Empyreal

by Helsel, Spencer

  It cocked its head to the side again, staring at her innocently.

  “Okay,” she murmured, slowly getting to her feet once more, “you are so not a normal bird.”

  The white animal shifted, sidestepping back and forth. Despite throwing Dani across the room, it didn’t look at all threatening.

  “Nice demonic birdie. Please don’t do that again.”

  The bird’s head moved to the other side. It’s beak snapped a little.

  “Is that your bed?” she asked.

  Amazingly, the bird dipped its head.

  Did it just nod? “Was that a yes?”

  Again, another head-dip.

  “And I’m supposed to find somewhere else to sleep?”

  It turned its head sideways. Once.

  “Was that a no?”

  It dipped its head.

  “So…yes. I can still sleep here?”

  Again, a dip of the head.

  “Birds that understand English. Right. That’s not weird at all.”

  She approached cautiously, retrieving her blanket from the floor. She inched around to her pillow. The bird turned to follow her with its gaze. Slowly, she lowered herself onto the floor. The white hawk turned to face her as she lay down. She pulled the blanket up to her chin.

  “Are you going to sleep?” she asked it.

  The bird turned its head.

  “Are you just going to stand there and watch me?”

  It dipped its head.

  “Awesome. That’ll put me right to sleep.”

  Then she closed her eyes.

  Chapter Twelve An earth-shaking groan woke Dani. She shot straight up in bed. When she did, she came face to face with the hawk which kept its promise. It watched her.

  She covered her ears when the second blow came.

  “Jeez! What is that?” she demanded.

  A third time and she climbed out of bed. The world glistened wet

  from the previous night’s rainstorm . Sunlight streamed down from every dewdrop and the clear skies above Empyrean made the entire landscape so unreal she blinked to remember it wasn’t. Unfortunately, the deafening blasts made it hard to appreciate.

  A fourth sound issued from across the Vale. Trumpet blasts. A fifth sounded. She remembered as the sixth came what Ethan told her: she was supposed to meet Asaph at the bridge with the other Novices.

  “Great. What the hell am I supposed to wear?” She looke d down at her dingy, wrinkled jeans and shirt from LA. They were smeared with whatever putrid remnants wraiths left behind. She couldn’t believe she slept in them.

  Then she noticed a neat pile of brown clothes in one corner. She picked them up and examined them. They were similar to what Ethan wore. What had he called them? Raiments? There was a top, slacks, even boots and a belt. Someone had left her clothes while she was sleeping. That wasn’t at all disturbing.

  She looked around for whoever dropped them off. “Couldn’t you have gotten them in a female cut?” she called out to no one.

  ______________________ Dani redressed. She tucked the slacks into the calf-length boots and laced them up with the leather cords. The large leather belt synched her tunic in place. On her back was the same symbol of interlocking, fiery wheels that Ethan had emblazoned across his tunic. She used a tie to pull back her hair.

  “Are you going to be here when I get back?” she asked the bird as she departed, which didn’t move from its perch.

  It dipped its head.

  “Great. Stay frosty, cucumber.”

  She jogged. The boots were comfortable enough. She followed the

  path from last night, passing gifted houses on the way to the bridge. The countryside was beautiful. Gifted worked in the fields; tilling the ground with old tools or, in the case of a blue-skinned woman with long hair to her ankles, she sung and small vegetables grew in her garden. Dani kept up the pace until she crested the hill and saw the bridge.

  Then frowned.

  A large formation of brown-clad Novices stood with their aeries; two six-person rows for each. Behind them, black-clad Guardians waited. Dani could see Ethan and Kleos from last night among them. When Ethan saw her coming downhill, he frowned. Nathaniel, Bouden and Dink noticed her too, but very quickly turned their heads back forward.

  Then she saw why. Or rather, she heard why.

  “Each eclipse, one hundred and forty-four of the bravest and most courageous are selected by the will of God!” Cried Elder Asaph, standing in front of them in full military regalia. “Only those chosen to be the Earthborn, the only line of defense against the demonic—!”

