by S. J. West
“And I don’t disagree with you,” Chayyliel said. “But, you and I have no history with the angels we fight against, and very little with the angels we fight alongside. The war will come to an end at some point. It has to. As everything in life, there has to be a beginning and an end. Have you considered what you want to do when the war is over? I heard you were offered a position with the Watchers.”
I looked at Chayyliel in surprise. The only person I had told about God’s offer was Andel.
“How did you learn about that?” I asked.
“God told Mason, and Mason told me,” Chayyliel replied. “Though, God said you didn’t give him an answer when he made his offer.”
“I gave him an answer. I said I needed to think about it.”
“If you would take a little advice from me, I think you should take God up on his proposition.”
“Why?”
“Once the war here is over, we War Angels won’t have much else to do. We were specifically made for this campaign, Aiden. Can you honestly tell me there’s any other job in Heaven that you can see yourself doing?”
As I thought about Chayyliel’s question, I realized there wasn’t one.
“No,” I answered. “I guess I don’t.”
“Then I urge you to go to Earth and help the humans. Use your time wisely. Maybe if the Watchers are successful, God will eventually send more of us down.”
“But why didn’t He ask you to go? You would be a better choice than me.”
“I’ll be needed here to take care of the other War Angels. I am their leader. They’ll probably need me more after the war than they have during it. I would feel like I was abandoning them if I didn’t stay. Though, I have to admit, I’m a bit envious of you. I would like to go to Earth one day and see it. Perhaps in the future, God will have a reason to send me down there. I hope so. I pray so.”
Chayyliel and I sat there in mutual silence for a while before I finally rose and said, “I should go back to the Guf. I’ve been away from Andel for too long.”
“You and Andel have become very close I see,” Chayyliel said. “It must be nice to have such a connection with someone else.”
Since Chayyliel was designed by almost every Guardian, I realized he didn’t have one he was particularly attached to.
“It is nice,” I said, realizing just how comforting Andel’s friendship had become to me. “He understands me better than anyone else. I know that sounds a little ridiculous considering the fact that he made my soul, but it’s not just because of that.”
“He truly cares for you. Almost like a true father,” Chayyliel said to me. “I understand the concept. I just wish I could experience it for myself.”
It was the first time I felt pity for Chayyliel. Since I was awoken, I always saw him as a pillar of strength and authority. It was how we were all supposed to view him. Nevertheless, in that instant, I knew he had been cheated out of an experience the rest of us were allowed to enjoy. It made me cherish my relationship with Andel even more.
“I need to go,” I told Chayyliel.
“Until we meet again,” he replied, smiling wanly at my departure.
When I phased back to the Guf, Andel was speaking with one of the other Guardians named Zeruel. He’s the Guardian who made Jess’ soul and became her father here on Earth. You know him as Peter Riley.
“How did practice go?” Andel asked me as I came to stand by them.
“Good,” I said. “I learned something new today.”
The surprise that entered Andel’s eyes almost made me laugh, but I just grinned instead.
“Well, will wonders never cease?” Andel mused. “And just what did you learn?”
“If the two of you will excuse me,” Zeruel said to us, “I’ll let you speak privately.”
After Zeruel left, I told Andel what happened in the arena.
“I’m proud of you,” he said to me. “With all your skill, you were still able to see the value of Malcolm’s lesson. I’m glad you were open to his advice. Some would have taken offense to it.”
“No, I was grateful for the warning. It will make me a better warrior in the long run.”
“Not too long of a run, I hope,” Andel said wearily.
“You’ve made so many War Angels since you awoke me,” I said. “Can’t you stop now? Surely we won’t need anymore.”
“I hope we will be able to stop soon. I pray we’ve made more than enough to counter anything Lucifer has left to throw at us. Michael hopes our numbers will force Lucifer’s hand and finally make him ask for the duel.”
“We could win without him having to fight the duel,” I said, knowing how hard it would be for Michael to kill Lucifer, even if it meant ending the war.
“I think Michael hopes the duel will give him one more chance to make Lucifer see reason.”
By that time, I had seen Lucifer fight and kill anyone who got in his path. I couldn’t say I had the same desire to see Lucifer saved. He had slaughtered a countless number of angels in the war, and I never once saw an ounce of regret pass over his features. Either he had learned how to control his emotions completely, or he simply didn’t feel anything anymore. I couldn’t be sure. I didn’t know him well enough to distinguish a difference. Frankly, I had no desire to know him any better than I did.
The blare of trumpets filled the air around us. Everyone knew what it meant because we had all been forewarned that it would eventually happen.
The duel to determine the fate of Heaven and the human race had been set, and we had all just been invited to watch it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Are you going to watch the duel?” I asked Andel.
“Honestly, I don’t think my nerves could take the suspense,” he confessed. “I doubt any of us Guardians will attend. We’re not much for fighting.”
“Would you rather I stay with you?”
“No, you should go if you want to witness it. I’m sure it’s something no one will ever see happen again. The ultimate good fighting the ultimate evil.”
“Who do you think will win?”
“Michael will if he doesn’t let his feelings for Lucifer get in the way.”
