“I was angry at Lucifer and wanted to kill him for stealing you from me, but he pleaded with me to listen to him. I saw the effect you have on him. He seems to genuinely care for you. It was the only thing that stayed my hand. I do regret what I did to Jimmy, or Creeper, as Michael called him. Sadly, my head was not clear. Granted, he did bring it upon himself by working with Lucifer. Killing servants who trade Council secrets isn’t a crime, though he technically should’ve had a trial to determine his guilt first. Once Michael heard that Lucifer had admitted to bribing Jimmy, I was absolved of any wrong doing, but I still feel bad about it,” Gabriel hated to admit his shortcomings to his daughter, but it was best for her to know that he wasn’t infallible and certainly made his fair share of mistakes.
Anjali shook her head slowly. “I don’t know why a heavenly servant would work with Lucifer since he doesn’t treat his own servants very well. I guess Creeper got what he deserved if the Council wasn’t upset with you. I’m angry that he followed you, but I’m glad that you found out about his deception. It’s possible he was selling other secrets to Lucifer. Of course, he still sounds better than Lucifer’s horrible servants. I’ll admit that I’m glad Caleb is dead. Sadly, of all the servants I liked Aganon the most. You should know that Lucifer put Aganon’s life in my hands. I’ve decided that he will live to deceive another day, though I still don’t know why he attacked me,” she growled when she thought about the weasel.
“I don’t know for sure why Aganon attacked you, but I know that Lucifer will get the boy to speak and find out the truth. I’m just relieved that you are alive. What will you do to Aganon?” Gabriel wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer. He personally wanted to put the boy to death for his deeds, but hoped that his daughter would have more tolerance.
“I’ve decided that he will live. I want answers. I’m too angry to speak to him now, but I will interrogate him when I’m ready,” she needed to be calmer before she spoke to him and accidentally unleashed her power.
“It won’t hurt Aganon to stew for a while. You will have to watch your back constantly. Lucifer has powerful enemies. Once they learn of his affection for you, they will strike at him through you. Be careful with whom you place your trust, though I have a feeling that trusting people won’t be high on your list of priorities,” Gabriel muttered, shifting uncomfortably on the ledge. Lucifer had obviously kept Maraquette’s possible involvement from Anjali. He decided it was best to keep her in the dark until Lucifer dealt with his insane ex. He didn’t want his daughter facing off against a possible Rogue Angel.
“What do you mean?” she was confused about Gabriel’s statement.
“Trusting people has never been easy for you, and there is a reason for that. As the intended Master of the Predznak, you have the ability to understand the temptations they carry, so that you control them and wield them. You carry each of their sins within you; they are part of the darkness that you feel. Some are more subtle than others, but they are all there. Understanding the sins that they suffer from will be your greatest strength when dealing with them. You will be able to relate to them as no other can. Together, you form one larger whole. Distrust is one of the sins they carry,” Gabriel explained.
“Tell me about them,” she said as she turned to face him.
∞
“My Lord, we found Paris,” Malcolm grimaced as Dorian and Vincent dropped an injured Paris in front of Lucifer’s throne in the Hall of Mirrors.
“What did you do to him?” Lucifer chuckled. He looked at Malcolm, ignoring the pathetic and broken Paris.
“It wasn’t me, my Lord. He was found in the Roman section of the Caves of Darkness. Apparently, he didn’t abandon his post after all,” Malcolm said, standing at attention. This was his first time dealing with a problem, since his promotion and wanted to make a good show of it.
“Do we know who escaped the realms and bested Paris? Not that it would have been difficult. Any grandmother here could have accomplished the task,” Lucifer chuckled. He thought very little of Paris, but he was stuck with him. He was more concerned that Anjali was in the Mortal Realm. He prayed that she kept her word and return to him quickly.
“No one is missing, my Lord. A count was done shortly before he was found. Perhaps Paris stopped the soul,” Malcolm cringed internally, waiting for Lucifer to order yet another dreaded count.
“I somehow doubt that, given his appearance,” Lucifer scoffed. “Why hasn’t he told you who is responsible?”
