“So, mortal, how many of us are you here for, because I really don't want to witness another of us blinking out in such a demeaning manner?”
Vic stood, looked momentarily at the dripping bone fragments protruding from the walls just beside her, and then looked to the angels. She stepped up to one of them, grabbed his face, and looked deep into his eyes as I stepped in behind her trying to see what she saw, but then she turned and looked at me with a raised brow. I almost touched her mind, to find out why the puzzling looks, but then …
…
…
I could see them without looking through her eyes! I could see them clearly. Why had we not realized this previously?! Stupid. Stupid we are! Or perhaps distracted by being in this place within Hell?
My expression answered Vic’s question as she looked back to the old man.
“You're too low on your — divinity — to make it out of here even if you're freed, aren't you?”
“Astute observation, mortal. Free us so we can at least blink out fighting rather than blinking out one by one as pin cushions in here.”
“Valkyries! Show yourselves!”
At once all of Vic’s souls stepped into plain sight. They're not damned, but they're not heavenly either. Just souls in service to a mortal. Because of that little bit of trivia these old-ass angels couldn't see Victoria’s Valkyries, but with their presence we now get to see if the Valkyries can affect the realm of Hell.
“Free the angels, please.”
The angels facing Vic looked at her as if she was daft, but what they experienced next removed all doubt of the power and abilities she commands. Pure synergy. In moments all the quills were pulled from the feet, legs and bodies, and the crucifixes were dismantled. The veins and arteries were pulled from their arms, necks and torsos, and the angels were free, but feeble. They'd been fighting against blinking out for so long they had settled into an atrophied state of simply surviving. From what the one angel said earlier they gain divinity as they age, so this crew is fuckin’ ancient.
“Your cores are a little brighter now that you're not fighting against death.” Vic stated with certain coldness.
“We weren't fighting against death, child. We were staving off oblivion.” The old man was a bit defiant as he tried to stand up straight with all those holes through and through his body and lower extremities.
“I believe I know how to save you — restore you even. But if I do this you'll be in service to me, not Heaven, and not God. Just me. Stay and fight until oblivion overtakes you, or go back with us. Decide.”
They looked at one another and their pitiful forms for a brief moment.
“We agree.” Apparently angels do have survival instincts.
“My seven Virtues, stand with me.”
This is not what I was expecting. Vic hit the ground as soon as the Virtues appeared outside of her and the angels collectively gasped at the sight of the seven pure souls. Unfortunately Vic has burned through so much of her own body even Evelyn is barely able to keep Vic’s faculties together, let alone keep her upright.
“Seven pure souls …” Vic mumbled, “… For seven guardian angels.” Vic was fighting to sit up, and when she was as far as she could get she propped herself up on one arm.
“My seven little angels, I'm still so sorry I ended your lives. I always wanted to tear up your contract, but something kept telling me I could make up for what I did to you. I hope this is it. You're going to be actual angels now,” Vic was tearing up and blushing. She's looking for a redemption of sorts. She's been carrying this guilt with her for years, and she apparently did have to go to Hell to exercise that guilt.
“Actually, you'll be more than just angels. Are you okay with this? Will this future be enough?”
“We forgave you a long time ago, Victoria. You know that,” Johnny said his words softly and with a gentle smile as the other six also looked on with subtle grins. But while they were having a moment we noticed the noise from outside the canal had changed slightly …
“But we understand your need to make right what you feel you've done wrong. We happily accept.”
“Vic,” I said with as much urgency as I could muster, “Something is coming!”
“Vic held aloft her free hand and Evelyn opened her fingertip.
“My Virtues! Reinforce these angels.”
“How do you know Angelic, child?!” One of the angels exclaimed, but he'd not get his answer as he watched each of the seven pure, young souls file by Vic, first to kiss her on the cheek, and then to receive a drop of her blood in one of their palms, after which they each stood before an angel. This is the last time we’ll see them as children. Vic didn't know if she should cry or smile.
