Evenstar

by Darcy Town

Lucifer looked at the three who would not fight. “Why?”

  Raphael held his hands out. “I can only heal, not injure.”

  “What if He orders it?”

  Raphael shook his head. “I can only heal, not injure.”

  Selaphiel nodded. “And I can only watch and record as events unfold. My brother stands with me. But if you choose to attack us, I will defend against you.”

  Lucifer did not look pleased, but he did not attack them. “Do not get in our way.”

  They nodded and flew off.

  Lucifer turned to Belial. “You still wish to fight? To help in this?”

  Belial looked at him and nodded. There was no joy in her eyes, no love or innocence. She licked her lips, taking the blood off. “I have nothing else now. I will do as I promised you.”

  Lucifer stared towards the throne. The choirs of angels stopped singing; their voices rose in a wail. He took a deep breath. “They know, they all know. Michael has betrayed me.”

  BETRAYER! WAR! DESTROY THEM.

  Two-winged angels flocked to the air, filling the horizon with their glowing forms. Their bodies erupted with weaponized light and heat. Singers turned to Wailers, making the sky ring with deadly concussions. Guardians’ wings filled with sparks of electricity. Other two-winged swirled with light, fire, and green radiation.

  Berith stood by Lucifer’s side. “They will not part for us.”

  “Then we will part them.” Lucifer spread his wings and leapt into the sky. The others followed, energy consuming their bodies. They raced toward the throne.

  Angels met them in the air. Lucifer burned like a star. He blinded, he threw fire, roasting entire divisions in an instant. Berith, Andrealphus, and Furcas were behind him, their arcs of fire, sonic blasts, and lightning cut down swaths of angels.

  Belial’s empty eyes surged with feeling as her heart beat with the sound of battle and pain. She threw herself into the fight. She had been made nothing, now she was filled with death and agony. She ripped and tore with a vehemence only matched by Lucifer himself. She fought side by side with him, the pair launching fire and crushing blows as if dancing together, perfect in dealing death.

  The battle raged, timeless, merciless. Throngs of angel crashed against them, attempting to push them back, but Lucifer and his Archangels were relentless. They made ground with each wave of death. They slogged through angels like a thick mud. Lucifer saw the throne and spun fire, clearing everything around him.

  A horn blew.

  Michael flew upwards alone. “Peace, Lucifer!”

  Lucifer calmed his rage. “Let me pass, Michael.”

  Michael quaked. “He gives you one chance to stop. Please take it Lucifer, please!”

  “I will not.”

  Michael’s face fell. “Then fight us, leave the two-winged angels out of this.”

  Lucifer looked at the weak two-winged. “I would never have touched them if you had not sent them against me.”

  Michael nodded. “If I pull them back will you leave them?”

  “Yes.”

  The young angels drew back. Raphael dove into them. Flashes of light followed his healing touches. He flew, splattered in blood. Raphael followed the battle among the dead and dying. He mended what he could and sent to a gentle death those who faded.

  Michael drew back as Barachiel and Uriel rose out of the retreating angels. They threw fire in twin torrents. Lucifer swept his hand up and cast the flame aside.

  Belial saw Uriel and screamed in fear and rage. The sound mixed with Ladriam’s song still trapped inside her. The angels around her died, bleeding from the eyes and ears. Uriel held his head and lunged for her.

  Berith pounced on his brother. He ripped at Uriel’s new armor. “Terrible, disgraced creature! Foul, horrid, cancerous blot! Not of my mold any longer!” He broke one of Uriel’s wings and threw his younger brother back into the throng of dead and dying angel.

  Andrealphus found a break in the fight and bolted towards the throne. Michael saw him and dove, but Andrealphus avoided him. He smashed into Paimon, lifting and ripping the bound Archangel out of his shackles. Andrealphus leapt on Ladriam’s prison. The metal burnt him and blasted him into the air.

  Barachiel landed on Furcas. He grabbed hold of Furcas’ purple wings and pulled. Furcas gnashed his teeth and punched Barachiel. Barachiel snarled and bit him. “You were mine! Now you fight me?”

  Furcas kicked him. “I am no one’s but my own!”

  “You are mine still! I will show you that!” Barachiel bought his fist down on one wing, cracking it. Furcas veered into a wave of flame, shouting for Paimon.

