“You have always defended her and Gabriel, which makes me believe that you knew Gabriel was lying. You would love nothing more than to watch us suffer. She has given up on us, which is clear, so I have to ask you, why should I not give up? There is nothing left to fight for except our freedom. Time is our enemy and if you get in my way, then so are you,” Alazar smirked. He knew he was baiting Sacha into a fight, but he wanted things settled before he left.
Sacha flexed his muscles as his jaw ticked. He held his tongue despite all the things he wanted to say to their less-than-impressive leader. “Though I hate you, I will not stand in your way. I will not be sad to see you go. Yet, I do not agree that the girl should die. I want you to reconsider this course of action,” Sacha kicked a piece of stone, frustrated that they were in this position.
“I do not believe that you will merely step aside and stay out of my way. That is not within your nature. You say one thing and do the opposite. I fully expect you to thwart me at every turn, until you try to put a knife through my heart. At least I know where we stand. Agree or disagree, I am going to kill her,” saluting, Alazar turned and forgot that the blonde warrior existed.
On a high from winning his fights with Aeries and Sacha, Alazar pushed the heavy fire-scorched wooden doors of the castle and stepped onto the pathway that wound through the Realms of Torture, glaring at anyone with a death wish that looked in his direction. The Fallen all averted their eyes and went back to their tasks of inflicting pain on the souls in the realms. Even Sebastian, the Records Keeper, and Gatekeeper of Hell, stepped aside as they made their way through the Hall of Winds to the tunnel that would lead them to the Mortal Realm.
With each step, Alazar felt his burdens lighten. Lucifer would be a distant memory. Hell would be nothing more than a bad dream.
Haydn stepped in front of Alazar, crossed his arms, and formed an effective obstacle. “I do not believe you. You have threatened to leave before. You have never been able to do it. Why should I trust you now?”
Alazar rolled his head and stretched his injured shoulder, searching for the patience to speak to the Angel of Distrust. “Do you not get it Haydn; your conspiracy theories were spot on. We are on our own. It is time to end this charade before they shackle us and chain us in the Hall of Shadows. While I understand that you do not trust me because I have threatened on more than one occasion to walk away from this nightmare, know that I am really doing it this time. There is nothing here for me anymore. I can no longer trust anyone or myself. We finally have something in common. Just think, you will finally be able to sleep through the night knowing that our deceitful Master is dead and no longer able to harm us,” Alazar smiled sarcastically and put his hand on Haydn’s shoulder in mock solidarity only to shove him out of the way. He forcefully stepped forward and increased his pace.
“I knew I was right,” Haydn muttered as he quickly followed Alazar.
Alazar chuckled, knowing that Haydn would probably race him to the Gates of Hell to be free.
Solren, the Angel of Illness, muttered to himself behind Alazar. His many voices were arguing with each other, as usual. “I’m confused by his words. Are we really leaving? They told us to stay, so we should stay. They will not let us leave. How will she find us? Do we want her to find us? Things will be easier without Alazar constantly telling us what to do. I will miss him. I hope he dies. The Master will be dead. Do we want her dead? What do you think we should do?”
Alazar lost his patience as Solren’s multitude of personalities battled for their final assessment of the situation. He turned to face his fractured brother and grabbed him by the shoulders. As usual, Solren ignored him, too consumed by his own internal debate. He shook Solren and tried to capture his eyes to get his attention. It was pointless to speak until Solren acknowledged him.
Finally, the lanky angel snapped out of his quandary and focused on Alazar. His green eyes regarded Alazar more as a distraction. He looked at Alazar as if he was surprised to see him.
“Illness, will you decide on one thing, one singular thought from all of you, just this one time?” Alazar asked the broken angel.
Solren seemed to understand Alazar’s question, which was a miracle in and of itself. He tilted his head back and forth, causing his long brown hair to fall across his face, as if he was listening to music that no one else could hear. Finally, he focused on Alazar, seemingly clear headed. “Screw you, Alazar.”
