Jason struggles as best he can but Ragna’s grip is unwavering.
Ragna doesn’t appear as I had seen her before, she looks older.
Ragna has streaks of gray in her hair and her eyes are not a violet as I recalled from before. Her breathing is uneven, ragged and labored. The energy pulsing around her is black, like Rachel’s, though somehow not as pronounced, muted. I can tell from the pressure alone that Tim was right: The only person who could hold a candle to Ragna was Zepherina.
Jason grumbles, “Fuck lady what the hell do they feed you?”
Ragna pulls her arm tighter against her shoulder, constricting Jason’s throat more, “Quiet you foul-mouthed little runt!” she growls to Jason, “Release her, or he dies.”
Peering down at Rachel, who has a shit-eating grin on her face, I wonder who has the power in this negotiation. Delay will mean Rachel could bleed out, while Ragna had Jason’s life in her hands. So far, Ragna had more leverage, I have to fix that.
“Kill them all love-” Rachel starts but the barrel of my gun sliding into her mouth silences her.
Ragna shouts, “W-What are you doing?” Her eyes are grey, and I swear more hair goes white, “Stop! Stop damn you!” she drops her sword.
I narrow my eyes at Ragna, “Release him or I plaster her head all over this oak desk.” I tap the desk with my free hand.
Ragna narrows her eyes, “I’ll let him go when you do the same for her!”
I flick the safety off, “On top of letting go of my subordinate you will leave here in peace… or again, your angel turns into modern art.”
Rachel tries to say something around the barrel of my gun before I push it in deeper.
Ragna’s eye twitches in anger and I can swear her hair is even whiter than it was before, “Hurt her… and I swear to the Guardians I will avenge her death with yours!”
“Yet if you do that, she’d still be dead.” I fire back at Ragna.
Rachel gets dizzy next to me, falling forward and almost choking on the barrel.
“Rachel!” Ragna shouts. A few of Ragna’s feathers shift from black to white before she narrows her eyes on me, glaring with pure hate. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“My name is Captain Sofia Vázquez, US Army.” I push the gun deeper into Rachel’s mouth, “No release him.”
Ragna’s eyes go wide, and she releases Jason, “Fine! Take him! Hand her over now, damn it! We’ll depart, as agreed!” Her energy is weakening, frantic, panicked.
I stand up, pulling Rachel to her feet, removing the gun from her mouth, “You’re not coming back, understood?”
Ragna’s energy weakens as Rachel stumbles towards her, “I understand damn it!”
I let Rachel go.
Rachel stumbles forward into Ragna’s arms.
Ragna catches her and falls to the ground with her, “My Amaranthine…” Ragna whispers, her energy strengthening and shifting to a pure white. “My dream… speak to me…”
Rachel coughs as Ragna runs her hand over Rachel’s wound, “I’m… here… I’m sorry.”
Ragna kisses her, pulling her close for some time before breaking the kiss and holding her forehead to Rachel’s, “I’ll get you fixed up, I promise.” she places her hand on Rachel’s wound, an odd blue ooze flowing inside.
Rachel smiles, her own aura going white, “Of course you will my love.”
Ragna’s hair shifts to a jet black, she closes her eyes, standing up tall, cradling Rachel in her arms, upon opening them her eyes glow violet, and bright. “Captain Vázquez, you will regret this, I will not let you forget this day.”
I train my gun on both of them, keeping Rachel in my sights, “You’ll regret it more if you don’t leave, I’ve still got a decent shot at her, and I do not miss.”
A demonic grin crosses Ragna’s face, “I will make it a point to meet you on the field of battle Captain Vázquez, we’ll see how you fair against me on a level playing field.” she narrows her eyes as she grins, “We’ll see what Samael’s Nephilim can do.” She turns from us, walking towards the portal, “This first defeat is a practice round, Captain.” she glances over her shoulder as the portal closes, “I’ve already planned your demise.”
Once the portal closes I lower my weapon and lean against the desk, looking to the floor and heaving a sigh, “Jason… please get us out of here…” I face Demond, who is having difficulty breathing. “Quickly.”
Colonel Anderson chuckles in pain not far from me, “I think… she popped a nut.”
Jason nods, walking to an open doorway, “Remind me to never piss you off, Captain.”
“Seconded…” Colonel Anderson gasps as he sits up, looking to Demond, “Captain… is the Sergeant… okay?”
I check Demond’s pulse, “Sergeant? You all right?”
