Angel City Demon

[Zarni]

whoa, deep, man! you've been saving yourself for that one, haven't you? great, great stuff. i loved the dialogue between the two archangels, as well, most atmospheric.

you truly are a talented weaver, my friend.

[Wizard]

Totally against my religion...totally cool.

[Zarni]

against mine, too, i don't believe in hell, but, like you said, very cool. of what faith are you, wizard?

[Wizard]

kmansadventures.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=Rants&action=display&n=1&thread=886

[Rayvynne]

Since when are we all evil, hm Japic????

[Japic]

Uh oh, I knew that I wouldn't get away with that one.

To all the ladies out there, you know who you are: My sincerest apologies if you feel slighted by my comments in any way.

But you have to admit that your sole purpose on this plane is to make our (men) lives difficult. I hold no ill will towards you're species (yes species, not sex), but we all know why you're here. And we love you for it.

/me prods KMan in the ribs.

*whisper* Get on with the story dude, you're getting me in trouble.

[K Man]

*whisper* Get on with the story dude, you're getting me in trouble.

{Aye Aye!!}

{And Ladies... you may be evil...but you're necessary. }
__________________________________________________________________________________________

XVI.

[/center]

“Do you believe this is wise Gabriel?”

Gabriel glanced over the angel standing next to him, another council member, Daniel, as he was questioned about his decisions.

“I believe it is better than putting ourselves at risk by being out in the open…”

Daniel responded quickly, cutting off Gabriel’s words.

“Someone is sure to notice this.”

Daniel motioned with an outstretched hand though the window that both angels stood behind.

Before the council building in heaven, over thirty armed angels milled about, each carrying weapons and armor as though expecting a war. Ezechiel and two more, overly large council members, Ustael and Magnus, stood by his side. The three of them alone made an imposing image of force made only more dramatic with the addition of the other angel warriors. The remainder of the council, Gabriel, Michael, Daniel, Jeremias and the recently arrived Onypheron, sat in various states of anticipation around the council chamber. Each angel in the room was expecting the worst and showed it upon their face with furled brows.

“What do you suggest we do Daniel? What for them to show up while we are unguarded and unprepared? Is that what you want…to die?” Gabriel had turned and faced the smaller angel, his face flush with rage.

“Well, no…” Daniel moved and took a seat next to Onypheron at the table. “…I just think that this may cause a disturbance in heaven. It may lead others, not like us, to look more closely at our actions. It doesn’t look right for the council to be barricaded in their chambers with an army outside protecting them…while in heaven.”

“We’ll just have to hope that Delilah finds them quickly then won’t we?”

Gabriel turned, looked out the chamber window over the expanse of heaven and hoped Delilah wasn’t far from her targets.

***

“As in…THE Adam and Eve?”

Julian said the names again, but could not believe them as they escaped his lips.

“Correct.” Achan looked up from the book.

Julian thought about what he was hearing. Adam and Eve had been a popular legend, even among angels and demons, but he never knew the origin of it or its authenticity.

It was the story of two humans that simply came into existence and spawned the entirety of the human race. Each plane, heaven and hell, had their opinions of where Adam and Eve had come from and the purpose of their creation, but according to what Julian heard now, they were all wrong.

“How can that be?” Ophelia chimed in. “If they had kissed, or gone so far as to spawn children, they would have been ‘struck down’ like Julian and I were. Right?”

“Wrong.” Achan responded. “These trespasses are records of what has happened. Adam and Eve were the first to commit the trespass… the alarm was recorded afterwards. They were the cause of it. They are why it is now a trespass.”

Julian quickly mentally cursed Adam and Eve both for taking away his ability to show affection to Ophelia.

“Is there more to the story there Achan?” Ophelia asked. “I know from the legend there is a snake, and a garden…everything. If the story comes from the truth, there must be more.”

“I’m sorry Ophelia.” Achan lowered his head to the book again, scouring for more. “It only states that since there was no precedence for what they had done and they could neither be banished to heaven or hell, a new plane was created for them.”

“Earth.” Julian muttered.

“Probably.” Achan stated confidently. “The details are of little significance now for they do not pertain to our current directive. We have a job to do.”

Julian felt his train of thought veer down a direction he wanted little to do with. He knew that he was on the verge of going to a fight he was sure he would not win…against The Council of Echoes.

“Have you secured everything you need?” Achan looked up and down the still unprotected and relatively unarmed body of Julian.

“Yeah.” Julian purposely wasn’t convincing in his words, still battling with the idea in his head.

“Very well, let’s go.” Achan spun and took several massive strides to the door.

The hulking protector threw the door open, glanced over his shoulder and smiled almost apologetically.

“I will do what I can to help…good luck, both of you.”

Achan took a step outside his home and spread his wings wide, thrusting into the air and disappearing quickly from view. Ophelia turned to Julian, nearly placing her hands upon his shoulders comfortingly, but pausing when she remembered the consequences of affection. She settled for the comforting smile as she turned her head away.

“Whatever happens Julian, I want you to know that, when this is over, I’m going to find a way for us to be together…whatever it takes.”

“What in the…?”

[K Man]

Julian’s response wasn’t exactly what Ophelia was looking for from a heartfelt message. It was only upon raising her head and spotting the lithe figure emerging from the shadows that Ophelia understood why Julian had said those words.

“Look at you two. So sweet together…”

Julian managed a single word response.

“Delilah…”

***

“Anything yet?” Gabriel called through the open window to Ezechiel.

Ezechiel looked up from his post the window and simply shook his massive head ‘no’. Ezechiel and the other two huge angels, Ustael and Magnus, had taken up seats around the council chamber doors and were playing a common card game to pass the time while they waited for Gabriel’s fears to manifest.

“Keep your eyes open Ezechiel…” Gabriel called down before shutting the window, sealing the chamber from the outside world.

Ezechiel waved his hand above his head in a sloppy salute before laying down his hand of cards. Magnus furled his brow as he looked over the cards.

