by Joe Duck
The archangel waved his hand. “No. I'm referring to the one where you were sitting behind that ice queen, Astreal, like a well-trained puppy. The one where the three flocks met to determine the fate of a … .” The archangel's mouth moved, but the last word he said was silent as was every other noise in the cave. Even the humming of the crystals vanished for a split second, as if someone had thrown a thick blanket over my head and jammed his fingers into my ears.
I frowned, and my head ached as I tried to recreate the unknown syllables. “What was that, archangel?”
Heliose tapped his finger against the table. "The trial. It took weeks trying to decide how we could use the ... . Why, you’ve even spent some time with the … herself."
The Codex vibrated against my side, but something in my mind silenced her words. I grabbed my head and grunted in pain. Every time the archangel uttered the unknown word, it felt like my head was going to split in half. I shivered as the air around me chilled, frosting my breath.
Heliose placed his hand over his chin in a thoughtful expression. "Interesting. Looks like a Seal, or at least part of one, is hampering your memory."
“Seal? You mean someone is blocking my memory?”
The archangel stepped onto the table, spilling my drink as he stretched his hand towards me. “Don’t worry, Narius. I will fix everything after I figure out how much you remember. Now hold still.”
His hand shone with a golden glow as power radiated from it. My eyes screwed shut to protect myself from his painfully bright palm. I pulled my head away, but his fingers grasped my face and held me in place.
Agonizing lights engulfed my eyes. His hand reached into my mind and pulled at something, a memory I had long forgotten. I screamed.
Narius—ten years ago
Mother sat on one of the thrones of the council room, her foot tapping against the hardwood floor whilst the two other archangels, Heliose from Lady Tristina’s flock and Ghaster from Lord Arudi’s flock, argued with each other. She scowled at them both, wrinkles of frustration disguising her usually gentle nature.
I squirmed in my seat. Bored of their everlasting debate, my eyes wandered away from the marble table and drifted towards the glass dome over my head. Unlike the dust-filled Great Library, the courtroom of Lord Arudi was spotless. Everything was unnaturally well-kept. Even his angels were pristine. Their large, bulky plate armor was oiled and polished, especially in the hard-to-reach places.
Twiddling my thumbs, I thought about the upcoming day that would mark the first decade of my life, and the first day I would be spending with my Codex. I hope I can be a good listener.
The air suddenly brightened, a flash of energy erupting from the center of the room as someone was summoned inside.
Wondering who it could be, I returned my gaze to the archangels.
There, the smallest angel I had ever seen sat on the ground, her head against her knees. Her dark hair seemed normal enough, but, to my puzzlement, I couldn't see her wings.
Mother’s wings, on the other hand, twitched with annoyance. She sighed and leaned back in her chair. After cracking open her Codex, she glared at the archangel of love. "Heliose, keep your problems to yourself. We are here to discuss the girl and the stolen Grimoire, not your wife.”
"You wouldn’t know anything about true love, you stuck-up bookworm. I will do whatever I can to save her."
"Not by trying to break out the very thing Lord Halfaya locked away."
Heliose thrust his finger at the wingless angel. “We have to use the girl. The demon will escape soon with the Grimoire missing. Don't you see? We need to drag him out of his cell and kill him, before he escapes, and not worry about the proper 'order' of things like Ghaster does."
Archangel Ghaster towered over the other archangels, his body larger than the two combined. His shaved head gleamed in the sunlight along with the jeweled blade at his side. He scrubbed his already-pristine hands in the small golden basin for what seemed like the hundredth time today. "We do not corrupt the minds of innocents for our benefit. Even if she is a … ."
Heliose slammed the table with his hands, sloshing the water inside the basin and spilling it onto the marble surface. "What about my wife?"
Ghaster summoned a clean cloth and wiped away the spill. He slid his finger across the reflective surface and grinned. "Do not be so impatient, Heliose. Her curse will be over eventually."
