Book One : The Prophecy : XII : Prince of Darkness

XII

Prince of Darkness

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…

1 Peter 5:8

Bathwick cemetery lay between Widcombe Hill and Bathwick Hill now quiet and covered in snow. The Smallcombe Anglican mortuary chapel lay close to the corner of Bathwick Street and Henrietta Road, surrounded by discarded and derelict graves, bent and broken. The gas lamp gave light to the black car which stopped before the gates of the cemetery. The snow had stopped falling as Nathaniel and his fellow shadows got out of the car, met by another two shadows who stood at either side of the gates.

“Is the master present?” Nathaniel asked aloud as he watched Eveline’s lifeless body being pulled from the back of the car.

“He awaits you in the mortuary my lord,” the young shadow on the left replied firmly.

“Good,” Nathaniel said. A shadow known as Abilech carried Eveline in his arms, coming to stand before his master. Nathaniel looked down into her pale face and smiled. “Our master awaits.” Turning he led the procession of shadows under the gateway and into the cemetery, the narrow path lined by shadows, all cloaked, their faces hidden beneath their heavy hoods as they held beacons of light high up into the midnight air. A quiet groan erupted from Eveline’s lips as she made her way down the narrow path, towards the Anglican mortuary, filled with a sickly light. Nathaniel held a hand up, stopping the procession. Swiftly he turned to Abilech and studied Eveline, who was now beginning to arouse from her unconscious state. “We must be quick,” he said, turning and picking up his pace until eventually he found himself before the chapel, the large oak doors wide open. Inside the seventeenth century mortuary was a small congregation of shadows, all of whom were encircled around three stone tables. As he entered the chapel fell silent, the group of shadows breaking apart as he and the rest of the procession moved to the centre of the small chapel, its wall and ceilings covered in mosaics and religious art. Nathaniel came to stop before the three stones tables, two already occupied with the bodies of Cael and Belle, both of them unconscious, yet to be awoken. On the ground Nagtium slithered around the tables and hissed when Abilech came to lay the awakening Eveline upon the middle slab of stone. Nathaniel stood back whilst his followers moulded themselves into the crowd of hissing shadows.

“Fili, non potes sustinere vim seminis Heidens (My child, not even you can stand against the might of Heiden’s offspring),” Lagar hissed as he walked around the outer core of the congregation, his physical presence hidden behind the bodies of his shadows.

“Fuerit infusum antivenin, dominium (She has been injected with antivenin, master),” Nathaniel answered, keeping his eyes upon the ever awakening Eveline, whose golden eyes had now begun to open.

“Materia, solicitus erit sibi Nagtium (No matter, Nagtium will take care of her),” Lagar hissed, stopping in his tracks and turning, the shadows before him parting ways and Nagtium turned his red eyes to his master and hissed aloud, his body shaking with excitement. “Mordetis! (Bite!)” Nagtium nodded and turned, slithering his way up the stone table. Nathaniel looked on as the snake made its way up Eveline’s wreathing body. With a hiss he bite down into her neck, pouring his venom into her jugular vein. Lagar walked towards the centre slowly, smiling as Eveline cried out in pain, the venom overriding the antivenin and causing her body to burn as though consumed by a thousand suns. Her body began to shake violently, as white foam poured from her mouth. The poisonous process went on for several more minutes before her body stilled. Lagar came to her and leaned over, bending his lips down to her ear and whispered. “Awaken.”

*

“There not here,” Jophiel said, bent over with her hands upon her knees, her chest pounding and her breathing harsh.

“I would have thought out of all the cemeteries, they would have congregated here,” Galean sighed, frustration beginning to unravel within. They were losing time and with every minute that went by, Eveline, Theodore and Belle drew closer to death. They had searched four main cemeteries in the centre of Bath including St James Cemetery where they were currently.

“Where else could they be?” Jophiel breathed, standing up straight and fixing her hair.

“Locksbrook cemetery and Bath Abbey cemetery are the only two left to search,” Galean said as brought the collar of his coat up about angular face.

“Bath Abbey Cemetery is to the south and Locksbrook cemetery is to the north according to this map,” Jophiel said as she unravelled the old map that she had found in Mary’s library. Galean looked down at the map for a brief moment. He knew they could not afford to visit both.

“We need to choose one fast,” he said darkly. “There isn’t much time left, we have spent nearly an hour searching.”

“My head is telling me that we should head to Locksbrook, but…,” Jophiels eyes lifted to meet his own gaze. “Something else is telling me that it’s too obvious, that if Lagmar intends on killing Eveline he would not do so in such an obvious place.”

“I think you may be right,” Galean mused thoughtfully. “The more I think about it the more I agree with you,” Galean said with a slight smile as Jophiel shuffed the map into her pocket.

“It will take us at least thirty minutes to walk there, twenty five if we run.”

