Zithero

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42l Chapter 43 l
Chapter 44 l Chapter 45 l Chapter 46 l Chapter 47 l Chapter 48 l Chapter 49 l Chapter 50

Epilogue.

A middle aged woman with messy auburn hair and emerald green eyes sits up in her bed, in a cold sweat.

Her heart hammers in her chest as she looks around the room, bleary eyed.

“Asmodai…?” she whispered softly, shaking her head “...Wait.. what?” She groans as she clumsily reaches for a pair of glasses on her nightstand.

She slides the heavy prescriptions onto her face, blinking the sleep from her eyes as her wild and frazzled hair blocks her vision.

As she clears her hair away, she rubs her temples, “...What was that dream about?” She shakes her head, the memories fading rapidly, “Something about… Some big tall man… with blue eyes,” she blushed, “Hmm… shame I can’t remember it.”

Her phone continues to blare a loud alarm, and she picks it up, turning the alarm off.

She glances at the time, and to her texts.

The time is 8:00 AM in the morning, and a number of texts are waiting for her.

“Ugh,” the mousey woman sighs, flipping through the messages.

The messages were all from her known contacts.

Jason: “Happy Birthday, Mom! See you at 6!”

Dad: “Happy Birthday, Sweetie!”

Mom: “From the proudest mom ever, Happy birthday!”

David: “Happy Birthday, Sara! A big breakfast is ready when you wake up.”

Sara sighs, replying thank you to all, saving David’s for last.

“I wonder if I should tell David about that risque dream I had about the tall dark and handsome fellow with blue eyes?” Sara thought to herself as she merely texted David that she was, indeed, awake and would be right down.

As she was about to place the phone down, another message popped up.

David: “Do you need help getting out of bed?”

Sara’s face fell as she looked at the message, typing firmly, “No. I’ll be down on my own, thank you.”

“On my birthday, David? Really?” Sara thought to herself as she leaned over the side of the bed and pushed her folded wheelchair opened.

With practiced expertise, she pushed the sheets off her thin legs, and slid herself into the chair. After a few moments, she undid the wheel brakes, and pushed herself towards her bathroom.

“I’m not helpless, and never will be,” Sara thought to herself as she wheeled herself past the bathroom threshold.

She disrobed completely, and transferred to another chair within the bathroom in order for her to shower.

After completing her morning routine, she was dressed, her hair washed and brushed straight. Her wardrobe for the office cleanly adorned her lithe body. The skirt and shoes even did well to hide the emaciated legs that had failed her when she was only 18.

Sara rolled herself to the dining room, where she found her husband David waiting with a large breakfast.

He wore an apron, his brown hair well combed, though a receding hairline was visible. His brown eyes happily looked to Sara as she rolled into the kitchen. Under the apron, he wore a pair of simple slacks and a dress shirt with a tie.

Pancakes, eggs, sausages, and bacon along with a rather large mug of coffee.

“Figured once you hit the shower you’d be out in about 34 minutes,” David chuckled as he placed the food at the only place on the table which didn’t already have a chair. He gave Sara a peck on the cheek.

“Oh, have you timed me that well?” Sara grinned at him, looking at the food, “You don’t expect me to eat all of this, do you?”

“Well, whatever you don’t eat, I will,” David laughed as he sat down near her.

“And you’re here and not at the office, why?” Sara questioned David.

“Told them I’d be late, as it was your birthday, and I had to get a decent breakfast for you,” he grinned, “Perks of, you know, owning the firm.”

“Oh? And why is this year different from other years, Dear?” Sara asked.

David chuckled, “You don’t turn 50 everyday you know.”

Sara narrowed her eyes on him, “...35, dear.”

David chuckled, “Right, right. For the… tenth time, now?”

Sara took her fork, pointing it menacingly at him, “Don’t make me put you in a wheelchair, Mr. Miller.”

David mockingly placed his hands up, “Okay, Okay. 35, got it.”

Sara rolled her eyes as she dug into her breakfast.

David turned on the TV, flipping on the news, “Wonder if you’re going to get any coverage.”

Sara glanced to the screen, seeing the news scrolling along.

Demon incursion of 13 years ago all but quelled. Visas’ offered for Thralls and Half-Demonic entities. Martial Law ending?

“I think there’s plenty more going on than just a cure for ALS,” Sara quipped, smiling with a mildly smug grin.

“Right,” David shook his head, “Should still be a big deal.”

“People will find out, mostly those who need it,” Sara sighed, “Just glad I won’t lose my arms.”

“Was it all you or some of that advanced technology that the Empress brought?” David asked, pouring himself a coffee.

