"Did you really think I wouldn't, Peter?" Mel asked gently.
He straightened so he could face her. "Many of us were worried for you. When you ventured where no angel has returned from...and you, an angel we could scarce do without...we feared the worst. To see you return, with the one you said you'd save...I am in awe, Lady Muriel." He bowed again, this time from the waist. "May I be the first to congratulate you on your conquest of Hell?"
Luce laughed so hard he almost choked. Mel and whose army? She'd have had to bring all the forces of Heaven to Hell and she couldn't conquer the whole place without defeating every single senior demon in addition to himself. Lilith would never give up without a fight – nor would any of the others, if only out of pride.
"You make it sound like some sort of violent battle. I merely travelled through Hell to help Luce and bring him here," Mel said softly, her now-watery smile melting Luce's heart. Mel wasn't the conquering type.
Movement caught Luce's eye on the edges of his vision. Those on the benches were standing and bowing, too – all in Mel's direction. Even he felt compelled to pay her the same homage. They hadn't been avoiding his eyes at all, he realised – they'd all been showing their respect to Mel.
Mel's fingers tightened around his and Luce lifted his head to look at her. She'd turned pale and the smile that lifted her lips was nervous and uncertain. She'd stayed on Earth, avoiding this kind of attention for centuries. Yet when she'd had a message to convey in front of a pack of human reporters in the office, she'd frozen and fallen to her knees in tears. The indestructible angel who'd fearlessly taken on all the forces of Hell and won...suffered from stage fright.
Luce slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. His now-white sleeve disturbed her feathers, marring their perfection, but she didn't make a sound of protest. "You don't know how happy I am that you did. How about we get the gate, Mel, and leave this bloke to deal with the backlog of work he has queuing up?"
Mel nodded jerkily and allowed him to lead her to the shimmering portal to Heaven.
"So, how do we do this?" Luce asked, looking at the bars preventing his passage.
Mel smiled wanly. "At least we don't have to play a game of poker to find out. The same as your gates to Dis – the touch of an angel."
"Well, do the honours then, Melody Angel," he replied with a flourish of his hands.
"No, together. We do this together," she insisted, her voice still small but gaining a little volume as it stopped shaking. She held tight to his hand, stretching her left hand toward one gate as he extended his right toward the other. "Now."
Her delicate hand and his larger one touched the bars at the same instant, sending the gates swinging wide open to permit them both passage into Heaven. With their hands still joined, they stepped forward together.
He could feel her shaking, but she continued to take one step after another and he kept pace with her until she stopped. Mist swirled around her bare feet, making his light grey trousers look even lighter beside her creamy legs. "If I asked you to turn my wings white as well as my clothes, would you do it?"
"No," Mel replied. "Only you can change those and the colour is a part of who you are. You're still the Lord of Hell, as well as an angel, Luce. That makes your wings...quite striking, as well as unique." Her smile seemed genuine again. "Besides, you know how I feel about dark wings. Think of the swans." She stretched out her fingers, caressing his feathers. He didn't want her to stop, but he didn't want to embarrass her in front of the audience.
Luce glanced back to see if the crowd at the gates were still watching them, but they, the gates and everything outside of Heaven were no longer visible. He sighed his relief, understanding why Mel had relaxed.
"Congratulations, Luce. You're the first fallen angel and the first redeemed demon ever to enter Heaven. I'm honoured that you let me be the one to escort you this far." Mel's expression glowed with joy.
Centuries...millennia...they'd kept him out. No more – all thanks to Mel. "Thank you," he managed to say before he grabbed her, crushing her wings in his fierce hug. He kissed her next, repeating his thanks when she broke for air.
He could have gone on kissing her forever, but she disengaged from him gently. As if to offer some compensation for the end of kisses, she clasped his hand between hers.
"So, what do you have in mind for your return to Heaven, Luce? What would you like to do first?" Mel asked with a smile.
Luce eyed her hungrily. "I want to do you first. All this about how it'll be better in Heaven...I want to see for myself. And I really, really want to use these." He produced the handcuffs from his pocket. The very special new ones that featured in his favourite fantasy about Mel.
Mel cleared her throat, her eyebrows lifting almost to her hairline. "You're finally redeemed, allowed to enter Heaven for the first time in centuries, and the first thing you want to do is handcuff me to a bed and..." Her hands seemed to convey quite eloquently what she failed to find the words to express.
Luce chuckled. "No. These are for me. Lady Muriel, illustrious leader of the Dominations, I was hoping you might..."
"I hardly need handcuffs to hold you anywhere I want you, my love." Mel's smile turned decidedly wicked. "Maybe later, if you like. First, I think I should show you how angels do it in Heaven."