“Jophiel you remember how to pick a lock don’t you?” Galean quizzed, his gaze settled upon a black car that lay quietly across the street. Jophiel followed her friends gaze and shrugged.

“I suppose I do, yes. Why?”

“I don’t think we can spare twenty to thirty minutes, I do think however that we must borrow that car,” Galean pointed to the car and turned his eyes to Jophiel, a light misting of mischief within them. “What do you think?”

“That would be stealing,” Jophiel said with knowing eyes and a stern look, her hands laden upon her hips for added affect.

“You know I wouldn’t ask it of you if it was not for good reason,” Galean replied with a desperate plea.

“I know,” Jophiel rolled her eyes and crossed the street, closely followed by Galean. Quickly she scanned the area to make sure they were quiet alone. When feeling they were safe she took out one of her hair pins and begin to pick away at the lock, whilst Galean leaned his body against the frame of the car, looking up into the star filled sky. He was in quite a conundrum; if he had not been exiled, how easy it would have been to herald aid. But he had indeed been exiled and at times like these it left him vulnerable and at a great disadvantage. So many trains of thought filled his mind, what would he do when he finally came face to face with Lagmar? How could he and Jophiel aid their friends when outnumbered and outmatched? He could not deny that he had been secretly harbouring a need to one day face his nemesis and have vengeance, but in the company of his fellow shadows, Lagmar could not be touched. What disturbed Galean the most was the conflict within him. A huge part of him would gladly give up his life in order to preserve Eveline’s, but and it was a big but; Galean had a duty to his father and subjects, to protect them from the oncoming war that gave shadow to the lands of Meer. If he gave up his life for Eveline, his Kingdom and his people would be consumed by the lingering shadow of war and all that his father and his father had built, would be torn down and cast to the four winds without a second glance. And yet, without her there would be no hope of reclaiming the southern kingdoms and worse still, he would find himself immobile without her alive, even if not by his side.

“Galean?” a soft voice brought him back from his worries and doubts.

“Sorry, my mind was elsewhere,” Galean whispered.

“Yes that was obvious,” Jophiel smiled. “Come I’ve opened the car.”

“What would I be without you,” Galean said aloud as he followed her into the car and closed the door.

“I’d hate to think what would become of you without my wise head,” Jophiel said in jest as she brought the car to life. Galean placed a hand over her own and squeezed it lightly.

“I would have still been wandering about an isolated and lonely place if it had not been for your kindness and understanding.”

“Such compliments tonight,” Jophiel laughed heartily, in spite of the pain that absorbed her, the images of Mary, Estelle and her friend’s dead bodies teasing her.

“I should have told you a long time ago,” Galean said sombrely as they drove through the isolated streets of Bath.

“You have done as much if not more for me Galean,” Jophiel said seriously as she turned a corner and drove over the river.

“We will need to scan the area first, if they are indeed at St Mary’s we cannot just walk in freely,” Galean lectured as he opened his coat and took out his knifes placing them into the pockets of his coat. “There is a good chance they will be waiting for us, it may be trap in which to lure us to them.”

“Why?”

“The prophecy,” Galean said quietly. “If Lagar believes it to be true then I suspect part of his plan will be to ensure I am dead so as not to allow the prophecy to bear fruits.”

“The luring of the lamb,” Jophiel mused with furrowed brows.

“Exactly.”

“I suspect Lagmar will want to have his revenge?”

“Yes.”

“So Lagar really has put a lot of thought into tonight.”

“Yes, so it would seem.” Galean’s shoulders tensed as he looked out of the car window, seeing his reflection in the glass and sighing heavily.

“Seems like he has put all his eggs in one basket, wouldn’t you agree?”

“That or he intends on killing one bird with two stones.”

The car fell silent as they both digested their thoughts. Galean understood now the plan that had been set. He indeed was the lamb and his love for Eveline, Theodore and Belle had lured him into the lion’s den. Suddenly the car stopped and Galean fell forward, placing his hands on the dashboard.

“Jophiel!”

“Sorry it’s just,” Jophiel turned to him with terrified eyes.

“What?”

“The more I think about the prophecy the more I realise that your entering that graveyard will surely mean death and nothing else,” Jophiel whispered, her head aching with stress.

“I know,” Galean answered with sad eyes and an equally sombre tone.

“Galean, the prophecy states that man will try to part what does not belong to him.”

“That could mean a number of things Jophiel, not necessarily Cael,” Galean lectured quietly, his voice and expression betraying his inner doubts.

“Galean don’t play the fool,” Jophiel said angrily. “You have seen for yourself how Cael has abruptly altered.”

“Cael is not one of them, he loves Eveline,” Galean said loudly, running his fingers through his hair, moist with the remnants of snow.

