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."James," Raziel's voice sounded very far away and James groaned, pain alternating between nausea and vertigo."James, focus on me." He sounded anxious, James thought, as he feebly tried to concentrate.But before he could say or do anything, there was that familiar screeching in his head and he dropped to his knees, letting out a soft cry of agony."Well, well, well," purred a cultured, urbane voice."How fascinating.I thought we had managed to capture all of the humans who had this talent, but it seems not.""Adramelech." Raziel's voice was a low growl."How did you get through my wards?"James forced open one eye, taking in the form of the Archdemon Adramelech.He was handsome in a cruel, self-indulgent sort of way, his hands in the pockets of tailored slacks as he leaned against the wall.There seemed to be a nimbus of blood red light glowing around his form, and James gritted his teeth as he felt wave after wave of unspeakable evil and contempt roiling from him.Adramelech was the personification of the old adage that beauty was only skin deep.James was aware of the danger he and his friends in Ngapa were in—the archdemon would no doubt feel no need to refrain from maiming or killing them all to get what he wanted."Quite easily, actually," Adramelech said in answer to Raziel's question.His openly mocking smile held no warmth."Dear old Dad left my kind and me a little loophole.Fallen angels, dear Raziel, means that we can—if we wish—tap into that part of our being." He waved his hand airily."Of course, most of my brothers don't wish to do that, but it's a useful tool, like any other.Especially when I want something like your book.Give it to me." He took a slow step forward, exuding malice and indefatigable determination.James shivered as he watched Adramelech through narrowed eyes."No." Raziel moved slowly away from James, who sat heavily on the floor, trying to focus on something other than the pain burning through his skull.Raziel and Adramelech were the same height, he noticed absently, and nearly the same build.They were both slender and muscled, light on their feet, their shoulders unbowed.Raziel glowed with a soft bronze light, just as Adramelech glowed red, and James blinked against that shimmer, not wanting to look too closely at it.There was something about it that promised the unspeakable horrors that Adramelech would delight in inflicting.Adramelech was an archdemon who most likely enjoyed his hellish work."You will eventually.Probably sooner rather than later, or I will destroy this place and eviscerate your little human lover." Adramelech smirked as he spoke."Honestly, Raziel, do you really believe you can defeat me? You're not a warrior; you're a scientist.You should have stayed in your laboratories and left the fighting to the grownups."James took a deep breath and pushed himself to all fours, slowly crawling over to the table where Raziel's book lay.Each movement was a nightmare of almost unbearable agony, pain shooting through his entire being as he got closer to the book and the two elemental creatures near it.He was shaking almost violently as he reached up and grabbed the book from the table, crawling away as fast as he was able.Neither Raziel nor Adramelech seemed to have noticed."You'd be surprised what I can do," Raziel was saying."Science and mysteries and secrets, yes, but you're an idiot if you think none of that involves warfare.""Precisely why I want your book." Adramelech snapped his fingers and a long, wicked-looking dagger with a hooked end and serrated blade appeared in his hand."It will unleash a war like.nothing that has been ever seen before.And it will be glorious." The last words were spoken with an almost childlike wonder."Rivers of blood, Raziel, mountains of bones and sinew and flesh, the screams of these parasitic humans will be a hymn to celebrate Hell's victory.""Which is precisely why you won't get it.I'll destroy it first.""Nonsense," Adramelech laughed."You, Raziel, destroy the written word? It goes against your very nature."There was a flutter of wings as Uriel appeared suddenly."You are a total idiot."James blinked, relieved.Uriel was clad in full armor, reminiscent of the fifteenth century knights he'd seen in books when studying history at school.The tiny room seemed to shrink in on itself with his additional presence and Raziel moved back to drop down to his knees beside James, his arms going around him."Are you all right?" Raziel asked in a concerned undertone.James managed a weak grin."No, but at least I can sort of function.""We have to get you out," Raziel said grimly."No one is going anywhere," Adramelech interrupted."I want the book and I will be not denied.Not even by you, Uriel.""I was so hoping you'd say that." Uriel grinned wolfishly and swung his sword in a slow arc.It whistled through the air, the blade glowing the color of the setting sun.Adramelech growled and moved, his dagger extending and crashing loudly with Uriel's sword.James closed his eyes and clutched the book as tight as possible.He could not close his ears, however, and even with Raziel holding him close, the battle was loud, both aurally and psychically.The clash of steel on steel was accompanied by grunts and swears, by flashes of power, both red and orange, as the Archangel Uriel and the Archdemon Adramelech fought each other with power as well as blade.Although Uriel had said he was looking forward to this fight, James could not imagine it
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