by J. J. Egosi
“It is if I see it.,” Michael insisted, grabbing Alexa by either collar of her trench coat.
Isabella and Julianna laid an unfleeting look at him as he stood up to Alexa. Ursula looked up from the ground, smiling with a whimper as she wiped her tears away. She dusted herself off and stood with restraint. She knew better than to react. Instead, she flashed a bloodied grin of submission.
Alexa looked down at Michael’s trembling hands and scoffed at his remark before slapping them away. “You’ll be taken captive no matter how I treat Ursula. I’m afraid you don’t get a say in this.”
Michael shook in the presence of the woman Alexa just hit, and then a devious smirk formed across his face. “I suggest you change your tone unless you want to find out, firsthand, why the Legion’s leader is seeking me out.”
“Are you threatening me?” Alexa asked with a surprised smile.
“I don’t make threats. I make promises. And I promise to teach you some manners right here and now unless you apologize to your friend,” said Michael.
“She’s not my friend!” Alexa shouted. “And I have no use for such things.”
“Well, she’s something if she traveled all the way here with you,” Julianna insisted.
“She’s the same thing you are.” Alexa gritted her teeth. “…just disposable pieces of flesh. Waiting to be thrown to the slaughterhouse once they’ve reached their full use.”
“You’re sick!” Michael shouted.
“I’m giving you a dose of reality,” said Alexa. “Those two girls over there? The ones who seem so infatuated with you? Do you think they’ll be around forever? I doubt it.”
“What are you saying?” Michael replied.
“Once they get what they want, be it sex or children or money, you’ll be on the streets, just like Ursula was before I was gracious enough to pick her up.”
Get what they want?
Memories of his encounter with Lucifer flooded in. He remembered the painfully awakening words Lucifer said about desires leaving a trail of ruin. His heart sunk when he imagined plunging back into a life of servitude with no escape.
“So, you’ll excuse me when I tell you I know what’s best for Ursula,” Alexa said, standing closer to Michael and looking him straight in his eyes.
“You don’t scare me, Alexa,” Michael said with a nervous gulp.
“Then, you haven’t been paying attention,” said Alexa.
She turned to Isabella. Her face somehow blended a friendly smile and a menacing stare. Her demon eyes fixated at Isabella’s. Alexa took a graceful step toward her. Isabella grinned to mask her fear, but Alexa could see past it.
“Don’t forget you still have something I want.”
“I haven’t,” Isabella replied with a callous gaze.
“And when I take it, I’ll be also taking your precious husband to bait out the Legion’s leader,” said Alexa.
“Not if I can help it!” Michael thundered.
His aura grew. The still wind heightened into a raging tempest. A tributary of cracks formed in the ground as it crumbled. Michael released his wings and summoned his scepter. His eyes turned into blue incandescence, looking piercingly at Alexa. He plastered a look of awe on everyone’s face. His form left Alexa’s eyes agape. It was almost as if she succumbed to fear.
“If the way you treat Ursula is any sign of how you treat people, then I won’t allow you to lay a hand on Isabella. I don’t know what you plan on doing with the titan rings once you have them. For all I know, you could be planning to use them for evil, as well. Either way, if you want to kidnap me, you’ll have to defeat me first!” said Michael.
“So, this is his archangel form?” said an awestruck Julianna, feeling his divine presence take her breath away.
“It’s even more beautiful than I remember,” Isabella said.
“Is he?”
“He is,” Alexa said to Ursula. “The prophecies are true. This man is the archangel, Michael.”
“The prophecies?” Isabella asked.
“Yes. I thought it was just a legend. I mean, it talks about a time we could never even conceptualize as our reality.”
“Wait, I’m lost,” said Ursula. “Are you saying Michael came from a time before our own?”
“We knew that much.” Isabella turned towards Michael with a bewildering glare. Julianna did the same.