“You must have cheated…”

Ezechiel leapt to his feet in a second, followed just as quickly by Magnus. Both angels stood face to face, their huge frames and bulging muscles nearly pressed against each other. Ezechiel slapped his hands on Magnus’ breastplate, barely moving him backwards. The resounding thud of the strike focused nearly every angelic guard in the courtyard on the two angels as they stared at each other.

“What if I did? You were probably going to cheat anyway… you’re just angry I beat you to it.”

Magnus was going to respond with an equally clever retort but was interrupted by an angel flying into his back.

The force nearly sent him flying to the ground but Magnus was able to react fast enough to only fall to his hands and knees. Magnus tried to stand and turn to see what had caused the angel to fly into him only to feel a sharp pain from his back and find the angel curiously stuck to his body. Magnus was forced to rely on Ezechiel for a description of what had occurred.

“Ezechiel…what happened?”

Ezechiel seemed stunned, for his response was short.

“Achan…”

***

“Stand back or I’ll run you through…” Ophelia had drawn her sword in the blink of an eye and had it leveled at the smooth neckline of Delilah.

“Relax…I’m not here to kill, stop or otherwise hinder you.” Delilah remained surprisingly calm. “In fact, I’m here to help.”

Julian opened his palm over Ophelia’s sword, gently pushing the tip downwards as he questioned.

“Help us? Why?”

“Because…” Delilah took a deep breath. “…I want to see Gabriel dead. He’s kept me in that damned pit as his eyes and ears for too long. He flaunts around heaven living the life I wanted to live with whores in my place by his side.”

“You and Gabriel…love each other?” Ophelia relaxed her stance, sheathing her sword.

“Loved.” Delilah emphasized the passing of her emotions. “We were lovers before and after we turned…for a time, things were good. However, Gabriel returned here to implement his plan to turn all angels to evil slowly and left me in hell to oversee things there. He seems to have forgotten me for the company of many other angels…even a demon or two. I will not be scorned!”

Julian stood back, watching Delilah on the verge of tears. He almost reached out to comfort her but then was suddenly reminded of her true self when she spoke again.

“He will die for what he has done to me…the damage cannot be healed. That’s why I’ve come here. I could see it, in your eyes, after I told you what was happening, that you were going to try to kill them. I’ve come to give you these.”

Delilah reached into a pouch hanging from her belt and produced two small objects, a small mirror and a single crystal in the shape of a teardrop. Delilah pointed to the mirror that rested face down in her palm.

“This mirror will show any creature an image of their true self. If they look into it, they will immediately answer for any sin…the more evil in them, the greater the pain. The end result is the same for all who look in the mirror with evil eyes. They will immediately be reduced to the essence of existence…a single point of light, that from which all creation stems…”

Delilah moved a supple finger across her palm to the teardrop crystal.

“This is the only tear Lucifer ever shed…the single tear that fell moments before the betrayal, when he realized the need for balance in the planes and what he would have to do to achieve that. He shed the tear, listening to it hit the floor, claiming that it was ‘the last part of him that would ever see redemption’. He then committed the betrayal and brought balance to the planes, but his tear has kept what good left Lucifer’s heart that day. Any creature entering existence near it is brought into the world with a pure heart.”

Ophelia was the first to piece together what Delilah was getting at.

“So you want us to get the council members to look into the mirror, be reduced to the essence of creation and then be recreated as a pure being near Lucifer’s only tear?”

“No.” Delilah responded quietly. “I care nothing for the council, only Gabriel…and myself.”

“You want us to put you through this too?” Ophelia questioned as she picked up the mirror and crystal tear from Delilah’s hand.

“Yes…” Delilah hung her head, softly sobbing. “What you do with those items after Gabriel and myself is inconsequential.”

Julian picked up the mirror, carefully ensuring he did not look directly into its surface.

“How did you find these?” Julian ran a finger over the crystal tear, wondering what it must have been like to be there and see it fall.

“Gabriel used them all the time, for in conjunction, they were a powerful weapon against evil. During wars with hell, he reduced many a demon to nothingness and brought them back as an angel of good. It was the only weapon we had powerful enough for any demon. Since he turned evil and could no longer use them, Gabriel had them moved to a vault and kept there…with me guarding it. I have watched them for centuries, keeping Gabriel and his precious council safe from the threat of ‘re-birth’. After a while, almost everybody but the council members forgot about them. I never did…”

Julian shuddered to think what acts Gabriel had done to drive Delilah this far. She seemed like a shattered fragment of her former happiness, now intent on destroying the one true love of her life. Looking to Ophelia, who nodded, Julian held the mirror out for Delilah to gaze upon. Delilah kept her eyes closed.

“No, use it on Gabriel and then me. I don’t want to go in there, desperate to save him as a reborn angel of good only to have him strike me down…he is very powerful and wouldn’t hesitate to do so as an evil angel.”

Julian placed the mirror in a pouch on his belt along with the tear. Ophelia tapped Delilah on the shoulder, letting her know it was ok to open her eyes. She did so and looked to the duo with a faint smile.

“You had better get going. I told Gabriel someone took the mirror and tear to get him to gather everyone in one spot. I know him. He will want to surround himself with the other council members to shield himself from these items. Unfortunately he may take it a bit farther than that and surround himself with others supporting his cause. Who knows what damage he could cause with his fear.”

Ophelia nodded, turning to allow Julian to wrap his arms around her for their upcoming flight to the council chamber. As Ophelia lifted them both into the sky, Delilah managed a slightly more prominent smile.

“Take care of her Julian.”

Julian managed to smile back at the forlorn Delilah as she disappeared in Ophelia’s wake.

“I will…”
__________________________________________________________________________________________

[Zarni]

hmmm, occult? did you make all this stuff up, or is the whole lucifer's tear thing actually in some weird writings or something somewhere?

we must be nearly there now, keep it coming!

[K Man]

{Lucifer's tear I made up Zarni...I thought it sounded neat. And yeah, we are almost there..but there's so much more.}
__________________________________________________________________________________________

XVII.

Achan stooped low, forcing his wings out behind his body and thrust into flight, keeping his body inches above the ground as he raced towards his target.