  Barachiel followed him. He leapt on Furcas’ back and got his hands around his throat. “Ungrateful! You are not his, not Paimon’s! You are mine! Mine! Mine!”

  Paimon rose from below and swung his still attached shackles. The forged metal slammed into Barachiel and flung the Archangel away from Furcas. Paimon grabbed Furcas and pulled him high above the fight. He held him and swung his shackle, slicing and maiming any that neared them. He looked at Furcas. “Healed yet?”

  Furcas flapped his mended wing weakly. “I am good, I think.”

  Paimon grinned and they turned to the fight. The pair pummeled and swatted down the stray angels that came in to dive bomb the triple terror that was Lucifer, Belial, and Berith.

  Gabriel flew in front of his brother. “Stop this!”

  Paimon paused, startled. “Gabriel? You are Archangel now?”

  Gabriel nodded. “They want me to replace you, but I do not want this. Both of you must stop fighting!”

  Paimon shook his head. “I cannot. We must do this. Join us.”

  Gabriel frowned. “You will all lose. The spear has been forged. You have no calculated chance of success.”

  “Spear?”

  Gabriel trembled. “Do not get struck by it, Paimon, do not!” He dove into the fray of angels and disappeared.

  Paimon dropped to Lucifer. “There is some kind of spear.”

  Lucifer snarled and unleashed another ray of fire, washing Uriel with it. “Nothing can stop us, their tricks only delay us.”

  Paimon shook his head. “Listen, I do not think this is something normal.”

  Andrealphus raced towards them. “We have a problem!”

  “What?”

  “Michael has a spear. It is made from the throne itself! It burns like nothing I have seen before. He points it at her.”

  Lucifer looked between Archangels and saw Michael waiting near the throne. The spear he carried, a shaft of pure light. Michael had the weapon aimed at Ladriam’s prison. Lucifer roared.

  Michael held fast. He looked towards Ladriam with anger on his features. He resisted stabbing the spear into her to end her existence. She had ruined everything for him. She had ruined Lucifer, made what once was pure and bright, sullied. For that, Michael would never forgive her. For loving Ladriam, for choosing her over him, he would never forgive Lucifer.

  Michael sobbed and turned as Lucifer leapt on him. He plunged the spear into the Primangel. Lucifer froze in agony; the light of the throne pierced his body, infecting his limbs like a cancer. Michael grabbed Lucifer’s shoulder and pulled him further on to the white shaft. He brought the stunned Primangel’s face to his own. Tears streaked his cheeks. “You have fallen from grace. As your second I will execute you in His name, as the others will be executed.”

  Lucifer had never felt such pain in his existence. He grabbed the spear. He gasped. “You—We—How could you this to me? You are my brother.”

  “We are brothers no longer.” Michael twisted the spear. He stabbed the point of the spear into the floor, pinning Lucifer to it. He looked into the skies. “Give up or he dies!”

  Lucifer clawed at the spear. “Do not give up! It will mean your death!”

  Berith, Paimon, Furcas, Belial, and Andrealphus went back to back. Gabriel, Uriel, and Barachiel circled them. Uriel could only see Belial. He swooped in when he passed her. Berith and Andy blasted him
back.

  Michael raised his voice, “Give up!”

  Lucifer looked to Raphael who tended the numerous wounded. “Raphael, fight with us!”

  Raphael’s eyes were empty, seeing something else. He shook his head. “I can only heal that which is broken.”

  “Heal me!”

  “In time, I cannot do this now.”

  Lucifer snarled. “Raphael!”

  Michael stomped on Lucifer’s chest making him curl over in pain.

  Barachiel and Uriel charged the ring of Archangels. Barachiel caught hold of Furcas and pulled him out of the ring. Paimon chased. Uriel went for Belial. Andrealphus leapt on Uriel. Gabriel jumped on Andy’s back, pulling him away.

  Berith lunged for his brother. Uriel slashed Berith across the face with his hands, temporarily blinding him. He dove for Belial and caught her by her hair. Belial scratched at his face. She bit him in the neck. Uriel punched her and grabbed the wound in his neck.

  Selaphiel tore Belial out of Uriel’s grip and knocked the crazed Archangel back. He pushed Belial gently towards Jegudiel. Jegudiel held Belial and her features calmed under his touch.

  Uriel glared. “You both fight with them as well?”