Simultaneously they each reached out and placed the palm of the hands with the blood against the center of each angel’s chest. The effect was immediate.
Journal entry LXVIII
Vic’s blood became both conduit and binder as the Virtues and the angels looked into each other's eyes in involuntary concentration. The fingers of the Virtues became like electricity and it danced upon the angels’ dry and shriveled skin. A warm current of bright yellows and electric blues popped, zigzagged, and wriggled all about the bodies of the angels first, and then these electric flames spread from the hands of the Virtues back up their own arms and all over their own forms in the same manner.
As both the forms of the Virtues and the angels began to glow brightly, especially from the cores within their heads and chests, electrical charges fired off between their bodies. The angels knelt allowing the cores within their heads and chests to better align with the cores within the heads and chests of the Virtues. What seemed to be akin to solar flares leapt from their surfaces as the dark, sin-filled blood which had permeated the angels’ bodies for so long was now pouring from the gaping holes in their forms from their release. Every last drop was purged as the pure souls infiltrated the angels’ decrepit forms more and more. They were becoming one with each other. The Virtues steadily moved forward as the angels knelt before them.
The heat in this chamber was increasing dramatically as Vic had started sweating profusely again, more so than just from the heat of Hell. She really does NOT need to lose any more water right now, though we’re sure Evelyn is doing everything in her power to conserve.
As the angels embraced their respective Virtues they merged completely as what seemed to be white-hot plasma threw off randomly from the combining entities scarring the fleshen walls, ceiling, and floor like wet lightning. Only a moment later the seven pure souls and the seven guardian angels were one and the same.
Seven new beings, each on bended knee, each a perfect human form respective to their genders, and each casting a golden glow with sparking vapors popping from their skin and swirling about their forms before dissipating into the air. They stood tall and reveled silently, humbly, for just a moment in their new strength and vigor.
Unfortunately this moment of glory was rudely interrupted by the entry of two very nasty looking Thorn barging in from the canal, which was now freshly scraped, torn and gashed open from their forced entry. At first they honed in on Vic, the only mortal in the room, and who to them stuck out the most since she truly didn't belong. I knew the change in the noise from outside wasn't heralding something good, and the Thorn know when something they've done has been undone.
All seven of the new angels — the new Virtues — brought a hand up before them; palms facing the Thorn. Instantly the two uninvited guests came to a stop. Their bodies vibrated and shook violently as they tried to continue what they had stormed in to do. The Virtues hands seemed somewhat on fire as they curled their fingers and thumbs as white-hot talons formed at the fingertips pointed at the Thorn.
The skin of the two Hell-beasts was suddenly splitting as if blades were slashing them from all directions, but they couldn't do a damn thing about it. Mustering all the strength they could the two very slowly turned toward the Virtues. Judas’s dark red blood flowed pr
ofusely from their wounds, and more still being inflicted without mercy, as both Thorn eventually turned enough to focus on the seven Virtues. It was then the Virtues closed their fists suddenly. A hot wind blew into the Thorn and their flesh seared, smoked, and blistered before an all-encompassing fire consumed all their flesh within seconds. The charred skeletons of the two Thorn stood for a moment before collapsing into piles of dull joints, long bones and sharp points. Somehow though, the fleshen structure around them was unscathed by the flames.
“We need to get out of here,” Vic mumbled, “They might know two of their own have fallen.” She has no idea how right she is. Already the screams from outside the canal were intensifying as more Thorn were headed to our location. Vic had what she came here for, but how were all the Valkyries supposed to get back? There's no way Vic could handle containing them again.
“We can see now there are far more souls with you here than you could've opened gates for. This was an all or nothing trip for you, wasn't it?” This new Virtue has no idea, but then he did just have Johnny’s soul absorb into his own, so maybe he does.
“I had a hunch …” Vic’s words groaned from her mouth as she was getting weaker.
