by Darcy Town
Dahlia reached for him, but she was too weak to speak. She touched her chest instead. Tears poured down her face.
Michael looked to Raphael, Selaphiel, and Jegudiel. “When we leave, go to the machine above. Find Gabriel, heal him, and make him restart the weapon. Return once this place has been obliterated. I leave the hosts with you to insure that the Fallen do not attack you when we leave.”
Belial snarled. “You seek to still wipe us out!”
Michael sneered. “Of course.” He smiled at Lucifer. “I am glad he is the one that we will get to keep in Heaven. I always wanted him over her.” He leaned in to Lucifer. “She will die regardless and you will suffer knowing you left her here to that. You always make the wrong choice, Lucifer. You never think about what you do.”
Lucifer’s eyes widened. He jumped, but Michael speared him through the chest. “Do not break another promise, another deal. Not this time.” Michael grabbed Lucifer’s wrist. He jumped into the air, vanishing as he reached space.
Uriel sneered at the rest, his eyes lingering on Belial. “If you come with me, I will keep you safe.”
Belial held on to Andy. “I’d rather die!”
Uriel shrugged. “Then die.” He followed Michael.
Dahlia sagged against Berith. She stared at the spot Lucifer had stood. She looked at his blood on the ground. She felt him enter Heaven, felt the searing light on his skin. She screamed and sank to the ice. The blood loss and shock were too much; she fell unconscious.
***
Michael and Uriel arrived back in the Hall of the Throne, carrying Lucifer between them. They tossed him to the ground and shared a smile of victory.
Lucifer raised his hand to his eyes. The light shined too bright, too harsh. He blinked and strained to see. His eyes filled with stinging tears. The scars on his back ached. He was here, home after an eternity and it sickened him.
Michael kicked Lucifer to Uriel.
Uriel drove his foot into Lucifer’s face sending him back towards Michael. Michael grabbed Lucifer. He brought him to his feet and forced him to look up. “Heaven welcomes you! Our Primangel at last returned.” He lifted Lucifer into the air. “Hail Lucifer Morningstar!”
Legion of angel gaped at their fallen Primangel. The faces of the older reflected fear and hatred, the younger angels looked on in curiosity, having only heard of him in story. Each of them shined like a star in the sky. The song they sang, once melodious to Lucifer’s ears, now sounded wrong. The vibrations hurt instead of pleased. Lucifer’s light was a muted pale blue compared to theirs; he was a wound in the perfection of light around him. The angels hissed and bared teeth and fangs. Their song quieted.
Uriel grinned at the agony on Lucifer’s face. “This hurts him.”
Michael shrugged and stared at Lucifer. “This will seem as pleasure compared to what he will endure.”
Lucifer clenched his teeth. “Get it over with.”
“And ruin our fun? I think not.” Michael slammed Lucifer into the ground. He kept a hold of one arm. He placed his foot at Lucifer’s elbow. “I owe you for so much pain.” Michael stomped, breaking his arm.
Uriel stepped on his lower back. Lucifer heard something snap and break, he clawed on the ground. In this place, in this form, he could not heal and he had no strength. He was at the mercy of those around him.
Lucifer squeezed his eyes shut; he bit his bottom lip to keep from crying out. He would endure this. He would survive. They would not kill him, just make him suffer, he knew this. Dahlia was not here and for that, he could bear this.
The thought of Dahlia brought a new kind of agony to him. If Michael was right, the planet would be destroyed and her with it. He struggled to stand, but the light around him leeched what strength he had left. The spear wound in his chest was disabling. Lucifer curled over; he had no force to make good an escape, no power to match the anger he felt.
His spirit raged inside his broken body. Flames licked his skin seeking release. Lucifer caught a glimpse of it, the raw energy he had once possessed. He reached out blindly towards the brightness, the light, willing it to be his again.
Michael lifted Lucifer and threw him towards Dahlia’s vacated prison. Lucifer bounced and rolled. His head smacked against the metal plates that used to house her body. Blood ran into his eyes. He looked up blurrily.
The throne seared the sky with white fire, watching and waiting.
Anger burned in Lucifer’s stomach. He leapt at the throne. A body of wings and heat smashed into him, sending him back down to the floor. A whip slashed across his face, raising a bleeding welt. The whip struck a second time and drew out his flame. The feeling of power fled. He was weak once more. He raised his eyes.
An unfamiliar Archangel stared down at him, tall with silver eyes and black hair. The Archangel smiled mirthlessly and readied the whip to attack if he moved.
Michael and Uriel stared, surprised to the see the new Archangel. Michael reclaimed his spear and appraised the newcomer. “Your name?”
