Empyreal

by Helsel, Spencer

  lives!” They arrived at the bottom, descending to the wall of the Song and decorated caveside. She stopped him, spinning him around. “You know what this is, don’t you? Lightbringing. All this secrecy is because even though it’s not in the books, you know what it is.” She searched his eyes. That much was true. What surprised her was the other part. “And it freaks you out.”

  “Dani—.” “No lying, no sugarcoating. You’re afraid of it, even though I used it to saved your life.”

  “Then maybe you shouldn’t have!” he shot back harshly.

  Dani tensed. She didn’t want to fight, but his anger and fear were scary. It wasn’t like him to be that scared and that told her she needed to know more.

  Ethan bit his lower lip hard, as if wanting to stop himself from telling her. “Dani, I know what it is. I’ve known for a while. So has Mastema.”

  “Then I should know too. Ethan, please. You brought me here, so tell me.”

  He sighed heavily. Then, raising the torch, he pointed to a section on the wall. Dani recognized the same section—the one that stood off by itself— that she asked about the first night he brought her here.

  “This part is about Lucifer. Do you remember him?”

  “Of course.”

  “Lucifer was known by many names. He was the eldest and most powerful angel. They gave him all kinds of names: the Morningstar, the Son of Dawn, the Angel of the First Daylight.”

  “Okay, fine, he was the Chuck Norris of angels. So?”

  “He had one other moniker: Lightbringer. He led the fight against the darkness at the beginning of Creation. It was said when God spoke light into existence, that was Lucifer. He was the first angel.” He looked into Dani’s eyes. “The myth goes that he could call forth the very first light of Creation and that he could shine brighter than any angel. He could heal with that light and dispel darkness with a touch of his hands, just as God did in the beginning. In his name, that ability is called ‘lightbringing.’”

  Dani felt a cold chill run down her back.

  “This part of the Song isn’t about the ability, though. It’s a prophecy. It speaks of a coming war. It’s where the myth of Gabriel’s Horn is mentioned. It says Gabriel’s Horn will blow to announce the beginning of Judgment Day; the final battle between the forces of Heaven and Hell. And it forewarns of a time where demons will rise and a ‘lightbringer’ will lead the forces of Hell. It says this person will command the demons in the final battle. Lucifer is the only thing in existence with that moniker, but now—”

  “But now,” she finished, “I’m a lightbringer.”

  A long silence passed between them. Ethan put the torch down and took her hands, squeezing them comfortingly. “I don’t think you’re going to lead the forces of Hell, Dani.”

  “But you’re scared anyway.”

  He didn’t want to say anything, but nodded. “I’m a little scared, but for you than of you. If the Council found out there was another lightbringer, I don’t know what they’d do. I don’t want anything to happen to you, but if people find out, they may not understand.” He squeezed her hands. “I know you are a good person. I care about you. Even Alecto knew that.”

  He leaned forward. When his lips brushed hers, they were sweet and tender. It wasn’t the kiss they shared before Alecto’s attack. This was different. Dani leaned into him, felt his warm mouth on hers and savored the feeling as she slipped her arms around him and held him close. An eternity stretched between them.

  And then immediately ended.

  “Am I interrupting?”

  They jumped apart. Mastema stood at the top of the stairs with his own torch, his scowling features highlighted by orange flame.

  Ethan backed away sheepishly. “No, Mastema, you’re not interrupting anything.”

  Dani was less sheepish. “Jeez. Knock first.”

  “There is nowhere to knock.”

  “It’s an expression!” How was it that she, living in a celestial city, suddenly had a chaperone? She killed demons! That earned her at least five minutes of privacy, right?

  Her Guardian flicked his eyes to Ethan, then to the Song and back. “You told her?”

  “Yes. Even though I didn’t want to do it.”

  “She deserves to know. She is no longer a child. She can handle the responsibility. But,” he lectured Dani, “you must keep your gift a secret until we determine how best to protect you; until we know who to trust.”

  “Trust?” Ethan shook his head. “What does that mean?”

