Chapter 25
Sariel stumbled out of the thick mists of the Borderlands right into the bright lights of Purgatory shining down on Limbo. She gasped in wonder as she viewed the colossal crater that was Hell. It stretched as far as she could see in every direction, it was impossibly deep, edged in gigantic claws of jutting rock reaching up into the white hemisphere of Purgatory mimicking the crater below. Stabbing down from the ceiling was a colossal stalactite on the far horizon, piercing through the fog covering the whole crater. That was her destination.
The sand drifts had led onto solid rock, through which the Acheron continued to split into a myriad of fast running rivers that spewed forth out into the empty space of the darkened crater before plummeting down into the cloud bank and the next Level of Hell. She could not see through the clouds, but she knew that hidden in them was a path leading down into the crater. Flying was ill advised in such magical confines, the combination of Hell and Purgatory’s containment spells could literally rip her apart.
She walked to the edge of the sandbank, walking through the wall of light rising up to Purgatory. It was to catch any saveable souls and send them up to the first Terrace. She knew that there were seven Terraces above her and eight Levels beneath her, each representing the Angelic versions of sin. On each Terrace of Purgatory, there were Angels condemned to punish the souls of the redeemable to purify them. It was a post-Hell construction, the Arch Angels’ punishment for those who had not taken a side. They were Cursed to live in Purgatory.
Beneath them in Hell were the Fallen Angels, corrupted by Michael and Gabriel’s spells. Very little was known about it, other than each Level had to be descended in sequential order to reach Lucifer’s Crater. It was just above the lowest point of Hell and harboured the only exit for the corporeal.
What was held within Hell’s depths was unknown other than that there were Demons and souls of the Cursed.
Right now she stood in Limbo, the lip of the great crater, the First Level of Hell. It was here that nearly all unsanctified souls ended up unless they were lucky enough to fall into another Underworld. They did not belong to the Angels and thus could not ascend through Purgatory to eventually reach Heaven, but neither did they technically belong to Hell. They were simply trapped here. It was the final resting place for all Atheists, Agnostics, and many Pagans. The Hindus and Buddhists were lucky, their belief in reincarnation negated the need to enter the Underworld. Those who did not end up in one of the Ancient Underworlds were doomed to be left to linger in Limbo for all eternity. Or at least that was what she had been taught.
She turned her gaze upwards, using her keen Angelic eyesight to slightly pierce the rays of light to see the First Terrace and the hundreds of souls being dumped by the rays onto the Terrace. Angels, all three types, milled back and forth picking up the souls and leading them away or bringing shaking souls back to the rays to ascend further. Every one of the Angels was grim-faced with slumped shoulders. They were all the proof she needed that you had to stand up for what you believed, fence sitting would not get you what you want.
She hoped none of them could see her. They held no love for Heaven and would probably attack her on sight. Or report her when one of the Arch Angels came to Purgatory.
She stepped forward looking once again over the edge only to see the water spumes sinking into the dark gloom beneath. The only way she would see what lay within was if she descended, and once she did there would be no turning back. Not that she could turn back now anyway, she was sealed into Hell. At a loss as to where to begin, she started walking along the edge of the crater, looking for anything that resembled a path.
She had walked for a long time before she noticed a blue-white glow separate from the walls of white light cocooning this Underworld. She increased her pace to discover that Minos stood on a particularly large island. She gasped “Minos what are you doing here?”
“The same thing as Charon or the Furies. Human belief has subjected us to being part of Hell. Normally we are strong enough to remain apart, but we must return to perform the tasks we have been set. The demand overwhelms our powers. The Curse is powerful beyond measure and completely unrelenting. The presence of a living soul will only strengthen it further, awakening its most powerful and dangerous components. Be prepared to face the Demon forms of many of us.”
“And what do you do here Minos?”
He shook his head slowly “Why I judge the dead of course. I use this bloody tail to determine which Level of Hell the poor souls will be condemned to. Then the Curse drags them down to where they deserve.”
“But where are they all, there are plenty of souls being dredged up from the rivers into Purgatory. Why are there none before you and what about the souls that do not belong to Hell?”
“Firstly, I have just finished my judging, your presence empowers the process. Secondly, many are simply dragged by the river straight into Hell. I am more of a figurehead, Dante’s image of me. As for the millions of souls that wash up on the shores and should be stuck here waiting for eternity. Well, the place gets so crowded that they end up being pushed into the rivers, islands collapse and yet many more fling themselves into the waters driven to the point of madness that they care not where they end up. Being stuck here is Hellish, there is no change, only the continual drain of one’s essence. At least in Hell they can fade back into the Lifestream. Here there is no chance of that.”
She stared at him horrified, why had she not been told this before?
“Are you aware that you are being hunted? By a Greater Demon. It has passed through the lights of Limbo recently, following your scent.
“How do I get away from it?”
