by S. J. West
He immediately withdrew his sword and took a step back from me to put a little distance in between us. I think I surprised him by blocking his strike. The curiosity in his eyes told me that I piqued his interest greatly.
“Let’s see what makes you so special,” Lucifer taunted. “If my father thinks you and your brothers can win the war for Him, there must be something about you that’s different.”
“You don’t have to do this, Lucifer,” Andel said, practically begging him to stop. “Aiden can’t help what he was made for.”
“No, I suppose he can’t,” Lucifer begrudgingly agreed. “My father and you are the guilty ones. Since I can’t kill Him, perhaps I should just kill you, Andel, and all the other Guardians while I’m at it. Then, you can’t make any more War Angels to fight against me.”
“You’ll have to get through me first,” I told Lucifer, my temper flaring after his threat on Andel’s life.
“I don’t think that will be a problem,” Lucifer replied, before quickly lifting his sword and striking at me again.
I blocked his attack and pushed him back before charging him with both my blades at the ready. During our battle, I finally understood Andel’s warning about Lucifer being an Archangel. I was fast, but Lucifer was a touch faster and a small bit stronger. As we fought, I felt as though he was taunting me. Making me believe I could win against him one minute then delivering punishing blows as if to make sure I understood he could take my life at any moment of his choosing. I knew he was toying with me, but I just couldn’t figure out why. He must have learned whatever it was he was after because he suddenly stopped holding himself back and came at me with everything he had.
He used his blade to twist both of mine out of my hands and simultaneously forcing me to fall flat on my back. The tip of his sword pierced through my body about to destroy my soul when I saw a sword of white light slip in at the last second with exact precision and block it.
“Get away from him,” I heard Michael growl, angling his sword in such a way to force Lucifer to pull his blade out of me.
“Why do you always insist on ruining my fun, Michael?” Lucifer whined.
“Killing isn’t supposed to be fun, Lucifer,” Michael said in disgust.
“Maybe you just haven’t done enough of it,” Lucifer sneered. “I find great enjoyment in the act.”
“No,” Michael said knowingly as he faced off with Lucifer, “I don’t think you actually do.”
“And why is that pray tell?”
“Because the Lucifer I knew…the one who used to be my best friend…would never find pleasure in taking a life. I think that’s why you so rarely join in on a battle yourself. You make your minions do all the killing for you because you know how abhorrent it is.”
“Perhaps you and I should settle this once and for all,” Lucifer said. “One duel to see who wins Heaven. You have God on your side, right? It should be an easy win for you. Or do you lack the courage to face me alone, Michael? Just imagine what a hero you’ll be to everyone if you win. The savior of countless lives both angelic and human. How can you possibly resist?”
“You know what I’ll have to do if we fight each other,” Michael said with sorrow. “But if it will stop the bloodshed here, then so be it.”
Lucifer smiled. “Sadly enough, I don’t think God will help you in our fight. You know his rule about not interfering in such matters.” Lucifer walked up to Michael until they were only inches apart. “You might think your self-righteousness will save you, or even give you an advantage over me, Michael. But, you’re deluding yourself with such thoughts.”
“And you’re deceiving yourself if you think killing me will end your pain, Lucifer.”
Lucifer smiled. “It might not end it, but at least we’ll finally know who’s better. At least we’ll finally know who is on the side of right and who should win this war.”
“No one ever truly wins a war,” Michael said sadly. “Haven’t you learned that yet?”
“I will win,” Lucifer answered haughtily. “And when I do, no one will ever second guess my authority in Heaven or on Earth again. I will enslave humanity and make them pay for their existence. Nothing will stop me. Not even you.”
Lucifer phased away.
After Lucifer was gone, I saw Michael’s soul grow a little dimmer. I think it was the first time he let himself realize Lucifer might be beyond saving.
Michael turned to face Andel and me.
“Thank you for coming to get me, Andel,” Michael said.
It was only then that I realized Andel had phased to get help. I was so focused on my fight with Lucifer that I didn’t even notice when he left.
“I knew he meant to kill Aiden,” Andel said. “I just don’t understand why.”
“I’m sure he thought that if he killed the one War Angel who defeated all the others today he would strike a note of fear in the rest. If he destroyed the best of them first, it would have made everyone else doubt themselves in battle, making them less effective.”
And it would have worked, I thought to myself at the time. It was basic strategy.
“When will your duel with him take place?” I asked Michael. No specific time had been set between the two of them during their conversation.
“I’m sure he’ll let me know when he’s ready,” Michael answered, not sounding at all thrilled by the prospect. “First, he’ll do what he can to break my spirit. That’s the way he likes to fight. He’ll toy with my emotions between now and then until he knows I’m at my breaking point. So, expect a lot of fighting to take place, Aiden. Lucifer is about to come at us with everything he has in his arsenal. He won’t duel me unless he knows there isn’t any other way for him to win.”
“Sounds cowardly to me,” I said, finding the tactic appalling.
“No, it’s smart,” Michael said in resignation. “The more time you hit your enemy where it hurts them the most the more mistakes they’re likely to make. He wants to make me so angry with him that I’ll fight him in a blind rage. As you learned today, that’s not always the smart way to fight.”