Achan intended to retrieve his over-sized sword which now protruded from the back of Magnus. It had been thrown with great force through an angel and into the back of the massive council member, effectively impaling the smaller angel to Magnus and removing him from the fight…the fight Achan had intended to start.

Achan crossed the distance to the kneeled council member Magnus and, using the speed of his flight, removed the huge blade and brought it around to a group of angels that were still unaware of his presence. With one quick swing, each of the four angels was cut neatly in half, each piece of their body crumpling to the ground. Achan continued his swing, spinning and moving his body along towards two more angels that could barely manage to raise their hands in defense against the blade. Their defense was in vain as they were cut down with terrifying efficiency by one normally assigned to protect heavenly inhabitants.

However, Achan knew that any supporters of the council were no longer heavenly inhabitants or worthy or remaining in its borders.

More angels, finally realizing an attack was occurring on the very grounds they were assigned to defend, charged Achan with weapons drawn. Each one met a horribly quick death as Achan, a deadly warrior with purpose and power over most in heaven, repelled each attack and landed a counterstrike with a single move. Achan paused as he heard a voice boom behind him.

“Achan…WHAT are you doing?”

The great protector of heaven twirled around and stopped to look the speaker dead in the eyes. It was Ezechiel, a figure that Achan had never met but, until recently, had always aspired to be. As the bodies of the angel he had just cut down fell behind him, Achan moved to a defensive stance and brought his blade to a stop before him.

“I know about the council Ezechiel…about keeping us in hell to turn us…I know you and the others have already been turned. You’re no longer good and you don’t deserve to be in heaven anymore.”

Deciding he had no interest in hearing a retort, Achan brought his sword into a strike with amazing speed. The blade should have connected with an opening in the armor of Ezechiel, just below the bottom of the angel’s jaw.

Should have…

Ezechiel managed to get his right arm up and Achan’s blade was stopped instantly on the council members forearm, barely even making a dent in the platinum armor.

Achan watched, with mouth dropped open, as Magnus stood to his full height next to Ezechiel, the body of the angel sliding from his back. Apparently Achan’s first, well-placed blow did little to even stun the council member, let alone incapacitate him. Magnus smiled as he withdrew his matching blades from their scabbards. Ezechiel did the same, the glare from the single huge axe gleaming on his bald head.

“And you think this…” Ezechiel waved his hand over the handful of dead bodies. “…will stop us? You a bigger fool than I credited you for Achan. I will ensure that your replacement will be less…inquisitive.”

Achan took several steps back and tried to run…

***

Ophelia gently landed near a building, just around the corner from the council chambers. Julian reluctantly let go of her waist and looked to her with a weak smile. Ophelia managed to show appreciation for the gesture with a simple nod as she turned her head, looking to the corner nearby.

“Ready?” Ophelia muttered softly.

Julian simply nodded.

As Julian walked to the edge of the corner, readying himself to peer around it and view the building he was about to assault, he heard a loud clap of thunder. A blast of wind forced Julian to move back around the corner and a light shone so brightly that both Ophelia and Julian had to cover their eyes with their hands. Sounds followed immediately afterwards, like the collision of metal and stone and the stone crumbling to rubble after the impact. Opening his eyes Julian instantly felt fear…fear that he would die today.

Achan lay at the base of the building, the wall above him crumbling over his limp body. The once great angel was reduced to a shuddering, bleeding fraction of his former glory and his mighty sword was no where to be found. Achan had only the hilt in his hands, the rest appearing to have been broken off by some great force. Julian rushed across the open alley, grabbing Achan by the straps of his armor and with every ounce of strength he possessed and drug him back to where Ophelia stood. Julian rolled Achan onto his back and could see that the great angel was quickly slipping into his death throws. Achan’s body convulsed and blood ran freely from multiple wounds as Julian questioned his presence here.

“Achan? I thought you were going to stay out of this…”

Achan, barely alive, managed to quietly state a response, his voice fading with each word.

“I’m a protector…I protect those in need…I couldn’t let you go in there alone. I did what I could…but…the council members are too…”

Achan stopped for a moment while his body shuddered, attempting to release itself of the pain it had endured and its existence in one great spasm. Julian did what he could as he held Achan’s head up in his lap but was suddenly reminded of the last great angel he held like this…Ammiel. Julian quietly hoped that Achan would somehow pull through, that his body would be great enough to survive this.

“You shouldn’t have Achan…this wasn’t your fight…” Julian whispered.

“This fight is for all in heaven…that are good…” Achan interrupted. “…including you Julian.”

[K Man]

Achan’s body could take no more. With a few final convulsions, Achan’s head fell lifelessly to the side and Julian leaned over, feeling a few tears fall from his eyes. The tears did little to wash away the blood splattered over Achan’s armor, only diluting it so it seemed to flow more freely. Julian felt Ophelia’s hands on his shoulders, an expected sign of sympathy, but Julian felt himself being tugged forcefully backwards until he was lying flat on the ground. The instant Julian wiped the tears from his eyes, he could see why Ophelia had pulled him backwards.

Ezechiel stood near the corner, axe held high over his head and ready to drop right into the center of Achan’s body. The council member did so, splitting Achan’s body open from the base of this throat to the beginning of his waist. Julian stumbled backwards on his hand and heels, pushing into Ophelia who was trying to stand and draw a weapon for defense. Ezechiel glared at the clumsy duo before him, planning his foot in Achan’s torso and pulling his axe free.

“No sense in letting anyone see this crime…” Ezechiel brought his axe skyward again, crimson rivulets of Achan’s blood dripping from the blade onto his bald head.

Julian felt Ophelia desperately shift around behind him, but their awkward position prevented either of them from taking any action to prevent the inevitable. Ezechiel pulled his axe downward, intent on driving it through both Julian and Ophelia in one smooth stroke. Julian meagerly threw his hands up, shifting his body in an attempt to spare Ophelia any amount of pain.

It was only when the axe head shattered with the sound of exploding metal that Julian realized he wasn’t dead…

***

“Tell me Gabriel…” Onypheron muttered. “…how long will you remain locked in this council hall?”