“Do you think Michael will hold back during the fight? Lucifer might be counting on him to,” I said, now knowing how easy it was to make a mistake during a fight and not even realize it until it was too late.
“I don’t know. I hope not. I think we all want an end to this war, especially Michael. I just wish he didn’t have to kill Lucifer to make that happen.”
I heard crying and saw Seraphina weeping in a corner of the Guf by herself. Other Guardians were crying also but hers wrenched at something inside my soul making it ache over her misery.
“Go on, Aiden,” Andel encouraged. “We’ll be fine. Come back when it’s over and let us know who wins.”
“All right. I’ll be back as soon as it’s over.”
I phased to the arena and found it completely filled with angels from both sides of the war.
Both Michael and Lucifer were standing in the middle of the arena, staring at one another with their weapons drawn and at the ready. Neither of them spoke, but I don’t guess words were necessary between them. They both knew what needed to happen, and they were both ready to finally end a conflict that pitted brother against brother. It was time to decide the winner of the war in Heaven, even if it meant one of them would have to lose their lives.
“Michael has to win,” someone said beside me.
I looked to my right and found Dumah, Seraphina’s War Angel, standing there.
“He will,” I said confidently. “He has God on his side.”
Michael and Lucifer began to circle one another as if sizing each other up. Finally, Lucifer made the first strike. Now that I look back on that fight, I think it was important to Michael for Lucifer to make the initial move. As long as Lucifer struck first, Michael could see the fight as him defending himself against Lucifer, not purposely setting out to kill him. It was an import
ant distinction for someone with Michael’s sense of morality. As long as Lucifer attacked him first, he could more easily justify killing his best friend in self-defense.
It was eerie how differently the rebellion angels reacted to the duel versus the rest of us. They were boisterous in their support of Lucifer and threw disparaging taunts at Michael, belittling his ability to fight. In contrast, total silence reigned on our side of the arena. All of us knew what this fight would cost Michael and none of us wanted to see him pay the price. Killing Lucifer would damage a part of Michael’s soul to a point where it might not ever recover. I faintly wondered why God didn’t step in to stop it, but I was also aware that He rarely intervened in such matters. Still, there had to be a breaking point, even for God.
Lucifer held nothing back during the battle. He came at Michael with everything he had. Yet, we could all tell Michael wasn’t fighting at his full capacity. His soul simply wasn’t in the fight. He would do what needed to be done, but it wasn’t something that gave him pleasure. For Lucifer, I think killing Michael would have also killed whatever doubt was left in his soul about the war. There had to be a part of Lucifer that knew what he was doing was wrong. Yet, he fought against that side of himself, choosing instead to let his hatred rule his actions.
The clash of their swords resounded in Heaven like two bolts of lightning crashing into one another repeatedly. Every swing Lucifer made was a killing blow, but Michael blocked them every time. At one point, I think Michael realized Lucifer was too far gone to change his mind about the fight or the war. His onetime best friend had reached a point of insanity that no one would be able to pull him back from.
That’s when Michael took control of the fight away from Lucifer and went on the offensive. He began swinging his sword with a new purpose, and we could all see the determination on his face to do what had to be done.
I noticed the Archangel Gabriel stand from where he was sitting near the front of the arena. One by one, all of the Archangels on our side began to stand. I think they knew one of their own was about to fall, and it was a way of paying their respects, even if that Archangel had betrayed them in the worst way. I looked over to the other side of the arena and didn’t see any of their Archangels stand. On closer inspection, I began to notice something out of place about the congregation of rebellion angels.
“Dumah, do you see any of Lucifer’s Archangels over there?” I asked, nodding to the other side of the arena.
Dumah quickly scanned the large gathering of our foe and began to shake his head.
“No,” he said apprehensively, “I don’t.”
“Then where are they?”
There were so many angels crowded into the coliseum that day. It was almost impossible to notice any one angel missing from the gathering unless you purposely looked for them.
As understanding dawned, I grabbed Dumah by the arm and phased us back to the Guf.
It took me a moment to understand the situation we had just phased into.
The Guardians had formed a circle, five angels deep, around the middle of the Guf where I knew the Well of Souls was, even if I couldn’t see it. The six Archangels under Lucifer’s command stood in a line in front of them with their backs to Dumah and me, but we could see the hostage Guardians they all had kneeling in front of them. Levi, who was one Lucifer’s most vicious generals during the war, had Seraphina knelt before him. His lightning whip was wrapped around her neck, causing her pain and keeping her in place.
Andel was standing in between Seraphina and the other Guardians protecting the Well of Souls. His face looked calm as he confronted Levi.
“Well, well, well,” Levi said, “I guess I should have known you would be one of them, Andel. You’ve always been such a talented little Guardian and so obedient to our father. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised God would choose someone like you to protect something so valuable.”
“I’ll give you what you want as long as you let Seraphina and the others go and promise not to touch the Well of Souls.”
“I don’t believe you’re really in any position to make demands, do you?” Levi sneered. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m the one in control here. All I need now is the last missing piece to the puzzle, which is in your possession. Now, give me what I want, and I might consider your heartfelt request.”