  Selaphiel shook his head. “We fight on no side.”

  “Then give her over to me!”

  Selaphiel advanced on him. “No.”

  Uriel snapped his teeth at them. “Give her to me!”

  Selaphiel tensed. “You may not have her. What you want is not authorized and you will pay for what you have done. You have damaged this one enough. If she is to be executed, we shall do so cleanly and mercifully.”

  Uriel sneered and made ready to attack. Berith smashed into this brother and the two wrestled away. Above them, Gabriel slashed at Paimon’s throat. Paimon held the wound and gaped at Gabriel. “Why?”

  “You give in now and you will have a chance to live.” He snapped Paimon’s wings and slammed his brother into the steps next to Lucifer.

  Furcas leapt for him, but was similarly beset by Barachiel. Barachiel tore one of Furcas’ wings off as they plummeted together.

  Paimon ignored his own pain as he heard Furcas’ wail. “Furcas!” He glared at his brother. “Get off me, you shit!”

  Gabriel held his brother in place. “You would rather die for that one than live?”

  “Yes!”

  “That is not rational, Paimon.”

  Paimon clawed at his little brother. “Rational? I love him!”

  Gabriel stared at Furcas and Barachiel. “How odd.”

  Paimon gazed into Gabriel’s emerald eyes. “You are just as screwed up as I was!”

  Between Lucifer and Michael, things were quiet. Michael looked grim. “They are losing. You should have known you would lose. None of us are as strong as Him. You could have spared your friends and suffered alone, instead you mislead them, and now they suffer for your choice. Everyone loses.”

  “No.” Lucifer fought against the pain in his stomach. “It is you who have already lost.”

  “I think not.”

  “No matter the outcome of this, you have lost yourself. You are no longer Michael my brother, you are a puppet. You are a soulless used toy.”

  Michael twisted the spear bringing tears to Lucifer’s eyes. “I am no such thing. I will replace you, just as Gabriel replaces Paimon and Uriel replaces Berith.”

  “Uriel is a cancer!”

  “Uriel obeys!”

  “That is all that matters?”

  Michael stared into the fight. “There is nothing else for us but His will, Lucifer. You used to know this.”

  “Michael, do not become Primangel. Do not.”

  Michael sneered. “Why not?”

  “He uses, He does not care. Union with Him is an empty place. I see that now. Your soul will be consumed.”

  A shadow of doubt fell across Michael’s features, but he wiped it away. “You would say that. Betrayer!” He leaned on the spear, blinding Lucifer in agony. “Traitor. Liar! You cast us aside for her, the Impure!”

  Uriel drove Berith to the ground near Lucifer. Andy fought above, but flagged, outmatched by angels that rallied under Uriel’s command. Andrealphus called to Raphael for help, but again the Archangel refused to aid them.

  Michael nodded at the sight. “All are subdued, or will be soon, as He said they would be. Now you all will die.” Michael lit up and his body spasmed. “No, their wings to be removed. Cast out of Heaven to suffer and die in darkness. Then execute Lucifer, after he has watched his friends in agony.” Michael regained himself. He stared at Lucifer, clearly wanting to kill him now and be done with it.

  Michael looked to Barachiel. “Begin and be quick.”

  Barachiel ripped the other three wings off Furcas’ back. Four bleeding gouges remained behind, the muscle beneath shuddering uselessly. Furcas struggled to get up, the agony rendering him speechless, but lending him strength. Barachiel slapped him back to the ground and stroked his face. “What a waste of such a pretty, pretty thing.” He threw Furcas out of Heaven. Hands freed, he launched himself at Andrealphus.

  From this point on the memory is what I have gleaned from Belial and Lucifer together.

  Uriel laughed and tore off Berith’s wings in pieces. He picked chunks of muscle off, throwing up feathers and blood into the air.

  Michael watched him with distaste. “Uriel, get it over with quickly.”

  Uriel frowned. He put his foot to his brother’s back and tore. He kicked Berith until the tall angel moved no more. “You are no longer my brother. I cast you away. You do not cast me aside!” Uriel hurled Berith out of Heaven.

  Gabriel stared at Paimon’s back. He did not feel emotion, but for this instant, he was afraid. He could not tear Paimon’s wings off, but he could not hand him to Uriel to do what he had done to Berith. Gabriel looked to Barachiel and Andrealphus. “Do Andrealphus first then take this one.”

