by Darcy Town
I SEEK TO GIVE YOU A GIFT, TO MAKE YOU PERFECT.
“What have I done to deserve a gift?”
The fire reached out and brushed her face. She fell down into Raphael’s arms, asleep. The fire swirled around the pair and addressed Raphael, KEEP HER SLEEPING WHILE I RESTORE HER WINGS.
The fire rushed through the air and stabbed into Lucifer.
YOU SHALL SEE HER PERFECT AGAIN, LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR. THAT IS MY GIFT TO YOU, TO GAZE UPON HER PERFECTION.
Lucifer snarled, but his lips would not move. He bit his tongue until blood dripped down his chin. His hands shook in rage and despair.
THEN I WILL HAVE HER AS MY QUEEN AND YOU WILL BE HER PET, BY HER SIDE WHILE SHE IS BY MINE. WHAT DO YOU SAY?
“Fuck you! Fuck your—” Lucifer’s ability to speak was cut-off as quickly as it came. He choked. Lucifer stared at Ladriam, her sleeping face serene. He could not even shed tears for her.
Michael watched him and sneered. “So pathetic.”
DO THE OTHERS EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS IN THE OTHER REALM?
Michael shook his head. “Just a scuffle, no doubt without real consequences. They do not need Archangel support, if that is what you ask. Uriel cannot stay away from Belial. It seems she cannot stay away from him either.”
I DO NOT WANT HER BROUGHT BACK HERE. IF SHE IS, EXECUTE HER.
“Uriel will—”
IT IS NOT URIEL’S DECISION. BELIAL IS RUINED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED SOME TIME AGO.
The fire stabbed at Lucifer once more, then let him go. Raphael padded over and placed his hands on Lucifer, drawing out the scorching heat and healing his wounds. His eyes fell half-lidded. He looked between the fire, Ladriam, and Lucifer.
The fire descended upon Ladriam and lifted her up. Her head rolled to the side. The heat permeated her skin and settled at her back. A third set of wings formed from the light. They shined bright white, scorching. They opened and as they did, Ladriam received her third set of halos.
Angel and Archangel watched as Primangel formed again, restored to full power. Lucifer was torn between joy and agony. His beloved was restored; his desire and dream for so long fulfilled, but he knew what this meant for her. What He would do with her now.
Lucifer struggled. Raphael wrapped a wing around him and kept him back, his eyes a warning to Lucifer. “Do not contemplate interfering and you will not be prevented from interfering. Do you understand?”
Lucifer ignored him, his eyes only on her.
Ladriam opened her eyes and gazed at her new halos. She looked at her third set of wings. “Oh!” She flew up into the air. “Oh!” She smiled and gazed at the angels and Archangels of Heaven. “I am now different.”
YOU ARE PRIMANGEL AGAIN. The fire watched her move.
Desire irradiated from the throne. Lucifer wanted to cry, scream, anything to stop this.
The fire reached out to Lucifer. NOW YOU KNOW HOW I FELT WHEN I SAW YOU TWO TOGETHER. YOU WILL FEEL MY PAIN SHORTLY.
The fire reached out and grabbed her wrist, drawing her back in to the throne. Ladriam touched the fire at her wrist. “Thank you!”
YOU ARE WELCOME, LADRIAM.
Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Selaphiel watched. Michael was clearly envious, Gabriel curious, and Selaphiel on edge. Raphael stayed by Lucifer’s side, keeping him from fighting.
Ladriam dropped to one knee and bowed her head with tears of happiness in her eyes. “You are wondrous! A marvel! Ever surprising. I did nothing to warrant this, your generosity is boundless.”
The fire swept around her, languorous. Her eyelids drooped. He pulled her closer. JOIN WITH ME.
***
In Eden, Paimon’s spiraling house emanated music and curses. Jegudiel fought with his controller. “I do not understand!”
Paimon grinned. “You keep falling off the side of the track. Bowser was a bad choice.” His hands moved without thinking. He had not yet once fallen off a track or hit anything on the course.
Jegudiel watched Paimon play. “How can you do this blind?”
“I memorized the track.”
“Really?” Jegudiel punched him in the face.
Paimon reset his jaw. “Thank you?”
Jegudiel shook out his hand. “Just checking.”
He snickered. “To see if I am really blind?”
“Yes.” Jegudiel nodded.
