“We have just sent her to her death.”
“Hecate she knows what she is doing. She wanted this.”
“She does not know that the only way she will get out is to break the Curse and that the only way for her to do that is by fighting the Beast.”
“She will figure it out for herself.”
“And she will believe that this is a betrayal.”
“Nonsense we told her time and time again that we do not really understand or know what happens with Hell. We can simply say we had no understanding that for her to escape required the breaking of Lucifer’s Curse. If she survives, then she will probably have other concerns, probably having to deal with Lucifer. And if she does not then we do not have to explain ourselves.”
“She is not going to die!” Hecate shouted.
“You must consider that it is a very definite possibility. This is Hell we are talking about. Right now it is the most dangerous place in the entire world.” Isis replied calmly “She may die in there, but you did do your best to prepare her. After all, you saved her from going in there herself. You trained her up to defend herself and make her capable. She stands a far higher chance than she did before. She is armed with swords of light and darkness. She now knows how to access and use her powers. If she remembers to use them. And she can channel Chaos if she uses that power there is nothing in Hell that can stand up to her. Not even the Beast. If she channelled that power against us, we probably wouldn’t be able to successfully defend ourselves. I don’t know about you but I only inherited a small trace of Chaos from my parents, and they were Primordials.”
“I had even less, my quantity is only what I have absorbed from my ventures through the Underworld or what Tartarus infused into me.”
“Exactly, we have only small quantities, and yet we are ancient Gods. I am the daughter of two Primordial Gods, you have ventured where few have ever dared to. The small amounts of Chaos we do have is far more than any non-Primordial ever accumulates. She has Chaos that eclipses every Primordial other than possibly Gaia. She has more than Nyx, Erebus and Tartarus combined.”
“How on earth did an Angel get such powers?”
“Who knows, perhaps it accumulated along the bloodlines. Both her parents were exceptionally powerful, she comes from both Nyx’s and Anu’s bloodlines. The combination of her powers is certainly unique. Nyx said she has never seen anyone with such contrasting powers. I can understand the balance of the four elements, but the balance of light and dark is far rarer. The combination of the balanced elements, shadow gradient, adding in her powers of life and death...is it any wonder she has Chaotic powers?”
“What if Michael holds similar powers?”
The boat slowed as Charon and Isis whipped around to stare at her “It is something we may have to consider. He is her brother, he may have similar powers.”
“Hopefully we can count on the Divine tendency for siblings to have different powers.”
“Or does that mean he is equally powerful in other ways?”
“What is equal to Chaos?”
She let her gaze fix on the distance before turning back to face them “The powers of Creation and Destruction. What if he merely has another aspect of Chaos?”
“That does not bear thinking about” Charon muttered as he started poling again.
“But it must be considered. Michael and Sariel are dangerous, even more so than their parents. Imagine what could happen if they were to use their combined powers.”
Isis shuddered and turned away to look into the mist, thinking she had seen something. She shook her head as she turned back, only her mind playing tricks. The Underworld had that effect.
But it hadn’t been her mind. Isis had glanced right over the Greater Demon that clung to the rock edge. It turned its red eyes from the boat to the direction it had come from. Its nostrils flared, and it flicked out its serpentine tongue to taste the scent of an Angel. Its black wings twitched in anticipation. They were a strange aberration, bat-like as Demons had been deemed, but there were black and gold feathers covering the bone edging, and the feathers continued along its sinuous spine. It looked more reptilian than anything with a distinctly serpentine twist to what had once been an Angelic body. Long black hair hung down like a curtain of darkness over its reptilian face and the long fangs dripping venom. The body was much longer than any humanoid’s body, serpentine with a long black tail tapering to a sharp point. Where once there had been fingers and toes there were only long, wickedly sharp talons. Despite its horror it was a fearful example of the terror lust could induce. It was unnaturally beautiful, terrifyingly so considering its appearance but the powers of enchantment and seduction were very strong, assets to its predatory nature.
It was what the Angels had made it become, fuelling the mortal fears of who it had once been.
Its tongue flicked again, and it caught the Divine scent that was driving it wild. Angel blood was so rich and potent, and they were all such prudes. It smiled revealing sharp teeth next to its fangs. This Angel held a scent unlike any it remembered, and it was nothing like the wasted Angels trapped in Purgatory.
It slipped down the cliff face and broke the water without a single splash. The tide was strong, stirred by the Demon’s strong Lifeforce but the Demon could easily handle the currents and was immune to the leeching nature of the water. It flicked its tail back and forth, propelling itself easily through the dark waters.
Lilith tasted the air again before she swam deeper into Hell after her prey.
Chapter 24
Brigid walked along the street invisible. No one could see her, touch her or sense her. She was but a mere presence in people’s subconscious as she probed them all on her way to the river. Humans, Daemons, and even Lesser Angels had no clue to her passing or probing of their minds. It was most remarkable that even here in Pakistan how much she was on people’s minds. Most didn’t think on her so much as her actions. Her actions were in the minds of everyone, from Christians to Hindu whom she had taken on new qualities for, to the Muslims that viewed her as a Demon. That made her smile. It was time she shook up their delicate sensibilities. She was a Western Woman, a warrioress, a scholar, an increasingly powerful Goddess, she was going to impose her style of thinking upon all her countries. Though she still had to get to Britain, it was the cornerstone, the foundation, the centre of this vast web she was constructing.
