by J F Cain
Beleth bent her arm, which had been resting on the chaise longue’s armrest, and rested her chin on her palm.
“So Abaddon can hold two different forms at the same time. How original!” she told Zagan, who was standing across from her, his hips resting against the kiosk’s railings.
The Archdemon, formerly a member of Lucifer’s personal order, the tenth of the celestial orders, had folded his beefy arms over his stout bare chest. His forearms were covered with solid metal vambraces with curved spiked protrusions, while at his shoulders similar pauldrons were held in place with crossed leather straps. His dark pants were tucked into sturdy boots and along the outside of his thighs overlapping metal plates were laced together with thin straps. His shoulder-length brown hair gave him a youthful air, but his uncanny limpid orange eyes made him look closer to forty.
While in battles he appeared with frightening beastly features, in front of Beleth he preferred to show off the enticing virility of his primary nature. She hated looking at repulsive entities, and he was willing to respect his ally’s insignificant wishes since she might help him realize his ambitious plan.
“The Source always did whatever It wanted, but It’s really crossed the line this time,” Zagan replied bitterly. “I wonder if it was It or his chick’s secret name that gave him this ability.”
Beleth shrugged.
“It could be the natural consequence of him being born human on Earth.” She paused, as if pondering something. “I wonder if being able to split into two bodies causes a split in his consciousness. Also, what powers does the physical body have? And if it’s destroyed, will that have a negative effect on Abaddon’s ethereal nature?” she continued, feigning interest in the Dark Angel’s powers—a strategic move that would mislead anyone spying on the conversation.
“If his physical body is destroyed, it would be easy for him to possess another,” Zagan retorted.
“That would take away the free will of the human soul occupying the body, and the Source would never permit that,” Beleth replied. “So he obviously needs the physical host to promote Its aims, otherwise It wouldn’t have incarnated him.”
“That means if you kill the human, you make it impossible for the prophecy to be fulfilled,” Zagan concluded with a malicious glint in his eyes. “If that’s true, then he’ll be protecting his physical body as much as he’s protecting his slut. It will be difficult for someone to kill him.”
Beleth smiled slyly.
“But not impossible.”
Zagan looked at her curiously. He knew, however, that if he asked what she had in mind, he wouldn’t get a straightforward answer.
“We’ll find out, if that useless Lyla manages to do the job Lucifer gave her,” Beleth continued without letting her jealousy of Abriel’s lover show on her face.
“Fortune favors stupidity,” Zagan declared profoundly.
Beleth shot him a severe glance that said quite clearly she wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense.
“Her fortune goes by the name of Abriel.”
Zagan shook his head in disagreement.
“The Sorcerer is smart. He’s not going to put himself at risk for her sake. He’ll grab the chance to bang her now that she needs him and when the going gets tough he’ll leave her hanging,” he said with the cynicism characteristic of Demons.
Hearing this made Beleth happy, but she buried it in the depths of her soul.
“It would be wise to remember that the Sorcerer is also the commander of thousands of fallen Powers,” she advised her ally with a cold look full of meaning. “Your behavior toward him isn’t fitting and if you anger him, no one will help you fight him,” she added, feeling satisfaction just at the thought. In the meetings of the five high-ranking entities of Eregkal who had joined forces to achieve their exceptionally difficult goal, Zagan treated Abriel like an underling, which irritated her. She would really like to see the commander of the fallen Powers take the Archdemon’s place.
“I don’t need anyone’s help. I’m more powerful than him and have double the legions at my disposal,” Zagan said haughtily.
“Yes, but his warriors are the best in Eregkal and entirely faithful to their leader, something we can’t say about our own,” Beleth reminded him of a crucial fact. “As for his power, I would be more cautious about the assumptions I make about Abriel.”
Zagan restrained himself so as not to swear at her.
“I think you’re overestimating him. Only Lyla makes such mistakes,” he said scathingly, a mocking expression on his face.
The skin on Beleth’s face turned black, on her forehead the two eye spots characteristic of a king cobra expanded and the pupils of her own eyes became oval.
“The next time you liken me to that idiot, you’ll pay for it,” she hissed.
Zagan paid no attention to her threat. Everyone knew she was touchy, and it wasn’t in his interests to clash with her. He unfolded his arms, flaunting his muscled chest.
“I’d prefer to do other things with you,” he said, aiming a fake smile her way.
“You can forget about that,” she spat out with a contemptuous glance.
Her refusal didn’t faze the greedy Zagan.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” he said, his gaze full of promises. “It’s an amazing experience, especially on the physical plane.”
Rumor had it that she was the only virgin in the dark dimension, and he wanted to be her first. It was a good way to satisfy his ego and secure her as an ally. Thinking just like a Demon, he had his own grand schemes.
The serpent-like features faded from Beleth’s face as she assumed a blank, superior expression.
“That type of contact leaves me cold,” she said frostily.
Zagan approached the chaise longue, sat down next to her stretched-out legs and leaned to the side, resting on his right elbow. Things would be happening rapidly from now on and he might not have the chance to be alone with her again. He had to make his move now.
