Angels and Magic

by E. J. Bennett

  She smiled, a cold, hard expression that did not quite reach her eyes. The lightening flashed in her eyes and she smiled with satisfaction. She stared down at the village once more feeling the stirrings of remorse threaten to bubble to the surface. The feelings never stood a chance, not against the wave of anger that rose to drown them.

  With a scream born of righteous anger, she lifted her wand and without further ado, Ariel cast her spell.

  The results were instantaneous and the even people down below sensed the change in pace.

  The clouds gathered, grew bigger and darker, as did the rain drops. They drummed atop roofs and people who scurried around, drawn out by the sounds of what was no doubt a brewing storm. The churlish, bloated clouds spewed great blobs of rain down, smacking against the canopy and houses in great torrents.

  It was starting to resemble a deluge of biblical proportions and she nodded, liking the way things were moving along. Down below, commotion had started as people ran around trying to secure their things as it seemed their worst fears were about to be realised.

  Ariel watched them with a sneer on her face. Slowly, and with purpose in her motions, she waved her hand, turning it in swift rotating motions, a wicked glint in her eye. The anger had consumed her and she was held captive in its enormity. The winds followed her hand gestures, gradually gathering momentum and raging through the forest. The fields drowned beneath the onslaught of the rain and trees waved dizzily in the strengthening winds in a sideways dance that threatened to uproot them from the roots.

  As she looked down, the villagers were still trying to secure their doors and windows. She laughed at the futility of their efforts. A hard, pitiless sound. Behind her, the spinning winds gathered momentum, held in place by the force of her will as she gazed down at the people waiting for them to finish taking their precautions.

  She would show them just how puny they were, and then they would know how to be ungrateful. It was highly presumptuous of them to assume they'd be able to hide from the destruction she was about to wreak on them. The mere thought of it nearly caused her to laugh. Nearly.

  As the last window closed, finally 'secure' by their standards, she waved her hand, directing it through the forest and into the village. The angry, spinning hurricane winds spun faster and moved through the forest and into the village. The houses shook to their foundations and the people cried out to the gods for help. She laughed. Now they needed her. How quickly they turned to the gods for help. Were they not the same gods they had insulted and disrespected blatantly? Using her as a point of contact no less. Their cries only made her angrier.

  Loud crashes came from the forest area as trees finally gave up the struggle and crashed to the ground, smashing into other trees and destroying the underlying vegetation.

  A woman screamed as a tree toppled over and landed on her house, taking almost half of it in the crash. The roof of another house was torn of and the family cowered in a corner, holding on to each other as the winds picked up their house and smashed it into the neighboring house killing them instantly.

  She turned and caught sight of the familiar house of the farmer she'd seen, Gustavo. She lifted her wand once more and the wind intensified, as did the rains. The falling rain filled the rivers and caused them to overflow. The water rushed towards the small village, smashing against walls that sought to obstruct it and seeping through. The winds ripped through the village square, tearing down the various earthen statues they'd built and she watched with glee, directing the winds as she saw fit.

  The sky was dark and vengeful, much like the very being who now controlled it into a frenzy. Thunder boomed and lightening crackled striking down to the ground and electrocuting a few of the villagers who tried to make a run for shelter. The top soil was now buried under a torrent of flowing water and some villagers rushed towards sturdy trees in search of anything to keep them tethered to the ground. The hurricane picked up villager after villager, smashing them against each other and against the fragments of their completely torn down buildings, pushed by Ariel's machinations and will. Children wailed as their mothers sought for shelter for them from the falling trees and structures.

  She looked over her work, satisfied with the level of destruction she'd caused. That would teach them to be ungrateful she thought, smiling as she watched some people splutter in the flood and go down under, pulled away by the great currents. The forest lay in ruin as trees lay atop one another, uprooted completely or simply smashed in half by the aggressive winds. Houses lay crumbled to the ground and the flood pulled their carts apart carrying them off to places unknown.

  With a deep calming breath, still feeling the anger steadily throbbing within her, not quite placated but willing to move aside for the time being, she raised her hands and the spinning winds dissolved slowly. As they calmed, they tossed aside the structures and humans they still carried within them, throwing them every which way.

  The dead floated in the water, killed by a hurricane storm of undeniably divine proportions. The screams of the survivors echoed through the vast, severely damaged forest.

  The extent of the destruction she had just caused was beyond description.

  As she watched, satisfied with the work she had just done and mentally preparing herself for the punishment she knew awaited her, she sensed a shift in the atmosphere.

  She breathed with slight difficulty and her breathing produced breath vapor. She turned round and saw a figure materialise out of thin air in front of her. She recognised him instantly.

  His wings flapped behind him steadily, beating almost imperceptibly and keeping him afloat still. His wicked looking blades were all sheathed. Two by his sides, one strapped to his back. He was dressed in his work armor and his eyes glowed red in steep contrast to his hard but otherwise handsome face. His nostrils flared as he regarded her with a detached expression. For a second she thought she saw something break truth his cool, calm demeanour, but it was gone.

