Soul Guardian

Chapter 70: Here Comes the Boom

George was about to go grab Ken by the scruff of his neck when the thermite ignited. Ken saw the initial flash and bolted away as fast as his wings could carry him. Normally, thermite wasn’t particularly explosive. However, three hundred pounds of white hot metal burning through a boat into the lake below was bound to have some unexpected consequences.

At first the powder burned slowly, throwing off white and red sparks. Then the reaction began to accelerate. When the mixture burned through to the water below all hell broke loose as a steam explosion launched the remaining powder and molten metal into the sky.

“Woo hoo!, that was a good one!” Six cheered as a boom echoed out over the lake. She went to give Bael a high five. “Best camping trip ever!”

A few hundred miles away Maharet looked up from her book as one of the hellcats suddenly sat up ramrod straight. “What is it?” she asked.

Arson’s whiskers twitched. “I don’t know. But whatever it was, I’m sorry I missed it.”

***

The next morning Bael and Six woke up early to go fishing. Somehow Six had gotten it into her head that she wanted to catch breakfast and Bael was incapable of turning down free food. He watched with fascination as she baited a hook.

“I'm surprised you don't have issues with using live bait,” Bael said.

“It's just a worm,” Six replied with a shrug, “It would be a bit silly to get up in arms about hurting worms when I'm trying to catch a fish.”

“Fair point,” Bael admitted, “You know, I've always wanted to try fly fishing. It looks like a good way to waste an afternoon.”

Six looked over at him. “Is there fishing in hell?”

“Yeah, but the line always breaks at the last second.”

“That's so evil!” Six cackled as she tossed out her bait and bobber. It landed in the water with a satisfying thunk.

He wanted to be better. He wanted to be a good father. He wanted to be able to let go. And now, like ripples from a rock tossed into a pond, someone had come to shatter the illusion of peace. Summer had ended.

It was sheer arrogance to rapture away the humans around them and think Bael wouldn't notice. But angels had never been adept at guile. They left that for the demons, like him.

Bael could sense them in the air above him, preparing for a sneak attack. The Baron continued to cast and retrieve his line. If the angels had been paying attention, or known anything about fishing, they would have realized something was up. There wasn't a worm on the end of his hook anymore, and the line had taken on a distinctive golden sheen.

A fluttering of wings announced the beginning of their attack. Bael grinned as he took a step back and yanked up on the rod like he was trying to set the hook. There was a supersonic crack and shouts of surprise from the attacking angels as the thin golden line lashed out like a whip.

It spun in an arc around him, cutting anything in its path. Trees toppled and bloody feathers rained down around him. Slowly, Bael turned around to face the Archangel leading the angelic horde.

Wounded angels tried to stay airborne, looking at the demon in shock. With one attack he had killed half their forces and wounded the rest. Only Gabriel remained untouched by the golden lash.

Bael carefully set down the fishing rod and walked towards them. “You know, a rejection letter would have been sufficient. There was no need to come in person.”

Gabriel gritted his teeth. “I won't let you pollute heaven. I'd rather die than see a demon walk past the pearly gates.”

The Baron laughed. “You don't have a choice. None of us do. If God wants me there, that's where I'll be. If he wants you to fall, that's where you'll be. We're all puppets, but some of us can see our strings.”

Before the Archangel could react, Bael made a pulling motion with his hand. Gabriel watched as dozens of golden threads went taught, ensnaring the remaining angels. Seconds later, he was the only one remaining.

Gabriel looked down at the shredded remains of what had once been his army. His face contorted in rage. “You're going to pay for that.”

The Baron smirked, summoning more golden threads. “Put it on my tab.”