“The one thing that sets you and Cael apart is that you know when to let go,” Jophiel said with feeling. “Cael doesn’t, he sees everything as some sort of game in which he is always the loser. His biggest problem is jealousy, we both know that.”

“Cael would never hurt Eveline, that is not who he is,” Galean said darkly, closing his eyes briefly to let the wave of nausea to pass. “As jealous and envious as he can be.”

“I don’t now Galean, I have a bad feeling about this,” Jophiel said with a disgruntled breathe. “This is me saying that the man I love is capable of doing something terrible because of his pride.”

“He is an angel Jophiel, he is on our side.”

“Even angels have their flaws.”

“I know, but we are angels that share in a common cause,” Galean said as he opened his eyes, bright and filled with anxiety. “Cael gave you up so that he could be a part of that cause Jophiel.”

“I know, I can’t explain it, I just feel it.”

Galean laid another hand on Jophiels.

“Jophiel you have had a traumatic evening and God only knows what is to come,” He lifted her chin with his other hand, his gaze infiltrating her own. “We have to stand united, we have to have faith in one another if we are going to get through it alive. Cael has his flaws that I admit, as do we all. But he loves Eveline, it is his jealousy on behalf of that love that has seen him alter in the last few weeks. We must have faith in that jealousy, that it protects our Kings granddaughter. If that means having to make sacrifices then so be it, she is our only hope do you realise that?”

“Yes,” Jophiel whispered, her lips quivering slightly.

“She is the only one who can stand against Lagar, the only one who can destroy Heidan and more importantly she is the heir to Heaven and Calnuthe, the land of her people who are bound by chains of oppression and war. Lagar wants Cael to use his anger towards me as a weapon and I should have been wise enough to realise that, instead I too being flawed as I am have been too wrapped up in myself.”

“There is a darkness that lingers within Cael, I being in love with him have been blinded to it,” Jophiel said with tear filled eyes. “However he is not like a shadow and there is still much good in him that I know and love.”

“There is a darkness within all of us Jophiel, trust in him as I do,” Galean said gently. “When cornered by temptation he has always come out stronger and defiant.”

“I hope so,” Jophiel said.

“Hope is like a seed, when planted it will grow strong under the sun’s rays.”

“Unless planted in the shade.”

“Come we haven’t got time for riddles,” Galean said letting go of her hand and chin and turning once again in his seat as Jophiel drove on. The rest of the journey went by in silence as both angels prepared themselves for the fight that awaited them. When finally they arrived, Jophiel parked the car away from the gates, guarded by two shadows, who stood tall and monstrous.

“How are we going to get in?” Jophiel asked as they looked through the car window which was beginning to mist over as a new flurry of snow began to fall.

“This is Prior road and I believe there is another entrance to the west,” Galean said as he rolled on his leather gloves. “We’ll keep the car here and walk.”

“Okay,” Jophiel said as she put on her hat and took out her own two daggers.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

*

Theodore awoke from his sedated sleep and tried to focus his gaze. He could feel the warmth of the lit beacons that lined the surrounding of the mortuary upon his skin and flinched. When he found focus he found himself staring up into a pair of red eyes.

“Where am I?” Theodore asked groggily as he tried to sit up. Instantly he turned his head and found that his hands had been bound.

“How nice of you to awaken Cael, just in time too,” Lagar smiled as he walked about the stone table, his long, pale fingers trailing along the stone.

“I don’t understand?” Theodore replied, his eyes settling upon another body. “Belle!”

“Ah yes, she is unfortunately tied up in our little episode, how very unfortunate for her,” Lagar said with unsympathetic eyes. “However it does add a little spark of entertainment to our already very entertaining night, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Who are you?” Theodore asked, his stomach turning to ice under his abductors gaze.

“I am the night. I am the opposite. I am the tongue of fire. I am the King of the underworld, the wielder of all that lingers beneath the shade of the sun,” Lagar rhymed off as though bored. “Who do you think I am servant of light?”

“Heiden has no opposite, He created the night, gave life to fire and is the eternal giver of light, serpent!” Theodore spat.

“When I was but a mere boy, your God had not yet been,” Lagar said with a hiss, turning and curling his fingers into the stone, bending his face down low. “I am in this life longer than He and will always be.”

“Life gives birth to life, just as God gives life to another, stronger and more powerful than you!” Theodore said aloud amid this sniggering of the shadows that surrounded him.

“And yet your God would see you parted from your wife, why?” Lagar smiled. “Because you are beneath Him, you are unequal to His bloodline, nothing but a grain of dust to be blown to the seven corners of the universe. How pathetic!” Lagar said with venom, his burning red eyes devouring Cael’s bright blue gaze. “How it must feel to bow before a God that turns his head from you, how it must feel to know that your wife’s heart belongs to another, another greater and more powerful than you will ever be. A prince, a King.”

