When We Were Still Human

by Vaughn Foster

  “Then there was Daemon,” Vladimir spoke softly. Val raised her head. The name was familiar. She felt a throb where Vladimir’s claws had cut and recognized the name as the king of demons. Unlike the last few times, however, the Mark offered no further vision. She looked at Michael, then to the others. Everyone, even Avia, shifted uncomfortably in their seat.

  Michael sighed and lowered his head. “Yes. Daemon. He is—was—my brother. Sorcerer Supreme of Le Ciel. But I was new to the throne and still grieving the loss of our parents and sister. I didn’t see what he was becoming. Before I realized it, he was leading a coup. Most have been eliminated, but the destruction left in their wake still affects life to this day.”

  Avia cleared her throat and sat up. “What does this have to do with us?” Val looked expectantly back to Michael.

  “You’re the sins of heaven.” He spoke with triumph, eyes ablaze with passion. “Humanity has always been weak, but we envied their creativity and focused inward. In our lust and greed for perfection, we let the Natural Order fall.”

  He sighed and stared up into the skylight. His eyes fought the sun with a fierceness that sent a chill through Val’s nerves. He wasn’t looking at the light, but something that lie past it. “In our slothfulness,” he spoke slowly, “we ignored Daemon until it was too late. When we realized Earth was beyond saving, we fled and lived as gluttons in the magnificence of Lie Ciel. In our pride, we refused to see what was becoming of the world we abandoned.” He shifted his gaze to Avia. “And now in our wrath, at both ourselves and a fallen creation, we shall make amends.” You all are the embodiment of our sin. Through you, we will bring Kairos, the end of times. And then we shall start anew.”

  The bewitched docility that had previously come over Val snapped. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” She lunged from the couch and pulled him up by his cloak. “I get it. You messed up and now there’s problems. But that is no excuse to murder everyone on the planet! There are good people! Loving people! People who are trying to do something about the shit that you assholes started. If you think I will be a part of any of this, get your head out of your ass!” She ripped the cloak from his shoulders and threw it in his face. Before he could say anything, she stormed out into the corridor and disappeared into the darkness.

  “Well then,” the twins said in union.

  Avia was still staring down the hall. Nothing Michael said sounded all that objectionable.

  In another thousand years, blood will be all that’s left.

  In all honesty, the thousand years was a bit generous. Almost every country had a trigger-happy leader with his finger on the “big red button.” It’d be a miracle if they escaped the current century without nuclear apocalypse.

  Michael retrieved his cloak from the ground then faced the others. “It’s fine. Even though she’s a ghoul, she was raised human. She’ll come around. Vladimir, could you look after her? She’s probably already lost.”

  Michael reached behind his shoulder, made a plucking motion, then threw something through the air. Vladimir caught it, and Avia realized then that it was a white feather. It was just like Zadkiel’s, only the golden afterglow was a thousand times stronger.

  “Got it.” With a nod, the vampire took shadow form and disappeared into the floor.

  “What about you, Avia?” Michael asked, sitting down next to Paris. “You don’t seem particularly moved by any of this.”

  The Mark on Avia’s arm pulsed and she met his eyes with a cold glare. “The world has given me nothing. I don’t owe humans shit. I’d be more than happy to burn the planet alive.”

  “I like this one,” Zadkiel said. He sat straight and began cracking his neck. “She’s got that spark, ya know?”

  Michael was silent for a moment then looked up. “I understand you are the Sin of Wrath. However, I want to be clear that our primary goal isn’t to kill people. We have to start over to preserve the Natural Order.”

  “Whatever.” Avia gave a dismissive wave and leaned back. Any reverence or admiration that had affected her was gone. She couldn’t care less about his motives for this Kairos. She just wanted to see it happen. “We get it. It’s a mercy killing. You, oh archangel, are pure of heart and would never take pleasure in in the slaughter of billions. But I on the other hand...”

  She placed her right hand above her heart and offered the saintliest face she could muster. She then held her left hand out. Fire trailed from her fingertips to form a small Earth in the center of her palm. It rotated for a few seconds, then was engulfed by a torrent of flames.

  Michael nodded and straightened himself in his chair. Avia couldn’t read his face, but assumed he got the message.

  “In that case,” he said, “would you like to accompany Gemini to the Southern Kingdom?”

  A map of the world flashed in Avia’s mind. It was similar to normal maps, but there were land masses she had never seen before. The names were also completely different.

  Avia opened her eyes. “I’m seeing a map, but I can’t make sense of it.”

  “It’s probably too much information at once,” Castor said from Paris’ body. “What you’re seeing is a map of the Annwn. How familiar are you with the aether?”

  Avia clenched her fists and breathed out an inconspicuous wisp of smoke. “Very.”

  “Perfect,” Paris said. “So, it’s like this. Earth Proper is where you’re from. Human dominant, wonderful culture, great food—"

  “Then there’s the Annwn,” Castor cut in. “It’s the… metanatural realm. After a number of treaties, it was divided into four regions. The Northern Kingdom is ruled by the Dragons. The South is shared by the Atlantis-Selkie Alliance. The Eastern Kingdom has gone through a lot of changes, but after Vladimir Dracule III conquered it in 1292, it’s been under vampire rule.”