Fifty-Nine
Luce woke from his blissful slumber and untwined himself from Mel. She may not have conquered Hell, but she'd conquered him so completely he never wanted to be apart from her again.
Something kept nagging at his mind. The old ferryman, asking if he was still the Lord of Hell, but he'd been looking at Mel.
And she'd nodded...
She'd have had to defeat all the senior demons in Hell in order to conquer the place. But Mel didn't work that way. Her style was more subtle – persuading them all to mutiny in her favour, perhaps.
By all that was holy...she had. Geryon, Merihim, Kasyade, Ploutos...even Lilith.
He cuddled up to Lady Muriel, conqueror of Hell. It's not like she'd needed to go to so much effort, he mused. He'd give her anything and he'd go to Hell and back to get it for her. All she had to do was ask.
Sixty
"Lady Muriel. Lady Muriel. Please forgive the intrusion, but Michael sent me. Raphael said it was urgent..."
Surely she'd earned a longer rest than this. Evidently not. Reluctantly, Mel unwound herself from Luce's embrace. "What is it, Jehannette?"
"It's Persephone. She's disappeared."
Mel felt Luce's interest arouse. "She has? That's wonderful news!"
"No, it isn't," Mel said gently. "I know you don't like her, but I need to see her. Raphael was supposed to bring her to me for a meeting regarding her recent conduct in Hell. If she's disappeared, then who's running the HELL Corporation?"
"That's her problem, not mine any more. I gave all that up, remember?" Luce cuddled closer to Mel.
"You signed it over to the agency, not her personally. If she's not taking care of the company, it falls to Raphael," Mel replied. She turned to Jehannette. "How long has she been gone? Does he have a suitable caretaker?"
"I don't know, Lady Muriel. Both archangels told me I needed to find you, tell you the news and beg for your help." Jehannette's barely-contained panic said more than her words.
Mel relaxed as she said, "Go tell them that I'll return to my little house on Earth as soon as I can. I'll find her and make sure the corporation is well cared for."
Jehannette hurried off, her relief as visible as the cloud beneath her.
"I still don't see how it's your problem," Luce grumbled. "Don't go. Think of all the trouble I'll cause, up here alone without you."
Mel drew away from him completely, feeling bereft already at the slight parting. "That's why you're coming with me, Luce. We'll return to HELL together. Just think – you'll get to wear pants again."
The tale continues in
To Hell and Back
which you can get HERE.
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Melody Angel's
Guide to
Heaven and Hell
Demelza Carlton
Contents
Introduction
Heaven
Three Triads
The Lowest Triad
The Middle Triad
The Highest Triad
Seraphim
Cherubim
Thrones
Dominations
Virtues
Powers
Principalities
Archangels
Angels
Hell
The Gates of Hell
Hell’s Vestibule
Acheron River
First Circle of Hell
Second Circle of Hell
Third Circle of Hell
Fourth Circle of Hell
Fifth Circle of Hell
City of Dis
Sixth Circle of Hell
Seventh Circle of Hell
Eighth Circle of Hell
Ninth Circle of Hell
Centre of Hell
The Immortals Who Inhabit Heaven and Hell
Alecto
Ananiel
Acheron
Asmodeus
Baraqiel
Beelzebub
Belial
Camael
Cerberus
Charon
Chiron
Cresil
Demeter
Dirae
Freyja
Gabrielle
George
Geryon
Grigori
Hades
Harpies
Homusubi
Imps
Jehanette
Jezebeth
Kasyade
Koyane
Lilith
Lucifer
Megaera
Meness
Mephistopheles
Merihim
Michael
Minos
Muriel
Nessos
Nybbas
Patrick
Persephone
Peter
Philatanus
Phlegyas
Ploutos
Raphael
Samael
Sarkis
Saule
Tisiphone
Turiel
Uriel
Introduction
Not everyone has personal experience in both Heaven and Hell. Nor have many people met most of the immortals who inhabit one or both of these places – at least not those on Earth, the realm in between.
There are countless more immortals than I have introduced you to here, but I hope this will serve as an introduction to my realms and those who live here with me.
Melody Angel
Heaven
Heaven is the domain of angels, enlightened and non-damned souls.
Three Triads
There are nine choirs of angels, divided into three triads or spheres that each contain three choirs.
The Lowest Triad
The first and lowest triad consists of Angels, Archangels, and Principalities. These three choirs deal with the minutiae of the universe – including humans. Guardian angels are some of the lowest level of angels in this triad.
The Middle Triad
The middle triad is responsible for maintaining large-scale order in the universe, throughout both space and time. They delegate lesser tasks to the angels on the lowest triad. The choirs in this triad are the Powers, Virtues and Dominations.