The Archangel bowed. “Samuel.”
Michael nodded. “Are you a new creation or a sibling?”
“I believe I have a brother among the Fallen.”
Lucifer blinked back blood and the similarities became clear to him. The Archangel was a younger, colder version of Andrealphus. Samuel flicked the whip into the air, his hands a blur. He was as fast as Andrealphus as well.
TO REPLACE BARACHIEL, THIS ONE WAS CREATED.
Samuel looked down at Lucifer dispassionately. “Are we killing him?”
Michael shook his head. “Killing no, hurting yes.”
Samuel recalled his whip. He bowed to Michael. “I will do as you require.”
Michael nodded. “Hold him.”
Samuel lifted Lucifer to his feet; he bent Lucifer’s arms at angles that threatened to dislocate his shoulders. Michael hooked a finger in the remnants of clothing and armor that Lucifer wore, he tore them off leaving Lucifer naked. Michael looked his older brother up and down. He gouged him between the ribs.
Lucifer forced himself not to cry out. He smelled his own skin burning; fire rushed through his insides.
Michael twisted and pulled the spear from Lucifer’s body, leaving a gaping hole. He tossed the spear from hand to hand, deciding where to stab Lucifer next.
Lucifer raised his head, noticing Michael’s indecision. “You never were good at making your own choices. It seems you still are not.”
Michael punched him in the face. “I did not say you could speak.”
Lucifer gasped. “I am not yours to order.”
Michael grabbed Lucifer’s chin. “You will do as I say now.” He cracked the bone underneath his hand. “I am in charge.”
Lucifer spit out teeth. “Then why are you not Primangel in my stead?”
Michael roared and kneed Lucifer in the stomach. Samuel let Lucifer drop as Michael brought a fist down on Lucifer’s neck. Lucifer’s world went dark, and he passed into a merciful unconscious state as the beating continued.
***
Dahlia’s eyes fluttered open. She looked into Gaea’s face. Dahlia jumped to her feet, she swayed. Gaea grabbed for her. “Mom, you need to rest. Your energy has been drained from the healing.”
Dahlia threw Gaea’s arms off her with force, but not violence. She darted away. She skidded on the ice and looked over her body. She was whole and healed, physically at least. She held out her arms to steady herself and keep everyone at bay. Dahlia sucked in air and looked around.
Angels thronged in the air above, but none attacked. They waited.
The Lilliam soldiers had gone into the ground, anticipating an attack from the shield. They sought the refuge of the City. Only the royalty remained above ground. All of Dahlia’s eight children were there on the surface.
Andrealphus and Belial leaned on one another; haggard in appearance, but healed. Helion stood with Whitney; their arms around Paimon. Paimon was unconscious. Berith limped over with Apple in his arms. She was stuck in a
comatose state, her eyes bled.
Dahlia’s vision blurred. She raised a hand to her cheeks and touched her face. She pulled her hands back. Bloody tears ran down her cheeks.
She turned to the snow drenched in Lucifer’s blood. She raised her eyes. Selaphiel, Raphael, and Jegudiel stood near the blood. All three wore pendants, impervious and healed. She stalked towards them. “Fuckers!”
Belial grabbed her wrist. “Do not, Dahlia!”
Dahlia threw Belial off her. She stood before the three defiantly. “What now? Will you simply watch again and do nothing while we suffer?”
The Archangels said nothing.
Dahlia swept past them to the spot where Michael had driven his spear into Lucifer. She plunged her hands into the blood he had left on the ground. She brought the bloody ice to her face. She wiped it in streaks across her cheeks and hair. She painted herself in it. The patterns mirrored the ones her angelic body had possessed.
Raphael cocked his head and watched, intrigued. He gestured to Jegudiel. “Go to the machine now as Michael ordered.”
Jegudiel nodded, but kept his eyes on Dahlia. “Do we fire now or—”
Raphael grabbed his wrist. “Tend to Gabriel and wait. Do not fire.”
Jegudiel saluted and jumped into the air.
Belial sneered. “When did they start taking orders from the baby of the group?”
Selaphiel snapped razor-sharp teeth at her. “Shut your mouth!”
Belial flicked out claws. “Shut it for me, Selaphiel!”
Dahlia screamed.
She felt it, the pain, and the wounds Lucifer took in Heaven. Through the blood on her skin, they linked. Dahlia punched at the ground. “Craven, vile! He is helpless! Stop!”
Apple stirred in Berith’s arms. She bucked and clawed at her skin. Her wails joined Dahlia’s cries. Her eyes flashed deep red. Blood touched the corners of her lips.
