Descending

by Sophia Florenza

  Walking through the door, the gym is almost the same from when I thought it up yesterday. A few pieces of equipment were added and scattered around the gym area. I think on my swimming gear from yesterday, including the iPod and earbuds. And the gym is empty. Either I'm up too early, or the guys don't want to train me.

  Clearing my head of doubts, I create an angry playlist to listen to while I swim, ranging from Eminem to Wagner. Diving into the pool, I start my strokes. And like yesterday, I swim laps for hours until I get bored.

  Pulling myself out of the pool, I think myself dry and put on running clothes; I keep my iPod equipment. I walk over to the dirt track and start jogging. I want to run a distance today. I run in pace with the music, stopping when I reach four miles.

  I've been so focused on running that I didn't notice G leaning against the wall, his green eyes fixated on me, arms crossed over his chest.

  G is wearing all black clothing: tactical pants, combat boots, and a tight black t-shirt. His massive body is radiating raw physical prowess. My breaking of our bond has severely diminished my ability to feel his commanding presence.

  Furthermore, when the bond was formed, the heated look G's giving me would have made me wet with need. Now? I only feel pain in my chest. Focus!

  I think myself into sword sparring clothes, and I walk to where I left Cal, strapping it over my shoulder. The sheath is laying across my back. I'm facing away from G, but I'm focusing harder on his energy signature, knowing that he's about to attack.

  G moves, but I move faster, using Red's hand to hand combat techniques to throw his ass. G is a fantastic warrior, back on his feet in less than a blink of an eye. His beautiful black wings pop out, and his expression has an evil grin with eyes that are empty and cold. G reaches behind his back and pulls out his sword, big black broadsword. Shit! I'm fighting for real!

  G goes on the attack, and his sword skills are phenomenal! It is then I realize that G was holding back during our sparring sessions. His moves are swift, fast, sure, and powerful! But now I'm pissed that he never sparred with me at his real skill level. Never thought me good enough!

  My hurt easily lets the darkness settle into my soul. The cold anger making my fiery black and blue wings pop out. G jumps back in shock. My smile is now evil. My turn!

  I go on the attack, calling my dark energy for more speed and power. I let instinct take over, G's eyes showing fear. It was almost ten minutes of me toying with G until I got bored, disarming him in one fluid motion.

  Kicking G in the gut, I send him flying. Launching myself, I slip into the stream. Reaching G midair, I grab onto him, and I use my force to bring us both down. I land in a kneeling position on G's chest and re-sheath Cal. He hits the ground on his back with a grunt.

  I look down at G, my anger burning through me. "Was I ever going to be good enough for you?" I ask, coldness in my tone. Not allowing G to answer, I keep talking. "You held back during our sparring sessions, you held back from me, preventing our bond from getting stronger. Those are the reasons why I will never make the bond with you again!" my voice filled with stubbornness and resentment.

  G's eyes soften because he sees my emotional pain. He quickly grabs me and pulls me down, kissing me before I get a chance to fight him off. I stupidly kiss him back, reveling in his touch. Realization of me kissing G, in return, hits me. I snap out of whatever sexual need that was stupidly guiding in my reaction to him. No!

  I use my energy to heat up my hands to scorching. Making G break the kiss with a yowl, releasing me. "No, G!" I say, telling him firmly. "You never felt anything for me! I told you that I'll help you get to where you want to go. You don't have to pretend with me anymore! If you want to train me properly, I'm up for that. But that's it. I want nothing else from you." I firmly finish.

  Getting up, I walk towards the door, removing Cal's sheath from my back, holding the sword in my hand. Just as G did to me in the bedroom immediately before I broke the soul bond, I march out the door. Not turning back.

  Walking into an empty living room, I am annoyed that there was only one person to train me. I head to one of the doors where I feel Raph's energy pulsing through.

  I don't bother knocking, barging through the door and— OH MY FUCKING GOD!

  Raph is standing naked in the room. And there is a naked woman on her knees in front of him. Her head bobbing up down. Jealousy hits me for a second, but I'm too fucking tired to get angry. My unannounced entrance startles both of them. She stops what she's doing and looks at me. WHAT THE FUCK?

