Diane trembled. She had fallen for it like a beginner! The force that was pulling her downwards increased in intensity with every second that passed. Her feet were dangerously close to the Seine and there was nothing she could do to stop it. They would soon touch the water and the seraph knew that when that happened, she would be gone forever. The demon’s voice resonated in her ear again:
“Don’t resist. It’s right here.”
Diane couldn't hold back a cry of pain. Without her weapon, she was doomed. Pulled by this obscure force, she began to imagine herself disappearing into the depths of Hell. Inevitably, her feet began to descend deeper and deeper into the river. What an idiot she had been to leave Sofia's apartment alone, when she knew the demons were waiting for her to do just that. She now contemplated the water that was slowly swallowing her body. The tips of her wings were now touching its surface. Seconds later the water reached her belly. She could feel the cold energy of the river flowing around her, gradually extinguishing her light.
As she helplessly watched herself sink, she unexpectedly felt something grab her by the armpits. Instantaneously, the demonic force disappeared as she was violently pulled out of the water. Once her mysterious savior had freed her from her firm grip, she opened her wings and turned around, only to find Sofia standing there next to her.
“You want to die Diane, is that it?”
Sofia couldn’t contain her anger. Her beautiful green eyes had given way to the same bulging black eyes as the guards.
“I don't care what you think anymore, we have to kill Tara. She’s nothing but an obstacle to you. She makes you take foolish and irrational risks! By tonight, this will all be over.”
“Sofia! I forbid it!”
“Who's speaking here? I no longer recognize the great seraph in you. Since when is the life of a human worth more than our divine mission?”
Diane's blood boiled. She may have lost part of her memory and her powers, but she was still the commander-in-chief of her legion:
“Sofia, stay in your place.”
“I'm going to save the Fifth Legion and I’m going to save you from your madness!”
“That’s enough!”
“This woman is blinding you,” cried Sofia in revolt. “She’s leading our legion to its demise! This has gone on long enough. You’re not lucid enough to realize it now, but once the human is dead, you’ll thank me.”
On these words, Sofia grabbed the spheric weapon which hung from her back, a gigantic scythe from which emanated a halo of pale pink light.
“What are you doing!” Diane screamed.
“I’m going to free you from your shackles so you can take back your rightful place at the head of the Fifth Legion.”
“Don't you dare do that!”
But Sofia had already started flying back to Emily's apartment. Her intention was to behead Tara, thereby destroying the connection that bound Diane to her incarnation.
There was no way the seraph would allow that to happen. Diane had chosen Tara and would go all the way to the end of the Earth with her. Enraged, she spread her wings and followed Sofia at high speed. She had to get to Van der Worthen's apartment before she did.
The archangel had gotten a head start and was now only a few yards away from Tara's room. Diane held her breath as she saw her small body sitting cross-legged on the bed, totally vulnerable. Sofia was about to enter the room through the window. Wielding her scythe, she prepared to destroy the young woman's body. Diane had to get there before it could happen. Her wings being much larger than Sofia's, she had a significant physical advantage.
As the archangel prepared to strike Tara’s neck with her weapon, Diane threw herself on her, preventing the attack.
“Don't do it! I forbid you!”
“I tried to wait,” cried Sofia, as she struggled to reach Tara's body. “I trusted you, but this woman will lead you to your own downfall!”
Diane grabbed Sofia by the arms, completely immobilizing her as she stood behind her wings. Then, in a solemn voice she declared:
“I made a mistake tonight by leaving unaccompanied in pursuit of Hagen...”
“A mistake that almost cost you your life!” Sofia screamed, almost crying in rage. “The Diane I once knew would never have made such a mistake!”
“I won't do it again. Tara isn’t responsible. I know I can recover my memory, despite the bond that connects me to her.”
“We need to destroy that bond! We must kill the human!”
“You need to give Tara a chance. We're going to succeed Sofia, I know we are.”
