She glanced around the empty corridor “that might have something to do with her powers being stripped.”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you later, Sariel had quite the story to tell.”
Selarine looked up from her monitors as shadows filled the room. She wasn’t concerned, the only Divine that knew where Australis was, were Brigid, Samael, and Sariel. Sure enough, Sariel appeared holding a mutilated Angel.
“Selarine, I have a patient for you.”
With her professional calm, she used a small amount of magic to flick the settings on the machines. The good thing about all Atlantean labs was that they could easily be converted to medical. Sariel laid the Angel on the bed, and she pulled out her equipment.
Selarine studied the Angel with a sense of confusion and dawning understanding. She looked like she had been through the wars, burnt stumps for wings, severely damaged limbs, and missing fingers. She had leaking stab wounds and mass amounts of burns. Her face was pockmarked with burns and scars though the area around her mouth looked the healthiest. Watching her was one good eye that was red-violet with shimmers of gold.
“Is this your mother?” She was horrified. What in the name of Gaia had happened to her?
“Yes, she was caught up in a Chaos Storm.”
“Ah,” that explained much indeed. She didn’t need the equipment to tell her anything more, but she was a professional. Once she had finished her examinations, she turned to Sariel “She is suffering from Chaos poisoning. Far worse than Lucifer. I would recommend offering her some of your blood and a regular treatment of your magic while she uses her own once she recovers.”
“How long will it take?”
She sighed “I cannot say. Physical health should return relatively soon, she is already showing some signs of healing. But as for her magic? Who can say? It might take years. But if you are willing we can try and heal her physically now.”
“Of course.”
Selarine keyed some instructions into the floating screens. A couple of restraints grew across Lilith, and an IV tube with a hydralgia needle was inserted into her arm. The other end she took and inserted into Sariel, using magic to get the blood flowing. She was curious to note that there were shimmers of bronze within her silver blood.
They chatted away about the colonies of Australis and Boreas, and all her research into the effects of the South and North Pole upon mortals and Divine. While they chatted, health started to return to Lilith’s body. Her stab and burn wounds closed over, her wings started to regrow, her fingers regrew and started to twitch, her eye healed and focussed.
“Mother?”
Tears rolled down her still healing face “thank you Sariel. Thank you so much.”
“I am so sorry about the Chaos poisoning, I-“
“No. Sariel you saved my life, I can live with scars and wounds. I was about to die when you saved me, I don’t know how but you did. Do not apologise for that.” She pulled her daughter into her arms and together they cried.
Selarine gave them privacy.
Chapter 28
Hecate watched Samael cleave his way through some horrific Monster that she didn’t even know the name of. Apparently Abaddon had turned his hand at creation to bring destruction. Regardless of what it had been created for it was no match to Samael. He hacked off its tentacles and shell, before hacking out its insides.
His ferocity had gotten to the point that all the Demons ran from him now instead of attacking. It seemed most of Abaddon’s servants had fled Angola completely. She was free to spread her magic through the land and start turning it against Abaddon and his servants. When Brigid got a chance she would be able to come and do it far quicker. She didn’t know what had happened, but now Brigid had the sense of Primordial power. When it came to dealing with the land she doubted anyone but Gaia could beat Brigid’s abilities. She wondered where they had come from.
Her attention was caught by the appearance of light and shadows on the battlefield. What had come into play?
Sariel thought she had got her bearings wrong and appeared in Hell at first. What was Samael doing in Hell? Then she remembered that Hell had been scoured clean. It no longer looked like the Hell she had battled through. And yet this landscape was appallingly similar.
She glanced around and saw her father hacking through the body of some bizarre Monster that reminded her of a squid crossed with a turtle. Not that either its shell or tentacles had been much use against Samael. Acidic blood was splattering everywhere as her father hacked the thing to pieces. Every now and then a roar or shriek filtered across to her. She could sense his pain and understood now why he was fighting.
She walked forward as the Monster collapsed to the ground. A slash of light had Samael walking out of its corpse, his swords raised against her. Pain and grief clouded his eyes so much that they were but Hellfire. Spotting her he started to advance. To him she was but the enemy.
“Samael”
He didn’t hear her. He raised his sword, ready to strike at her.
“Samael” she called out again.
He jumped at her swinging his sword down. She raised her hand and a shield. Samael’s sword clanged against the shield with a flash of bright light.
“FATHER!”
That caught his attention. He still held the sword before him, but now he blinked his fiery eyes. She walked forward despite the danger to lay her hands on the sword handle and his cheek. “Father, it is me, Sariel.”
“Sariel?” he sounded so lost, it was as though his wits had fled him.
“Yes Samael, it is I.”
“Your mother is dead,” he said deadpan, but tears flowed from his eyes “Lilith is dead” he shuddered, dropping his sword. He turned his face into her hand and closed his eyes. Yet still the tears came. He was utterly distraught about this, his grief was palpable in the air. It surprised her, her parents had been so on and off with each other, and currently hadn’t been speaking to each other. Yet he grieved with everything in him.
“No, she isn’t, Lilith lives.”
