I looked at Azrael and Leilah then. Still kind of looking like the oddballs in the group.
“It is a beautiful day, beloved. We might as well enjoy it,” he told Leilah as he took off his armor and placed it in his void-murse. It was an entirely accurate description because karma is why. Leilah’s star-coursed one had a leather looking messenger bag as his void-pouch. Ha!
“Nice murse Az,” I couldn’t help but point out.
“Oh, how I’d love to disagree with you right now. But, you’re right, Azrael seems to have the whole messenger bag style you do,” Leilah relented.
“What is a murse?” Azrael asked as he took off his under-tunic and exposed his muscular chest. Well, looky here. Guess he is totally buff too.
“Leilah, you’re drooling,” I pointed out to her as she just perused his shirtless torso.
“I am not,” she said defensively while simultaneously wiping her mouth with the back of her hand just in case. She then unconjured her armor, and I assume it winked into her void-pouch. She magicked on a bathing suit and then helped Azrael set up a sheeted area to catch some sun too with her husband.
Leona and Kendra passed around some cold metal chalices and mimosas to all of us. Except for Abbadon, who got his sangria. “Thank you, Kendra,” we all took turns saying in appreciation for the sweet and refreshingly cool drink.
“You’re all very welcome,” she replied. Then she took off her sun hat and just hung out in her sundress on a beach chair with a very casually dressed Leona.
“This is the dream life, isn’t it? Don’t you wish we had more times like this together?” I asked anyone who would listen. As I had Abbadon’s hand clasped in mine, I gazed out at the beautiful shimmering ocean with its small waves lapping the shore. Everyone expressed their own agreement in some form or the other to my delight. Floridian Rules, friends. Then after about two hours after when we were getting our second servings of beverages, we figured it was time. We might as well now that we’re unwound a bit and more at ease tackle the ArchAngels. Figuratively speaking, of course. I cast a shield of privacy and protection around all of us assembled. Which of course, everyone noticed and then added their own weavings too. It was nice hearing everyone anchoring their weavings of protection with Green Tara’s mantra, OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA. Seeing those green and gold potent Sanskrit syllables anchor, our work was delightful to behold. It is a short but powerful mantra for protection. By now, all my friends had memorized it well.
“Okay, well, since the ArchAngels paged you in their understandably annoying way. Might as well see what their deal is. I’ve moved in some of the Emerald realm shielding a bit from the shoreline. This way, they can at least have a place to stand. You might as well call them up and tell them where to meet us,” I instructed Leilah while taking another refreshing sip of my mimosa.
“Yeah, let us summon the butt-heads. Uriel, Gabriel, Michael, and Rafael, your presence is commanded, here and now,” Leilah spoke. Well, that was undoubtedly less poetic than I thought it would be. Then again, they were not her masters anymore.
In front of us, a slight gust of air with a gentle breeze formed a gateway made of light, revealing who I assumed was Raphael. He was in golden-threaded clothing covered in sparkling citrine crystals. Flowers were growing around his feet. He was showered in amber-colored light. Rafael, if I remember correctly, was the ArchAngel of Healing, Air, and Spring. He wore a halo of white-colored pear blossoms. Saw plenty of those in Silver Leaf City to recognize them. Seriously it was on their cups, plates, armor everywhere. Heaven knows I even now had a sudden craving for baked pears. I wasn’t impressed, though. I mean cool entrance and stuff, but yeah, his robes are totally going to be swampy if a wave reaches them from the shore.
A gate-way of red flames appeared, and I’m guessing Michael was who appeared from it. He emanated a red sparkly mist. Michael wore plated armor of red and gold. The ArchAngel of Protection, Fire, and Autumn. With hair as red as fire falling in long wavy locks beneath his halo, which was a thick band of sparkly red stones. These two dudes were indeed overdressed for our beach party. This had to be a bad omen or something. I’m getting tingles of annoyance.