  Azrael moved closer to her, floating steadily as his great, dark wings beat gently behind him and she felt herself float back instinctively. It did not show on his face, but the angel of death did not seem very happy.

  Not that she expected less, she turned to look at what she'd done. No doubt she had created quite a lot of souls for him to reap. She wondered if that was a good or bad thing. Did the angel of death care if people died? Wasn't that his purpose? If the humans, somehow, stopped dying, that would only render him obsolete. There would be no need for an angel of death.

  She looked at him but he had turned his attention to her handiwork. His nostrils flared slightly, the only indication of the anger he no doubt felt within. She felt herself cringe slightly, he was one of the most feared beings in the universe. The divine reaper.

  Suddenly, she was aware of the presence of another. Her chest fell as she realised who it was. There was no mistaking that strong essence. Her pain screamed out audibly to her at the reckless destruction of life and Ariel for the first time, felt the remorse take over briefly.

  Gaia breathed deeply as she regarded her daughter. She had feared what would happen if her daughter went over the edge. She had detected the darkness that existed within her right from the moment she was born. She had also sensed that there was good in her as well, in her usual form, she had hoped that the good would override the darkness, with some conscious help from her daughter of course. She shook her head at the thought. How foolish she'd been to think that any good would come out of the spawn of...

  She couldn't bear to think of his name and she stopped herself, not liking the path her mind had been headed to. She had to believe that her daughter could potentially be good. She was all the girl had in the world now, her peers did not like her, and once word of this disaster got out, some of them might even begin to despise her. It was no secret that they feared her. They all knew how angry she could get.

  She sighed. She was to blame as well wasn't she? If she had not been so hell bent own forcing her daughter to feel somethi
ng other than acute loathing for nature and everything it entailed, this would never have happened. She was as much to blame as the little girl and she was more than determined to get her the help she needed. As much as she could.

  A lot still depended on Ariel herself. She had to want to be good. If not, there was little anyone could really do for her. She looked to the young goddess and her eyes dropped. Gaia could not help the intense feeling of disappointment she now felt for the girl. She couldn't muster up enough energy to be angry, but the disappointment stood out, hard and strong.

  She'd believed in her and she'd made a mockery of the entire exercise. What was she supposed to tell the council? How was she supposed to face them?

  Azrael suddenly hissed and Ariel jumped slightly, floating closer to her mother. The latter just regarded her, disappointment clearly written all over her face.

  "What have you done daughter of Gaia?" his voice boomed and his blades glittered, reflecting in the sun.

  Ariel could not bring herself to answer. What exactly was she to say? That she had brought them rain and they had refused to praise her, so she'd decided to murder the whole lot of them and destroy their property with a hurricane? How would that sound to the angel of death?

  It was her mother who finally spoke, breaking the uncomfortable silence,

  "I will handle this Azrael. I'm certain you have a lot of work to do" She said, hovering in between her daughter and the angel.

  Azrael regarded them for a second, disgust now clearly written on his face as he looked at Ariel. Gaia stood her ground.

  "Yes, I do. And we both know who's to thank for that unfortunate fact" Azrael said, looking at Ariel once more. Gaia merely blinked, she couldn't feel any more disappointment than she already felt.

  The angel of death flew away to dispatch his duties and Gaia and Ariel were left alone.

  "I'm sorry mother" The young goddess said, a pathetic attempt at apologising.

  "How could you Ariel?"

  Gaia didn't turn, she was much too upset. Then she added,

  "We must leave now. Best believe there will be consequences for what you have done. I might not be able to help you much once they take effect. You did the crime, I hope you are ready to do the time."

  With that, she flew off towards their home in the skies. Ariel flew behind her, still feeling the anger pulse slightly in her chest.

  ***

  The hallway echoed as she was led towards the great Hall where the council had converged. She had been confined to her room for the two days and her trial day had finally arrived.

  'The council of elders' was made up of higher gods, including her mother. They were the most revered gods and angels in all of creation and they were responsible for making the hardest decisions as regards the fate of mankind as well as other gods. She guessed deciding the fate of the daughter of one of their own counted as under their jurisdiction.

  She swallowed and found that she did with some difficulty. She'd had some time to think and it occurred to her that perhaps she may have acted irrationally. But then again, it had not necessarily been her fault. Although she had let her anger get the better of it. The humans had a part to play in this as well.

  The two angel guards leading her regarded her with blank expressions as they gestured for her to enter the hall.

  She stepped into the quiet hall wondering if anyone was inside. It was much too silent.

  As she got in, she gasped. They were all there. All the higher gods, including the ones she'd only heard of before in stories. Her mother was amongst them at the great semi circular levitating table that was no doubt intended to intimidate and watched her sadly. She noted with some curiosity that the Deity with the long white beard sat at the middle of the conclave. She stared at him now, but His face kept shifting out of focus and she gave up, looking to the ground instead.