Berith panted. “What is wrong with her?”
Gaea looked between Apple and Dahlia. “They were linked some time before, yes?”
“Through blood.”
She watched Apple. “Then they share in this.”
Berith held her tight. “What can we do?”
“Nothing. Their fates are tied.”
Apple thrashed out of his grip and hit the ground.
Dahlia looked to the stars. They wailed in a silent song. The Light Bringer suffered; their source and companion tortured. She felt their anger. The destruction song hummed in her chest, seeking to be drawn out. Dahlia held her heart, fighting with her desire for revenge and despair.
Raphael took a step closer.
Belial tensed. Andy stopped her and shouted, “Dahlia! Raphael nears you!”
Dahlia shook her head. She did not care.
Selaphiel stepped between Raphael and the Fallen. He held twin blades of light, deadly as the spear itself. The Fallen did not doubt that he knew how to wield them. He kept his feet moving, ready to strike at anyone that came near. His toes passed through the ashes and bones of Barachiel. Disgusted, he made a face and kicked the material away.
Raphael stopped just over Dahlia’s shoulder and watched the fight that raged inside her.
Dahlia’s pain grew, but she did not release the song. She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing her children were on the ice behind her and her friends were there as well. She put her hands to the ground and kept her lips shut.
Raphael smiled.
***
Lucifer had no piece of him that was untouched or free from blood. The Archangels threw his limp body before the throne. He could not raise his head. It was a struggle even to breathe, to see.
The fire at the throne descended and purred. LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR, MY FIRST.
Lucifer shuddered. He pressed his hands into the ground to push away. He fought against the presence of the light and the fire. A whip slashed across his fingers. Lucifer pulled his hand into his chest, cradling it against the mass of cuts and wounds there.
The fire engulfed him. Lucifer joined into a commune with Him. What had once been pleasure, love, and joy, had turned to agony, hatred, and revulsion. The fire swept through him, leaving nothing free or unscathed.
YOU ARE EVER THE FOOL.
Lucifer spoke through torn lips, “To choose love is not the decision of a fool.”
IS THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU DID?
“She is free from you.” He managed a smile. “She is free and that is enough. She will protect our planet. I know it.”
The fire roiled and laughed. OF COURSE SHE IS NOT FREE. SHE IS CHAINED TO YOU. NOW I WILL HAVE BOTH OF YOU, FINALLY ONCE MORE, MY PAIR OF PRIMANGELS.
Lucifer swallowed blood. “No you will not.”
SHE WILL COME, LUCIFER. SHE WILL TRY TO SAVE YOU AND WHEN SHE DOES, I WILL HAVE HER.
“No.” Lucifer blinked. “No, she will not do that.”
LUCIFER, I KNOW MY CHILD AS I KNOW YOU. SHE WILL RAGE AND COME FOR YOU EXACTLY AS YOU CAME FOR HER. SHE WILL FAIL EXACTLY AS YOU FAILED. THIS TIME THOUGH, ONE WILL NOT ESCAPE AND LEAVE THE OTHER. YOU WILL BOTH STAY WITH ME.
Lucifer shook his head. “She will not come.”
SHE WILL.
“You do not know!”
YES I DO. I AM HER CREATOR. I AM YOURS. NOTHING YOU DO IS A SURPRISE TO ME.
“She escaped! You did not foresee that.”
I LET HER ESCAPE, LUCIFER. I SHOWED HER A WAY OUT, MADE HER THINK SHE HAD CREATED IT. I ALLOWED IT TO BE.
“You lie!”
I HAVE NO NEED TO LIE IT IS THE TRUTH. SHE THOUGHT HERSELF CLEVER. SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD TRICKED ME, THIS WAS AS I WANTED.
“Why?”
YOU WOULD HAVE STORMED HEAVEN ENDLESSLY IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY, BUT YOU DID NOT. YOU WERE WITHOUT POWER, WITHOUT YOUR WINGS. ANY GRANTING OF THAT POWER AFTER THE FALL WOULD HAVE BEEN MET WITH SUSPICION. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE COME, BUT THIS, THIS IDEA IS PERFECT. SHE HAS POWER NOW AND SHE WILL COME WEILDING IT, THINKING SHE RECOVERS IT ON HER OWN.
“She is wingless!”
SHE NEVER HAD HER WINGS TORN, LUCIFER. SHE IS SIX-WINGED STILL.
“She is not, she cannot come here. You will not get her!”
SHE WILL REMEMBER THEM IN HER DESPAIR. SHE WILL REFORM AS ANGEL. SHE WILL SEEK THE POWER AND ONCE SHE HAS IT, SHE WILL COME TO ME.