“You do realize all medical research is built by standing on the shoulders of others, right?” Sara quipped, “If not for me, no one would have thought to synthesize the retrovirus that stopped the nerve degradation. So don’t think I didn’t earn my keep,” Sara joked, frowning slightly, “Your father at least thinks I’m the only one who controls it, that’s for sure.”

“Dad just doesn’t want to see you waste a good opportunity,” David defended.

“Your father just wants a slice of the pie,” Sara sighed, “He’s always thinking of the money, and nothing else,” she pushed herself from the table, “Well, Sir, the meal was very good. Do I pay here or up front?” Sara joked.

“Right here is fine,” David said as he moved to Sara to give her a kiss.

Sara kissed him, though as the kiss broke, she felt it paled in comparison to another kiss she had recently.

“That must have been a hell of a dream,” Sara thought as she blushed.

“Hmm… haven’t had that effect on you in a while,” David grinned, “Breakfast that good?”

Sara cleared her throat, “...I should get going, or I’ll miss the train.”

David chuckled, “alright then, leave me to clean up, I see how it is!” He smiled and cleaned up the dishes.

Sara rolled to the door, grabbing her purse and heading out, “I’ll meet you at Jason’s around 6?” she shouted.

“Sure thing, sweetie! 6 on the dot!” David shouted as Sara rolled out the door.

Sara heaved a sigh as she slowly made her way down the ramp in front of her home, and onto the sidewalk.

Her phone rang, and she glanced at the caller ID. Murray Miller.

“Ugh,” Sara grumbled, picking it up, “Hello, dad.”

“Sara, excellent!” Murry Miller’s boisterous voice chimed in over the phone, “So glad I could catch you before you got into the office. Firstly: Happy Birthday.”

“Mhmm… Thanks,” Sara said curtly.

“Oh, come now, is that any way to talk to your father-in-law?” Murray complained.

“It is when said father-in-law is desperately trying to undermine my work,” Sara countered.

“Undermine? Sara… I’m just making sure you and David are financially secure. This whole cure thing you have is amazing, and I commend you on it… but surely to just… give the patents away can’t be your actual decision, can it? I have friends in the Pharmaceutical industry who would happily assist you in not just making this a dedicated product, but also ensuring that those in need got discount coupons so they could afford it. It’s a win-win! Please, just let me connect you with my colleague in Pfizer-”

“No,” Sara snapped, “We’ve been over this. David makes enough money as is, I don’t want to make this some get-rich quick scheme where all the big pharmaceuticals get a piece of the pie. This isn’t just for people who can afford it, it’s for the whole world.”

“Sara, listen to me! Everyone is covered these days thanks to the Penthasilian Health Services, you’d be a fool to not partner with someone to bring this to market in the most profitable way for you and David!”

“Stop saying ‘You and David’, you want us to be stinking rich like you were in the early 2000s,” Sara growled into the phone, “David and I are comfortable. You are comfortable. We don’t need yachts and mansions or estates!” She hissed, “I am releasing it not just to the PHS but to everyone, for free, and that includes the Soviet Alliances.”

“Why help those idiots? And how would you even get it to them, the new Iron Curtain is damn near impenetrable! You’re just being obstinate!” Murray shouted over the phone.

“No,” Sara growled, “I’m being Ethical. I worked hard to make this cure for everyone who had this disease. I don’t care who they are, Americans, Penthasilians, Russians or Chinese: Everyone who needs it will have access to it. Now goodbye, dad!”

Before Murry could argue, she ended the call.

Sara took a heavy and deep sigh, before she turned to her right to see she was passing her favorite local bar. “...It’s 5pm somewhere.” Sara turned and rolled into the building, happy to see it opened.

“Bit early for an Irish Coffee, isn’t it Sara?” the bartender called out to her, chuckling as Sara rolled over to the end barstool.

Sara locked her wheelchair, grabbed the handle of the bar, and pulled herself up to the barstool, “Yeah, well…” Sara sighed, “I turned 50 today, Pete.”

Pete, the bartender, let out a whistle.

“No one knows that, by the way. You tell a soul, and you’re dead,” Sara mock threatened.

“Hey, I’m a bartender,” Pete said as he poured a fresh coffee and added a shot of whiskey, “What my customers say to me, stays with me.”

Sara smiled as the glass slid her way.

“Though I don’t recall seeing you during other birthdays, issues?” Pete asked.

“My father-in-law is demanding I take my great contributions to mankind and turn them into a quick buck,” Sara sighed, “David is half on his side but…” she shook her head, “There’s more to life than money, you know?”

“I find that folks who say that tend to have more than enough money,” Pete quipped.

