Descending

by Sophia Florenza

  "Definitely not taking that bet," Raph replies.

  Flipping Virgil and Raph my middle finger, I gingerly take my first bite. Ensuring that I can handle the hot, stringy cheese. I see B sniffing his slice of pizza; first, he frowns, then he takes a small, uncertain bite.

  The excellent flavor of that bite must have resonated deep within B because his face lights up with pure ecstasy. It was like watching him enter me for the first time. B starts scarfing the rest of the slice down and finishes it within seconds.

  I keep eating, enjoying the delightful flavors simultaneously hitting my tongue with each bite. "Looks like Sera may have some competition in the pizza moaning department," Red says.

  I think up a pizza for Red and the rest of my guys. 'Eat,' I command in my head. I hear pizza boxes opening and moans all around from the guys after taking their first bites. 'Who's moaning now?' I think my mates.

  Devouring the whole pizza in no time, I get off the bed. I didn't realize I was in the nude until the cold air hits me. I think about my training gear. Turning back to the bed, I am witnessing four devilishly handsome men moaning and groaning in ecstasy over pizza. "You boys ready to train me," I ask enthusiastically.

  I'm feeling fully recharged and raring to start with today's training schedule. I hear a knock on my bedroom door. FMC's back hairs raise and emit a loud and powerful growl. Strong enough to make the walls slightly shake. There's only one person FMC would be growing at right now.

  "Good girl," I tell her. "Stay," I firmly command. Turning to the now silent door, I reach for the handle and twist the knob. Pulling open the door, I'm staring at a sullen G, who is now about five feet away from the door.

  "Yes, G?" I ask.

  "Barachial commanded me to train you this morning. If that's a problem, bring it up with him," G gruffly states before executing an about-face and marches towards the training room. Annoyance floods me. And I was having such a great morning too!

  Turning around to look at B, I see that he quietly got dressed during my brief conversation with G. And is now standing right in front of me. I let my body language show my annoyance by crossing my arms over my chest, and quirking an eyebrow while plastering a deep frown onto my face.

  "Are we now the Archangel of matchmaking?" I ask B sarcastically. "I don't want him," my pointer finger aiming at the direction G walked to, "near me," I say stubbornly.

  "Sera," B says softly. "You need each other and like it or not, both your souls are bonded. You both need to learn how to get along with each other," B finishes.

  "B," my patience wearing thin, "I've offered my support, my love, and my friendship. He rejected them all. What does that leave me but to keep him as an acquaintance?" I tell B.

  "Sera, ye offering yer friendship but abstaining him from having sex with ye would be like feeding me with that delicious pizza one night and then telling me I could never have pizza again. It would drive me mad!" B exclaims.

  "I'm sure G will get over it once I break this stupid bond for good. Time for me to train. See you all later," I pout, swiftly turning and grabbing Cal. I walk quickly out of the bedroom, slamming the door shut.

  Stomping to the training room, my mood sours. I don't want to deal with this shit anymore! With that thought, once I get into the training room, I release my wings and slip into the stream. I've discovered that I use a lot less energy gaining altitude in the stream than when I'm using my air energy to lift me up.

  Once I'm at the right height, I slip out of the stream. I look down, seeing that G is on the ground and probably wondering why I'm flying overhead. It's complicated.

  Smirking, I start flying to the end of the shoreline. I put on my earbuds and listen to some soft rock music like the Beatles or The Rolling Stones. I tune out the world, and I fly/glide to my destination.

  When I reach the shoreline, I'm still feeling frisky and not at all tired. I keep flying, going out to the ocean. What feels like an hour, I start feeling my back muscles getting tired. I decide to turn around.

  When I turn around, there is a massive storm forming. Blocking my way back to the beach. You have got to be fucking kidding me?!

  Flying back the way I came is my only option. Gritting my teeth, I start heading towards the storm. The first thing I feel is the disappearance of the warm sun and the wind picking up. The wind is pushing me backward, causing my wings to tire.

