HAGEN: 1. Revelations

by Jadhe HAMILTON

  Desperate, she bit her pillow to refrain from screaming. Yes, she would have thought twice about falling in love, but would it really have made a difference? Ruben was the love of her life, losing him would be the worst thing that could happen to her. Would she ever have the strength and willpower to give him up? For the first time in her life, it seemed easier for her to abandon her beloved soldiers, than to abandon the man she loved. Love was worth all the armies of the Sphere, all the honors and all victories... Love was what she had discovered with Ruben.

  Nonetheless, and no matter how heartbreaking, she knew she couldn't give up the Fifth Legion... Her soldiers were like her children… They had unconditional admiration and love for her... No, it wasn't reasonable... Even though her heart was bleeding, she had no other choice but to give up Ruben... Having him for herself was only a matter of the ego after all... Knowing that he was well and alive was all she really needed...

  Her decision was made, she wouldn't abandon her army. She would give up Ruben, and conserve her position at the head of the Fifth Legion…

  Her thoughts then returned to Hermée. Enkaz had made it clear that she had to meet with her as soon as possible. As a newcomer of the same rank, it was up to her to go and meet the eldest of the De Villiers to set things straight. She would go there at daybreak and tell Ruben’s sister that she fully recognized her legitimacy in the region and that she would end her affair with her brother and legionary right away.

  Trembling, she sat in her bed and waited for the sun to rise. Conscious of the possible consequences of her love for Ruben, she trembled in distress. Not for fear that she would be annihilated, but for fear that the legionary would be eliminated to ensure their separation. She was perfectly aware that eliminating a mere legionary would come at far less of a cost to the Sages than eliminating a seraph that was as loved and feared as she. Consequently, she sat in her bed, paralyzed by the mere thought of it, her complexion pale and her eyes forlorn, praying that the Congregation wouldn’t take such a dreadful decision.

  A few hours later, when the first rays of sunshine appeared at last, and the bluish light came through her large paneled windows, Madeleine got out of bed and opened the window. She was terrified. She rang her servant's bell and sat, watching the sunrise, as she waited for her to arrive. Five minutes later, there was a knock on her door:

  “Did you call me madam?”

  “Yes. Dress me Eloise. I have a very important errand to run, I must go urgently to the Marquise De Villiers' home. Tell Joseph the carriage must be ready in less than an hour and bring me something to eat.”

  The maid curtsied and went to the stables.

  In an effort not to panic, Madeleine returned to the window to contemplate the landscape. She could sense the energy of every leaf, every insect and every animal, as they slowly awoke. In the sweet and voluptuous stillness of the morning, the cloudless sky became tinged with bright orange, where the sun would soon appear. Out in the distance lay the duke’s perfectly trimmed French-style gardens. Their natural beauty was enough to fulfill any heart. Even so, the magnificence of her surroundings did nothing to diminish the fear that now existed in the anxious eyes of the duchess.

  Eloise came back a few minutes later. She brought a loaf of bread, jam and a large glass of water. She dressed and styled Madeleine's hair for the marquise, then accompanied her to her carriage.

  When the duchess arrived at the De Villiers residence, a valet was already waiting for her at the entrance. The estate was still asleep at this early hour; only the eldest of the sisters and a few servants had risen to receive her.

  “The marquise is waiting for you,” said the valet as he helped her down.

  This declaration didn’t surprise Madeleine. Two eminent female warriors were about to officially meet. She had to be up to the task so as not to offend the one who had arrived on these lands before her.

  Silently, she followed the valet who led her to Johanna De Villiers. He didn’t climb the steps that led to the castle as she would have expected. Instead, he walked around the building to the gardens on the other side. Dazzled by the golden light of the rising sun, Madeleine found Johanna lying on a white meridian on the lawn, facing the gardens. Beside her was a fountain in which swam several gold and black carp. A second white meridian sat next to her, and in between them stood a coffee table with fruit and pastries. The marquise lay there like a goddess, basking in the dazzling light of the early morning. The water from the fountain, her hair and her dress, all reflected the magnificent colors of the morning sky. She seemed to be made of gold.

  When she could feel Madeleine’s presence, the marquise turned around languorously to welcome her. Gracefully, Madeleine bowed her head in a sign of respect; Johanna did the same. With a delicate gesture, she invited her to sit on the second meridian before speaking:

  “Very early this morning I had the good fortune to wake up face to face with Enkaz... He had come to warn me that you would be visiting me at this very moment.”

  Johanna was clearly struggling to hide her displeasure. Her facial expression displayed her fury and annoyance.

  “If I'm not mistaken, this is the sixth time that we are meeting one another... Don't you find it strange that you only learned of my position today?”

  Madeleine didn't know what to say. She herself didn’t know why she had had so little contact with the Sphere since she had settled in the south.

  “In truth,” continued the eldest of the De Villiers, “your move here wasn’t planned by the Decision-Makers....”