  He stopped mid-sentence as Dani trotted up. Every head turned her way. Most of the faces were stone-blank; Andreas and Lester sneered. The Guardians knew better than to speak, but some of the Novices whispered amongst themselves.

  She ignored them, but Asaph did not.

  “Quiet!” he barked. “Novice Daniella, where have you been? Formation began at thirty past Morning Lauds.”

  “What?”

  Asaph’s jaw tensed. His hand squeezed his sword hilt. “Morning Lauds are the call to rise. Did you not hear them?”

  “You mean the trumpets? The entire universe could hear them.”

  A few Novices snickered. Even some of the Guardians smirked. Asaph quickly brought them to silence with a glare.

  From the back, Kleos spoke up. “Elder Asaph, if I may. It is not yet thirty past Morning Lauds. The Novice is not late. We are early.”

  Dani gratefully nodded towards him. He slightly dipped his head back.

  Asaph grunted, “We do not stand on ceremony, Guardian Kleos.”

  “Well, Elder, we do if that’s the standard by which we judge our newest recruits.”

  His jaw clenched so tight he might break his teeth. Lip curled, he turned to her. “Get into formation.”

  “Where?”

  “Anywhere!”

  Dani glanced at the twelve neat columns. There wasn’t a spot for her. Asaph returned to the front of the formation, waiting. His glare could have melted the sun.

  She wanted to say something, but she knew that antagonizing Asaph would only lead to more trouble. She needed to avoid it where possible.

  But…

  Dani walked over and stood at the very front of Nathaniel’s column. She was almost directly in front of Asaph, who snapped his sword in its scabbard a little out of annoyance.

  Okay, maybe she wasn’t avoiding it entirely.

  ______________________

  “The five arche.” Elder Castus said from his throne of assembled Elders. “Do any of you know them?”

  They stood in rows before them, the basins of fire blazing between them. Everyone was silent. Everyone except Bouden, who raised his hand.

  “Yes, Novice…?”

  “Bouden. Bouden Reese.”

  “Yes Novice Bouden?”

  “The five arche are the five powers of the Numen, sir…er, Elder. They’re the five classical elements: air, fire, earth, water and the veil. Though they’re spelled weird.”

  “Yes.” Castus nodded. “Weapons, resources, life; they are all. And they retain their classical spelling. Who knows the origin of the word?”

  Again, every Novice, including Dani, found reasons not to look the Elder in the eye. Again, Bouden raised his hand.

  “Novice Bouden?”

  “It’s Greek. It means ‘the first powers.’ It’s the same as the origin of the word archangel. That’s why they call them,” he paused, blushing, “why Numen call them ‘arcs.’”

  “Correct. There are five arcs, as you say. There is Fyre.”

  With a wave of his hand, flames coursed from the basin and formed into a ball above his hand. Every Novice gasped.

  “Water.”

  From the pool, a line of water whipped into the air and flowed across the fire, extinguishing it.

  “Erthe.”

  The stones underneath the Novices’ feet moved.

  “Aer.”

  Castus levitated from his
throne above them.

  “And the veil: the Aether.”

  He disappeared, appearing again before them on the ground.

  “These were the gifts of our forbearers: the angels. We will train you to use them; to better the world, to heal yourselves, and most of all to defend yourself from our enemies: the demons. Who knows of our history?” His eyes settled on Bouden again. “Novice? I’m sure by now you know.”

  Everyone looked at Bouden. He swallowed hard.

  “The angels,” Bouden said slowly, “they were the first defenders of Earth. Seven of them were known as the Archangels: the first angels to use the arche in war. Gabriel, the messenger of Heaven, built Empyrean. They say he blew the horn that sounded the battle against the demonic and that he’ll blow the trumpet on Judgment Day; the last day of battle.”

  “Very well done, Novice.” Castus nodded. “The room in which you stand is the Throne Room. All matters of importance, all things concerning Empyrean and the gifted we protect, are discussed here for the Council of Elders to decide.”