“Yes,” Sara said with a smile, “and I have plenty. I don’t need more.” Sara took a heavy sip, “Mmm.. top shelf Pete?”

“Hey, Happy Birthday,” Pete said, “On the house.”

“Aww, thanks Pete,” Sara said as she glanced up at the TV.

On the screen was Grand General Zepherina, commander of Penthasil’s armed forces, as well as the defacto ruler of the entire Penthasilian Empire, which, sans some large portions of Asia, ruled most of the civilized world.

“Oh, great… Wonder what she’s on about now?” Sara sighed.

“Oh, you didn’t hear?” Pete said, turning the volume up, “Big announcement.”

Zepherina’s voice was unmuted as she spoke to a large crowd. “It’s been several years since the demonic incursion and I know that we all lost a lot. But I’m proud to say, with the efforts of our esteemed soldiers, the cooperation of our religious leaders, and the diligence of every citizen of the Empire, we can finally declare the war against the demonic forces, over!”

Sara sipped her coffee, “and here I thought she was going to hold onto power indefinitely.”

Pete chuckled, “Oh yeah. Like we had it so good before she showed up, right?”

Sara glanced at Pete, “I do recall voting…”

“Mhmm, and that did us so good, didn’t it?” Pete chuckled.

Sara took another sip of her coffee, glancing up to the screen.

“As the war is over, so is the Martial Law I imposed, under authority of my Mom, Empress Ranga, forever Her soul rests in power,” Zepherina paused.

Pete whispered, “Forever Her soul rests in power.”

Sara frowned, turning back to the TV.

“With the end of Martial Law, comes the return of your local elections and the restoration of statehood for many of the Empire’s Nation States,” Zepherina announced.

“Heh, guess we get voting back after-all,” Pete chuckled.

Sara sipped her coffee, “Yeah. With General Zepherina always at the top,” she thought to herself.

“I am sure all of you expected this announcement,” Zepherina continued, “What I announce now is that I am abdicating my rightful claim to the throne.”

Sara nearly spat out her Irish Coffee.

“The fuck?!” Pete shouted, looking intently at the screen.

“She’s stepping down?!” Sara said, now interested in the announcement.

The crowd was just as flabbergasted.

Zepherina lifted her gauntlet clad hand to silence the crowd. “I am a General and I plan to remain one henceforth. As such, I do not believe my time as the leader of our armed forces will translate properly to managing the Nation States in peacetime. That is why, from this day forward, Princess Lucilla Hyppolite, my sister, will be crowned as your new Empress of the Penthasilian Empire.”

Sara scoffed, “Oh like that’s so much better.”

Pete barely paid much attention to Sara as Zepherina made way for a smaller, by comparison, woman.

She stood slightly over 185cm tall, had long red hair, and similar violet eyes. Her eyes seemed to have a defined glow to them, her angelic wings were black, with white fringes along the edge.

Zepherina hugged Lucilia, and stepped away from the podium.

“She’s like… What… 16?” Pete asked out loud. “Maybe 18? I can’t remember…”

Sara frowned, “Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t change anything.”

“I think it does,” Pete said as the TV continued.

Lucilia’s voice carried outward, “I know that maybe I am new to you. Apart from my relationship to my sister General Zepherina Hyppolite. You know her great work protecting this grand Empire, and our entire world, but little of me.”

Sara looked down at her drink, her eyes moving to Pete as he watched the announcement with rapt attention.

Lucilia continued, “I want to express that General Zepherina will continue to protect us all, that I will be here to manage your matters of state. I will facilitate the elections of your local representatives, the formations of your parliaments and senates, as well as-”

“Turn it off, Pete,” Sara asked, agitation clearly in her voice.

Pete muted it, keeping the captions on the TV, “Eh, it’s not so bad.”

“Mmhmm,” Sara took another sip of her coffee, “It isn’t until someone comes into power who is.”

Pete rolled his eyes, “Yeah, Yeah,” he headed to the other side of the bar.

Sara stared at the coffee cup, looking at herself in the reflection of the liquid.

That’s when a smooth voice chimed in from over her shoulder, “Something troubling you, young lady?”

Sara turned to spot a man in a white suit, an old style hat, and striking amber eyes. He smiled broadly at her.

“I did catch your name, but I feel it’s rude to not properly introduce oneself,” He grinned, “Benjamin Leibel is the name.”

“Sara,” Sara said shortly.

“I know,” Benjamin grinned wide, “I overhead.”

“Mhmm,” Sara said, taking another sip, “So, I’m married, though I doubt you’re hitting on me.”

Benjamin gave a haughty laugh and sat at the stool next to her. “Nothing of the sort, not that I’m disparaging you. I mean, you can’t help the body you’re born into,” He chuckled, “Well, Normally.”