“But dueling him will end the war,” I said.
“And that’s the only reason I agreed to it, but don’t ever think I relish killing Lucifer. He’s my best friend.”
“He’s also your worst enemy,” I argued. “And he doesn’t seem to think of you as a friend anymore. Why are you still loyal to him?”
“Because I love him like a brother, Aiden. I still have hope he’ll find his way back to us one day.”
“How can you even consider that as a possibility after everything that he’s done?”
“Our father believes it can happen,” Michael answered. “And with God, anything is possible.”
I couldn’t think of an argument against that statement.
“The two of you should get some rest,” Michael encouraged. “You’re going to need your strength for what’s coming next.”
Michael phased, leaving Andel and me alone.
The Holy Host still sang their song, unaware of the bargain that had just been struck between Michael and Lucifer. I faintly wondered what the rest of Heaven would think about the deal, but realized it really didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. One way or another this war would eventually come to an end.
I just prayed Michael’s soul survived through what needed to be done next.
CHAPTER SIX
Michael’s warning about Lucifer hitting us hard with everything he had at his disposal wasn’t an over exaggeration. Lucifer and the other Archangels who fought by his side began fighting in the battles, forcing our own Archangels to engage them. Their clashes usually ended in draws, but the Archangels on our side weren’t always able to prevent Lucifer’s from killing us. Lucifer himself was the most vicious of them all, making my hatred for him grow even more. He could slay a hundred of us in a blink of an eye and not even have the good grace to look one bit remorseful. His callous disregard for life made me wonder if he even had a soul left, m
uch less one that could still be saved.
I ended up spending twice as much time battling his forces than I did guarding Andel in the Guf. As the war raged on, each battle seemed to wear away at something inside my soul. Killing began to bother me. I’m not sure when it started, but I did know why.
The more time I spent around my fellow angels, especially Andel, I began to realize I would miss them if they were ever taken away from me. I knew the rebellion angels were their own worst enemies, but surely, they had people they cared about on both sides of the fight. Yet, they kept fighting with a viciousness that appeared unnatural. It was almost as if they were infected by a hatred entwined so deeply within their souls that it had completely taken away their ability to reason. They didn’t seem to care about anything but winning the war.
I also noticed that members of the Vanguard were growing wearier after each skirmish. Their souls weren’t in it anymore and it showed. It wasn’t because they didn’t believe in what they were fighting for. It was the fact that they were losing more and more friends after each battle. Lucifer’s strategy of attrition was working, just as Michael had predicted. He was grinding us down little by little until our morale was at its lowest.
I began to pray that Lucifer would decide to have the duel with Michael soon.
After our encounter with Lucifer, Andel became even more dedicated to his job. Each day that passed, more and more War Angels were made. I tried to coax him into taking breaks but he refused. With the increasing passage of time, I watched as the light of his soul grew weaker and weaker. All of the Guardians were giving all they had to the making of War Angels until our numbers reached well over ten-thousand.
Lucifer’s troops were determined to enter the realm of human souls, but they also attacked on other fronts such as the Hall of Angels. It was the place where God’s throne resided. I think Lucifer simply wanted it for what it stood for. If he could seize the throne of God, then maybe he would earn the respect of some of the other angels who weren’t already on his side.
I wish I could tell you that everyone stood steadfast on God’s side, but I can’t. There were some, even within the Vanguard itself, who began to wonder why angels were required to risk their lives in order to protect the human race. They questioned amongst themselves why God seemed so determined to keep humans safe from all harm yet was willing to sacrifice the lives of His angels. Bitterness began to take root in some, but others never questioned God’s motives. They did what He asked of them, even if they didn’t fully understand His reasoning.
Malcolm was one of those angels. His loyalty to God was unquestionable in those days. He would die proudly on the field of battle because he trusted his father completely. I admired that about Malcolm, even if I didn’t particularly like him at the time. Your uncle has changed a lot over the years since meeting your mother. I consider him a close friend and confidant now, but it wasn’t always that way, especially not in the beginning.
On the rare occasions when we were allowed to relax, the Vanguard and War Angels would spar in the arena. Normally, Desmond and I would practice against one another, but sometimes, other members of the Vanguard would challenge me to hone their skills further. I was second only to Chayyliel within the War Angel ranks as far as fighting was concerned. None of the Vanguard was able to beat me in practice, and I think that fact rankled some more than it should have. We were all fighting on the same side, but it felt as though some thought I had been given an unfair advantage.
I still remember the first time Malcolm and I sparred in the arena. He had been watching Desmond and me fight for quite some time. Finally, he asked if he could have a go at me.
“You won’t be able to beat him,” Desmond said knowingly to Malcolm as he took his place in the arena. By that time, everyone else had stopped their own sparring matches to watch us.
“We’ll see,” Malcolm said, not sounding at all worried about the outcome. “No one’s perfect.”
“I don’t need to be perfect,” I replied, holding my short swords out in front of me. “Just better than my opponent.”