Gabriel stood slowly from his chair, rising to his full height and leaned on the marble table, letting his raven locks of hair fall straight to either side of his face.

“Until they are found Onypheron. Do you want to be ‘born again’? Do you want to feel yourself burned in the flames of your own evil deeds and born again, cleansed with the final, redeeming piece of the ‘first to fall’?”

Onypheron shrunk into his chair, sighing heavily. Gabriel, sensing his dominance of the conversation, decided to make a point.

“And think of the power loss we would all suffer. Any angel brought into existence now has a purpose and only enough power to complete that purpose. We are of the oldest angels in heaven, the only one older than us is Lucifer and he is the only one more powerful than us. If we are to be born again, we would be ‘balanced’, as all things must be now. I, for one, am not willing to give up that power.”

“We understand Gabriel.” Jeremias spoke, leaning further back in his chair. “I think what Onypheron is trying to get at is…why don’t we march across the planes with an army until we find them instead of hiding like cowards?”

“ We could direct an army or at least a large group of good angels, still under our command, to find the items and bring them back. Waiting here for them to show up in the hands of an attacker is suicide…” Michael leaned onto the table, now becoming involved in the debate.

“WE WILL WAIT!” Gabriel shouted as he slammed his hand on the table, shaking it violently.

Speaking in the same voice that he used when the universe was being easily shaped by the powerful words of those speaking them, Gabriel continued to explain.

“We have relied on subterfuge and subtlety thus far… if our plans became common knowledge, we would have a war on our hands that likes of which we have not seen since the betrayal. Angels would turn on us for being evil, demons would turn on us, as they always have, fueled with a hate for our new disposition.”

Gabriel sat back down, resuming his normal voice.

“We would have support and power, but eventually even the mightiest of dams will break under pressure. We would lose eventually and die anyway. We will wait here and handle those responsible for the theft quietly. Then we begin our plans again, hoping there are no more…interruptions. Anyone disagree?”

Every angel at the table nodded that the plan sounded perfect…it had to, according to Gabriel. As silence prevailed in the minutes following Gabriel’s speech, a noise from the courtyard outside became increasingly louder. It was a horrific sound that had managed to permeate the normally soundproof council chambers.

The first to identify the noise was Daniel, who had remained silent during the debate.

“Is that…Ezechiel?”

***

Julian lowered his hands and looked to where the axe should have entered his body.

There, inches above the red skin of his stomach, was the shattered remnant of the axe-head. The handle and a few jagged pieces were all that remained of the impossibly sharp weapon Ezechiel wielded moments ago. Ezechiel stood upright, bringing the destroyed axe-head closer to his eyes as though the answer for what had happened would be evident and immediately understood.

Looking down to Julian, Ezechiel tilted his head.

“Who are you?”

Julian moved his hands up and felt the disguise around his neck. Lifting it off of his head, Julian heard his words come out of his mouth filled with a power he did not think he possessed.

“I am Julian…I bring justice for those that took the life of Ammiel the Inquisitor.”

With an effortless kick on his part, Julian sent the mass of Ezechiel flying backwards down the alley…screaming in pain.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

[Zarni]

'My name....is Neo!' *crunch*

hehehehe.... lucifer's tera is very convincingly made up; i would have guessed you found it in some satanic binding somewhere
still reckon he shouldn't be called julian, though...

now my exams are over i intend to work on 'what you say', a chapter or two in the middle, and some more stuff at the end.
i'll keep you up to date on that one.

[K Man]

{I like Julian... However, if you can think of a better one, I'm open to suggestion.}
__________________________________________________________________________________________

XVIII.

[/center]

Julian rose to his feet and looked at his leg that had just delivered such a powerful blow.

The mark of Ammiel was shining a brilliant hue of blue, simultaneously beautiful and blinding. The blue light washed over Julian, encasing him in a translucent shell…a dazzling visage of Ammiel complete with sheer wings and diaphanous armor. Julian felt engorged with power beyond his wildest imagination as he walked forward, calmly removing the mirror and tear drop he had received from Delilah moments ago.

Ezechiel was face down against the wall, breathing heavily and whimpering like a small human child. Julian reached down and rolled the council member onto his back and as he did, Julian felt a voice in the back of his mind, the voice of Ammiel.

Ezechiel. Once a great warrior of good that stood against Lucifer and his minions alone, sparing entire continents of man from being overrun with evil. Look how he has fallen. He now deals with demons regularly and has killed nearly as many angels as demons. He held me still while Gabriel ran me through after the others had dealt their damage…

Julian listened to the voice of Ammiel in his head as it recounted the events of Ammiel’s death. Ezechiel tried to move away from Julian but with a single hand, the demon was able to hold Ezechiel still. The mark on his leg filled Julian with unbelievable power…and the determination to use it for a purpose.

Cleanse him…

The voice faded away into the recesses of Julian’s mind.

Despite Ezechiel’s best attempts, he could not break the iron clad grasp of Julian. Holding the mirror before Ezechiel, the angel took a moment to glance at the object, not recognizing it for what it was and that was all the time necessary for the mirror’s power to take effect. Ezechiel arched his back, unleashing a violent scream into the air that ruptured several glass windows and forced Ophelia to cover her ears. A blinding light emanated from with the body of Ezechiel, shooting forth from his mouth, ears and eyes. As Ezechiel writhed in the agony of his evil deeds, his body cracked and split spilling more light outwards through the recent openings.

A few short seconds later…Ezechiel ceased to exist.

With an audible noise of flesh ripping and existence unraveling, Ezechiel’s body shattered and left nothing behind save for a small point of light that hovered in the air just above the ground. Julian held the tear of Lucifer outward, near the bright hovering light and watched the next few events with curiosity. It wasn’t often that one could witness the reduction of a great and powerful evil angel to a point of light and the process with which they were reborn as good.

