A Gluttony Of Faith

by Steven Lindsay

  “I have also served under you when the Seraphim and Cherubim have done their joint ventures like when Behemoth and Samael had to be pacified.”

  *I find myself liking her, Ariel. How many Angels would force me to acknowledge their service to me when they are not my own?*

  *Very few if that many at all. She is no longer worried. She is controlling her body language and thinking about her answers.*

  *The others were scared witless by us.*

  “Yes, that is right. Powerful and yet you work as part of your team.” Gabriel turned her attention back to Jophiel.

  “Our strength lies in our numbers and Weaves.”

  “Very true, Jophiel, very true.”

  “However, we must also have our own personal strength, especially as an Arch Angel. We are so often expected to stand on our own and lead. We are the most powerful because that is what is required.”

  Gabriel nodded at her cousin’s words “Indeed we must test your powers Jophiel if we are to ascertain whether you are suitable. Ariel will test your powers.”

  Jophiel felt Gabriel’s powers envelope them, to prevent any damage to her apartments. Gabriel was the most powerful Angel there had ever been so it made sense that she would shield while Ariel, who was also incredibly powerful, would test.

  She raised her powers feeling Ariel probing her. This would be strength against strength, no spells, no raw blasts of powers. Just force. She felt Ariel pressing against her powers, and she pushed back. It was strange not to shape the magic or give it free reign. It was a subtle use of magic which thankfully she did have control over. Most Angels had a basic control because they had to integrate their powers together without shaping them. But this was something that she doubted many Angels would know how to do.

  She felt Ariel continue to increase the pressure, and she met the pressure with equal force. It would be foolish to try and force Ariel onto the defensive. Ariel was not one you forced into a corner or tried to get the upper hand with. She would meet Ariel’s force, but she would not exceed it. They sat there in silence as Ariel continued to increase the force crushing Jophiel and she continued to push back with equal force.

  The forces pushing against her reached a point where she couldn’t believe Ariel had any more to give and yet she did. She kept matching the force until her magic ran dry and she felt the defending force evaporate. She cringed in anticipation of a fierce backlash, but there was none. Opening her eyes, she saw Ariel smiling at her.

  *She is unharmed?*

  *She is wise, she made no attempt to attack. Therefore, the rules are not to harm.*

  *She is the first to do so.*

  *Which is why she is the most suitable.*

  “You have done well Jophiel, very well, few last so long against Ariel.”

  “You honour me, my Lady Archs.”

  “There is greater honour to come, Jophiel” lights flared around Jophiel, but she was too exhausted to try and defend herself. To her surprise, the ornamental robes of the Arch Angels developed around her. It was currently of traditional design but the amount of gold decorating it symbolised to Heaven that she was now an Arch Angel. “You can, of course, decorate it to your own tastes. Welcome to the Seven, Jophiel.”

  She gaped in surprise at Gabriel and Ariel, who were genuinely smiling at her, at least she thought they were genuine smiles. She could never be quite sure with those two, though it was time she definitely learned the difference.

  “I am deeply honoured by this responsibility.”

  “The ceremony will occur when the Lord Archs are back, they’re currently rooting out Fallen Angels in Paris.”

  There was a polite knock at the door “Enter” Gabriel called out. Jophiel looked at Ariel in surprise who returned the surprised look. Someone had dared interrupt Gabriel during such an important time.

  Nuriel walked in dressed in a woman’s business suit, clipboard and codex under one are. As soon as she saw Jophiel and Ariel her eyes widened in horror “I am sorry to interrupt, my Lady Archs” her gaze swept all three of them respectfully “It would seem that I have forgotten that you had such important tasks on today.”

  “Come Nuriel, you would not have interrupted without reason.”

  “No, I wouldn’t” she certainly wouldn’t, only a fool irritated Gabriel, especially when Ariel was with her. She set up her codex on the coffee table and perched herself on the edge of the couch. “My people have found more clues which have created a clearer picture. As the Lords Michael, Raphael and Uriel are aware there are two Greater Demons in Paris. They have been identified as Agrat and Asmodeus.”