Paimon grinned. “You’re becoming more and more like us each second.”
Jegudiel’s car was put back on track. He pressed at buttons. “Go, lizard man! Move faster! They are passing you!”
“He cannot hear you.”
Jegudiel’s face went red. “You talk to yours.”
“Toad is the man.”
Jegudiel watched Paimon beat him again. “Another, I am still learning.”
Paimon shrugged. “Sure. Rainbow Bridge is next.”
“The pretty one?” Jegudiel smiled as the new course came up on screen. “Colors!”
Paimon hit the gas and took off. Jegudiel immediately sent Bowser over the edge. He hissed. “What is this?!”
“Rainbow Bridge.”
“It is hard! Why is it pretty and bad?”
Paimon snickered. “Camouflage. So, have you thought about whether you want to have a girl name or a boy name?”
***
Uriel called out and hundreds of his angels joined the fight. They moved under his command, dive-bombing Berith, Titan, and Whitney. Uriel flew above the fray, searching for an opportunity to strike.
Berith sliced at any that came near, cutting them in two with Dahlia’s hell-forged blade. He spared Apple a glance. She remained in full control of Samuel and sent the Archangel chasing after Uriel. Apple laughed as Uriel dodged whip strikes and meteors.
Whitney whooped and tore a chunk away from the moon. She shared a part of it with Titan and slammed her piece into Uriel. “Whoosh! Bam! Moonstruck!” An angel dove at her with a sword. Whitney smashed fist of granite into its face. “Sucks to be you!”
Berith managed to smile as he flew back to back with her. “I never would have imagined you to be so violent.”
Whitney grinned. “It’s easy to seem non-violent when you have no means.”
Andy flipped by them, parrying the blades of six angels. “How long are we doing this for?”
Nix danced by, throwing black spears over their heads. “Until Mom gets back?”
Uriel laughed. “She is not coming back, you fools! She no longer even knows you exist!”
Whitney frowned. “He keeps saying that.”
Andy drove his black blade into an angel’s chest, dissolving it. “We should ignore him. He is trying to trip us up. It is what he has always done.”
Berith nodded. “Agreed, the only thing Uriel spews forth is poison.”
“You wish this were the case!” Uriel snarled and lightning raced at them.
Berith grabbed the energy from his brother and consumed it. He threw a bolt of his own back at Uriel.
Uriel ducked. “Ladriam gave up her memories to release Lucifer from the prison! She is docile now, a pretty little thing to wait at His feet.”
The group ignored him, killing more of his angels.
Samuel’s face was a mask of hatred; he kept his eyes locked on Apple. “Release me, you whore!”
Apple smirked. “No way!”
Berith flew beside her. “Can you control more?”
Apple shook her head. “Doing this is hard enough.” She dropped her voice, “He is new. I doubt I could do this with Uriel.”
“Uriel!” Belial shot up through the shield in a flurry of wings.
Helion chased her. “No, Belial!”
Belial smashed into Uriel and ripped at his chest. “Give it back to me! Give it back!”
Uriel threw his arms around her. “You came to me—”
She shoved her fist into his mouth and down his throat. “Give it back!”
Andy raced for her. “Belial, get back!”
Belial was maddened; her pain drove h
er insane. She scraped at Uriel’s face with her free hand. Her heart beat beneath his ribcage. She pushed her fingers through his windpipe. “It is mine!”
Uriel bit into her arm. Belial pulled it back and swiped at his face. He laughed. She screeched, “Mine!”
Helion tore Belial away from Uriel. Andy and Nix jumped in between them before Uriel could give chase. Uriel grinned at Andy. “See! I told you she would come to me.”
Belial screamed from where Helion held her. “It is mine!”
Andy stabbed at Uriel. “She is not coming to be your bride. She seeks to kill you!”
Uriel grinned. “She cannot. She kills me and she dies. You kill me and she dies.” He smiled. “See?”
Belial scratched at Helion. “I do not care if I die. Kill him! Kill him now!”
Andy parried Uriel’s blows. “You lie.”
Uriel frowned. “I do not. Want to see?” He jabbed his blade into his heart.
Belial wailed in agony. Titan and Nix rushed to Helion to help him hold his sister. They pulled her back to the shield and plunged towards the planet with her. Helion called back, “Andy, stop him!”
