Divided Paths

by Katrina Cope

  “Why don't you change?” Raphael asks as he watches our fight.

  She spares him a glance and says, “What? And not be able to use my powers? Then he would definitely win.” After attacking me with several more weapons using her magic, she asks Raphael, “Would you like to join him? He's obviously not winning.”

  I think she is finished throwing weapons at me, and I take this opportunity while she is distracted. I attack her with several weapons and angelic pulses.

  I was wrong. She hasn't forgotten me. Ava raises her arm, and with it, she lifts all the weapons circling me in the area then spins them with a twist of her fingers to face in my direction. With another forward toss of her arm, they all come flying toward me. She isn't playing nice, but this is fine because it’s what I expect from our training sessions. It is like a real battle. There are no second chances in life, and making mistakes is the best way to learn.

  I have to admit she is fighting well. These last few years living in the forest and all the training that I have given her have paid off. I don't think her parents would recognize her now. She isn’t the sweet farm girl she was just a few years ago.

  I dodge the last weapon, which I didn't quite manage to hit aside with my ax. When I face Ava again, a ball of fire charges in my direction, with another followed not long behind it. A chill grazes my wings as I take to the sky and look down on her. It is then that I see Raphael throw his angelic green light at her. It sends her off guard. She wasn't expecting it, and she didn't deflect it.

  She stumbles off to the side from the force, and the newest ball of fire evaporates from Raphael's calming green power.

  I slowly lower to the ground.

  Ava faces Raphael. The fire has vanished from her eyes, and her pupils have returned to normal. “That was cheating. You weren't in the fight.”

  “No, I wasn't. You're right. But I could see your anger coming to the boiling point again, and your eyes started to do that thing. Something is happening to you when you are angry. For some reason, this anger is burning deep within you and is manifesting on the surface. I do not know what is causing it, but I had to put a stop to it.”

  “What did you do to me?”

  “I sent you some loving, peaceful light. It is effective for mental healing.” He approaches her, slowly circles her, and observes her nature and how she stands. “Looking at the results, it is something I should've done when you were unconscious. You seem to have settled. I can't see the blazing anger in your eyes at the moment.”

  She glares at him. “But you cheated. I was winning, and you stepped in. You weren't part of the fight, so you shouldn't have intervened.”

  “It is true that I was not in the fight. It is accurate that you are doing very well, but I also know that Zacharias is holding back because he cares for you.” Raphael folds his arms over his stomach and rocks on his toes.

  “Zacharias holding back!” She laughs. “That old man never holds back. He doesn't believe in mercy.”

  “That may be how you perceive it, but I know Zacharias, and I have seen him in a real fight. For instance, that slice to your throat would have hit if you were in a real battle. He doesn't want to hurt you. You, on the other hand, are not holding back. You're letting your anger boil forth, and you're taking it out on him.” Raphael glances at me. “I know this is how Zacharias would train and how we want you to act, and he is glad that you're taking your anger out on him because he sees that as a way of venting. Often, he is right. However, in this case, it just seems to be getting you more aggravated. I can see the flame burning inside of you, and your eyes start to change. Whatever this is, you need to control it. It is powerful. That is why I sent you a peaceful light. Even now, only a few minutes after the injection of this peaceful light, I can see your anger boiling forth again and breaking free of your hold on it.”

  Ava stomps her foot, scrunches her hand in a fist, and punches at the ground while letting out a frustrated groan. “I don't know what you're talking about. You're just aggravating.”

  “Be that as it may, if it helps you, then I'm happy to be that being.” Raphael smiles sweetly.

  Ava spins and looks at me. “Are you going to let him talk to me like this? Are you not going to say anything?”

  I shrug. “What can I say? He's right. I was trying to help you vent your anger, and yes, I do hold back because I care for you, and I don't want you dead. I am here to protect you, not kill you. But even saying that, you have become a remarkable fighter. You have a very good chance out there now.”

