Herald

by J Edwards Stone

  “Traitor!” shouted Uriel angrily at Gabriel. “How could you? How could you forsake us, your brothers? How could you betray the Divine Principles – what you swore to protect with your very life?”

  Gabriel looked sadly at his brother, sighing. “You will never know the depths of my despair, Uriel,” he said, “You will never know my regret. But I know what must be done. I have been blind for too long, and I have finally been made to see the light.”

  “You have forsaken the light,” Michael said quietly, looking at Gabriel sadly. “You have betrayed us, your principles, the principles of our Father, for this evil creature before us,” he said, looking at Azrael with pure hatred in his dark eyes. “For the creature that you saw dwelling in the earth, banished from the world because he sought only to destroy it. To achieve his own ends. Would you be a tool for his madness, even now, Brother?”

  “Quiet, Michael!” snapped Gabriel. “I am tired of your self-righteousness and your bleating about the ‘goodness of man’ and ‘what Father would want.’ Do you see Father here now? No!” he barked, and Raphael grimaced painfully as Gabriel’s sword accidentally cut into his cheek. “He has left us here forever, Michael! Do you not see? There is no other way to return home!”

  “Then I will never return home!” shouted Michael. Gabriel pulled up, breathing heavily but still holding tightly onto a scowling Raphael.

  Michael glowered at Gabriel, the betrayal bubbling up to the surface. “I will never abandon my principles. Without them, we are no better than animals. We are no better than this coward, here, who hides in darkness, seeking ways to destroy man from pure spite and hatred! Is this what you truly aspire to?” he spat.

  “Michael. Shut. Up.” Azrael said lowly. Michael and Uriel glared hotly at Azrael, hostility seeping off them in palpable waves. “Do you not ever tire of the sound of your own voice?” he said in a taunting tone. He lowered his sword, satisfied that no move would be made while Raphael’s life was at stake. I could feel Michael’s hands dig unconsciously into my sides, and I flinched mildly. “Ahh, your pet,” he purred, coming closer. Michael stepped back. “How does she fare these days? She looks somewhat peekish,” he said, smiling warmly at me, as one looks at an infant in arms. Michael held me closer, and I saw his eyes narrow dangerously. Azrael walked back towards the altar, his hands behind him. “Michael, you do realize, Lucifer has the power to restore her - to restore her wings,” he said in a conciliatory tone.

  “I will kill you, Brother. Make no mistake about it. The first chance I get, I will kill you.” Michael whispered, and Azrael scowled, coming in close to Michael’s face.

  “I would love to see you try,” he whispered. “For now, you will give me the girl, and I will allow you to leave unharmed with Raphael. She is useless to you, but Raphael is still a member of the Council. Save him and go. Carry on your futile toiling for the disgusting beasts you so love.”

  “Or you could leave now, with your crew, or I will blow up the whole damn place,” said a thick Irish accent near the Seal. Azrael whipped around an expression of shock on his face. Robert stood, one hand on the Seal, and the other holding up a large, dark object with several wires protruding from it.

  “This here has enough oomph to blow up three of these places,” he said, grinning, as he waved the bomb somewhat carelessly above his head. “Maybe it won’t wreck this almighty Seal here, but it will take us all out. I think that’s enough, no?” He smiled, waving the explosive carelessly around his head as though illustrating his intent. “All I need to do is push this here button. . .”

  “NO!” Azrael cried, and all hell broke loose.

  Michael set me down as gently as he could in the circumstances and leapt into the fray. I lay on my side and watched as swords clashed, as vessels fell. I heard Chase cry out in pain as a sword sank into his arm, and saw Lyric use her weapon to slash the throat of the one who had hurt her brother. Iris stood in front of Robert, fighting furiously as several attempts were made to disarm him of his bomb. Robert used his other hand to support her as he tried desperately to keep the bomb out of reach, stabbing one unfortunate creature in the eye as it screamed and fell backwards on the ground, wings flailing. One vessel nearly bested Iris, and Tristan came to her assistance, stabbing her would-be assailant in the heart and pushing his foot against the creature’s chest to dislodge his sword just as Ephreim ran to meet him. Tristan smiled, and I knew he had waited long for this opportunity. They fought in earnest, but I grew weary of watching, turning my face away.

