“As payment for your debts, not as a gift,” Mikaela reminded him. Caelum stared at her, studying her face. Defeated, he shrugged and shut the door behind him, allowing Mikaela to release her breath. She looked over her shoulder to the flames that warmed her back. “The eternal flame…” she whispered as she stared at the dancing fire. Her eyes lowered, then looked back to the closed door in front of her. Her mind ran with questions about what goes on in her father’s thoughts.
Caelum slumped back on the sofa in Mikaela’s living room. He breathed in deeply, forcing himself to relax. But the thoughts in his mind plagued him, driving him to feel anxious. Caelum turned to the coffee table and retrieved the journal of Cornelius Wells.
Sweden
October, 1708
Heart grows fond of a simple land
With blood and sweat, they built homes by hand
But when the fire loomed over their heads
The sleep awakens, pulling children from their beds.
Whispers of danger reach me, and like a thief I must flee. The coins in my pocket can get me only so far, but my legs are able to take me further. I rely on only my strength and the ideas I create to survive this war without resorting to evil means.
I wish I could say the same for the rest of my kin.
My destination is not clear yet, but I have faith God’s angels will lead me there. I pray for the others, but I cannot do much for them.
God bless the men and women who call this place home. Even when the fire strikes, may they find another to shelter their children.
-C.W.
Chapter Four: Death as Witness
Feeling refreshed and well rested, Mikaela stepped out of her bedroom early the next morning only to find Caelum huddled over numerous books, her shelves in disorder. Stacks of books she had collected for years littered the coffee table while his beloved suit was flung over the back of the couch. She knew demons did not require sleep, but somehow, she could see the tiredness in his posture.
“Got homework?” Mikaela asked him.
“Yes, actually.” Caelum answered her without lifting his eyes from the book he was reading.
Mikaela sighed at the mess he’d made out of her previously organized shelves, but decided to leave him be and headed for the kitchen to grab herself some breakfast. When she came back minutes later holding a sandwich, she was surprised to find him in the same position as before. In the years that she had known him, Mikaela had never seen her father as focused on something as he was at that moment. His eyes frantically scanned the pages of the book he held, his face more serious than she had seen before.
What is she to you? Mikaela wanted to ask, feeling a tinge of jealousy over how the angel she’d never met had affected him so. She bit the inside of her cheeks and reminded herself of the relationship she’d had with Caelum over the years; it was never a picture-perfect family. She brushed off the thoughts in her mind and put on a nonchalant face. “What are you working on?” she asked, curious. She took a seat on the armrest, nibbling her sandwich.
“You won’t tell me what your little project is, why should I tell you mine?” Caelum replied.
“Because I can actually help you with what you’re doing, and I honestly doubt you can help me with mine,” Mikaela pointed out. Caelum finally faced his daughter, his tired eyes challenging her bright ones. Mikaela kept the smile on her face.
In the end, purpose won over pride and Caelum sighed heavily in defeat. “What do you know about the Angel of Death?”
“Grim Reaper with wings?” Mikaela said with a mouthful of ham, lettuce, and mayonnaise. She gulped the chunk of sandwich and continued. “Not that much. Only that she leads the reapers that take the souls into Purgatory.”
“So Death really is a ‘she’?” Caelum asked her.
“Honestly, I can’t believe you have lived at least ten times longer than I have, and yet you know so little about these things!” Mikaela scolded him.
“I didn’t make it my business to intervene in others’ business. Unless I meant to use it against them,” he explained to her with a smile. Mikaela shot him a glare, then leaned forward to grab one of the books on the coffee table.
“First lesson, you should learn not to insult the person trying to help you,” Mikaela scolded him. “Second, when you’re hunting for something, bait is always helpful.”
“You’re gonna lure the Angel of Death with bait?” Caelum looked at her in disbelief. “And what kind of bait—” Then, his eyebrows went up. He cocked his head to the side to see the porcelain jar sitting on the study table behind Mikaela. Even from afar, he could see the energy trapped inside it and the thought popped in his head. He smiled. “Oh…”
“What can I say?” Mikaela took another bite of her sandwich and smiled to him. “I know how to plan ahead.”