Sofia stopped struggling and fell silent. She was so desperate that she laughed and cried at the same time. Her contempt for Tara was endless. Diane's behavior was so alien to her that she could no longer find the words to reason with her. Under the stunned eyes of the black angels, Sofia continued:
“You're a warrior Diane... you have no time for pity or compassion.”
“You’re right... But human life is sacred, and it can’t be taken away without reason.”
The archangel laughed nervously. After a few seconds, she replied with disdain:
“Because in your opinion, your mission on Earth isn’t a good enough reason?”
“Yes, it is, but Tara is capable of it so there’s no reason to eliminate her.”
Sofia laughed harder and harder:
“I can’t believe this…You’ve fallen under her spell. You're not the Diane I once knew.”
Her remark touched Diane’s heart, but the seraph chose to forgive her:
“I asked you to give me a year...”
“One year,” repeated the archangel in despair. “But at this rate, you could die a hundred times over in a year!”
“One year Sofia. If at the end of one year in training Tara still isn’t up to the task, no matter her progress, I give you my word: you will have my permission to eliminate her.”
Sofia calmed her nerves and fell silent. Waiting a year, after an absence of two hundred and thirty-six years was feasible. As long as Diane didn't make any fatal mistakes.
“One year seraph... After that the human disappears. Your legion can no longer survive without its leader.”
Diane didn't answer. She trusted Tara and thought she would never have to follow through on her promise. Serene, she freed Sofia from her grip and looked at Tara's vulnerable body.
Sofia wasn't totally wrong: Tara was heavy and slow, she didn't know how to fight, and she was underdeveloped spiritually... Her life had begun with every possible handicap, but she knew she would succeed despite all of it. The seraph was filled with a powerful love for the young woman whose life and struggles she shared. She was Tara, therefore she knew better than anyone else what she was capable of, and she gave her a year to achieve it.
Chapter 14
He was fast asleep, naked and serene. There was something different about him, she could feel it… Indeed, now that he was sleeping so profoundly, he could no longer hide from her that his spirit was not that of a simple human being. He was much more than that. There was something divine about him, like her.
Madeleine’s eyes widened: how could she not have seen it earlier? He wasn't a man, he was an angel! She focused intensely: who was he? How could she have ended up in an angel's bed without even realizing it? Intrigued, she slowly approached him. Never had one of her incarnations had an affair with an angel before. She had always conserved purely military relationships with the other beings of the Sphere.
Thinking back, she was outraged at having been taken advantage of by the marquis. He had lied to her by not telling her who he really was. Offended, she got up and grabbed the jug of water from Ruben's bedside table. Without hesitation, she emptied it on his face. Immediately, the young marquis rose to his feet shouting, as he searched for the nearby danger.
“Who are you?” asked Madeleine, in an intimidating tone.
Ruben turned to her, still in shock. It took him a few seconds to catch his breath while he looked at her with
inquisitive eyes.
“Don't play innocent! I know you're an angel. Who are you? Who's your superior?”
Ruben appeared surprised. Then, he exhibited a smile that seemed destined for himself. Now that he had come to his senses, Madeleine felt that he was deliberately hiding his essence, just like she was.
“What's so funny?” she said dryly.
“What difference does it make whether I'm an angel or a man?”
“I want to know who you work for.”
“For the Decision-Makers, just like you.”
Madeleine wanted to slap him: did he think she was an idiot? He looked so proud, sitting there on his bed, looking at her as if he were much more intelligent than she. And yet she couldn't help but vibrate with love for him.
“Your aura is very powerful,” she observed. “Are you a seraph?”
Ruben gave her a flattered smile.
“Who knows? Is that a vital piece of information?”
Annoyed, Madeleine didn’t answer. Suddenly her heart started racing again: he had left the bed and was now approaching her. She couldn’t hold a grudge against him, despite the danger he represented. She had no control over herself whatsoever in his presence.