Andy grabbed Uriel’s hand and ripped the sword out of his chest. He put his hands to Uriel’s throat. “Do you want to kill her?”
Uriel spit blood at him. “If I cannot have her then yes, I do.”
“But you will die!”
Uriel shrugged. “So be it.” He fingered a small blade and jabbed it at Andy. Samuel lashed Uriel’s arm and yanked backwards, pulling Uriel’s hand away from Andy’s stomach. Apple strained to keep control over the Archangel.
Andy kicked Uriel in the face and jumped back. “I will find a way to kill you!”
***
JOIN ME, LADRIAM.
Ladriam gazed up into the fire. “You wish this?”
IT IS MY ONLY WISH.
Ladriam smiled shyly. “I can but provide to you.”
THEN COME TO ME.
Ladriam’s features lit up with a smile.
Lucifer died inside.
His body ached, his soul pierced and leaking. He seethed. She was a child, unaware. Her face was full of joy, happiness, and youthful curiosity; she did not know what she agreed to. She did not know what He had done to her in the past. She went willingly to her torturer.
Lucifer closed his eyes. He fought with the collar and tried to burn it away. The metal clamped down and left him lethargic. He cried in frustration. She stood only a handful of steps away from him and he could do nothing but stare.
Ladriam took a step forward. The fire reached out in the shape of a hand and took hers, interlacing their fingers. Ladriam jumped as a jolt raced through her body. Another hand reached out and wrapped around her waist. Ladriam swooned. Her head rolled back as both arms encircled her. Fire raced up through her wings and hair, rendering her dazed.
MINE. He pulled her into the flame. The fire engulfed her and she joined with Him.
Lucifer wailed, his scream mapped on his skin as cuts and bruises. He gnashed his teeth as her limbs disappeared in the fire. She was pulled to the ground before the throne.
Raphael wrapped Lucifer in his arms and healed the cuts as they formed.
Lucifer’s teeth lengthened, his fingernails grew into talons. “KIL—”
Raphael shoved Lucifer back. “Do not move.”
Lucifer ignored him. His wings surged with energy, his eyes bled.
Raphael pressed his thumbs gently against Lucifer’s eyelids. “Lucifer! Stop it!”
Lucifer took a step. His leg fractured.
Raphael grabbed the limb, healing it instantly. Lucifer dislocated his shoulder in his struggles. He opened his mouth to speak, blood dribbled out. Raphael grabbed Lucifer’s wings and drove him to the ground. “You are killing yourself!”
Lucifer snapped his teeth near Raphael’s face. “Die!”
Raphael flipped Lucifer to his back and grabbed his neck. He opened his four wings and covered them both. Raphael kissed him beneath the protection of his outstretched wings.
Lucifer was paralyzed.
Raphael pulled back and blinked. His eyes had turned cherry red. He kissed Lucifer’s cheek. “Calm yourself, you fool.”
Lucifer found his lips were free to speak. “What are you?”
Raphael sighed. “You do not recognize me?” He pulled back. “No wonder, no matter.”
Lucifer stared.
Raphael put his finger to his lips. “Keep silent and think of what you do before you do it. Hell, just think for once. Okay?”
Raphael stepped away from Lucifer, his eyes blue again. He put his hands to his hips. He stared at the roiling fire and shook his head. He snapped for Selaphiel. “Make sure Lucifer stays put and watches.”
Michael looked between them, confused.
Selaphiel broke from the ranks of angels and grabbed Lucifer by his arms. Lucifer gaped at Raphael. He looked from the boy to the throne. The fire pulsed and shifted colors, unaware of everything around it, embroiled in raptures.
Raphael looked to Selaphiel. “Be alert.” He flapped his wings and shook out his limbs. His hair grew in strawberry red, his eyes and wings were the color of red wine. Raphael twirled and his body shifted to female. Her face lost its mask. Dahlia flashed Lucifer a smile. She faced the throne. “RAPHAEL, MY SECOND, GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE AND STOP FUCKING AROUND!”
The fire ripped in two.
The form of the Primangel was launched backwards. Dahlia caught Raphael’s body. She turned her around so that they were facing one another.
Raphael was dazed; she still looked like Ladriam, twins. Dahlia slapped her across the face. She pressed her palms to Raphael’s temples and restored her memories in a flash.