The Highest Triad
The highest triad are the furthest from Earth, spending all their time in Heaven or on higher planes of existence. These are the ones who have a reputation for singing, as they are tasked with contemplating and conveying the glory of this universe and communicating with other universes. Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim are the three choirs that make up this triad.
Seraphim
The Seraphim are six-winged angels who stand highest in Heaven. Each pair of wings has its own purpose:
One pair for covering their faces
One pair to cover their feet
One pair for flying
In Hebrew, Seraphim means flaming, which is how these angels are meant to appear, as they are aflame with love for the higher beings they stand so close to, while they are adept at kindling love in those around them. Lucifer was once a Seraphim and this is probably where he gets his affinity for fire and his legendary capacity for seduction.
Cherubim
Cherubim are next down from Seraphim and they are said to be very wise, with many eyes and four wings. They are supposed to have the greatest knowledge of this universe and also the greatest capacity to convey this knowledge.
Thrones
Thrones (also called Ophanim and Galgallin) are the conduit between lower angels and higher beings, dispensing justice. They’re symbols of the universe's highest authority and justice.
The form of these angels is quite odd – they are described as wheels within wheels, with many eyes set around their rims. Admittedly, they sound a lot like modern reports of flying saucers.
Dominations
Dominions (also known as Dominations, Lordships or Hashmallim) are described as glowing or amber ones, as they are clearly recognisable as angels who wield light. They preside over all the other angels and nations on Earth, but they rarely make themselves known to humans.
Their appearance is the closest to human – though they are meant to have a pair of feathered wings. They are freer than the higher triad of angels, so their service is voluntary. They help ruling bodies on Earth to govern with prudence and wisdom. Dominations are so named because of their control over their senses. They teach how to subdue dissolute desires and passions, through enslaving the flesh to the spirit, and how to rule one’s will and be above temptation.
Various sources name different angels as the leader of this choir of angels – some name Raphael; others Zadkiel, Hasmael, Muriel or Zacharael.
Virtues
Called Virtues, Strongholds or Dynameis (which means forces in Greek), these angels work miracles, or convey the power to work miracles on those who deserve them. They also assist those who are overburdened by those they owe fealty to, apparently, and grant patience to those who ask for it. They also control the elements, nature, seasons and celestial bodies. Stars, planets and satellites, of course. What were you thinking?
Powers
The Powers (also known as Potentates, Authorities and Exousiai) get their name from the power they hold over the devil and demons. They can prevent demons from harming people, restrain their power, and assist those who wrestle with demons. They have the power to cast out evil and conquer the devil and his demons, too.
Led by Freyja, angels considered candidates for this choir are subject to extensive training before being selected for duty.
Principalities
Principalities (also called Archai) are a lesser form of Dominions – they, too, are responsible for maintaining order in the universe, but they convey orders from Dominions to angels and archangels, as well as carrying these out themselves. They are assigned to groups of people to help them choose good leaders and to individual leaders, in order to assist them in good government.
Archangels
Archangels are heralds and they are allowed to reveal knowledge, prophecies and a deeper understanding of the higher authorities' will. These angels frequently appear in religious texts, as they interact with humans and enlighten a select few. Gabriel, Michael, Uriel and Raphael are described as archangels.
Angels
While all those in the nine choirs of angels are angels, those in this lowest choir are just angels – angels of no higher rank than that of an angel (sometimes called Malakhim). These angels have the most frequent contact with individual humans and are always with them. They are guardian angels, angels who escort souls to judgement and Grigori or watchers, who observe humans – jus
t to mention a few roles these angels play.
Hell
Hell is also known as the Pit, the Inferno, a place where damned souls go after they die and they don’t come out. It's run by demons, devils and Lucifer. It has nine circles, plus a vestibule and a pool, specially designed for Satan himself.
Before humans were allowed into Heaven when they died, their souls were sent to the Underworld, consisting of Tartarus and the Elysian Fields. The Underworld eventually became far too crowded and a new solution was needed, which included Heaven and Hell.
The Gates of Hell
Hell’s gate appears to be simply a cave entrance, with the following description over the arched portal:
Through me you pass into the city of woe
Through me you pass into eternal pain
Through me you pass among the lost.
Justice moved the founder of my fabric,
Divine power raised me
With the highest wisdom and primeval love
Before me, nothing but eternal things
Were created, and eternal I endure.
All hope abandons ye who enter here.
Hell’s Vestibule
The vestibule of Hell – the bit just inside the portentous gate – is full of people who did nothing in their lives to warrant an afterlife in a specific place. They’re not truly in Hell, nor anywhere else, either. Their punishment is to be plagued by stinging wasps and hornets, while their blood and tears are drunk by maggots and other insects. Plenty of suffering for a place that’s not even Hell yet.
Welcome to Hell Box Set: Paranormal Romantic Comedy (Mel Goes to Hell Series Book 123) Page 36