“You can only outrun it, you cannot hide. Descend further into Hell Sariel and be quick.” He whipped his tail around him and spread his arms wide behind him. The sheet of water that had been running over the edge of the island dried up to reveal stone steps. She hurried over to the edge to see that they descended while following the edge of the crater’s edge. She turned to thank Minos, but he was gone. She hurried down the steps, trailing her left hand against the crater wall. Behind her the water started flowing again, covering any trace of where she had entered. She looked up expecting to see a torrent of water pouring down on her, but the water shot out into the void before falling down. The steps were set back from the streams of water. She was hidden from view as she descended into the Second Level of Hell.
Azrael watched her from the moment she entered Limbo until she disappeared down the steps. Good, she had made it this far, if she had survived this long, then she had obviously honed her fighting abilities somewhere. She would need them in Hell. Now if only she could reach the end and break the Curse, the balance would be returned, and the world would be allowed to heal.
He cast a look around Purgatory before he ascended to Heaven. He doubted any had seen her and if they had it didn’t matter, it was too late to intervene now.
“If is done Sariel has entered Hell and descended to the Second Level of Hell.”
“You have done well Minos.”
“I’m surprised I was able to leave. She’s is one powerful young lady, Hell will pull out all its worst for her. She breathes power down there.”
“She is going to die down there because of you all. She is far too powerful to have entered Hell.”
“I have said this before Thanatos she is the only one who can do it.”
Nyx interjected “her powers are unique, Hell will respond but her powers are surprisingly suited to battling whatever it throws at her. We can only wait in any case.”
“How long until we are free?”
“Who can say, that all depends on Sariel.”
A meeting had been called. All the Arch and Elder Angels. It was something that affected them directly. What surprised Gabriel was that she had had no clue one was coming. She always knew when one was going to be called because usually it was her or Michael that called it. The others at least informed her, which meant only Azrae
l could have called it.
Sure enough, he sat on his throne with the four other Arch Angels. She took her seat confused. Why would Azrael call a Council? He was the least active of all the Elder.
A few more Elders entered then the doors slammed shut. They were all here now.
Azrael spoke in his chilling voice “I have called this session because I have discovered news that affects us all and poses the greatest risk to us, beyond even that of Brigid and Hera.”
He had everyone’s full attention. What on earth could be more of a risk than those two? Heck, the rate Brigid was claiming and converting was downright alarming despite their best efforts to the contrary. It had been decided the only way to counter her insurrection in India was by invading it with Pakistan.
It was Michael that pressed him “What is the greatest risk to us?”
“Sariel”
No one understood. Blank faces turned from one to another. Even she was at a loss as to how Sariel was a threat. Sure she was powerful, but she was naive, untrained and currently missing.
“How is Sariel the greatest threat we face. Is she a power source to one of the Goddesses?”
“No. It is worse than that.”
Everyone leant forward in their seats. He had an annoying habit of waiting before he spoke again. “Sariel has entered Hell.”
Jesus Christ! What the fuck had happened for her to end up in Hell. This was a God damn nightmare.
Michael spoke slowly and with great care “In what state was she in? Poor of health? Under command? Is she frail? Will she perish?” Hope was lost for her, he had to come to terms with that, publically. She could not be retrieved now, and she was too much of a danger to be allowed to live. Unfortunately, they could do nothing.
“She seemed healthy enough, she didn’t look frail but as to coercion I cannot say. Such spells are beyond the understanding of Purgatory’s guards.”
There was silence before one of the Elders spoke “Can she not be retrieved like the Greater Demons. They have been summoned to the Surface before to suit our needs, could we not do the same for her?”
Azrael answered “We can only do that once Hell has consumed her and she is a Greater Demon. It is too late for her, there is nothing we can do.”
“Is she not a threat being alive, she could free some of the Greater Demons. She has no idea what she is doing but once freed they would. We could have all Hell breaking loose. Can we not eradicate her?”
Michael’s glare pinned the man to his chair by fury alone. Even Gabriel was not daring to answer, though she completely agreed. Sariel was now a threat whether she realised it or not.
Once again Azrael answered “The only way to eradicate her as you suggest, to remove this problem, would for one of our own to descend into Hell themselves. It is a suicide mission at best. I doubt any would volunteer.”
No one did.
“We will have to wait, it is unlikely she will survive long in any case. She is but a young, naive and untrained girl with untapped power. She will perish soon.’
Michael turned his head away from the crowd as he disappeared. They let him go, there was nothing any of them could do for him. Despite using her, Michael did love Sariel.
Still that answered where she had been. Angels could be redirected into finding the Goddesses without any distractions now. Though she would wait until Michael gave the order. Not even she was willing to anger him so.
Chapter 26
The Second Level of Hell was hidden beneath a thick cloud bank that seemed to absorb any of the ambient light floating around. It was dark and menacing. She stood a couple of steps above it, watching it gently lap against the steps and wall. The rivers poured straight into the darkness, leaving no mark on the surface of the clouds. It was eerily calm, the only sound being of rushing and roaring water from far above. She could barely see the top of the crater, only discernible from by the darkness encircling the lights of Purgatory above.