The point of light sparkled when the tear neared it, shimmering much like the stars Julian had seen on earth. The light stretched and elongated until it was nearly the same size as Ezechiel had been previously. The light filled with substance until it was a pale skinned angel…an exact clone of Ezechiel without armor or weapons, nude and shaking with fear. Julian paused for a moment, fearful that the process had failed but knew it was successful when the new Ezechiel collapsed to the ground, sobbing loudly into his open palms. Julian smiled and moved towards the council building, the voice in his head returning when he saw the next angel.

Magnus. He once spent an entire century on earth guiding lost wanderers home, eventually placing a star in the sky in his place so they would never get lost again. Now he prays on the weak and lonely, killing them after toying with them, destroying them mentally. With Ustael, he dealt blow after blow to me until I was too weak to fight back…

Cleanse him.

Julian walked calmly forward, the halo of the ghostly Ammiel growing in intensity until Ophelia could barely see beyond the shimmering visage. Magnus charged, screaming loudly and bringing his twin blades together in a move meant to chop most enemies cleanly in half. Julian looked down without any resistance as the blades hit the barrier of the ghostly Ammiel, immediately snapping from their hilts as they made contact. Julian felt nothing from the attack and quickly moved his hand up to Magnus’ throat.

Squeezing with such intensity to force Magnus’ tongue out of his mouth with a spray of saliva and spit, Julian held the mirror up for Magnus to gaze into. Unable to turn his head or close his eyes from the pressure on his neck, Magnus looked into the mirror and his body began to shudder with pain. As with Ezechiel, the body collapsed, exploding with light as it cracked like a fragile ceramic pot and became nothing more than a point of light in the air.

Before he could raise the tear to complete the process, Julian looked towards Ustael, the last of the brutish council members left to guard the entrance. Ustael looked back and forth quickly, apparently mentally debating his chances of fighting the figure he had just watched destroy his two companions. The voice of Ammiel became audible in a ghostly tone.

Ustael. He used to be general in the armies of heaven, leading countless angels with unrivaled fervor and vigilance to good in battles that sometimes raged for centuries. He now spends his time deciding which angels to keep in hell until they turn…personally hunting down those that fail to turn. He attacked me, from behind, with Magnus and beat me until I could resist no longer…

Cleanse him.

Ustael changed from a look of confusion to one of desperation as he charged Julian, intent of getting past the terrifying figure and into the open air of heaven. Julian did little to resist the attack, instead content on watching Ustael’s face as the attack was immediately repelled as the others had been. Ustael tried to fly past Julian but proved to be slower than the empowered demon as Julian caught Ustael by the ankle. Crushing Ustael’s foot in his grip, Julian brought Ustael back the ground with such force that the stone beneath the angel cracked like fragile glass.

Ustael could only manage a whimper of pain as Julian kicked him over onto his back with his foot, planting it on his chest to keep him still. Ustael tried to resist looking into the mirror but caught a glimpse of it as Julian forced his eyelids open.

As with the others, Ustael was reduced to the essence of existence, the single point of light that all things begin as. Julian looked around the courtyard outside the council chambers, empty save for the bodies of the angels that Achan had taken in his assault. Julian closed his eyes and held out Lucifer’s tear for the re-birth of Ustael and Magnus, wishing that Achan did not have to die. The points of light of the former two angels shuddered and stretched, forming into two naked and crying angels, both clones of their former bodies but significantly weaker and infinitely more remorseful for past deeds.

[K Man]

Julian heard a noise and looked upwards to an open window above the courtyard. Three angels had emerged from the window and were desperately flying away in an attempt to place distance between them and the scene at the council building. Julian felt his body lift from the ground, the gossamer wings of the ghostly Ammiel pumping hard, and move swiftly through the air towards the three figures. As Julian streaked through the air, Ammiel’s voice echoed from within.

Daniel, Jeremias and Onypheron. Once they were a trinity of good, creating many of the founding principles of heaven and protecting its inhabitants from evil…much like I did. They now have created a web of lies and deceit, unraveling all the work they had done in heaven and leading countless angels down paths of evil. As Ezechiel held me still, they took their time with me…exacting pain for my vigilance.

Cleanse them…

Julian felt the ghostly wings on his back push the air back faster until tears flowed from his eyes. The trio of council members could do nothing to avoid the juggernaut coming behind them and each one tried vainly to dodge, taking a different path through the sky.

Jeremias was the first angel Julian followed from the window, coming from behind and above him, dropping onto his back. Pulling back on his head, Julian felt Jeremias’ neck nearly break as he reached around and held the mirror before his eyes. The mirror showed Jeremias the deeds of his life and exacted excruciating vengeance for them. Julian tumbled through the crumbling body of Jeremias as he spun in the air, headed for his next target, leaving the bright point of light hanging the sky.

Daniel was a good distance ahead of Julian but the supernatural wings Julian now possessed covered that distance quickly. As Daniel saw the demon approach, wreathed in the ghostly shell of Ammiel, he folded his wings tight and fell to the ground, spreading his wings open wide at the last second and streaked along, inches above the ground. Julian did little to counteract this maneuver, only folding his specter-wings in and reaching outward with his hands. Julian fell, gaining considerable speed and impacted Daniel in the lower center of his back. The force shoved Daniel into the ground at an improper angle, forcing every ounce of breath the council member had in his body and breaking his back.

As Daniel gasped for air and his now useless legs flailed about, Julian rolled him over and placed the mirror before his eyes. Despite his attempts to keep them closed, Julian forced Daniel’s eyes open and in the instant it took to see his reflection, Daniel felt the force of the mirror break him apart for his evil deeds. The body turned to ash and then nothing but a white light remained, gently floating above the ground. Julian tilted his head as he heard a voice from the corner of a building nearby.

“Don’t kill me…”

It was Onypheron, begging for his life.

“I don’t know what you have against the council but we can make a deal.”

Julian heard the voice of Ammiel resonate through his skull.

More lies and deceit. Cleanse him…

Julian spread his lips into a smile as he began to walk towards the corner of the building. Onypheron continued to plead.

“What is it you want? Power? What?”

The words sounded desperate.