  “Two seraphs in the same region,” Madeleine attempted to justify herself, “is extremely rare. I didn't know that two incarnations had been planned in France. And I surely had no idea that I would find one of my own here in the south of the country. On the contrary, I thought that my new location would strengthen our support in the west of the continent.”

  Johanna laughed dismissively:

  “Did you honestly think the south of France had been abandoned by the Sphere?”

  Madeleine preferred not to reply: she hadn’t come here to debate.

  The marquise continued:

  “Your presence here is of no use to the Decision-Makers. However, and I don't know why, They have decided to allow you to stay here, and to make me and my missionaries leave. Indeed, it seems that They have put you in charge of the Revelation of the young angels of the south, and They have asked me to replace you in Paris. Thanks to you duchess,” she concluded, not without a touch of annoyance, “I must leave this region and this living environment which are so dear to me...”

  Johanna had pronounced her final words with reproach and bitterness. She had learned only a few hours earlier that she would have to leave the beautiful natural environment and mild climate in which she had grown up and lived in her entire life.

  “I'm sorry,” said Madeleine in a soft voice. “However, if They have decided it should be so, it’s certainly because They think it would best for all of us. Otherwise, They would have ordered me to return to the capital.”

  “If you say so,” replied Johanna, impassible.

  The marquise served herself a cup of tea and, with a gesture of the hand, offered one to Madeleine who politely accepted. She continued:

  “My missionaries and I will leave Aix first thing tomorrow morning. By that I mean, my dear duchess, that I will be leaving with all my missionaries, except those who have not yet had their Revelation.”

  She glanced at Madeleine, expecting a reaction from her. But the duchess let nothing show. She had already understood that Johanna was trying to read the effect of Ruben's departure on her face.

  Realizing that she would get nothing out of Madeleine with this strategy, the marquise decided to go straight to the point:

  “He also told me,” she said, referring to Enkaz, “about your relationship and the depth of your feelings for my missionary and brother, the Marquis De Villiers.”

  “I thought you already knew about that...”

 
“I didn't know you were Diane, and I didn't know how serious your relationship with my soldier was.”

  Madeleine's heart leaped against her chest. More than ever, she took it upon herself not to let anything show.

  Still searching for a way to get Madeleine to capitulate, Johanna continued in an even more reproachful tone:

  “Yet you must know that Ruben belongs to me, and that your love affair won't be approved by the Decision-Makers...”

  “I'm well aware of that,” replied Madeleine, defending herself in the face of this personal attack.

  “So,” continued Johanna in a falsely sweet voice, “you surely understand that he will be leaving Aix with me?”

  Johanna continued to look at her with disdain, still hoping to get a reaction out of her. Nonetheless, Madeleine expressed no feelings whatsoever. She remained perfectly emotionless while in reality, her whole being wanted to scream in despair. Losing Ruben was the worst thing that could ever have happened to her.

  Annoyed, Johanna began to lose her temper:

  “First you steal my brother and legionary, then you steal my territory... Don't you think you're overstepping your bounds?”

  “I'm not stealing anything from you,” said Madeleine, holding her head high. “Your territory is being exchanged for mine,” - the marquise chuckled with contempt – “and your brother will continue to belong to you and will follow you to the capital.”

  Madeleine felt a strong pinch in her heart as she uttered this sentence, picturing Ruben as he left her forever. The marquise smiled with a superior air, swallowing another sip of tea before replying:

  “Don't be angry duchess... I didn’t receive you here today to accuse you of anything, on the contrary...”

  She swallowed another sip of tea under Madeleine's incredulous gaze. Still as proud and condescending as ever, Johanna continued:

  “Your reputation as an excellent military leader precedes you. Your missionaries are better trained than mine, there’s no point in denying it. I understand why They prefer keeping you here to train the new recruits who belong to my legion. I’m not delusional, I know I’ve never had your charisma or your skills... However, this situation is still very humiliating for me. You, training my legionaries” - she let out a scornful little giggle – “what's the point of me being a seraph?”

  She swallowed a last sip of tea while Madeleine examined her, impervious to her compliments and to her pain, wondering what she was getting at.

  “However,” Johanna continued with a victorious smile, “your distance from the capital limits your action on your missionaries. Of course, you can always connect with them in order to lead them from a distance, but when it comes to taking action, your body cannot instantly arrive in Paris...”

  She put down her cup and took a handful of grapes, ignoring Madeleine, who now looked at her with the murderous eyes a protective mother to her soldiers, her offspring. The marquise continued:

  “I know that all of your angels are very important to you, given the faith and energy you have placed in each and every one of them. Nevertheless, their excellent training makes them very interesting for seraph like me. So, I’m offering you a deal.”

  On these words, Madeleine turned away. She no longer had any confidence in this devious and ambitious woman. Pretending to be unaware of the increasing anger emanating from Madeleine's being, Johanna stopped eating and looked her straight in the eyes:

  “Since you are driving me away from my territory, and since you can no longer help your legionaries in the same way as you did when you were with them in the capital, I propose that some of your missionaries living in Paris be given to me, forever.”