"She's not an angel, damn it. My spell won't keep her alive forever. At best, she has about a century. I know it is a desperate measure, but with Lord Halfaya sick and my Lady too occupied with her work, we must use the … to power the ritual and yank Palkeon out from his cell! Then I will personally shove an arrow through that bastard's eyes and end the curse he cast on her."
Mother snorted as she flipped another page. "It was your actions that had resulted in her being cursed in the first place. You shouldn't have let her study imprisoned demons. Furthermore, I doubt you would survive a fight with Palkeon, even in his weakened state.”
Heliose winced. “Well, that doesn’t matter now, does it? All we have to do is sacrifice the … and the curse on my wife will end.”
Ghaster dipped his hands into the basin of water again. "The little … is not a threat, and we do not harm the innocent—"
“Stop washing your hands, you compulsive freak!” Heliose shrieked. “Your skin is going to peel off!” Again, he pointed at the wingless angel, who hugged her knees and wept softly. “And that thing is not innocent. It is an abomination that must be purified immediately.”
Ghaster raised his hands and dried them in the sunlight. "She has not harmed the Order, and the Order shall not harm her."
"Ghaster! She is a bloody ... ! There is no need to treat her like a human!"
Mother closed her Codex, blue eyes illuminated with power. “Heliose, while it is entertaining to hear you wail, I do have better things to do, such as locating the missing Grimoire. And before you forget, Palkeon is a demon from our flock. His potential to escape is our problem, and this … has nothing to do with any of your problems. Lord Halfaya himself has imprisoned the demon, and you will not go against his wishes.” She bared her teeth at the archangel. "Do I make myself clear?"
Heliose avoided mother's eyes and muttered, "This is going to end in a disaster."
Mother ignored the archangel and glanced at me. She gestured for me to stand. “Narius, take Emily to confinement. We are done here.”
Narius—present day
My eyes flung open, and I gasped for breath as I woke up back in the cave. "Th-that wasn't a dream. Why was Emily in heaven?"
Heliose scowled. "Because she's a … !"
I clutched my face as pain pierced my skull.
The archangel tapped his half-filled bottle rhythmically. "Anyway, the Seal is intact, but it seems like the recent consumption of a magical artifact is responsible for unraveling parts of it."
“I... I ate an apple that changed me. Could it be the reason?”
The archangel shrugged and righted my tipped glass. “Well, it is nothing to worry about. Everything is fine.” Heliose poured the brown liquid from the bottle until the cup was filled to the brim. Then he waved his hand again, creating a crimson flower that turned to ash in his palm. He dumped the remains into the drink. “Now, as our lady Tristina once said: 'Drink! Everything looks so much better then.'”
I wanted to ask the archangel about the Seal, but it seemed a little rude. So, instead, I eyed the pitch-black drink and the specks of white powder floating on top. "Is it safe?”
He laughed. “Of course it is. Nothing bad ever happened from drinking.”
A bit nervous, I slowly raised the glass and sipped. Immediately, my tongue shriveled at the bitter taste. I tried to keep my body under control, but my eyes watered, and I squirmed as molten fire burned my tongue. I coughed and wiped my lips with the back of my hand. "Archangel... what are you doing inside a cave filled with crystals?"
He sipped the bottle like it was water and r
an his hand through his crimson hair. “I had to disappear before I was caught. The fact that the crystals mask my presence is an added bonus.”
“Caught? Added bonus? Wait. Who’s the human inside the crystal?”
“Drink first. This time, empty the glass.”
I stared at the murky water with ash still floating on top.
"Go on." He put his lips to the bottle again and drank.
I hesitated, but, wanting to know the answers, I shut my eyes and drained the cup. The liquid fire rampaged down my throat and sent me into another coughing fit.
The archangel’s eyes twinkled. “See? That wasn’t so hard. And, to answer your question... the human you see over there?" He poured more brown liquid into his mouth before continuing. “That’s my wife.”
“Wife?”
“Yes, and as Lady Tristina once explained, nothing can stand between two people in love,” he said, filling my glass.