  Next, I'm being pelted by hail and sleet. Too fucking cold for rain. Between the wind and the cold wetness, I know I am not going to make it back to the beach. Fucking Archangels!

  Raph and G must be working together to whip up this storm. Probably with the consent of B. Definitely taking my training to the next level. A cold resolve fills me. When I get back to the beach, I'm beating the shit out of my mates!

  Letting peace wash over me, I feed that small flame inside me. Building and growing that flame until my body is completely covered. Looking down, I see that I'm covered in my fiery blaze. I grin wickedly. My mates have always underestimated me!

  I tuck in my wings and slip into the stream. I create a shield around me because I'm going to hit the water like a fucking Earth destroying asteroid. They wanted to see how strong I am, right?

  I hit the surface with such force that I pushed all the water away from me. I create a tsunami, exploding out in all directions when I hit the ocean floor. Looking up, I see that I blasted away the hurricane my mates were so considerate to create for me. Wait until they get a load of me!

  It took me a while to get back to the beach. But I wanted to make a "grand" entrance. When the water finally settled over the top of me, I used my water energy to part the ocean so I can slip into the stream and go ludicrous into speed.

  I've kept the fire raging around my body while traveling on the ocean floor. When I see the ocean floor starting to rise, informing me that land is close, I make the fire burn brighter. Reaching the beginning of the beach, I see all five of my mates lined up shoulder to shoulder. I slip out of the stream and strut out of the parted sea. I walk out like I'm hot shit. Which I am. No pun intended.

  When I stop in front of guys, I must be looking like a badass! All five of my mates are all a little pale. For a special effect, I explode my wings out of my back. "Now," I say quietly. "Who created what looked like a hurricane over the ocean? Ruining my relaxing flight?" Making sure that I add a hint of a threat in my voice.

  Virgil and Red take a few steps back. Leaving B, Raph, and G. "I already knew you three assholes conspired against me. G can only make the wind whip at hurricane force, Raph can only create a rainstorm, and B can only order it." I tell them at point-blank.

  "Sera," B says softly. "You need G, and even though he stubbornly will never admit it, G needs you," B turns his head to glare at G.

  Clenching my jaw, "B, don't ever force me to do things I don't want to do or with whom. When I'm ready to forgive G. AGAIN," I emphasize. "You all will definitely know. Now, I'm exhausted, but I would like to be left alone."

  I start walking towards the door. "Don't any of you follow me!" I shout over my shoulder.

  Walking out of the training room, I march straight to my bedroom. I slam the bedroom door shut behind me, remove Cal from my back, and walk over to the bed. I flop onto the bed, finally releasing my inner fire and pulling my wings back into my body.

  I finally let my exhaustion take over, and I drift off to sleep.

  "Told you she has a mind of her own," I hear Red state. I can't see anything yet, darkness still surrounding me. But I have a feeling I'm watching the current conversation between the guys.

  "Sera was raised to be a human woman," I hear Virgil say. The darkness is now giving way to the scene in front of me. All five of my mates are standing where I left them. On the snow-covered beach. Hopefully, they all freeze their nuts off!

  "Women were considered property when I was on Earth," Raph bluntly states. "I'm still getting used to Sera's boldness, outspokenness, and colorful language." What a fucking hypocrite!

 
Raph jerks his head around when I thought my last statement. Shit. I'm going to have to keep my inner monologues rare. Don't want them hearing me when I'm "unintentionally" listening in on them.

  Virgil starts talking again. "Women in this day and age on Earth have their own rights. They don't need a man to own property, and can marry anyone they want."

  Looking at B, Virgil tells him, "You cannot force the situation between Sera and Gabriel. Sera is extremely stubborn and is tired of Gabriel's treatment of her. When Gabriel figures out his shit, and finally opens up to Sera, I pray Sera will be receptive of him."

  G stalks over to Virgil with a very pissed expression on his face. If I didn't know any better, it looks as if G is about to commit murder!

  "WHY ARE YOU FUCKING BLAMING ME!" G screams into Virgil's face. "Sera won't accept the fact that I care for her! That's all I can give her! Why can't she understand that!"

