworld. He had all the answers. He knew everything or was he lying?The day everything went wrong was the day a young priest landed in the underworld. They marked himfor Bowen. He must’ve been bad to land on Bowen’s table. No one knew what. He was well known, well-loved, and well respected. Why would a priest be marked for Bowen? What could he possibly have done?Bowen decided this would be an easy one. There was some mistake that would be fixed. This would notbe his usual punishment. He decided this wo
Chapter fourHe knew his sister visited lost souls and tried to help them. He decided he would tag along and see if he could find out where Isaac was. If he could free him he could see his mother and find out what is going on and why he needs to be hidden from the Angels.Daniel walked to his sister’s room. When he arrived at her door he leaned on it and gave her a smirk. “Hey sis what’s on the agenda for the day? Are you going to save the souls or some other charity work?” He was hoping to tag along but did not want her to know that he needed her right now.He walked toward her. “You know it’s really dangerous for you to go alone. Maybe I should go with you today? Everyone is in some sort of an uproar over a guest in the chamber.”She could see he was up to something. She loved him and was happy for him to go but she knew it was not for her well-being.“Come on Damna
Perdition POVI am out of the void. I escaped from the underworld my brother left me to endure. He left me! He left me to die. He had no concern for me only the priest.He found his way to the priest and escaped the underworld. Bowen searched for him and me for years. No one could release me from the underworld. No one could get me out. I was the only one who could get me out.They could not locate Daniel. Isaac cloaked him. My mother was protecting him from the underworld and the golden city. I do not understand why she protected him. She left me to die.She was only concerned with the stronger twin. I was nothing to her. I am going to kill her and my brother. I will end this torment.As I was lying in my hell, I could hear my brother. I could hear Isaac. I know he is with my mother and I know they have terrible plans for the topside humans.I heard all the plans they were making but I could do nothing but li
Chapter six“What are you thinking P? Are you ok?” Camilla asks.“What happened to me?” I asked her.I must’ve fainted. My heart is beating out of my chest. I cannot catch air; I cannot… I need air, my lungs and my chest hurt. I am not sure what is going on. Am I OK? I am a celestial. This is not supposed to happen. 1 2 3 I continue counting in my head.Sam picks me up and places me on the couch. I am cradled in his arms. I need to rest.“Can I sleep here awhile Sam?” I drift off. I can hear their voices.“It's a lot for her to take in at once. She loves her brother Sam.” I hear Camilla’s sweet voice. I concentrate on the music I hear playing. I sleep. I am a child in the underworld.I see Labith. I see my mother figure, my protector. “Labith what have you done?” I scream myself awake.I am still cradled in Sam’s
Chapter SevenDay two I am awake I am still here. This is not a dream. I am out of the void. I am surrounded by witches and I am sleeping above a frog green bar. Strange how everything has happened, one day I am rotting in the void and then I am here seeking something so familiar to me.I am here and I will do my job. I will find my brother. Every person here has so much faith in me. I have no faith in myself. Yes, I know I am perdition. I am the one to stop it all. I am trying to wrap my head around all this and I can’t seem to focus.For now, I will focus on getting out of bed and meeting this Ryan person. He knows how to find Damnation. He is the one they need to be thanking not me. They all seem to think I am the savior of their world. I am just a girl with daddy issues and a crazy brother and evidently a psycho mother. I am not sure if I can focus beyond the day. I am just going to get through the day. I will meet Rya
Chapter eightDay threeI am still at the farm. I do not want to leave. Why can I not just stay here? I know I cannot stay here. There is so much to be done and as quickly as possible. I feel so connected here. This place feels like home.“This is your home Perdition.” I hear a voice speaking to me but I am not sure who it is.I am losing my mind. The void was hard on me. My mind keeps going back to it. I have spent my life not belonging anywhere. I do not belong in the underworld, I do not belong in the void, and I do not belong here. I feel lost. I am hurting.I want to talk to my father. I have so many questions for him. I want him to know I am okay and that I love him. I want him to know I understand why he killed Koko. I may not agree but I understand.Celestials deal with their problems so differently than normal people. I wonder if he is capable of for