At least all the voices agreed on something. He was not sure if Solren was upset because they were leaving Hell, parting ways, or planning to kill their Master. Either way, Solren did not elaborate, so Alazar nodded his head, grateful to end the conversation.
Balthazar, an angel of few words, looked at Alazar with disappointment in his brown eyes.
“We are not going to have a problem, are we Vengeance?” Alazar asked tentatively. Of all the Predznak, he was most concerned about crossing Balthazar and having to look over his shoulder for the rest of eternity.
Alazar braced himself. If Balthazar chose to stand against him, the array of weapons hidden throughout his leather attire would easily spill enough of his blood to kill him. Balthazar looked fierce with his scarred face and shaved head. Not one to smile, his arms were crossed as he contemplated Alazar with his unsettling gaze. There were times when Alazar preferred Aeries’ attack style, which was bold and aggressive, compared to Balthazar’s strategically plotted revenge. He would wait centuries to dole out a punishment and hit someone when they least expected it. He could very well try to kill Alazar on the spot for something he had done in the past.
“You know that I care nothing for Anjali and that I do not need a Master. If you fail to kill her, I will have little choice but to finish the task myself. I do not need her hunting me. I accept that we are leaving and that our Master will soon be dead,” Balthazar nodded his head.
Alazar breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to have gotten Balthazar’s approval for both plans. He was about to speak when Balthazar suddenly punched him in the gut.
“You know what that was for,” Balthazar whispered in his ear.
Alazar swore to himself, but did not bother trying to figure out the reason for the punch. He rarely remembered the imagined slights that Balthazar considered offenses. He was merely happy that it was a fist and not a sword that doled out his revenge and that the offense had apparently been minor.
He straightened up and gasped for air. He shook off what he hoped was the last of the blows from his brothers. “I fully accept that if I fail to kill her, you will personally see to it, Balthazar.”
Balthazar grunted and stepped away.
The Angel of Agony appeared in front of him and snickered. “This moment will haunt you for a long time to come. It will weigh upon you and crush you. I hope that you enjoy the suffering that you are inflicting upon everyone, including yourself. If you kill her, you will be damned forever. You will never know peace. Regret will be your only friend,” Rayan spoke calmly and clearly, before he backhanded Alazar in the jaw.
Alazar groaned, but recovered quickly from the blow, which surprisingly hurt less than Balthazar’s punch considering that Rayan was infamous for inflicting intolerable pain.
Rayan, the portent of doom, was well known for his prophecies of pain and misery, which he often assisted in fulfilling. Alazar could have predicted with 100% accuracy Rayan’s last words to him, as well as the ensuing blow, though Alazar was taken aback by his sudden lucidity. Rayan was normally as altered as Tristan or Solren.
“I am not sure why you suddenly decided to join the real world, but I am telling you that I do not care. I am currently damned and killing her will hopefully change that. The only way I will ever know peace is if I leave this accursed place and make sure that I never return. If I kill her and convince the Council that I was in the right, then I can be free. You should be helping me instead of threatening me,” Alazar snapped, frustrated by Agony. He should be the first in line to enact Alazar’s plan and be free from the misery
of his temptation.
“You have always seen her as the problem rather than the solution. Your selfishness will be your downfall, as well as ours,” Rayan shook his head wearily.
“She cannot be the solution if she is not here to help us. That is the sad reality of the problem. I was like you in the beginning, I wanted her to come to help us, but I am done waiting Rayan. This is the only course of action left to me. Now, you are either with me or against me. It is your choice,” Alazar was tired of fighting Lucifer, the Council, and his own brothers. He needed to move on from this abysmal life.
Rayan stared at Alazar for a moment, and then hung his head submissively, causing his wavy brown hair to cover his bleak black eyes. This was the Rayan he knew, the one who wallowed in defeat and wore his temptation like a shroud.
He dismissed the morose angel with a wave of his hand. He had thought long and hard about his decision and nothing was going to change his mind. Even if their Master appeared before him and begged him to stay, he would slice her in half and never think about her again.