Demond wheezes, his body shaking, “no…” he whimpers.
Elon’s voice chimes into my ear, “What’s going on? Did I get her?”
I talk into the commlink, “You got her Sergeant, but hang tight we need medevac for your brother.”
Elon laughs, “You’re kidding right?”
Demond groans, clutching his side, his breathing growing more labored.
“Jason! Doors! Get Irfan!” I shout, I turn to Colonel Anderson, “You too, sir.”
He shakes his head, “Captain, get the Sergeant the help he needs, I can wait.”
Jason opens the doors and I get under Demond’s shoulder, getting to my feet and hoping he can help, “Come on soldier, on your feet!”
Demond grunts, unable to get his feet under him.
Colonel Anderson tries to stand to help, but hisses in extreme pain and falls back to the floor, “Go, Go, I’ll be fine.” he insists.
Jason soon helps me with his other arm, “Getting Déjà vu here.”
I shoot him a withering gaze, then glance ahead, speaking to Demond, “I’m not losing you, Sergeant, hang in there.”
Demond’s breathing now sounds constricted.
As we get inside, I shout, “Medic!”
Irfan rushes out of the medical wing, Tasha in tow.
Tasha gasps, “Oh my God! What happened?”
Jason grunts as we lay Demond down on the ground, “Bastard took some nasty hits… despite his injuries, he risked his life to save me”
Tasha looks down in shock, getting to her knees and checking his pulse, “H-He’s going into shock, something is constricting his airway!”
Irfan nods, rushing inside, “I’ve got some equipment to keep it open, get him on a bed.”
With little effort, Tasha lifts Demond up off to ground in her arms, and walks him into the medical wing.
Demond chokes out, “sorry… about… what I said…”
“Shut up,” Tasha scolds, “you need your strength, concentrate on breathing, not talking!”
I watch as Irfan rushes over with a large kart that has a series of tubes, and breathing equipment. He places multiple vials of different liquid, and a small surgery kit on a tray near it.
Jason frowns, “I will get Elon.”
I nod, walking in but keeping my distance from Tasha and Irfan as they work.
“Tilt his head back so I can intubate him,” Irfan grumbles, “I am unsure of what’s causing this. He has lacerations but what would cause this swelling?”
Tasha answers him while she tilts Demond’s head back, “He’s having some kind of allergic reaction, do you see the swelling in his face? It’s happening fast… is there something in the wound?”
Irfan finishes sliding a tube down Demond’s throat, then checks the wounds on his sides, “What is this?” he pulls out a chip of metal.
“Oh, God!” Tasha cries, “That’s silver! We get that out of him! It can kill him!” There are frantic noises, metal tools clattering on to metal trays. “Do we have any adrenaline? We need a huge dose, right away!”
Irfan nods, “Yes, hold on, keep an eye on that ventilator.” he runs off to a supply closet. He runs back with a needle, “Lady Tasha, hold his arm down.”
Tasha does as he asks and I believe he’s injected, though it’s hard to see.
Tasha and Irfan are pulling long silver claw-like nails which Rachel had broken off in Demond’s side out of him.
Some were almost three inches long, I flinch as they’re pulled out of him. Tim gets my attention from the doorway, looking relieved to see me.
Tim rushes over as I stand, just in time for him to hug me, “Damn it Sofia…”
I hug him back, “Like you can keep me out of the fray.”
Tim kisses my forehead, “How’s the Sergeant?”
I glance back to Irfan and Tasha, “Not sure… I will say critical.” I focus on Tim, “Rachel stabbed him with silver, and left it in him, it seems.”
Tim narrows his eyes, “You should have killed her.”
I avert my eyes from him, not sure how I should react to that.
“How’s everyone else?” Tim asks, “I need a debrief.”
I nod, “let's give them some space…” I say as we walk out of the medical wing, “Colonel Anderson is injured but stable back at the Fort. Jason’s retrieving Elon from the field. Elon managed a shot that took down Rachel, Jason used my gun to channel some kind of holy magic to break whatever armor she had on to let that happen.”
Tim is listening as we walk, he moves in front of me and I can swear I sense some kind of presence near his right shoulder, but I cannot make anything specific out.
I sigh, “Then Ragna showed up, grabbed Jason and forced a prisoner exchange.” I recall the white auras surrounding Ragna and Rachel as they had kissed. “Tim, funny question, Rachel’s your mother, Xyphiel is your father… where does Ragna factor into that equation? Because your mom and her kind of have the hots for each other.”