  A vessel fell over me, disturbing me. I rolled over, pulling my arms into my chest.

  I frowned, knowing in the back of my mind I should be doing something, but the desire was not just lacking – it was continuously being pulled out of me. Every time my mind would try to rouse itself, an unseen hand would push it back, and I lay uselessly on the ground. Raphael and Uriel came very close to stepping on me as they sparred with Gabriel. I watched them for a time, Gabriel looking as though he was close to being overwhelmed often. He had great skill with a sword, perhaps more skillful than Raphael and Uriel combined. Despite this, he struggled, and several vessels ran to his aide. Raphael or Uriel would turn hastily to dispense of them, picking them off one by one as though they were no more than pests to be swatted away, then turning again to focus again on Gabriel.

  Tristan and Ephreim, meanwhile, continued in their dance of death. Each and both parried and feinted at just the right moment, at just the last second. It was beautiful to watch, as Tristan’s white hair floated around him as though spun from the light of Eden itself. Iris suddenly appeared behind Ephreim, having found an opening while she watched, and made her move.

  “No, Iris, no!” shouted Tristan, just as Ephreim turned at the last moment and plunged his sword into her left wing. She cried out, falling back. She rolled onto her knees, turning her head just in time to watch as Ephreim leapt downwards, his sword poised for the death blow. She closed her eyes.

  Lyric appeared out of nowhere, pushing Iris out of the way just as Ephreim’s sword connected, burying itself deeply into Lyric’s back. Iris watched with her eyes wide, catching Lyric in her arms as Ephreim withdrew his sword and turned again to Tristan as though Lyric had never existed.

  “Lyriiiic. . .” Chase screamed from where he had just killed a vessel, dropping his sword and running to his sister. “No. . .oh no. . . oh no. . .” he said softly. He grabbed her body and turned it around in his arms, sinking to the ground as he held her with his eyes wide in shock. His head was shaking back and forth as though to rid the image from his mind. A pool of blood slowly grew where he sat, as Lyric’s lips moved to say something to him. A trickle of blood ran down her nose, and she coughed more blood onto Chase’s face. Iris sat frozen, her eyes wide. She too shook her head in denial. She took Lyric’s hand in hers, as Lyric’s mouth continue to open and close wordlessly, her eyes already taking on the faraway look of those whose life force was leaving their body. Chase opened his mouth in a silent sob, leaning his head back, his body shaking from devastation and loss.

  “Chase,” Iris said, the word coming out as a sob. “We must. . . we must continue to. . .the fight isn’t over.” Chase cried out, the most mournful sound I had ever heard, and he started to weep. Iris stood, grasping Chase by the arm and pulling him up.

  “The fight isn’t over! You’re not safe like this!” she cried, tears running down her face. He leaned over, burying his face in Lyric’s chest, continuing to weep. Iris cried out angrily, the sound still more like a sob, and struck him hard in the back of the head with the hilt of her sword. She pushed him backwards onto the ground, where he fell limply, but he was safe now for the moment. She wiped her face hastily, turning back to the fight as blood dripped down from her wing.

  Michael and Azrael were engaged in a tremendous fight that involved the air and the ground. They leapt at each other, white wings crashing against one another, their swords creating sparks as they connected. Yet Azrael had the advantage. He had somethi
ng Michael did not. The most powerful sword in creation. He lashed out with it now, slicing Michael’s in half. Without blinking, Michael threw down the broken piece and picked up another that had been discarded, but not in time for Azrael to leap upon him. He kicked Michael hard, and he fell back. Azrael used the opportunity to make a vicious stab at Michael, and he rolled out of the way quickly. Michael was by far the more skilled warrior of the two – he was not the second in command during Lucifer’s reign for nothing. Michael smiled, sensing an opening, and punched Azrael hard in the stomach. Azrael recoiled, lashing out blindly with the sword as he struggled to regain his footing. Gabriel had been watching from his periphery as their fight raged on, and saw Azrael was about to lose. He spun around in a circle, using his wings as a blunt weapon, charging at Uriel and Raphael, who both fell backwards. Gabriel leaped into the air and made the distance across the room to Michael easily, tossing one vessel out of his path as though he were nothing. He grasped Michael from behind, holding his arms. Michael’s eyes opened in surprise, and Azrael smiled.