“My Lord, his throat has been crushed and his tongue removed. He was beaten severely,” Malcolm shrugged, unsure how he was supposed to interrogate Paris.
“Doesn’t anyone have a quill and ink?” Lucifer waited for his idiot servants Dorian and Vincent to look at each other in confusion, while Malcolm merely shook his head. “For the love of all that is holy, Paris, who did this?”
Paris looked in Lucifer’s direction, but it was clear that his vision was impaired. Lucifer was reminded of how Mark had looked after his ass kicking. Whoever did this was highly skilled and brutal. While any of his Fallen could have delivered the beating, there was something masterful about the way the attack had been carried out. This was a professional hit. Lucifer suddenly became very interested in Paris’ attacker.
Paris looked helplessly at Lucifer then lowered his head to his hand. He bit down on the pad of his index finger until he drew blood. He’d already lost so much, what was a little more? He was weak from his injuries, but managed to scrawl out the name of his assailant.
Lucifer watched Paris smear his blood across the marble. It was difficult see in the dim firelight, but finally the name became visible. Sacha.
Lucifer was in a killing rage in seconds. “Take him to the Hall of Mercy and interrogate him once he has use of his mouth. On second thought, make him write down everything that happened,” Lucifer paused. “With a quill and a scroll, this time,” Anjali certainly was having an effect on him, which didn’t go unnoticed by Dorian and Vincent as they bowed to him and dragged Paris away.
“Yes, my Lord,” Malcolm waited until he was dismissed.
“Inform Hades and Sebastian that we have an intruder,” Lucifer growled.
Malcolm bowed and ran from the tower, afraid they could be under attack.
Lucifer paced across the dais. He thought about how Maraquette, and now Sacha, had broken into Hell through the Caves of Darkness. Most people were trying to fight their way out of Hell, not into Hell. Of course, now they had a good reason to want to invade Hell; they wanted the Destroyer.
He threw himself from the dais and crossed the long hall. He sneered as he entered the rotunda. Staring at the blank wall across from the Hall of Mirrors, he steadied himself and waved his hand across the wall.
An ornate doorway appeared and revealed a long dark corridor. Lucifer braced himself for a fight as he reigned in his anger. He needed to be focused. Stepping into the long forgotten hallway felt like stepping into a nightmare. He hadn’t been here in nearly two thousand years, and for good reason. The Harbinger’s Annex held the private domiciles of the Predznak, though he called it Mass Murdere Alley. It had been specially created for them so that they would be close to the Destroyer. He knew when he made the agreement with Gabriel to take custody of Anjali that this part of the deal would bite him in the ass and it did. He hated the Predznak from the moment they stepped foot into his Hell.
∞
Gabriel looked out over the cliff, searching for the best way to tell Anjali about the Predznak, so that he wouldn’t scare her. “You will have to subdue and tame ten angels. They were once Heavenly Angels who had different responsibilities than they do now, and like Lucifer, they volunteered for the honor to become Harbingers. However, unlike Lucifer, they had to undergo a transformation that would turn them into a Predznak, and then fall from Heaven to reside in the Mortal Realm. For this reason, they are considered Fallen Angels. The Predznak are the most dangerous angels imaginable. Their power, like yours, knows few bounds whe
n combined with their Master. You will need to treat them with caution. Even when you think you have them under control, you will still need to keep your wits about you. They are devious and cunning. Do not let them get the upper hand,” Gabriel warned.
“I understand,” Anjali listened carefully and tried to remember everything her father said.
“The Angel of Distrust, Haydn, will be a challenge for you. He will try to turn you against everyone you have faith in. If you listen to him, he will make you hate everyone you hold dear because you no longer trust them. He has no friends and few allies. He was the first to turn against the other Predznak. He will be difficult to convince of your intentions,” Gabriel looked into his daughter’s eyes, mad that she had to fight her own angels, all because he wouldn’t let her embrace her destiny.
Lucifer walked into the Annex and passed Haydn’s door on the left. He always thought Haydn was aptly named. He spent more time “hiding” in the shadows stalking people and spying on them than roaming out in the open. He was as paranoid as they came. He was cocky, sadistic, and ruthless at interrogating. They could have been best friends, if Haydn had any friends. He could turn lovers, friends, and family against one another until there was nothing but bodies lining the floor. It was best to keep a healthy distance from Distrust; otherwise, you would be standing alone, fighting without an ally at your back.