  "Okay. The accused is here, may we begin" a pudgy looking god spoke looking at her with undisguised anger. She recognised him from the tapestry in the hallway and for a second, wished they had met under different circumstances.

  The other gods nodded and he spoke again,

  "Ariel, daughter of Gaia, you have been brought here today for crimes against humanity. You knowingly and maliciously laid waste to an entire village with a hurricane of your own creation. Do you deny this?"

  Ariel cringed slightly, feeling sudden anger. She bit it back and answered in a voice she hoped sounded even,

  "No. I don't."

  Some of the gods shook their heads. Gaia just stared at her, the sadness in her eyes was all too clear.

  "Why did you do this young one?" a goddess asked. Ariel was not sure who she was

  "They were ungrateful and disrespectful, I felt they needed to be punished."

  The woman arched an eyebrow,

  "And you felt you were in a position to decide this punishment?" She asked and Ariel nodded,

  "I was the one directly being insulted and I acted in anger. I admit, I may have gone too far" She murmured the last part, looking down at the ground.

  The great, floating, semi-circular table made her feel tiny as she stood before them. Her mother had made her wear the vine dress again and she couldn't help but wonder if that was her way of punishing her.

  The gods spoke amongst each other. She tried to listen in but it was like a great, invisible soundproof wall had been conjured in front of her to keep her from hearing.

  She saw her mother get up and address all of them and she wondered what it was she could be saying. She knew the goddess was upset and with good reason, but she hoped she would at least try to defend her. But what did it matter though? The less rational part of her asked, moved by the anger that surged within her. She had done the crime, she was more than ready to do the time. She was right?

  She stood there for what seemed like hours as the gods and goddesses argued and debated amongst themselves. Every now and then, one of them would look at her and shake his of her head and return to the conversation. This infuriated her...they were debating about what to do with her. Her life. Didn't she deserve to be a part of the conversation?

  "Ariel. Daughter of Gaia" a voice boomed in the hall and it seemed as though thunder and lightening struck in the room following the utterance. She was instantly at alert, staring at the Deity who sat in the middle.

  "The crimes you have committed are grave indeed. You should be sentenced to punishment in the eternal abyss. Should. But, you are the daughter of one of our own. A goddess who has dispatched her duty with a selfless devotion and she has pleaded your case, fervently..." He looked at Gaia and the latter nodded

  Ariel was finding it hard to look at the Deity...his face kept shifting out of focus. She finally opted for staring at his beard.

  "...that being said. We have been moved to stay our hand and instead, give you a gentler sentence. Gentle, however, only in comparison to the alternative." he paused as he said this and Ariel shifted uncomfortably.

  "This is our ruling. Ariel, daughter of Gaia, you have been sentenced to time at the Karmani.

  Ariel gasped. No! They called that "gentle"?? She looked from the Deity to her mother, but the latter was expressionless. She had done her best.

  The Deity continued,

  "The mercy of this ruling cannot be overemphasised. Your mother has made us see reason why you may have acted the way you did and insists that you have some good in you. I implore you not to prove her wrong. You will begin your sentence immediately."

  The other gods nodded as the angel guards came into the room to lead her away.

  "But. Mom?...the Karmani...no" She complained, struggling slightly, but her struggles were in vain.

  She was dragged out of the room as one by one, the higher gods dissolved out of view leaving only her mother behind.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Ariel looked at her chained hands and sighed. It all seemed like overkill to her. Where exactly was she going to run to? Earth? She shook her head trying to look outside the Carriage that
coursed through the sky taking her to the Karmani where she would serve her punishment.

  She bit down on her lip to keep from crying out on frustration. Really? That was the best her own mother could do for her? The Karmani? How exactly was she supposed to survive there? She knocked her head against the carriage repeatedly, feeling anger rising steadily. The anger was always present, it always seemed to be waiting for the slightest possible reason to come to the surface. She knew that her control over it was weakening, but at least for the meantime, she had it under control, temporarily. Not that it didn't get the better of her every now and then. Case in point, the hurricane incident.

  Now that the surge of righteous anger had died down, she could not help but feel slightly more remorseful as she thought back to how she had ravaged the village. So they'd been ungrateful, so what? They were silly humans and didn't know better.

  Actually, no. Her anger buzzed within her. They did know what they were doing. They'd known exactly how ungrateful they were being, they just hadn't cared enough to do anything about it or stop themselves. As far as they'd been concerned, they were being mistreated and the standards of treatment needed to be upped.

  It wasn't even like they'd really thought she was terrible, but they'd just been unwilling to agree that they were terrible themselves. Terribly lazy. If they had made the necessary preparations early enough, wouldn't they have been ready for the rains?

  Well, the rain was a bit too heavy, a small voice reminded her and she shut it up harshly, unwilling to accept that perhaps she had brought the rains down too heavily.

  They'd been ungrateful period, and they'd gotten what they deserved.