“But how long before our time?” Julianna asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Alexa continued. “The prophecy talks of two primordial forces of light and dark that fought over the monotheistic rights to the omniverse. It was a battle spanning eons, as expected from two evenly matched deities. Neither could defeat the other so they slumbered in the outskirts of the world, only to be awoken by the return of the titans, so their rivalry can continue again.”
Michael grew dizzy, overcome by the revelation. He questioned its legitimacy with fear as Lucifer’s crow-masked face appeared in his mind.
“It seems the time is now. Michael, you’re that force of light. It’s safe to assume the leader of the Legion of Morningstar is the force of darkness.”
I’m the primordial force of light? What does that mean? Michael thought, unable to make sense of the revelation.
“This man here is one of the most powerful beings to ever grace the concept of existence. Rather, he used to be,” she said with a devious grin to accompany the dark look on her face.
“What’s with that grin?” Isabella asked in annoyance.
“Well, there’s a bit of an issue in the prophecies,” she started. “They say when Michael went onto his slumber; he lost all his powers and memories, so waking is a completely fresh start.”
“Wait, so is that how Michael lost his memories?” Isabella asked.
She and Julianna looked over at him. He stared blankly as if his mind had numbed, unable to register her words.
This is not only who I was, but how I forgot.
Alexa let out a sinister chuckle as she turned to Michael. “You may have released your angel form, but you’re no march for demons of our level of power!” She released her wings, and Ursula followed suit.
“And we’ll do anything in our power to protect the rings from all evil,” she continued, beating her wings against the dusty air.
“Does that also include you?” said Isabella.
“I can assure you our intentions are purer than you think,” Alexa replied.
“And yet you plan on kidnapping me and hurting my friend to get what you want,” Michael said, angrily.
Alexa looked into his eyes and smiled. “You act so high and mighty. Demons are morally loose, by nature. Sure, we may break a few souls here and there, but as long as we don’t destroy the entire world, we’re just fine.”
“Pathetic!” Michael shouted with emphasis. “Like the archangel and what you claim to be the primordial force of light, I’ll decide what’s fine and what’s not.”
“What an arrogant little angel. If a battle is what you’re after, then a battle you’ll get,” said Alexa.
“It’s about time,” Michael said, pointing his scepter at Alexa.
“Oh, but you won’t be battling me,” she replied.
“And why not?” Michael said with a piercing glare into her eyes.
“I’m out of your league. Battling me is not a right. It’s a privilege. If you want the chance to battle me, you’ll need to defeat Ursula, first,” she said, pointing over at Ursula.
Michael looked at Ursula, still recovering from when Alexa knocked her to the ground.
“That is ridiculous. She’s clearly still hurt,” he refuted.
Ursula chimed in, “It’s fine. I can take it. I’m not afraid of you.”
“That’s not the point. You don’t have to listen to her. Don’t you have any will of your own? Or any self-respect?” Michael pleaded.
“Maybe I don’t. So, what?” Ursula asked.
Michael, Isabella, and Julianna looked at her. Her unbridled loyalty to Alexa made their hea
ds spin.
“Enough stalling. Are we going stand and twiddle our thumbs all day or are we going to dance?” Ursula demanded, pointing at Michael.
Michael realized there was no way he would talk her out of it. Her mindless devotion to Alexa was beyond repair. He could see this in her change of tone. He still maintained concern and determination that she could change.
“If a battle’s what you want, a battle’s what you’ll get! Maybe then, we can figure out what’s really going on between you and that pink-haired freak.”
Michael and Ursula squared off, exchanging a lightning-sharp stare. The atmosphere of silent tension left Julianna and Isabella watching with unease, while Alexa looked at Ursula, forging a grin that told of many secrets about the blue-haired girl.
Chapter 3
Fangs of the Crying Wolf
M
ichael looked sharply into Ursula’s eyes. Her presence was no longer as childish and innocent as before. A sincere resolve replaced the childish and innocent presence Ursula once held. The thunderous gaze she now had left his heart racing with fear.
