The Last Rogue Soul

by S E Brower

  With that the four Angels departed ‘Heaven’s Gate’. Athalon and Britton-Del leaped into the air, extending their wings, they flew off. Garret watched as the two Angels soared away. He turned back to Suzu.

  “Can you fly?” she asked.

  “I can fly, I’m an Angel.” In truth, he’d only tried a few small lifts, and never left the confines of the Library, lacking the confidence to attempt it, until now.

  “You are a Winglet,” Suzu scoffed, suddenly airborne with wings spread, and speeding away from the Tavern. Not wanting to lose sight of her, Garret jumping high, extended his wings wide, relieved when he found that yes, he could fly and hurried along behind her.

  The journey to find Talon-Har was longer than Garret expected. He was growing impatient and traveling in silence was boring. When he caught up, he made the mistake of trying to engage her in conversation, asking how she knew Talon-Har, about the portal, and her time during the Dragon Wars. All of which went unanswered.

  She pulled up, oscillating her wings, hovering in the air. Garret mimicked her movements though not near as gracefully. She looked over at him nodding towards the ground and descended, landing as lightly as if she had stepped from a stair.

  Garret followed, but came in hot, and was forced to take a few steps upon landing, to avoid a face full of dirt. It was ugly, but he made it. When he turned around, Suzu was watching him. His face colored up as he shrugged his shoulders.

  “Any landing you can walk away from…” his voice trailed off.

  Suzu shook her head, ignoring him. Shading her eyes with her hand, she looked in the direction where the Portal should lie. Garret looked too, but all he saw was the meadow they flew over running into a thick forest. Then he realized… “Awareness,” he hadn’t meant to say the word out loud.

  However, when he looked again, he saw a staircase on the edge of the trees, leading up to two stone columns about 6 feet high, positioned 6 feet apart. Between them was a strange undulating radiant wave, like staring through a mirage of rising heat, distorting the images that lie beyond.

  Garret assumed this was in fact, the Portal. Standing before it, was the largest Angel he had ever seen, excluding St. Michael himself. The Angel’s head towered over the tops of the pillars, dwarfing the Portal entrance. Garret figured it had to be Talon-Har.

  Dressed like a medieval Knight, his head and face were covered by a silver helmet. The only openings were slits where his eyes should be. A burgundy chain mail shirt covered his massive chest, upon which sat a silver chest-plate. Engraved was it, with the Dragon Warrior Tattoo in an unknown alloy. His pants were burgundy also, but the sollerets over his boots, the greaves covering his shins, and the gauntlets he wore on his hands were all forged from the same silver metal. His wings were gray and massive, with just a tinge of burgundy.

  Tied around his waist, a black sash, and from it hung a sheathed short sword. A tapering shield of burgundy and silver, he had strapped to his left forearm. In his right hand he held a wicked looking long sword with a three-headed dog etched onto the crosspiece.

  Garret stood still taking in the sight of him, thinking it might be best to let Suzu speak to him alone, when Suzu walked past approaching the behemoth Angel. Stopping in front of him, she looked up and called out, “Talon-Har,” she then looked down, “I see you have a new sword.”

  “Nay, tis the same sword re-forged,” Talon-Har said, raising the weapon, “I call it Cerberus, for the mythic three-headed dog, who guards the gate of Hell... but you have not come all this way to talk of swords, my old friend. Tell me, what brings the ‘Song of Death’ to my Portal?”

  Garret was thinking how soft-spoken the colossal Angel was, when he noticed Suzu look back at him, she then returned her attention to her friend, “Salvation of an innocent soul brings me here,” she told Talon-Har.

  “Tis a noble cause, but why come to my Portal?”

  “Because,” her demeanor softened, “you place honor above all, but The Father, and… I respect you, as I respect no other.”

  Garret could see Talon-Har relax, taking it as a good sign he would help them, while Suzu continued conversing. She placed her hand on the massive Angel’s arm, “The time has come to relieve you of that debt, dear friend. All I ask, is that you listen to what the Winglet has to say. The decision how my companions and I proceed afterward will be up to you.”

