52. Ansel

Ansel

W hen I decided to help Andy, the boy destined to be Olivia’s guardian, I understood the implications—that Samael, the strongest and most powerful of the Nephilims, would be no more. I stopped being the general of Ophyr’s army the moment I followed Erelah into this world. Pandora’s protection around this world stripped me of my immortality, leaving my body similar to those of humans. Maybe weaker, as I was quickly deteriorating, and by the time Andy turned five, I was an old man.

I still remember the day Andy and I became one. How it happened was like a haze in my mind, as the pain was unbearable. If not for Ladybug, I would not be here today. She found me in time and nursed me back to life. Once I was well, with infinite patience, she taught me about Olivia. It wasn’t necessary, as I had both Andy and Samael’s memories, but listening to stories about Pandora’s heir made me fall deeply in love with her.

Asa stands in the doorframe, blocking our way out. I spread my wings wide, letting him know I am prepared to fight him.

How on Earth did Asa get in here? Next to him, Spencer looks at us with a happy expression. I thought he was sleeping.

What disturbed his sleep?

The doorbell.

We all ignored it, but it must have woken up Spencer, who let Asa in. I should have thought that something like this would happen, but I was so worried about losing my family that I wasn’t thinking straight.

Before Olivia and my blood-brothers, I never had a family. Never knew the joy of being with the woman I loved.

The people in this room are what I fight for.

I take a step forward. “I am not Samael anymore. Nor Andy. I am Ansel, bonded and guardian of Olivia. Blood-brother of Rueben, Tyson, Mose, and Jasper.” Father to Spencer and the baby growing inside Olivia. I don’t mention them, not wanting Asa to try to control me by harming them.

“You are…a Nephilim?” Tyson snarls. Mose gives me a look of disgust. He has been acting strange around me ever since he returned. I’m sure he knew what I was even before now but why he didn't say anything about it, I’m not sure.

Olivia looks at Spencer, her body emanating a low glow. She won’t let anyone harm her child.

“Not anymore,” I reply. Holding my head high, I say, “I’m a Lord.”

The looks full of anger and distrust coming from my blood-brothers show me how fragile human relationships are. Over the years, I have thought about what would happen if the truth about me ever came to light. I thought I was ready but nothing prepared me for the way Olivia looks at me. Like I broke her heart.

Once Asa is not a threat anymore, I will remind her about us, about our past.

I will tell her about Samael and Erelah and why I chose to follow her here. Not out of hate or because I wanted to end her, but because I was obsessed with her. She was a mystery that I couldn’t solve. I still can’t.

For once, my blood-brothers don’t know what to say. It’s not every day they learn that one of them is a Nephilim.

Asa’s wings spring forth.

It is a Nephilim custom. The one who has the biggest and brightest wings is the strongest.

Power radiates from him. He is still a Nephilim. Not like me. I am not human nor Nephilim, but something else.

Olivia slowly moves toward Spencer. Asa doesn’t seem to notice, but I know him better than anyone. Better than Ophyr. I can’t say the exact amount of years the two of us fought side by side, as time was irrelevant to us. During that time, Asa was the closest thing to a friend. Trusting has been my biggest mistake. But if not for him, I would not be here today.

I might not be a Nephilim anymore, but there is one thing I still have—divine power. It might not be enough to kill Asa, but it might be enough to give Olivia and the others time to escape from here.

I try to distract Asa from Spencer, who is too little to understand the danger he is in. “No need to involve others in our shit.”

Mose still doesn’t get it, as he says, “You involved us when you tricked us into believing you were one of us.”

Olivia’s palms curl into fists.

Asa smiles.

My demon snarls.

No.

That’s a lie.

I never had a demon. I am part one, as all Nephilims were created by Ophyr, who took a demon and an angel and fused them together, creating something new, something stronger. I was the first Nephilim, my loyalty unwavering—until Erelah.

To be Ansel, to be Olivia’s Guardian, I had to convince not only those around me that I had a demon, that I was a Lord, but myself as well. I even tricked my blood-brothers’ demons. Mose’s demon figured it out in the end. He was impressed by my ability to make it seem like I was a vessel to a demon.

Asa lets go of Spencer, who goes to Olivia. At least he didn’t harm my son.

A sword of fire appears in Asa’s hands, as he enters the study. He doesn’t appear to be interested in my family, only in eliminating me.

Betrayal among the Nephilims is a transgression paid by death.

But Asa targeted me before I decided to pledge allegiance to Olivia.

Asa slowly walks toward me. I jerk my head, letting Rueben and Tyson know they need to get the others out of here. One second later, they are out of the office.

