Judge not, p.1
Judge Not, page 1
part #1 of Reign of Shadows Series
Judge Not
Reign of Shadows
Ciara Graves
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 1
Afterword
Judge Not
Reign Of Shadows Book One
Seraphim, lords of hell, angels, demons, corrupted mortals, hell spawn, and the dark creatures of nightmares. The Reign of Shadows is just starting!
Lela’s a warrior of light. As a warrior of light her mission is to protect the world from the legions of demons, corrupted mortals, hell spawn, and the dark creatures of nightmares.
Cracks in the veil have opened up the war of shadows and brought it to the mortal plane, opening up the seals to the realms of angels and hell.
Lela’s latest orders are to close the rift near a rundown human settlement. Ambushed by demons during her mission, she finds herself squaring off against a massive demon covered in tribal tattoos.
Tonamech—known as Mech— a tat-covered demon is one of the elite fighters under one of the nine Lords of Hell. HIs mission is to capture souls and return them to hell and fight off angel attacks.
Mech could do without angels. Any of them. Now he’s fighting an angel bearing a very specific branding mark on her shoulder signifying her high rank. He takes her captive. She could provide valuable intel.
Lela’s hope is to build up a burst of holy light to help her escape the demonhold. She didn’t count on Mech’s tenacity.
Warning: Unputdownable action-packed fantasy, with a touch of romance which features seraphim, lords of hell, angels, demons, corrupted mortals, hell spawn, and the dark creatures of nightmares.
Chapter 1
Lela
The dagger in my hand shone in the bluish tinged holy light around me. I held it up, examining every inch of the blade to ensure it was properly cleaned and purified. The last fight against a horde of zombies had left all my gear stinking of rotting flesh.
Satisfied, I sheathed the dagger at my side with the other blades and folded the polishing rag.
My eyes wandered around the armory I had mostly to myself. Several other commanders were here, seeing to their weapons and armor. None of us spoke. We’d all witnessed too much tragedy these last few days to be much comfort to one another.
Racks of fresh chainmail chest pieces, silver metal bracers, shoulder guards, leather armor, and weapons of all types stretched from one wall to the other.
The only light in the room was natural, the same as it was everywhere in our kingdom in the heavens. The armory had arched windows running along the top of the stone walls, garnished with stained glass depicting scenes from various battles. Battles of good overcoming evil.
There was a time I wholeheartedly believed good would always win. Lately, I wasn’t sure we had the strength to endure this war.
Lately, I wasn’t sure about a lot of things.
This war had taken a dark turn, and every mission I came back from left me wondering if we were ever going to find a way to end it. Some days, I forgot what we were even fighting for.
Bickering amongst the generals had trickled down to the commanders and soldiers. I used to not have issues with the teams I took on my missions. Now, dissension ran rampant, and it all started with High General Hadariel, who conveniently enough, hadn’t been seen in weeks.
If the generals knew where he was or why he’d been gone so long, they kept it to themselves, as with all things in this never-ending war.
“Commander Lela, orders from General Morael.”
I held out my hand without turning around to face the angel messenger.
A paper was placed in my palm, then the messenger exited the armory.
I had just returned from one mission and hoped to have some time to let my wounds heal. Apparently, that was not going to be the case. I read over the missive and bit back a curse.
Anger would get me nowhere, no matter how justifiable it may be. I had to keep it together for the ones in my charge.
“What does it say?” Nathaniel, another commander and the only friend who’d remained alive asked as he joined me.
His blond hair was so light it was nearly white, matching perfectly shaped brows. Despite the few pale scars across his face, he had handsome, sharp features with sky-blue eyes. He was taller than me and had a more slender build than most other commanders.
“They want me to lead a team to seal another rift.”
His light blond eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Another one? You just got back this morning. They know you were injured, right?”
“Minor injuries. I’ve already healed for the most part.”
“Lela, you need time to rest. They can’t keep doing this to you,” he argued, keeping his voice quiet. “It’s no secret Lavina has it out for you lately.”
“It’d be nice to know why.” I took a cursory glance around the armory, but the commanders with us were too busy cleaning their weapons to pay us any attention. “The orders might have been signed by Morael, but Lavina is the one telling him which commander to send.”
“She and Amriel, you mean.” He shook his head. “I don’t like it. You should wait.”
“To what end? That’ll just make it worse, and until I know what they’re plotting behind closed doors, I’m going to keep my head down and do my duty.”
For months now, I sensed something with the generals was amiss. When I was appointed commander, several argued against it, claiming I wasn’t ready. Morael fought for my appointment though. Now, Lavina seemed to be doing everything she could to ensure I didn’t have time to rest.
Or that I simply didn’t come back home. At least, not alive.
Despite my desire to follow orders and stay true to our code, I was not above questioning orders or flat-out refusing to follow through if I thought my team would be put in too much danger.