  Garret had been standing off to the side, watching the conversation and thinking about the story he heard in the Tavern. He didn’t notice Athalon, and Britton-Del approach. They landed, striding up from behind to stand beside him.

  “Well?” Athalon inquired.

  “Geez,” Garret jumped, startled by their sudden appearance, “don’t do that! I don’t know. They’re still talking.”

  “Is this what you needed?” Athalon said, as he threw a fistful of brimstone dust in Garret’s face.

  “Damn it,” Garret coughed, “sorry,” he apologized, “hilarious,” he scowled, spitting brimstone onto the ground.

  Athalon and Britton-Del erupted into laughter.

  “Just checking to see if we fulfilled our task,” Britton-Del told him.

  “Yeah ok,” Garret wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and turned his attention back to Suzu. “I was just thinking about that story you told me about Suzu and Talon-Har. How many demons are in a hoard, anyway?”

  “Suffice it to say, many. She has dispatched with scores of demon hoards during the war,” Britton-Del answered, “and saved many lives.”

  They were talking amongst themselves when Suzu called to Garret.

  “Winglet,” motioning for him to come join her.

  Garret looked at the other two Angels, shrugged and walked over to stand by her side.

  “So, what are we doing?”

  “Talon-Har will hear your tale,” Suzu said, short and to the point, “tell him as you told us in ‘Heaven’s Gate’.” She gave Garret a hard stare, her eyes narrowing, “EXACTLY, as you told us.”

  “Fine,” Garret glared back, not understanding the big deal. Suzu turned to re-join her companions, leaving him alone to face Talon-Har.

  Garret stood before the immense Angel looking down at him.

  “What’s up?” Garret asked, with a slight tremble to his voice.

  Talon-Har remained silent staring down at him. “I would hear this tale of yours, Winglet,” Talon-Har said, when the silence became awkward, “The ‘Song of Death’ believes it important I do so.”

  Garret bristled, annoyed he was once again referred to as ‘Winglet’. He understood the term to be derogatory, but its use now by a virtual outsider was intolerable.

  “My name is Garret, not Winglet,” he began, then spending the next several minutes retelling the tale of what had befallen him and his friends, just as he had at Heaven’s Gate. When he finished, Talon-Har seemed dispassionate. Garret looked back at his three companions and shrugged. The great Angel called for the others to join them.

  When they assembled, he spoke directly to Suzu.

  “I have listened to your Winglet’s tale as you requested. It is an intriguing account. I ask you now, what shall you have of me?” She took one step forward, looking up at the great Angel.

  “That you grant us access through the Portal into Hell, so that we may deliver the soul of an innocent from the evil there-in,” she waited for his reply.

  Talon-Har considered the request. His eyes closed, he stood silent for quite some time.

  “I have asked The Father for guidance in this matter, and The Father has chosen not to answer, leaving it up to me. I am sorry, but I will not aid you in this venture. In doing so, were you not to survive, your demise would weigh heavy upon my soul, and that I could not bear.”

  Garret could not believe what he heard, “The guy said no, he actually said no,” Garret thought to himself, his anger building. Then, he heard what Suzu had to say.

  “Thank you, Talon-Har for your time,” she said, “we under–” But before she could finish, Garret’s rag
e had made its way to the surface. He hadn’t come all this way just to be turned down and couldn’t control himself any longer.

  “SHE says we understand. Well, I don’t. I don’t understand!” he shouted, pointing at Talon-Har, “he can help us, but he won’t.” The others were all staring at him.

  “Everything will be well, Winglet, we will find another way,” Athalon tried reassuring him, reaching out to put his hand on Garret’s shoulder. But Garret was having none of it.

  “Back off!” Pushing Athalon away, he paced as he shouted, “They sent us here to retrieve a soul. Do you understand what that means, and do you know what it’s like being trapped there? No. You don’t,” his voice breaking with anguish for his brother, “you don’t know, none of you. You haven’t been there. You are not the one rotting in Hell!” He was screaming now, his eyes welling.

  The three Angels looked down, compassion on their faces, yet not understanding the source of Garret’s fury.