“So, do you think you’re better than me, boy?” Malcolm asked with a sly grin. He called his weapon to his hand. It was a sword as big as a claymore, which made me wonder if Malcolm needed to hide behind a large weapon to make up for a lack of skill.
“I think I’m a better fighter,” I answered, not because I was prideful. I just considered it a fact. “But I don’t consider myself better than you in any other way.”
“I’ll admit you’re skilled,” Malcolm conceded. “But your over confidence makes you sloppy. I’ve seen a hole in the way you fight, and I plan to show it to you so you’re more careful in the future.”
I quickly thought through all my fights up to that point but couldn’t see what Malcolm might be referring to. Every move I made was purposeful and calculated. What had Malcolm seen that I missed?
“I would appreciate you telling me what you think I’ve done wrong,” I told him, “because I don’t see that I have.”
“And that arrogance might get you killed one day,” Malcolm scoffed. “I would rather not see that happen. We’re not going to win this war unless we’re all fighting to our full capacity. Lucifer is doing his best to break us. You have to know that by now. We can’t afford to lose good fighters to stupid mistakes.”
“Then I guess you better show me what I’m doing wrong.”
Malcolm wrapped both of his hands around the hilt of his sword.
“That’s exactly what I intend to do,” he answered before coming at me without holding anything back.
Malcolm was a great fighter, but I knew I would eventually win our match. It wasn’t exactly arrogance that led me to that conclusion. I was good at predicting the moves my opponents would make next before they even realized they were going to make them. I could think ten steps ahead and position them exactly where I wanted them in order to go in for the kill. Malcolm was no different, even though he gave the impression of being more determined than most. Once I had him where I wanted him, I trapped the blade of his sword between the two of mine and wrenched it out of his hands. I quickly lifted the still crossed blades until they held his neck within their grip like a pair of scissors.
“And just what exactly was this supposed to teach me?” I asked him, wondering why he thought he would be the winner of this fight.
“If a person knows they are going to lose,” Malcolm said, staring into my eyes. “Then they’ll do whatever is necessary to take you with them. You should consider that fact next time.”
“I still don’t understand,” I admitted. “I won.”
“Did you?” Malcolm asked, knowingly. “Look down, Aiden and tell me what you see.”
I looked down and saw a small dagger in Malcolm’s hand. On closer inspection, I saw that he still held a small portion of the hilt of his sword. I had simply disposed of the larger blade while he kept a weapon for close combat. He could have easily pushed the blade inside me and pierced my soul with it as I went in for my own killing strike.
“Your enemies will take you with them if you give them the opportunity,” Malcolm told me. “Don’t ever let your guard down just because you think you’ve won.”
I lowered my blades and realized Malcolm was right. It never even crossed my mind that he could still kill me after I unarmed him. It was an important lesson, and one I was grateful to learn.
“Thank you,” I told Malcolm.
“You can thank me by watching my back in the next fight,” Malcolm said. “I find myself far too valuable to die.”
“Malcolm!”
We both turned towards the voice and found Mason waving Malcolm over to him. Chayyliel was standing next to Mason. It was obvious that they had watched us spar. I felt a little embarrassed that Chayyliel saw me make such a huge error in judgment during the fight. I was sure the mistake wasn’t one he would have made himself.
Chayyliel jerked his head slightly while he looked at me, giving me a silent comman
d to come have a private word with him. As Malcolm and Mason walked off together, Chayyliel turned his back to me as I reached him and walked towards the stadium seats. He didn’t have to tell me to follow. I knew it was expected.
Chayyliel didn’t speak until we were sitting on the first tier of seats in the stadium.
“I guess Malcolm taught you an important lesson today,” he finally said to me.
“Yes. I should have been more vigilant,” I admitted.
“Don’t feel too bad about it. Mason taught me the same lesson not long after I was awoken,” Chayyliel chuckled.
His admission made me feel a little less like a fool but not much. I began to wonder if Andel also made Chayyliel’s soul. Was that why we were both excellent fighters but shared the same flaw in our tactics?
“Which Guardian made you?” I asked, realizing I knew every War Angel’s Guardian except for Chayyliel.
“I wasn’t designed by just one Guardian,” Chayyliel revealed, looking over at me. “They all had a hand in creating me.”
“All of them?” I asked.
“Almost,” he replied, as his eyes left mine to look back out into the arena where the others were still sparring. “Seraphina didn’t help.”
“Why? I thought she was their leader.”
“She doesn’t consider herself their leader but most of the other Guardians see her in that role. I think making an angel of war was just too much for her to handle at the time. Many of the angels hoped Lucifer would see the error of his ways and end the war quickly. Seraphina told me once she thought making War Angels was a mistake. She feared it would just incite Lucifer and make him even more determined to continue the war. She thought it would make him so determined in his resolve that he would never give in until he either won or was dead.”
“I don’t really see his death as a negative,” I admitted. “It seems more like the perfect solution. I don’t think the other rebellion angels have the tenacity to continue the war if they lose their leader. He appears to be the source that fuels their willingness to keep fighting.”