“Your words have no power over me creature!” Theodore said with spite, for the words spoken had plunged into the depths of his jealous nature, his pride and all-consuming envy. Lagar turned away from Theodore and laughed aloud, prompting the rest of the shadows to laugh along with him in unison. Lagar strode away into the crowd, holding a hand high into the air causing the mortuary to fall silent. Theodore looked over at Belle, who was now awakening from her darkened sleep. A gentle cry shot out into the air as she awoke, her tiny body bound to the stone table. “Belle look at me!” Theodore cried out the child he had willingly ignored over the last two weeks, jealous of the friendship she had formed with Eveline and Galean. Belle turned her terrified eyes to Theodore and let out a cry. “It’s alright, I won’t let them harm you.”

“I won’t let them harm you,” Lagar teased aloud prompting another wave of nefarious laughter to erupt. Theodore tried to free himself of the chains that bound him to the table but cried out in defeat as he realised it was useless. They were not ordinary chains, chains of which he as an angel would have easily have broken apart. The chains used were made out of the ashes of the dead, an incredible power lay within them making them unbreakable to angels like himself, angels of a lower class.  This realisation, a realisation that Lagar himself had presented to him, drained through him, causing a flame of anger to come to life.

“She is innocent, she has no part in this!” Theodore pleaded loudly as Lagar came back into view, walking in front of a woman very similar to his wife. “Eveline?”

“Cael,” Eveline smiled, her eyes black and her face changed. Theodore furrowed his brows and felt his heart stop. She was not herself, she stood tall and magnificent instead of fragile and terrified as he would have expected her to be when faced with Lagar, Lagmar and the rest of the shadows.

“Eveline you need to help Belle!” Theodore begged as his wife came to stand before him, her head slightly tilted to the side as though observing him keenly.

“You lack Galean’s strong features you know,” she said with gentle laugh. “You lack many things in comparison to Galean, but you know that already, yes?”

“Eveline you’re not yourself,” Theodore said gently as she walked around the three stone tables, stopping for a brief second to glance down at the crying child.

“How can you tell husband?”

“Eveline, you need to help Belle, you love her,” Theodore tried to argue but was met with a hiss.

“Love, love, love,” she said darkly, her body moving in an unusual manner, very unlike her flowing self. Her voice was bereft of her usual gentle tone and replaced by an almost manly tone, dark and crisp. “Love killed my parents, love bound me to you and love…,” she came to him and hovered over him, her black eyes sparkling. “Brought me to him; my equal and my destiny… What do you have to say for love now little man?”

“Love brought us together,” Theodore whispered. “You are a product of love and through you the remnants of that love flow like a raging river so that all you touch comes to life,” Theodore said quietly, his fingers finding the linen material of her bloodied nightdress.

“Words, words, words,” Eveline laughed. “Speak the truth angel!”

“I do speak the truth Eveline!” Theodore shouted back as she pressed the tip of her index finger into the centre of his forehead, causing an agonising rush of pain to circulate about his body.

“You are no better than a jealous little man, always wanting to be better than those around him, always wanting what he wants no matter the cost, no matter the consequences,” Eveline spurted out. “While you lay with me in bed your mind thought only of your first love and how it would feel to have her body beneath your own. I’m right aren’t I?” She pressed her finger down into his forehead causing him to scream out. “Say it!”

“Yes!” Theodore cried out, a tear falling from his eye as the blinding pain made him retch.

“Such an honourable man my husband!” Eveline said aloud to the surrounding crowd. “So moody and jealous, unable to see me in the arms of another man, yet dreaming to be in the arms of another woman.”

“Eveline it isn’t like that!” Theodore whispered so quietly that she did not hear amid the hissing and laughing that filled the circular room. Belle was looking over at him with helpless eyes, confused and disoriented. Theodore smiled at her with love, anger curling within him. “What have you done to my wife?”

“Unlocked her true nature that is all,” Lagar shrugged, as Nagtium curled around his neck, hissing loudly. “With the help of my ever so faithful Nagtium.”

“Eveline listen to me, this isn’t you,” Theodore cried out, trying desperately to rid himself of the chains, trying to reach her, wherever she was within herself.

“Do you know why I married you?” Eveline whispered with menacing eyes.

“Because you loved me,” Theodore returned with defiance, his fingers holding onto the slight piece of material with hope.

“I pitied you,” Eveline said with clarity, her lips white along with the rest of her. Theodore shook his head.

“No,” he whimpered as he searched her face for any sign of his wife. “No you married me without coercion.”

“How could I break your selfish little heart, always pleading, always wanting more than it could have,” Eveline spat, her ice white lips touching his warm skin. Theodore tried to constrain himself from the pain of her words, warned himself to beware of the serpents tongue that had violated his wife’s mouth. Her veins were black along with her wide and terrifying eyes, the affect causing Theodore, an angel of Heiden to shake with terror. Lagar had exploited her power and in his turn created a monster, greater than the serpent himself.

