“Thank you, Mark. How can I help you?” Anjali watched the shiny angel with curiosity. She tried to imagine Lucifer wearing a sparkling white suit like Mark. She decided that she preferred his badass leather outfit.
“Lord Gabriel asked me to check on you. He is concerned about you, but did not want to offend Lucifer by coming here himself,” Mark watched a smile appear on her face at the mention of her father. She looked very different from when he last saw her. She seemed more confident and happier, if that were possible.
“Yes, I’m doing fine, but I was hoping to tell him myself. I am granting him access to the Hall of Mirrors, so that he can visit any time. Also, since you are our liaison, you too may enter directly into the hall when needed or called upon. If you need to see Lucifer or Hades, come here first and one of the servants will escort you. Please don’t abuse this privilege; otherwise, Lucifer will be angry. Even though he apologized for what happened, he isn’t actually sorry. I think you know that,” Anjali said as she shifted in her seat.
“I appreciate that, my Lady,” Mark bowed and then stopped himself. He was embarrassed when he realized he could see her undergarments under the scandalous dress, despite her legs being crossed. Flustered, he looked away and adjusted his suit jacket.
Mark waited to speak until she adjusted her dress, which had ridden up her thighs. He averted his eyes until she fixed the problem. The dress left little to the imagination, though he vehemently ignored his imagination.
Anjali was embarrassed by her wardrobe issue, but she decided to ignore it. She had agreed to the dress, so she was stuck with it and its problems. Though it did confirm one thing for her, Mark was most likely gay, which would make things easier when it came to Lucifer’s jealousy.
Mark recovered and smiled at her. “Thank you for the access to the hall and for accepting the responsibility of being my primary contact. I hope that you and I can accomplish much and I look forward to working with you. I know your role as the Bringer of the Apocalypse is a difficult one, so allow me to offer you my assistance when needed. It seems that you still do not have your memories of Heaven. We knew each other back then, though admittedly, not very well. I am glad I have the opportunity to change that,” Mark noticed the differences between the girl he remembered and the woman sitting before him.
“I wish I could remember you and the other angels. I can’t remember what it was like living in Heaven,” Anjali smiled politely.
“I am sure you will remember someday, my Lady,” Mark said encouragingly.
“I want to thank you for helping me find Gabriel. I know it was dangerous for you to help me and I appreciate what you did,” Anjali nodded to him and rose from her throne.
“I owe Lord Gabriel much. He is my closest friend. I would do no less than help him and his daughter. If I may, why not go to him? I think you know the place,” Mark smiled as he watched her ponder his meaning.
“That’s right, I can leave. Holy shit, I can leave,” she paused when she realized that she had sworn in front of a Heavenly Angel. “Sorry, Mark. Yes, I want to meet Gabriel in the Mortal Realm,” Anjali was shaking at the thought of breaking out of Hell. She had wanted to leave for so long she couldn’t believe she was still standing in in Hell.
She stepped off the dais and looked around, trying to figure out what to do. She had never asked Lucifer how to get into the Mortal Realm. She knew she could go through the Hall of Winds, but didn’t want to look like an idiot when she couldn’t figure out what to do. She looked to Mark for help.
Mark chuckled at her reaction. “Allow me to help you. Picture in your mind the place where you want to go and hold that image,” Mark instructed.
“Please don’t tell me to click my heels and say, ‘there’s no place like home’,” she said dryly.
Mark chuckled. “No, Dorothy, besides, you aren’t headed to Kansas. Do you know where to go?”
“Yes, I do,” she nodded and she pictured the only place in the world she wanted to see.
“Keep the picture in your mind and walk toward it. It will feel like you are pushing yourself through thick air. It will be dark for a split second and then you will arrive at your destination. It’s easier if you are already walking forward,” Mark extended his arm, implying that she should walk through the hall.
