But it would learn it could not have such a loose leash without it being jerked.
This had always been her region, and her city. It had been rebuild for Constantine under her command, a new Rome free from its pagan past. When the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire as it was called later, had fallen to the Ottomans it had changed flavours, but it had remained resolutely hers. They had updated the Hagia Sophia and built many more mosques. But alas all good things come to an end. But that did not mean they could not be again.
“The city has changed.”
She turned to look at Constantine, one of her favourites, a most honoured position in Heaven. He was one of the very few Ascended Angels that she considered to be the equivalent of an Elder. He had handed her the Roman Empire and thus their success in the War. If she could, she would have changed him into an Elder. Now the city would remember its greatest citizen. How dare they rename the city!
“Yes, it has. But not so much as that we can’t bring them to heel.”
Light flared around the building, she wiped away all decay, all damage, all wear and tear. The Hagia Sophia stood as brand new as the day it was built, shining brightly in the Turkish night. Ripples of magic flared through the city as Constantine added his powers to the mix and claimed control of his city. Gongs sounded, minarets lit up like beacons, shining crucifixes alongside star and crescents glowed in the sky. From the Hagia Sophia rose six gigantic wings of light that swept across the city. The people stared in wonder and amazement at the miracles occurring.
Within the Hagia Sophia, several balls of light deposited mortals before Gabriel and Constantine. The President, Prime Minister, Grand Mufti of Istanbul and Ecumenical Patriarch all glanced around in startled horror. They had been summoned from their beds to find themselves standing before two glowing Angels in the Hagia Sofia. They glanced around fearfully at the grating noises and at the two Divine beings.
They were composed of light. One was adorned in Roman style armour with four wings the other in heavy ceremonial robes with six wings. They towered over the men, cold, imposing figures. They radiated strength and power, and the men were both scared and amazed.
After all the issues in the world, God had finally sent his messengers.
The Mufti and Patriarch fell to their knees before the Angels, the politicians were a tad slower on the uptake, but they too fell when Gabriel turned that formidable gaze of hers on them.
“You men represent the strength of Anatolia, a most blessed land. Long has it been favoured by Heaven and in that time is has grown strong. But a darkness covers the land, and the light of Heaven is faltering. The time has come for Heaven to take a more active role and Constantinople is the honoured city of choice.”
“Istanbul”
Gabriel glared with such loathing at the fool who had dared correct her, fire bloomed across her wings of light, the whole interior was cast into stark relief. He prostrated himself before her, fearing for his life. He felt certain he was going to die. Constantine watched impassively, he expected the man to die within seconds.
Gabriel surprised them all “Istanbul is a Human name, this city was named Constantinople by the Angels in honour of one of our most noble saints. From here on forth mortals, the city shall wear its Heavenly name and shall assume its proper role.”
“And that role is?”
“To be a bastion of faith, to be what it has always been, a stronghold for the Angels.” There was a thunderclap “Zerachiel.”
A ray of sunlight descended from the ceiling and another Angel appeared. They were armoured with six wings, holding a long, deadly looking spear. Outside the sacred building rays of light descended all over the city and within each appeared a Seraphim with shining armour and wings, whether they had four or six they were masters of their craft. They were the epitome of Angel strength, beauty, and power. They were also as cold as ice. They turned their blazing eyes over the cityscape and the people.
The populace was both scared and thrilled.
Gabriel turned back to the mortals “You are now accountable to Constantine and Zerachiel, who will report to me and the other Arch Angels. Should these reports be found wanting then we shall have to review the leadership of this nation. She glared at the Patriarch and Mufti so much that they were on the verge of wetting themselves. “You shall put aside your petty rivalries because you are the Children of God. From this point forward Turkey will be a bastion of cooperation and shared faith. Let Heaven’s will be done!” she yelled the last part, which echoed across the city. The Hagia Sophia grumbled as it increased in size, the celestial wings sweeping back and forth across the city.
Then she ascended to Heaven leaving behind four scared mortal men with two very powerful and intimidating Angels.
Azad Ali looked up along with his men at the night sky as a ray of sunlight descended from the Heavens. The battlefield of Kashmir was quickly lit up by other rays of sunlight descending and shifting across the scene. Yet the most prominent beam lit up the area around him and his generals. It had been some time, but he instantly recognised the appearing form of the Arch Angel Michael.
He fell to his knees before his Lord. His generals were a bit slower on the uptake. Michael glared them into cowering submission but for Azad, he actually smiled. “Rise my child for you have done well.”
He felt as though a weight had been taken off his shoulders. Michael had been absent for quite some time, he had feared he had angered the Angel or had failed him in some way. Yet now he stood here radiating approval for all the world to see.
“Well, indeed, my child. You are to be rewarded.” He summoned a glowing spear, with all his skill he twirled it around and stabbed Azad in the chest. Light flared through his entire body and shot out his shoulder blades as two glowing wings. The spear disappeared as he turned to stare in wonder at the wings, he hesitantly started to beat them. As he did so, their phantom form took on more detail. Feathers of golden light branched off and filled out the detail. He had a perfect replica of Angel wings, only crafted of light.