“Normally?” Sara asked.

“Mmm,” Benjamin smiled at her, “I have a proposal for you Sara, and I’m certain you’d be interested.” Benjamin slid a glass of water to Sara.

Sara glanced at the water glass suspiciously, “So, I have a drink, thanks.”

Benjamin grinned, and tapped the glass, the water turning to red wine, “I’m an angel, Sara. Not like the Royal family. I can perform miracles. I want to perform one for you, you see. To help you.”

Sara looked at the glass, picking it up and sniffing it.

It was wine.

“So, if you’re an angel, where were you when all Hell literally broke loose?” Sara questioned.

“Oh, Sara,” Benjamin chuckled, “The war? I was busy fighting! But all that’s over. Now I just want to get back to doing the work I was doing before the war.”

“What work would that be?” Sara questioned.

“Well,” Benjamin snapped his fingers, a scroll appearing in his hand, “Helping people achieve what they couldn’t before. I could make your legs work, and even fix your vision. Make you whole again, Sara. All I ask is a stake,” He grinned a million watt smile, “in you. So to speak.”

Sara glanced at the paper, took a heavy swig of her coffee, and spat it out on the contract.

Benjamin shot up from his seat, shocked.

“Fuck off, yah prick,” Sara said as she pushed herself from the stool, and onto her wheelchair, “Later, Pete!”

As Sara rolled out the door, Benjamin, better known as Belial, the former Demon of Flesh and Lord of Lust, grinned at Sara as she left, “Well well well… Little Sara still has some bite to her,” he grinned wickedly, “I’ll find a way to get you yet, Sara Baker.”

“I bet you will,” a voice chimed in behind Belial.

Belial turned to see a woman with long blonde hair, dressed in all black. She wore fishnets, a pair of calf high boots, with her nails painted black. She had a tattoo of a golden apple on her shoulder.

The woman stood, lithe and petite, and mostly unassuming. Her build was thin, far from frail, but her face did appear as if she had been malnourished. To most, she would appear as a beautifully thin young woman, maybe in her late 20s.

To Belial, he could see there was something far more to her as he looked her over, “...and you are?”

“Your new best friend,” the mysterious woman gave Belial a warm smile, “You’re kind of special having survived the wall and all.”

Belial lifted an eyebrow, and grinned, “I have my ways.”

“Things are boring,” the blonde woman said in an exasperated tone as she stood up, “Really boring,” she grinned, “but you seem to me to be the kind of person who I could count on to stir things up.”

Belial chuckled, “What ever gave you that idea?”

“Pft,” the blonde grinned, “you used the same fake name that you did with Fred.”

Belial’s smile faded slightly.

“Belial,” the blonde whispered.

“You know me, and far more than most do in the world,” Belial whispered, “Yet I don’t know you. You are…?”

The blonde woman giggled softly, “Oh, just someone who hates when things are boring and predictable,” she shrugged, “What’s fun about the world if there isn’t just a little bit of,” Her eyes flashed with a devious energy, “Chaos.”

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42l Chapter 43 l
Chapter 44 l Chapter 45 l Chapter 46 l Chapter 47 l Chapter 48

Fire and brimstone burst into horrific plumes over the desolate canyons, cliffs and hillsides of a barren wasteland.

The cries of many are heard as horrific vestiges of man and beast crawl, fly and meander over the ruined landscape.

The air is hot, thick with fumes and choked with smoke and dust.

High in the far corner, a pile of writhing bodies pulses and drips with blood and sinew.

A pile of corpses, a number of which crushed under the weight of those above, adding to the screams of the damned. Those few fortunate enough to be at the top of this pile, claw and drag themselves out from the crush of bodies.

Hurtling downwards from above, faster than most, is a single figure.

His back shows where a pair of wings once sprouted, his hair a mixed salt and pepper and his face that of a middle aged man.

A tattered uniform covers his body, a golden gauntlet on his right hand.  

He holds this gauntlet clad hand out as he falls towards the stone floor of the Hellish domain.

As he lands, his gauntlet shatters, his arm breaks, and he tumbles haphazardly across the ground.

He lays still for a few painful moments, his breathing heavy and labored before his voice, filled with hatred and vitriol, escapes his thin lips, “...I will make every last one of them suffer for their betrayal.” 

With agonizing slowness the fallen man heaves himself to his knees, his crimson red eyes slowly focusing on the world around him.

The man is Xyphiel. The former Scribe Lord once known as Kirggary and most recently: former ruler of Hell and Avatar of Pride.