“Eveline don’t you remember?” Theodore whispered with urgency. “Don’t you remember who you are?”

“Do you know who I am?” Eveline whispered back, her pupil’s dilating.

“You are Eveline, my best friend and wife.”

“I Am,” Eveline announced, pushing herself away from Theodore and raising her hands above her head, turning around on the spot slowly, the shadows bowing before her. “Eveline is no more.” Lagar came to her and whispered into her ear, handing her a dagger. Theodore let out a faint breath as the gentle folds of her lips curled into a smile. “Master,” she said fervently, taking the dagger into her right hand and raising it high above her, her black eyes lifting with the blade.

“Eveline you don’t answer to Lagar, you answer to no one,” Theodore proclaimed, his fingers reaching out for her pathetically.

“He is my master now,” Eveline said with an ice cool gaze. The mortuary went quiet but for the cries of Belle, which echoed within, sending a sharp pierce of pain into Theodore’s heart. Eveline brought the dagger down to her waist and began to circle about the three stones circles. “Who to choose,” she said with a steady and resolute voice, her chin high up in the air and her auburn hair falling loosely down her back. She stopped beside Belle, causing the child to muffle her cry as her once close companion, teased her with the point of the black blade. “Who means more to me…,” she laughed coldly.

“Please don’t hurt Belle,” Theodore begged, wishing for help as time now began to run out.

“Are you offering yourself to me first?” Eveline asked darkly. “How noble.” Theodore turned his gaze from Eveline and looked about the mortuary, his eyes settling upon a smug Lagmar who stood close to him with a smile so filled with hatred, it caused Theodore to feel nauseated. “It is your fault that I am…, renewed.”

“What do you mean?” Theodore replied his body becoming still as she came closer to him, dragging the tip of the blade across the stone, the noise forcing him to flinch.

“Filled with so much anger and contempt, you forgot to give me my medicine,” Eveline. “Not that I was in need of it, no. I was changing just fine. I suppose I should thank you for not injecting me with anti-venin, without it all of this wouldn’t be possible.” Theodore could find no words, his mistake so blatantly literal. “It made killing our mother so much easier wouldn’t you agree?”

“No…,” Theodore whispered with shock, shaking his head with disbelief. “No.”

“Yes,” Eveline muttered, now speaking to the shadows about her, in particular Lagar who smiled with pride. “Even in the face of death was she defiant and strong, which of course made the whole event a little bit more exciting. God the days I had to pretend to like her,” Eveline placed a hand over her stomach as thought sickened. “She actually had the gall to inject me herself.” The crowd of shadows fell into fits of laughter, Lagar taking it all in with excitement flashing in his red eye, Nagtium hissing loudly in response.

“Eveline please, no more,” Theodore begged with pleading eyes, his fingers curling into balls of grief, unable to listen to anymore.

“How she fell to her knees,” Eveline teased darkly. “She even had the good will to take the dagger from me and kill herself, leaving me free to bathe in her pathetic dying scene,” Eveline chuckled. Slowly she turned to Theodore, her face losing all traces of excitement. “Do you want to know her last words as she lay dying in a pool of her own blood, pathetic and emotional, trying to reach out to me?”

“No,” Theodore said faintly as Eveline bent herself down to his level, placing the length of the dagger across his chest.

“She said to me,” Eveline whispered slowly and maliciously. “I love you,” she began, tracing his face with an index finger. “I knew you would come back to me.”

“You can come back Eveline,” Theodore whispered, comforted by her icy touch. “You are more powerful than anyone in this room, hatred only lessens that power.”

“I am more powerful without you, without any of you..,” Eveline said with a brief flinch. “Abominable creatures of light. You serve the greatest contradiction and hypocrite the universe has ever known, for what? If He had his way, you would be killed all in the name of a prophecy.”

“No, He is not like that,” Theodore argued hotly. “He is not perfect but takes responsibility for his actions unlike those you now serve. You blame Him for all that is wrong with this world and the people within it, yet you do not blame free will, you do not lay blame at your own feet for exploiting the flaws of man, for using it to induce pain and hardship.”

“God is light, in him there is no darkness at all…,” Lagar exclaimed with a sharp intake of breathe.

“Heiden is not the God of Christianity, you know this yet you use the word of man to justify what you serve?” Theodore laughed darkly. “He is strong and powerful, He serves what is good and creates life.”

“Your God is fraud!” Lagar said loudly, pouncing forward, cupping Theodore’s head tightly with his hands, glaring down into his eyes. “Those who stand up to his forgery are exiled, that is not the act of a God who is just.”

“He rids Heaven of those who disobey the law,” Theodore retorted. “A system created by his forefathers, a system those of Heaven choose to follow. Those who wish to live elsewhere are given the free will to do so. He places no chains upon his people but acts in accordance with the law.”