“I don’t understand why you deprive yourself of such wonderful pleasure,” he said, attempting a polite approach with the touchy Eregkalian princess, as he called her mockingly behind her back.
“How many women have you banged?’ Beleth asked bluntly.
“Many,” he boasted.
“Female Demons?”
“Even more.”
“Have you banged Lyla?”
Zagan realized what she was getting at, but he couldn’t afford to lie.
“No,” he forced out.
“You haven’t banged Lyla and you want to bang me?” Beleth asked, hiding her distaste behind a questioning look.
“I’ve never been interested in her,” Zagan lied.
“And you’re interested in me?” Beleth’s expression showed her disbelief. “Why?”
“You’re special,” Zagan replied and made the mistake of reaching out to touch her leg.
Before his hand could reach its destination, the cobra on Beleth’s shoulder suddenly came to life, shot forward and sank its fangs into his wrist, immobilizing him.
“And more dangerous!” she reminded him with a warning tone in her voice.
Frigid bitch, Zagan swore inwardly. I’d be doing you a favor if I banged you. He held himself in check so that he wouldn’t knock her block off and tried to save face. “You’re overreacting,” he said with the look of someone wronged. “I just wanted to show you how beautiful a sensual caress is.”
“As you’ve already seen, I don’t like being touched,” Beleth stated. The cobra released his hand, and coiled up on her shoulder once again, assuming its original motionless form.
Zagan glanced at the two punctures from the snake’s fangs as they closed, leaving small marks on his wrist. He sprang up with a smile, as if nothing had happened, and bowed slightly.
“My beautiful princess, your wish is my command,” he said cheerfully, pretending that her rejection hadn’t cost him at all. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way. I’ve got important b
usiness to see to.”
“Be careful,” Beleth advised him, knowing that the business he was referring to was spying on Adras, one of the three Archdemons loyal to Lucifer.
“Rest assured,” Zagan replied with forced politeness. With another slight bow of his head—something he only gave the Dark Lord—he dematerialized to his own domain until he could calm down. I’ll put you in your place you stuck-up cunt, he fumed. The rumor that she, and not Asmodeus, was the second most powerful entity in Eregkal didn’t faze him—Demons always spread rumors to discourage those who coveted their position. He’d find a way to defeat her and bang her. Doing both would be the ultimate humiliation for the frigid bitch.
Beleth got up from the chaise. With her red gossamer veils swaying around her armored legs, she sauntered down the kiosk’s steps and began to wander among her garden’s beautiful flowers, deep in thought.
Zagan’s performance hadn’t fooled her. Although she knew he was furious with her, she didn’t care. Her quick-tempered ally was nothing but a pawn in the most important game of her existence. Of course, he and the rest of her allies were thinking the same thing. It was a fact that if their collaboration bore the desired fruit, another battle would then be waged to claim the leadership. That didn’t worry her. She was an accomplished warrior and the most powerful Archdemon of them all. And she also had Abriel on her side, which was exactly why she had put him in her team.
Beleth believed that Abriel was Eregkal’s hidden power. But none of the other highest-ranking entities had realized that if he had wanted to, he could have taken over any of their positions, maybe even the most desired one, that of the leader of the infernal kingdom. However, the commander of the fallen Powers believed in moderation and protected himself and his own from total corruption. For that reason, he was the only one she could trust at all and who she would accept as her partner. He still retained some features of his primary nature and had developed his intelligence in the right direction. That made him desirable to an entity such as her, who appreciated beauty and intelligence.
Beleth wasn’t totally uninterested in sexual love. How could she be? It was that powerful feeling that gave her her power—she inspired egotistical love in humans and drew their energy from them. She just didn’t think anyone worthy enough for her to give herself to. Except for Abriel, but he was probably in love with Lyla—although she had some reservations about that because she thought him too clever and level-headed to desire an entity of such little intelligence who could only harm him. I’ll have to clarify that before our attack, Beleth thought. She had no illusions about how dangerous their scheme was. But she preferred to pay the consequences of the choices she made herself than to once again pay for Lucifer’s terrible mistakes.
CHAPTER 5
Gabriel stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the edge of a headland, most of which jutted out into empty space. On the ground, silver translucent grass swayed gently, nudged by a soft breeze. Far below, a crystalline sea stretched out as far as the eye could see, reflecting the violet and blue shades of the bright sky.
Michael appeared next to him and the two high-ranking Celestials greeted each other with a bow of the head.
“How are you, Gabriel?” he asked affably.
“I am completely well,” Gabriel replied soberly. “Do you have any news?”
“I visited the Superior.”
“I know that. I’ve been keeping a close eye on her and Abaddon,” he replied.
Michael nodded to show that he thought it totally logical.
“I am concerned and wanted your thoughts on the matter,” he said, his expression troubled. “She believes that Abaddon can protect her.”
“If that is what she says, then it must be so. But why should he have to do it on his own?” asked Gabriel, unable to conceal the note of annoyance in his voice.
“I do not know the Source’s intentions,” Michael answered. “But from Its stance towards the commander of the Defenders, I believe he will have to rely on his own powers to deal with the difficulties that arise.”