  The naked woman has my face! I stand there, staring at my twin, and then I look towards an embarrassed Raph. I think my jaw just hit the floor.

  Before Raph has time to recover from his shock, I tell him, "If you're not too busy getting your dick sucked tomorrow. Maybe you can help train me so I can get us through the rest of Hell?" With that, I make a beeline to the open door, going through and shutting the door behind me. I hear, "FUUUUUCK!" yelled from the other side. My sentiments exactly!

  Back in the living room, I barrel into G. Without saying a word, G picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder. G's carrying me into his bedroom. Fucking Archangels!

  Knowing that I can hold my own, I don't struggle. Waiting for when G dumps on his bed, I look at him with a bored expression. "Your macho antics are starting to bore me G," my voice conveying my annoyance.

  "Shut the fuck up," he orders. I stare at G, amazed at his audacity. While I'm staring, I notice his facial features are changing. The healthy glowing G I'm used to seeing has faded. His beautiful face is haggard, his green eyes almost a dull brown. "You had a glamour on?" I demand. He replies, "Yes."

  "What's causing you to look like this?" I ask. I broke the bond two days ago?

  G starts his explanation, "The broken bond and...," G stops.

  "And what G?" I ask.

  "And how much I realized that I care about you when I lost you," G finally admits. I cannot deal with this shit right now!

  Getting off the bed, I start walking to the door. I pause when I touch the door handle. "If you did care for me, you would have seen past Lucifer's manipulations. No one forced you to believe in the lies. When you truly see me and accept me for who I am. I will rethink the bond." With that, I open his door and walk out.

  Out into the living room, I first feel for Red's energy. I was able to locate it behind a third marked door. Walking up to the door, I knock this time. The door opens, and a beautiful woman answers. At least she's dressed!

  The woman has long brown hair and blue eyes. On further inspection, she looks like me. "Circe?" I ask her.

  "Yes?" is the response. Red's love from long ago. Shock and pain hit me, and my eyes start to blur from tears.

  I feel Red's presence moving towards the door, but I'm too numb to move. When he sees me over Circe's head, there's an expression of surprise on it. I back away and quickly turn to head towards the gym. I wonder what would happen if I knock on Virgil's door. Not brave enough to find out.

  In the gym, I practice the elements I have been training with since arriving at the First Circle. I call on fire and air to blast, rip, engulf, shred, and destroy any target I can think of. I keep at for hours, until my nose starts to bleed. And then I push harder, letting everything and everybody go. Why do I feel more lost and lonely than ever?

  My nose is now a bloody waterfall. But I don't care anymore. I turn around, stumbling to the door, blood dripping off my chin. Making it to the door, I pull it open, the move making black spots dance across my eyesight. Walking into the living room, my head down, I'm fighting the blackness.

  "Here's our savior now," I hear the snide comment coming out of Raph's mouth. I glance up, four pairs of eyes staring at me: silver, green, red, and gold. Looking at the green ones, now filled with concern, makes me realize that I cannot live without them. With that knowledge, I collapse.

  Chapter Three: To Err…

  Complete blackness. I'm drifting in dense darkness where I know no light can pene
trate. It's a deathly cold, horrible place. Worse than Hell. This void is the antithesis of life and the current laws of the universe. And it's hungry. Of all the things I've seen in Hell, by far, this place scares me the most. Is this my future?

  'Only if you do not complete the bonds with all eight of your mates,' a female voice whispers to me. The voice is new, yet somehow familiar. 'You need to wake up, Sera. You need to fight.' There's a pause then a booming voice screaming 'WAAAAAKE UUUUP!'

  I sit up, gasping. The voice was blasting me from my vision of the Void. "Oh my god! She's alive!" I turn to the man who spoke.

  "Red?" I ask, looking at him in confusion. Red grabs me and hugs me fiercely, feeling his shoulders shaking. Is he crying? Archangels don't cry?

  "Red, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Red pushes me back, I'm looking up at his red-rimmed eyes, his face has a haunted look.

  "Sera, you've been dead for three days." What the shit!?