  “Whoa Winglet, what rage is this? Who is this captive soul to you, and why would Lucifer have done this?” Britton-Del inquired.

  Garret glared at him, “Lucifer knows ask him, and I don’t care. He doesn’t deserve what happened to him. No one does, and I will get him back, if you help me or not. Lucifer took him from me, he’s all I have. He’s my brother, my twin brother, Evan.”

  Garret sank to the ground on one knee hanging his head. It frustrated him, and he was angry, but in front of them, he would not cry. The others fell silent. Suzu sighed, moving towards Talon-Har, who could feel her eyes heavy upon him, yet she said nothing.

  “No,” he said, “I cannot.” Suzu still said nothing. She didn’t have to, her eyes said it all.

  “I will not, the risk is too high,” he lamented.

  Suzu, with a sweeping gesture pointed to Garret. Talon-Har stared down at the broken Winglet, with Suzu’s fierce gaze still upon him, his shoulders slumped in resignation.

  “They will be under your protection,” he declared. It was not a question. Suzu nodded her understanding.

  “Then bring forth your companions, lest I change my mind.” Suzu returned to where the other three were waiting.

  “How do we stand?” Athalon inquired, as she drew near.

  “He has agreed, but we must go now.”

  Britton-Del, who had been trying to console Garret, was still kneeling by his side when he heard the exchange. A smile crossed his lips, and he slapped Garret on the shoulder.

  “Come, Winglet,” he laughed, “Hell awaits.” Extending a hand to help him up. Garret took it, the words sinking in as he stood.

  “He said ok. We can use the portal!” Garret exclaimed, clasping his head with both hands in disbelief.

  “We waste time,” Suzu snapped, “Talon-Har would speak with us, before allowing access.” So, together the four approached the Portal Guardian.

  His voice was soft and somber. “Allowing access to the portal is against my better judgment. Do not make me regret my decision. Before you depart, I would have the names of those I send into Hell, for if you fail, I must make known your fate. Suzu, ‘Song of Death’ I know. Winglet, I shall have your proper name.”

  “My name is Garret, Garret Driscoll Alsop,” he answered.

  “I am Athalon.”

  “And I am Britton-Dell,” the other two replied.

  Talon-Har looked to each as if memorizing their faces, then he spoke once more. “Your task is honorable, but ripe with treachery. Would that I could accompany you, but my duty lies here. I will pray for your safe return. Now, if you are ready…”

  “Hold,” Athalon ordered, removing a large satchel from his shoulder, setting it on the ground. Kneeling, he removed four smaller leather sacks, each about the size of a fist, handing one to each of them, keeping one for himself.

  Garret opened the satchel filled with Brimstone dust and rubbed it on his face. “You need to cover any visible skin first, try dispersing the rest over your clothing.” They watched Garret, following his instructions.

  When they were ashen colored and stinking, Britton-Del quipped, “I think I liked it better when I smelled like a rose.” Athalon gave a small chuckle then, serious once again, turned to Talon-Har.

  “We are ready.”

  Talon-Har motioned them towards the portal.

  “You will need to find your way back to the portal,” he paused, and all eyes turned to Garret.

  “I don’t know,” he shrugged, “last time, I was a mist. I went through a portal opened by a fortune teller.”

  Upon hearing this, Talon-Har dropped to one knee. Holding his sword before him like a cross, touching the tip to the ground. The crosspiece with the etching of the three-headed dog was now eye level. Closing his eyes, he said, “Come,” and the crosspiece glowed.

  The four watched as one head of the dog disappeared from the sword, and a massive black dog materialized before them. Talon-Har stood placing a hand on the dog’s head. Closing his eyes again he said, “Home. Obey.” When he opened his eyes, the dog trotted over to sit beside the four Angels who now stared at him with questioning faces.

  “It was an enhancement to my repaired sword, compliments of the Weapons Master.”

  “So, he is to accompany us?” Britton-Del inquired.