“You don’t have to do this, Ursula. I really think you should rest,” Michael said.
“I don’t need you treating me like a child. I fell, is all,” Ursula snapped.
“You didn’t fall. She pushed you to the ground. And I’m not treating you like a child. I’m just saying”—
“I know what you’re saying. I shouldn’t do what Alexa says just to appease her. I should think of myself, instead. Well, you know what? I’m happy to do exactly that. And today, I’ll take you as our captive and rob your orange-haired pal of her titan ring,” Ursula emphatically said.
“Hey, I have a name. It’s Isabella,” she said, annoyed.
“And my name’s Julianna. Thanks for asking…” she said with sarcasm.
“Is this really the time?” asked Michael, looking over at them.
“Sorry,” they said, in unison.
“The rules of this battle are simple,” Alexa interjected. “This will be one on one. No one outside is to interfere.”
“And does that include you?” Julianna asked with a stern glare in Alexa’s direction.
Alexa grinned. “Well, of course.”
“That works for me,” Julianna said.
“Finish this fast,” Isabella chanted.
Michael turned his attention back at Ursula. “I’ll let you make the first move, Ursula.”
“Don’t patronize me. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I need any favors from the likes of you!” she said, her face reddening in anger.
Just what is her deal? Michael thought. The longer he stared into her flaring expression, the more confused he grew. I took her as the sort who had her head high in the clouds, but now it seems something has ignited a fire inside her. Did Alexa actually slap some sense into her or are these her true colors? Either way, despite our common desire to have Lucifer gone, there’s little chance of us joining forces.
Michael took a deep breath. “Fine, I’ll go first. And if you don’t want any favors, then I won’t hold back.”
“What a brute. Fine, go first”—Before Ursula could finish her sentence, Michael swung at her with his scepter, knocking her right over in the blink of an eye.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think you’d fall that easily,” Michael said in a panicked tone.
Isabella sighed from the sidelines. “What did that jackass think would happen after she fell to a single slap?”
“It seems he hasn’t gotten his archangel powers under control yet. I blame his negligence towards his training,” Julianna added.
Ursula limped up to her feet and dusted herself off. She stared, hypnotized by his worried glare. A tear rolled down her face as she stood up.
“Well, you didn’t have to hit me with that thing. And so hard. I mean, who hits someone with a scepter? That’s like hitting me across the head with a sword or an axe,” said Ursula. She winced as she rubbed her bruised arm.
“I assumed you’d block it. I really am sorry,” he replied.
“Dickhead!” Ursula shouted in defiance.
Michael offered a rain of apologies, offering to aid her injury with a healing potion. Ursula replied with a slew of expletives as Alexa snickered in amusement.
Meanwhile, Julianna and Isabella stared dimly.
“Well, this battle’s going nowhere fast. One mediocre assault and his opponent’s already crying,” said Isabella.
“My thoughts, exactly,” said Julianna.
“What is it?” asked Isabella. She could tell something was bothering Julianna.
“That girl. Something’s not right in her head,” she said.
“Yeah, I don’t know if she just doesn’t have a clue or if she actually just spent her entire life living with the dogs,” Isabella said, staring intensely at Ursula.
“That’s not what I meant. Didn’t you notice a serious shift in her personality once Alexa pushed her into this battle?” said Julianna, with an instigative tone.
“I did,” Isabella replied with a colder gaze. “Something tells me there’s far more to this woman than meets the eye.”
“But, the real danger is that Alexa woman. It’s clear she has Ursula wrapped around her finger. Michael had better be careful not to find himself in the same position. Especially when our only titan ring is on the line,” said Julianna.
“Agreed,” Isabella said with an affirmative nod.
Meanwhile, Alexa eavesdropped on their conversation while watching Michael and Ursula fail to bury their hostilities.
