Descending

by Sophia Florenza

  I think up some baby wipes to quickly clean off the doggy drool on my face. When I finish cleaning myself, I turn to my five guys who are waiting patiently for me. "I forgot to ask, but what is the next Circle we are descending to?"

  "Wrath," G immediately replies. His voice sounds strained.

  "Wrath?" I ask incredulously. "But wouldn't that be your Circle G?" I stammer. I see that G doesn't want to reply, and then I start observing him carefully.

  I study him until I find the telltale signs that he's been hiding his worry through a glamour. My annoyance at G's deception is grating on my nerves. "G, what the fuck is going on?" I ask through gritted teeth.

  "Sera," G's voice deadpan. "Don't fucking push me on this right now. Let's get to the Circle," he commands and starts walking towards the door.

  I watch him walk by me, and I just shake my head in frustration. "Whatever," I mutter to myself, taking a deep breath and releasing my pent-up frustration.

  I follow G to the door, my other mates close behind me. I could sense that they don't like the situation anymore more than I do. But what can we do? We have to go to the Fourth Circle.

  When we reach the sizeable blood-red door, I roll my eyes. "Five bucks that Lucifer put some asinine comment on the door," I grit out.

  "What?" B inquires.

  Turning to B, "You'll see. I wonder why The Creator made such a childish Archangel begin with?"

  Touching the door handle and right on cue, a saying appears on the door. Those who smelled it dealt it. Those who denied it fried it.

  "Seriously?" B sighs. "Lucifer's immature pranks are one of the many reasons his ass got tossed out of Heaven," B finishes. Good to know.

  Pulling the large door open, I wasn't prepared for a vacuum to suck me into the vast blackness. Shiiit!

  "SERA!" I hear my mates scream from behind me. Turning my head around, I see the light of the door rapidly getting smaller because I'm being pulled forward. I let my wings out, slowing my descent.

  The Archangels and Virgil, who is being carried by Red, catch up to me. "That was fun!" I comment dryly out loud.

  "I'm just getting started with the fun little girl," a deranged male voice says from the darkness. Lucifer!

  "What do you want, Lucifer?" I yell into the darkness.

  "To have fun watching you five trying to survive Hell and each other," the voice says with glee. "This soap opera you have got going between you and your mates is better than watching 'Felicity.'"

  "Lucifer!" I hear G yelling into the darkness. "Let us through Hell so we can finish collecting the bet! There is something more important than your ruined ego at stake!"

  "Gabriel, Gabriel, Gabriel," Lucifer admonishes. "That's the problem. You never learned. There was a reason I never collected your ass when you were the embodiment of Wrath on Earth. And I know you know the reason also. But does our little savior Sera know?" Lucifer teases from the dark.

  "SHUT THE FUCK UP LUCIFER!" G rages into the dark.

  "I'm in the mood for a game," Lucifer says. And suddenly, I am standing on the rock-solid ground, surrounded by total blackness. And I'm alone. Uh Oh.

  "Sera," Lucifer says calmly from the dark. "I've got a proposal for you. If you agree to the terms of the game and win, I will let you bypass this Circle and send you immediately to the Fifth Circle."

  "If I lose?" I ask the darkness.

  "You will resign your soul to me and stay in Hell for eternity," Lucifer responds.

  "No deal," I say with finality.

  "Please hear me out first," Lucifer says, sounding more and more like a used car salesman. "If you and your mates journey through this Circle, Gabriel will surely turn back into the dragon. And no matter how many times you stab him with your little holy sword, he will never return to Archangel form."

  "Bullshit!" I call out to the darkness.

  "Not bullshit little girl. This Circle will affect Gabriel more than any other Circle because he was the embodiment of Wrath. If you manage to reach the center with Gabriel still in his Archangel form, he will stay an Archangel. But I promise you that he will change back into a dragon before reaching the center," Lucifer says, making doubt creep into my head. Only one sure way to find out.

  Reaching over my shoulder, I unsheathe Cal. 'Cal,' I say in my head. 'Is it true what Lucifer says about G turning back into a dragon before reaching the center?'