In the basement of her home, the witch and the demon prepared for their next task. Mikaela had drawn a symbol on the floor that she’d copied from one of her books. She placed the jar at the center of the symbol. The jar gave a little shake; the occupants realized what was happening to them. Voices began to seep out of it, inaudible at first, but growing louder as Mikaela readied to begin the spell.
“Release us…”
“Free…”
“Bargain.”
“Hell’s secrets for our freedom.”
“Oh, I doubt those bunch of idiots are stupid enough to spill any information for you. Especially when Azazel would be breathing down their necks at any time,” Caelum said with a smirk.
“The angel you seek.”
“We can tell you.”
“Yes, you can,” Caelum agreed. “Rather, you can lead us to the one who can.”
“Enough playing with the prey,” Mikaela snapped. “Are we doing this, or what?”
“Yes, we are. And please leave some for me. I could use a new set of batteries,” Caelum told her.
The jar gave a small shiver and cracks began to branch out; the souls inside were desperate for their freedom. Mikaela took this as a sign to start.
In her hands was a large and heavy book. She flipped the pages and read from it in an ancient language. Her voice was steady and careful to read the spell precisely. Caelum kept his hands in his pockets as the cracks in the jar grew longer, chips of the porcelain falling to the floor. Without warning, the jar burst from the inside, releasing the souls that wailed and screeched and scurried away. But the symbol Mikaela had drawn created a barrier that prevented them from getting far. The souls slammed against the invisible wall repeatedly, desperately trying to break free. They were powerless against the barrier, however, no matter how many of them pushed on it.
Mikaela continued her spells, unfazed by the chaotic pool of energy filling the entire room. Caelum watched the surge of power circling around them, amazed by what he was seeing. The voice of the witch echoed against the walls like the haunting call of a ghost. When Mikaela spoke the last word, the souls suddenly stopped moving. All around above the sigil, they floated in the air like gray bubbles. Caelum stepped forward with open arms, and Mikaela raised her palm to her right. She directed the souls on her side to him.
The souls escaped the barrier with her permission and sped towards the demon, who welcomed them into his body. Energy filled his body as it absorbed the souls. He felt the power branching out from his torso to his arms and legs, all the way to his fingers. It healed his tired and bruised muscles, awakening his senses again. The demon smiled, reunited with the energy that had been taken from him days ago.
On the other side, numerous souls still lingered in the air. Mikaela called upon them, and they pooled in her palm, constricting together until they formed a small black ball. The witch walked over to a chrome bowl on a table that stood in the corner of the room, where they’d gathered other ingredients for the next spell. Mikaela spoke a few words again, and the ball began to emit a heavy mist that spread over the bowl. From afar, Caelum could hear the moans of the lost spirits being offered as sacrifice for their ta
sk. Mikaela continued with her duty, deaf to their pleas as the entire ball melted away until it had dissolved from her palm and into the bowl, which held what looked like ash and bone dusts.
Mikaela took a few steps away from the bowl, returning to her father’s side as they both watched the events unfold. Sparks of electricity erupted from the bowl, then a great dark smoke lifted from it and into the air. The smoke drifted up, then slowly spilled onto the floor. The heavy smoke continued until the entire floor was filled in darkness.
Caelum felt himself gulp, uncertain of the result. His hazel eyes squinted at the smoke, seeing a figure forming inside. A lean, tall body stood just in front of where the bowl should be, shielded from their eyes by the smoke that filled the room. It moved, and Caelum poised himself, ready for an attack, while Mikaela stood frozen in place.
“Who requested the presence of our Lady, the mistress of death?” A male, rusty voice called to them.
Caelum raised a brow and turned to Mikaela. “I thought Death is female?” he asked her, and Mikaela rolled her eyes at him.
“I am Mikaela, daughter of Earth and Hell.” She introduced herself to the hidden figure. “I am with my father, a son of Earth and prisoner of Hell.”
“Why must we be so formal?” Caelum commented. “I am Caelum, and I was told that the summoning ritual we just performed was for Azrael.”
