Chapter 25: Be ready

"Lead the way," was the order he gave knowing that if she wanted them dead, they would have already been turned into corpses. They were easily outnumbered four to one and there was no point on making this any more difficult than it already was.

"My pleasure," the woman in red replied licking her lips with anticipation as if she had not realized that he, Ezequiel, was not at all interested in what she was offering.

And just like that she turned around and entered the dark path that she had emerged from mere minutes ago. Ezequiel and the rest followed her only to be tailed by the group of fallen angels and demons who were part of the woman's entourage.

As they made their way thru the darkness Charles could not help but warn his comrades "Let us not forget that these angels and demons are no longer like us. They are what we call the fallen and as such keep a sharp eye and expect anything, and everything from them as they have no true alliance. They are truly the worse of the worse." His warning was loud and clear, not at all caring that everyone including those who had presented themselves as their enemies could hear him.

As they made their way thru the forest the cold air of the dark night evolved the group in an icy hug. Their destination unknown, but as the minutes ticked by, they could clearly deduce that they were heading towards the fire that they had seen when they entered this dark place.

The longer they walked the closer they were to the fiery orange fire that was now mere meters away.

The giant trees of the forest served as a blanket shielding them from the outside world, but even with this blanket-of-sorts covering them, there were moments when Ezequiel could still glance up and see the twinkling stars that served as a reminder of the promise that he made to his mother. He had to make it back home, safe and in one piece. Looking around at his comrades, he could easily tell that Charles along with everyone else were nervous. Not nervous of death. Their mind was already prepared for such event, but they were nervous of failing and having this small mission be the beginning of the end.

Ezequiel's mind kept working at a hundred thoughts per minute. Looking and coming up with the best plan of attack to ensure their escape and survival. Minutes had passes by when his concentration was interrupted by the sweet voice that belonged to the fatal beauty leading the group.

"We are here," She let them know just as she halted her steps, turning around to give them, especially Ezequiel an enticing smile.

"We are where?" Charles was at a lost. There was nothing but darkness surrounding them. The branches that they had pushed open to create a path had not gone to their original place closing all exits. Even the fire that they were sure they were following as a guide was gone.

Looking up at the sky, Ezequiel was met with a dark shield like patter that the tall trees had created managing to cover up the night sky that up to this point had served as his reminder of home.

Without a single word or hesitation that would give away what he was thinking or feeling, Ezequiel turned his focus to the front, pass the woman in red and continued his steps.

"Let's go." Was the order that was clearly meant for his comrades.

With the swing of his sword, he was quick to cut down the branches that were covering their way to reveal a breathtaking natural open space. It was as if he had stepped into another forest, completely different from the one they had been walking thru for the past hour or so.

As he glanced around, he could see that in this area of the forest the trees no longer covered the night sky. This would be an area that would be perfect for a romantic getaway. His impatient heart could not fight the urge to think of Emilia and her fair skin. The things he would do to her if they were to ever find themselves in a place like this. His thoughts kept traveling to the one person who could easily make him loose control, when a sound akin to running water entered his ear. Looking up he could see up ahead a beautiful, crystalline stream. Its water tempting everyone to jump in and forget about all the problems. Across from the stream, on a small hill there they saw the fire that they knew was the one they had been following. It was burning up high as if it was a welcoming sign.

As Ezequiel turned around, he noticed that the woman in red and the fallen who were with her were gone. Thy were no longer following and they were in fact nowhere to be seen.

"Be ready for anything," Ezequiel ordered knowing that this was just the biggening to whatever it was that they had walked into.

As he kept walking forward, the enchanting water as his destination, he started noticing movement coming from the other side of the stream. The rustling of the tree becoming louder and louder when suddenly Ezequiel noticed what seem like figures emerging from the opposite side of the forest. As these figures kept on nearing the edge of the river, they became illuminated by the burning fire that was on their side. Figure after figure emerged until it seemed as if there would be no end to their growing number.

"This cannot be!" Pure shock was evident in Charles's voice as it dawned on him that they had underestimated the enemy. Their number was beyond what they had estimated, and this was the realization that now welcomes the group as more and more fallen kept showing up.

It was now a reality that war was sure to happen. It was no longer a question of "if" but a question of "when?"

The many figures that emerged from all around filled up the visible space across the river.