A melodic gateway that complimented the sounds of the waves opened, and Gabriel appeared, blue light covering her form. Gabriel wore long robes of white and silver. This ArchAngel had clothing that sparkled with brilliantly cut sapphires and aquamarines, her long hair in loose curls adorned with pendants of opals. Her halo appeared like a crystal crown of quartz. Gabriel, who by the way I hear, is obsessed with Michael, is supposedly the ArchAngel of Love, Water, and Winter. Just going by what I’ve been told.
In the space in front of us, a gateway formed, and a gong sounded loud. Leaves and vines started to creep in, and following them stepped out Uriel. He was in robes of green and silver. Uriel appeared surrounded in an Aura of green, his forehead adorned with a leaf-shaped emerald just floating there in place by some unseen power. His hair was brown and filled with varying braids cinched with malachite beads. Uriel held a staff of green fire. His crown was made of copper and decorated with malachite and fluorite. Uriel is the ArchAngel of Alchemy, Earth, and Summer. This was the second time they had come around for me. The first time they were standing a bit far to get a good look. Standing in the distance, next to the thrones of the pantheons in front of Silver Leaf City. Seeing them up close, I noticed they all had their chins jutted and stood there arrogantly.
“Can you guys move a little to the left? You’re kind of blocking the sun right now. I’ve got a killer tan in process, and it’s almost time to flip,” I instructed them. They just opened their mouths aghast in shock at me. What? It was totally accurate. They were blocking the sun. Michael snorted then moved onwards to the left with Gabriel in tow. Uriel and Raphael did the same. Good. Now the warmth of the beautiful sun’s rays was back to kissing my bronzing skin. Now, it was no doubt their time to ruin our day.
“Thank you,” I said, waving my mimosa in a salute in their direction and then leaning back after a sip, setting it aside next to me.
“You don’t even have the decency to stand in front of us. Look at all of you. The world is on the precipice of going to hell, and you’re all lounging on the beach,” snarked Gabriel. Oh, I most definitely don’t like her attitude. It needed an adjustment. So I flicked a binding spell her direction and sealed her mouth shut. Her nostrils flared in anger, and she was making undecipherable noises from her throat.
“If you have nothing nice to say, then don’t bother saying it. If you have come here under some sort of illusion that we’re your lessers, you must be confused. We all know of our tasks and have been handling things as they arise very well. Despite the opposition. Which I remind you have been from you and your masters, in the not so distant past. I’m going to give you back your speech, but make sure to choose your words mindfully. As you’ve pointed out, our schedules are kind of full, and we’d like to enjoy this brief siesta without your attitude,” I stated authoritatively while unbinding her mouth.
Gabriel looked like she was about to say something, and before she could, Michael interrupted her. Which was probably a terrific decision. “Apologies, Donovan. We did indeed seek an audience with you. Old habits die hard, and we are not accustomed to being received without decorum,” Michael explained.
“Well, it’s a beautiful day, look around you. There’s no need for us to throw down the red carpet for you. It’s the beach. Your apology has been heard. Now, cut to the chase. What do you four want?” I replied. I indeed heard the apology. I was just not accepting it just yet. Sincerity is important. Though Michael seemed sincere, he also had a voice laced with the arrogance of someone that got everything they wanted.
“It is fascinating how you have all come to your powers so quickly. Your skills with the arcane arts are indeed notable,” Uriel pointed out, distracting me. Guess his innate nature of the arcane would make us fascinating subjects to study. However, we’re not lab rats, and we may forgive, but we don�
��t easily forget.
“You’re observant, I’ll give you that. Now, you four have been here a whole five minutes, and it’s cutting into our beach time. Floridian Rules, look it up. It’s totally trending right now. Kendra, you should check Twitter. Anyways, what’s up? What do you want?” I replied while taking another sip of my bubbly. Keep chill, Donovan. Keep it chill and calm.
“Whatever they want, it will only be to serve their own agenda,” Leilah stated plainly. We all heard it and definitely agreed. However, I had a sudden feeling this was going to be necessary. Life-threatening important now that I opened my intuitive senses a bit by bringing awareness to my breathing. I was invoking a calm in my mind. Meditating while listening is the goal.