The smoke blew to the side, creating a path that revealed the tall man standing in the corner of the room. He wore a simple gray robe with a hood over his thin frame that covered his face in shadows. But neither Caelum nor Mikaela needed to see its face to know what it was. A reaper. “You are in no position to speak of our Lady’s name so casually, servant of Hell.”
“Rebel of Hell,” Caelum corrected him. “Also made it on Hell’s Most Wanted list.”
Mikaela shot him a warning look before returning her attention to the one in front of them. “We need to speak to the Angel of Death. It is of upmost importance.”
“Caelum…” The reaper murmured the name. “Ah, our Lady has spoken of you.”
“Oh?” Caelum’s brows shot up. He turned to Mikaela with a smile. “I am getting quite popular recently, huh?”
“Shut up,” she mumbled under her breath.
“The one who aided in the capture of Ramiel, the fallen brother of our Lady,” the reaper continued. “What is your intention in calling upon the Mistress of Death?”
“Funny you should mention it. I am interested in what your Mistress had to say about that particular incident .Out of curiosity, how does your Mistress know I was there? Heard about it in the local news? Happened to pass by the event on her way to visit some old friends?”
The reaper took a step forward, alarming the two. “What is the objective of your query?”
No interest in backing out, Caelum took a step forward to meet the reaper and told him, “I am interested in joining the Monster Book Club. And I have an inkling that your Lady Death may get me a premium membership card.”
The reaper was silent for a few seconds. They waited for a few moments, watching it stand like a statue. Caelum looked back to Mikaela, who shrugged. “Can’t you just speak directly to the point without metaphors and pop culture references? I think you confused it,” Mikaela scolded him, and Caelum couldn’t bring himself to answer except for another shrug and a smirk.
“Be honored that our Lady has placed her faith in you,” the reaper commented, causing Caelum and Mikaela to snap back to it. “Our Lady was present during the capture of her brother, Ramiel, but she wishes not to divulge her involvement with the fallen one’s intentions.”
“I think it was kinda obvious already,” Caelum said.
“Ramiel was her brother who had lost his way, and paid for his mistakes with his own life,” the reaper explained, catching Caelum’s attention.
“Ramiel is dead?” He wanted to confirm, the gravity of the situation finally penetrating his mind.
“Yes,” the reaper revealed. “Our Lady had hoped to save her brother from his misguided ways, but the matter was beyond her control.”
“The fallen angel, Ramiel, kept me prisoner and questioned me about Hell’s plans against Earth,” Caelum told the reaper. “Does your Lady have a clue what he was talking about?”
The reaper fell silent again, seemingly hesitating on how to answer him. “Our Lady is only interested in protecting the balance of the worlds, just as God commanded her and the rest of her kind. But whispers have caught her attention, suggesting a threat against what she is protecting. She is alarmed.”
Caelum frowned. “And?”
The reaper was reluctant. Unease was obvious in its aura. The answer that came was one Caelum had been expecting, but hoped was wrong. “Lucifer’s rising.”
“Lu- Lucifer?” Mikaela repeated with furrowed brows and bewildered eyes. “As in the Lucifer, the archangel?”
“Yes,” the reaper confirmed. “The first angel who rebelled against Heaven intends to escape from his cage and return to the Gates of God. Sadly, our Lady has not uncovered the process by which he intends to break free from Hell.”
“Ariel…” Caelum blurted out the name. “They will use Ariel to free Lucifer?”
“But how?” Mikaela asked.
“Doesn’t matter, as long as we release her, they can’t do anything about it.” He looked to the reaper. “Can your boss reach Lucifer’s cage?”
“I am afraid not,” the reaper told him. “Our reach only goes as far as Purgatory, where all souls go after leaving their vessels. Our Lady can enter the Gates of Heaven, but Hell is beyond her reach. Especially the cage.”
Caelum gritted his teeth. He hadn’t been too hopeful about it, knowing the laws of the other worlds. But he’d wanted to check. Knowing that Lucifer’s plan to break free from his cage may involve Ariel, it drove him further to save the angel. The question was how.
“Where is Azrael?” Caelum asked.