It was fascinating how much she was on their minds considering they had just had a military coup. Then again military coups were extremely common in Pakistan’s history, so she guessed that for the people it was nothing new. Their president was in prison, and now their military leader was now their ruler. And interesting changes he was bringing in. His first few acts other than consolidating his power had been stripping Hindus of their rights. Pakistan was on the brink of civil war between Muslims and Hindus, she was going to force their hand.
It was fortunate that she needed to return to Australia to consolidate her power. This would distract the Angels enough to leave Australia unwatched.
She reached the edge of the Indus River, feeling its ancient, faded powers. Until she properly claimed it Pakistan would never truly be hers, it was the ancient heart of modern Pakistan. It had once been part of India, so her claim on the Ganges and India had given her an automatic if tenuous control but she couldn’t actually enforce her rule without claiming the Indus. Oh, how the Angels would be furious. She knew Michael and Raphael were in India searching for her, she could sense Ariel in Australia. She couldn’t sense Uriel, Gabriel or Azrael but they were not in her domains so she was unconcerned. She guessed at least one of them must still be in Europe in case she or Hera were foolish enough to return to their ancient lands. She would but once the Angels’ attention was firmly directed elsewhere. Claiming Pakistan would be the final straw. Her return was imminent.
She wondered where Hera was these days.
Right now the Indian subcontinent was the most contentious place on Earth, for once Israel
and Palestine were being eclipsed by greater civil and religious conflicts. Pakistan had just had a military coup and more was sure to come, India was birthing more and more religious conflicts between the established religions fracturing and the new ones shooting up. Religious hate was mounting, Muslims and Christians had been caught murdering Brigidites along the Ganges. Hinduism was starting to show the signs of tearing apart. The new leader of Pakistan had called her a Demon and anyone that followed her an infidel. He was also openly encouraging persecution of any Brigidite.
Added to that two Arch Angels and their personal guards, as well as the Angelic Legions, walked the subcontinent. She knew worse was yet to come, she accepted the sorrow that had appeared within her, she knew her actions were going to cost lives. Possibly millions of lives, but the Angels were a cruel, tyrannical oligarchy and had to be overthrown. Yes, she knew the Gods had been little better, they too had been a cruel oligarchy, but they had created as much as they destroyed. Life and the diversity of life had flourished, the world had flourished. The Angels eradicated all those that would not submit or had magic. The Lifestream needed magic to draw it to the surface. During the Angels’ violent reign the Lifestream had receded to a point that the Surface was dying in vast amounts. The greatest rivers in the world were running dry most years if not permanently, vast tracts of arable land all over the globe had turned into desert wastelands. There were also vast tracts of poisonous wastelands from mortal conflicts and industry.
It was time for a change, if nothing else, she was doing it for the planet. If something wasn’t done soon, all life on land would cease to exist except the hardiest extremophiles.
She smiled as she dropped all her spells hiding her from others. People turned and gasped as in a blaze of light a beautiful European woman with six brown wings appeared on the river bank. There was instant shouting as soldiers within the area converged on her. She knew that they were yelling at her to stop, and she felt for them, she really did. Most of them would die. But how could she stop at the edge of this ailing river, only flowing because of the sheer amount of pollutants in it and stop? As an Earth Goddess, she had a duty to the Earth, and she did not shirk her duties. What was it with these modern Humans? Why did they pump so much pollution into the vital arteries of the land, vital arteries they depended on.
The crack of a gun and the flare of light from her shields encouraged her to step into the water. As soon as her foot touched the disgusting water, the pollution shot away, just as oil on water does when detergent is added. Her foot slid into the clean, cold water, allowing it to take her magic into itself, to heal itself. There was a violent explosion and orange flames surrounded her. The soldiers were using incendiaries now. They were no match for her shields. Claiming a world without magic was just so simple, so very easy. They had no defence against magic.
She reached out into the river with her powers as she continued to walk deeper, well as deep as she could go. The river slugged by no higher than her thighs. The river started to glow, the oil slicking it starting to burn off, the other pollutants breaking down under the river’s onslaught aided by her powers. She heard gasps and screams, but she tuned them out along with the gunfire and explosions. Mortal concerns were currently beyond her. She had so much that had to be done. She was thankful that the British Empire had spread so widely around the world. Awakening the Lifestream in all its countries would in effect heal much of the planet.
Just as before her powers shot both directions along the river and up every tributary, cleansing it of taint and destroying dams and irrigation canals. From far upriver came a thundering roar as all the dried up tributaries as one filled up and flooded. The flood raced downstream wrecking devastation in its path. Ripping through bridges, towns, cities, boats and dams as though they were nothing.