He shook his head “no Sariel, she called out to us. She is dead.”
“No, she isn’t. She is not well, but she is still alive. Come I will show you.”
The desperation in his eyes when they opened broke her heart. His hands were in hers ready and waiting. She sent a message to Hecate as they disappeared.
Samael instantly knew that they were within Hades’ castle as soon as he glanced around the room. He had lived here long enough to recognise the feel of the place and the decorations. Nowhere else he had been had the same dark Gothic-Grecian decorations.
Lying slightly upright was Lilith in a massive bed, her eyes closed in slumber. His breath hitched at the sight of her, he could barely believe she was alive. But here she was, scarred and sleeping but alive.
He sat down on the side of the bed, tears welling in his eyes. He reached out to stroke her scarred face. She was still as beautiful as ever to him.
Her eyes opened, they were strangely red-violet. Warmth flooded her eyes as she focussed on him and her lips curved into a smile.
“I thought you were dead” tears were still trickling out of his eyes, but they now twinkled with delight.
“I thought I was dead. I could feel my core being ripped to shreds. I said my goodbyes fully aware that I was dying. Next thing I knew was unimaginable power flowing through me, then nothing until a few hours ago.”
“What happened?”
“Senoy, Sansenoy, and Semangelof, that’s what.”
“They’re still after you?” he was incredulous.
She held a savage smile “not anymore. They are all dead.”
“You killed them all?”
“No, Sariel killed two of them when she unleashed her power through me.”
“Through you? How is that possible?”
She glanced at Sariel “I do not know, but I am glad for it. My life was fading, I was all I could manage to say my goodbyes, then suddenly ther
e was power flowing through me, power that ripped out of me. Sansenoy and Semangelof were torn to pieces before my eyes, unable to get away from me. I am surprised I am alive at all.”
“I am so sorry.”
She turned to look at Sariel “do not apologise Sariel. You saved my life, I was dying, I had accepted my death that’s how close it was. I can live with Chaos poisoning and my scars. They will all fade in time.” She smiled at her daughter.
“But how is this possible?” he asked.
“Who knows, Sariel doesn’t follow the usual rules for magic.”
Samael stroked her face “I thought I had lost you forever. I don’t ever want to lose you, Lilith.”
She smiled at him sadly “I thought I would never see you again, and there are so many things unsaid.”
“But we know what they are. I love you Lilith, and I know you love me, no matter what our issues.”
Tears started to trickle out of her eyes “Oh Samael, I really do.” She reached up to cup his face, he turned his face into her hands and kissed her wrists.
Sariel left the room when they started kissing each other intimately. They had much to catch up on, and they had a mountain worth of emotions to work through.
Sariel smiled up at her parents as they walked into the dining hall. Lilith was leaning heavily on Samael, who had an arm and wings holding her protectively. She indicated to her left for them to sit, as the rest of the family started to arrive.
Lucifer arrived with Hades and sat by his side, Persephone and her mother had not returned from the Surface for quite some time. By all accounts, Persephone was enjoying being a warmonger and had been taking fighting lessons from Asmodeus and Nemesis when they had the time.
Hecate had appeared from the Surface to sit between her and Hades, she was all smiles for her and her parents. Samael was like a nephew to her, and he had been her Protégé. She had always enjoyed Lilith’s company and respected her.
Thanatos and Hypnos sat on Samael’s other side, falling into conversation with him and Lilith. The last three to join them were the Primordial Gods. Surprisingly they looked rather God-like. Erebus was black skinned and Tartarus brown. They were dressed in suits and had adopted short, neat hairstyles. The only hint to their true nature were their eyes, both of which were completely black. Nyx was ever herself with pale skin and black tracings. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lilith.
“Lilith darling, it has been so very long. Far too long. What on earth happened to you?” she took in Lilith’s still haggard appearance. Scars still marred her face, her wings were only just beginning to grow feathers and she still had missing fingers.
“Chaos poisoning.”
Nyx turned surprised eyes to Sariel “you did this?”
“She saved my life. It is a small price to pay.”
Nyx turned back to look at Lilith “that is a story that needs to be told.”
So Lilith told them all about her battle in Amsterdam as dinner was served by the very few Lampade servants that had remained within Hades. Nyx watched her with her unblinking eyes as the whole story unfolded.
“Fascinating. I do not understand how this is possible. You became the conduit for another Divine without any prior set up, and for Chaos of all things.”
“In so many ways Sariel does not follow the usual rules for magic. She seems to walk right over restrictions without even realising it.” Hecate smiled at her.
“I know. She is the only person other than me and Persephone that can teleport directly into my realm.” Hades glanced at her with a half-smile “which has led to the setting of some boundaries.”
“I said I was sorry about disturbing your bath.”
“She can teleport anywhere. Into any of the Underworld realms, which can only ever be done by their ruler and consort. She can find anyone of us no matter what spells and protections we have. Even the Primordial Gods cannot hide from her. I honestly think there is nowhere on Earth that she cannot teleport to.” Hecate grasped her hand.
“Which reminds me, who’s looking after the army?” Samael asked her.