“Your King wears the blood of religion upon his pristine white hands,” Lagar said darkly. “Does He stand before the great council of Heaven and adhere to the laws?”

“Man creates religion, man manipulates the image of God to suit himself,” Theodore said with defiance. “And man uses religion to justify the acts of terror and bloodshed.”

“Blood shed, how relevant,” Lagar chuckled. “Does your God know that you killed a fellow angel so that you could obtain the love of another? Does your God know that you broke your oath not to marry his offspring?” Theodore went still with silence as the words seeped into him. No, no one knew about Sethador, the gentle and kind. No knew that he had unintentionally killed the young angel by accident, yet revelled in his death as it paved the way forward towards winning the heart of Jophiel. “Thought not,” Lagar whispered. “I wonder what your God would make of you, warts and all? Would he spare you being the husband of his heir? I think not.” Theodore closed his eyes, aware of Eveline’s stare. “Your God has no power anymore and soon, very soon he will fall before his victor and beg for mercy.”

“Kings do not beg,” Theodore exclaimed, guilt covering him in shame.

“Your King will do more than beg,” Lagar said quietly. “He will scream for mercy before the end.”

“Enough!” Theodore shouted out loud causing the shadows to still.

“Nauseated by the sin that covers you? Sickened to know that I know all of your deepest and darkest secrets? Scared that your God will turn from you?” Lagar teased defiantly, tightening his grip on Theodore’s face, his jaw cracking with pain. “He is the creator of sin, the wielder of darkness…,” he bent his face down to Theodore’s and licked the angel’s lips, spitting out the taste. “He wears the cloak of injustice and inequality. Soon I will strip it from his back and place it over my own, then the universe will know what true pain and oppression is. I will destroy all that has been built, and scatter it to the winds. I will place my hand before the sun, bring forth the creatures of the earth and night and wreak havoc on all those who cry for the rays of the sun.” A loud pitched scream filled the mortuary. Lagar and Eveline turned to the child. “Silence her,” Lagar ordered Eveline. Eveline nodded silently and went to the child as Lagar turned round to Theodore once more. “Where is your God now? Will he come down from his mighty throne to save the life of one unimportant child?” Theodore felt a tear fall down his cheek. “We will see.” Lagar looked across to Eveline and nodded.

“Please Eveline,” Theodore pleaded. Eveline looked across at Theodore and raised her dagger. Belle squirmed under her and cried out.

“Evie! Evie!”

*

Galean found the hidden wrought iron gates and found it locked with a heavy chain about its iron railings.

“Here,” Jophiel handed him a hair pin and walked away, checking their surroundings for any signs of movement.

“Thanks,” Galean muttered as he unchained the lock and opened the gate. Jophiel took his hand and bade him to stop.

“Are you sure about this Galean? Maybe I should go alone.”

“No, I won’t let you walk into a lion’s den without aid,” Galean said quietly as the heavy snow swirled about them. “Although it would nice of our fellow creatures to come to our aid.”

“If Lagmar gets his hands on you Galean, you won’t come out of their alive,” Jophiel said with desperate eyes. “This you know?”

“Love makes warriors of us all Jophiel,” Galean smiled, wrapping his arms about his friend. “And love can and does work miracles.”

“Never did I think you would ever say such a thing,” Jophiel whispered into his coat.

“The winds have shifted, so have I,” Galean murmured before letting go.

“I know.”

Galean brought an index finger to his mouth and beckoned Jophiel to follow him up the steep hill towards the Anglican mortuary. Both angels took out their weapons and readied themselves as they quietly and slowly wound their way through the graveyard, coming close to the mortuary. Galean stopped Jophiel and bent down to the snow covered ground, hiding behind a large tombstone.

“There must be about twenty shadows outside awaiting our arrival,” Galean said with a frustrated sigh.

“I can hear Belle Galean, we need to get in there soon,” Jophiel stressed, turning her eyes to the opening of the mortuary, her eyelids falling down tightly with agony as the child’s cry pierced the silent sky, much to the amusement of the shadows that lingered outside.

“Can you see him?” Galean asked Jophiel.

“Lagmar?”

“Yes.”

“No, he must be inside.”

“There must be another entrance into the mortuary,” Galean mused, turning round and taking a good look at the area.

“I suppose we can try,” Jophiel shrugged helplessly.

“We will need to make our way round, keeping a significant amount of distance between ourselves and the shadows, once they get any kind of inclination that we are here, well…,” Galean looked to her with knowing eyes.

“I know.”

Galean crawled away from the tomb and began to run towards a set of tall trees, Jophiel following closely behind him. The snow acted as camouflage and when they finally made it to the trees they fell behind them and drew in a ragged breathe.

“My lungs are burning,” Jophiel whispered, her breathe causing a flurry of mist to spring about her beautifully, winding its way upward into the trees.

