“Sariel my dear you are far too old to hold onto the archaic belief of good and evil. That has been oversimplified by your Angelic upbringing. Evil is a Human conception, Gods, and the other Divine are not good and evil, they act according to their natures. Humans have made them good or evil. We so often forget for all our grandeur and powers that we are but animals, Divine, evolved and empowered yes but still essentially animals and especially citizens of the planet.
To some your parents could be classed as evil, specifically by the Angelic classification but to others they are not. Your mother in her younger days represented fertility and was a minor Mother Goddess. To the Lilin and Vampires she is not evil, but the first of their kind. They are not inherently evil, they have as much choice as the rest of us. What they eat might class them as evil, but does that make a leech or mosquito evil? No, it doesn’t because it is what they evolved for, it is simply animal instinct, and we do not assign evil to basic instincts in animals.
You never knew your parents so you question everything about them. They were diverse, powerful and intelligent Demigods who grew disillusioned with the old structure and successfully brought in a new. But then they realised it was no better. Your parents have committed crimes no worse than any other God, and they have done great good as well. You are both Heaven and Hell, life and death, light and darkness. You have inherited a huge range of opposing powers, you can easily be good or evil, but you have the choice, and your actions will speak louder than words.
Just remember that as a Divine your understanding of good and evil will be vastly different from a Human’s which is what you are judging them by.”
Nyx laughed gently “Isis my dear you have turned into a philosopher in the time we’ve been apart.”
“I have watched many I love die, I have watched the empire I built be conquered and converted, and my powers fade. I have had a long time to reflect trapped within the Underworld, yet my powers are strong again. In part due to whatever you did and the touch of Gaia’s power but also, because my name is invoked again. We are on the brink of change.”
“Tell me why did you come Isis?”
“You disturbed my slumbers, and I was curious as to what had stimulated the remaining Primordial Gods to cast out such darkness. My pantheon remains asleep” she laughed bitterly “our once great pantheon sleeps in rotted clothing on dusty thrones.” She pointed to Sariel “I must admit I was more than surprised to find the source of all the strange occurrences to be the result of an Arch Angel.”
“Oh, I’m not really an Arch Angel.”
“My dear the fact you had your powers stolen does not change the fact you were crowned as an Arch Angel. Your brother is an Arch Angel, you parents technically still are. You are far more powerful than any simple Elder.” She studied Sariel “if you don’t believe me there is a simple solution, walk among the Humans and see how they respond to you. Without even trying they will fall at your feet.”
“I have never met any living Humans, only the Lesser Angels, and the Shades.”
“Then it is well overdue that you did. You have never been to the Surface have you?”
“No, I was never allowed.”
Pity crept into Isis’ eyes “You have missed out on the most important aspect of any Divine being’s existence, the interaction with mortality.”
Oh, how she wanted to see Humans and the other mortals, to walk among them and learn what her purpose in life was. “I do want to, I have wanted to ever since I was a child.”
“Then it is long overdue that you did.”
“It is far too dangerous for her,” Nyx said calmly, now was the delicate game to convince her to want to go on her accord. She needed her own drive is she was to succeed.
“Dangerous? How can it be dangerous? I am an Arch Angel/Demigoddess. I have spent the last several months honing my skills and powers. How could it be dangerous?”
“Because the only way to the Surface is through Hell.”
“I thought there were many entrances to the Underworld?”
“There are but because of Michael and Gabriel’s Curse, they are sealed shut. The only entrance that acts as an exit is in Hell, above Lucifer’s Crater. The Angels do keep a casual eye on it though, but have been increasingly lax in later centuries.”
“Why has it lessened?”
“The Greater Demons no longer terrorise the earth as they once used to, the spells that contain them have warped them in suffering and madness.”
“So I would have to venture through Hell to reach the Surface.”
“You would and by yourself, we cannot enter another’s domain without their permission, and Lucifer is incapable of allowing us.”
“They why can I enter?”
“Because you were not here when the realms were sealed down here. Out of respect, we have always asked permission to enter another’s realm, but you are not a Goddess of the Underworld, so you have the freedom to pass into other realms.” She glided over to Sariel “we will not stop you if you wish to go, it is important that you do go. We all have powers over mortals, and we should understand them before we start using that power. However, you must understand that we will be unable to help you. Think of it as an ordeal that mortals do to make themselves men or women. Once you complete it, you will have great ease moving between the Surface and the Underworld.”
Isis and Nyx watched her as she thought over all they had said to her. She had never had the option to choose, it had always been denied to her. She loved it here, but she wanted to see more, she wanted desperately to see the Surface. And her family was allowing her, giving her an ordeal to prove herself.
“I want to do it. I want to go to the Surface. I want to understand mortals, and I also want to see if I can find Hera and Brigid.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about Hera, a more resourceful woman I never did meet.” Isis said over her goblet “if they want to find you they will. They will be hiding their trails from the Angels.
“Nevertheless, I would like to see the Surface and do something on my own for once.”
They both nodded to her “it is settled then, you will leave for the Surface, and when you come back, you will be a true demigoddess. When will you leave?”