  “Michael shall be most pleased when he returns from hunting them.” She might have Lucifer as a stain against her family, Michael, however, had a whole clan. Between father and mother, he had all sorts of unsavoury relatives.

  “I have also identified another two Fallen Angels living by themselves. Lilith is in Amsterdam and Mammon is in Zurich.”

  Gabriel’s eyes widened. Lilith was Michael’s infamous mother, a right whore but an incredible beauty of considerable power. She had been compared to Lilith many times as though it was a compliment. No one compared her to the whore anymore. “Mammon…he was always trouble.”

  “Indeed, he is the reason Switzerland is having a miraculous economic rise.”

  “We can deal with him easily enough. Lilith is far more of a challenge, do you have any further information?”

  “She is rarely in Amsterdam these days, she frequents many places. Her traces appear in the Middle East occasionally. But she is highly elusive, she knows how to hide from other Angels.”

  “That she does. Anything else?”

  “Yes, Eisheth appears to have paired up with the Minotaur and seized control of Crete. We have almost no control there. I have also identified those who I believe to be the major power brokers of the Gods. As you know, Hera is tearing America apart, and Brigid has seized control of Britain. I believe that Hel is the elusive power in Scandinavia, and I believe that the Middle East is being attacked by the forces of Ereshkigal. As for the force behind the Dragon Empire, I am still working on that for you.

  I have also managed to discover who some of the minions are. Hecate and Samael serve Brigid, in Canada and South Africa. Also in Africa is Abaddon.”

  “Hmmm both Lilith and Samael will be a problem, as will Abaddon, the mad are always dangerous. You have done very well Nuriel.”

  “Thank you” she dipped her head.

  “Anything else?” she raised an eyebrow almost as though daring Nuriel to say more.

  “I have tracked one of the Greater Demons, though changed, to the Caspian Sea. Simurgh resides there by herself with not even any Daemons for protection.”

  Ariel’s eye lit up “A hunt.”

  Gabriel glanced at her “Yes, you can have your hunt but once the Seven have met.” She glanced at Nuriel “Of course you will be discreet until the Seven have made their announcement?”

  “Without a doubt, Gabriel,” she wasn’t a fool.

  “Excellent” she smiled, “well, I think this calls for a drink.”

  Nuriel sat stunned in surprise alongside Jophiel as they were handed fresh drinks by the two most feared women in Heaven, and possibly all of Angel history.

  Simone shuddered in pain as the whip cut through her flesh again. She was so exhausted from screaming she had none left to give. Even her tears had ceased to flow. How did it ever get to this? She was a good Christian girl who had never wanted to enter any world like this.

  Asmodeus. It all came back to him.

  She had been wooed by his bright smile and lovable charm, by his slightly awkward cuteness. He had seemed to be everything she wanted in a guy, from his taste in books, to how he dressed. It had been so perfect. But perfection was an illusion.

  He had no sooner brought her back to his place when she had been pushed downstairs into a dark dungeon. Something out of a nightmare had hauled her up to a crucifix and chained her to it. It was a Demon of
the night with feathery wings, she was the most sexually seductive woman she had ever seen. She was also the most terrifying.

  From the stairs had echoed Asmodeus’ laughter but it was different, it was harrowing and cruel. He had walked down the stairs as something different. He was coldly beautiful, gone was his warm charm and awkward cuteness. He would make any man or woman crave and regret his touch. And indeed, she had both craved and regretted his touch.

  He wore an open white shirt showing off his mouth-watering physique, every move highlighted his cold perfection. His black leather pants hugged his arse, legs and did nothing to hide the prominent bulge. But from behind him rose a pair of black membranous wings, like a Demon of the night. In his hands, he held two whips, one long and thick, the other was made up of lots of little strands. He had handed them both to the woman.