  Virgil turns a few shades of red, almost reaching purple before he gets into G's face. "There was no reason to treat her like you did! There was no reason to mock and scorn her friendship when she offered it! You say you care about her but won't be a friend to her because she took the sex out of the equation! That makes you not only stupid but selfish!"

  Wow! Virgil gets the situation! I definitely will have some fun alone time later! I see a flash of a smirk on Virgil's face. He can hear me?! Ugh!

  G doesn't respond to Virgil's accurate accusations. Instead, G loses his self-righteous attitude and looks down at the ground demurely. "You're right, Virgil," he sighs out. "I've been selfish about the whole situation. I'll try to be friends with her. If she lets me." And the scene fades to black, and I lose consciousness.

  Sometime later, I wake up. There's a warm, very furry body sleeping next to me. FMC must know how upset I'm feeling and wanted to give me comfort. I start scratching the massive three-headed dog's fur.

  FMC grunts and rolls onto her back, exposing her enormous belly. Stifling a giggle, I start rubbing her belly.

  When I tire of rubbing FMC's stomach, I clamber out of the massive bed. I think on clean training clothes and strap Cal back on. I head to the training room, wondering what new surprises my mates have thought up for me.

  Walking into the training room, the guys are all sitting on a snow-covered beach, staring out at the ocean. Chatting amongst themselves. I clear my throat, getting all five to jump to their feet.

  "I'm ready for my combat training," I say, my demeanor serious. I'm in no mood for anything besides training.

  B steps forward, "Ye will start with me, wee one," he says. B's handsome face and eyes look as dangerous as I feel. B turns and walks away from the group. I follow B until he stops.

  B suddenly spins around and grasps my shoulders. Bringing me into a huge bear hug. I refuse to raise my arms up and return the hug. I never realized how good B smells. Like fresh basil and heather.

  "I'm sorry, my wee one," B sorrowfully states above my head. "I keep forgetting that ye were born and not made. And ye were raised as a human and have felt like a human. Something no Archangel has ever endured. We were made as is. We had no childhood. We ken our purpose the moment we became conscious." I nod my head in understanding into his chest and wrap my arms around his torso.

  "It's okay, B," I sigh. "I'm learning as I go also. Just going to need some time," I say, stepping away from him but still close enough to hold his muscular torso. "How did you get stuck here in Hell B?" I pointedly asked, looking up into his handsome face

  "Weel," B's Scott's burr coming out strong. B shifts his weight from one foot to the other. My question has made him uncomfortable.

  "It's okay if you don't want to answer the question," I say softly. B sighs loudly but doesn't try to move away from me.

  "Sometimes ye can take things to the extreme, even though it was originally under good intentions," B starts. "The battles during the Fall caused catastrophic consequences for humans during this time. The Ice Age was one of them. As well as exploding volcanoes and major earthquakes. Famine, drought, and sickness were rampant. Humans almost became extinct."

  I swallow hard, not realizing how close humans were on to the brink of being wiped out. B continues, "It was also during this time that the strong were enslaving the weak. Making the situation worse for those who have already suffered and lost so much. So I stole from the mighty, a Robin Hood of sorts. At the time, it was food and a full belly that made the mighty. I switched out strong seedlings used to harvest wheat and grain for weak seedlings in the grain stores in the mightiest civilizations. Helping tip the scales back to some kind of equality." B sighs sadly.

  "But, it became addicting. Constantly tipping the scales back and forth," B explains when he sees my questioning frown. "I lost my purpose and instead greedily stole from anyone and yet gave away everything at the same time," B pauses for a second. "Weel, I gave it all back to myself, that is. I became infamous throughout written history with my wealth." Wait! What?!

  "Like whom?" I ask excitedly. "I don't know if the guys told you, but I love learning history."

  "The first notable historical figure I became was a king called Croesus. That's where the saying, 'Rich as Croesus' came from. And then there was Cosimo de Medici, and King Henry VII of England, and Tzar Ivan IV or The Terrible, and...." I interrupt B.