“We have information that is pertinent to your mission. We will give you this information if you sever our tethers. The gods have been abiding by your words to not interfere. They are content to remain in their palatial abodes of luxury. They reside there and, in their own words, are simply waiting to watch you fail. We’ve lost their graces. We have no purpose, and we certainly do not wish to just be tethered to gods of inaction. They’re also in the process of leaving this world system shortly after they say you will fail to save it. You’ve all accomplished many great things. Even some of you have ascended beyond your original forms. You’ve even brought the opportunity of star-coursed pairings with angels. We’d like the same possibilities. It has been insufferably boring since you freed all the pantheons and being angels in their abodes. Though the perfect place to view the happenings of earth, it is not the same. We got to see a beautiful wedding between one of our kins and their elevation. For everything you do, people seem to genuinely appreciate you. Not only that, but they also seem to thrive around you, Donovan. We wish to join you if you allow us. We’d like the opportunity to find our own ways in the new world order that may follow. Especially if you are successful. Though, currently, you’re behind and need to take a rather swift action should you want to succeed against the current demonic uprising,” Rafael said. He spoke truthfully. What demonic uprising. Demons are legit? I mean, I guess so. If there existed Slivers and demonic scribed monoliths or Angels for that matter, it made sense. Great, another enemy, I thought to myself. I wonder what in the world demons have to do with anything.
“You have my interest, but first, give us the information you have acquired. Then you’ll be free, you have my word. You’re currently encased in a privacy-sphere. None, but we will hear your words. You’re also blocked from the pantheons you are leashed to. They cannot feel, spy on, or manipulate you at this time,” I pointed out in case they overlooked my subtle weavings.
“You have been indeed successful in shielding two of the shrouded supra-mundanes realms. Lilith understands that her efforts to invade their realms will likely fail. As they did in the Emerald Elves’ territory. She has sent out some of her forces towards the realms of Elves, Fae, dwarves, dragonkin, and even the residents of Shangrila. However, it is mostly a decoy. What you have not been following on your little adventures or thought of is what genuinely concerns us. You are engaging in the virtue you promised. This is true. You have freed the angels and those bound to Lillith, who lost a great battle here to you. You humbled the gods, especially Ra. Indeed reuniting loved ones like Queen Rhea and her beloved consort King Oro. Gathering and blessing goodness into the lives of the supra-mundanes. Liberating angels, hosting historic weddings, bringing back the days of old where star-coursed ones filled the population of Terra. However, you’ve forgotten the ones who are actually in jeopardy.
“By now, you’ve gathered that the more beings Lillith can achieve amassing, the stronger she will become once they’re bound to her. She definitely has an army of powerful paranormal beings in her current command. Yet those are still not enough for her to gain her real goal. Lillith’s true goal is to become a god-ascendant. She may even achieve it through dark demonic methods we Angels once thought we destroyed. We’re not talking about her transforming into only a dark-goddess. She’s already presently achieved that state. Lilith wants to use the demonic paths of old for her shadow-ascendency. For this, she does not need the seven realms you wish to focus your attention on. She just needs to leash more beings to herself. Think of the easiest beings to control and tether herself too. The easiest beings for her to tether and amass her great army are not the immortals or long-lived ones, it’s humans. They are the highest number of minds and souls on earth who are most vulnerable. Humans are entirely defenseless and vulnerable to Lillith’s dark-goddess powers.
“Lillith has had her minions building demonic-scribed monoliths on every continent and earthen country or territory since your last battle. They’re hidden well. However, she has many, and they’re all nearly ready for her real intent. To invade and enslave all the humans to her will. With the powers granted by the mortals who outnumber immortals and supra-mundane life forms, she will indeed be unstoppable. Hell and Heaven are indeed constructs of the mind after the moment of death. However, as a dark-goddess with an elevation to a dark god-ascendant, she will cover this world in fire and shadow. Lilith will create a literal hell. Your shields may stop her as a mal-intended dark-goddess. Yet once she demonically ascends, they will not stop her,” said Michael to our evident dismay.
“You know where her monoliths are located?” I asked.