“She’s my Aunt she’s Xyphiel’s step-sister.” Tim sighs, “I’m sure it’s just lust.”
We head into an office Tim had set-up, I close the door as we walk in, “No Tim… Ragna… she looked like you did when I first found you here.”
Tim walks behind a desk, sitting down, raising an eyebrow at me as he did, “What do you mean?”
“I mean she was haggard and tired looking while I had the barrel of my gun in Rachel’s mouth.”
Tim gave me a blank stare at a moment, “You… had a gun in her mouth?”
I nod, “Well, yeah I had to show Ragna I was serious.” I sat down across from him, “And I want to point out that Ragna lost it when I did that. They’re, oddly, weirdly in love.”
Tim seemed uncomfortable with the situation as I explained it, “I doubt that.”
I slam my palm on the desk, “Tim, I know what I saw. I saw them, they both changed when Ragna took her in her arms. Ragna’s color came back, she got stronger, and they had this… aura of love around them.”
Tim fixes me with a stern gaze, “I can’t believe that Rachel can love anything.”
I relax, looking to Tim, “Tim, she’s your mother. I’m sure somewhere in there she loves her son.”
“Rachel is not my mother,” Tim begins, “I was born, that’s about the only interaction we have ever had.” Tim’s form changes again.
“That’s a trigger for you, isn’t it? Rachel I mean.” I ask.
Tim closes his eyes, getting control of himself.
I move to him, wrapping my arms around him, “Is it difficult seeing Eva and Zeph then?”
Tim shakes his head, “It’s not too difficult. A little bit with Zepherina, but only because Rachel favors Eva less.”
“Mmhm…” I kiss his cheek, “Was Xyphiel a monster?”
“Xyphiel cared for me, as his only son, I’d say I was damn near spoiled.” Tim explains, “But when I found out that ‘Demon hunting’ meant something else, I left.”
I let go of Tim, giving him a quizzical look, “what was ‘Demon Hunting’?”
Tim stared at me, “If he were to meet you, he’d consider you a demon.”
I made a rather clear connection, “So he killed ‘demons’ in the name of God?”
Tim nods, “yes.” his face fell, “Sofia, please, I need to ask you to at least keep me informed of everything you plan on doing, going forward. I can’t handle seeing you at risk.”
I think back to Ragna, how weak she got when Rachel’s life was on the line, “I can meet you halfway Tim, but you need to do something for me.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I need you to man up,” I say as I place my hands on his shoulders, locking my eyes with his.
“What?” He asked, shocked.
“Tim, I’m a soldier, at some point I may die in combat, and that’s a fate I’ve reserved myself to. It’s one you did too when you took on the job.” I pause, “Do you know what I would do after I had my week of mourning, Tim?”
Tim shakes his head.
“I would move on. I would miss you like hell, yes, and my heart would have been all over the place, but I would move on. Get my shit together and do my job.” I squeeze his shoulders, “We can’t afford to have one of the few angels that can talk to God falling to pieces just because I die.”
Tim’s eyes dim, “but-”
“That, that right there!” I shout, “Get it together! Stop losing it at the thought of losing me! I’m not important!” I hold him tight, “I love you, and I know you love me. But that’s why I want to marry you yesterday. You and I don’t have forever together. So rather than spend all your time worrying about ways to protect me from danger just accept that I’m like you. I will run into the flames to save someone.”
Tim hold me, sighing, “I’m all in with you Sofia. It’s hard for me to just… disconnect.”
“You don’t have to,” I say as I let go, “But you cannot be a mopey bitch.” I smile to him, “If I die, I expect you to show up in your black and red scales, demanding retribution and justice.” I hold his hand tight, “Avenge me.”
Tim’s eyes brighten, he holds my hand tight, “... I’d expect you to do the same.”
I laugh, “No shit. Now… if you don’t mind… I have to drop off Josh.”
...
I had loaded Josh’s unconscious ass into the car with Eva’s help. Irfan had given me some kind of smelling salt he said would wake Josh right up.
“Please kill my mother,” I kept thinking about Eva’s request as I drove.
I was not even sure if Eva’s request fully prepared her for her mother to die, it seemed she was only focusing on the greater good of her people. I couldn’t imagine asking someone to do what she had asked of me. As I drove the car down the driveway, doing my best to miss what bumps I could, lest I wake up Josh.
I was hoping to act as if I was taking him back from the hospital, and that any lack of memory he had was just medical side effects. It would help that Josh was a rather stubborn bastard, so maybe he’d end up convincing himself.