Morael said I had the makings of a leader. Lavina had sneered at his compliments and continuously found ways to make me pay, no matter how slight. If only we knew where our High General had disappeared to, I might have more insight as to what game they were playing.
Nathaniel frowned as he read over my orders, shaking his head. “They’re only letting you take a team of six. You can’t seal a rift with six angels plus yourself.”
He was right, but the chances of getting those orders changed were slim. I ensured all six daggers along my ribs were strapped in, then reached for the two swords I cleaned earlier. I sheathed them at my back, forming an X, and took the orders back from Nathaniel.
“You and I both know I don’t have a choice, not unless I want an argument on my hands, and I’m too exhausted to deal with Lavina today. I’ve done a mission like this before. It might drain me, but it’ll be sealed, and that’s what matters.”
“Yes, you do have a choice,” he muttered angrily as he sheathed his long sword at his hip then reached for a short one to place on the other side.
His silver chainmail shimmered with renewed holy light that covered most of the black and brown leather armor beneath it. I took a long moment to take in the scars he bore from injuries that had nearly taken his life.
We both had plenty of scars to go around. The war with the demon lords of Hell had carried on far longer than our generals originally believed it could.
In the beginning, battles were fought in the dark pits below or the heavenly skies above. We were careful to keep it out of sight of the humans who back then hadn’t truly known about our existence.
Now, the rifts made it nearly impossible to confine the battles. Though we did our best to protect fragile humans.
Until the time that the demon lords no longer kept the war hidden from the mortals we angels were intended to protect.
The war spilled over to the surface.
The mortals paid the price.
All of us did, in truth. Both sides had taken heavy losses, and it was only getting worse with each passing day.
The day of the Great Catastrophe, what the humans would call an apocalyptic event, rifts opened, spewing forth all manner of nightmarish creatures from the depths of Hell. With them came the souls that had been damned for eternity.
The state of the world was chaotic. Death clung to everything, and each time we sealed a rift, it seemed another opened. Or we lost another human city to evil.
Long ago, I believed we would win. Now I merely hoped we’d survive.
“Lela, did you hear me?” Nathaniel grabbed my arm. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. If you’ll excuse me, I have orders to carry out,” I muttered.
“I said I’m speaking with Morael before you leave,” he insisted, exiting the armory with me. “You cannot take only six angels with you. My team will accompany you.”
“Those are not your orders. I suggest you do not try to interfere. Not again. Neither of us needs Lavina breathing down our necks.”
Nathaniel was one of many commanders, but like me, he didn’t always play by the rules. The generals tolerated him because he was damned good at beheading demons with that sword of his. He had the appearance of a true warrior with his angelic blond hair drawn back in a tight braid and determination in his eyes. Beneath the serious exterior, though, he was more of a free spirit.
I
We walked purposefully through the fortress toward the main hall where the generals gathered. Only four remained.
Our High General had not been seen for several weeks, so when we entered the hall, and he was there, it took a moment for me to sink to one knee at the sight of him and the holy light surrounding him. Nathaniel was right next to me, slightly behind, kneeling, his anger covered by a blank expression.
“Apologies for the interruption,” I said hastily, keeping my head lowered.
High General Hadariel walked toward me, his armored boots clanking against the stones. “Rise, Commander Lela. And you, Commander Nathaniel. No need for such grandeur on my behalf.”
Hadariel was among the oldest of our race and had been in his position since before I was born. He had a gentle smile with kind, light blue eyes. His armor always shone brightly, as if freshly polished. He bore a white cloak that trailed off his shoulders and dragged behind him.
Here in the great hall, he didn’t seem to be battle-hardened or able to wield a sword. I’d seen him fight though, and that alone was enough for him to earn my respect and loyalty without falter. He had not been made High General for his charming smile.
But today, his smile felt forced and there was a shadow in his eyes I hadn’t noticed before. Even his white cloak appeared dingy.
“You received your orders?” Morael asked from behind Hadariel.
Unlike Hadariel, Morael wore gold armor and had dreadlocked black hair, drawn back with a leather band. His gold eyes stood out against his bronze skin.
I respected him even more than I did Hadariel. Not that I would ever say so aloud. Morael was the one who’d trained me and had given me the rank of commander after I showed my worth in battle.
I bowed to him. “I did, General Morael. I’m going to gather my team and head out, but I had concerns.” I bit the inside of my cheek as soon as I said it. Somedays, I just couldn’t help myself.
The generals never had a chance to reply.
Nathaniel shot me a look and stepped forward. He cleared his throat, and after bowing to the generals once more, he said, “I’m worried there are not enough angels going to seal the rift assigned to Commander Lela. I request my team to accompany hers. They currently have no orders. Nor do I.”