“Let us hope you are mistaken,” Gabriel said, a small shiver disturbing his composure.
His words evoked in Michael a sense of impending danger. But he didn’t know if it stemmed from the way Gabriel had spoken or from Abaddon’s unknown future actions.
“You were at his side throughout his ethereal existence, and you accompanied him in his human life. You know him better than anyone. What do you expect he will do?” he asked, looking at his spiritual brother with uneasy interest.
Gabriel faced forward once more. Abaddon’s love for Aranes was eternal and boundless, like the sea that stretched out below the headland.
“He will give even his soul to protect her,” he answered without hesitation.
Michael copied him and then let his gaze drift across the colorful horizon.
“That is precisely what worries me.”
“Nevertheless, I do not think the Source would subject him to such a harsh trial if It didn’t believe he could succeed,” Gabriel observed.
Michael detected a trace of doubt in his voice.
“Do you believe it?” he asked without turning to look at him.
“I hope it.”
“But you are not sure.”
For Gabriel, the time of absolute certainty had gone for good.
“No, I am not,” he admitted sadly. “No one can be sure of anything anymore.”
“That is true,” Michael agreed. He regarded the other Archangel’s profile pensively. He seemed different after his restoration, distant, as if his nature had changed. Had he been affected by his long stay in the plane of forms and his interaction with humans, his defeat by Lucifer, or was he trying to absorb the changes imposed by the Guiding Mind? “What are you views about Its actions?” he asked, wanting to know what his spiritual brother was thinking.
Gabriel’s face became dead serious, almost cold.
“I’m not capable of judging It. I am merely trying to adapt to the new situation.”
His response comforted the commander in chief of the Celestials. Gabriel was one of Elether’s key pillars. If he questioned the Source’s decisions, there would be great trouble ahead.
“As are we all,” he admitted. “It is a difficult period of adjustment and the only way for us to get through it is to trust in Its wisdom.”
“My trust is not in question,” Gabriel said neutrally. What is in question is my ability to understand, he added to himself. What troubled him was the truth about the Source’s essence. Perhaps It wasn’t what the Angels thought.
An imperceptible smile formed on Michael’s lips.
“I am glad to hear it.” For him, the matter was now closed. His unquestionable trust in Gabriel left no room for doubt.
Elether’s two generals stood in silence for a while, gazing at the colorful sky that was mirrored in the clear waters of the otherworldly sea.
After a while, Michael broke the peaceful silence. He had a question that he could only ask his beloved brother. He had never suffered temporary death and he was curious about it.
“Gabriel … what is it like?” he asked hesitantly.
Gabriel’s forehead creased at the painful memory.
“If you have materialized, then you become breathless and your limbs go numb,” he answered in an emotionless voice. “As soon as the dark weapon pierces your body, you feel a penetrating cold spread inside you and your strength fades. You collapse, unable to move at all, and as soon as you breathe your last, you sink into a frightening cold darkness you never imagined existed. Then you are enveloped by light and find yourself in a state of emotional and intellectual inertness where you lose all sense of your existence. It felt like centuries had passed before I regained my awareness of self.”
The celestial general was rattled. That state of non-existence seemed terrible.
“It sounds very unpleasant,” he remarked with restraint.
“Yes, it was, perhaps because I exper
ienced it in a physical body. But worst of all is the realization that you are no longer capable of fulfilling your duty.”
Michael rested his hand on his brother’s shoulder consolingly.
“I am sorry you went through that, Gabriel. I believe that this experience will enrich your wisdom and make you more effective in your task.”
“I believe so, too,” he agreed expressionlessly, containing his worry about the manner in which he would be enriching his wisdom.
“I must leave,” Michael said and withdrew his hand from Gabriel’s shoulder. “Is there anything you need, perhaps?”
“No, thank you.”
“Alright. Try to calm yourself,” Michael advised him, having realized that Gabriel was still rattled by the novel experience.
Gabriel turned to look at him.
“I am ready to offer my services,” he declared with calm decisiveness.
Michael saw in his eyes an intensity he had never seen before, but couldn’t place its cause.
“I hope so. The Source may soon need all Its forces.”
“I will be there as things unfold,” the second-in-rank celestial general declared.
His tone—something between a warning and a promise—sounded strange to Michael’s ears, but he attributed it to Gabriel’s odd state of mind.
“Do not hesitate to call me if you need anything,” he said, somewhat uneasy. He inclined his head in farewell and his form slowly faded away.
You cannot give me what I need, Gabriel thought sadly as he gazed at the empty space the celestial general had left behind him.
Dying temporarily had been an excruciatingly painful experience for the great Archangel, who had never before tasted resounding defeat. He couldn’t forget that moment when he felt his existence fracturing and every piece of him grasping desperately for the strength to get up and continue fighting. That moment when he was overcome with despair and screamed helplessly inside his head, knowing that he was leaving the Source’s most important entity unprotected. The previously unknown feeling of weakness ate at him, as if it wanted to feast on the immortal flesh of his soul. That terrible agony that stretched time to fit his indescribable despair before he collapsed on the ground and was hurled into darkness had been etched indelibly in his mind and had spurred him to question some of his convictions.