“Then she will destroy you!”
SHE CANNOT DESTROY ME AND SHE IS NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO TRY. SHE WILL SUPPLICATE HERSELF BEFORE ME. SHE WILL OFFER ME HERSELF JUST AS YOU OFFERED YOURSELF. I WILL TAKE HER MEMORIES. SHE WILL BE PERFECT AGAIN. THEN I WILL HAVE HER, I WILL MAKE HER MINE IN THE WAYS YOU MADE HER YOURS. I WILL DO THIS WHILE YOU WATCH, WHILE YOU STAND ON OBEDIENT. I WILL PURIFY HER WITH MYSELF.
There was truth in the flames. Lucifer tried to get off the ground. “You will not succeed. She will never give herself to you!”
SHE LOVES YOU, LUCIFER. SHE WILL GIVE ANYTHING, EVERYTHING TO SEE YOU FREE FROM THE PRISON.
“She will sense your lies.”
NO, LUCIFER, FOR I WILL NOT LIE. YOU WILL BE FREE FROM THE PRISON.
“Then I will warn her—”
I THINK NOT. IF YOU ARE NOT OBEDIENT, SHE DIES, THOUGH I WILL HAVE MEASURES IN PLACE TO FORCE YOUR PARTICIPATION.
“You cannot force my participation!”
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ON THIS FOR MUCH TIME, LUCIFER. EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE. EVEN NOW, SHE IS CONTEMPLATING THIS. SHE NEVER COULD STAND TO SEE YOU IN PAIN, A WEAKNESS. IT IS PERFECT, FLAWLESS.
The fire churned with anticipation. Lucifer could feel its glee. “She will outsmart you! She will defeat you!”
YOU CANNOT OUTSMART ME. I KNOW EVERYTHING. THE ONLY VARIABLE, MY LUCIFER, IS TIME. HOW LONG CAN SHE HOLD OUT BEFORE IT CONSUMES HER, THE RAGE AND DARKNESS, THE DESPAIR? SHE CANNOT GO LONG.
Lucifer tore at the fire around him. “You will not win in this!”
AS SOON AS YOU SAW HER FACE AGAIN, I HAD ALREADY WON.
“This is not our fate! There is hope.”
The fire laughed. YES, HOPE, IT WILL MAKE THE RESULT ALL THE MORE PA
INFUL FOR YOU. PLEASE CONTINUE THIS HOPE.
Lucifer pulled away from the fire, he crawled. The fire lanced him through.
IN THE PRISON YOU WILL GO, REMAINING THERE UNTIL SHE COMES. YOU SHOULD WELCOME THIS, LUCIFER. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU DID TO HER SO LONG AGO. YOU WILL JOIN WITH THE SUFFERING THAT YOU IMPARTED UPON HER.
The fire pulled back and Uriel, Michael, and Samuel grabbed Lucifer’s arms and legs. They pulled him towards the prison that Dahlia had once spent an eternity in as Ladriam.
***
Dahlia felt the fire and Lucifer’s dread and anguish. She heard not the words, but experienced the terror and hate through her link with Lucifer. She pressed her palms into her eyes, seeking, pleading with the universe to stop this.
Silence reigned thick on the ice.
The first shackle was placed on his wrist. Her arm went numb, a creeping cold climbed into her muscles and bone. Dahlia remembered this pain. His skin froze and cracked. Her breaths came faster, ragged. She scratched at his bindings as if they touched her flesh. “Fight! Fight, Lucifer!”
The starlight above her grew weak as the stars lost their essence and fire. They dimmed, mourning for their creator.
Dahlia pounded her fist into the ground, sending cracks radiating across the ice. “FIGHT!”
***
Lucifer’s head snapped up. He fought against the pain and stared at his hands. He could sense her there, the connection. “Dahlia? Dahlia!”
YES, CALL FOR HER, DRAW HER IN WITH YOUR PAIN.
Lucifer’s eyes were blinded with blood. He shouted into the air, “STAY AWAY!”
Michael gagged him. “No more from you.”
Uriel locked his feet in place. The blue metal stabbed into Lucifer’s ankles with small driving spikes, leeching his strength, biting into his muscle and bone, pinning him to the ground. Lucifer scratched at Michael blindly with his free hand.
Michael grabbed his hand and forced it to join with the other, shackling them together. He locked them in place bringing them to the ground.
Lucifer bit through his gag. “DAHLIA, DO NOT COME!”
Michael stabbed the spear into Lucifer’s neck. “Silence!”
Lucifer looked around blindly. “Michael, you can stop this! You are free.”