Morael’s face didn’t change from its usual calm expression, but his eyes darkened just a hint, enough to tell me we shouldn’t have said a damned thing about my orders. “You have another duty.”
“I haven’t received any orders yet.”
“You are now,” General Lavina said as she walked away from the large, circular table the generals had been gathered around. She held out a missive to Nathaniel. “I’m afraid you’re needed elsewhere.”
Nathaniel read his orders, and his lip twitched. “This account is true?”
I glanced down at the missive in his hand.
Another human compound had been attacked by a pack of hellhounds. They were terrorizing humans. Instead of entering the compound, though, the report stated they had taken up residence along the perimeter, guarding it against anyone coming or going. I’d never heard of hellhounds acting in such a manner.
“Are you questioning the words of our scouts?” Lavina snapped.
Nathaniel lowered his eyes as he said, “No, General. I’ve just never heard of such behavior. It’s strange, but I will see them removed.”
Lavina’s eyes narrowed at his shift in tone, but she didn’t call him out for it. She pivoted harshly on her heel and returned to the table.
The table’s surface was wood, but on it was a projected map. It could be maneuvered by the swipe of a hand to show various locations. The remaining cities and compounds under our guard were labeled. As were the newly formed wastelands bordered by corrupt forests where people entered but never left.
Currently, the map focused on one of the larger human compounds.
The compound was called Dakota. After the war started, state boundaries no longer mattered. No government existed anywhere on the planet, at least not any functioning ones. The four generals here focused only on the North American continent. There used to be many more dedicated to each area of the globe, but now they were down to only a few, scattered here and there.
And the High General Hadariel oversaw us all.
“If there are no other questions, I suggest you both make haste,” Morael said with a stern look. “Be careful out there. The reports coming in of late have not been good.” His gaze lingered on me. I stilled, almost opening my mouth to ask him what else was going on. A subtle shake of his head made me stop. “Go, Commanders.”
Nathaniel and I bowed, then backed our way out of the grand hall.
The doors shut silently, and I was left staring at them. Specifically, at the gold sculpted designs of an angel smiting a demon. Something about it rubbed me the wrong way today. There was no love lost between our two races, but part of me wondered some days if we were fighting against the right enemy.
They started this war, but my gut told me even Hell wasn’t able to control the evil it created and unleashed upon the surface. I turned my back on the image and stormed away to find my team.
“I still think I should come with you,” Nathaniel insisted.
“You have your orders. If you disobey them, Lavina will not be happy.”
“And you think I care? We should take our teams to carry out both missions. You heard Morael. The reports were bad.”
“The reports are always bad these days,” I reminded him, reflecting on how Hadariel had appeared. Was he ill? The presence of so much evil was having an effect on our holy light. He appeared dim in a strange way, as if he wasn’t all there. “Do not get yourself into trouble,” I added. I wouldn’t share my worries with him, not yet.
He placed his hand on my arm, stopping me. “Lela, we have lost so many lately. I don’t want to come back and hear that your team has gone down, too.”
I patted his hand, then removed it. “I’ll be fine. Worry about yourself.”
“Hard to do that when the rift you’re headed toward has been open for nearly three years. It’s going to be powerful. What if you can’t seal it?”
“Then I’ll have my team retreat and report to General Morael. What’s got you so on edge today, huh? I’ll be fine. I always am.” I tried to reassure myself more than him. I grabbed his shoulders when he still seemed uncertain. “Nathaniel, this is our duty as commanders. As angelic beings. To stand against the darkness and save the innocent. There’s good left in this world, and if I go down fighting to protect it, then the cost is worth it.”
He scowled at me, but I walked away, not letting him argue any longer. If I did, I’d give in, and we’d both end up facing Lavina’s wrath.
I veered left down the next hall and climbed the stairs leading to the commanders’ quarters. I had one last item to fetch from my room, and then I’d be ready to go. I pushed open the simple, wooden door and entered my room.
A cot perched along one wall, the covers pulled up. There was a nightstand beside it, bearing nothing except the dagger I always slept with close to my side. The dresser had a mirror hanging over it, trimmed in silver. Directly across from the door was a stained-glass window depicting a sun setting over the water. It was a beautiful image, one I looked at often when I meditated.
There was no time for meditation now to clear my head.
I might’ve made it sound like I wasn’t worried about going to the rift, but I was. Rifts were becoming harder to seal, what with the depletion of angels and holy light. Though we were strong, the evil pouring forth was quickly overtaking our light.
The commander whose position I’d taken had left an item with me. A small, silver and blue medallion. There was nothing special about it, except my silly superstition that it brought me luck on the battlefield. I had it with me at all times when I left the Heavens. I picked it up off the dresser and lowered it over my head. It rested beneath the chainmail chest piece I wore over my dark leather armor. As I tucked it out of sight, my eyes flicked up to catch my reflection.