“The one I am most wary of is The Angel of Vengeance, Balthazar. He is skilled in battle and never loses. He lives by his own set of rules and doesn’t believe he needs a Master. Be careful not to betray him, or he will never let you out of his crosshairs. He is brutal and won’t stop once he locks on to his target,” Gabriel warned.
Lucifer passed Balthazar’s door on the right. He had always kept close tabs on Balthazar, when he resided in Hell. He was the most thorough warrior he’d ever laid eyes on, but he was obsessive about his targets. He focused on one temptee and systematically taught them how to destroy their enemy and anyone they ever knew, until he or she had killed scores of people, damning their soul to Hell. The fallout was massive. Lucifer appreciated his results, even if they were long in coming. Balthazar could take years to fully corrupt someone, but when he did, they sought vengeance on a grand scale. If anyone personally betrayed him, that person, and anyone who knew the Godforsaken person, suffered greatly.
“You will need to find The Angel of Agony, Rayan, as quickly as possible. All who face him suffer unimaginably. The pain and misery that he inflicts is unbearable,” Gabriel shook his head as he thought about what Rayan was capable of doing.
Rayan’s door was on the left and one he rarely visited. Rayan could make the happiest person on earth want to slit his own wrists, throw himself from a building, and then set himself on fire. He was a master at creating searing pain, depression, misery, and despair. Lucifer had suffered at his hands once, and that had been enough for him. Lucifer had tried to recruit him as a punisher in the realms, only to realize that he went beyond what was needed to torture the souls in Hell. The prisoners should consider themselves lucky that he hadn’t kept Rayan as a punisher.
“The Angel of Desire, Zacharael, is more dangerous than you will think. He will make you forget your mission and lead you down a path that will end in your ruin. Desire isn’t just about sex; it’s about wanting things to make yourself happy. You will crave things you never dreamed of and you will leave everything behind to obtain these things. It’s about instant gratification for silly things, material things,” Gabriel shuddered when he thought about Anjali trying to win Zacharael over. He prayed that she was strong enough to resist what most couldn’t: lust, greed, frivolity, and sex.
Lucifer chuckled when he saw Zacharael’s door. Zacharael was considered the most beautiful angel, a title that had once been Lucifer’s when he resided in Heaven. Zacharael could make a person want to do things they would normally never consider. People lost their minds and threw away their money, happiness, and their lives, all for a moment’s pleasure. He ruined the mortals around him and took delight in doing so. Lucifer smirked when he thought about how he had bested the asshole just before he left Hell.
“You have heard about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from stories and rumors, but I am telling you that they are real and they are the worst of the Predznak. The Angel of Anger, Aeries, also known as War, is a strong warrior. Without your power, he can convince the mortals to start fights or skirmishes, but once joined with you, he can create global wars that will tear the mortals apart. Never underestimate him and never take your eyes off him or it will lead to your undoing,” it was imperative that she take precaution with him. He feared Aeries the most because he had seen firsthand the carnage that came from his sword and fists.
Lucifer rolled his eyes at Aeries’ door. The angel had a worse temper than he did and his fists were considered lethal weapons. The psychopath could literally tear armies apart and lay siege to any place in the Mortal Realm, if he desired. He and Aeries had fought constantly in the beginning, until he banished him from the Throne Room. He secretly feared that Aeries would wage war against Hell and take over. Thankfully, Aeries had never tried, though he knew he would have succeeded. No one who opposed Aeries lived to brag about it.
“Elrick, The Angel of Hunger, also known as Famine, is the second horseman. He is smart and charismatic. People tend to like him and listen to him. Do not be fooled by what seem to be sensible words. His gift isn’t about starvation. It’s about need. He thrives on pushing people to kill for what they consider theirs. Do not let him invade your mind, as he is insane,” Gabriel grabbed Anjali’s shoulders and shook her to make her understand the level of threat that Elrick posed.