“We will take care of everything. You must become healthier for what you face.” He was confident as he spoke, but not in an arrogant way; there was still humility, but could it be from Johnny?
Vic was well past her limits, as was Evelyn. Vic passed out from exhaustion, malnutrition, dehydration, strain, and the drain which comes simply from being a mortal in Hell. I rushed to the Virtue at Vic's side and thrust my hand into his head to show him the house we came here from as well as what Vic had to do to get all those souls here. He stood and faced the other six Virtues and said he knew what to do as he raised his hand with his fingers straight like a blade. In a split second he slashed through the air with his hand becoming a bright light for just that duration, and a gateway completely unlike the scars we were used to opened up. It wasn't the mess of swirling blood and the fires of rage we were accustomed to, but rather it was a warm, smoldering light and a simple, clean opening letting us see right into the living room we came to Hell from.
“All of the souls in service to this mortal, if you are to stay in service to her then you'll need to go through the gate now!” Vic's Valkyries darted through the opening and collected on the other side ready to receive.
“Angels! Form a line.” And with that one of the female angels stepped through the gate unaffected by the rush of souls still piling through as well.
The Thorn were just stepping in and quickly inventoried the situation just as Vic was being passed down an angelic fire line while cradled gently by each of the new Virtues. Just as Vic was about to be passed through the gate the Thorn lunged for her. Three of the Thorne came through that canal, five total counting the two previously incinerated, and none of them will leave this chamber. Each of the Virtues with free hands on Hell’s side of the gate stopped the Thorn as they did the previous two, all in nice, neat piles.
Vic was passed through by the angelic fire line and the Virtues began filing through while keeping a watchful eye on the opening the Thorn were coming in from. We found ourselves so mesmerized by the events unfolding before us we almost forgot to run through the opening too. So many questions now. The male Virtue stepped through the gate last, turned to it, raised his hand like a blade once more, but then turned his palm to it and it closed.
We were home again.
Journal entry LXIX
Vic slept for about fourteen hours after we returned. Her head has been resting in the lap of one of the female Virtues the entire time. When Vic finally came to she was weak and having trouble focusing her eyes. She asked for water and food, all of which was already moved to within her reach for when she awoke. Evelyn was working hard within Vic trying to help her body process nutrients faster to get them into her system, but the mortal form is a finicky and frail piece of machinery, which can only take in fuel just so fast.
As soon as Vic was feeling up to it we had to break difficult news to her about a couple of things. The first being that because of the gravity of Hell moving in waves through its landscape, we were there for nearly six days of normal mortal time. Vic took a minute to let that settle in.
“… And the really bad news?” She asked in stoic tone...
“Malus and his Trinities have been looking for you in the mortal realm the whole time we were gone. He's not afraid to make their presence known just enough to cause some panic. They've killed some innocents as well.”
“Does it seem like they're getting close to our location?”
“At first he was trying the places your parents knew you had been recently. He was careful in the particularly populated areas for some reason, but since those locations he's been popping up in fairly random locations, like he's grasping at straws.”
“It's only a matter of time till he digs far enough to find this location. The economy decimated this neighborhood, so we're basically alone if we have to face off here. But I want to take this to him before it gets to that.” I could see her brain was working hard already. With the exception of Healy’s abode she’s exercised caution for the most part thus far. By not just rushing headlong into any situations despite the severity of her circumstances she’s saved herself a great deal of anguish, but to what end. Vincent and her parents are now at the mercy of Malus. Compounding her scenario are innocents who have nothing to do with this being brutally killed and with spectacle to really get Vic’s attention. As the stories of these emergences of monsters become more widespread the public is becoming panicky and unpredictable. I'm sure that's putting a lump in her throat, but she really doesn't seem to be in the mood to be a victim of any of this.