Chapter nine“There are no children in the void,” I say as I open my eyes.Mayhem places his hand on mine. “There were two, a set of twins. They were with you there. You cared for them.” He says,I feel like I am losing my mind. I feel like I am falling. What else are they going to tell me?“Maybe we should stop and tell you before we get there?” Mayhem says to me.“No, let’s just get Ryan and go from there. Okay.” I respond.“It’s the next road up here on the left Mayhem. Turn off your lights. I am not sure if he is alone or if Damnation is with him. We think Damnation is in the garden. I am not sure. Let’s just be careful.” Sunnie says.“I thought Damnation had him,” I ask.“His followers took him. He got word to me where he was. I contacted Mayhem to help me get him back. No worr
Perdition had little time to get everyone safe. She wasn’t sure how she would handle Sam. She planned to get Angie and Mrs. Bee as far away from New Orleans as possible with the newborns. She also had to deal with Mayhem, Tiffany, JJ, and Chaos. She planned to use Chaos to distract Jaza. She wasn’t sure how much she could depend on him. Jaza had to die. She knew there would be hell to pay, but it had to be done. What was the worst they could do to her? Send her to the void. She wasn’t afraid, and there was no one as powerful as her. Not even her brother could come close to her power. She could feel it growing every day. Now she just had to figure out exactly how to use it to save her friends. Her powers were strong but raw. She still had difficulty focusing on just using her power and not it taking over. She knew she needed to focu
Jaza was no fool. Whatever Perdition was planning, he was prepared. He was on guard. He had sent word to every watcher hiding on earth to be ready. Perdition had contacted Labith and told her to bring Jaza to the inn tonight. Perdition was ready to give up Camilla Dawn in exchange Jaza would leave Sam alone and not interfere with the babies. Labith knew there was no way Perdition would just quietly hand over Camilla Dawn. She knew she was up to something. Labith had raised the once sweet girl. She knew her better than anyone. “What do you think she is up to?” Jaza asked Labith. Labith walked into Jaza’s chamber. It is such a dark and menacing place. Labith did not like being in closed spaces with him. “I honestly cannot say Jaza,” Labith answered him.“She is unique, isn’t she?” Jaza says as he moves closer to Labith
“Because we are from yesterday.” Camilla Dawn says. Key stops what she is doing and runs to her side.“What? What are you saying?” Key says.“Because we are from yesterday and we know nothing because our days on earth are like a shadow.” Camilla Dawn says.“I do not understand,” Key says. Camilla Dawn opens her eyes. She stares into Key’s eyes.“I am scared.” Camilla Dawn says. Camilla Dawn closes her eyes and goes back to sleep.Camilla Dawn slips into a deep sleep. Her mind is reliving her past. It’s slow torture for her. She has tried to pay for her past. There is no way to make it right unless she gives in to the watchers.As vivid images flash before her, she knows what she must do. She must submit to Jaza. She cannot let anyone else get hurt. The image of Sam being stabbed plays for her over and over. “No!” She screams.Key watc
Sam was a little drunk when he entered his room. He knew how Mrs. Bee felt about smoking in the rooms, but he desperately needed one. He almost smoked in the room, then he remembered how mean Bee could be if she felt disrespected. He decided it was best if he stepped outside his room. He turned the radio on to his favorite New Orleans station.“Sweet Jazz.” He said out loud. “Nothing like it.” Sam stood outside his room smoking. As the rain fell in New Orleans, the sweet rain and sounds of Jazz coming out of his radio he could only think of Angie.“I was so stupid.” He said.“Yes, you were and still are idiotic.” A soft voice said.It was Angie. She looked amazing standing there. “I’m sorry I brought her here. I am sorry I hurt you and mostly I am just sorry.” He sa
Perdition wanted to check on Camilla Dawn and the babies. Key was with her.“Is she ok?” Perdition asks. Key shakes her head. “I do not know what is wrong with her. Mrs. Bee thinks it has something to do with the black magic, and honestly, I do too. I think she is drained.” Key says.“I think I can wake her.” Perdition says.“Why did Sam bring her here?” Perdition asks as Sam enters the room with Angie.“I thought she would be safe here.” He says.“Well, I am not so sure about that.” Perdition says. Perdition keeps staring at Sam. “You’re not being truthful, Sam. Why are you really here?” she asks him.Sam looks out the door of Camilla Dawn's room. He sees Mayhem waiting patiently.“Look, this all happened fast. We got word where Camilla Dawn was and where Mayhems kids were and we just … well, we just ended up here.