She was nervous, but followed Mark’s advice. She walked to the end of the hall and thought about the location. It was a strange way to travel, but it wasn’t unpleasant. One minute she was standing in Hell, the next she was being blinded by the sunlight after living in darkness for so long. Once her eyes adjusted, she was overjoyed by what she saw. The view from the Preikestolen was even more amazing than she’d imagined. Seeing it someday was the one thought that had given her hope throughout everything. She knew that just being there would bring her peace.
She raised her face to the sunlight and relished the feeling of the warm rays on her skin. The chilly breeze removed the stale scent of death and smoke from her nose. She breathed in the salty air and giggled. All that was missing was CJ.
“You made it,” said a familiar voice behind her.
“You left me a pretty good road map,” Anjali looked out over the water.
Despite the extreme elevation, she wasn’t afraid to walk to the edge. The cliff was so high up, it felt like she could reach out and touch the clouds. Far below the cliff was the river that cut through the land and divided the small green mountains on the other side, just like the photo Uncle Bob had given her. The area was breathtaking and inspirational.
“This is my favorite place in the Mortal Realm. I wish we could have journeyed here together. There was so much that I wanted to tell you. I’m so sorry that I never told who you were. I always thought we would have more time,” Gabriel sighed. He walked up and stood next to her.
“Uncle Bob once told me that this area was created by an Ice Age. Why do I get the feeling that I was the one responsible for creating it? Why would you come here to be reminded of my mistakes?” Anjali turned to look at him.
“It reminds me that beauty can come from chaos and destruction. Without the Ice Age, this area would not be as unique and breathtaking. It’s proof that something good will come from you releasing your power. It gives me the strength to do what must be done to protect you. Besides, I feel closer to you when I’m here,” Gabriel put his hand on her shoulder. “How are you feeling? You look well.”
“I’m okay. I’m healed. I’m just glad that we got the chance to see this together, even though it took a little longer than expected,” Anjali sighed.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t want to see me,” Gabriel sighed and let go of her shoulder to turn away from her. After agreeing to Lucifer’s request to make her a blood servant, he feared she would hate him.
“Gabriel, you are one of the few people who have ever mattered in my life. I love you. That hasn’t changed. I’m not about to turn my back on you now that I know the truth,” Anjali turned Gabriel around and hugged him. “I know that you gave your consent to Lucifer to save me. I don’t want to be his blood servant, but I’m not ready for my life to be over yet. I know that you’ve made a lot of difficult decisions to protect me. Even though I may not agree with all of them, I don’t fault you for doing what you felt you had to do. You did what was necessary to keep me safe. Thank you for always taking care of me.”
Gabriel felt whole again as he hugged his daughter. He knew that he needed to let her experience life on her own, but swore he would be there if she ever needed him.
“Thank you for your understanding. Is Lucifer treating you well? He promised me he would keep you safe. Do you know when he will perform the ritual so that you can transcend this mortal form and truly become an immortal? You will need your memories if you are to fulfill your destiny,” Gabriel asked, hoping that his trust in Lucifer wasn’t misplaced.
“Yes, father, Lucifer is kind to me. I care about him and I know he loves me. I don’t know when he will perform the ritual. He said that this form adds an
extra layer of protection. I think I want to keep that in place, at least for now. I think it’s safer until I can learn more about who I am and how to control myself,” she said, looking out over the cliff. As gorgeous as the landscape was, she didn’t want to create more towering cliffs with her power.
“It will be dangerous without your memories. I beg you not to let it go on for too long,” he tried very hard not to tell her what to do. It was time for her to make her own decisions. “I’m glad he is kind to you. Promise me that if he ever harms you, you will make him will regret it.”
“Yes, father, I promise. I’ve already put Hades in his place twice,” she nodded her head. She fidgeted with her dress, not wanting to discuss the possibility of hurting Lucifer. “Thank you for my necklace, I thought I lost it. It’s the only possession that I have from my old life. I’ve been meaning to ask, how are my parents, Henry and Elise? I know my death was rough on you, I’m sure they are having a hard time with it.”