“So are mine,” Galean admitted. “My men would be ashamed,” he smiled, trying to lighten the mood as another piercing cry could be heard.

“You’re just out of practice tis all,” Jophiel replied, leaning her body against the tree. “Look I can see another door, can you see it?”

“Yes,” Galean answered quickly. “It’s about two hundred metres away.”

“Do you think we can make it without being seen?”

“If I had time I would crawl,” Galean teased darkly. “But seeing as though we are in need of time, I’m not entirely sure we will not go unseen. Let’s hope not.”

“That’s optimistic,”Jophiel said with one last lingering look before they left the shelter of the trees and made their way across the open terrain towards the back of the mortuary. Galean took hold of her hand and guided her through the snow covered graveyard. Quickly they came to the back of the chapel and moulded their backs to the wall. Jophiel smiled to Galean as they made their way towards the door. Galean motioned for her to stay still whist he entered. Gently he unlatched the door and looked in. A darkened room separated him from the mortuary, giving himself the space needed to prepare and plan. Quickly he darted out from the door and bid Jophiel to enter before shutting the door gently again and taking her hand. With a wave he lit a candle that stood upon a small table near to the door. He motioned for Jophiel to be quiet as he took off his hat and coat, taking out both of his knifes. Jophiel followed suite and when both were ready they made for the door.

“On the count of three,” Galean whispered to a clearly nervous Jophiel. “Get Eveline and Belle out, I’ll see to the rest.” Jophiel nodded diligently before Galean opened the door. Shadows turned from the centre of the room and began to shuffle in response to Galean and Jophiel as they stormed into the mortuary, wielding their weapons and slicing down those who stood in their way. Galean did not stop to think as he swerved his knives about and edged his way deeper into the mortuary, closing the distance between himself and Eveline. The room filled with the angry cries of the shadows that began to fall like flies. As Galean lunged at a shadow he saw Eveline, pierce her dagger into Belle’s chest, a loud cry shaking his body. Beside him he heard Jophiel cry out in shock, kicking a foe to the ground before slitting his throat. Galean found Lagar, standing away and watching on in glee and found a sudden energy ensnare him.

“Galean behind you!” Jophiel cried out as a hand found its way around Galean’s throat, throwing him to the ground.

“At long last,” a high pitched voice announced behind him as Galean tried to clamber to his feet. A foot kicked him hard in the gut, forcing him to the ground once more. Coughing wildly, Galean turned his gaze to Jophiel who was now being held captive by Belem. As Lagmar forced Galean’s head back a sudden blaze of white light filled the mortuary.

“Nee galdan se doth mada!” A beautiful voice rang out as the light began to fade slightly. Galean knew that voice, hearing it only once a number of years ago. Hiss’s rang out about him as the archangel Michael entered the mortuary. Using the distraction, Galean twisted Lagmar’s hand and threw him to the ground, picking himself up quickly. In the distance the laugh of Lagar could be heard as stood atop the middle stone table, Nagtium about his feet. Shadows began to disappear in fear of the arch angel, who was now joined by Gabriel and other angels. Lagar turned to Lagmar before disappearing and ordered aloud.

“Occidamus eum! (Kill him!).”

Lagmar drew himself to his feet and readied himself, drawing forth his sword of fire.

“Finally we meet!” he laughed as conflict broke out between the angels and shadows.

“Galean!” a loud voice erupted from the depths of the conflict. Galean searched the crowd and found the majestic eyes of Gabriel, his ancestor by blood, thousands of years older than himself. “Leave now!” he commanded with dark eyes as he plunged his sword of light into a shadow. Lagmar laughed as Galean shook his head. He needed to find Eveline. “I said leave now!” Gabriel re iterated as he made his way through the mass of fighting angels and shadows. Lagmar’s smile faded away as Gabriel came to Galean. Galean turned to Lagmar, whose eyes were filled with terror, he was no match for the older and stronger angel.

“I will find you!” he promised before swirling about into a cloud of dark mass, evaporating from view. Galean reached out but caught only the air in which stood in Lagmar’s place. A strong hand fell upon his shoulder.

“Did you not hear me? Go now! Before Michael gets his hands on you and brings you back with him!” Gabriel said with serious eyes.

“I won’t leave Eveline!” Galean cried aloud, seeing her in the distance, upon her knees as Michael brought forth the demon from within her, her cries mixed with that of the demon filling the room.

“She is safe now,” Gabriel said with a kindness in his stern eyes. “Go home, your father needs you.”

“She needs me!” Galean urged, stepping forward, her despair and pain causing him to shudder. A tough hand grabbed his arm.