“I beg you to reconsider,” Tristan shook when he thought about going into the Mortal Realm alone.
“No,” Alazar snapped, his patience gone. “Goodbye, dear brothers,” he glared at each face before him and disappeared into the tunnel to the Mortal Realm.
He would forever remember the looks of hurt, betrayal, anger, and fear on his brother’s faces. Leaving them to fend for themselves was probably the wrong thing to do, but honestly, he did not care. He was better off without them; of that, he was sure.
∞
Gabriel admired the most scenic and peaceful area that he knew, the Preikestolen in Norway. He was relieved that he had made the decision to push back the date, once again, to hand his beloved daughter over to Lucifer. How was he supposed to deliver someone so innocent and caring to a monster who knew nothing of kindness? He was responsible for taking care of the girl and ensuring her well-being. He kicked himself for making the deal that would send her to Hell. What had he been thinking? He made the conscious decision right then and there never to hand her over. Screw Lucifer and forget the Predznak, they could live without her. She was too precious to see destroyed, not only by her own abilities, but also by the maniacs whom she was meant to command. They would tear her apart. Lucifer could keep the Predznak occupied for eternity for all he cared.
The sound of feathers rustling indicated that he was no longer alone.
“Greetings, Gabriel. I have a message from Raphael, though you are not going to like it,” Mark said as he appeared behind him.
Gabriel closed his eyes and sighed, taking in the last moment of peace afforded him before the impending storm ruined his happy mood. It could be any number of problems, but he knew it was about Hell since Mark was their liaison and he clearly was not there to enjoy the scenery.
“Before you speak, if it is about Lucifer being angry with me for pushing the date back, please save the swear words and purge them from your mind. I have already heard all that he has to say on the subject from the previous times I have pushed back the date. I am sure he called me a coward, a liar, and all manner of foul things,” Gabriel grimaced. Lucifer was justified in his anger and all that he had said was true enough. He ran his hands through his black hair for the thousandth time, searching for the strength to continue to be a coward and screw Lucifer over.
“No brother, well, yes, he is going berserk, but that is not the problem. Lucifer informed me that the Predznak have left Hell, for good. Alazar revolted against Lucifer and took the Predznak with him. Lucifer let them go without a fight, which can only mean that he expects Michael to hunt them. Raphael is out of his mind. Gabriel, they were put there for a reason. Not only were they waiting for their Master, but they were also sent there because they are completely out of control. The damage that they have caused without Anjali is immeasurable. We all thought that Anjali would join them soon after being created, but given the issues; they have had to wait too long. Raphael is fearful that they will destroy the world without her,” Mark said in a rush of words. He understood the consequences of the Predznak being off their leash without anyone to control them.
“I never thought I would see the day. Lucifer has managed to keep them busy and under his boot for so long now that we have become complacent in our treatment of them. We have forgotten that they are indeed a threat. Granted, they are supposed to be a threat, but a threat with limitations. If they are loose in the Mortal Realm, then I fear for the world,” Gabriel gritted his teeth. This certainly complicated things and it was his fault, a direct result of Anjali being kept from fulfilling her destiny.
“Indeed. Raphael is ordering that we find them and make Anjali aware of the situation. She needs to know what has happened so that she can bind them to her immediately,” Mark waited for Gabriel to jump into action.
Gabriel hesitated. It was time to reveal his dreadful secret to one of his favorite brothers.
“She does not know who they are, let alone who she is,” shame filled Gabriel’s voice.
“What? What do you mean she do not know who she is?” Mark was astounded. Gabriel had lied to him, and to the Council.
“I needed her to believe that she was a mortal. She would not have been able to understand the intricacies of why the mortals choose to sin. She has had fewer outbursts since becoming a mortal and learning from them. The Mortal Realm has been safer for it. I kept her ignorant because I fear that if she joins with the Predznak in their current state, they will convince her to unleash her power. I want to keep her ignorant of the situation until I am sure that she can completely control her power and will not bend to their whims. You know, as well as I do, that the Council will condemn her to a terrible fate if she unleashes her power on a grand scale again,” Gabriel quickly turned from Mark’s gaping stare.
