Asmodues trailed Ruth's gray eyes up at Matt. The sound of a heel hitting the wooden floor got Matt stepping back. Asmodues brought down the sword and Matt blocked its sharpness with his gun.
He received a strong kick to the chest and went flying into the wall behind him. The impact was just as bad as it was when Asmodues kicked him through the late Muriel's body.
Strong he was. Demonically strong and vicious.
It didn't matter whose body he possessed. His strength of a hundred men was still undisputed. Matt's tight chest and blood pouring out his mouth was evident of it. He got up to a sitting position and weakly leaned against the wall. Coughing, wheezing for air, he set his blurry gaze on his attacker.
Asmodues charged screaming at Matt and forced the sword forward. Matt closed his eyes and heard the sharp sound of metal on metal. He opened his eyes to Adrianna pinning her katana against Asmodues.
Asmodues’ parted his lips in surprise but when he gazed into the stone-cold eyes bravely staring into his own, he grinned. "You have the delicious look of revenge."
Asmodues pressed his sword hard against Adrianna's, pushing her feet back. Adrianna returned the force with gritted teeth. It was a lock so lethal that death was looming. Adrianna grinned back at Asmodues. She had been waiting for this moment and now it was time.
"Maybe that's because you took someone away from me." she replied coyly.
"Your eyes, they are so hypnotizing. Never have I seen a look with so much hate." Asmodues pushed back and Adrianna bent her knees.
Unable to bear the pressure anymore, Adrianna swung back and Asmodues skidded backwards. She ran at him, and they were soon plunged into a fierce sword fight. Adrianna was on the offense whereas Asmodues laughed uncontrollably on the defense.
In a flash, he got hold of Adrianna's neck and slammed her to the ground. Adrianna lashed her sword at him and Asmodues ducked away with only a cut on the neck.
Matt scowled at the blood trickling to Ruth's chest. "Adrianna, be careful!"
"I'm afraid I won't be able to do that, Matt. I came here with only one goal and that is to avenge Paulo and Diego." Adrianna bluntly refused. "It's unfortunate that he has chosen to possess Ruth but I must do what needs to be done."
"You can't be serious!" Matt got up and coughed into his hand.
"I'm sorry, Matt."
Adrianna charged again and the two slashed at each other—kicking and punching whenever the opportunity provided itself. Asmodues stopped Adrianna from hurting him with ease to Matt's relief. Adrianna on the other hand sustained injuries on her back and thigh but that didn't stop her. She lashed out at Asmodues like a maniac.
Asmodues ducked and Adrianna missed a swing. It was a fatal mistake that saw her body getting sliced into half from the waist. The two halves fell to the floor and Alejandro shouted in anguish at the blood gashing out. Asmodues licked what got on his face and whipped his sword clean. The once white wedding dress was now sprinkled in red—a remarkable piece of art it was.
"Adrianna!" Alejandro exclaimed angrily. He jumped into the open and pointed his gun at Asmodues.
Matt ignored his pain and shouted at Alejandro who completely ignored his protests. He fired his gun but met the shock of his life when Asmodues burst into a shadowy figure. Alejandro frantically looked around with his gun flashing everywhere. The laughter that followed accelerated the adrenaline of everyone.
"Shoot them all, but leave my rival alive." Asmodues’ voice echoed.
The cultic men rained down their bullets in obedience. Alejandro received one to the leg, and fell down in pain. He felt someone pull his shirt, and he pointed his gun up to Stephanie's face.
Luckily for them, the dark dominating the room made it difficult for the shooters to pinpoint their exact location. Stephanie took care to avoid the parts bathed by the lime white moonlight.
Matt stood low and wondered if at all both Alejandro and Stephanie were dead. He backed away and felt something sharp prick his back. Matt's sweat turned cold, and he raised his hands up in surrender.
A violent force threw him up and into the ceiling. Matt rolled to the side groaning. He realized that he was in the middle of a hallway but unlike downstairs, it was perfectly lit by lamps.
He got up only to gasp at the smoke getting in through the hole his crash created. Asmodues materialized into Ruth and roared furiously at Matt. He threw the sword up to the ceiling and it stuck like a pin.
Asmodues kicked the heels off Ruth's feet and punched the palm of his hand. He ran at Matt and threw a punch that sent him stumbling down. Asmodues brought forward his knee but Matt caught it and pushed him away.
"I see, even in the face of death, you would rather not hurt your precious Ruth." Asmodues mocked.
"It is something you will never understand." Matt scowled at him with his fight stance in place.
Asmodues charged at him and threw punches and kicks that Matt blocked well due to his martial arts experience. The whole time, he took care not to hit back in fear of hurting Ruth. Unfortunately for him, his tight chest made it difficult to keep fending off Asmodues. He was soon sent crashing onto a wall.
"Oh I understand the primitive feelings you humans have for each other. Love with you humans is the most selfish thing. You only love for your own personal benefit be it to get something in return or to ease your guilty conscience. There is no such a thing as selflessness with you."
"You act like you know us." Matt coughed as he returned to his feet.
Asmodues punched his head against the wall, "I understand you better than you understand yourselves." Asmodues hatefully stared down at Matt. "Tell me, human, are you stopping yourself from hitting back because of your so-called love for Ruth or is it because she is with child?"
"What?" Matt dropped his jaw astonished. "What did you say?"
"Oh yes, you heard me. Not with your child though." Asmodues cracked up laughing.