Julian reached around the corner with a speed Onypheron could not match and grabbed Onypheron’s garb. He pulled the angel around the corner to just within inches of his face. Onypheron could now clearly see the ghostly visage of Ammiel surrounding Julian and the shock became apparent in the form of poorly muttered words.

“No…no…you’re dead.”

Julian said nothing, only lifting Onypheron with an outstretched hand upwards, holding him by the neck. With the mirror held before his eyes, Onypheron shuddered and convulsed just like the other council members, meeting a painful end to his evil existence. Julian quickly gathered the three points of light that were Jeremias, Daniel and Onypheron, and held the tear of Lucifer outwards in his palm. The lights sparkled and expanded, becoming three naked and sobbing angels in the courtyard. Julian heard a familiar voice behind him.

“It looks so…painful…”

Julian turned and could make out Ophelia through his ghostly shell. She leaned against a wall as though any strength or resolve she possessed had left her body. She looked as though her heart had been torn from her chest and casually tossed aside.

“I thought I wanted to make the council pay…” Ophelia continued, closing her eyes and looking away from the scene. “…I’m not sure this is what I had in mind.”

“This is what they deserve. The mirror controls their pain…I don’t.” Julian noted that even his voice sounded like Ammiel’s

“I know.” Ophelia opened her eyes and looked at Julian. “There has to be another way…”

Julian looked at Ophelia, his heart swelling simultaneously with the urge to comfort the one he loved and finish the task he was empowered to do. Eventually duty took precedence and Julian turned away from Ophelia, spreading his wings to fly to the open window of the council chamber. As he gently rose into the air, Julian looked over his shoulder.

“It will be over soon.”

Ophelia sat down in the courtyard near an angel that Achan had killed and watched the council members that had been reborn cry…and she broke down herself, quietly sobbing into her hands.

***

The window to the council chamber was still open as Julian flew through it into the room beyond. There, huddled in the corner was Michael. Gabriel was not immediately visible, but Julian knew he was in the room. Peering under the table, Julian saw him, eyes closed and rocking back and forth on his knees. Julian stood and looked to Michael first as the voice of Ammiel echoed in his skull again.

Michael. The angel of judgment. He was one of the first angels created and any evil that needed dispatching was his responsibility…until he turned evil himself. He killed Raphael over something so petty as material wealth and took glee in my death, laughing as I struggled for life.

Cleanse him…

Julian took a step forward, forcing a cry from archangel Michael as he slumped further into the corner, placing his head between his knees. Julian knelt down, grabbing the locks of Michael’s hair and pulling back with enough force to pull Michael’s body flat to the floor. The archangel kept his eyes closed tightly, attempting to remain safe from the reflection of his deeds. The archangel Michael began to plead.

“Please…stop this.”

“I said the same thing and you didn’t listen…” Julian responded with the voice of Ammiel.

Michael paused in his whimpering as though trying to identify the voice. Julian remained calm, holding the mirror before the archangels’ eyes and patiently waited for Michael’s curiosity to take over.

It did…

Michael caught a glimpse of his attacker moments after seeing his reflection. He began to speak the name of Ammiel but couldn’t force the first syllable out as his skin ruptured like a breaking dam, spilling light into the room. As Michael’s body was torn apart by the power of the mirror, Julian looked under the table to the still huddled Gabriel.

Julian stood, leaving the sparkle of light that was Michael for the time being, and took one step towards the large stone table, the current shelter for Gabriel. With one hand, Julian lifted the table and threw it against the wall, breaking it into many pieces. The stone rained about the room, but Gabriel still would not look up from his huddled position, the consequence of doing so keeping his eyes tightly shut. Julian kneeled before the once mighty Gabriel, listening to Ammiel in his mind.

Gabriel. Ever the angel of mercy and the second angel to be created, after Lucifer. I once admired Gabriel for his compassion and ability to lift even the smallest creature to personal heights. I know now that it was a façade…a mask of beauty of hide the monster beneath. He was the last to strike me, driving his blade through me as Ezechiel held me still.

He too, must be cleansed…

Julian lifted Gabriel’s chin with one hand, preparing to forcefully open the archangels’ eyes. A fluttering of wings at the window and a female voice interrupted Julian before he could do so.

“No Julian…”

It was Delilah.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

[Japic]

Don't leave me hangin man. Get on with it already.

[Merovingian]

Finally caught up. This is good stuff.

[K Man]

XIX.

[/b]


Julian tilted his head and felt the voice of Ammiel override his own.

“He must be cleansed…”

“I know…” Delilah took a step into the council chamber. “…I’m not here to stop that. I ask that you only give me a moment.”

Delilah’s stride was nothing less than somber and her expression like that of a woman recently made into a widow. She moved to Gabriel and, kneeling by his side, pulled the great council member’s head towards her buxom. Gabriel had still not opened his eyes but, through his words, clearly recognized the voice of his lover.

“Delilah! What are you doing?”

“Helping you my love…” Delilah paused. “Helping us.”

“This is NOT helping. He’s here to kill us. He has the mirror and the tear!”

“I know, I gave them to him.”

Gabriel’s body went stiff with the realization of betrayal. The council member’s face soured into one of anger and rage.

“Gave them to who? Why?” Gabriel was nearly shouting.

Delilah took a moment to glance towards Julian, carefully avoiding looking directly at the mirror. She noticed the mark of Ammiel on the demon’s leg through the glowing visage and smiled.

“I first tried to give them to Ammiel, after telling him about you and the council.” Delilah had returned her gaze to Gabriel. “I begged him to take them and use them on at least you, if not the whole council. He wouldn’t have it though…he believed you could be turned back to good through the purity of your hearts and was willing to die trying. Apparently that was exactly what happened.”

Gabriel remained silent, eyes still tightly shut.

“Then fate gave me a second chance in the form of a demon named Julian, a demon with a surprisingly good heart. Julian had met Ammiel, seconds before his death, and through a series of coincidences, inherited Ammiel’s mark and powers…”

“The one doing this is a demon?” Gabriel had lowered his voice, seemingly interested in the tale being told.

“Yes.” Delilah answered. “He has spent so much time in Angel City that he’s no longer a demon in heart…just as you spent so much time in hell that you forgot your true angelic nature.”

