The Damned and The Pure Series: Books 1-4 (The Damned and The Pure Series Box Set)

by J. D. Stonebridge

  Mikaela assisted with the attacks, sending spells left and right against Raphael. The two females cornered the archangel, disabling him so he was unable to retrieve his weapon. Raphael instead reached for the item in his robe and swung his hand around. An odd white smoke escaped from his hand, and suddenly, the archangel was nowhere to be found.

  Mikaela ran to Ariel’s side, her eyes wide in bewilderment. “Is he gone?”

  Before she could reply, a distortion of the scene behind the witch caught the angel’s attention. Ariel lifted the spear over her head and swung it down. Raphael appeared behind Mikaela, jumping out of the way of Ariel’s attack. Ariel used the spear to steady herself as she sent a back kick into Raphael’s stomach. The archangel staggered back, and Ariel wheeled around, bringing the spear with her. The blade swung around in the direction of Raphael, but it stopped just inches from his neck.

  Ariel hesitated. Somewhere deep inside her, the beliefs of her previous life, the past loyalties she had for the archangels, cried out to her. If going against Heaven was enough to have Raphael and Uriel take action, what more if I slay Raphael? The moment of hesitation was all Raphael needed to counterattack.

  Raphael reached for the handle of the spear and pulled Ariel towards him, but a hand on her shoulder pulled Ariel away. Mikaela was already speaking her spell before Raphael could stop her. The two females disappeared along with the weapon entrusted to him.

  Chapter Seven: Flaw in the Soul

  It was not like how he passed through darkness to transport himself to different locations, and it was not like how Mikaela used her spells to change locations. It was light and warmth. It stung his skin and blinded his eyes. He squeezed his eyelids tight to shield himself from the bright light. He felt Daniel’s hand gripping his arm, and then the pulling sensation changed its course and pushed him forward.

  His skin welcomed the crisp night air as he stumbled forward. Caelum opened his eyes to see where Daniel had taken him, but his vision blurred as though the world was spinning out of control beneath his feet. He felt his weight shift to his front, and a hand went to his chest to steady him.

  “Are you well?” Daniel’s voice came from beside him. The angel pulled him up to stand on his feet.

  “I am not used to traveling angel-style.” Caelum gave a weak smile. He lifted his head to take in their surroundings. They were standing in the middle of a suburban street. Only streetlights illuminated the street; the houses all around were lifeless. “Where are we?”

  “We are in Columbus,” Daniel answered him. “I needed to get us a safe distance from the archangels.”

  “Where are the others?” Caelum asked. “Ariel and Mikaela?”

  Daniel’s eyes glanced around. “We are separated from them. They are nowhere nearby. But I saw Ariel reach for the witch before the explosion. She would have taken her somewhere safe.”

  “Safe.” Caelum breathed the word. “Is anywhere safe these days?”

  As if to prove his point, a screeching noise echoed from afar. Caelum and Daniel turned to see figures moving in the shadows at the end of the street. Caelum took a step forward, peering into the darkness. Slowly, the things moved nearer and nearer until the screeching noise was accompanied by the flapping wings.

  “Run!” Daniel warned him just as the flock of birds swerved towards them. Their wings and beaks sliced at Caelum’s skin as they rushed out of the way. In the distance, a scream tore through the night sky, followed by the howl of a beast and a ripping sound.

  “Monsters!” Daniel told him. The angel reached for Caelum’s shirt and pulled him out of the road. He heard the stomping sound of something large heading straight for them before everything distorted in front of his eyes.

  Caelum felt the same pull as earlier, and the same warmth and light. He caught sight of a large shadow looming over the streets, and the howl of the beast echoed in his ears before everything was drowned out by the whistling wind. Caelum blinked and when he opened his eyes, he was staring at the setting sun.

  The sky was painted blue, orange and purple with the sun sinking in the horizon. He stared at the beauty of the sky, yet there was weariness in his body that made him want to crumble. His stomach turned and he crouched forward. His head felt like it was a spinning top. He bit down on his lip and focused on the pain. But the hollow feeling in his chest bothered him.