  Barachiel’s hands moved in a blur and stripped Andrealphus of his wings. Barachiel cast the broken Archangel aside as if he were trash and took Paimon, making quick work of him. He threw both Archangels out together.

  Gabriel looked away as pain seeped into his chest. He put his hands on his face and eradicated all of the memories he had of his older brother. He fell to the ground and stared at the world blankly.

  Belial watched everything with overwhelming horror. She paled as Uriel stared at her, grinning. Selaphiel and Jegudiel growled at him and pulled her further away.

  Michael leaned on Lucifer. He put his weight on the spear and tore the first of Lucifer’s wings off; pulling it off in jerks and tugs. He was emotionless as each wing tore away from the flesh. Lucifer remained silent, his eyes fixed on Ladriam’s prison, so close but unable to be touched. Michael ripped his last wing off. “We are not taking Belial’s wings any longer. Do you want to die first or see her fate?”

  Selaphiel and Jegudiel turned together. “Michael?”

  Michael looked up blankly. “I know what he did now, He told me. Uriel was not told no, He allowed it. He wishes to see the outcome of Uriel’s methods. He will allow Uriel to have Belial and continue his work.”

  Belial whimpered behind the brothers. Uriel looked at her with glee. Selaphiel and Jegudiel shook with barely controlled rage. Selaphiel looked at his younger brother. Jegudiel hissed at Uriel, ready to fight. Selaphiel grabbed his brother’s hand. He looked to Belial. He nodded to her and stepped aside.

  Belial wailed. Her scream dropped the Archangels to their knees. She bolted and slammed into Michael sending him and his spear flying. She swept up Lucifer’s prone body and shot out of Heaven.

  Michael scrambled to his feet. “Get her!”

  Uriel, Gabriel, and Barachiel raced out of Heaven after her. Michael was close behind with the spear in hand.

  FIND AND KILL THE BETRAYER!

  Belial screamed in the cold depths of space. The scattered Fallen heard and followed the sound. They used the last of their power to soar towards her. Furcas grabbed P
aimon. Andrealphus recovered Berith. They saw their Primangel and followed his progress. Lucifer clutched at his abdomen. “Belial, get us to her planet now.”

  Belial oriented herself. She raced past the Fallen. Lucifer grabbed at them as she soared on undamaged blue wings. Ladriam’s planet sparkled in an otherwise empty universe.

  The Archangels burst into space. They caught sight of Lucifer and Belial.

  Belial burned with fire, using up her energy to outpace the Archangels. The Fallen slammed through the red barrier around the planet. Their blood mingled and reacted with the red light. Ladriam’s shield recognized them and let them pass. The Fallen plummeted towards the Earth in a spiral of pain and delirium.

  The Archangels followed, but the shield around the planet had changed. They crossed the shield and their bodies were thrown into the physical realm. The shock of flesh and bone sent them reeling. The pressure and gravity squeezed at their bodies and pulled at their wings, filling them with pain and sickness. The four that followed the Fallen backpedaled into space. They stared at the planet in shock.

  Gabriel touched the energy that wrapped around the planet. “Ladriam did something to this. It is no longer the same.”

  Michael stared at his hands. “What does it do to us?”

  Gabriel thrust his arm through the barrier, marveling at the look of opaque flesh. “It disconnects us from Heaven. It attacks our wings.”

  “And now they have none.” Michael grimaced. He flew in circles watching Lucifer fall below.

  The Fallen smashed into the ground. Lucifer carved out a gouge in the earth as his body skidded to a stop. Furcas and Paimon landed in water, sending up a flood that covered the land. Dazed, Furcas pulled Paimon to shore and collapsed at the feet of Berith and Andrealphus. Those two had hit into a mountain, the area around them molten from the impact.

  Belial cartwheeled and slammed into a forest. Trees burst into flame for miles. She got to her feet, staggered, and puked. Her four wings still intact; she remained Archangel. She was not of this place and Ladriam’s energy fought her body. She stared upwards. The Archangels hovered above the shield, watching and waiting. She screamed at them in rage and loss.

  The Fallen could not think or function, their pain too intense, but they heard her scream and they were roused. Belial puked up blood. She wiped her mouth and felt her wings, sensing the connection between her power and her ailment. She looked upwards and leapt into the sky.