Daystar by Darcy Town Read Free Book Online Page A

shot up through the atmosphere; he flew past Paimon into deep space.   Paimon watched his brother go by, the Archangel on fire and screaming gibberish.   Furcas’ weapons hung around his neck like an obscene piece of jewelry.  
    Paimon shrugged and threw another bomb at the machine.   He flew backwards and gauged his progress.   What had once been beautiful and well crafted was now mangled and losing altitude.   Right on target in his opinion.
    Paimon looked towards Earth, wondering what took Furcas so long to come back.   Flashes of gold and white caught his eye.   A maelstrom of power brewed in the clouds below.   Paimon flew closer to look; an Archangel flew out of the mess straight towards him.   Paimon backpedaled.
    Barachiel stormed into space.   He saw Paimon and smiled.
    Paimon frowned.   “What the fuck do you—”
    Barachiel threw something at him.   Paimon caught it on reflex.   It was sticky, bloody, and metal.   He choked back vomit at the sight of Furcas’ arm.  
    Paimon forced his gaze to Barachiel’s body.   Blood coated the smiling Archangel in a red, clotting sheen.   Paimon locked his limbs to keep from shaking.   “What have you done?”
    Barachiel laughed.   “I thought you might like something to remember him by.   I know I do.”
    The blood drained out of Paimon’s face.   “ What have you done! ”
    Barachiel flipped something back and forth in his hands, brought it to his nose, and inhaled.  
    Paimon’s breath caught in his throat.   He shot over in a burst of speed.   He snatched the braid from Barachiel.   He lifted the hair up to his face; it was soaked in blood.   He knew it was Furcas’ he had no doubt.   He wailed through clenched teeth.
    Barachiel laughed at Paimon’s reaction.   “No witty retort?   No boasting?   Paimon, what has happened—”
    Paimon slammed into Barachiel and wrapped his hands around his neck.   “What.   Did. You.   Do?”   He used the last of his fuel to cross the shield.   He sent them in a steep dive towards the planet.   “What did you do to him?   If you hurt him badly I swear to—”
    “ Hurt him?   Paimon, I killed him.”
    Through the skin-to-skin contact, Paimon could sense the truth of Barachiel’s words, but he couldn’t accept it.   He shook his head.   “No.   He’s been hurt badly before, he’ll survive it.   He’ll survive!”
    Barachiel smiled, not even attempting to fight back.   “I checked, after I cut out his heart and tore through his throat.   He did not complain as much as I thought he would when I sliced apart his face.   He was more of a stoic than I had imagined a boy could be.”
    Paimon slammed his fist into Barachiel’s face.   “ Fucker! ”
    Barachiel grabbed Paimon’s hands.   “He called for you and screamed your name in vain, Paimon.   You were not there for him when he needed you, just like I said.   He died alone .”
    “Shut up!”   Wind whipped around them as they fell.   “You’re a lying piece of shit!   You could never have defeated him, never!   He is stronger than you are!   Smarter than you!   He is better than you are!   He is everything you aren’t!”   Paimon blinked back tears.   “Furcas is clever, he tricked you!   He fooled you!”
    “No, he did not, Paimon.   His corpse is to the ground by now.”   Barachiel met his gaze.   “Do you want to know what he cried about while I cut him?”
    “Shut up!   You are a liar!”
    Barachiel whispered, “He cried for Bean.”
    “Bean?”
    “Your daughter, is that not sweet?”   Barachiel smiled.   “She would have been something special.”
    “ Would have?! ”   Paimon roared.
    ***
    Uriel shook off Jegudiel.   He threw the sickened, delirious Archangel towards Selaphiel.   He pointed his blade at the brothers.   “Your brother touches me again and I will kill him, maddened or not.”   Uriel looked back towards the ground, but Belial had knotted close into the crater