  “I think that is enough practice for today.” Raphael places his hand on Ava's shoulder. Her eyes are turning back to normal. “As much as Zacharias's theory is a good one, having you fight in your agitated state doesn't seem to calm you down. I think it is something you’re going to have to master with your internal strength.”

  I observe her in her temper and marvel at the difference between the young girl from years ago and this young woman.

  Zacharias. The voice sounds through my head.

  Yes, Michael. Are you okay?

  Is Raphael with you?

  Yes.

  Then I will include him in this conversation.

  What's going on? I ask.

  There is a large gathering of demons on the plane—an area near the city of Rome. We need to fight them. We need you both here, Michael says. We need as many angels as possible. This one is huge.

  He sends me an image of the area, and I see the number of demons there.

  “We have to get there quickly.” I look at Raphael. “We have to go.”

  He nods, and I gaze at Ava.

  “What are you two up to?” she asks.

  “Ava, we need you to go back to the cottage.” I can't hide the urgency in my voice.

  “Why?”

  “Because we need to go help Michael. There is a big war between demons and angels, and he needs help. I need you to go back to the cabin and remain there until I come back.”

  Ava stands and places her hands on her hips with her feet apart. “I am not going back to some cabin to hide while waiting for you to come back and get me.”

  “Please, Ava. Please, go back and stay in the cabin until I come back.” I try not to beg, but images of what happened to her parents flash through my head as I say this.

  “No way! Take me with you.” Her face sets with determination.

  “I'm sorry, Ava. We can't do that. You're not an angel, and you're certainly not a demon. I need you to remain safe. I'm supposed to protect you, not take you into the middle of danger.”

  “Protecting me means remaining by my side at all times. You know that the time you disappeared? My parents were slaughtered.”

  I felt the invisible dagger dig into my heart. She is right. It was my error that I left her—and them.

  “Ava,” Raphael says, prying his eyes away from my face to glower at her. “That's not fair. You know he was called away to fight demons, and you know this time he's been called away to fulfill his other duties. It’s not his fault. The gatekeeper tricked him and arrived at your farm and possessed your father, causing him to act as he never would have otherwise. It pains me that you lost your parents, both sets of them and at such a young age, but it is not Zacharias's fault.”

  “Still, a protector should remain by a person's side at all times. Not just dump them and leave them in some cabin in the middle of the woods. I'm coming with you.” She pushes her shoulders back farther, and I know that she is not going to give in.

  “You can't come with us, Ava.” I shake my head, my eyes pleading with her. “It's a fight against demons.”

  “All the more reason to take me. I want my revenge more than anyone.” She stands firm and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and I see that her pupils are starting to become slits again.

  “Ava, this isn’t about revenge.” Raphael's voice is firm. “This is about protecting humankind.”

  “I am human, and I am going to fight for humankind as well. It is my right.
The fact that I would kill a few demons in the process would just give me great pleasure in avenging my parents.” She stands in front of him, and her mouth moves silently, and she starts to rub her hands together as she looks at me.

  “Ava, what are you doing?” I have watched her many times stand still with just her mouth moving—often when she is casting a spell of some sort. I start to worry. “Ava. Tell me what you're doing.”

  She continues moving her lips in tiny movements.

  “Ava?” I snap at her.

  She doesn't answer me, and a smile spreads across her lips. A shiver runs down my spine. She's acting so weird lately. I hope this isn’t another one of those times. After a moment, she looks at me, and her smile broadens. She almost looks like an innocent young girl again.

  “Nothing, Zacharias. I'm doing nothing. You're right. You two have to go. I'll go back to the cabin.”

  I look at her with a raised eyebrow. “That's a massive turnaround. What on earth is going on?” She stands a couple of feet away and turns to head to the cabin.

  “You go. Stay safe,” she calls over her shoulder.