  “The West is weird,” Paris said. “There’s no central kingdom. Instead, Greater Spirits from the aether serve as governors. Most mirage, however, have assimilated into Earth Proper.”

  “It’s why they added the ‘Proper’, ya know?” Zadkiel said. “Though the Annwn was created at the same time, so who decided which one’s proper, I don’t know. Probably some human’s idea.”

  “I think I got it,” Avia said. There was a lot more geography and history that she was missing, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to get out of the castle. She glanced down at her hand and small sparks rippled over her skin. She wanted to know what she was capable of.

  “Good,” Michael said. His smile had returned, and he seemed more relaxed. “I have a job of the utmost importance for you and Gemini in Ys, the Southern Kingdom’s capital.”

  Zadkiel raised an eyebrow. “If it’s of the utmost importance, why are you sending them? Maybe start her off with something smaller, ya know?”

  Paris crossed her arms. “You think we’re not capable, angel?”

  “I didn’t say that,” he said with a yawn. “You two are capable. Just not as capable as myself. Come on, Michael, at least send me with them.”

  “I need you for something else,” Michael said curtly. “We’ll talk later.”

  Zadkiel stood and marched over to Michael. “No, it’s fine, you can tell me now. First you send me to Florida to dig through bodies to get her—no offense,” he said, looking back at Avia. “I was washing human ashes out of my wings for a good twenty minutes and Creator knows where they’d been when they were alive.

  “Then you have me cast a transcendence spell to pull her out of her own mind. And now you want to send these amateurs to one of the three capitals? Do you really think Castor can handle diplomacy—"

  “Zadkiel, that’s enough.” Michael’s face was still even, but Avia noticed white knuckles gripping the arms of the chair. “We will talk about this later.”

  “No, Michael, expl—”

  “I’m sending you to get Greed!”

  Zadkiel stepped back. He lowered his head and paused for a moment. “Alright,” he whispered. “I- I assume you know who it is?”

/>   Michael looked down and sighed. “Zhong Kui.”

  Zadkiel blanched and brought his hand to his mouth. He then quickly turned on his heels and walked out the room.

  Avia watched Zadkiel leave, then turned back to Gemini. Both of its voices were silent. Paris’ jaw was tensed in anger, but even after Zadkiel was gone, neither twin spoke.

  “Alright..." Avia waited for a response, then added, "what was that about?”

  “Drama for another day,” Michael sighed. He sat up and cleared his throat. “But, as I was saying, I need you three to go to Ys. There’s a book— an ancient grimoire. It’s essential that you bring it back.”

  “What’s so special about this book?” Avia asked.

  “All you need to know is that it’s currently being held by a powerful magician. You are to leave immediately.”

  This entire thing was sketchy as hell. Avia stared at Michael for a moment. She traced the lines of his beard, the cut of his armor, the confidence in his eyes. He was postured as a fairy tale, a model of perfection. But that wasn’t right. Time stilled as she dissected the king of angels, as she fought to see past the mask. That’s what it was really. Somewhere past the magic and charm lied a creature just as dark as the black flames that now blossomed in her chest. She just had to dig it up.

  “Alright.” Castor’s voice pulled her back, and time again played forward. Paris stood and gave the king an affirmative nod.

  Avia tucked away her musings about the angel and rose to her feet. She had, what appeared to be, eternity to study Michael. No sense in wasting the present.

  She flashed a wicked grin and brought a hand to her forehead in salute. “We’re on it, boss.”

  Chapter 17

  Val had been on the multi-colored brick streets for less than five minutes and was already lost. The hall she had fled into immediately spit her into the heart of the city. The castle loomed loftily in the distance, spires and towers taunting her from the horizon. She considered walking back, but just as quickly remembered why she left.

  Meandering the streets, Val couldn’t help but feel like a tourist. She stopped at nearly every building and studied each staggering piece of architecture. Beautiful buildings equipped with twisting towers, gargoyles, and arches made up the central build of the city. Even still, magic and modernity had transcended Le Ciel far beyond any human utopia.

  Most walked, but there was the occasional denizen floating past on some sort of cloud scooter. Restaurants and shops were planted about, and she strained to see something familiar. At first, she couldn’t recognize the language, but then the Mark pulsed. The strange collection of symbols and markings shifted into English.

  A potion and spell shop sat beside a furniture store, across the street from “Aerial Beam Tag.” It was apparently “Perfect for New Flyers.”

  What really caught her eye, however, were the various translucent screens that floated above the city. Each displayed information on current events. A breeder named Johaim was being honored for his gift of fifty warrior griffons to the Hosts, Le Ciel’s standing army. Selene, an Underworld immigrant, had just started serving “lava shakes.”

  The screen that really caught Val’s attention had what looked like sports stats. Next to that was the text: Demons Killed in Last Confrontation. Beneath was a list of names, many of whom she recognized from Catholic and Jewish tradition. At the top was Gabriel, then Raphael, then Phanuel, followed by many more “els.” Next to each was a number. They were all at least in the triple digits.