“Yes, we do. Though all Angels can find demonic-scribed gateways or forces by searching for them. It’s an innate power though not often used as demons have assimilated with humans for eons and not provoked us. In retrospect, after the great war between Angels and demons for which we were victorious, a few demons hid or surrendered. Their number is also fewer than ours. Which incentivized them not to interfere in the great design again. However, their arcane gifts are immensely powerful. With the resurgence of their glyphs and magicks brought forth by Lillith, her forces will indeed have the opportunity to take over this world,” answered Uriel, his tone ringing gravely true.
Nucking Futs. All this time, we’ve been focused on saving the realms of our allied beings and on protecting them all to one day restore Lunaria while ignoring the very planet we came from. The very planet the realms though shrouded from mortals primarily, is the most vulnerable.
“Bezaliel and Pahaliah, how many demonic gateways do you sense on the planet outside of our ally’s realms?” I asked the two assembled Angels. It’s always good to include others. Pahaliah and Beza are star-coursed with our friends Jeremiah and Quicksie. We trusted them and needed to know.
“It helps to know what we’re looking for, and I’ve seen them at Green Mount Lake,” Bezaliel answered. Then he closed his eyes, expanded his awareness, and frowned. Oh, this cannot be good. “We are so effing fudged. I have no idea how we’re going to win this, everyone, and we must! Quicksie and I just found each other.” Bezaliel teared up and was quickly embraced strongly by Quicksilver. Through the sniffles, in the arms of his beloved, Bezaliel finally answered. “Currently, I sense one-hundred-ninety-eight demonic monoliths,” Bezaliel said with unconcealed fear.
“He is accurate to the number,” confirmed Pahaliah with a barely perceptible shake to his voice. To which we all stood up. Maybe not all of us felt the real gravity of those numbers, but I certainly understood what that meant.
Beach time was over. The ArchAngels had successfully killed the mood. Though their news was indeed essential and vital. There’d be no Floridian Rules without a Florida. All the work we have been doing is saving those with already long life spans. Or even powers of their own. Liberate the Angels, and protect the seven realms. Then unite them in mass to liberate and restore Lunaria, the eighth realm. The realm where the usurper Lillith who’s now apparently elevated to a dark-goddess, held her seat of power. We didn’t fathom the extent of her ambition and malice.
Lilith would counter our moves by growing her army with more vulnerable prey first. The humans were in danger. Every single mortal one of them on this Earth outside our supra-mundane realms. Not just our al
lies.
“That is a gateway for every country and territory on the human settled Earth. Lilith is about to enslave over seven-billion people. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know this many beings added to her army would be near impossible to beat. No matter how many allies we have. As already a dark-goddess, we mustn't allow her to reach god-ascendancy. That is one hell of a level-up for her. Forget the Key of Fates for a moment here. The veils are the only things separating most of our allies from all those innocent people. Those same people that are in danger of now being tethered to Lillith and granting her unimaginable power. They also knew nothing about the creatures of lore. They’re sitting ducks,” I pointed out to everyone’s visual horror.
“You spoke honestly and gave us valuable information. I’ve already severed your tethers on all of you. ArchAngels, you have done unspeakable things in service to your gods. You may keep your powers, but I’ve bound you to our noble cause with a spell construct. If you so much as go against us in any way, or your actions are not for the benefit of all beings, then your powers will cease to be. You’ll keep your lifespans but be mundane in everything else. You now have just as much to lose as we all do. For even you can be tethered to Lillith with your leashless newfound freedom. I do hope you find your star-coursed ones before it’s too late. If you feel their pull, it is acceptable to prioritize their safety. Now leave us and go warn the other supra-mundanes, and keep us informed,” I commanded. There was no time to waste.
“Uriel, I’ve projected into your mind how to set up a privacy-sphere. That’s the most I’m willing to impart to you at this moment till you’ve all proven your intentions true. Use it at all times as you spread the word. Not only of the impending danger. Inform them of our mission to save everyone,” I said while already using my magick to place all of our beaching supplies into our void-pouches. The ArchAngels all gave their thanks except for Gabriel. I didn’t trust her at all. Call it a vibe I was getting, and you know my history with those. Then they vanished to hopefully do as I instructed.
Sacred Moon: Book 2 Page 32