Gabriel paused, having no response to Delilah’s last statement. Julian lowered his head, still wishing that there were a better explanation for the feelings he had inside…that he had always had inside.

“Is that what this is about?” Gabriel’s voice was sarcastic as he finally found a retort. “I ‘forgot’ my angelic nature? For that you would conspire against me and have me re-born as a good angel? I thought we had worked this out Delilah, we had plans.”

“Those plans never included love…”

Again, Gabriel found himself without a response to Delilah.

“I still love you Gabriel…” Delilah quietly whispered. “Even after you turned and left me in hell to find other lovers. I miss the ‘old’ you…the ‘good’ you. I haven’t forgotten.”

Gabriel still lacked the words to speak as he lost himself in the memories of his past. Delilah smiled and lightly laughed.

“I did all this because I love you… as I have heard those on Earth say, ‘Love conquers all’.”

Delilah moved her hand and gently lifted Gabriel’s head towards her own. Gabriel cracked his eyes open slightly and, upon seeing that he wasn’t looking into the mirror that could unravel his existence, opened his eyes fully and stared at Delilah. Gabriel began to weep softly.

“I don’t want to lose the power Delilah…”

“Balance, Gabriel…the power you lose will become the love you gain…”

Julian watched as the two angels, both evil by circumstance and surroundings, embraced each other and tears flowed freely down their cheeks. Julian remained silent and respectful of their moment, his glowing ghostly shell bathing the council chambers in waves of blue like the reflection of water. Delilah finally moved her head towards Julian, simply nodding that she was ready. Looking back to her lover, Delilah looked straight into Gabriel’s eyes.

Gabriel returned the look, still showing hesitation for what was about to happen but directed by the realization it could not be avoided. Together the two moved their gaze to meet the mirror and their bodies began to jerk instantly from the effect. Delilah reached out and clasped her lover’s hand tightly, holding it while their skin cracked open and spilt the light from within outwards.

Within seconds, the two were gone, reduced to small hovering points of light.

Julian stood to his full height and held Lucifer’s tear out before him in an open palm. The two lights began to waver and stretch, filling with the substance of creation. Delilah first formed, her nude body cowering on the floor, shaking from the pain of re-birth. The tattoos and piercings were gone, leaving behind pale shapely skin. Gabriel’s body formed next, lacking the formerly raven hair as it was replaced with platinum white locks. The two painstakingly moved towards each other and continued to shake and weep through the process as the other council members had.

[K Man]

Julian felt the shimmering visage of Ammiel fade from his body, the gossamer shell becoming more and more faint until it no longer covered the crimson-skinned demon. Julian turned and walked through the chamber halls towards the door leading to the courtyard, leaving Gabriel, Delilah and the others to finish the process of re-birth. The demon’s head was swimming with the recent events as he tried to fully comprehend the power he just felt surge through him, the emotion between Delilah and Gabriel…and lastly, the feelings he had for Ophelia that he could do nothing about.

As he opened the doors to the courtyard, Julian saw Ophelia sitting on a step nearby. Her wings were spread out limply to either side and she rested with her head in her lap. Julian approached and Ophelia lifted her head, his footsteps alerting her to his presence.

“You’re right.” Ophelia’s words were flat and cold. “That was over quick. An entire council of angels, most of which have existed since the sand of time began to pour…all gone in less than a few minutes.”

“It had to be done.”

Julian spoke as he took a seat next to Ophelia, fighting every urge to comfort her. Ophelia looked over and noticed Julian’s hesitant movements.

“What?”

“You looked like you could use someone…” Julian smiled.

“Thanks.” Ophelia replied, equally flirtatious. “I’ll be alright. This isn’t as bad as the day my family died…it’s horrible, but I’ll live.”

“So will they…” Julian motioned to the courtyard of council members, still naked and curled in fetal positions as the process of rebirth shook their now fragile bodies.

For several moments, Julian and Ophelia sat in silence, leaning backwards and in towards each other until their shoulders nearly touched, as they watched the council members shake in their new forms. This continued until Julian suddenly sat upright and audibly smacked his forehead with his palm.

“What is it?” Ophelia sat up too, concerned.

“This isn’t over yet Ophelia…there’s one more person we have to see.”

“Who?”

“Remember what Ammiel said right before he died?” Julian explained. “… ‘Esienyl…too long’.”

“You don’t think…he’s…” Ophelia gasped.

Julian held out the mirror and Lucifer’s tear confidently.

“If he is…we’re ready for it.”

***

Julian leaned forward in an attempt to get a better glimpse of the massive dwelling Ophelia had led them both to. It wasn’t far from the council building that Julian had just come from but it was infinitely more regal. Massive pillars held up a roof of solid ivory that, even against the white background of heaven, seemed to gleam brightly. Huge windows, devoid of glass normally found in all of heavens buildings, dotted the front and side of the building. A semi-circle dais of steps rose to meet the entrance which was clearly open, lacking a door and unguarded.

Julian looked back to Ophelia.

“I thought you said Esienyl was hard to get close to.”

“Well…” Ophelia responded to Julian’s witty comment. “…would you want to waltz up to the king of heaven unannounced? Nearly every angel is too afraid to come here…”

Those words pounded the reality of the situation back into Julian’s mind. He stood, footsteps away from the doorstep of one who went unchallenged in heaven with the intent of battling as he had with the council should Esienyl prove to be evil. Julian looked to the mark of Ammiel on his leg, hoping that if he did have to go to battle, he would again feel the power of the dead angel course through him.

Swallowing the lump of fear in his throat, Julian looked back to Ophelia.

“I’m going to go in alone. I don’t want you hurt if he’s evil and I can’t stop him.”

Ophelia seemed to melt, her features becoming soft and flirtatious at Julian’s gesture.

“No…I want to go with you.”

Julian smiled, filled with a strength that Ammiel’s mark could never match. The strength that if he did die, he would do so with Ophelia by his side…a fate he did not fear.