  “I have placed a command in his mind, along with your images. Once you have secured the soul, and are prepared to leave, he will guide you back to the portal. It attunes him to the sword. You need only say HOME. He will guide you back here. If at least one of you lives, he will obey the command.”

  Athalon cut in, “And if we all should perish?”

  “He will vanish there and reappear here, on the sword. I then, will know your fate.”

  Garret kneeled to pet the dog. As he did so, it let out a low growl. Garret stood abruptly, backing up. The dog’s reaction gave Talon-Har pause, but Athalon interrupted his thoughts.

  “Ok, let us be on our way. The sooner in, the sooner out,” turning to look at Suzu, “now would be the time to silence those bells.” She unfastened the gauze-like material hanging from the cord about her waist, which fell like a curtain covering the bells, rendering them silent.

  Stepping up to the portal, Athalon nodded in both thanks and farewell. Talon-Har, with his sword, touched the tip just to a point where the atmosphere distorted, between the pillars. A dark swirling mist appeared, solidifying into something that one could only describe as a vertical wall of insidious darkness.

  Talon-Har gestured for the group to proceed. One by one they entered, Athalon going first, followed by Suzu. Garret was next, but hesitating asked Talon-Har, “How will you know to open the portal when we get back?” In response, the dog barked twice. Talon-Har patted its massive head.

  “Worry not, Winglet. I will know.”

  “Does he have a name?” Garret asked.

  “His name is Kee, although knowing this will be of no use.”

  Garret gave the dog a puzzled look, then taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, he extended his hand in front of him, testing, before stepping through the portal. As he did, he felt the crushing weight of sadness bearing down.

  Pushing forward took all his strength, both physical and mental. Every negative emotion hit him, as he realized there was a reason Angels should not tread there. When he was through the portal, his body tensed.

  He was back! Back in the dreadful place. The loathsome, repulsive place, he never wanted to step foot in again. Here, he had nearly lost his mind, whose voice now within his head pleaded for him to turn back. While deep inside his soul, something else screamed to be free.

  Pushing all the bad feelings aside, he willed himself to stay focused to save his brother. Britton-Del was close behind him, and the massive dog was last to enter, jumping as if leaping through a giant hoop.

  When all the rescue party entered, Talon-Har removed the tip of the sword from the portal entrance. The portal closed, returning to its undulating mirage-like state.

  Chapter 20

  Fetch


  The four Angels stood staring out over the desolate landscape shrouded in fine gray ash, the putrid smell of sulfur choking the air. Scarred with tangled dead tree roots, rising mounds, and open fissures, yellowish gas spewed forth. Aside from the smell, their first observation was that Hell was devoid of color. Large jagged stone ridges scattered about as if someone had shot them from a cannon, to pierce the ground above.

  As their eyes adjusted to the gloom, they saw towers made of stone as far as the eye could see. Some leaning at precarious angles, some broken and crumbling, while others still, were mere remnants reduced to rubble. Athalon stared straight ahead, “Which way?” he asked. Garret looked around, then turned to face his companions.

  “Hard to say, without a point of reference. Lucifer has this place laid out like a spider’s web, ruling from the center. The demons are his eyes and ears. They do whatever he says,” Garret frowned, “I need to be higher.”

  Leaping upwards, his wings lifted him high. This new vantage point enabled him to scour the lay of the land. Off in the distance, he saw one spire which rose towering above the others. Dropping back down, he pointed, “that way.”

  “How far?” Athalon asked.

  “An hour walk, maybe more.”

  “We could fly.”

  “No, walk. Flying is too dangerous.”

  “The Winglet is right,” Britton-Del added, “they may not smell us, but four Angels flying would be easy enough to see.”

  Athalon looked to Suzu, “What say you?”

  “I care not, either way,” she said, tapping the hilt of her sword with her fingers.

  “Walk it is then,” said Athalon, “Suzu, take the lead.”

  She turned moving towards the spire, when Garret spoke up, “I am your guide, shouldn’t I go first?”

  “No,” Suzu answered.

  Athalon, wishing to stop a debate before it began, asked Garret, “How many demons have you dispatched?”

  “Well, um… none,” he answered.