“My darling, time passes very differently in Hell, especially for the prisoners in the realms. You have been gone for over two and a half years,” Gabriel saw the shock on her face as she processed the implication.
“Geez, that’s a long time. Well, I’m glad that they’ve had time to deal with everything. I guess going home is out of the question,” she hung her head, knowing she couldn’t go back to that life, even if she wanted to. She wanted to ask about CJ, but given Gabriel’s reaction last time, she thought better of it.
“I would suggest that you avoid going home, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a part of the world. You have an enormous task ahead of you. I am here to guide you as your father, but I am not meant to tell you what to do. Our paths are very different, but you will have help. Father didn’t leave you without those to assist you,” Gabriel hated bringing up the subject, but he knew Lucifer would never tell her. Aside from Lucifer not wanting her to unleash her full power, he just plain hated the Predznak.
“What do you mean? Why do I need help?” she was confused by Gabriel’s statement.
“Father created powerful angels called, the Predznak. They are Harbingers, or Heralds, that will warn the mortals of your coming. Many consider them the Angels of the Apocalypse, or the Angels of Temptation, and they will help you destroy the world. You have the power to lay waste to all you see. A Predznak’s power is different from yours. They are the physical embodiment of some of the worst kinds of sins. They use their power to tempt the mortals and gauge their reaction to the sins. Too many mortals live bland existences. They are neither good nor evil, and ended up in Purgatory. The Predznak use their power to force the mortals to choose a side, good or bad, saint, or sinner. During an Apocalypse, there is no Purgatory; the mortals must choose the path of good or evil. You will guide the Predznak and determine how far humanity has fallen from grace, so that you will know when it is time to bring about the end of days. You were created to be their Master and command them. You need to keep them from falling too far into darkness and in return, they will strengthen your power and do your will. Right now, they can only tempt a few mortals at a time, but when they join with you, they will have the ability to tempt on an epic scale. All of the mortals will be forced to choose Heaven or Hell once the collective power of the Predznak is unleashed, while you tear apart the world around them.
“Where are the Predznak now?” as if destroying the world wasn’t bad enough. How was she supposed to be the Master to a bunch of angels that were the embodiment of sin? She knew nothing about commanding people.
“Sadly, there have been complications. They were sent to the Mortal Realm before you were created, so that they could understand the goodness and darkness that resides in the mortals. They were supposed to tempt the mortals, but over time without guidance, they have succumbed to their own temptations. They now suffer from the darkness inside them, and roam the world pushing mortals past their breaking point, forcing them to choose sin. Some of them personally kill their victims. This was not their intended purpose. Each of them suffers differently, but they all suffer from madness. They are powerful beings and they are lost without their Master,” Gabriel hated speaking about the Predznak. His decision to hide Anjali and keep her ignorant of her intended path had greatly impacted her angels.
Anjali stared at Gabriel in horror. Angels that were supposed to help her had suffered in her absence. While she was sitting in school learning Algebra, these angels had lost their minds. She felt guilty for playing video games and shopping at the mall instead of embracing her destiny and helping these poor creatures. Even if she knew nothing about commanding them, she knew she had to help them.
“I have to find them,” she suddenly felt compelled to search for them.
“Anjali, while it’s true you must find them, I implore you to be cautious. Much has happened to them over the years. After I made my agreement with Lucifer, the Council ordered the Predznak to descend into Hell. There they waited for your arrival. Unfortunately, Lucifer warred with them constantly. They were already mired in darkness when they arrived, but Hell made them worse. The delays in your arrival only compounded the problem. The Predznak lost hope and revolted against Lucifer. They left Hell and returned to the Mortal Realm. We find them from time to time, but they mostly remain hidden from us. I’m sorry to say that none of them wants a Master after all this time. They have become spoiled and rebellious. It will not be easy to subdue them,” Gabriel saw Anjali’s worried face and understood the problems inherent in trying to reign in the Angels of Temptation. They were lost to the darkness that they were supposed to wield and could try to kill her.