I reach deep inside myself and bring forth my sword. It’s the last time I can summon it as it will deplete my powers. It will probably kill me. I would rather give my life to save Olivia and our son than to keep fighting for Ophyr.

Asa and I start to circle each other, our swords held high.

“The time to finish what we started has finally come,” Asa says.

Nothing will convince Asa that Ophyr wasn’t right about God’s creation. While I only lived on Earth, I experienced so many feelings. Nephilims are stripped of any feelings, their only purpose is to obey Ophyr and to destroy everything.

“Ophyr lied to us,” I waste my breath on Asa. The office is not spacious enough for the battle that is about to start. My only hope is that Jon got any important papers out of here because the entire house will be left in shambles by the time I’m done with Asa.

A stupid grin appears on Asa’s face. “Ophyr is the only one who told the truth. Me and I and the rest of us have been warned about how evil God’s entire creation is. Ophyr and half of our brothers and sisters have been locked in a box forged in the deepest pit of Hell. When they were finally freed, Ophyr was not the same. The power, splendor, and grace they once had were robbed from them. Ophyr barely remembers our mission. And you,” he sneers, “you betrayed all of us.”

I see an opening and strike first. There’s no need to prolong the inevitable. Our swords clash and I glare into Asa’s eyes. “I might not be Samael anymore, but I still remember you attacking me from behind like a coward.”

“Because you hesitated to kill her!” Asa never knew Olivia’s original name. She only said it to me. My army and I knew her as the Supreme Archangel. In her world, her word was law. “In all the time I knew you, your loyalty was what made all of us keep fighting even when it was clear that we lost. You destroyed everything in your path until her. I should have killed you back then.”

I push Asa away from me. “You should have.”

Asa bares his teeth. “You haven’t asked me how it is that I’m still a Nephilim while you are human.”

Like I care. On second thought, maybe I should find out. “I was wondering the same myself,” I lie.

Our swords meet again.

“After our brothers and sisters were freed from the box, they started looking for a way to destroy the barrier erected by Pandora around this world. They made a hole that allowed me to enter. It won’t be long until the entire barrier falls, and those waiting on the other side will destroy this world.” Fuck! I need to find a way to prevent the barrier from being destroyed. Our swords cross. “Did I ever tell you that I killed Pandora? Next will be that female who made you forget about our cause.”

I push Asa away from me. When did he find Pandora? “You’ll never touch Olivia!” I snarl in anger.

Asa chuckles. “Look at you, getting all worked up over a female. This is why being a Nephilim is the only way. We don’t feel a thing. We don’t get tired, hungry, or thirsty. Not even carnal urges bother us.”

“Being with a woman, inside her soft, warm body, is like being in Paradise.” I don’t know why I’m saying this to Asa because he will never understand, but maybe if he knows he has options, he will stop worshiping Ophyr. Stop being…brainless.

“Can I tell you a secret?” he asks. I narrow my eyes. My reaction amuses him. “Since I came to Earth, the Bringers of Doom have been catering to all my needs. Especially the women. Being with them, it’s nothing special. Just a way to control them.”

Maybe I underestimated Asa and his determination.

“The Bringers of Doom is made up of people obsessed with Armageddon and the end of the world.”

Asa laughs. He has yet to unleash all his power on me. Why is he holding back? “It won’t be long now.” His attacks become more direct. I block most of them but he still cuts my upper arm. My hope of defeating him vanishes, but at least I will give the others time to escape. If only I had Olivia’s daggers.

My knees bend under the force of his attack. I don’t remember him being so strong. Or maybe it is me who is weak. Between the two of us, I have always been the best fighter. I might know a trick or two.

“I won’t let you destroy this world, Asa.”

Asa goes for my legs and I stop his sword before it cuts me. “Like I need your permission.”

Suddenly, he moves fast, and punches me directly in the nose, breaking it. Blood runs down my chin. I forgot how fast Nephilims move. The punch leaves me stunned for a moment and Asa punches me again, this time in the neck. He strikes me so hard that I fall to the floor. By pure luck, he didn’t kill me. But my body feels heavy. I can’t move my arms. What the fuck is happening?

Asa looms over me. “I didn’t come here to kill you. Not tonight, at least. I only wanted to let you know that Ophyr knows of your betrayal.”

There’s a hesitation in Asa.

I remember the video of the night Camila died. Ophyr coming out of the Dybbuk Box.

Something clicks in my brain. “Ophyr is not all-powerful anymore.”

Asa nods. “I’ll let you live if you help me retrieve something from Azael.”

“I’ll never help you destroy this world, Asa.”

“I tried to give you one chance, Samael,” Asa says before plunging his sword into my stomach.

Pain envelopes my body.

Then.

Silence.