Raphael’s eyes cleared, her body changed back to her own, dropping the disguise. She grinned. Her hair and wings changed to bubblegum pink with black streaks. Her teeth grew out in long fangs that poked out over her bottom lip. She stood up on her own and brushed herself off. She snapped her fingers. “See, brilliant idea! Right? Am I right or what? Yeah!”
Dahlia smiled and let her go. “Did you get what we needed?”
Raphael nodded. “Roger that, boss.”
Dahlia grinned. “Then give me my wings back. Unless you want to be Primangel in my place.”
Raphael made a face. “Fuck that noise, your second is a shitty job as-is.”
Lucifer looked between Selaphiel and the girls. Selaphiel did not seem surprised he looked relieved. Michael gaped. Gabriel nodded, interested, but emotionally detached.
The fire hovered, twitching. WHAT IS THIS?
Lucifer wanted to know the exact same thing.
“Okay, this is going to be a quick change. Don’t move, boss.” Raphael ripped seed feathers off her the third set of wings and plunged them into Dahlia’s back. Dahlia stumbled as energy hit her body like a brick wall. A third set of halos formed above her head, feathers of white and gray joined her wings of black and red. Raphael looked her over and nodded. “Neat and sweet.”
WHAT IS THIS?
Dahlia spread her third set of wings and kissed Raphael on the cheek as Raphael’s third set disappeared. Raphael’s halos shifted to tar and ice. Dahlia hugged her. “I hope that experience was not too unpleasant.”
Raphael shrugged. “I have wiped the bad memories already. Besides, it was my turn to take one for team Hell.”
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Dahlia pushed Raphael towards Lucifer. She addressed the throne, “Do not use that tone of voice with me.”
LADRIAM?
“Dahlia.” Dahlia reached out and hooked a finger in the air. She pulled and ripped open a portal of darkness. The wound in Heaven opened into Hell. Dahlia flicked her wrist and the collar around Lucifer snapped in two. Lucifer nearly passed out at the surge of energy that hit him all at once.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
“Taking my boyfriend back. Thanks for the wings, but this situation just does not work for me.”
INSOLENT! I WILL E
ND YOU!
Dahlia stood with her hips cocked out. “I doubt that very much.”
GIVE UP OR THEY ALL DIE!
“No more empty threats.”
THIS IS NOT EMPTY. I WILL KILL HIM FOR THIS!
Fire raced towards Lucifer. Dahlia nodded to Selaphiel. Selaphiel kicked Lucifer through the portal. The slice of darkness closed up behind him. Dahlia looked up at Him. “Now what are you going to do?”
***
Lucifer tumbled through darkness. He did not know where he was, or really, what had just happened to him or to Dahlia. He was warm, he had wings, he felt safe. He knew this place was a haven, but there was no up or down, no way out, nothing that he could see. Lucifer tried to fly and slammed into something solid.
An irritated voice cut the muffled silence, “Fuck me! Fuck! Damn! Fuck everything! What is it now?”
Lucifer gaped in the darkness. “Hello?”
“What the fuck? Who is that?”
Lucifer recognized that voice. He reached out around him. “Fu—Furcas?”
“What? Wait. Lucifer?”
Lucifer erupted into flame and cast his light out in every direction. He saw a hand and pulled. Furcas ran into him. The pair looked each other over in shock.
Lucifer stared. “But you are dead!”
“You have wings!” Furcas pointed.
“Dahlia did it!” Lucifer smiled.
“I’m dead?” Furcas made a face.
The pair eyed each other. Lucifer looked him up and down. Furcas was intact, both arms, two red eyes, not a single scar on his body. Twin glittering halos circled his head, wrists, and ankles. Lucifer reached out and found Furcas’ wings and feathers in the darkness. He was a restored Archangel. Lucifer enveloped him in a hug and blinked back tears. “Furcas!”
Furcas hugged him back. “What?”
“You are really you!”
“I would expect that I am, yes.” Furcas pulled back. “Why are you crying?”
“You died!”
“I did?”
“Do you not remember?”
Furcas frowned. “I remember…huh. What do I remember? We battled over the ice, yes?”
“Yes.”
“I was pretty amazing and then I was in the darkness. I can’t find my way out. There’s no end to this murk. It’s fucking boring around here let me tell you.”
“And Barachiel,” Lucifer prompted.