  'I'm sorry little one, but Lucifer is correct. Gabriel will turn back into a dragon and will stay that way for eternity. Unless you can bypass this Circle.' Cal says sorrowfully in my head. Shit.

  Re-sheathing Cal, I take a deep breath. "What is the game, and what are the terms?" I boldly ask the darkness.

  Chapter Eleven: Truth or Bullshit

  "You ready to play, little girl?" the maniacal voice teasing me from somewhere in the darkness.

  "Bring it asshole," I reply through gritted teeth.

  "You sure you want to play this game? You know what the stakes are if you lose," the voice says.

  "Shut the fuck up and begin your game!" I yell.

  The lights turn on, blinding me. I hear that crazy voice saying, "Welcome to our game! Please welcome our contestant….Gabriel!"

  When my eyes adjust to Lucifer's fucked-up version of a game show stage, I can see that G is sitting in a large chair. There is an overhanging sign that says "Hot Seat" with a flashing red arrow pointing down at G's head. I see that G is somehow restrained onto the chair because all his muscles are bulging in attempting to move. Lucifer is definitely powerful!

  I then notice my other four mates are stuck in the audience stands and in the same predicament. They are struggling to get out of their seats.

  'We are going to have to ride this out,' I say to the four of them patiently in my head. My four mates are not happy with the current situation, but they stop struggling.

  "Gabriel," I hear Lucifer talking in a gameshow host kind of voice. "Here are the rules. I will ask you a question, and you will tell the truth. That chair you are currently sitting on will know if you're lying. If you tell the truth for three out of five questions, you win the game. If you lie for three out of five questions, you lose. Losing will consist of Sera's soul belonging to me and staying in Hell forever. Any questions?" Lucifer asks.

  It looks as if G is really struggling now. His mouth is closed, but he's making grunting noises. His neck muscles are also straining. Looks like Lucifer has G's mouth clamped shut too!

  "No? Oh, and I forgot another rule. If you say anything that is not involved with answering the question, it's counted as an automatic lie," Lucifer's voice sounding gleeful. "Let's begin shall we," and with that, a gameshow counter board drops from the ceiling. One side says, "Truth," and the other side says, "Bullshit." Real classy.

  "Gabriel," Lucifer's voice is still sounding like a game show host. "I'm going to test the seat and also to show our lovely Sera here that it will detect any truth or lie. Sera, this question will not count towards any Truth points, just Bullshit points if Gabriel lies. Gabriel, did you take Sera's virginity?" Fucking, Seriously?!

  "Yes," Gabriel grits out, green eyes looking feral. As if he wants to kill something or someone.

  "That was the truth, and the chair obviously works!" Lucifer happily exclaims. I roll my eyes and shake my head in exasperation.

  "Next question. Gabriel, when you were on Earth during the Fall. Did you fall madly in love with a human woman?" That question perks my interest.

  "Yes," G gritted out again. A "1" digit dings on the counter board under Truth.

  "Does our lovely Sera know about this woman?" Lucifer asks.

  "It's complicated," G grinds out. A buzzer sounds, and a "1" digit appears under "Bullshit."

  "You have to answer the question Gabriel," Lucifer admonishes. "Next question."

  "Were you able to have children with this woman?" Lucifer asks. I frown. Archangels can have children?

  "Yes," G sighs, and I see the sorrow on his face. The pain I've seen many times during my
journey with G. I feel the blood draining from my face and my heart pounding in my ears. Oh no! The counter dings "2" under Truth.

  "Do you still love your family?" Lucifer asks.

  "It's complicated," G automatically responds, looking at me with pure pain in his eyes. My eyes start to water because a lot of things about G's attitude towards me are beginning to click into place. The buzzer sounds and "2" dings under Bullshit.

  "Lucifer!" I yell out. "May I ask the next question, please?" My heart is in my throat, and I know it's going to hurt like a bitch when I hear the answer.

  "You may, Sera," I hear Lucifer respond.

  "Will you let either answer count?" I ask.

  "Smart girl," I hear Lucifer's voice muttering to himself. "Yes. I vow that whatever answer Gabriel gives will count as either Truth or Bullshit," he says.