He continued his approach and only stopped once his face was almost touching hers. Without asking her permission, he took her small chin into his large hand, while he lovingly pushed back a lock of her rebellious hair with the other.
“Can you feel it?” he asked, looking deep into her eyes.
“Feel what?” she stammered, without being able to take her eyes off him.
“The bond that united us on the night we met.”
Madeleine didn’t answer. She could indeed feel it. The bond between them was so strong that she felt like she belonged to him, body and soul.
“This bond can never be broken,” he told her, still holding her chin.
Breathless, Madeleine listened to his words without moving. In a trance, she abandoned herself to him as he placed a warm and tender kiss on her lips.
Chapter 15
The next day, Tara’s whole body ached as she woke up. Once again, her dream of herself in the arms of the marquis had taken her a million miles away from her harsh reality. And the more she thought about it, the more she felt that crucial information had just been delivered to her.
Then, all of a sudden, she finally understood. Her heart leapt in her chest as she sat up with a start: the Marquis De Villiers was an angel too, just like her…
Breathless, she thought back to Victor's words after their first night at the Ritz: “You’re an angel Tara, and I protect angels.”
Her eyes widened. Victor knew. He hadn't uttered those words by chance... he had known who she was from the very start. He had always been able to see right through her... He must have been a very powerful angel... Like Diane... That's why they were so good together. He was her soul mate, Tara no longer had any doubts. Those damn missionaries, if they'd just let her make one phone call... she would explain everything to him. She knew he would wait for her once she had explained what was going on…
As she lay motionless on her bed, wondering how to discreetly get in contact with him, she heard someone in the hallway walking past her room. The muffled sound of the footsteps made her think it was Emily. Then, the terrible scene of the night before came back to her mind, overwhelming her with a deep sense of anguish. She could no longer imagine living with Van der Worthen knowing that her archangel wished to eliminate her. Understanding there was no room for mistakes on her part put immense pressure on her, but at the same time, it gave her an irresistible desire to succeed. Who did this Sofia think she was to take her life, just because she thought she wasn’t strong enough?
In an instant, she became utterly determined to make the archangel who wanted to behead her regret her words. Such cruelty. These angels were hateful. How could Diane have made a name for herself amidst these monsters who killed at the slightest weakness? And yet, the seraph was known and admired by her peers. The angel inside her must have been of unquestionable strength to have earned their respect. Tara knew that she would have to show herself worthy of the angel who had chosen her. Her mind was capable of it; the challenge was to attune her intellect and her body to the potential she carried within her.
With her heart pounding in her chest, she got out of bed and got ready for breakfast, even before Emily came to her room to get her. She could feel the aching muscles in her back, in her arms and in every nook and cranny of her body. She could already feel the transformation taking place within her. Still, one year seemed insufficient to reach Nina's level. Thinking back to the young woman's prowess, her heart leapt: it would take years of training to fight like her.
Once she was dressed for her workout, her long golden hair tied in a huge bun, she left her room. She arrived in front of the kitchen at the same time as the coach. When Tara saw her, she felt her fury rise to the surface: she hadn’t had the opportunity to clarify things with her since she had played her the day before while she was in the bath.
But before she had time to say anything at all, Nina smiled mischievously at her while entering the kitchen, her head held high. She was so arrogant. Tara was seething on the inside but she preferred not to add fuel to the flame. She followed her into the kitchen, doing her best to stay calm.
Emily was standing behind the stove preparing pancakes. Tara was so disturbed by the events of the day before that she hadn’t even paid attention to the wonderful smell of breakfast until she saw Van der Worthen busy in the kitchen. Facing her now, she realized that she harbored a certain resentment towards her, not to mention great disappointment, even though she used to consider her an ally.
“Good morning Tara,” said Emily in a small voice.
