Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos
376. Ansel - Asa IV

Asa and I start to circle each other, our swords held high. "The time to finish what we started finally came," Asa says.

Nothing will convince Asa that Ophyr wasn't right about God's creation. While I only lived on Earth, I experienced so many feelings. Nephilims are stripped of any feelings, their only purpose is to obey Ophyr and to destroy everything. "Ophyer lied to us," I waste my breath on Asa. The office is not spacious for the battle that is about to start. My only hope is that Jon got any important papers out of here because the entire house will be left in shambles by the time I'm done with Asa.

A stupid grin appears on Asa's face. "Ophyr is the only one who said the truth. Me, you, and the rest of us have been warned about how evil God's entire creation is. Ophyr and half of our brothers and sisters have been locked in a box forged in the deepest pit of Hell. When they were finally freed, Ophyr was not the same. The power, splendor, and grace they once had were robbed from them. Ophyr barely remembers our mission. And you," he sneers, "you betrayed all of us." I see an opening and strike first. There's no need to prolong the inevitable. Our swords clash and I glare into Asa's eyes. "I might not be Samael anymore, but I still remember you attacking me from behind like a coward." "Because you hesitated to kill her!" Asa never knew Olivia's original name. She only said it to me. My army and I knew her as the Supreme Archangel. In her world, her word was law. "In all the time I knew you, your loyalty was what made all of us keep fighting even when it was clear that we lost. You destroyed everything in your path until her. I should have killed you back then."

I push Asa away from me. "You should have."

Asa bares his teeth. "You haven't asked me how it is that I'm still a Nephilim when you are human." Like I care. On second thought, maybe I should find out. "I was wondering the same myself," I lie.

Our swords meet again.

"After our brothers and sisters were freed from the box, they started looking for a way to destroy the barrier erected by Pandora around this world. They made a hole that allowed me to enter. It won't be long until the entire barrier falls, and those waiting on the other side will destroy this world." Fuck! I need to find a way to prevent the barrier from being destroyed. Our swords cross. "Did I ever tell you that I killed Pandora? Next will be that female who made you forget about our cause."

I push Asa away from me. When did he find Pandora? "You'll never touch Olivia!" I snarl in anger.

Asa chuckles. "Look at you, getting all worked up because of a female. This is why being a Nephilim is the only way. We don't feel a thing. We don't go tired, hungry, or thirsty. Not even carnal urges bother us."

"Being with a woman, inside her soft, warm body, is like being in Paradise." I don't know why I'm saying this to Asa because he will never understand, but maybe if he knows he has options, he will stop worshipping Ophyr. Stop being... brainless.

"Can I tell you a secret?" I narrow my eyes. My reaction amuses Asa. "Since I got to Earth, the Bringers of Doom have been catering to all my needs. Especially the women. Being with them, it's nothing special. Just a way to control them." Maybe I sub-estimated Asa and his determination.

"The Bringers of Doom is made of people obsessed with Armageddon and the end of the world."

Asa laughs. He has yet to unleash all his power on me. Why is he holding back? "It won't be long now." His attack becomes more direct. I block most of them but he still cuts my upper arm. My hope of defeating him vanishes, but at least I will give the others time to escape. If only I have Olivia's daggers.

My knees bend under the force of his attack. I don't remember him being so strong. Or maybe it is me who is weak. Between the two of us, I have always been the best fighter. I might know a trick or two.

"I won't let you destroy this world, Asa."

Asa goes for my legs and I stop his sword before it cuts me. "Like I need your permission."

Suddenly, he moves fast, and punches me directly in the nose, breaking it. Blood runs down my chin. I forgot how fast Nephilims move. The punch leaves me stunned for a moment and Asa punches me again, this time in the neck. He strikes me so hard that I fall to the floor. By pure luck, he didn't kill me. But my body feels heavy. I can't move my arms. What the fuck is happening?

Asa looms over me. "I didn't come here to kill you. Not tonight, at least. I only wanted to let you know that Ophyr knows of your betrayal." There's a hesitation in Asa.

I remember the video of the night Camila died. Ophyr coming out of the Dybbuk Box.

Something clicks in my brain. "Ophyr is not all-powerful anymore."

Asa nods. "I'll let you live if you help me retrieve something from Azael."

"I'll never help you destroy this world, Asa."

"I tried to give you one chance, Samael," Asa says before plunging his sword into my stomach.

Pain explodes all over my body.

Then.

Silence.

**Hi all! This book is still a wild ride until the very end :) anyway, I am thinking about the novella for Bought and I have an idea about what I want to write about but I want to ask - do you prefer something about Olivia's former life or life after Bought. Or maybe both? Let me know so I can start plotting things**

Next update - Sunday

Also, for those who are in the FB group - don't forget about this month's giveaway!