  “The monsters have begun to openly terrorize the mortals,” Daniel commented. “Such beasts they are to believe they own this territory due to their strength.” He looked to Caelum and concern washed away his thoughts. “What is wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Caelum waved his hand. “I’m—I’m just tired. Can we not do the angel teleport thing for a while?”

  “This city seems to be safer,” Daniel said, looking around. A few citizens walked freely in the streets, suggesting that their neighborhood hadn’t been affected too much by the events. “We can rest here.”

  “Good,” Caelum said. He lifted his hand and opened one eye. Across the street was a fast food restaurant; the sight of it made his stomach gurgle. “Being mortal is truly inconvenient.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “We should look for Ariel and Mikaela.”

  “It is wise that we are separated from them,” Daniel suggested. “If we are scattered and the archangels are still searching for us, it will be harder for them to trace our energies. More so between me and Ariel.”

  “Well, we could always be separated from you instead,” Caelum jested. “So, you gave your resignation letter to Heaven, huh?”

  Daniel looked at him oddly. “I have relinquished my responsibilities to the archangels, if that is what you mean.”

  “Yes, indeed.” Caelum moved to cross the street. “Well, if we’re taking a break, would you mind if I get some food? I understand you angels don’t eat, but now that I’m mortal, I’m also famished.”

  Daniel looked at the establishment with disapproval, but the condition of his companion concerned him more. He agreed to Caelum’s wish. They sat in a booth after ordering, and a kid with greasy hair sat a tray of fries and a cheeseburger in front of Caelum. He watched Caelum devour the greasy and chemically enhanced meal, much to Daniel’s dismay.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Caelum said. “Cholesterol and artificial flavors. But hey, the world is ending, and I’ve never had this meal in my entire life. Fast food wasn’t around the last time I was human, and though I’d prefer a much more sophisticated place to enjoy my meal, I am on a limited human budget.”

  Daniel didn’t say anything. He looked around at the other customers of the restaurant, sensing the negative energy clouding the humans’ souls. Though the city didn’t seem to have endured any direct damage from the recent events, the news has obviously reached them and now lingered in their thoughts. And like many humans of recent days, the majority of the group had turned a blind eye on the events. They had chosen to shield themselves from the truth. They would rather indulge themselves in distractions such as gossip and carnal pleasures. Pitiful…

  “So, are you going to explain to me your story, or what?” Caelum cut through Daniel’s thoughts. He wiped his lips with a napkin, clearly not enjoying the sensation of grease stuck to his mouth.

  “I have told you. I escaped from Heaven when Lucifer returned. That is when I realized my mistake; that you had been telling the truth all along. And I wish to correct my mistakes,” Daniel said.

  “Yes, yes. But I am interested in the details,” Caelum said. “The last time we met, you were more than willing to murder me and you kidnapped my possibly most powerful ally.”

  “Azrael,” Daniel said the name. “I went to her before I descended.”

  “She is alive?”

  “They cannot kill her,” Daniel explained. “Not yet, at least. Azrael holds too much power, especially over Purgatory. Without her, a lot will fall apart.”

  “That is good to hear.” Caelum leaned back in the booth, thumb rubbing his chin. He breathed in deeply and looked out the w
indow. The streets weren’t deserted, however, there was a noticeable decrease in human activity. Many shops were closed at this early hour, and though the sun had just gone down, it seemed that everyone wanted to be home quickly. And on a Friday night.

  “So, you saw our dear Lucy upstairs, huh?” Caelum said.

  Daniel looked confused. “Do you mean Lucifer?”

  “Yes. You’re not very quick with nicknames, are you?”

  “No,” Daniel admitted flatly. “But to answer your previous question, yes. I have seen him walking in Heaven again. And he… he has caused a great disturbance in our home.”

  “Disturbance?”

  “Our brothers and sisters... They have become divided since his return,” Daniel explained. “Many are still loyal to Michael and trusts his words, even though his words suggest that they should follow the one angel banished by our Father. “

  “But not everyone is like that,” Caelum assumed.