“Gabriel, I understand your reasons, but she needs to know. The Predznak must have a master. I fear what will happen if they are left to their own devices. I have seen them Gabriel, more often than you have. They have fallen further into despair and madness being surround by the evil souls in Hell. If they were brutal before, they are far worse now. I dare say that they are the monsters you knew amplified tenfold. Besides, the Council is demanding it. To be frank, they are panicking at the thought of those murderers set loose on an unknowing public. The fallout will be substantial,” Mark implored Gabriel to see reason.
Gabriel understood what was at stake, and yet he still could not change his decision. His daughter was too important to the world.
“The Predznak will settle down after they have blown off some steam, after all they are not Rogues, they are merely angry because of the delay. We will just have to deal with the fallout,” Gabriel turned to Mark, grabbed his shoulders, and looked him dead in the eye. “Swear to me brother, you will not tell the Council of my secret. You will tell the Council that Anjali and I both believe it is inadvisable that she rise up and take possession of the Predznak at this time. Explain that she knows she is not ready to assume her responsibilities and fears creating a greater problem. Tell the Council that she is concerned for her angels, but is in no shape to help them now. She will take possession of the Predznak once she is in control of her power. She regrets her shortcomings, but that is the reality of the situation. Let the Celestial Warriors and Michael threaten the Predznak and do their best to curb their outburst. The Predznak have not crossed a line yet, it is up to the warriors to keep it that way,” Gabriel could see the pain in Mark’s eyes. He hated putting Mark in this position, but he did not see another way.
Mark saw the resignation in Gabriel’s eyes. He knew there was no changing Gabriel’s mind. It was up to him to either sell the lie to the Council or call Gabriel out in front of them. He debated which path he should choose. He knew he should not lie, but he also knew he could not hurt Gabriel by going against him.
“You know your daughter better than anyone. I remember her from Heaven. She was not ready then. Are you sure that she c
annot be prepared to handle the problem? Can you at least tell her the truth and let her decide? I do not want to lie. How can you know that she is not ready, if she does not know anything about our world?” Mark treaded carefully, hoping that Gabriel would concede and speak to the girl. The odds were good that she would side with Gabriel’s assessment, and then the words would be the truth, start to finish.
Gabriel understood Mark’s hesitation to speak falsely to the Council. It was something that they never did. They may omit things from time to time, as Gabriel had done, but an outright lie was the breeding ground of deceit. Too many forays into the world of deception and an angel would eventually become a Rogue and strike out at all those they once loved.
He thought about what it would be like to tell his beautiful, perfect child that she would one day destroy humanity, and to do so meant turning angels into her servants. The thought was unbearable.
“No. I cannot tell her. She would not understand. I do not think she will ever understand. I am sorry, Mark. If it makes it easier for you, I will inform the other Council Members myself,” Gabriel stood up straight and squared his shoulders. Raphael would argue with him, but he could handle his brother.
Mark pondered the offer for a moment. “I will tell them that neither you, nor Anjali, believe it would help matters if she were to seek out the Predznak. If you tell them, they will only question you, and you might say something that you would regret,” Mark hated the feeling of the words in his mouth. They tasted like soot, but for Gabriel, he would say them and say them with conviction.
“Thank you, Mark,” Gabriel bowed his head to Mark and watched him disappear.
Gabriel’s stomach twisted at the thought of allowing Mark to lie on his behalf. He hated himself for his actions, but he knew it was the right decision.
He turned and looked out over the serene landscape and tried to clear his mind, but it was useless. Instead, he pictured his daughter’s beautiful face, contorted with tears as he told her the truth about her destiny. He could not tell her that she was the Destroyer, forced to live in Hell with Lucifer, and become the Master of the Predznak. He could not bestow any more pain upon her. She would never forgive him.
The Third Throne: Angel of Death Page 3