“Don’t do it!” Seraphina ordered Andel. “Whatever it is you can’t let him have it!”
Andel looked at Seraphina and shook his head.
“I won’t allow him to kill you,” Andel told her, already resigned to the fact that he had to do what Levi wanted.
“He won’t kill me. He’s too much of a coward to do the job himself,” Seraphina said with absolute loathing for Levi.
Levi tightened his whip around Seraphina’s neck.
“Don’t test me, Seraphina,” he growled.
“Lucifer would kill you if he knew what you were doing to me!”
Levi instantly burst into laughter. As you can imagine, having met him yourself, the sound was completely unnatural.
“Who do you think sent me, you simple minded fool?” Levi jeered. “Who do you think orchestrated this little coup and told me to use your life against the other Guardians to keep them from phasing to get help? Who do you think told me to torture you in front of them to get what we came for?”
“Lucifer would never hurt me,” Seraphina said, but not with the same conviction as earlier. She seemed to recognize the truth in Levi’s words. She just didn’t want to admit it to herself or him.
“The Lucifer you knew doesn’t exist anymore,” Levi stated. “He was lost the moment God asked us to bow down to the humans. So shut your mouth and stay out of matters you understand little about.” Levi looked up from Seraphina back to Andel. “Give me what I want,” Levi growled. “Or so help me I will kill her, you, and every Guardian in here!”
I looked over at Dumah, “Get Chayyliel and tell him what’s going on.”
Dumah didn’t have to be told twice.
I called my weapon to my hand.
“Levi!” I yelled, gaining all of the Archangels’ attentions.
“Oh, look. A War Angel has graced us with his presence,” Levi said, sounding unperturbed by my interruption.
“Aiden,” Andel said, a warning in his voice to me. “This is not a fight you can win. You need to stand down.”
Just then, Chayyliel and a dozen other War Angels phased in beside me.
“Really?” Levi whined in irritation as he looked at us. “We’re almost done here, little War Angels. We only need one more thing, and then I promise we’ll leave peacefully.”
“We may not be able to kill you,” Chayyliel said, “but we know some Archangels who can make you regret coming here today.”
“Baal,” Levi called out, “it looks like our bluff is being called. I don’t think they understand the concept of hostages.”
Baal lifted the blade in his hand and thrust it into the soul of the Guardian kneeling before him before we could react.
“Then, I guess that’s one bluff called,” Baal said, not sounding at all remorseful for the life he just took.
“Amon,” Levi said, “would you like to prove to them just how sincere we are? What will we do if any of them leave here to get our brother Archangels?”
Amon lifted his own sword and drove it into the soul of the Guardian at his feet.
“Oh, I hope you meant for me to do that,” Amon said, feigning innocence.
“Ahh, thank you for illustrating my point so effectively.”
Levi turned back to Andel.
“You can stop this at any time,” Levi told him. “Give me what we want, and I will keep my promise to let the others live.”
“And the Well of Souls,” Andel said, “you’ll also leave it alone?”
“I have no interest in it,” Levi said off-handedly. “You know what I’m here for. Now, give it to me!”
Andel looked passed Levi to me.
“Aiden,” he called o
ut, looking sorry for what he was about to do, “don’t seek revenge for this. It will only lead to your death. My last request of you is to live a long and happy life. Trust that God has a purpose for you, and that what’s about to happen has a meaning neither of us can fathom.”
“Andel, no!” I yelled, about to run to him, but Chayyliel and Dumah held me back.
Andel’s words sounded like a goodbye, and I knew what was about to happen without having to be told.
Andel turned his gaze back to Levi, looking serene about his decision.
“Take what you need,” Andel told him, holding his hands palms out down by his side as he made his sacrifice.
Levi instantly drove his hand inside Andel’s body and wrapped his fingers around his soul. As Levi yanked the light of Andel’s essence out of him, the energy that formed Andel’s physical dispersed back into the universe. Lucifer’s Archangels instantly phased away, having retrieved whatever it was they came for.
I stood there in stunned silence as those around me ran over to make sure the Guardians who remained were unharmed.
I felt something inside me break.
If I had been human, I would have called it my heart. Andel had been my responsibility to protect, and I had failed him miserably. But that isn’t what broke me. I had lost a friend and a father figure over something I didn’t understand. He sacrificed himself so that the other Guardians and the Well of Souls would remain unharmed.
I didn’t like the way I felt, bereft of hope…an empty shell. I instantly built a wall around the softer emotions and allowed my pain to take control. I phased back to the arena where the duel between Michael and Lucifer was still raging. I arrived just in time to witness Michael gain the upper hand and knock Lucifer’s sword out of his grip. Lucifer fell to his knees in a desperate attempt to retrieve it, but not before Michael pierced his body with his blade, its tip hovering over Lucifer’s soul.
But he stopped. Michael’s hand visibly shook as he stared down at Lucifer, and I saw a look of uncertainty cross Michael’s features. Everyone was silent and breathless in the coliseum, waiting to see what Michael would do.