Matt stared at him wide-eyed. Even though he was in Ruth's body, he laughed the same way she naturally would have. Her dimple out, mouth hidden behind her cute fingers and eyes closed. If it wasn't for the deep and raspy laugh, Matt wouldn't have been reminded that it wasn't Ruth but the demon hell-bent on ruining their peace.
"You raped her." Matt got up annoyed to which Asmodues shot a brow up amused.
"What are you going to do about it?!" Asmodues lunged at Matt and punched him.
Matt stood his ground and like before, he avoided more blows. They came to a staircase and Matt ducked a punch. Asmodues went for him again but Matt stepped to the side. He was soon filled with regret when he saw Asmodues fall. Without thinking, Matt grabbed hold of his hand in order to save Ruth from falling down the stairs.
He started to rethink his actions when Asmodues grinned darkly at him. Matt couldn't believe it when Ruth's warm hand turned into air in a split second. The shadow pushed Matt ahead, and he hit his head on a step. The ordeal was far from over when he smashed his shoulder on another step, bruised his rib on the next and slammed his head onto the floor.
Time froze for Matt.
Was it real?
"Don't leave me, Matt. I'm afraid I will never see you again if you do." Ruth’s plea replayed in Matt’s head.
Was it over? Just when he thought that they were close to going back to the way things were, his word was fading to the black. Matt blacked in and out of consciousness at the sight of Ruth going down the stairs. He saw the glimmering sword in her hand. Asmodues stood above Matt raised the sword high up. With both his hands on the handle, he aimed it Matt.
"Any last words?" Asmodues asked Matt.
Matt let his heavy body just stay still. With his arms spread apart and his spinning head down, he stared up at the ceiling. He saw nothing but darkness but his entire life flashed before his eyes in form of a bright light.
He remembered slamming the door in his mother's face in anger. Matt thought of the nights his family spent laughing at the dinner table. His father cheerfully expressed his love and adoration for him and Mark.
That love put Matt in denial when he clearly saw his parent's marriage crumbling. He refused to believe the same man who kissed his mother in his presence was the same one who hit her in the cold night. It was unbelievable to him that the man who stood at the pulpit to preach the word of God would desert his family for a white mistress.
He preached love for family so how could he just up and leave? No goodbye. Nothing. Matt wondered how his life would have been if his father hadn't left. Would he have blamed God for everything?
As the painful memories poured in, Matt thought about the things he should have been grateful for. His mother raised him and Mark alone. It was through her love that Matt learned how to love again. His new love came in the form of the sweetest woman he knew. The woman he risked everything for.
Matt thought back to his visit with the psychic that ultimately led to that very moment. He vividly remembered every obstacle they met along the way and how he survived each one. A smile lingered its way to Asmodues surprise.
"God, it is by your mercy that I made it this far. I am not worthy of all the mercy you have shown me because I forsook you a long time ago."
"What are you doing?!" Asmodues roared.
"Despite everything, you delivered me from evil." Matt continued.
"Shut up!"
"Your will is by far the greatest I have ever seen. Even as I lay here waiting for my death, I am blessed to having tasted your mercy."
"Urgh!" Asmodues lowered the sword.
"You are the greatest, all powerful... "
"Enough!!!" Asmodues shouted in fury.
The explosive sound of a roaring lion silenced Asmodues. He dropped his sword and backed away afraid. The roar let it rip again and everyone including Alejandro and Stephanie cowered in fear.
"What the hell was that?" Asmodues’ whispers met the air.
"Don't you know that praise unleashes the Lion of Judah?!" a sudden yell echoed.
All heads turned to Fernanda. She stood tough and bold in the dining hall doorway. Stephanie relaxed her shoulders in relief. The cultic men stared at each other tensed. Asmodues scowled furiously at her and jumped over Matt with a tight grip of his sword.
"How are you still alive?!" he thundered.
"How dare you raise your voice at me?!" Fernanda thundered back and raised her finger at Asmodues. "Your reign of terror has come to an end."
Asmodues shouted in fury and charged at Fernanda, "I am going to kill you!"
"I am not afraid of you! You can only kill a physical body but can't do anything to the spirit! He who can kill the spirit has proclaimed judgement upon you today!"
Asmodues suddenly threw his sword at Fernanda but missed, "No, I will not go down like this! I am Asmodues, prince of over a thousand legions!" he exclaimed in hot fury.
"You are nothing but a speck of dust when compared to the creator of everything! God took down the dragon with ease, who do you think you are?!"
"And who are you to dare to stop me?!"
"I am a child of God! As His child, I have the authority to banish you! Asmodues, I condemn you to hell! Never shall you ever return to torment Ruth again. Depart from Ruth in the mighty name of Jesus!"
Asmodues dropped to his knees. With his back thrown backwards, he let out the loudest of screams. He shot out of Ruth in form of a shadow and it spread out into a violent explosion.
The explosive waves took down the mansion. Chunks of wood and plaster crumbled down. Stephanie and Alejandro took cover whereas the other men ran away shouting in terror.
Ruth raised her pounding head and caught Matt looking right at her. She weakly crawled to him on her belly whilst everything fell down to the ground in a mess. Fernanda had her bold back turned to them as parts of the ceiling fell around her in a dusty pile. Ruth neared Matt with a hopeful heart. She cried at his blood but was relieved that his eyes showed life in them.
Her fingers finally tapped on Matt's and crawled their way to a firm hold. Matt looked over her, and gasped at the five tall beings with wings standing around them. Two shielded him and Ruth with their wings whereas the other three stood around Fernanda. Matt turned his head to one more across the room with Alejandro and Stephanie.
Matt faced back up and closed his eyes.