“Azad Ali you are now marked by Heaven, you are a Prophet of Islam and all the world shall know.” His voice thundered across all of Pakistan and many of the people prayed towards their new prophet and the Angels of God.
“Now Azad, take me through your battle plan.”
William Tree and his fellow senators stopped their discussions with their generals as the whole building shook. A deep rumble rolled through Nashville as spears of light stabbed down through the oppressive cloud bank that had swamped the United Christian States of America ever since it had seceded and assumed hostilities with the Heradmantium Empire.
Satellite images and news reports filtering in from the unclaimed states had shown just how dangerous those clouds were. The entire state of Utah had been blasted into oblivion.
Now they looked at each other in horror, what did that Demon have up her sleeve now? Was this the end of their lives?
An Angel burst into existence in the room, scattering furniture, papers and people everywhere as a fierce wind blew out from him. Fire roared across his wings and Roman-style armour. The eyes set within the helmet glowed as they scanned the room before focussing on the president.
As one, all the people fell prostrate before the Angel.
You will bow before an Arch Angel. His voice roared through their minds like mining drills and pounding waves. They tried to cover their ears but still the roaring seemed to go on.
So this is the pitiful defence against the might of the Heradmantium Empire? Whatever has happened to the United States? What has happened to this bastion of faith?
“We have nothing to counter their Monsters!”
Ariel turned to face the general, her presence pulsating power. “No, you do not. But now is the time for change. Magic will battle magic, and Heaven shall push back Hera’s advance into our lands. Fear not mortals the Heavenly Legions are here to help you win.”
“And where were you before?”
&nbs
p; The foolish mortal died as Ariel grabbed him by the throat and her flames roared down her arms. She cast her glowing eyes around the room, daring anyone else to be so foolish. None were, they had absorbed the lesson.
“Now mortals, listen carefully to me. You do not question an Arch Angel or Heaven’s will. Now tell me, what are your plans to turn back this Demon encroachment?”
“This is a strange place for a meeting brother.”
Azrael turned from watching the raging Southern Ocean and the storms battering Antarctica. Through the violent blizzard, he could see the form of his brother. “Heaven cannot know of this meeting.”
“Like you are concerned.”
Azrael punched him in the face with all his magical might “You haven’t spent near two millennia under the authoritative rule of your son and his bitch wife.”
Samael cupped his face, already the pain had faded and the injury healed. He was shocked, his brother had never raised a hand against him, or anyone as far as he was aware. “What the fuck?”
“You didn’t know what you asked of me when you made me promise to remain in Heaven and look after your daughter. I have lived on the knife’s edge while they have ruined the world and isolated Sariel. Do you know that your son and his wife stripped her of her powers? They left her to the cruel taunting of the Angels, it is a miracle that she not only survived but flourished in such adverse conditions. They imprisoned her in the Palace and kept her from learning.”
“Yes, I do know, father and grandmother filled me in on all the details. I am well aware that she was stripped of her powers, I know what she grew up with. That is why I asked you to remain in Heaven while she was growing up, to look out for her. You could have left once she was grown.”
“Like Hell, I could. Where the fuck would I go? You were in Hell and father was sealed away in the Underworld. There was nowhere for me to go that they could not find me. As for Sariel, that poor girl had her aging stunted. She fled Heaven as a child, not an adult, as she should have been.” He glared at his brother “Besides, I don’t break my promises.” It was an old jibe but one that struck home.
“Yes, I made mistakes, yes, I broke my promises but I tried to fix them. Yes, I am the Great Betrayer, but I was not the only one, I did not stand alone. Did I not try to broker peace with the Gods? I had a sense of what was coming, remember who taught me prophecy. I knew I wouldn’t be there for Sariel, but I knew you could, and you, dear brother, were the tipping point. Who else could I trust but you?”
“You bastard! You always know what to say.”
He smiled, “They don’t call me the Seducer and Serpent for no reason.”
“I hate to admit it, but I have missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, Azrael. Hell was, well Hell, without you.”
“I think it was a most suitable punishment.”
“The family had much the same opinion.”
Azrael’s humour evaporated “I hate you so much sometimes, how is it that they have been welcomed back into the fold for all your sins.”
“Azrael, you too belong within the fold of family.”
He turned at that haunted voice and came face to face with his father. His violet eyes held not a drop of scorn, judgement or loathing. All they held was love. He found himself pulled into a hug that broke down his walls. He stood there crying into his father’s shoulder.
“Azrael, you have nothing to be ashamed of.” He looked up into the starry darkness that was the face of his grandmother. She smiled at him with her midnight smile, then she kissed him on the forehead. He felt dark power roll through him and chase away all his weariness and fear.
“Why are you all being so nice to me?”
“Because they know you looked after me, Uncle, and you were the one to let me free. You said it yourself, you don’t break your promises, but you pushed the envelope enough to ensure that I escaped.”