  Something glimmered in the corner of her eye and she tore away from the screen. Above the skyline, Val spotted what looked like a golden thread. She traced it to the next building, then the next, more thread quickly revealing itself until the entire city was woven together by the golden cord. It ran through the trees, sidewalks, and buildings.

  It was the aether. The barrier between the spirit and physical realms was the thinnest here. Earth received a small trickle of the energy, but the angels were stationed in the middle of a raging storm. Magic powered the entire infrastructure, from the lights and electricity to the very air they breathed. It also drove the water channels, the rivers, and the rain.

  Val blinked and her vision adjusted around the threads. They were still there, but if she didn’t focus, they sank just below perception. She took in Le Ciel with new eyes. It wasn’t just immaculately clean but was the very embodiment of perfection. No sorrow. No violence. Only an odd harmony she realized the angels must have lived in since the beginning.

  Mothers pushed their infants in floating silver pods along the sidewalks, laughing and carefree. Children raced on a grassy square, blatantly cheating by use of flame and ice to propel themselves faster—unless that was the true goal of the game.

  The longer Val studied the people, the more she could register their radiant golden aura. The glow was very faint and nearly blended with their warm skin. However, if she focused on one person at a time, she could see their light as easily as a spark in a dark room.

  These were the angels. She had never imagined a magical higher realm being so… normal. But it made sense; not all angels would be demon-fighting warriors or guardians. Just like any other society, there were those who simply lived out their daily lives.

  “Hello there!”

  Val turned to see a man waving to her from what looked like an outdoor coffee shop. She stared a moment, then acquiesced to the concept. Caffeine really was a universal drug.

  “First time in the city?” he asked as she approached. Her gaze fell on a glowing yellow drink in a twisting glass, but the last customer walked away with it before she got a closer look.

  Val nodded, then realized he probably expected her to buy something. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any money.”

  “Money?” The man laughed. He began mixing vibrant colored liquids and pink and blue powders on the opposite counter. “We don’t use money here.”

  “How does that work?” Val asked skeptically.

  “Well,” he said, stopping to grab a blue vial from beneath the bar. “It’s like this: if I live selflessly, put others first, and everyone else does it too, life goes pretty smoothly. You should talk to the king about it when you get back to the castle.”

  Val tensed, then checked over her shoulder in anticipation of an armed battalion. There wasn’t one, but even still, the comment had her unnerved. “How did you know I was staying there?”

  This only spurred another round of laughter from the barista. “Well, you’re not an angel. If you weren’t here to see the king, then you wouldn’t be here. Outsiders can’t pass the wards. And if they do, they have to deal with the Hosts.”

  “True.” He made a valid point. Val hadn’t necessarily tried to fit in. But now, with her grey clothes, pale skin, and stargazed meandering, she realized she must have stuck out like a sore thumb.

  “Here,” he said, handing her a glass. “This place must be overwhelming for a mirage. I promise, you’ll get used to it soon enough.”

  “Thanks.” Sarcasm lacquered her voice. She hesitated, then tacked on an “I’m sure,” a bit softer this time. He seemed like a nice guy, overall. It wasn’t his fault she was trapped, lost, and cursed. Val forced her mouth to return his smile, then took her drink to an open table.

  “Yeah… I’m sure.” Val sighed, swirling her straw in attempt to gauge what exactly was in the glass. A melted rainbow was her first guess. Each of the seven colors were fierce and glowing, yet complemented the others in the unearthly concoction.

  Not finding any visual hints, she closed her eyes and took a sip.

  Oh my God, Val! Come on, you have to do another shot!

  No! I’ve already done like five!

  Even number! We’ll be real nurses in two months! When’s the next time we’ll get to drink like this?!

  Val shoved the drink back, and blinked. That was… She had completely forgotten about that day. She moved to get up but was just as soon pulled into another memory.

  Happy
14th birthday, Val! Come on, blow out the candles!

  Oh my god! Grandpa, you flew all the way from Toronto?

  Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

  Val tried to fight whatever drug spiked through her system. She couldn’t think about these things right now. She needed to focus, needed to—

  Valerie Stevens, you are the most incredible woman I have ever met. I love you more than life itself and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

  Jas—

  I know you’re busy with school now, that’s why I’m not proposing. But I want you to know that, ring or no ring, I’m not going anywhere.

  Jason… I love you.

  I love you too.

  Tears burned down Val’s face. She shoved away the glass and pushed herself back in her seat. She pressed harder into the metal, hoping it would swallow her; hoping that the drink was actually poison that would put all of this to an end. That first memory was the night she’d passed her penultimate exam of nursing school. Her friends had dragged her to one of the local college bars and celebrated until two in the morning. Then her family… Jason...

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She hadn’t thought about that life in over a year. Now, all the buried feelings were dragged naked to the surface.

  A cold hand rested itself over her shaking fist and the shock flung her back to reality.

  “Those drinks are meant to summon your happiest memories.” Vladimir stood beside her and offered a soft smile. “Poor guy probably wasn’t thinking it’d only make your day worse.”

  “I thought vampires couldn’t do sunlight,” Val mumbled, not bothering to argue against his company.