  “You are Novices. In the coming months, you will train to become the best warrior we can forge you into. You must become the successor to the angels of old. The world depends upon you.”

  Every Novice was quiet. Some looked afraid. Others, like Andreas, seemed confident.

  Dani raised her hand.

  “Yes?”

  “I thought the angels didn’t fight the demons?”

  Castus blinked, as if he didn’t understand. “Excuse me?”

  “I thought the angels didn’t fight the demons. I thought they fought each other. That’s how they died, right?”

  Castus’ face went blank. Elder Jeduthun was more serious, as if Dani had stepped over the line. But it was Asaph and Heman that told her she made a mistake. Their expressions were pure fury.

  Asaph growled, “How dare you speak—!”

  Castus held up a hand, silencing him. “Daniella, where did you hear such a tale?”

  It took all of her not to look at Ethan. “I—I think I read it.” She wasn’t sure if she should mention Judah. “I’m not sure where.”

  Castus’ eyes narrowed. Jeduthun took over. “Yes, well, she is right, of course. Our ancestors did go to war with one another. And within that war demonkind came into existence.”

  Asaph seemed to boil in his armor. “But not by the hand our forefather nor the allies of Heaven! Questioning such thing is heresy!”

  Dani didn’t know what heresy was, but she assumed she didn’t want to do it.

  “True.” Jeduthun nodded. “Those who fought against Heaven were those that created the very demons we face today. Their war spawned the darkness, but it is their war we continue in order to prevent humanity from dying by that dark force.”

  Spurred on by Dani’s question, another Novice asked, “But how did angels create demons?”

  “It is a question that has haunted us for ages.” Jeduthun told him. “We do not know.”

  Another asked, “Then what happened to the angels?”

  More questions. Jeduthun and Castus held up their hands for silence. Asaph shouted them down. “Silence!” Very quickly, everyone stopped. “You are not a gathering of children. You will not act as such!”

  “Yes, yes, all will be answered.” Castus agreed, eyeing Dani. “But some questions are better left for later. For now, there is much to see. Elder Asaph will take you through the Keep. Please, follow him.”

  Asaph led them off, but a gentle hand on her arm stopped Dani.

  “Novice Daniella?” Jeduthun’s smile was nearly invisible under the grey/white beard. “May I have a word?”

  Jeduthun and she walked in the opposite direction from the others. They descended the outside staircase from the Throne Room. Some gifted passed them on the way inside. They bowed. He returned it.

  “Being an Elder must be a big deal.” She observed.

  The older man chuckled. “Aye, quite. How are you finding Empyrean, Daniella?”

  “I’ve been here less than a day and I’ve already been accused of being evil. So, you know, wonderful.” She sighed. “And it’s Dani.”

  He shook his head. “I would believe that much of this would be a shock. Many of us do not know what to make of such strange tidings. You’ve adapted quite well.”

  She shrugged. “I adapt.”

  “Yes, I see that is true. Tell me, where did you honestly hear the story of the Angels of Heaven?”

  Any doubt that Jeduthun believed her lie went out the window. “Judah told me.”

  Jeduthun nodded. “Yes, I suspected as much. Not many of our Novices meet the proprietor of the Hellfire Club. Of course, not many are as unique as you, are they Dani?”

  “Is unique a bad thing?”

  “In a society such as ours? Maybe. I have lived a very long time, Dani.” He folded his arms into his white robes. “One of the many things you learn is that in any society, change is not readily accepted. The longer a system is in place, the harder it is to change.”

  “You accepted me.” She pointed out. “You spoke on my behalf.”

  “True. Why do you believe I did such a thing?”

  She never met Jeduthun and she wasn’t one to believe anyone was good out of the kindness of their heart. Experience taught her that.

  “I don’t know.”

  Jeduthun grinned, finger to his lips in a pensive smile. “Dani, I believe that everyone should be judged for their merits. I believe everyone should be held accountable for their actions. And I believe, most of all, that everyone should be vigilant and watchful. Which do you believe is the reason I wanted you spared and allowed entry?”