When I got onto the highway, I popped the bottle and wafted it under Josh’s nose.
With a start Josh bolted against his seatbelt, frantic and confused, “I’m gonna die!” he shouts.
I swerve and shout to him, “Holy fuck Josh don’t wake up like that!” I say as I turn to him, “The fuck man?”
Josh wide-eyed, says, “What happened?”
“I’m dropping you at your house,” I explain.
“From where? What about that weird cop?” Josh askes. “I… I thought I saw a huge white room.”
“Well, the cop called an ambulance after he shot you…” I sigh, “Josh what gave you the bright idea to pull your gun on the guy?”
Josh turns rubbing his neck, feeling the bandages, “He… Sofia he didn’t have a car, how did he get there?”
“He parked it at the end of the driveway and walked over to us to block our escape.” I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, “since we were trespassing?”
Josh groans, “Okay so… I jumped the gun but… I don’t remember the hospital.”
I fake a concerned look, “What? Josh, you were there for two days… I mean you were out cold for the first one sure but you don’t remember the doctors checking you out and telling you to rest?”
Josh frowns, “I… uh…”
I sigh, “Shit Josh I should turn around and get you back there. Bad enough you lost some blood but if you’re having memory loss…”
“No no… I just… it’s okay, I remember I’m just… groggy…” he rubs his neck, “from the meds and everything.”
“You sure?” I ask.
Josh nods, “Yeah… yeah, I’m fine.” he stares out the window, “whatever happened with that place though?”
I heave a sigh, doing my best attempt to sound disappointed, “I guess the cop scared off whoever did it. They think someone spoofed Tim’s number and was trying to entrap me…”
“Oh…” Josh responds, “So… no clues about--”
“Tim’s dead,” I droned. “I need to come to grips with reality and stop trying to convince myself that he’s alive somewhere.” I keep my eyes on the road, feeling them water upon command, “I’m sorry I roped you into this Josh, I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”
“N-no!” Josh shouts, “I fucked up, I shouldn’t have messed with that cop… I just wanted to help you out, I’m sorry this all happened.” Josh is silent for a time, “Sorry about Tim too. I know he meant a lot to you.”
With nothing else to say, I just nod to Josh and remained silent for the rest of the trip. We arrive at Josh’s house, handing him a bag of medicine Irfan gave me, “Don’t forget your meds, doctor’s orders.”
Josh nod, “Yeah… thanks.”
I was about to leave when Josh gives me a sympathetic smile.
“If you ever need anything, just call, okay?”
I nod, “I will. Thanks again for being there when I needed you if you need the favor returned, just let me know.” I wave as I pull away. Sure Josh was trying to get me on the rebound, so it was important to hammer home I wasn’t over Tim. Have to cross that bridge later.
I decided the drive my car to Fort Hamilton, a ways away sure, but it gave me some time to think, and also a better place to park my car than some random old house.
…
After several more hours, I get Tim to open the Temple up for me, heading out from a designated place in Colonel Anderson’s office.
“Any issues with Josh?” Tim asks.
“He seemed to buy everything as a misunderstanding,” I smile, “Though he is trying to be the rebound guy.”
Tim doesn’t react to the joke.
I elbow him in the ribs, “I’m kidding.” I head towards the medical wing. “How’s Sergeant Demond?”
Tim heads over to the wing with me, “Tasha was checking him over, seemed to have recovered an hour or two ago.”
Irfan is in the medical wing as I walk in, checking the bed I last saw Demond, and it’s stripped of its linens. “Irfan, where’d Demond go?”
Irfan walks over with fresh sheets for the bed, grumbling, “He said sitting would not help him heal. Hours of surgery, and we got all the silver out of him.” he scoffed, “then an hour later he says he’s good to go! Lady Tasha complained that he was being brash, and she followed him off somewhere.” he slides the white sheets over the bed. “In the meantime, I’m changing out these sheets: the man bled right through them.”
Tim frowns, “So he’s recovered?”
Irfan shakes his head, “If he did it would be a miracle of Allah himself.”
“How long ago was that Irfan?” I ask.
Irfan thinks for a moment, “Some time yesterday.”
I stop for a moment, then realize my seven hours outside meant twenty-one hours passed inside, “Tim you haven’t seen Demond?”
Tim shakes his head, “In all honesty, I thought he would still be on bedrest. Tasha hasn’t updated me on his condition.” Tim glances toward the right-hand side of the temple, “I’ll check the fountain, Tasha’s there, maybe she’s trying to heal him with the sacred water.”