  He lunged at Michael, and I knew it was about to be over. I was about to lose him forever.

  “No,” I whispered.

  Suddenly, the world slowed down, everything happening in startlingly slow motion. I found I was on my feet and started walking through the fray towards Michael and Azrael. The strangeness of the vision returned, particles of dirt and light together rising upwards, circling slowly as though the laws of physics were merely musings, defying time, gravity, and logic.

  I felt a tremendous sense of peace at that moment. There was death all around me, black feathers floating in the air and laying on the ground. I walked through them, feeling a lightness radiate outwards. Michael and Gabriel slowly, so slowly, turned their faces towards me, caught in the enchantment. I saw Michael’s eyes open in shock, and then shift to wonder. Gabriel mirrored his brother’s shock, but his face slowly melted into dismay as he realized the tides had changed.

  “Will you finish what was started. . .” I heard in my mind.

  I looked past Michael and walked forward, as though through pools of warm water. It felt gentle and pure, and I gazed at Azrael curiously, wondering how a creature of such beauty could defile his purpose so utterly. Azrael’s face turned, shifting into a look of sheer disbelief and outrage as I reached for his sword, taking it easily from his hand. I saw his mouth shape itself into protest, but ignored it completely, turning towards the great stone altar.

  Time suddenly resumed its normal course, and the clashing and crashing sounds around me picked up. Taking Lucifer’s sword in hand, I knew what to do, and slid a long line down my palm. Red swelled outwards and downwards, but slowly, as though still trapped in the enchantment of the vision. I walked forward, just as Azrael screamed, and placed my hand on the spot behind the serpent’s head, ignoring the blood from the wound as it ran down the place where I touched. I turned around, meeting Azrael’s eyes.

  There was a great explosion of light all around, coming from everywhere. Coming from out of me.

  All the faces in the room turned to me, the angels dropping their swords. I could see all their faces without looking, the looks of awe and fear. The archangels, all, stood rooted to their spots, unable to move for shock. The room suddenly rebuilt itself into the glory of old, the pillars and places where stone had fallen away suddenly coming back together, beautiful golden tiles glinting softly in the light.

  My hand stayed in place, my golden hair flying wildly behind me and above me. I opened my eyes, not realizing they had been closed, and saw the spirits of the Guardians standing in their places around the room. Vessels fell back in fright, the Guardians huge creatures that were neither man nor angel, all with the same face, bearing expressions of serenity. I nodded to each in turn, acknowledging the long, difficult duty they had carried out with honour until their lives were taken. Their spirits held up their arms, and I closed my eyes, leaning my head back as the power of the Celestial Kingdom flowed through me, restoring me as it had the Sanctum. My Citadel robes transformed into fine armour atop skirts of white spun from the light of the Celestial Kingdom itself, blinding in its brilliance. I felt my wings suddenly re-emerge from my body and held them outstretched. Flexing them expertly, the power causing the room to shudder under the might of the celestial forces flowing out of me. The beings around me remained completely silent, staring at me with looks of bewilderment, awestruck. Most fell to their knees, humbled by the power of the Celestial Kingdom, which I felt rebuild me utterly.

  I held Lucifer’s sword above my head and felt the light from the kingdom of the Father, my kingdom, my home, flow downwards to the tip of the sword, encircling my body and raising me above the ground. The sensation was profound but familiar and absolute in its naturalness. I felt the transformation, and suddenly I knew the truth in my mind. The truth the beings in the room were seeing. The truth the world would come to know.

  I was not simply the Herald.

  I was Seraphiel, Second of the Order of the Most High.

  I was Seraphim.