  "Gabriel," I say, using G's Archangel name. "Did you come with me to Hell to save your family?" I ask quietly, looking down at my leather gloved hands. There is a long silence, but I already knew the answer.

  "Yes," G finally mutters.

  I let the tears that were building up in my eyes spill out while looking up at G. I grin sadly at him but nod my head in understanding. The counter on the Truth side displays the number three.

  Everything goes black.

  And I'm suddenly catapulted in the darkness for what feels like ages until I land hard on my ass onto something soft. Rapidly blinking my eyes, and giving myself time for my body to adjust to gravity again, I finally slowly sit up.

  I start taking in my surroundings and observe that I landed in a huge bed, and I am surrounded by dark green marble. The marble is covering the ceiling and walls, and there are silver accents everywhere.

  The walls are decorated with vivid paintings of wrath and destruction caused by The Creator, smiting fallen angels and humans alike. I assume I'm in the center of the Fourth Circle. Guess Lucifer keeps his promises. Definitely good to know!

  Getting quickly off the ginormous bed, I run to the only door in the room and yank it open. In the living room, I see all five of my mates standing at their doorways, looking around in wonderment.

  My view of the guys lasts for five seconds before FMC decides to launch her big three-headed doggy ass at me, knocking me to the floor and thoroughly licking my body joyfully. Ugh! Now I need a shower!

  It takes me a while, but I am finally able to push FMC off me after I give her three heads a good scratching. Standing up, I see that my mates have disappeared. Except for G, who is standing in the living room. And looking at the floor with his hands in his pockets. Shit.

  "G," I say softly. "Come into my room. We definitely need to talk." I turn around and start walking to the massive bed. Hearing the door click closed behind me, I keep walking to the bed and turn to sit at the edge.

  When I'm comfortable, I take a deep sigh and look into G's green eyes. "Start talking," I demand.

  Waiting for G to find a way to begin his story, I decided that I need a big, fat, stiff drink. One perfect Long Island Iced-Tea coming right up!

  You know those Texas-size drinks? I made sure that this drink is as big as fucking Alaska! When my glass appears, it's shaped and is the actual size of a cauldron. You know? As in a witch's cauldron because I'm about to shove my broomstick up G's ass!

  I think up a big straw, and I start sucking. Good thing, I've had a lot of practice on my other mates! Oops, alcohol already kicking in!

  I am savoring my first couple of gulps because the LIT tastes fantastic! I look at G with a much more happier demeanor. God! I've forgotten how fucking good the buzzed feeling is!

  G looks at me with nothing else to describe as in utter shock. His beautiful green eyes are full, and that kissable mouth of his is wide open. Why did I ever stop having sex with him!

  G's jaw snaps shut, and now he's glowering at me. Oopsie!

  "You're drunk," he accuses me.

  "Not yet," I reply calmly. "Tell me your WHOLE story G. I knew you were leaving out details on the cruise ship when we were crossing the River Styx. I knew you were hiding stuff and using me to get through Hell. All you HAD to do was tell me was that YOU had a family. And that YOU wanted to save them in HELL! I just don't understand why you wouldn't tell me something like that? Especially when YOU know I was raised as a human," I finish, feeling a little out of breath.

  I can see G was about to give me his rhetorical answer, and I immediately interrupt him. "Yeah, I know 'It's complicated.' Well, unfucking-complicate it G! Tell me what happened!" I yell at G, and I also shake the room. I definitely did not mean to do that!

  "Okay," G begins. "I did fall in love with a human woman named Lamia. She was my everything. I married her, and we had a child together. A little girl," and G suddenly covers his face with his hands and starts crying.

  I'm neither heartless nor soulless, so I immediately rush to G. I somehow avoid spilling my drink in the process, and I throw my arms around G.

  G allows me to hold him, and he keeps me in return. G's extreme emotional pain causes his legs to buckle, bringing us both still hugging to the floor. I couldn't help but weep with him.

  When G stops crying, he says shakily, "Do you know what it is called when a parent loses a child?"

  I shake my head, "No."

  G states flatly, "Sorrow."