  On these words, a violent rage took hold of Madeleine. In the space of a second, her human eyes were replaced with the eyes of a warrior angel. Hermée and Johanna were expecting it. Proud of her proposal, the De Villiers sister couldn’t hold back a self-satisfied laugh as she continued:

  “Of course, I wouldn’t have made this proposal if I didn't have something to offer you in return...”

  Madeleine wondered if she should wait to hear what she had to say, or if she should drown her in the fountain right away.

  “As I told you, I will be leaving Aix with all my missionaries who have had their Revelation, which also includes Ruben... However, if you agree to give me... let’s say twenty of your Parisian soldiers, I’ll give you my brother. He’ll be part of your legion and you can dispose of him as you wish for all eternity, just as I will dispose of your legionaries for all eternity.”

  This unexpected proposal made Madeleine waver. Possessing Ruben, being connected to him until the end of time by the angelic military bond... was better than anything she could ever have imagined. If the marquise honored her deal, then no matter what era, no matter what life time, she would always be able to reconnect with him, because he would always be part of her army. They would be united forever. They would never leave each other's side. This proposal surpassed by far any dreams she had had about their future. She accepted Johanna’s deal without hesitating for a second. Instantly, Ruben was under her command.

  Chapter 18

  The footsteps echoed louder and louder. She could feel the agitation only a few feet away. Around her there was only darkness. The atmosphere was heavy. She felt like she was withering away into nothingness. She heard a voice speak a few incomprehensible words and then, the footsteps began again. They were getting closer, they were so close she could feel them, they were right there. She had to wake up. She had to see who was there looking down on her. But she lay motionless, unable to defend herself.

  Panicked, Tara opened her eyes with a start, but saw nothing around her but shadows. The room was completely dark. Yet, she felt a presence only a few inches away. It was more real than ever. She tried to get up, but she felt trapped in her body, as if crushed under an immeasurable weight. A voice approached her, out of breath. She recognized John who seemed to be begging and pleading. Then, she heard Emily utter a phrase that made her whole body convulse. She was talking about Nina. She was going to die.

  Her words came as an electric shock to her as she woke up. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was John and Emily who were bent over her, looking at her with a rare intensity. Their red eyes betrayed their dried tears. Tara understood by their gloomy faces that a terrible tragedy had just taken place. She knew immediately. Instantly, her entire body contracted, refusing to accept such an unthinkable reality. She didn't move from her bed.

  “Tara,” began John, his voice trembling. “She's not dead yet.”

  Tara began to wheeze violently. Gasping for air, as if she had just woken up from a nightmare. She sat up and stared at John, as if Nina's life depended on his next words.

  “Hugo was able to repair certain connections. She's on an IV right now, in a coma. Her body should recover very quickly, we’ve all been gathered around her, nourishing her with love and light to help her heal. Within a few days, her body will be restored.”

  Then, John stopped. He looked at Tara gravely while she stared into his eyes, totally absorbed in his words, waiting for him to continue. The young man changed his tone. His voice broke:

  “However, and despite all our efforts, her soul is being consumed more and more with each passing second. The argomenon’s venom is spreading fast... And there’s nothing we legionaries can do to help her.”

  He looked at Tara hesitantly, wondering whether or not he should proceed. In a nearly inaudible voice, he finally continued:

  “Hugo says she's fighting to stay alive, that her soul is trying to rebuild itself, despite the chaos created by the venom. He estimates that if she keeps up the battle, she can still survive another week, until her soul disappears completely...”

  Tara looked at John in horror. Why had he woken her up if it was to give her such horrific news? Why would she need to be aware of Nina's imminent death? She was much better off immersed in oblivion. She now contemplated John with an irrational feeling of
anger. She resented him for informing her about Nina's death, as if he was responsible for this dreadful outcome. Her grief was so overwhelming she couldn’t even cry. All she wanted now was to die, to share the argomenon’s venom with Nina and disappear with her, to no longer exist, to feel nothing. She wanted to dive into a void where nothing could ever make her suffer again. She now wished to be annihilated more than anything else.

  Surrendering to her suicidal yearning, she heard the frail voice of an old man coming from the other end of her bed. Barely surprised, she turned her feeble body in his direction, discovering Stanislas staring at her through his two empty eye sockets. His eyelids hung over the gaping holes that seemed deeper than ever. She thought about the living tissue that still existed inside his eye sockets and imagined it clinging to his skull. The old man spoke:

  “Just as the light angels are allowed to perform miracles here on Earth, an exceptional authorization from the Congregation could save Nina’s angel...”

  Tara didn't bat an eyelash. The Congregation. How had she not thought of Them?

  The old man continued, under John and Emily’s watchful eyes:

  “As you know, it isn’t a privilege that’s granted to just anyone. Your chances of succeeding are minimal, however...”

  “I'm leaving right now,” Tara interrupted with determination.

  “Do you even know how you're going to proceed once you’re Up There?” asked Emily.

  “I'll go to the Capitol, directly to the Decision-Makers' assembly room.”