The South Block was a place of loud music and bright lights but tonight it was filled with the sound of screaming. The sky had been ripped open. A jagged hole of white light was pouring out a cold energy that felt like ice. Six Exorcists had descended. They were tall and thin with white armor and digital masks that showed glowing red eyes. They carried spears of holy light that could kill a demon forever.
Vane and Carmilla landed at the end of the street. The scene was terrible. An old demon who ran a bookshop was lying in the gutter and an Exorcist was standing over him with a raised spear. The angel was laughing a sound that was far too pretty for a place like this.
Vane didn't say a word. He simply raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
A bolt of violet energy shot across the street. It did not hit the Exorcist. It hit the spear. The holy metal turned into a cloud of purple butterflies that fluttered away and vanished. The Exorcist froze in confusion. She turned to see Vane walking toward her. Every step he took caused the ground to crack and glow.
You have made a very big mistake Vane said. His voice was a low growl that made the walls of the buildings shake. You are in my house now.
The lead Exorcist stepped forward. She was taller than the others and her wings were tipped with gold. This is a den of filth sinner she shouted. We are doing the work of the light. You should be thanking us for cleaning up your trash.
Trash Vane repeated. He felt a surge of cold rage. He thought of all the demons in this block who worked hard and followed his rules. He thought of Charlie and how much she loved these people. He didn't care about the light. He cared about his own.
He surged forward. He was so fast that the angels couldn't even see him move. He slammed his fist into the lead Exorcist's chest. He didn't just hit her. He used his magic to cause an explosion of entropy inside her armor. The white metal shattered like glass and the angel was thrown back through a brick wall.
Carmilla was right behind him. She moved like a shadow in the night. Her fans were open and they spun like saws. She dived into the group of five remaining angels. She danced between their spears and her blades cut through their wings and their necks. Golden blood began to rain down on the gray pavement. It was thick and glowing and it smelled like ozone.
One Exorcist managed to fly upward and aimed her spear at Carmilla's back. Vane saw it. He didn't have time to run. He reached out with his mind and grabbed the "noise" of the streetlights. He ripped the electricity out of the wires and shaped it into a jagged spear of his own. He threw it. The bolt of chaos energy hit the angel mid air and she exploded into a cloud of golden feathers.
Vane stood in the middle of the street and watched as the last two Exorcists tried to run back toward the hole in the sky. He wasn't going to let them leave. He jumped onto the side of a building and ran up the wall like it was flat ground. He leaped into the air and grabbed the trailing leg of an angel.
He pulled her down to the street with the strength of a giant. He landed on top of her and pinned her to the ground. He looked into her digital mask and saw the fear in her eyes.
Tell your masters that the King of Chaos is watching Vane hissed. Tell them that if they come back I will tear Heaven down and use the stones to pave my streets.
He didn't kill her. He threw her toward the white hole in the sky just as it began to close. The rip vanished and the cold light faded away.
The street was silent except for the crackle of broken power lines. Carmilla walked over to him and wiped a splash of golden blood from her cheek. She looked at the destruction and then at him.
They will not forget this Vane she said.
I hope not Vane replied. He looked at his hand which was burned from the holy light. He felt the pain but he welcomed it. It was a reminder that he was alive and that he had a kingdom to protect.
Razor appeared from the shadows with a group of soldiers. Clean this up Vane ordered. And make sure the survivors are taken to the hospital. Tell them the King is paying for the bill.
Vane turned and looked toward the horizon. He could see the lights of the hotel in the distance. He had saved his people but he knew this was just the beginning. The war with Heaven was coming and he would have to decide which side of the wall he was going to stand on.