Lucifer stopped when he approached Elrick’s door. Though he hated the angel, there was something about him that made him likable. He was the most charming of the Predznak though one of the most lethal. Whereas Zacharael’s power was about want, wanting foolish things, dangerous things, Elrick’s power was about need. He preyed on a person’s need for basic necessities. He tempted people to kill for food, water, shelter, and security. Zacharael could cause a riot over expensive shoes; Elrick could cause mass panic and hysteria over the thought of losing food and water supplies, and shelter, which would lead to death. He brought Doomsday planning to a whole new level.
Gabriel hated to mention the next Predznak. He was the most despised and no one liked to speak about him. Even mentioning his name aloud made the other angels anxious. It was like invoking the boogeyman. “Beware of The Angel of Fear, Tristan. While he isn’t a horseman, he should have been. He can scare the devil himself. No one enjoys being in his presence, not even me. All who have gotten too close to him have taken their own lives to escape the thoughts he puts into their heads. Unfortunately, he has been greatly affected by his own temptation. It will be a challenge to obtain him,” Gabriel subdued a shiver and even felt compelled to look over his shoulder. He stood firm and reminded himself that Tristan wouldn’t dare confront Anjali without a good reason.
Lucifer quickly walked, though some would consider it running, passed Tristan’s door. The most feared angel in all of Hell should have been him, but in truth, it was Tristan. Lucifer hated being around him. A person could lose their mind when Tristan spoke of their greatest fears. He would take a silly or unreasonable thought, like the roof collapsing and crushing you to death in your own home, and turn it into a real fear by using suspicion, dread, paranoia, panic, and mania. Tristan once convinced him that his throne was going to eat him. It took him a week to be able to sit in it without cringing. It was no wonder that Tristan was good at punishing the prisoners in the Realm of Nightmares.
“The Angel of Illness, Solren, is madder than a hatter and the third horseman. He is truly deranged. I would tell you to avoid him, but it is important that you find him. Treat him delicately since he suffers from multiple personality syndrome. You never know which side of him you are speaking to,” Gabriel loathed talking to Solren. It was worse than conversing with five people,
all with different opinions, trying to tell you their side of the story.
Lucifer cringed when he passed Solren’s door. Solren was the reason that plagues spread quickly throughout the world and why mortals needed therapists. While he couldn’t create an actual sickness, his power lay with the mind. He caused people’s minds to breakdown and could drive anyone insane. He used his ability to wear people down and make them complacent and uncaring when it came to preventing diseases. It was a kind of hysteria and it cost millions their lives. He could convince a germophobe to lie in a sewer and rot, or the sanest man that he was plagued by phantom dogs that could speak to him. His illusions were deadly, though he had to give Solren some credit since he was the one who had invented the means to torture the souls in the Realm of Nightmares. He both admired and hated Solren.
“The leader of this unique group is The Angel of Death, Alazar. He is also the final horseman. I will be very blunt and tell you that he is an ass. He is selfish, self-absorbed, and can kill you from across the room without a single weapon. Never be complacent around him, or it will be your downfall. He cares nothing for the mortals and does as he pleases. He will be hardest to gain control of, but you must find him,” Gabriel feared that his daughter might not survive a round with Alazar.
Lucifer clenched his fists when he passed Alazar’s door. Lucifer was angry that he had led the Predznak out of Hell, but was glad to be rid of him. He was arrogant and snide. He feared nothing and could kill with a single look from his mesmerizing ice blue eyes. Alazar was one of the most dangerous angels ever created, and Lucifer would be the first in line to spit on his grave and do a jig on it when he died. He had a feeling that even Anjali’s limitless patience would wear thin when dealing with Alazar. It was quite possible that she would be forced to take his head, before he tried to take hers.
“The last Predznak is Sacha, the Angel of Deception and he will be nearly impossible to find. He has evaded everyone who has hunted him. I swear the angel can hide in plain sight on a sunny day. He will lie, cheat, and make a fool out of anyone stupid enough to get close to him. Do not let your guard down around him,” Gabriel looked away from Anjali. He hated knowing that she had to possess each of the lunatics, but it was her destiny.
The Third Throne: Angel of Darkness Page 40