  It was only then Simone had fully noticed her surroundings. The dungeon was dark and the perfect playground for sick sadists. Men and women hung from crucifixes and from the ceiling. They were all naked and covered in blood, cuts, and scars. Many had naked men and women fucking them, but she doubted any of them were willing. The people, or creatures, often had tails and membranous wings, if clothed it was in the sluttiest clothing around. Revealing bikinis and tight figure hugging leathers and latex.

  “So you thought that you could have my man? You thought you were his perfect match? You thought you could replace me?” she laughed cruelly, emphasised with the crack of a whip. The things around the room all laughed.

  Any further thoughts and observations fled as the whip had come down across her back. She had thought it was the worst pain she had ever endured. She had been wrong. While the whip had lasted hours and been a torment, the cat of nine tails had been Hell beyond belief.

  She had blacked out.

  Only to awaken to the Hell again. The cycle had gone on for days. She wondered if the Hell would ever end.

  “Stop” the woman snarled, raising her hand. Everyone fell quiet. Agrat sniffed the air and tilted her head, something was wrong. Her senses were whirling, and her magic had stopped working.

  Light flared down from the ceiling and power blasted out across the dungeon. Lilin scrabbled and screamed as Angel magic ripped through them. Blood splattered across the stones as Angels wielding swords cut and stabbed them. Daggers were held at throats and torn through them.

  Agrat raised her hand with a burning shield. Asmodeus had already hacked through a dozen Lesser Angels before he returned to her side. They could sense the power coming.

  Lightning and burning sunlight ripped through the ceiling as three Angels materialised within the dungeon. They held burning swords and hateful anger like cloaks.

  Agrat smiled at her nephew “Well, long time no see Michael. I’d love to stay and chat, but you see I’d rather keep my life. Asmodeus.” She wrapped her arms around him, and they disappeared in a gigantic roar of flames.

  “Fucking Hell, how did they get through the Weave?” Uriel yelled as they disappeared.

  Raphael crouched down beside the burn marks while Michael walked further into the dungeon. “It would appear that we underestimated the power of the Greater Demons. It seems that Angel Weaves are nowhere near as effective as we thought they would be.”

  “We are making foolish mistakes. We are too arrogant, we are too prideful. Our sins are our shortcomings.”

  Uriel rolled his eyes at Michael.

  Simone stared into the eyes of the holy being as he walked towards her. He looked down at her with cold eyes, there was no kindness nor compassion in those eyes only judgment. “Help me, please.”

  “Heaven has no place for whores” he snarled as his hand shot out into her chest. Pain bloomed, and she collapsed down. She stared at his blood covered hand, and the thing in his hand that beat a few times more before stopping. Her last realisation before she died was that it was her heart.

  Hera knew what they were both worried about as soon as she appeared in the temple. His fear saturated the whole building and the air beyond. Ariadne despite her powers could not mask her concern fully from her. She was a Goddess of phenomenal power who had trained herself to be incredibly subtle. Ariadne was talented and well able to defend herself, but even she could not keep her thoughts hidden from Hera. As for Kyle, reading his was as easy as a book. He had very little protection against Divine invasion.

  So Kyle had killed an Ascended Angel and become immortal. He was now far more useful, but she would let him stew. It amused her that they both thought she might kill him, which granted she might have done at another time, but currently, she needed all the power she could. Under her were only two Goddesses, one demigoddess and now one immortal sorcerer. She was not about to throw one of those away. He was far too valuable, and if he happened to Ascend, then she would have another God under her authority.

  She was far more vulnerable than she would like, but at least she wasn’t as she had been. Persephone and Demeter had been an incredible boon. Demeter could do all the Mother Earth duties she was finding less time for, her lands were becoming increasingly fertile and could now feed itself. Persephone brought with her an army of Shades, incredibly useful in their versatility and also when paired up with her Army of Nightmares. Unfortunately, Persephone did not have much experience commanding armies, still she was doing a fair job. City after city continued to fall before the Shades. For they could be harmed by nothing but magic.

  She would have liked for Hades to have joined, he was truly a figure of fear, but he had no desire to leave his realm, thankfully his wife and queen had opted to assist her with his armies. She wondered if this was the beginning of the end for Hades. Was he feeling his years? Would he return to the Lifestream?