  "Yep, I got it! You were extremely deplorable with your wealth throughout history. When did Lucifer collect you?" I ask. "When I caused the Stock Market Crash of 1929. I lost it all, and I jumped out of the window of the 22nd floor of my New York City building," B shrugs.

  "I'm sorry," I tell B sincerely while looking up into those sparkling pool of turquoise. I give B a soft kiss on the lips. "Thank you for telling me your story," I say.

  "What's next in your training agenda for me to master the Earth element?" I ask.

  Chapter Ten: A Circle Filled With Games and Wrath

  My training in the Greed Circle is anticlimactic after all the G drama. I was learning the Earth element faster than B expected.

  My relationship with G was at first tense, but he has been trying to become my friend. During our training sessions or when it was his turn to help me recharge, we would make small talk.

  I am trying to slowly build a bond of friendship and trust between G and me, and I am enjoying my time with G so much that I'm beginning to looking forward to my next time alone with him.

  Of course, I also split my time equally amongst my mates. I'm enjoying the love and passion I share with my four out of five guys. G doesn't share my bed or me with the others and has accepted the friendship role instead. Maybe someday I'll want less. But not today.

  Back to my training routine…

  Now I know how those poor soldiers I saw in a winter combat training documentary feel. By the time I mastered creating dirt out of thin air, the room is a tundra. The ocean surface has a small layer of ice. I can see icebergs floating in the distance. I have to expend more and more energy each day to break the ice to swim the shoreline.

  On some days, for shits and giggles, B orders FMC to chase my ass up and down the coast. Either on land or in the sea, FMC is hunting me. That mutt loves chasing me too! But I can't complain too much. She is helping me get into even better shape faster.

  It took me a while to understand the concept of creating dirt. I can figure out how to pull all the Earth molecules together and solidify their bonds. It takes me a lot more energy to keep those bonds to stay together, but when I finally can create a pile of dirt, that is when I feel the door's energy.

  "Great, Sera!" I hear B compliment, but he's too engrossed in my accomplishment to notice the change in the air.

  The door to the Fourth Circle suddenly appears. Don't get me wrong. I was ecstatic about making my first pile of dirt because It was the hardest fucking pile of dirt to make. EVER! But getting the door to appear was even more exciting! Finally! Time to go!

  Just like in the last Circle, there is a sizeable blood-red door standing isolated out in the middle of a fro
zen ocean.

  My other mates plus G must have sensed the energy because they come rushing into the training room.

  "She did it," I hear Ralph say.

  "Let's get going," I tell them.

  The guys and I rush back to our rooms to refill our packs. I am adding extra amenities like hand and foot warmers. And extra clothing like long underwear to wear under my clothes when the freezing temperatures become intolerable.

  We pack special food that mountain climbers use. The food is made to endure freezing temperatures and could be heated at high altitudes. We also have ice-axes. Never know if I will need one to climb an ice mountain or sculpt an ice statue. No harm in broadening my horizons!

  I think black leather clothing, lined with fur and waterproof. The clothes will definitely help keep me warm during the descent. My boots are winter lined and also waterproof. With the soles designed to grip the ice.

  I want to avoid wearing bulky clothing because it will hinder my movements. My gloves are also leather, waterproof, and lined with fur. The last article of clothing I think on is a black beanie cap to keep my head and ears warm.

  When I'm ready, I strap on Cal. I sling my backpack onto my shoulders and walk out to the living room. My five mates are already assembled, dressed in their winter combat outfits.

  I see FMC standing at the training room door, waiting for me. "Everyone ready?" I ask. I get five heads nodding that they are ready to leave. I walk towards the training room and open the door.

  My mates fall in behind me as I enter the training room. I step into the frozen paradise that was my "home" for the last few weeks. FMC was the last to walk through the door.

  Turning to my Hellhound, I tell her three-heads, "Go down to the next Circle and wait for us." I quickly rub her six ears and let her lick my face with her three large tongues before she starts off for her journey to the next Circle. "How she gets to the other Circles, I will never know," I comment, talking to nobody.