  Azrael gasped, maddened in that moment, and cried out in rage – a strangled sound, pathetic, as his hands reached up and ripped at his hair. Gabriel stared at me, his mouth open in unutterable shock. The other archangels continued to stare, unable to move. Michael’s face was a gamut of emotions. Wonder. Awe. Fear. Love. I looked at him, suddenly remembering, and realizing. We had been lovers in a time long forgotten. It all made sense now, our attraction towards each other now. His strange desire to be with me, even as a new vessel. His heart remembered. I was amazed and humbled by his having continued to love me, long after my spirit had left the mortal world. Our eyes connected and a bolt of electricity ran between us, invisible but palpable. There were so many memories that flooded my mind, I was nearly overwhelmed. I knew there would be time enough to revisit them later. I wanted to go to him, but my work was not done.

  I turned my face towards Azrael as he lunged at me, none anticipating such a reaction. None able to react in time to stop him.

  I looked at him as he came for me, feeling his rage inside my heart and returning it with pity. As he fell upon me, I held my hand out, sinking it deeply into his chest. I held him where he stood, not moving as I gazed into his eyes. His mouth opened and closed in shock and anger.

  “Azrael,” I said, my words ringing with richness and melody. They were beautiful even to my own ears, and I smiled. Azrael looked at me in sheer disbelief, and then realization dawned behind his eyes. He knew his end was at hand.

  “You have failed, utterly, in your task. You have profaned your sacred purpose. You have desecrated the world that was gifted to you by the hand that created you. Your despair has led to your demise. No longer will you debase this plane, this world of man. Your reign of terror is at an end. So I have spoken, and so shall it be.”

  The room, and those within it, trembled at the sound of the voice that spoke. Azrael suddenly looked afraid, humbled.

  He shook, and suddenly I saw him for the pitiful creature he was. “Let me return to my Father,” he whispered, a plea. I looked into his eye and saw realization had dawned there. But it was too late.

  “You are banished from all of the realms of existence. Away from your father, away from the light. For this is your punishment, Azrael, and let it be known that those who do great evil will know only darkness.”

  Azrael turned his head, a tear running down his cheek. This monster who had destroyed so many lives, who had helped to ruin the wonder that was Eden, was reduced to a repentant child. I felt a great sadness as I looked upon him, but his judgment was rendered, and it was by his own hand he met his demise. I was merely the messenger.

  I felt his black heart beating rapidly under my fingers and flicked them, severing the veins that led there. His eyes opened widely in shock, and he gasped in pain, gripping at my arm and trying to extract it. It was useless. I watched his eyes as they faded, and he slumped over, lifeless.

  There were gasps aro
und the room, and then complete silence. Suddenly, a slow, but increasing cheering erupted around the place, the joy of knowing Azrael was dead almost too great to process. I turned away, ignoring Azrael’s body as it dropped to the base of the altar and placed my hand against the Seal. The room shook, and I closed my eyes, paying no mind to the dust as it fell from the ceiling.

  The door illuminated in great light, the black obsidian changing to a radiant white under my hands.

  “Awaken, my brothers. Dumah. Mattatron. Come forward.”

  The shaking increased, and I closed my eyes tightly. The Seal gave way, suddenly, and revealed the Disc in the small room beyond, hovering without moving in the air above the ground. A perfect, golden disc with the image of a crescent moon engraved into it, even I felt awe to look upon the thing. It was the instrument of my brothers’ awakening, the key to the Celestial Kingdom, and I felt great anticipation in my heart as I reached out and touched it.

  Suddenly, the Disc disappeared under my fingers. I blinked in shock and realized it had gone somewhere beyond my reach.

  “No!” I cried out, as the shaking in the Sanctum continued.

  “Larin!” I heard, suddenly. I turned and saw the Guardians had disappeared. Their task in this world was fulfilled. They had moved on.

  I felt the light projecting out of my body weaken, and suddenly my mind – Larin’s mind, returned. Despite the sudden loss of power, I felt restored, perfectly whole.

  “Larin!” I heard again and looked quickly for Michael.

  “Michael!” I cried, falling roughly to the ground as the light of the seraphim dissipated. I knew what I was, who I was, but I was still Larin. I felt a strange shifting, a dichotomy inside me of vessel and Seraph, trying to find a comfortable balance. I felt disconcerted, knowing a great power churned below the surface. Finding it would be a matter for later.