“Please tell me this is the last of the bad news you have to give me. I don’t think I can handle much more,” she sighed and walked closer to the ledge.
The wind was strong as it came over the cliff. She closed her eyes and held out her arms. She wished she could fly away and leave it all behind. Instead, she sat down on the edge and dangled her legs over the side. She had a feeling that even a fall from this height wouldn’t kill her, much.
“I told you that you are my reward for doing an impossible task, though I didn’t tell you what the task was,” Gabriel sat down on the edge beside her. She deserved the truth. “I was the one who delivered the message to the mortals in Paradise. I alone had to tell them that God had lost faith in them. I had to send them out into the cold and desolate world, away from the perfection and happiness that they had taken for granted. Yes, the mortals had become corrupt and allowed evil to turn their hearts against God, but it didn’t make delivering the message any easier. The mortals were terrified and begged for another chance. It was the worst thing, to that point, I ever had to do.”
Anjali put her hand on Gabriel’s arm and patted it. “That sounds terrible.”
Gabriel shuddered and shook his head in shame. “How do you tell someone their Father, their creator, is angry and disappointed with them? How do you tell them that the only life they had ever known was going to change forever? I wept for them. I felt their fear, but I couldn’t change my message. I told the mortals that they would know pain, suffering, hunger, and death. I looked into their eyes, knowing that, if they couldn’t find their way back to God’s heart, I would have to deliver the message that the world was ending.
“I went home and told Father that I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t deliver a message like that again. He took pity on me. He promised that I would never have to deliver the message that would end the world. Instead, Father created the Bringer of the Apocalypse. So, you see, because I wasn’t strong enough to do what Father intended, He created you. You must do what I could not. It’s my fault that you are destined to end the world. I am so sorry,” Gabriel broke down and cried.
Anjali hugged her father and chuckled. “Gabriel, if you think that I’m going to blame you for not wanting to start an Apocalypse, you’re wrong. I’m glad that you don’t have to do it. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. If I was created to ease your burdens, then I will gladly a
ccept the responsibility of ending the world.”
Gabriel couldn’t believe what his daughter was saying. “I have condemned you to a life of misery and guilt. It won’t be an easy task. Please, I accept the blame. I have failed you time and again.”
“Father, please stop. It’s okay. I will do what is needed of me, not because you failed, but because you need help. Everyone has their limits. You knew that you couldn’t deliver the message and there’s no shame in that. As long as you are by my side, supporting me, as you always have been, I know that I can do this. I’m just sorry that you were punished by having to take care of me,” Anjali smiled. No matter how scared or intimidated she was about being the Bringer of the Apocalypse, she couldn’t condemn her father. She loved him too much to blame him.
“Never think that you are my punishment,” he grabbed her face and looked into her eyes. “You are a blessing. I have never once thought of you as a burden,” Gabriel hugged his daughter and thanked Father for creating her.
She smiled and nodded at him, wishing that she hadn’t made such a mess of things over the years. Being the Voice of God while teaching her not to blow up the world and hiding her away from Lucifer, couldn’t have been easy.
“I’m sorry you have such a terrible job. CJ and I always thought you were a spy or an assassin, like a CIA agent or something. He would never believe that you were an angel,” she snickered as she pictured CJ’s reaction to seeing Gabriel’s white wings.
“Please, do not misunderstand, I love my job, I love being the Messenger of God, but some days it is nearly impossible to do what is needed. You and CJ were not far from the truth. There are times when I have to spy on our enemies and times that I must kill,” Gabriel said regretfully.
“Enemies like Lucifer and Hades? Lucifer told me that you tried to kill him, and that you did kill his servant Creeper,” she said matter-of-factly. She didn’t want him to think she was mad at him for what he had done.
The Third Throne: Angel of Darkness Page 39