  I look at Raphael, and he nods. It’s an indication that he’s ready to go, and I brace myself for a teleport. Ava turns and raises a hand as though waving goodbye. Then something grabs onto me the split second before I teleport. It’s too late to get rid of it. The world disintegrates, and within a few moments, I find the world reappearing outside of Rome, where the war is taking place. I search to see what grabbed me just as I come through. There, encased in a soft ward, is Ava. Her smile is even broader than it was before, something I didn't think was possible. Somehow, she had made up a spell, attaching it to me, bringing her along for the ride.

  - Chapter Twenty-Two -

  “Ava, you have to go back.”

  “No way. I'm here now. You can't send me back.” She shrinks out of reach and crosses her arms.

  Through clenched teeth, I say, “Yes, I can, and we are leaving now.” I can't believe that she disobeyed me at a time like this, landing in the center of a battle. I dash forward and grab her arms. I’m about to teleport her back when someone calls out, “Zacharias! Look out!”

  Ava breaks free from my grasp and raises a hand, blocking a black pulse behind me. Quickly, she moves in front of me and blocks more, returning the pulses from the demon with power of her own.

  “See? I told you I’d come in handy. Let me help you,” she calls over her shoulder as she continues her attack on the demon.

  More pulses fly my way, and she deflects them with ease. My stomach burns with rage. I am so disappointed with her for coming here, yet at the same time, I can see that we can also use her help. I recover from the shock of Ava's arrival and spin around, deflecting a few of the black pulses. Ducking behind my shield of white light, I watch as she continues to deflect the demon's attacks and throws magic power back at them. The demon screams and falls to the ground as though it's burning from the inside. It is a strange sight when demons don’t enjoy the heat.

  “What are you doing to them?” I yell over my shoulder while continuing to bat off more pulses.

  “I'm just giving them a taste of my magic. That's all.” When I glance at her, I see that the corners of her mouth are turned up.

  I search for Michael and find him only a few feet away. I call to Ava, “I have to be by Michael's side. It is my job to protect him. Are you coming with me, or are you staying?”

  “You go. I won't be far away, if not by your side.”

  “On second thought, perhaps you should be by my side at all times, like you said. I need to protect you too.”

  “Yeah, sure. Because I haven't protected you many times already.” She fires a few more pulses at the demons, and I can see the growing agitation on her face. “I'll be where I want to be, but I'll be on your side.”

  She has a point. Without arguing, I leave to be with Michael, slaying the demons with my Egyptian ax or cutting off their limbs so they won’t heal. Then I slice their throats and watch as they disintegrate into dust.

  Michael looks cornered. He is fighting well, but I can see he is in trouble. There are demons in all directions, many aiming just for him. I break my way through, slicing the demons from behind, decapitating them and watching them fall to the ground into mounds of dirt. The other demons trample their dust. Right as I arrive, Michael cries out. A long gash lines his thigh where the muscle is sliced open, and the edges of the wound are seared, something that can only be done by a demonic blade. I push through to his side and face the demon that caused him the injury. The demon needs to die for Michael to heal. There is no point in calling Raphael over until the demon is dead. Michael continues to fight, and I can see his struggle—he has a slight handicap. The demon has another go at Michael, but at the same time, I slice at its Achilles tendon, cutting it an inch deep. It buckles, and I take a swing at its head. I can't help smiling when its body crumbles to dust.

  Something slices up my side, and a burning sensation shoots to my spine. I cry out. To the left, I see that several more demons are coming our way, and one has knocked through Michael's barrier, escaping his fighting skills. One-handed, I fight the demon, slicing along his legs and eventually slicing through his heart then decapitating him. The pain of his cut remains, but demonic power no longer sears the edges. I have a chance to heal.

  Another searing pain shoots up my other side, and I lose feeling in my arm for a brief moment. I turn to find that another demon has successfully cut through my barrier and is attacking me from the other side. At the same time, still another demon is attacking me from the left side again. I search for Michael. He usually guards my back as we fight together.