  She already knew that answer. “The last one.”

  He nodded. “Make no mistake: I can see good-hearts and goodintentions, but I have also seen darkness and death come from the wellintentioned. I would never allow that to come to my city.”

  “Are you saying I’m a threat?”

  “I am saying you are something.” He told her seriously. “There are many things about you that are a mystery. There are things at work in our world—things of darkness—that threaten us. In recent years, that darkness has grown. Many would believe you a sheep amongst the wolves. Others, however, would see you as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

  “Which do you believe I am? Good or evil?”

  “I believe you simply are. Good, evil, these are labels for something that cannot be explained.” He bowed briefly, touching his first two fingers to his forehead. “I enjoyed speaking with you, Dani. I caution you against public displays of defiance in the future. And I would discourage sharing much of what Judah has with others.”

  He parted, walking off, silent in thought. She stared at his back. If she ever thought of Jeduthun as some kind of ally or friend, any hope of that was gone. After that conversation, she even believed that he was more dangerous than Asaph or Heman. Time would tell.

  ______________________

  Asaph led them through the Keep to the large library known as the Anthenaeum. Several stories tall and located on the cliffside of the Keep, it had one entire wall that was nothing but glass that overlooked the lush green Vale. Shelves packed with tomes filled the walls from top to bottom. Walkways and stairs wove around the massive chamber to platforms and tables, which themselves were surrounded by more stacks. Elder Atid, the Athenaeum’s chief Chronicler, pointed to the many grimoires around them as if each one were all as unique and important as the next.

  Asaph then took them deep into the bowels of the Keep to the Forge; the very heart of Empyrean. This chamber was windowless and dark. A deep pit vaulted down to the center of the room. A massive, molten boulder of steel filled the center. Liquid metal flowed down from an opening above and melded into a hunk the size of a Volkswagen. Numen in thick raiments stood at large forges arranged around the sides, smithing red-hot pieces of steel into weapons.

  And it wasn’t just Numen there. Gifted wove between the forges, helping. Sylphs soared around the cham
ber, cooling the air. And when Dani looked closely, what looked like fiery lizards—elementals? salamanders?— sparked fire in the forges to keep them hot. Hammer strikes pinged in the dark followed by the hiss of new steel. Small rivers flowed past the forges in aqueducts, which the metalsmiths used to quench the hot steel.

  “This is the Forge.” Asaph said from the doorway. “Our armor, weapons, and fortifications are created here.”

  “What kind of steel is that?” someone asked.

  “Adamant. Celestial iron ore. Almost every weapon a Numen carries is forged from adamant. Once forged, it becomes adamantine steel. It can cut through wood, rock, flesh, and demon.”

  Nathaniel raised his hand. “Where does it come from?”

  “It is found throughout Creation; Empyrean, the other celestial cities, any place the angels of old touched. It is Heaven’s gift. The first mines were found below us in Empyrean. Now our smiths scour the world to find new veins to make more weapons.”

  “Why make new ones?” Dani asked. “Aren’t there used weapons left over if someone dies?”

  Asaph regarded her coolly. “Novice, how would you suppose we recover the weapons we lose?”

  “You get them when you go back for anyone killed.”

  Asaph didn’t say anything to that. The other Novices shifted uncomfortably next to her.

  “You mean you don’t recover the bodies?” She asked.

  “You make the assumption there are always bodies left.”

  He led them out. As they did, two Metalsmiths with a newly forged sword placed it into a box and two sylphs took it, floating across the room. They disappeared through a vault door on the other end of the Forge.

  Dani quickly ran to catch up with the Novices as they made their way to the Gardens.

  “It is not just arcs and adamantine that keep us alive.” Asaph told them. “Many species of plants are used for healing balms and elixirs, spells, magical wards, even protective charms woven into your clothing.”

  The Gardens were massive, like a public park, but instead of children at play, rows of flora dominated the open space. Gifted tended to the plants around them while Numen in green—Naturals, someone called them—clipped and collected them into baskets.