I scratched my head at his cryptic words. “But she’s a crystal.”
His halo dimmed, and Heliose stared at the bottle with a hint of sadness in his eyes. He tossed away the empty bottle and summoned a new one. "I believe Elena is now what humans would call a 'trophy wife': something that one has, but cannot touch. She's cursed and will be dead the moment she steps out.”
I gulped down the drink and, oddly enough, began to enjoy the taste. My stomach warmed, and it felt like I was taking a pleasant bath. "There is no way to save her? Can I help you somehow? I can do anything you want.”
Heliose smiled and handed me the bottle instead of filling my cup. "I appreciate your concern, but I am very close to solving this problem. All I have to do is find the bastard responsible and land a dozen arrows in his face until he stops moving. The problem is reaching him. Now drink.”
Thirsty for more and happy to oblige an archangel, I drank from the bottle, savoring the fire flowing down my throat. In the blink of an eye, I drained the bottle.
It slipped from my fingers and shattered on the floor.
I coughed and giggled. The world became brighter. Everything seemed perfect. Even the chair I sat in appeared to be a trustworthy friend. I caressed it gently, wanting to whisper how good it felt to be on top of it, while the archangel and his two twin brothers laughed at me.
Laying my head against the table that looked like a giant chocolate, I slurred, “Hey, arch…angel there ish a female thing I need to go rescue.”
“Just half a bottle and you are already in your happy place?”
"Find Emily," I muttered as I licked the table. It tasted like chocolate.
“I have her under control.”
"Really? Can... I... go shee... her?”
“Sure, as soon as the drink kicks in. But, for now, take a look for yourself.” He waved his hand, and a small mirror about the size of my hand appeared on top of the table. Within it, I saw Emily sleeping inside a hall, tied to a chair.
I reached for the mirror and rubbed my face against the glass. “Hehe. You’re sho pretty.”
Emily
The faint salty smell of the ocean crept into my nose and with it came images of me forcing Narius onto the ground.
I cringed, unable to believe I had licked him, and moved my hand to rub my face. Except that a binding of some sort held my hand in place. Opening my eyes, I found myself tied to a chair by metal clamps.
I was inside a large abandoned hall. All around me, moss engulfed the ancient building, illuminated by a trickle of light that seeped through the tiny cracks on the ceiling. What is this place? Where's Narius? I hope he's not hurt.
The hall was a part of a temple, indicated by a shattered statue of an angel only a few steps away from me and a weathered stained glass window depicting a scantily-dressed male angel, probably from Lady Tristina's flock. Off in the distance, sunshine illuminated a corner at the end of the building, most likely from an open door or a window.
I glanced at my shackles. Right. I can get out of this. I have all my limbs. I just need to focus. That idiot could be eating something off the ground, or meeting strangers who want to use him for a slave. Or he could already be selling his body for food! The image of naked Narius down on his knees being exploited came to mind. No! I have to get out of here now!
I gripped the chair in an attempt to control my breathing. Stop! Calm down. Narius is fine. He's probably doing better than me. I exhaled and tugged at my seat, but the bonds refused to break.
Annoyed, I reached for my magic when the sound of coins clattering against the stony floor echoed through the ruined hall.
I craned my neck to the side and caught sight of gnomes lying on top of a round table, playing cards.
They drank milk and shoved my chocolate into their faces as they fearlessly used my precious money for their childish card game. The gnomes sprinkled the golden coins everywhere, dirtying them with their brown-stained hands. Next to the merry band of thieves was my baggage, including my staff. The latter leaned against the edge of the table, begging me to destroy the sticky-fingered gnomes.
I concentrated the magic in my hands to freeze my bonds. But before I could release it, two figures, one tall and the other short, emerged from around the lighted corner of the hallway, their footsteps echoing towards me. The taller figure was Mafis, still dressed in the ragged black robes that made him look like a beggar. The squatter figure beside him was a grey-bearded gnome wearing a red cone as a hat. He appeared about as threatening as Narius.
"Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me," Mafis said to the gnome.
I closed my eyes and stopped the spell, hoping the two would walk by me, thinking that I was asleep.
They halted right in front of me instead.
"What are friends for?" the gnome said, then lowered his tone. "But are you sure about this? It sounds a little too risky."
"It is, but this is my last shot for a happy ending."
"Don't be a fool. Ask your tall friends to help you. Or, you could hire us longer. I know I shouldn't do this, but I can give you an employer's discount and take off three percent."
The elf exhaled with a shake of his head. "No. As much as I need the help, I cannot risk the lives of elves or gnomes. That angel nearly killed you and your subordinate. Besides, from this point onwards, it wouldn't matter how many bows I have on my side. All that matters is my own willpower."
"Well, you stubborn bastard, I hope you get through this in one piece."
"So do I. Now, I have business with the human here. Could you take your friends and return home?"
"So eager to get rid of me?"
"It's for your own safety."
"Like this human girl is going to threaten anyone." A sharp kick against my shin made my leg jerk out.
I cursed as my eyes popped open.
The gnome smile. "Stop pretending to be asleep."
"How did you know?" I asked.
"You aren't drooling."
I winced. "That's ridiculous."
The gnome laughed and gave a dismissive wave to Mafis. "Right. I will be on my way, then. Contact me for any other problems you may have. Remember: we work cheap, and no hidden charges."
Mafis clasped the gnome's hand and shook it. "Good bye, Shovelface. Stay out of trouble."
Shovelface scratched his head and shouted at the card-playing gnomes. "We're leaving! Stop touching the human's junk!"
The gnomes responded by dropping everything in their hands, including my coins, much to my relief. They grumbled and slung their tiny bags over their shoulders. Before long, the last of them had left the hall, laughing and yelling like they were going on a picnic.
Once the hall was silent, I returned my gaze to Mafis. Our eyes met, and the silver-eyed elf glared at me.
He walked over to the abandoned table where coins, chocolate, and the rest of my stuff sat idly, fetched a chair, and dragged it behind him. He placed the wooden chair between me and the table and sat down.
Silence rolled in, and I waited while his eyes drifted over me, m
aking me feel uncomfortable. Relax. If I was brought here alive, then it means he won't kill me, at least not yet.
"So, what now?" I asked. And while you are at it, blurt out where you are keeping Narius.
"I want you to do something for me."
"No."
He said nothing more, his silver eyes tarnishing in frustration.
Irritated, I asked, "Isn't this the part where you torture me? Or are you just going to ogle me?"
The elf waved his hand. "None of that nonsense. I was told that you must help me voluntarily."
"That's not going to happen." I let out a long breath. "And sending those gnomes away was a mistake."
"Maybe. Maybe not."
Annoyed, I concentrated my magic, froze the bonds, then cracked them into pieces. I rose from my prison and stretched my arms.
The elf didn't bat an eye, and I became intrigued. "All right. Why are you doing this?"
"To save my daughter."
Remembering what Varian and the elf had discussed about his deceased daughter prior to the former's death, I raised my eyebrow at his odd statement. But then again, he could just as easily have another daughter. Satisfied by my own answer, I kicked a small piece of rubble to stretch my limbs and watched the stone strike the fallen statue's face.
I glanced at my staff. I would need it if I wanted to cast anything larger than a snowball. Unfortunately, the lazy elf was blocking my path, and I doubted he'd stay still and watch me if I went for it. "If you need the money to buy healing potions or pay some sort of ransom, there are easier ways than trying to summon a demon."
"Money?" The elf squinted. "No, I am doing this to resurrect my daughter."
"Resurrect?" Is that even possible?
"It's a long story."
I settled back into the chair, readying my magic, while pretending to lower my guard. "Well, go on. We've got the time. After that, you're going to tell me where you stowed Narius. And because I am such a generous soul, if you can convince me, then I will help you." By collecting your bounty and delivering you to a nice cozy dungeon.