  She would have liked any other Divine beings as well to assist her, but pickings were slim. Hecate served Brigid, who seemed to have easily gathered up the best prizes. She had Samael too, and he was certainly earning his keep. A pity she could not convince him to leave, he seemed to all the world happy with his position, and he had answered the call of war. She knew there were other Greater Demons around, but so far none had made any appearances. They might yet come, now that the Angels had descended to the Surface again.

  She would wait and see.

  She glanced around the temple with pride, Kyle had done an excellent job in his attempt to flatter and placate her. The temple was huge, occupying the grounds that St Louis Cathedral had once stood on. It was an elegant example of classical designs blended with modern. And the statue of her that dominated the temple was truly a testament to her. It captured all her savage beauty and incredible power. People looking at the statue would both long and fear. She loved it.

  “You have done a most impressive job Kyle” he jumped a mile when she appeared on the cushioned pew behind him. Even Ariadne jumped a little at her appearance. They were both incredibly jittery.

  “Thank you.”

  “My you have been busy, killed an Ascended Angel, became immortal and finished off my temple while holding off an army. I am impressed.”

  She felt his spike of fear and Ariadne’s spike of concern. Ha, they were horrified with just how easily she had analysed the situation.

  “I live to serve” what else could he say?

  “If I had any doubts of that then you would be dead.”

  The only sound was of him swallowing.

  “This is to our advantage, you are stronger this way and more useful. You will remain in New Orleans, you have done great work here-“ she trailed off as she received magical signals she had not been expecting. She granted her assent and location.

  Ariadne and Kyle jumped as Hellfire bloomed across the floor of the temple, her magic stopping any damage. Within the flames materialised two Divine beings, of that there was no doubt.

  One was an Elder Angel with blood red wings that blended between rose and black. Her skin was jet black with a red Divine glow, her hair was also red and black, styled in a wild modern cut. She looked around with the amber eyes co
mmon to the Elder, but her pupils were slits. Her arms were wrapped around a man that could only be termed as a Demon. He was coldly beautiful, the epitome of masculine beauty, from his jaw-length black hair and olive skin to his broad shoulders and well-defined muscles. From his shoulders rose a pair of black Demon wings and he looked around with stormy grey eyes.

  Both sets of eyes focus on her where she reclined.

  “Thank you for receiving us, Hera.”

  “To what do I owe the pleasure?” here were two tightly shut minds, she couldn’t even glean their names. Then again there was something off about their minds, they were protected by something dangerous, something that tasted of Hell.

  “We seek sanctuary against Heaven, and who better than yourself?”

  “Who indeed?” Brigid would have been an astute choice, but she was remarkably Human in her expectations of her pantheon. Even Samael abided by her strict rules on treating mortals. For them not to have gone to her meant that they cared nothing for mortals, which meant they were perfect for her use.

  There was something in her tone that Asmodeus picked up on, he had ever been extremely sensitive to the moods of females. Flattery would give them no extra favours. “Great Goddess, I am Asmodeus, and this is Agrat.”

  “The Demon King and his Angel lover. I am surprised that you need protection against the Heavenly Hordes.”

  He felt Agrat’s annoyance mount, she hated being referred to only as his lover or mother.

  “My nephew has a certain distaste of us. He brought most of the Cherubim, Ophanim, and Malikhim. He will hunt us down if we are unprotected, so we ask of you sanctuary and offer our powers and service to you.”

  She had forgotten that Lilith had sisters, but she quickly remembered both Agrat and Asmodeus. Agrat had once been a handmaiden of Inanna and would have learnt a great deal about sexual powers. She had willingly served Aphrodite and her perverted tastes for several contracts, which said a great deal about her sexual temperament. Taking her son as a lover had not surprised the Gods in the least, the same had occurred many times, but it had horrified the Angels. The fact she had seduced King Solomon and borne him a Demon son had shamed Solomon and the Arch Angels.