  I glance over my shoulder and find him still behind me with his majestic white wings spread wide. Blood pours from many sections of his body. It is his—I can tell by the golden tints through the red. He is also getting sliced up. There are too many demons. The angels need to gather together more.

  I try to find Ava yet fail. I hope she's not dead, although I think her essence within me would let me know. This is not a good fight to start with. There are too many demons ganging up against us.

  I reach out to the other archangels in my head, trying to grab their attention. We need to gather together. We should back up together so we can protect each other's backs and fight our way out in unity.

  That's a good idea. The voice answering in my head is androgynous, a voice I know that matches a unisex face. I'm on my way, Gabriel says.

  The next thing I see is shuriken flying through the air and piercing the demons. Briefly, large numbers of demons cry out before falling to the ground, and they turn to dust. I can see Gabriel's trail as the archangel approaches us.

  A searing pain shoots through my back. I allowed myself to become distracted. The pain travels from my top right shoulder right down to my hip. I don't understand how this is possible through a golden breastplate. Perhaps they have something new that can cut through this because as I shake, my shoulders feel how loose the breastplate is against my back. This isn’t good. I spin around to take the demon that attacked me.

  Instead, I spot an angel surrounded and cut off from all the other angels. It is Archangel Gabriel. They still can't get to me because there are so many demons surrounding me. I search for Michael and see him not far, yet too far for me to be able to protect him. I feel my desperation rising as I watch him. Many demons surround him, and he is getting slashed and nicked in different weird places, enough to cause him pain and at the same time distract us. They've cornered us. If I weren’t such an optimist in a fight, I would think that we are defeated and that this is the end.

  I feel the ax knocked from my hands, and I cry out. “No!” I spin in the other direction with no weapons on me—my ax is gone. Reaching out my hand, I call for it, only to have my hand knocked aside by another demon attacking me. I must use my bare hands. I revert to punching, although I know this won't destroy the demons. It could hurt them, but only angelically blessed b
lades can wound them permanently and decapitate them.

  The demons’ gangly faces come close to me, and I hit them and send pulses their way, knocking them back for a little while. It isn’t enough. I need my blade. I search for Michael and see his wings towering over the top of the demons. He also seems to be struggling. I can't see his sword swinging and can only see a few demons stumbling backward. I don't know what to do. We’ve never been in this predicament before. We are usually on top of the demons. At times, it was hard, but never like this.

  An incredible roar fills the air, and my spine spasms with tension. I search for a demonic monster I haven't encountered before. Surely, the demons already know that we are on the verge of defeat and that bringing in a beast is cruel. But then again, they are demons. I wouldn't put it past them. I catch sight of a steady flame skimming across the area, and I'm warmed by its heat, even over the distance. “What is that?”

  - Chapter Twenty-Three -

  Something grabs me from behind, and I spin and punch another demon in the face before chancing a look up. In the distance, I can see it—a hideous beast with enormous wings. I’ve never seen anything like it. It is so big that when it walks, the ground appears to shake. As I study it, it reminds me of a lizard, except it’s much larger, probably close to three and a half times the size of a grown man, and with wings. Its brilliant green scales glimmer in the sun. It mesmerizes me with its magnificence. Its eyes connect with mine, and it seems to come in my direction. For the first time, my legs wobble at the sight of an opponent. I have no idea how I'm going to fight this, but I'll give it a go if the demons don't demolish me first, and it worries me that I still haven't been able to call to my ax.

  I punch another demon in the face, and it stumbles back a few feet, giving me another chance to glance at the creature. It seems to stare at me, and there is something familiar within those eyes. Its footsteps pound toward me. It's almost as if it has a vendetta to get me. I have no idea why I am of such an interest to the beast. Pulling my eyes away from the approaching beast, I try to spot Michael but can't find him. I punch a few more demons, and they stagger backward. I kick out, knocking the ones behind me away. I can feel exhaustion seeping in, but I must not give up. I kick and punch some more and watch the space slowly open up and then disintegrate as they come toward me again.