“She is hidden,” the reaper replied. “No other angel is aware of what our Lady of Death knows, nor her involvement with Ramiel before his capture. She will be in grave danger if the others discover this, whether the fallen one’s claims are true or false. The laws of Heaven are enforced strictly, and the punishments for any hint of rebellion are heavier than any mortal crimes.”
“Does it really matter when the worlds are threatened to be out of balance? Isn’t that her priority, as you said earlier?” Caelum prodded.
“Actions taken without caution may lead to actions put to waste,” the reaper told him. “Our Lady means to be certain of the events surrounding us all before she makes her move. It is the one thing that set her apart from her fallen brother.”
“He’s right,” Mikaela agreed. “It’s pointless if we charge into battle without knowing who the enemy is. Or what they’re planning.”
Caelum had his lips pursed in thought. He’d hoped to gain the help of the Angel of Death in rescuing Ariel, but as far as he could tell, Caelum couldn’t expect any. He lowered his eyes and had his mind running through other options. If even the ones against whatever Heaven and Hell are planning can’t help me, who can?
“My time to visit has been prolonged,” the reaper announced. “I shall leave.”
“Wait!” Caelum stopped it. Both the reaper and Mikaela turned to him, startled at the sudden urgency in his voice. He heaved his breath, searching for anything that may bring him back hope. “Tell your boss…” he started. “Tell Azrael that saving the angel, Ariel, from Lucifer’s cage should be our priority. They didn’t take her there for a damned tea party; they will use her for whatever Lucifer’s plan is. And I’m willing to cooperate.”
Silence fell upon the room as the message sank in. Mikaela watched the fire in Caelum’s eyes, seeing again the determination he had to save this angel. She looked away, feeling her jaw set tight.
“I will deliver your message,” the reaper finally spoke. “I may see you again soon, Caelum.” Like smoke, his figure dissipated in the air.
&
nbsp; Caelum’s fists were balled at his sides, his eyes bearing emotions he could not speak. Worry, disappointment and panic. He had to do something. He let out his breath and marched towards the stairs that led up to the living room. His heavy footsteps were followed closely by Mikaela’s softer and more cautious ones. The witch said nothing while he paced around the living room, forcing himself to think.
How the hell do I get to the cage and bring back Ariel? He repeatedly asked himself while his feet carried him around the room. With thousands of demons awaiting him, and Lucifer himself as the final fight, Caelum had no chance at all of retrieving Ariel from the cage.
He closed his eyes, and in his mind he could see her blue ones, curtained by her dark hair. It wasn’t only the matter of rescuing the angel he had grown fond of, but also preventing Lucifer from stepping back into the Gates of Heaven. Lucifer, the vengeful angel who was cast out for disrupting the balance of the worlds. Caelum didn’t know what Lucifer intended to do once he was free, and he wasn’t interested in finding out.
“Dad.” Mikaela’s quiet voice called him. It was a rare occasion for Mikaela to address him in such a familiar way, given how their relationship had never been perfect. He looked up at her and saw her green eyes full of concern. A tug at his chest stopped Caelum from his aimless movements.
“I—” He began, but didn’t finish. Caelum didn’t know what to do or what to say. The demon who wandered aimlessly without a goal was now at a loss when he’d finally gained one. He would’ve laughed at himself if his other emotions didn’t weigh him down.
“Why do you want to save her?” Mikaela forced the words out of her lips.
Caelum looked at her with wide eyes, unsure of how to answer her question. “Lucifer mustn’t be set free. I think we all know that.”
She wasn’t convinced. “Do you—” Mikaela hesitated, shaking her head. “You care about this angel, Ariel. Don’t you?”
A lump caught in Caelum’s throat. He wasn’t certain about his feelings for the angel. Did he want to save her for the sheer enjoyment of the mission? Was it for the sake of the camaraderie they had shared in capturing the fallen angel? Or was it her passion, her loyalty, and the strength in her despite the challenges that drew him in? His eyes found the red journal sitting on the coffee table. Am I still hoping? He asked himself, and then let out a chuckle. The better question is, am I delusional?
The Damned and The Pure Series: Books 1-4 (The Damned and The Pure Series Box Set) Page 25