“I need information!” And with that Vic asked if the new Virtues had the ability to just transfer info to her mind or if they were going make her ask questions. It's difficult to discern how much of each of them is the pure youthful souls of Johnny’s pack and how much of them is still angel. Perhaps neither is left in there and they're all something entirely new? Because of the contract Vic still holds over the original seven, there's something of a binding element on each of these individuals, but these were elder guardian angels; willful in their own right. They're defiant, and that's something Vic will need to contend with.
“We’ll answer your spoken questions as we see fit. You may have commanded the souls you imbued us with, but we are here by agreement, not command. Also, we’re troubled to see you speaking as if someone is with you. We’re questioning your sanity and how it will apply to all the power you obviously wield.”
“Buddy, you’re not the only one!” Vic’s tone was meant to let the angels know she wasn’t interested in their concerns at the moment.
“Understood. Can you at least tell us how you came to be in this situation? How you’re in command of not only souls but also how it is you speak Angelic?”
“That's going to require more conversation than we can engage in right now. I only want to know if your new circumstance would hinder your capabilities in combat?”
“No. And actually we feel more powerful than when we were pure.”
“Cool. How much abuse can your forms take?”
“Our physical forms can withstand almost as much as our non-physical forms, which is to say we’re only susceptible to the most extreme conditions of each of the elements found within the mortal realm. Outside the mortal realm, well, you saw what happened to our junior colleague in Hell, but even that took time.”
“Speaking of, why didn't you remove the shards of bone from your dead comrades as you became strong again?”
“Remembrance.”
“Fair enough. I have to confess that Heaven and Hell both seem like a waste of time. There's no logical end game for either one. What happens if all the mortals die off for whatever reason?”
“It is not for us to question the grand design.”
“But you know, don't you?” They wer
e all quiet and that was all the answer she'd get to that question.
“Fine. The souls who pulled you out of your funk in Hell had names, but altogether they were referred to as Virtues, which I'm still calling the bunch of you. But new names are in order …”
“We already have names we …”
“So did my Virtues and they deserve remembrance as well. So to be fair you're all getting new names, and we're going to keep this very simple for the time being. According to the books there are Seven Contrary Virtues to exercise against the Seven Deadly Sins: Humility against Pride, Kindness against Envy, Abstinence against Gluttony, Chastity against Lust, Patience against Anger, Liberality against Greed, and Diligence against Sloth. I'll let the seven of you decide on who gets which virtuous moniker.”
“Perhaps you'd care to introduce yourself, Miss …?”
“Victoria.”
“Victoria. Thank you for the rescue. We obviously don't know all the circumstances which have brought us together, but we are thankful for what you've done. If you don't mind me asking though, and keeping in mind we’re guardian angels, why is it you have so many more resources at your disposal than the rest of the human population, yet you seem to be using those for selfish purposes?”
“Elaborate.”
“Well,” he sighed, “you went Hell, rescued us, but brought us back to a place where no one is in need of us, save you.”
Vic has seemed a bit agitated since she awoke, and this conversation hasn't been helping. Now she's visibly angry, but still trying to exercise patience. She knows these newbies don't know much aside from any knowledge they've gained from the seven young souls, and Vic was careful to keep certain details from them as well. Vic licked and sucked some melted chocolate from her fingers, took a deep breath, and then got up in the face of the one who's been doing the talking for the seven of them.
“Here's the thing; an untold number of people have died before I came into this world. Another untold number of people have died and will die from a massive spectrum of causes during my lifetime. And someday, after I've moved on, an untold number of people will die from whatever comes along to kill them. I couldn't stop people from dying before I was born. I can't stop everyone from dying during my lifetime. I sure as hell can’t stop people from dying after I'm dead. But now, in this circumstance I never asked for, Malus has three Trinity Demons comprised in part from people I love, and while it's still up to each mortal to decide where they go after death, pretty soon they're going to lose that choice altogether. We can’t stop to worry about what's ailing everyone else at the moment. Any other questions?”
Legacy of Judas - Book One Page 36