He turned to look at the source of that beautiful voice. Little Sariel had grown up, he had known the child for centuries, and yet it had taken mere months to turn her into an extraordinarily beautiful woman. She was her mother but with his family’s colouring. “I never said thank you” she stepped forward as his father let him go. She smiled at him as she hugged him “Thank you for always being there, Uncle. And thank you most of all for setting me free.”
“It was my pleasure, Sariel. You are the greatest child anyone could have ever asked for. If I ever have my own, I wish they would be just like you.”
“Aww” her face was still as expressive as it had ever been. Genuine warmth and pleasure shone out of her face.
“We are a family, and despite all of our disagreements” Hecate flicked her eyes at Samael, who rolled his eyes “Since you have missed out on the updates while passed out, Sariel has caused a great change of heart within the family.”
“Why does everyone say I did it?”
“Because, Sariel, you are more unique than you can possibly realise. And it is true, you have made us realise we actually have hearts.”
“Of course, you have hearts.”
“If you knew us before we all met you, Sariel, you wouldn’t say that with such certainty.”
“But why judge someone on their past? You have all made mistakes, but you’ve all moved on.”
“Out of the mouth of babes oft come great wisdom.”
Sariel glanced at Nyx “I’m not a child.”
“Compared to us dear you are.”
Her succinct response made her laugh “It is good to have the family back together again” she embraced Azrael “though festivities shall have to wait. Can you do this Azrael?”
He looked at his family in turn. His beloved brother who had led him into trouble on numerous occasions but was his dearest friend. His father whose quiet, stoic nature he had inherited through and through. His aunt who had taught him about the Underworld. The grandmother who had taught him to see the beauty and light in even the darkest of depths. And finally at his innocent young niece who as the others said had brought light and warmth into their world. Who had healed the rifts within their family so that today was possible. The niece who he had already risked everything for once to set free.
“Yes, I can do this.”
Lucifer hesitated at the gaping maw. From inside he could hear heavy breathing, and he felt the wind of her breathing rush past him. His powers told him that this valley had only recently become this lush and fertile. Yet the power of the Lifestream flowing underneath surprised him. There was a sense of anticipation in the air that he didn’t understand.
He also didn’t understand why he had been summoned.
Enter, young Lucifer.
The voice in his head was ancient, pained and sorrowful. Yet there was a hint of joy.
Squaring his shoulders he walked into the darkness, and apparently another world. What had not been visible past the very thick glamour were the bright green lights reflecting across the millions of crystals that coated the caverns. A thick mist covered the ground and welled up all over the place. Sounds had become muted by the thick mists, though he could still hear heavy breathing.
He advanced into the mist, and even those rumbling sounds were cut off. His magic ceased to be able to tell him anything, they were completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume and potency of the Lifestream’s magic. He had never felt so cut off, even in Hell he had been able to sense things, even if they had been filtered through the Cursed Madness.
He felt anxiety crystallising into cold fear.
As if in answer to his worries, he heard wings flapping. The glowing green mists were blown away from him. Rising out of the swirling mists he saw two beautiful rainbow wings, they beat back and forth scattering the mists further away. The wings were connected to the biggest Dragon he had ever seen. It was ocean grey with a rainbow iridescence, every shift caused a beautiful ripple across its scales. An upward facing paw came to rest in front of him, a clear indication, he fluttered up between the platinum talons. He was lifted up before t
hat massive head, its eyes were larger than he was. He recognised the Chaos within its irises.
“Tiamat?”
He sensed humour from her as she snorted gently. Indeed, little one. Welcome.
“Why have you summoned me?”
Because I need your help, Lucifer.
“My help? How on Earth could I help you?”
You have powers that I am in need of, Lucifer, in order to give birth.
He was startled, that was nothing like he had anticipated. “But surely Brigid or Hecate could assist you? They are both Mother Earth Goddesses, they have experience in this. I have to admit I have no experience in this.”
Neither of them has the powers that I need.
“What about Sariel? She has Chaos, she can give you any power you need.”
You know Chaos does not work like that. Exposing my children to her Chaos powers might very well kill them. No, what I need from you is your Hell powers.
He shrank back from her. Why did she need his Hell powers? He never wanted to ever use them again. “No”
She arched an eye ridge. Lucifer you might potentially be more powerful than me however you are not at your full strength and we both know it. If you do not give me what I need willingly then I shall take it.
“Why could you possibly want it?”
Because my offspring need the power of magma and you are the only free person who has those powers.
“Magma? Why do you need magma?”
Because the original Dragons that Gaia crafted were formed from magma. In order for the Dragons to be reborn, they have to follow that original blueprint. The Lifestream will not release them from my womb until that is met.
“But you are a Primordial Goddess-“
Of salt water. The Lifestream cannot provide me with it either. Both of us have tried.
“You say that like it is conscious.”
Lucifer, it is, in the way of the Styx or Acheron. It is an extension of Gaia’s own consciousness. The World wants the Dragons to be reborn, why do you think this cavern is awash in the Lifestream. It has hastened this pregnancy as much as possible. I am ready to burst but I cannot until this last power is obtained.
A Gluttony Of Faith Page 6