She took a step down, and then another until she stood one step above the clouds. Hesitantly she placed one foot down onto the unseen step. Her foot chilled, but nothing else happened. Perhaps the only danger was falling off the edge because she couldn’t see the steps. Carefully she placed her other foot on the next step down. She spent the next several minutes carefully feeling for the next step before she continued to descend. As she lowered herself into the inky darkness, she found it akin to stepping through steam, only cold. There were no solid or liquid structures, only the wall to her left and the steps beneath her feet. There was little to suggest to her body that she was neck deep in darkness.
She took a steadying breath before she stepped down the last step, feeling a little foolish for her hesitation. She walked down feeling the coldness spread up her neck. She shook her head at her own foolishness, she would just have to be careful not to fall off while she descended. Clumsiness and blindness were the only dangers.
She discovered how shockingly wrong she was once she was fully under the cloudbank. There was a flash of white light, the Level above was sealed shut. Then the illusion wore off. She was in a brutal tempest, violent winds knocking her against the wall, tugging mercilessly at her wings and clothes in an attempt to drag her off the steps. Were there had been very little sound now there was far too much. Winds roared, rain pelted her, and lightning constantly flashed, the booming thunder more like an unsteady drum beat. Her eyes were blinded by the flashes of white, grey and blood red lightning streaking through the otherwise impenetrable darkness. While her ears continued to be assaulted by the booming of thunder and wail of tortured winds. They shrieked and screamed far more than could ever possibly be natural.
Then she realised why. With each lightning strike, she noticed more and more people being flung around in the storm. Clutching desperately towards each other, reaching out to anyone as they were spun around and around, smacked off the cliffs and each other as the wind changed direction every time the thunder boomed.
She screamed as a body was flung next to her, the soul clearly visible through the corporeal body. This was the Underworld, spirits didn’t have bodies. Why did he have a body that bled and bruised? Before she could move, it slumped forward and was dragged back into the maelstrom.
She shivered as the cold rain beat against her. She pressed herself as close to the cliff as she could. This wasn’t like the rest of the Underworlds. She had seen all of Hades, Isis had described Aaru, and she had ventured along several waterways with Hecate. Nothing but the living had corporeal bodies, the spirits of the dead could not interact with the physical world. Why were they in bodies here?
The whole crater shook as an unholy roar filled the air. The rain stopped, the thunder silenced and everything fell dark while the roar went on. Her heart went out to it, whatever it was it was in agony. Then the roar fell silent and in its wake the storm started up. She wondered if that had been Lucifer trapped in his Beast form. What an awful punishment for such a brilliant man.
A screech filled the air. It was close, it had to be within this Level of Hell. The screams of the damned only increased as they were flung about and she quickly started to descend again. Whatever it was she didn’t want to hang around to find out what it was. To her surprise the stairs widened out, expanding out onto wide terraces, littered with shifting bodies before returning to thin steps again.
She was running across one such terrace when lightning flashed illuminating the whole area. There were bodies strewn all across the terrace. Curious she knelt by the nearest one. It was a woman with pallid olive skin and ragged black hair. But her brown eyes were wide looking at her. The wind changed, and she started sliding across the terrace. Sariel reached out and grabbed her by the hand as the other bodies were blown off the terrace into the storm. As soon as her hand grasped the woman’s light moved through her skin from where she held Sariel’s down into her heart before spreading throughout the rest of her. The woman looked at her with her dark eyes and gestured down the path.
In silence Sar
iel ran after the woman, her hand clutched desperately in the woman’s. They ran for a long time, through many more terraces, each of them slightly bigger than the last until they came across a massive terrace that stuck far out into the crater. Sariel couldn’t even see the other side in the storm, but she could tell it was different from the other terraces. The rain fell softly here, and the thunder was but a dull, distant rumble. For the first time since she had entered the Level, she could actually hear other noises, their heavy breathing and the slap of their feet on the wet rock.
The woman let go and turned to stare at her. It was clear from the piercing gaze and air of authority that she had once been an important person.
“How is it that you have a body? You should only be a spirit.”
The woman laughed “This is Hell, the Angels’ spells changed all the dynamics of the Underworld. Here we are subjected to endless torture for committing sin. We are given our bodies back in order to feel pain and suffering.”
“That is horrendous.”
“The Gods were cruel, but the Angels are even crueller. Which begs the question why is an Angel in Hell?”
“Because the only way to leave the Underworld is through Hell.”
How very naive of her, one could not leave Hell without breaking the Curse. Someone had told her half-truths. Still the girl held potential. She had power enough to survive. If she could was another question. “You’re an Arch Angel it should be easy for you to leave.”
“Hell is sealed shut, the only exit is through Lucifer’s Crater.”
Which was true but whoever had told her that had neglected to mention she would have to battle the Beast to get past. “Then I wish the best of luck to you?”
“Sariel”
“Cleopatra”
“Why does that sound familiar?
The Angels' Pride Page 36