I nod, “I’ll check his quarters, he might just be sleeping in his room, might prefer the solitude.” Tim and I part as I head down the barracks section of the temple.
As I swing passed the doors an odd item catches my eye. On the door of one room is a small red oval jewel of sorts. It’s curious because it almost looks like a face, but the nose, lips, and both eyes are nowhere near the right locations.
I poke the little thing and confirm that it is plastic. Poking it makes it click onto the door. Behind that door, I hear some commotion, and Zepherina opens the door, wearing her tank top and a pair of loose shorts.
“Oh, Hey Sofia!” she announces, “What’s up?”
I take a step back, “Sorry Zeph, just didn’t know what that thing on your door was, have you seen Demond?”
Zeph shakes her head, “Nope!” she grins, “and that’s my Behelit!”
“Your… what?”
Zepherina beams at me and pulls the small item from her door handle, then showing it as a necklace, “My Mother got it for me,” she snickers, “I’m a huge nerd, I know.”
“Nerd, for what?” I frown.
Without warning, Zepherina grabs my hand and drags me into her room. Before me, I am assaulted with a massive wall-sized posted of Guts from the Berserk series. For those unfamiliar, he’s a huge man, covered in jagged black plate armor with a sword about five times longer than he is tall and almost just as broad. Black hair and, in this depiction, red eyes. As I look around there are figurines, more posters, a large foam (I hope) replica of the massive sword mounted to the wall, and most disturbing, a very large body pillow with Guts’ likeness printed on the fabric. “Guts is my husbando!” Zepherina gushes.
“I am scared and impressed.” I manage, “Uh… is that sword real?”
Zepherina pouts, “No. Man I want it to be!” she grins, picking up the large replica, “Do you know how happy I was when I heard that I might finally fight demons and stuff?” she grins ear to ear, “I want a sword this big, I’d be just like Guts!” she grins, “I wanna cut a demon in half.”
I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, “Well… I’m glad you’re excited.”
Zepherina hangs her replica sword up and then walks over hugging me tight, “Thanks for sparing my mother!”
I grunt as she squeezes me, “You’re… Welcome… I need air.”
Zepherina releases me from her bear-hug, “Sorry. I just… I was afraid.” she frowned.
“I don’t blame you Zeph,” I reach up and place my hand on her shoulder, “Have you see Tasha? She was with Demond last I checked.”
Zepherina shrugs, “No, haven’t seen them all day, to be honest.”
I nod, “thanks Zeph, oh, and your stuff here is pretty cool. Maybe you can show me later, okay?”
Zepherina grins again, “Oh I’d love to!”
I head out, closing the door behind me, not picturing Zepherina as the fangirl sort.
I get to Demond’s door, and knock, “Sergeant? Are you in there?”
There’s some shuffling and I hear something hitting the floor.
“Sergeant?” I shout, “Are you all right?”
“Fine!” Demond squeaks, “I’m recovering well!”
I can’t help be feel suspicious, “Sergeant, I need your debrief. We’re concerned about your physical health.”
The door opens a crack, Demond is wearing a white shirt, and a pair of pants askew, “Captain, Ma’am, I’m fine, Ma’am.”
I narrow my eyes, “Sergeant you left the medical wing against the physician's orders, your ‘I’m fine will not cut it. How are you recovering?”
Demond clears his throat, “Ma’am, I can confirm that I am in good health, Ma’am.”
I push the door opened, keeping my eyes narrowed on him, looking at his side, “Lift the shirt Sergeant, I want to make sure you’re back to normal.”
Demond lifts his shirt, and I examine his side. I see three scars, but they appear to have healed up.
As I examine him, however, something moves under his bedsheets, I swear I see a pair of hooves sliding from the edge of the bed deeper under the covers.
I turn to Demond who appears nervous. “... Sergeant if I were to inspect your quarters right now what, would I find?”
“Captain, I’d hope you’d find several ethical problems involving the breach of my privacy, Ma’am.”
The sheets then stifled a laugh.
I raised an eyebrow, “Sergeant your bed laughing at us.”
Demond heaves a sigh, moving his palm to cover his face, “Tosh, you’re terrible at this.”
Tasha’s head then peeks out from underneath the covers, a meak hand waves at me, “H-Hi Sofia…”
I stare at Tasha in Demond’s bed, turn to Demond, and am stunned to silence.