She wasn't proud of Sofia's behavior either. Tara knew it was the archangel who wanted to eliminate her, not Emily the human. Nonetheless, she was unable to pretend to be in a good mood so she sat down without answering. She knew that if Sofia and Diane insisted, Emily would kill her without a second thought, even though they weren’t enemies.
Nina sat down in front of her and began to pour syrup on her pancakes with her usual haughty air. Annoyed, Tara looked away. Nina's condescending attitude towards her was unbearable. She hoped the boys arrived quickly to relax the atmosphere.
Remaining silent, she helped herself to the pancakes and grabbed the maple syrup. At the same moment Emily approached her, looking at her with apologetic eyes.
“You know I don't want it to come to that,” she began in a painful voice.
Tara couldn't help but feel guilty. She knew Emily loved her very much. But she still couldn't ignore the threat Sofia posed to her.
“In any case,” replied Tara, disillusioned, “you'd all kill me if Diane asked you to.”
“Without hesitation,” replied Nina coldly, as she swallowed a mouthful of pancake. “The Fifth Legion, first and foremost.”
What a bitch. Tara felt so wounded that she didn't even have the strength to look up. What could she possibly say to that?
“Today and in the following days,” Emily said, “you'll continue working out with Nina, and Stanislas will teach you about spirituality, he’ll be perfect for that. Your spirit must find its place in relation to your body.”
Tara began chewing on a large chunk of pancake so she wouldn't have to answer. She knew that if Emily had decided to hand the spiritual work over to Stanislas, it was because Sofia refused to continue working with her. Her life was becoming a nightmare. More than ever, she prayed that Hugo, John and Mark would arrive. They were the only ones who paid attention to her and made her laugh. Unfortunately, none of them had showed up for breakfast, and an hour later, she was following Nina into the gym, dragging her feet all the way.
Nina gave her the same workout routine as the day before: no fighting and no weapon handling. She was given an hour to digest her breakfast, during which she did breathing and stretching exercises. Then, the rest of the morning was spen
t running, doing push-ups, pull-ups, and muscle reinforcement exercises. When the clock struck noon, she wasn’t allowed to join the others for lunch and instead, had to continue exercising alone. Her body, sore from the workout of the day before, was reluctant to move. Her only consolation was the fresh water she was allowed to drink, and the herbal potion Emily had prepared to help her body cleanse itself from the inside.
In the evening, she collapsed into her bed again, awakened by Emily when it was time to devour her lettuce, her corn and her two hard-boiled eggs.
The next day, there was no working out as her body needed to rest. What a relief!
In order to prepare her for meditation, Stanislas took her under his wing in the small living room, making her do breathing and concentration exercises all day. He spoke calmly, with a comforting assurance. He was so charismatic and so instructive that she paid no attention to the two empty eye sockets in the middle of his wrinkled face. In fact, he knew exactly how to talk to her, as if the loss of his eyes allowed him to see clearly what others didn’t seem to care about: her emotions.
With his help, she was learning how to feel what was going on within her, and how to recognize the limits of her body and mind. Stanislas asked her to feel every square inch of her skin, every beat of her heart. The first session was extremely difficult and made her realize that she didn’t know herself at all.
“Concentrate on the skin in the hollow between your index and middle fingers. You need to feel it.”
Tara closed her eyes to better visualize the area, in vain. This part of her body, like many others, seemed completely lifeless to her.
“When you’re able to feel every single nook and cranny of your body, you’ll be able to use the energy of the Universe to increase your power tenfold.”
To Tara's ears, his words sounded like a prophecy: far too distant to be fulfilled in this lifetime. But as she lay down on her bed, they came back into her mind like a lullaby. She needed to be able to defend herself against an archangel, so it was essential that she increase her power quickly. Of course, she hadn’t started out with the best cards in her hands, but she knew she would somehow make it. The image of Sofia's scythe ruthlessly approaching her face, gave her the motivation to surpass herself.
HAGEN: 1. Revelations Page 22