  G softly starts his story. "A battle between the fallen and the righteous happened over a thousand miles away from where my family was. I assumed my family was safe. After the battle, I flew home. The house was demolished, including all the surrounding fields and forests. The blast radius was at least ten miles. I only was able to find bits of the small skeletal remains of my two-year-old daughter a few miles away. Sariel," G says. Tears continuing to stream down the sides of his face.

  "Her name was Sariel," G continues, his gaze distant, and a sad smile appears on his face. "Such a beautiful and sweet child! She inherited her black hair and green eyes from me. The rest was from her beautiful mother," he whispers.

  "Did you ever find Lamia?" I ask.

  G shakes his head and says, "No. I misspoke when I say the house was demolished. What I meant to say was that the house and the surrounding areas were obliterated. Nothing but ash. There was no way for Lamia's remains to be found. "

  With tears streaming down G's face, "I buried our little girl at the site where the house stood. Hoping that Lamia's remains got co-mingled with our daughter's. The worst of it was that I knew that Lamia and Sariel would NEVER be allowed into Heaven," G's voice now sounding pissed.

  Lifting my head up to look at G's face, I frown. "Why?" I ask.

  "Because they were unbelievers. And during that time, unbelievers got a one-way ticket to Hell. The Creator, in their hypocritical Wrath!" G says furiously.

  "So I renounced The Creator and became George the Dragon," G scoffs.

  "Wait!" I exclaim, a thought just occurring to me. "Were you hoping that you would find your family's souls in Limbo? Is that why you were managing The Inferno?" I ask G.

  "You're very astute Sera," G compliments me and nods his head in agreement to my sudden epiphany. "Yes, I was hoping that the Creator would have allowed my wife and child into Limbo. But alas, they are both stuck here, somewhere in Hell for all eternity," G's voice filled with sadness.

  "I'm so sorry for your loss and the wrongs done to your family. But why didn't you just tell me this from the beginning? Why keep on trying to destroy my heart over and over again?" I ask, looking up at him and exposing my raw hurt and sadness of G's attitude towards me since our first meeting. Feels like a lifetime ago!.

  "Because," G whispers while turning his face down to look at me. "It's complicated." And with that, he kisses me.

  I guess I was drunker than I assumed because I find myself kissing G in return. NO! I push as hard as I can against G's chest. Accidentally causing G to go flying into the far wall.

  Jumping up to my feet, "I'm so sorry!" I exclaim sincerely as I walk over to G to help him. But he puts his hands u
p, stopping me in my tracks.

  "It's all right," G says softly, face looking down towards the floor. "You confuse the shit out of me, Sera," his face now lifting up. His bright green eyes are staring intently into mine.

  Looking away in confusion and then looking back at G, I frown deeply. "What does that mean, G?" My annoyance now overtaking my emotional state.

  "I mean that you're making it hard for me to focus on completing my mission. From wanting to have my family again," G sighs, looking torn. I will not let G lose his family on my account.

  "Like I said before," I state firmly. "Our relationship will be completely plutonic. You need to figure out your life. First and foremost, you have to find and save your family. We'll figure out the rest as we go. Have a good night," I say to G while trying to be as polite as I can in my dismissal.

  G walks away, sullenly and leaves. He closes the bedroom door softly behind him. Taking a deep breath and turning to the cauldron sitting there invitingly, I chuckle. Time to get shit-faced! But first, I need to make a small deal with the devil while I'm sober enough.

  "Lucifer!" I yell into the air. "I have a proposal for you!" A couple of seconds pass before I get a response.

  "What is it, little girl?" Lucifer's bitchy male voice sounding bored.

  "I'll make you a trade," I tell him.

  "What trade?" the disembodied voice still sounding bored. But somehow, I knew I piqued Lucifer's interest.

  "My soul for G's family. After I'm done saving the Universe," I quickly add.

  There is a long silence like Lucifer is mulling it over. "Hmm," he finally says. "You vow to return to Hell once your mission is done?" he asks.

  "Uh, uh, Lucifer," I admonish. "I want you first to vow that you will let G be with his family now and also release their souls. Once you make that vow, then I will make mine," I state with finality.

  "What? You don't trust me," Lucifer's voice sounds like a petulant child.