Brigid smiled as she pronounced “I claim the Indus River and with it full control of Pakistan. Long last the rule of Brigid.” Her voice thundered through millions of peoples’ heads spreading wide out from Pakistan. And in every country she had claimed so far, people heard her speak the words. Then the ferocious river roared past her and once again she blended into it, becoming immutable from the water and Lifestream. Completely undetectable to anyone, least of all the Angels.
Ariel was in Adelaide, Australia, the so-called City of Churches. It had once borne that title truly, now many of the churches had been turned into houses, nightclubs and stores. It was becoming increasingly obvious they had been far too lax with Humanity. They should have ruled with an iron first, would have too if not for the divisions Lucifer had created. Weak hearted fool, he had fought so hard in the War then he had turned into one of the loudest advocates for peace. Like they could live alongside the Gods without being treated as less. Now they ruled in their own right, owned by no one.
But now that rule was coming increasingly under threat by one backwater Goddess. True her backwater island had come to conquer a quarter of the world, but not because of her. Because of them. Now all their other concerns had taken a back seat, and she was now their number one priority, even more so than Hera. Which was the most surprising thing. Hera a patron of ancient empires, the Queen of Heaven, once one of the most feared females on the planet had not so much as made one formal claim. Brigid, the sly little bitch, had claimed a subcontinent and a country that liked to claim it was a continent. She officially had control of India, Bangladesh, and Australia with nominal claims on Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. All within less than a month. If she weren't so ready to kill the upstart bitch she would be impressed.
Thankfully while she may have claimed the lands and been acknowledged she still had to claim the people. That was where the greatest effort was required, and the greatest time. With their plans for Pakistan and India nicely coming along, that dealt with the subcontinent. As for Australia well it was a Western Nation, increasingly atheist with the continual leaps and bounds in science Humans made. Christianity still had a nominal influence, but science had won. Brigid would not get a foothold.
When they unleashed the Apocalypse, then all these scientific countries would be brought to heel again. That she was looking forward to. Perhaps they could get it right this time and have one united religion, the world order, along the lines of the Middle East and its religion-dominated society. Yes, that would be a good model. What did she care for the lives of Humans so long as they obeyed and worshipped?
She stood on top of Saint Peter’s Cathedral in North Adelaide watching the small city start to awaken for the day. Yes, this would be a good start to reclaiming Australia. Small and backwards enough to retain a high level of unconscious faith without so many of the vices the larger cities offered. The fact it was a state capital was of extra merit and the fact it did have so many churches was of further benefit.
She sent out her powers wide through the city and her suburbs surprised to find such a wide array of the Angelic Religions. There was a vast array of Christianity; Catholic, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, but there were also sects of Judaism and Islam. Perhaps there was something to be said for Australia’s multi-ethnicity, it was going to be far easier to assert her control. Her brow snapped down in annoyance when she picked up the scents of Neopagans, Buddhists, Hindus and those Chinese religions she had never even bothered to learn about. Hindus were a long-standing thorn in her side, but the revival of Pagan religions had gone mostly unnoticed unfortunately allowing it to spread, and it was about to gain considerable momentum because of bloody Brigid. Curse the bitch, she would smite her down.
There was also the feel of homosexuals. Damn liberal countries allowing them to live as they pleased. She missed the old days when they were hunted down. While she did not have the burning hatred for them that Michael did, she certainly didn’t see any merit or worth in them. They were a dead end, despite their noticeable presence. Perhaps it was time she visited the Middle East, their barbaric practices had always sat better with her than the other Arch Angels. She did so enjoy a good
witch hunt or gay bashing. And then there were the stonings.
Not for the first time, she wondered at Michael’s unwavering hatred of homosexuals. His hatred of magic wielders was practical, it had removed opposition to the Angels. The extermination of the Demon races had removed any threat to the Angels. Even the patriarchal nature of their religions cleverly played on Human divisions and natural strengths. Perhaps it was part of that divide, conquer and suppress regime that had worked wonders for their religions and various empires and societies.
She sent her search wider, feeling along the small country communities which she was glad to note were still very set in their Christian ways. But much to her annoyance there was a strong feel of Brigid along the River Murray. There was also the feel of her converts. So Brigid had done well in sowing her seeds, but she would not reap the power of her crop.
The magical energies of the world suddenly flexed. She was no Earth Goddess, or descended from one, but she knew what this meant. No, it couldn’t be, she wouldn’t dare. But sure enough, she heard Brigid’s voice speak within her head “I claim the Indus River and with it full control of Pakistan. Long last the rule of Brigid.” She felt the earth shift away from her and her brethren, turn to and accept Brigid instead. She screamed her fury, her power exploding outwards as raging electrical storms and wildfires. All over Adelaide people shivered or jumped for no reason. But her Inquisitors and the other Angels cowered and tried to cover their ears, to them her scream burned. Then she raised her voice in a roar “To Pakistan, every fucking Angel to Pakistan. Find that fucking bitch. Kill her” She exploded in a flash of sunlight, leaving behind a sense of unease in the city.
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