  “No. But they are powerless,” Daniel said worriedly. “Despite the fact that many of them are against the return of Lucifer, they fear the archangels. Even the Powers are unable to lift a finger against them.”

  “The Powers?” Caelum repeated with a raised brow.

  “Yes, the warriors of Heaven. The most powerful of the angels, but still not equal to the archangels.”

  “Aptly named, then,” Caelum admitted. “Though I wish they were more creative.”

  “But war may be brewing in my home,” Daniel said. “Gabriel still refuses to side with Michael and Lucifer. Of the archangels, she is the only one whose loyalty seems to remain with Father. But though she has the ability to gather an army, it would be futile if none would stand by her with the courage to face the wrath of the First Angels.”

  “Talk about trouble in paradise,” Caelum commented.

  “As much as I want to assist Gabriel in her cause, I am not certain if she will take me in or merely take my head. She knows I have always been close to Raphael whose loyalty to Michael is unquestionable. That is why I decided to seek Azrael’s advice instead. I meant to free her, but I was caught before I had the chance.” Daniel looked out to the window, his eyes glistening as he stared at the sky. “I escaped by her advice. And I had my last glimpse of my home just before they closed the gates. After millenniums, Heaven has closed its doors.”

  “Heaven is out of business, then?”

  “You could say that,” Daniel said. “With the gates closed, Heaven severs its connections to the other worlds, including the mortal plane. And if what Azrael warned me is true, the balance between the souls is truly in danger.”

  The tone of his voice alarmed Caelum. “Azrael, what did she say to you?”

  “Hell is in trouble,” Daniel said. “She tells me that Hell is collapsing, and with it, the balance between the souls is slowly crumbling. Souls have been spilling out of Hell since Lucifer’s rise, and she is deeply concerned about the situation.”

  Caelum was silent. He thought back to his encounter with Azazel and the concern he’d expressed. He hadn’t spoken much about Hell, though he had mentioned the trouble that was happening in his previous home, not to mention that Lilith now had power over the land which was truly unfortunate news.

  Other startlingly unfortunate news came to his memory. Mikaela had been gathering information since the light came, monitoring how the mortals were coping with the events. And one particular news item bothered them.

  “The stillborn children,” Caelum remembered. “If souls are spilling out of control from Hell, and Heaven is closed off, there are barely any souls being properly reborn. Am I right?”

  Daniel eyed him incredulously. “Stillborn children…” He lowered his gaze to his hands on the table, thinking deeply of what Azrael had told him about the balance of the three worlds.

  The worlds were created with their own purpose: Heaven, Hell, Earth and Purgatory. All of us are part of the system God created to function even without His hand. To remove one – any one of them – would destroy the flow of life amongst all of us. The situation in Hell is already gravely affecting the mortals. With the souls escaping from the pit, lesser souls are used to create new life. And what will happen to us all if we can no longer create life?”

  Life… Daniel thought of the word.

  “Is there any possible way for you to contact Ariel?” Caelum asked him.

  “There is. But it is risky,” Daniel said. “I might accidentally signal the archangels if I try to communicate with Ariel in such a way.”

  “And I don’t have Mikaela’s phone number memorized.” Caelum folded his arms over his chest. “Nor am I certain she even has it with her.”

  The two were silent for a while as the wheels turned in Caelum’s mind. He thought of all the options and of all that he knew at the moment. Surely, the most important issue they needed to uncover was the grand plan that had played with his fate for longer than he could remember; being a prophet, falling for an angel, then being turned into a demon, and becoming the key to free Lucifer. Despite all that he had become, and despite the allies he had acquired, he was still uncertain how to get to the goal he had his eyes on.

  While the world was about to come to an end, so many disturbances had shaken all their lives. War in Heaven, Lucifer’s rising, the collapse of Hell, the closing of the Gates of Heaven, Lilith’s return to her throne, and the panic amongst the mortals and earthly monsters. It’s like everything is turning upside down now. And here I am powerless and tired.