  "No, I wasn't? I just woke up! Perhaps I was sleeping so deeply you assumed I was dead?" I say, hopefully. Virgil bursts through the door, causing the door to get stuck into the wall. He runs directly to me, no words, pulling me out of Red's arms and is holding me tight.

  I feel the relief and happiness of both Virgil and Red. I kiss Virgil on the neck, letting him know that I'm still here. He pushes me back, studying me, making sure it's really me. He looks horrible!

  'It's me,' I say reassuringly in my head. Virgil's smile is radiant, lighting up his face. Making those beautiful grey eyes glow. He's so handsome! He can easily land a modeling gig.

  'Red?' I say in my head, turning back to him. I know he heard me but is afraid to meet my eyes. "Why was Circe here?" I ask him out loud.

  He sighs, "When I saw the dark power radiating from you when you confronted G, I got scared. I thought that I was losing you. I needed someone to talk to about what you are going through. A human woman's perspective. Circe is the only one I know," Red explains. Thinking over his words, I guess it makes sense. But there is one thing I have to know.

  "Do you still love her?" I ask. Red sighs again, not looking at me. Shit.

  Preparing myself for disappointment, Red says, " In a tiny way, I will always love her because she was my first."

  Holding my breath, Red continues, "But, I am not in love with her. Only you." My emotional dam broke because I lunge towards Red. A considerable sob escaping my lips while I'm burying my head into his chest, crying my heart out.

  Red holds and rocks me, stroking my hair, until I stop crying. Finally calm enough, and leaving a huge wet spot on Red's shirt, I ask both men for the whereabouts of G and Raph.

  Red and Virgil both look incredibly uncomfortable. "What is it? What happened?" My heart starts racing. I ask my voice reflecting the panic I'm feeling.

  Virgil always knows how to deliver bad news to me gently. "G did not take your death very well. Red and I felt the bonds disappear. That's how we knew you were dead," Virgil stops, but Red chimes in.

  "When we told him of your passing, he lost his shit. I've never seen anyone go into a mourning rage as he did," Red pauses.

  "What happened to him?" I push.

  And then I hear it. A roar so loud, you know in your soul that there is only one creature in the universe that could make that sound. Oh No!

  "George, the dragon is back?" I ask quietly. Virgil nods his head. "Where's Raph?" I ask.

  "Hunting," replies Red. NO!

  I spring into action. Thinking on black fire retardant clothing, allowing me to move around freely, I grab Cal. I sling the sword across my back and start heading out the door.

  "Where the fuck do you think you're going?" demands Red.

  "I'm going to save G and Raph," my voice firm and steady, heading into the living room.

  "What! Why?" Red is now in panic mode. Halting, I turn my head to look at Red, Virgil standing a little to the side behind him.

  I smile at Virgil. 'You know me too well,' I think to him. Red, too caught up in the moment, didn't catch my telepathic exchange with Virgil.

  Looking back to Red, I state, "I love G, and even though he does not feel the same way, that will not stop me from helping him. Raph needs to learn some humility, and by teaching him that, I'll be saving him too. Maybe then he can stop acting like an asshole."

  I turn and walk towards the main door, hearing, "Wait for just one f....." Red's voice suddenly quiet, and then I hear the sound of a body hitting the floor.

  I knew what Virgil was up to when he stood behind Red. Virgil understands what my role is to the mission, and the less Archangel bullshit I have to deal with, the better. So he zapped Red, knocking him unconscious, giving me the time to do my job without interference.

  'Thank you, Virgil!' I think to him, stepping out the main door.

  'Be careful, baby girl,' Virgil responds.

  'Please help Red understand that I need you both safe. Be ready for some "us" time when I return with G and Raph.' I can't even remember the last time I've been alone with Virgil. I know in my heart that my previous comment made Virgil extremely happy and "excited."

  Stepping out into a vast corridor, covered in crimson red marble, I stop in front of FMC. The huge three-headed dog is sitting and wagging her massive tail. Her three heads all looking at me, tongues hanging out and panting. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's happy to see me.