The two slowly walked the short distance to the massive stone steps leading up to the open door of Esienyl’s dwelling. Julian paused at the entrance, peering inside as he tried to see from the bright gleam of the exterior to the interior. The interior of the house seemed simple, lacking any furniture or decoration, save for a simple stone throne in the middle of the dwelling facing away from Julian, towards the rear of the building. The rear was open, supported by pillars and faced a wonderful green garden of seemingly countless plants and flowers. Julian could see the edges of a white robe crumpled at the foot of the throne indicating a clothed figure sat in the throne.

Carefully lifting one foot before the other, Julian entered the building and crossed the smooth floor to the throne, followed by Ophelia who moved with equal stealth. As the demon reached the rear of the throne, he held his breath and grasped the mirror tightly in his hands, the same mirror that had proved fatal to the members of The Council of Echoes and would hopefully be just as powerful if Esienyl shared their disposition. Julian reached around the throne with great speed, catching only a glimpse of Esienyl’s reflection as he placed the mirror clearly before the angel’s face. With a simple statement, Julian’s fears were washed away.

“Welcome…I’ve been expecting you both.”

Esienyl stared straight into the mirror and met Julian’s gaze.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

[Zarni]

ooh!
is Esienyl god, maybe? aww, poor old deliah, she was nice really. did you mean julian when you wrote gabriel in the first sentance of this chapter? hmmm...
we must be near the end now! let me guess, this is where the adam and eve reference comes into play?

[K Man]

{Zarni...always watching my back. I did mean Julian, not Gabriel. So many names I gotta keep them straight.}

{And the Adam and Eve thing comes into play...now!!}
__________________________________________________________________________________________

XX.

Julian audibly sighed, his relief only seconded by his pride that he was probably the first demon in existence to meet Esienyl, argued by some to be the ‘king’ of heaven. Keeping the mirror in place as a way to look to his conversationalist, Julian began to probe with questions.

“Esienyl?”

“You were expecting someone else in my home?”

Julian wasn’t expecting the greatest angel in heaven to posses a level of wit and sarcasm. Undaunted, Julian retorted quickly.

“The same could be said with regards to expecting us here.”

“Excellent point.” Esienyl moved his hand up and gently pushed the mirror away so he could stand. “I prefer to speak to faces, not reflections.”

As Esienyl stood, Julian got a clearer understanding of why he was the greatest angel in heaven.

About the same height as Gabriel’s seven-foot frame, Esienyl was muscular but not overly so like Magnus or Ezechiel. His hair was cropped stylishly short to his scalp and seemed to be blonde laced with gold filaments giving Esienyl a sovereign appearance from the neck up alone. The angels’ wings matched the majestic visage with ivory feathers also laced with golden veins, giving the wings a halo of bright light as they fluttered. Esienyl was clad in simple white robes tied about his waist with a golden rope. Julian instinctively lowered the mirror to his side and felt reverent in the presence of such a being, dropping to one knee and lowering his head. Ophelia must have felt it too for she also dropped to one knee and lowered her head.

“Please, both of you stand and treat me as you would an equal.”

“You are far from my equal…my lord.” Ophelia muttered softly behind Julian.

“You will soon learn Ophelia, as with balance…we all have equals. So please rise.”

This last statement brought both Julian and Ophelia’s gaze upwards to meet Esienyl. Ophelia seemed shocked that Esienyl knew her name and addressed her personally. The greatest angel in heaven simply smiled, holding out a hand for Julian to grasp as he stood. The demon did so, turning and helping the confused Ophelia to her feet. Esienyl motioned with an outstretched hand to the open garden behind the building.

“Please, come walk with me.”

Julian and Ophelia both felt compelled to follow, taking flanking positions behind Esienyl as the angel took a few strides towards the garden. As the trio walked in the garden beyond, Julian finally broke the silence with more questions.

“You said you were expecting us?”

“That’s right Julian.” Esienyl addressed the shocked demon with his own name. “Everything you have gone through…the council, Ammiel, Marduk…it was all planned, even the moment when you crossed the threshold of my home.”

Julian moved his head back quickly in confusion. Esienyl noticed this and continued.

“I knew Ammiel was planning on confronting the council and I knew the council would murder him. After the battle, when he was dying, I sent him to the door just outside of Angel City…the same door you were guarding that night. I knew Marduk would mark you as Ammiel’s killer and I knew you would meet Ophelia…and together you would both unravel the mystery and bring justice to the council in the form of re-birth.”

“…” Julian lacked the words to respond.

“I knew that over the course of your adventure, so to speak, you would fall in love with her and she would return that love. It was all planned…for a reason.”

Ophelia stopped in her steps, trying to grasp what she was hearing.

“Why, Lord Esienyl…I don’t understand.”

Esienyl stopped and turned, a slight smile spreading across his lips.

“Tell me…” The great angel questioned. “…what do you know of the history of heaven?”

“It was created, filled with angels…and for a long time, things were good. Then Lucifer committed the betrayal…” Ophelia lacked the words to explain what she knew, her head swimming with thoughts.

“It wasn’t really a betrayal.” Julian interjected. “Lucifer realized what he had to do to bring balance to the planes, and he left to make hell evil, crying a single tear before he left as he realized he could never return to heaven.”

Julian held the crystal tear of Lucifer out, recalling the story Delilah had relayed when she gave him the artifact. Esienyl gently reached out and grasped the tear, holding it close to his eyes as he examined it visually.

“I remember the sound this made when it hit the floor…” Esienyl closed his eyes briefly, lost in the memory.

Opening his eyes again, Esienyl looked to Julian and Ophelia.

“You’re mostly right. Hell had to be created, for without it heaven would eventually unravel into nothingness. Such are the laws of balance…the laws that the universe precariously hangs on. Although your tale is wrong a few accounts.”

“Such as?” Julian tilted his head.

“Hell was originally created in an effort to balance heaven.” Esienyl went on. “It was created and filled with angels…but good cannot balance good. Things nearly collapsed before we realized what had to be done. Lucifer did realize he would have to leave his precious heaven and make hell evil…but I never said I couldn’t return…”