“You will see her again, now go!” Gabriel commanded, this time with anger laced in his words. Galean felt himself still, he could not go against the great angel, he was no match for him and he knew that his ancestor spoke truth. “You are no use to her dead.” Galean turned his gaze away from Eveline and looked into Gabriel’s fine face and blue eyes. “You will see her again,” Gabriel re iterated. “Now go!” Galean unwillingly turned from the angel and ran from the room.

*

Eveline felt herself come forth from the darkness within and looked up into the eyes of the majestic man that stood before her, garbed in golden armour. About her she saw swords of light meet swords of fire and cowered in fear.

“Take my hand,” Michael announced, holding out a hand to Eveline. Eveline, her body weak and her legs shaking, took the hand of the man, beautiful and beyond poetic words and found herself coming to her feet. As she stood before the angel she felt something cold pierce her back and cried out. Belem watched as she fell once more to the ground before the feet of Michael. Without a breath, Michael swung his sword into the air and took the head from Belem.

“Eveline!” Theodore cried out from the stone table. Eveline felt herself fall, face forward onto the hard ground, her eyes shutting again.

“Please let me die,” she whispered before falling prey to the darkness.

The shadows disappeared from the mortuary, leaving behind the angels. Gabriel came to Michael and quickly bent down and picked up Eveline.

“Get her to the Abbey,” Michael ordered swiftly. Gabriel nodded silently and with a sudden wisp of air, disappeared into thin air with Eveline, leaving behind the rest of the company. With blood on his hands, Michael came to Theodore and unchained him before attending to the child, who lay lifeless, blood pouring from her wound.

“Belle!” Jophiel cried out as she ran past Theodore and Michael, unchaining the child.

“She is gone Jophiel,” Michael exclaimed as Theodore joined him, his face bereft and stained with tears.

“Eveline…, is she dead?” Theodore asked the arch angel who stood a foot taller than he. Michael turned to Theodore and looked down at him with serious eyes.

“She will live,” he said coarsely. Theodore let his head fall into his hands as he cried out with relief. Michael looked at the angel with anger, his pride had been the cause of the night’s events and it had not gone unnoticed by Heiden and himself. Turning he found Jophiel upon the table, hovering over the dead child. “Jophiel,” he said calmly, watching as the angel, tears falling from her pale face place a hand over the child’s heart.

“Jophiel no!” Theodore said loudly, coming to the table and pulling at the angel’s dress. “No don’t!”

“I have too!” Jophiel said aloud, her eyes filled with anger. “This is the consequence of your pride Cael and my indulgence of it! This could have been averted if you had simply obeyed your orders and brought Eveline to London!”

“Jophiel please,” Theodore begged. “I can’t lose you! Please think about what you are about to do!”

“Her life is worth more than mine,” Jophiel said with bright eyes. “My whole life I have been searching for a reason, the reason why I fought the urge to give up, to end my life such as it was.” The room fell silent as the angels stood close by watching on with sadness in their eyes for the death of an angel was a great loss.

“She will live on in the afterlife,” Theodore pleaded. “Angels do not.”

“She has life here!” Jophiel cried out. “She has parents and a life to go home too.”

“Jophiel, Theodore is right, you need to think about this rationally,” Michael said calmly as he came to the top of the table, placing a hand upon the child’s forehead. “She will be safe in Heaven.”

“No, I will not stand by and watch her life being taken from her,” Jophiel argued hotly.

“Even if it means giving up your own?” Theodore returned desperately.

“Yes. I never believed in purpose or fate, not until this moment,” Jophiel said quietly, pity filling her heart for the man she loved. “Fate led me to this moment, led me to her.”

“Please,” Theodore begged. “Please don’t leave me.”

“You don’t need me,” Jophiel cried. “At least not now. I am only a burden.” She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “If I can do one good thing to redeem myself then it is to save this child and give her life, where mine is all but spent.” Jophiel reached her hand out to Theodore, who took it and held it firmly, letting her guide him to her. Theodore placed his forehead against her own and closed his eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” he muttered through gritted teeth. “Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive,” Jophiel said gently as she touched his nose, and cupped his face. “I have and will always love you Cael, no matter your flaws, no matter your wrong doing. I have nothing left to give but this one gift to Belle.” Softly she brushed his lips and held him in a lingering kiss before letting him go and placing a hand over the child’s heart. Theodore stepped back and watched on as the angel closed her eyes and muttered beneath her breathe. A gentle stream of golden light flowed from Jophiels mouth and weaved its way down to Belle’s mouth, surging through the child’s body and bringing it to life. Jophiel drew out one last breathe before she fell upon the child, dead. Jophiels body began to fade away into a thousand particles of light, leaving behind a still Belle, whose chest rose and fell softly. Michael rounded the table and lifted the child into his arms.

“Take my hand Theodore,” said the angel. Theodore looked up from the floor, hardly aware of his surroundings and made his way over to Michael, placing a hand upon the sleeve of his arm. In one swift motion they disappeared from the mortuary.


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