Betrayal - A Demon Squad Story by Tim Marquitz Page A

and Everto drooped at the end of my trembling arm. I could barely feel it in my hand.
    Valore pulled the axe free and turned to me with a grin, one so far removed from the murderous act he had just tried to commit as to make me question whether I was yet awake.
    “ Come now, did you truly think you could betray Gabriel and not believe his retribution would find you?”
    A scream erupted outside, its terror setting my pulse to pounding, followed by another, and still another. Though I didn’t recognize the voices, their sounds raw with agony and sick with betrayal, there was no longer any doubt this was just a dream. Death had come to Heaven by the cruelest of means. A cloying numbness seemed to envelop me as I stared at my would-be assassin. A prayer came to mind right after, and I swallowed it back, its taste bitter given the circumstances. There was no Lord to hear, to save His people.
    Valore advanced, his axe swaying contemptuously before him. His smile grew sharper. “Give in to the inevitable, Scarlett. You’re no better than your precious duke, just another demon pretending to be one of us . You don’t belong here. You never did.”
    His words sunk in like talons, tearing at my heart. I’d served God as loyally and faithfully as any other, and for Valore to claim otherwise was a venomous wound. I felt its blow hit home, his declaration brushing aside all my sacrifices to prove myself to the Choir. Despite all I’d done to earn the respect of my kin, here was the sad truth of it; I was still an outsider, my value tainted by the demonic blood that ran through my veins. I could feel it even now, the sear of it as it flowed through me, screaming for my acceptance.
    I glared at Valore as he hefted his axe, readying to strike me down. The grin never left his lips. He had spoken the truth. I was everything he said I was. The axe dropped.
    Everto caught the haft with the edge just inches from my skull. I met Valore’s bright eyes, the words of my cousin echoing through my mind. There are two types of people in life: enemies and those who will become enemies. It’s sometimes better just to kill them all and worry about sorting out the pieces later . Frank sometimes made a twisted sense. I knew then what needed to be done.
    Anger welled up inside me and chased away my weakness. My grip tightened upon the hilt. I stepped left and twisted my wrist to bring Everto around. As the axe finished its descent, my blade sunk into the meat of Valore’s biceps. His scream joined those that filled the air outside. His arm fell limp to his side. A quick flick of Everto severed the tendon at the elbow of Valore’s other arm. His axe slipped from his grip to clatter to the floor.
    “ For all my trials to be a part of the Choir, I’ve had to scratch and claw my way to but a meager acceptance. If my torment has done nothing else, it has forced me to become the best I can be. And though the cursed blood of devils taints my lineage, it was you who stood above my bed with intent to slaughter me in my sleep. Tell me now, Valore, who is the true demon here?”
    He opened his mouth to answer, but there were no words of his I wished to hear. I thrust Everto into his throat, the tip piercing through his flesh and sinking into the marbled wall behind him with a grating screech. He twitched and grasped at the blade, blood gushing between his fingers. With wide eyes, he starred at me, his smile gone from his lips at last.
    Though Valore had meant to kill me, I could find no satisfaction in his suffering. I twisted my sword and freed it from his neck, letting him slide to the floor. His life spilled from his wounds, puddling about him as he breathed his last. I slipped my blade between his ribs and stopped his heart. It was all the mercy I could bring myself to offer. Though I knew He would not hear, I sent thanks to the Father that Valore’s soul would find sanctuary under Metatron’s care, and I would not be forced to consume his essence. I