“I called in Brigid. She was most understanding. I swear she is very different from other Gods, I feel that she is the perfect Mentor for you Sariel. So she’s taken control of the region and is breaking many of Abaddon’s spells in Angola and Zambia, as well making South Africa green. Malaysia has fallen so there is a brief respite for her but Indonesia is still standing.
She also passed on her best wishes for your health Lilith and said she will visit when she gets time to.”
“How very kind of her and how very unlike the Divine.”
“Well she is Avalon’s Heir, and Avalon was very unique.” Tartarus’ eyes grew distant “very powerful and very passionate. Her Heir would have to match many of her qualities.”
Nyx and Erebus looked at him in surprise “you were involved with Avalon?”
He smiled in memory, his lips even turned green “for a time. It was such a wonderful time.”
“When?”
“Aeons ago, I think it has nearly been a million years since we parted ways. Ah, but the memories never fade.”
“Wow, I am impressed, she was most reclusive.”
Tartarus glanced at his siblings “I have my own charms.” He glanced at Sariel “she would have liked you, and your gifts of Chaos would have utterly fascinated her.”
“It would not have worried her?” Lucifer asked.
He glanced at Lucifer “why would it have worried her?”
“Because Chaos is the most powerful force in the universe. It can end all life on Earth.”
“Avalon was not afraid of anything. She told Gaia exactly what she thought, and hundreds of Primordial Dragons used to live with her. She saw the value in power and the beauty in everything. Chaos fascinated her even though she had none of it.” She had not been afraid of him either.
“I still don’t understand how Sariel has Chaos powers. She is an Angel child of two Angels. Sure my father was a Primordial, but he was of the sun and the Primordials are further back in Samael’s line. And you three don’t have a single drop of Chaos.” Lilith pointed out.
Everyone shook their head with Lilith, they did not understand either. It was an enigma to them all.
“I’m curious as to how she uses her other powers in unison with her Chaos powers. I’m struggling to summon any magic and Lucifer has not progressed much with his magical development.” Lilith’s hand glowed with the faintest light to highlight how little she could utilise.
“I hypothesise that her body is attuned to it. Both of you will recover in time, but exposure to Sariel’s magic will facilitate it.” Hecate was considered the greatest authority on Chaos amongst the Gods. Except for Gaia.
“So I need to spend time around Sariel to recover?”
“Yes”
“Well, Sariel, it looks like you’re getting some quality mother-daughter time.”
She smiled, “I have no issue with that, though there might be a means to facilitate the speed of your recovery.” She created a goblet and slashed her wrist with her dagger. Silver blood pooled out into the cup. None of them missed the swirls of brown within the silver. She handed the cup to her mother “drink this. Selarine used my blood to heal you this far, perhaps it will continue the healing.”
“Well, it can’t hurt.” She took the goblet and start to sip on it. The Divine had no issue with drinking blood, they saw it merely as the body’s river for magic.
“I should really let my sisters know that I’m still alive.”
“You’re not going to be able to do it yourself.” Samael’s voice was laced with concern.
“And you can’t do it in my place. They aren’t exactly fond of you.”
“No, they aren’t.” They really were not fond of him at all, which was understandable.
She turned to look at Sariel “would you be willing to do it?”
“Sure. Other than being attacked by Naamah and you in Hell I’ve never met any of your siste
rs.”
“It will be four separate trips into foreign territories.”
“Three. You have three sisters Lilith.” Samael interrupted her. Was she losing her mind?
She shook her head. “I have five sisters.”
“Since when?”
“Always, I just wasn’t aware of it.”
“Who are your other two sisters?”
“Ereshkigal and Inanna.”
“Oh. That certainly explains your talents.” There was new respect written on the faces of Samael’s family.
Sariel, of course, showed no change. She had heard of the names but with so many things names was all she knew.
“Is it wise to send Sariel alone to the likes of Naamah, Agrat or Eisheth? What if Asmodeus is there?”
They all turned to look at Lucifer, but it was Hypnos who answered “Sariel has broken the Curse on Hell, she has recreated the Dragons, she channels powers we cannot even fathom. She has flattened Amsterdam in the defence of her mother. I do not think she has anything to fear from anyone except Gaia.”
She looked at them all in surprise. Everyone had so much to say about her powers, yet she didn’t quite know what they were getting at.
Sensing the change, Lilith asked Sariel to take her to her bedroom for rest.
Chapter 29
“So this is Hell now?” Lilith looked around Hell in surprise. It seemed sedate and boring compared to what she had seen of it before. She cast a glance at Lucifer and Hades as they walked away to do their own thing.
“Yes, this is Hell. It’s much quieter now.” She found Hell strangely peaceful to come to. Lucifer would always wander off and do his own thing until he felt the need to return to Hades. Sariel used the time to wander throughout the vast realm, to fly and to practice her different magics.
She sat down on the lip of the great crater, her mother sat down with her. They had also come to let Lilith practice her magic. Samael had returned briefly to the Surface to consolidate the empire’s power and discuss the situation with Brigid.
A Gluttony Of Faith Page 30