  "Miss you too, girl," I coo to her. "Want to help me hunt and save a dragon and an Archangel?" I somehow know that the three-headed dog understands what I'm saying. Lucifer has a sick sense of humor for naming his former Hellhound: Floppsy, Moppsy, and Cottontail. She's mine now.

  FMC's middle head "wuffs" in agreement, and she immediately slips into the stream. Following her into the stream, I feel out for the two energy signatures representing G and Raph.

  Raph is on the move and closing in fast on G's location. Retrieving Cal, I think to the sword, 'Ready to save G again?'.

  With a cheerful voice echoing in my head, Cal says, 'Welcome back, little one! Are you ready for the hardships ahead?'

  Knowing that I came back from death, all I can think of, 'As I'll ever be.'

  FMC gives me a warning growl, letting me know that we are close to Raph. Smart girl! Knowing that I need to subdue Raph first before I can help G.

  Moving into ludicrous speed, I focus on Raph's energy, letting that energy draw me in like a magnet. Something changed in me when I died because Raph's energy now feels like a piece of the same exact power in me. Using that distinct energy, I cover my energy with it. I hope he can't feel me.

  With surprise on my side and easy access to the power I've always felt but couldn't control, I zap Raph unconscious. Hearing his body hit the ground, I don't stop, knowing that Raph will be out long enough for me to save G.

  I slow back to hyperspeed, allowing FMC to get ahead of me. Hearing a dragon's roar blasting down the corridors, my resolve to save G hardens.

  I feel G's energy on the move. Remembering our discussion on the ship, G told Virgil and me about being conscious in dragon form. I hope he admits that I am alive.

  FMC is the best blood (Hell)hound a tracker could ever wish for. She guides me to G's location after making left, and right turns down the blood-red corridors. When FMC knows that we are close to G's vicinity, she quietly slips out of the stream.

  I slip out of the stream, stopping next to FMC. I rub one of her outer head's enormous ears as a show of my appreciation. "Good girl," I whisper.

  "Go back and stay with Raph." I quietly command. FMC lowers all six of her ears and looks about to whine in protest. "I will scratch your ears AND rub your belly for being such a good girl," I bribe.

  That does the trick because FMC immediately slips into the stream and heads away from me. Don't want her getting hurt on my account.

  Thinking to Cal, 'Ready?', Cal starts to glow green. I hope I don't end up like George the Knight. G also informed Virgil and me that he accidentally killed George the Knight when George stabbed him with Cal.<
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  I'm leaning against the wall red marble wall, staying silent and listening to the sound of rumbling coming from around the corner. I hope G's sleeping.

  'Cal, please go into mirror mode so I can see what G's doing around the corner,' I think in my head. Cal complies with my request. Using Cal as a mirror, I raise Cal to my eye level and adjust the sword's angle to catch a glimpse of G. Holy Fucking Shit!

  Seeing G in his dragon form is staggering! He's gargantuan! At least as big as a two-story, upscale house! Covered with ebony black leather looking skin that does not reflect any light. G looks like living blackness with eyes that are glowing neon green.

  He has a snout full of razor-sharp teeth that are protruding from the top part of his jaw, and no ears. Reminds me of a snake with a smooth head. G has large clawed feet with razor-sharp talons and a tail. And he looks pissed. There go the sneaking and stabbing while asleep plan. Time for Plan B.

  'What is Plan B, little one?' Cal asks, interrupting my reverie.

  'Growing a pair and confronting G,' I say in my head. Cal turns back to glowing green, giving me the confidence I need to pull this suicidal stunt.

  Taking a deep breath, I hold Cal down at my side, but I can swiftly bring the sword up at a moment's notice, and I turn the corner. Staring at G, I walk slowly and calculatingly towards him. I stop about one hundred feet from him when G's eyes register recognition, then surprise, and then doubt. Please let him believe that it's me!

  The doubt must have won in G's analysis of my being alive because his eyes turn to pure fury. And then I hear a sound emanating from G. I see G's posture changing like he's sucking in a vast amount of air into his lungs. The noise reminded me of my childhood when I used a bellow to make the flames in the chimney go higher. OH NO!