  Of all the things he’d listed as something they needed to fix, Caelum tried to calculate which was more doable. He had hoped to figure out what the main event would be, but he was far from discovering it, more so with what had happened to the Tenneys. A pang of guilt stabbed his heart. He pictured the faces of the siblings, and like Mikaela, feared the worst. He had gotten them involved in this mess, and their blood could be on his hands.

  What is this feeling of remorse? Caelum was not accustomed to such. During his damned days, he’d hardly batted an eye at the casualties of his mischievous whims. Then came Ariel, who one may almost say had awakened his humanity. The nagging sense of guilt and concern had driven him into that suicidal mission that had eventually led them to the situation they currently faced.

  Had he been able to feel human emotions for her even when he was human? Caelum couldn't say for certain. I jumped into the fiery pit for her. Caelum was amused by the thought.

  Caelum suddenly sprang up from his seat, startling Daniel and a food crew carrying a tray that almost caused an accident. Caelum nodded an apology to the man and sat back down to answer Daniel's unspoken question.

  "The pit,” Caelum announced. "That's where we should go."

  "What do you mean?" Daniel asked.

  "We can investigate the place where Lucifer rose. Where the bridge was made," Caelum explained. "I'm not sure how, but that's the best place I can think of where we might find some answers. Besides, Azrael did request for you to do something about that hole, didn't she?"

  "I suppose," Daniel considered it. "However, what do you assume you’ll find there?"

  "I don't know," Caelum admitted. "But souls running amok, ground zero of the greatest escape in history... There's bound to be something worth taking note of there." He got up from his seat again and beckoned for Daniel to follow him outside.

  "There was something strange about that bridge thing, right?" Caelum asked as they stepped out. "What kind of power can connect the three worlds together?"

  "One that can almost match our Father's," Daniel said.

  "And I highly doubt He was the one who pulled the trigger," Caelum said, heaving as he walked and talked simultaneously. "What can nearly copy that much power?"

  "Souls," Daniel said. "Souls are pure energy. But it would have required an immense number of them."

  "Huh." Caelum thought of it. "Well, at the very least, we can start there. I suppose this is the part where you do the angel transport thing."

  Daniel turned to h
im, his eyes narrowing as if scrutinizing every inch of him. "Will you be alright, though? You seemed to have nearly died earlier."

  "One must take the risk to reach their destination," Caelum said.

  "Hmm..." Daniel opted to be more certain. His energy focused on his eyes and he peered into Caelum's soul to understand what could be weakening him. Caelum had a look on his face that portrayed his discomfort at the attention the angel was giving him, but he seemed to understand what he was trying to do as he didn't protest.

  The angel's dark eyes widened with concern as he saw the small energy inside the man's body. It was faint and weak, similar to an already dying soul. But that wasn't what truly concerned him, however. It was the connection of his soul to his body, or rather, the lack thereof. His eyes lifted to Caelum's, and the former demon mirrored his worry.

  "What?" Caelum asked him, nervous.

  "I have not asked this, but tell me, how were you reborn as a mortal?" Daniel asked him.

  Caelum explained to him Mikaela's miraculous trick that had saved his life with as many details as possible. When he was done, Daniel's expression was of deep thought. Impatience brewed in Caelum’s mind as he waited for the angel to share his thoughts. Time ticked by and Caelum waved his hand as if to coax Daniel to speak.

  “So that is what she meant,” Daniel said suddenly, his palm opened in front of him, looking at it as if seeing it for the first time. Caelum took a peek at the man’s hand, wondering if there was something special about it and was disappointed to see just an ordinary palm.

  “Um, care to clarify?” Caelum asked him.

  “Azrael,” Daniel said the name again. “She told me, ‘A soul that cannot be contained by its own body will fade and cease to exist.’ Your soul is not connected to your vessel. Not completely. And, from what she told me, it puts you in danger.”

  “Danger?” Caelum scoffed at the word. “Everything puts me in danger these days. Even the air I breathe right now could kill me with all the pollution!”