“Tomorrow”
That stunned them both, they had expected her to wait. She was clearly far more determined than either of them had thought. Nyx stood up in one elegant movement “then we shall have a sending off party for you tonight.”
And just like that, she was back to the wide-eyed girl they had all come to love “A party? For me? I’ve never had a party.” Then she rushed out of the hall and bowled into Cerberus. Nyx smiled as she heard Sariel gushing to Cerberus that she was getting a party.
“She really is still a child” Isis observed.
“She is a child in terms of Gods and Angels. She has also been so secluded for most of her life, she is more a child than anyone her age. It shows in her physicality. Add to that all the lies and half-truths she has been spoon fed and she has an innocence and naivety never seen in an immortal.”
“Do you think she will manage?”
“She better or Hell will feel my wrath. I don’t care how powerful the spells holding Hell are, if she dies down there I will rip it open and kill all the Demons myself.”
“I don’t think she will die, she is extraordinarily strong, if she were far older, I would say she was a Primordial Goddess. She won’t die Nyx, but will she break the Curse?”
“I hope so, I’m fed up living down here. I want to embrace the true night. I want my sister to awaken. I want to feel mortals and the strength they give.”
“Don’t we all.”
They both looked up, lost in their memories of when they had been patrons of tribes and empires. When mortals had given them strength and their numbers had been vast.
The Lampades had done a thorough job of her again, Sariel thought as she looked at her reflection. She had been clothed in an elegantly flowing violet dress of a design
unfamiliar to her, it left her creamy shoulders bare before flowing down and out into a small train. The colour complimented her violet eyes and the black of her wings and hair, which had been pulled into draping curls. She smiled at herself, she liked what she saw, a happy young woman. Her face had changed in her time in Hades, she looked noticeably older. Yes, she was starting to look like a woman, her cleavage now testified to that.
Her vanity done and satisfied she opened the door to find Cerberus waiting for her. Delighted she dropped down to hug him. They had developed quite a close relationship in her time here. Cerberus was not alone in his fascination and attraction to her bright innocence. She was a flame that called to them all. He led her through the various corridors to the throne room, it was the biggest hall in the castle. She was excited, and a little bit nervous as the doors opened before her.
The sight that greeted her astounded her. Purple streamers hung from the high ceiling and from the numerous arches, little violet globes floated around the room providing little pools of light. Jasmine, roses and lavenders sat in large black pots, their scents filling the air. She breathed in deeply smiling. Little fairy lights of various colours skittered around the room while all the windows had been attuned to Earth. Real cities sparkling away in the night, streams of smoke and vehicles moving during the day. She was awed but didn’t have the time to reflect on them, her attention was taken by her family standing prominently in the crowd of Lampades, Harpies, and Shades.
Nyx was radiant in a figure-hugging black dress, her brothers had donned black togas. Hades wore a black robe accentuated with bronze. Persephone wore a long grey dress, it hinted at other colours that had faded and was decorated in a variety of pale pearls. Demeter was dressed in a darker version of her daughter’s dress. Hecate had gone for simplicity, a black and grey dress with a long split up to her thigh. Even the Furies had given up their standard red tunics to be dressed in black tunics that somehow looked feminine. Nemesis was the real surprise, stunningly beautiful in a black dress accentuated with white. She looked nothing like a warrior but Sariel was not fooled. Thanatos and Hypnos wore black togas akin to their father.
It seemed of all the Gods only Isis did not wear black or grey, dressed in a different version of her Egyptian wrap, heavily decorated in gold.
Everyone in the room was barefoot in honour of Gaia, who could not join them.
Nyx was the first to speak “Sariel my dear you look absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you” she gushed, trying to hide her desire to blush. She was used to attention for having no magic, but she had never realised that it might have also been because of her looks. She had never realised that she was beautiful. All it had taken was time with a loving family.
Hades stepped forward because it was his realm he held the right to speak first “Sariel my dear, it is with sorrow we anticipate your departure in the morning but with the best wishes, we wish you well in your ordeal. You will always have a home here and will always be welcome, but we do not wish to hold you back. Fly free and high, but before you do we have parting gifts for you.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to.”
“We do Sariel, honour and blood demand it. We cannot send you into Hell unprepared.” Ironic that that was what they had initially intended.
Persephone walked forward with a mahogany box “For you Sariel so that the whole world knows who you are.”
Sariel lifted up the lid and gasped. Sitting on black velvet was an ornate circlet made of gold and silver, with a black metal intertwining them both. It made her think of the rising or setting sun.”
“Silver and gold compliment your hair, the gold is for your affinity to the sun and the silver your affinity to the moon. Nyxite shows that you are descended from Nyx. Only those of her blood or blessed by her may wear the metal.” Persephone explained as Hades lifted the circlet and placed it on her brow. Cold rushed through her before disappearing.
Then Nemesis and the Furies stepped forward, the three of them were carrying black sheaths. Nemesis smiled at her “no warrior should be without her own weapon. It was a difficult task to choose for you, despite my gripes you were an excellent student and you were proficient with many weapons.” She turned to the Furies, two of which handed her sheathed swords. “These are katanas, typically two-handed for mortals, but our superior strength allows us to wield them one-handed. You excelled using two, and this is our gift to you.”