JJ sat in his room at the B&B contemplating what he should do. He didn’t want to go out into the city and leave the girls without someone close by. He wanted to go look for Perdition, but he felt that could wait at least one more day. Besides, as soon as Perdition and Chaos figured out they were in the city, the two would probably seek them out. He hoped they would anyway. He hoped he could talk to her and maybe reason with her.First, he needed Chaos out of the way. How in the hell would he get him out of the way? He thought about knocking him out cold. He figured it wouldn’t be that hard. The thought brought a smile to his face. The winds were blowing hard, and the rain was coming in. JJ opened his door.Rain in New Orleans was different. It was a spiritual experience. JJ had a deep love for New Orleans. Something he and Sam had in common. Sam would’ve never left New Orleans if Camilla Dawn would’ve just stayed away. He could&r
How was he holding up? All Angie could think of was how strong he has to be. There is no way he could just hold all this in. Not only is he caring for his ex-wife and her two newborns, but he has to hunt down the daughter of Lucifer and get her to come back to the side of the descendants.She was so infatuated with him. He was a sexy beast of a man. Maria knew she needed to make an exit. She knew Angie would want time with him alone. Angie would want to try again.Angie was in love with Sam. Their time in New Orleans was epic, to say the least about it. She thought he felt the same way too.In the end, Sam had to put distance between everything that had happened to him in New Orleans and his life. He could not get past losing his children. Now playing in his mind as he drank whiskey in the Devils Café with his old life, all he could think was what Bee meant by maybe we can make it right.What had happened to them? Where were the
The Devils Café was owned and operated by Mrs. Bee since her husband died. He bought the café because Bee loved the view from the balcony. It connected to her B & B, and she wanted to look out from the upstairs and drink her jack laced coffee every morning. She told him it would be a good business investment. He knew she loved the view.She went there every morning since they opened the B & B. He gave her the key to the Devils Café on their 10th wedding anniversary. She loved that little bar. Sam helped her run it when he was in New Orleans and now her daughter Maria and her son-in-law Ernie run it.She doesn’t go upstairs as often. In her later years, her knees bother her too much to go up the steps to the view she loves so much. Now and then she will still make it up to her beloved view of the city. Bee has a passion for New Orleans. A passion only a lifelong resident of the city has.“Sam,” Maria call
When they get to the front of the B & B there is a bright red bar, The Devils Café.“Are you serious?” Tiff says.“Everything in here is red. So when Sam opened the Frog Pen, he did everything green. He said this place inspired him. They have a drink here called wide open hell. Let’s get one.” Mayhem says.“Okay, but just one. I am not a drinker.” She says.“You work in a bar and you’re not a drinker. Okay, sounds about right.” Mayhem says.“We need to walk around the streets and just make sure we don’t see anyone that might you know be looking for us.” He says.She nods. “I guess we are a couple then tonight.” She smiles at him. Tiffany slams her drink and jumps up from the bar.“You ready?” Mayhem drinks the rest of his drink and takes her by the hand. The two of them go out onto Rampart Street.