“You imbeciles can try to figure me out all you want. You’re wasting your time. The queen of the sixth dimension is beyond both your comprehension and your power. When this is all over, I’ll take your titan ring and this sad excuse for the archangel all to myself,” said Alexa to herself, grinning, as she looked over at Ursula.
“If you’re done trying to heal with your weird angel magic, you can back up,” Ursula dusted herself off and took a deep breath.
“Weird?” Michael said in a baffled tone.
“What are you waiting for?” Alexa shouted. “Attack that moron now!”
Ursula took a deep breath and nodded. She stared up at Michael with a callous gaze. “Right.”
Taking Michael by surprise, she opened her assault with a bare fist. She lunged forward and struck him across the chest, nearly knocking him over.
Michael grunted in pain. He pressed against the sharp pain in his chest.
“A punch? That certainly wasn’t what I expected,” he said with a pant.
“Unlike some people, I don’t need swords or axes to fight.” Ursula raised both her fist towards him as she dug back her heel. “I may not look like much, but I’m one hell of a fighter. And I’ve never needed weapons to get where I am.”
Michael’s eyes widened. The determination she wore emanated deeper. He could almost feel it coursing through her veins.
“I never meant to undermine your capabilities. I’m sorry. If your fists are your weapon of choice, that’s alright with me. I’m sure you’ll prove to be a challenge for me, regardless.” Michael replied with a friendly smile.
Ursula gazed at him with bewilderment. She smiled and nodded. “Good. Then get ready because I’ve got a real beating prepared with your name on it.”
“Bring it!” Michael thrust forward with his scepter firmly in his grasp. Ursula did the same with her fists. Like an impulse, Ursula mirrored with her hands balled. Primed and ready to fight.
The two clashed amidst the peaceful cornfield. Ursula drove a barrage of punches at Michael, but he deflected with his scepter.
“Not bad.” Michael smiled.
He returned the attack with the same bravado as before, ready to further his advantage in their skirmish.
“Well, I can do better. Way better.”
Ursula parried before countering with a thudding fist to his belly. A grin formed across her face as he leaned over, aching.
Ju
lianna and Isabella observed, growing even more baffled.
“Using your fists against a scepter is pretty unorthodox, don’t you think?” Isabella asked.
“In the assassin trade, it’s typical to use light weaponry against something heavier. For example, a dagger against a claymore. But using bare fists is extreme unless you build a career in pummeling people in alleyways,” Julianna said.
“That could explain the sort of fighter she is and why Alexa seems to keep her around, despite disliking her,” said Isabella.
“A secret weapon, perhaps?” Julianna said. She looked over at the rage building in Ursula’s eyes before meeting the malice carried in Alexa’s. “I fear greater obstacles than a woman fearless enough to face the archangels with her fists await us.”
“You’re right.” Isabella’s heart skipped a beat as she turned her attention towards Ursula’s eyes. The aura within was enough to consume one whole. “Let’s not forget they have three titan rings between them.”
“And I’m certain Ursula carries one of them,” Julianna said.
Julianna and Isabella relayed their suspicion while the heat of the battle between Michael and Ursula raged on. Michael limited his attack and defense to the swing of his scepter, wielding it like a spear. He avoided the use of magic at all costs. Ursula continued to fight barehanded, smirking under her breath. “You may think you can keep up with that golden rod of yours, but I’ve fought beasts larger than you with my bare hands countless times. You’re no match for me.”
She unleashed a thick and inky shadowlike substance from the crevices between her fingers. It hung over her fists like black clouds. She thumped Michael across the face with such force that he fell over.
“Michael!” Julianna and Isabella shouted.
Alexa snickered in amusement. “There’s your fighting spirit. Don’t let me down if you know what’s good for you,” she told Ursula.
Michael slowly rose with his face aching across the cheek. “I’ll be fine. Hell knows I’ve taken worse hits.”
He looked over at Ursula’s fists and saw the shadows forming around them. He could sense the aura burning through her fingers like untamable magma, growing more furious the longer they waited.