  He and Dani shared a look. She may not have known about lightbringing, but she was the first to point something out to Mastema. “Ethan, there’s someone in Empyrean working for the demons.”

  “What?”

  “Alecto knew how to get into the city because of ‘vespertide.’ Someone who goes to it allowed her in.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “Kleos said that the ladder could only be opened from the inside. He shut the ladder after I came up from Hellfire. That means someone had to reopen it.”

  “You think Kleos did this?”

  “I think someone did. It could be Kleos, or a gifted, or a Numen; I’m not about to rule anyone out.”

  “You believe Alecto? Dani, she was in league with demons. We can trust nothing she said and anyone who does is a fool.”

  “I’m a fool?” she asked.

  “If you believe her, then yes.” And just like that, all the warm and fuzzies were gone. Ethan could tell he insulted her. He tried to explain. “Dani, Alecto threw her lot in with demons. That proves she can’t tell the truth.”

  “She did that because we didn’t help her people.” He still didn’t look convinced. “Ethan, she told the truth. I looked into her eyes as she died. I believe her. She had no reason to lie. Why don’t you believe me?”

  “I know everyone who goes to vespertide. They are the best men I’ve ever known. I trust them.”

  “Yeah,” she said cynically, “because they’re so trustworthy. It’s not like they’ve done anything to make my life a living hell.”

  “Dani, I have to trust the people I fight with. There are some bad seeds, sure, but that doesn’t mean they’re all bad. Mastema, you can’t really believe this.”

  “Contrary to your opinion, I do.” Her Guardian told her. “I was imprisoned under suspicion. I do not share such blind faith.”

  “It’s not blind faith!” With an angry shake of his head, he said, “I thought you were smarter than this.”

  She couldn’t believe it. Ethan, of all people, was walking the partyline? He didn’t doubt the others and what’s worse, he doubted her.

  “It’s a Guardian’s job to have faith in the man next to him,” he told her, “and I’d rather trust the men I serve with than trust the word of a traitorous Fury.”

  “Or me?” she cut back. “Or trust me?”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “No, it’s not, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”

  Seeing no other option, he picked up his torch and with one last look back, ascended the stairs and disappeared. Mastema and Dani watched him go.

  “I trust you.” Her Guardian told her.

  “Thanks.” But it didn’t change her mood. “I don’t understand why he doesn’t.”

  “He is conditioned to put his faith in Empyrean no matter the cost.”

  “So were you.”

  “My opinions changed of late. Imprisonment will do that to you.” He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You made the right decision. We both know what you said is true: someone turned traitor. Ethan may not believe us, but it changes nothing.”

  “No.” she shook her head, looking to where he disappeared. “It changes everything. At least, it does for me.”

  Together, they ascended the stairs to the platform overlooking the Hypogeum. She could see the tomb where Dink and Korë and so many others laid at rest. Because of Alecto and whoever allowed her in, they were gone. She followed Mastema up the sta
irs.

  “You told me once that I’d be alone,” she said to him. “You told me I wouldn’t have anyone there for me. I guess you were partly right. At least you believed me. You’re here.”

  He stopped her as they crossed into the light at the mouth of the stairs. “And one day, I may not be. A time will come when you will face an enemy alone. I know that whenever that may be, your decision will determine the fate of more than yourself.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “There is a reason this gift came to you and no one else. Remember: we are forced down a path for a reason. Whatever happens, I know only you are capable of walking this one.”

  “It doesn’t make it any less lonely.”

  “No, it doesn’t.”

  Mastema, the Archangel Gabriel; they said she had a destiny to fulfill. She assumed she had when she killed Alecto—that the rising darkness was destroyed—but she suspected there was more to come.

  And whenever it did, she’d fight it. She didn’t care how; she would stop it.

  They started walking again. The light spilled down around her as she ascended into the daylight and Dani left the darkness behind her.

  About the Author

  Spencer Helsel was born in Culpeper, Virginia. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Christopher Newport University and has spent the last decade as a middle school and high school teacher.

  He currently lives with his wife Jessica and sons Adam and Sammy wherever the military sends them.