Sariel accepted the swords with reverence before pulling them out of their sheaths. One was black, Nyxite, with a silver guard and handle. The other was white, platinum, with gold guard and handle “You could say they are day and night. They will negate all the natural shields given to the denizens of the day and night. You will not be disadvantaged in a fight.” The third Fury handed her two small sheaths, each containing a dagger matching the swords. “You never know when you will need a dagger.”
They stepped back as Isis and Hecate stepped forward, they held between them a belt of black leather. It was decorated with silver and gold around panels of black opal. “Every warrior needs a belt for their blades, but any sorceress needs a store of extra magic. We are Divine and do not need such things, but we have imbued it with the strongest protection spells we know. And black opals represent Chaos, who has marked you as its conduit.”
Silently Sariel put it on and attached her sheaths. The opals began to glow softly with a dark fire.
Next were Nyx and her brothers. Sariel was expecting something marking the night or darkness, she was very surprised when instead they gave her a green bracelet. “Because Gaia has marked you” They slid it onto her wrist, where it started to wriggle and warp. She watched in fascination as it grew into a vine that wound its way up her forearm.
Lastly, Thanatos and Hypnos stepped forward but instead of offering any gifts they dropped to their knees and grabbed one of her ankles each. It felt like fire was racing up her legs. It was over in seconds.
“We have given you the same gift we gave your father. You will not be weakened by the presence of the dead, and they will head your call. You will stay easily beyond the call of death, and death’s powers will not easily touch you.”
“Thank you,” she said solemnly, it was a huge gift to be bestowed upon anyone. Even more so because it was a connection to her father.
She had no idea how many times in the future she would have cause to thank them.
She turned when she heard movement behind her, it was Charon and Cerberus. In his skeletal hands, he held a wooden box. It was simple pine, seemingly so bright in the room when everything else was in the dark end of the colour spectrum. She looked up and was surprised to see that he had eyes today. Usually, he was little more than bones but today he had piercing blue-grey eyes that seemed to catch the smallest amount of light. She had never seen him with eyes before, they were beautiful and belied his emotions.
“Everyone else has given gifts of practicality, but Cerberus and I searched but could not find anything else that would aid you. Our gift to you is purely aesthetic.” With one elegant movement of his fingers, he lifted the lid of the box to reveal a necklace lying on violet silk. It looked vaguely of Celtic design; gold, silver, Nyxite, platinum and copper twisting around each other. The light caught on the metals in different ways and directed the eyes down to the jewels. They were set in long rectangles or triangles, overall it looked like a rising sun, just upside down. They were mostly black opals, cut to catch the dark fires within, but there were also smaller shards of diamond. She also noticed that there were strange reflections, but she couldn’t pick the source.
“It is beautiful” she gasped, staring at it in awe.
Charon carefully picked it up and put it on her, his touch was so light she only felt the necklace. At first, it was freezing cold against her skin, she thought it was going to brand her, but it quickly warmed. She idly thought it felt like it was waking up.
She turned to face the nearest window, it instantly changed into a mirror. She gasped w
hen she saw herself. She was stunning. She stood there in a beautiful, violet dress with her black opal belt holding her weapons. Her hair seemed to almost blend into her wings. Black marks entwined around her ankles, shifting slightly just as her Gaia bracelet did. Her circlet sparkled brightly, as for her necklace it drew the most attention, reflecting light and shadows across her skin. She looked out of a fairy-tale, a warrior princess, an avenging Angel, a heroine, a demigoddess. She looked complete.
Her violet eyes started to water, then she started crying. Hecate was next to her in an instant “Sariel whatever is the matter?”
She sniffed and wiped away her tears “nothing, I’m just so happy. These are the only gifts I have ever gotten, I never even got birthday presents, it was below an Arch Angel. You have all put so much effort into them all. They are so beautiful and thoughtful. All my life I’ve dreamed of a true family to belong to and now I have it. You are all so much better than I dreamed. And you’re letting me go to the Surface under my own steam. A journey you have all worked so hard to prepare me for. I don’t know how I can ever thank you all for it.”
The Gods shifted uneasily, casting their eyes on the ground or each other. None of their actions were as selfless as she believed, their gifts were a means to alleviate their guilt. Something many of them had never felt before. Guilt was primarily a Human emotion that rarely affected the Divine.
Surprising everyone it was Nemesis who spoke first “we believe in you Sariel and we believe in what you are capable of, far more than you believe. Michael and Gabriel may have clipped your wings, extremely, but you are meant to soar. Life is dangerous, we all know it well. And make no mistake Hell is no playground, right now Hell is the most dangerous place in the world. But you are not some weak mortal and if they can make their way through the various Underworlds then surely you can. It will be dangerous, your life will be at risk, but there is nothing to be gained in keeping you under lock and key.”
Sariel raised her eyes to Nemesis, smiled and then hugged her. Nemesis stood there stunned before awkwardly patting her shoulder. Sariel just laughed, stood back and gently punched her in the shoulders. With raised eyebrows and a smile, she asked “better?”
The Angels' Pride Page 30