Gods & Monsters, #1
The Book of Azrael
by Amber V. Nicole
Contents
Chapter 7 – Dianna
Overview
Kaden identifies the captured celestial as Zekiel, one of Samkiel’s Hand, and tries to force him to reveal the location of the Book of Azrael. Zekiel resists torture, traps Kaden’s group, and escapes, forcing Dianna to reveal an unusual strength by breaking free in beast form.
Before Dianna can bring Zekiel back, he kills himself to reach Asteraoth and bring Samkiel back. His recognition of Dianna’s strange power and Kaden’s visible fear mark a major shift: the search for the book has drawn the attention of forces Kaden himself may fear.
Summary
Kaden throws the wounded celestial warrior into the library chamber and angrily rebukes Dianna for entering before being told to wait. Tobias and Alistair arrive, and Kaden reveals that the warrior is Zekiel, a member of the Hand of Rashearim, Samkiel’s guard. Kaden threatens to use Alistair’s mind-ripping power to enslave Zekiel and demands to know where the Book of Azrael is.
When Zekiel refuses, Kaden cuts off Zekiel’s hand to stop Zekiel from summoning blades, then orders Alistair to invade Zekiel’s mind. Alistair discovers a strong mental barrier and says he needs more time. Zekiel seizes the moment, speaks in the ancient language, and creates silver circles around Dianna, Kaden, Tobias, and Alistair, trapping them in agonizing magical prisons.
Zekiel escapes while the others are immobilized. Dianna, desperate not to lose their best lead to the book, forces herself through the pain, transforms into her beast form, and breaks out through the cavern ceiling. Dianna intercepts Zekiel near the ruined city entrance and shifts back to mortal form.
Zekiel is shocked that Dianna escaped the trap and says she should not have been able to unless she is one of something he does not finish naming. He tells Dianna she does not understand her own powers. Dianna tries to prevent Zekiel from dying because Alistair still needs information, but Zekiel turns an earring into a knife and attempts to kill himself.
Dianna stops the first attempt, and Zekiel warns that Kaden must not get the Book of Azrael because anything Azrael hid was not meant for Dianna’s kind. Zekiel says his death will have a purpose: it will bring Samkiel back. After Dianna realizes Zekiel means the Samkiel known as the World Ender, Zekiel breaks free, invokes the gods, asks passage to Asteraoth, and plunges the blade into his chest.
Zekiel vanishes in a blinding blue beam, leaving Dianna holding the bloody silver blade. Kaden emerges from the ruins and asks what Dianna has done. Dianna sees fear in Kaden’s eyes for the first time in centuries, revealing that Zekiel’s death and possible call to Samkiel have changed the stakes dramatically.
Who Appears
- DiannaIg’Morruthen narrator; breaks Zekiel’s trap, confronts him, and witnesses his sacrifice.
- KadenDianna’s master; tortures Zekiel for answers and shows rare fear after Zekiel’s death.
- ZekielHand of Rashearim warrior; resists interrogation, traps the group, and sacrifices himself to summon Samkiel.
- AlistairKaden’s mind-invader; fails to break through Zekiel’s mental barrier before being trapped.
- TobiasKaden’s ally; helps restrain Zekiel and suffers inside Zekiel’s silver magical prison.