Demond frowns, “Captain, could we… hold off on informing the Major about this… incident?”
I narrow my eyes at Demond, “... You’re to get in uniform and ready for debriefing with the Major in ten entire minutes, understand Sergeant?”
Demond salutes, “Ma’am, Yes Ma’am.”
Tasha squeaks, “Is… he in trouble?”
I look to Tasha, “I…” I can’t think of a thing to say, and step back, and close the door.
One day goes by, and somehow the two people who hate each other the most are now lovers. Tim is coming back from the stairs on the far side of the temple as I’m walking out of the barracks.
“Did you find Sergeant Demond?” Tim asks.
“Yes he’s fucking your sister,” is the thing I’d love to say, but I opted for the much more proper: “Yes Tim, he was resting in his quarters, I ordered him to head to your office for a debrief in ten minutes.”
Tim nods, “Good. But where is Tasha?”
I flush, “I’m… ehm…” I clear my throat, “Tim I have to get to bed, I’m shot… it’s been a hell of a day, you know?”
Tim nods, “Right, I’ll see you soon, not too long after I’m done with Demond.” he smiles, “thanks for helping me find him.”
I give Tim a kiss and head to our shared quarters. It had been far too busy a day, and I was more than ready for bed.
…
I’m met with an image of Xyphiel thrusting his naked hips into someone on a bed. I can hear cries of distress and protest from said bed.
“Kriggary! Stop! Please!” Saint Dinah cries out.
I turn from the scene, “Jesus Samael! I get it!” Samael seems keen on hammering home some vivid imagery. At this point, I’m unsure if he’s just messing with me or not. “Why do you show me these things?”
“I must show the truth,” Samael appears before me, the scene changing to a white room, though with the red halo of the sun still pulsating on the ground. “The truth is ugly.” Behind his blindfold, I find his eyes, shifting through every color, are still visible behind his blindfold.
“What did you do?” I accuse.
A solemn look comes over Samael, “I opened thine eyes to the ethereal, nothing more.”
“English damn it!” I shout, “I can’t stand this shit!” I glare, marching over the halo and getting right up to him, staring up almost three feet to match his own bemused face. “Tell me what the hell you did!”
Samael places a large hand on my shoulder, “I’ve chosen you.”
I frown, “for what?”
“Thou wishes things clearer? So be it.” He turns me around, and I see the scene of Xyphiel and Saint Dinah sped up. When Xyphiel finishes with her and pulls his pants up.
Xyphiel scoffs, “If not for my sister’s misplaced mercy you would suffer like this daily, at my pleasure.” he moves away from the bed, “But today I will drop you in your homeland. Best you be out of my sight from then on.”
A door shuts and Saint Dinah slides her hand over her stomach, whimpering. “You’ll be better than him. I know you will. My daughter.”
The scene vanishes.
“Wait… daughter? Tim’s a man though, right?” I face Samael, “I’d have noticed otherwise.”
Samael smiles, “Saint Dinah begot a daughter, named Rachel, ‘Little Lamb’ the love of her mother.”
I shiver, “Oh God… Xyphiel had a kid with his own daughter?”
Samael nods, “An act he knew not of, Rachel knows not of this either. Saint Dinah had another name on her world, Queen Takisha Hippolyte, and never told her daughter much of her time as Metatron. Saint Dinah felt her time was a failure, so only mentioned that it was Rachel’s destiny to one day take on that mantel… she was too frightened by such a thing.” he shows a scene of a young girl running through thick jungle. “Poor little lamb lost and alone. Frightened.”
A tall black male figure with burning yellow eyes looms over the small child.
“...yet the wolf posed as the shepherd and taught her the ways of his pack. What a tragedy.” The image vanished.
I turned back to Samael, “so Rachel’s mislead? That spares her?” I glare.
Samael shakes his head, “Xyphiel the Fallen Prophet and his half-sister Xeillich, a Vampiress raised Saint Timothy. Yet Saint Timothy is pious and honorable.” the halo of the sun glows, tinting everything red, “One’s circumstances do not grant one an excuse for their sins.”
The glowing halo on the floor grabs my attention, and I step away, “what are you doing now?”
“Asking thou to make a choice.” Samael’s wings spread, and the two additional pair of eyes appear on his forehead and cheekbones, the eyes echoing into infinity. “Become my Avatar, and I shall grant you the power to aid Saint Timothy and his followers.” his wings fall, “Or refute me, and lose all ye have gained.”