Fallen now from his previous stations, his damned soul smashed upon the rock, Xyphiel struggles to merely stand. His spirit battered, battle scarred, and hindered as he shakily managed to his feet.  

“I will…” Xyphiel coughed up a glob of blood before continuing his tirade, “Claw my way up from this pit…” Xyphiel cursed at no one in particular, “And I will exact my revenge!” He wheezed in anger.

“Will you, now?” A condescending feminine voice called from behind him before the sound of feet landing dainty on the stone nearby caught Xyphiel’s attention.

Xyphiel turned to see a surprising sight.

Standing before him was a woman, her black angelic wings sprouting from her back proudly.  Her hair was black, with streaks of red, her eyes emerald green.  Her lips were blackened as well, and she wore a rather smart blouse and set of pants.  Her feet clad in leather boots with a short heel, the soles metallic in nature.

As she approached him, the click of her metallic boots on the stone grew clearer to Xyphiel’s ears.

Xyphiel grinned mischievously, “Well well… is that you, Saint Dinah?”

“Very funny,” Dinah snapped as she strolled towards Xyphiel, her eyes narrowing the crows feet on either eye folded ever so slightly.  She stopped less than half a meter from Xyphiel, looking him up and down, “You look like shit, Xyphiel!”

Xyphiel grinned through his pain, “I don’t recall you being so vicious the last time we met.  It’s oddly refreshing”

Without much hesitation, Dinah slapped Xyphiel across the face hard enough to send him to one knee.

As Xyphiel fell to his knee, Dinah let out a satisfied sigh, “That felt far better than I imagined it,” she said as she flexed her fingers.

Xyphiel’s shattered gauntlet rose to his cheek as his arm painfully healed from his tumultuous landing. Xyphiel’s face had fallen briefly, but his wry grin quickly returned, “You’ve grown feisty.” 

Dinah lorded over Xyphiel’s form as she regarded him with nothing but contempt, “You’ve not changed, I see.  At least none for the better.”

“I cannot say the same of you,” Xyphiel said as he stood back up, looking her over, “...Why does it seem you are so much more attractive this way?”

Dinah’s face cracked a wry smile as she cocked her hip to the side, “Of course you’d find me more attractive…” her smile dropped as her ire returned, “I’ve taken on our daughter’s sins.  Such things you found so attractive.”

Xyphiel scoffed slightly, closing the distance between them, “...So you mean to tell me you know all the naughty things Rachel and I have done, and have taken them on yourself?  No wonder you seem so enticing now.”

Dinah looked Xyphiel in his eyes as he drew closer.

“I must admit… I am feeling something of a rekindling of our previous engagement.  Do you feel the same?” Xyphiel asked.

Dinah averted her eyes, “...I would lie if I didn’t feel some level of attraction to you, as always, Xyphiel.”

Xyphiel closed his eyes and moved in to kiss her, only to open them in pain after Dinah had slammed a dagger into his groin.

Xyphiel cried out in pain before Dinah covered his mouth with her hand.  Xyphiel’s hands moving to hers, unable to budge them one centimeter. 

Dinah growled, twisting the blade, “Yet it still seems you struggle with the concept of consent!” Dinah pulled Xyphiel closer to her by his mouth so she could whisper in his ear,  “While I wish this was more satisfying, it somehow rings hollow.  It should give me no greater joy than to see you suffer at my hands for once!  Yet… Even as I see this dark dream come true… it too is naught but ash in my mouth.”

Dinah let Xyphiel fall forward, the dagger now in his hands as he pulled it from his crotch, “Damn you, woman!” Xyphiel roared in pain as he fell to his knees again.

“Rather late on that bit, Xyphiel,” Dinah said flippantly as she pulled out a cigarette of sorts and wrapped her blackened lips around it.   The end ignited as she inhaled, pulling blackened smoke into her lungs.   She blew a stream of dark smoke from her lips directly into his face, “I suppose every aspect of this place is to be unfulfilling.  But, then again, what more did I expect?” She turned to Xyphiel, “We are in Hell, after all.”

“So this is my punishment?” Xyphiel growled as he pushed past the cloud of smoke around his face, “Being abused by you for all eternity?  Whilst you yap at me?”

Dinah’s upper lip quivered in anger as she looked down on him.  She stormed over to him, picking him up by his shoulders.  Her sharp nails dug into his flesh as she glared into his eyes with utter disdain, “Your punishment?!  I cannot even begin to explain what you deserve… What ought to be done to you!” Dinah hissed, her rage giving way to her eyes watering, “...What should be done to you, to make up for the pain you’ve caused.  All the lives you ruined.  The suffering you propagated.”  Dinah released Xyphiel, turning from him and taking another drag from her cigarette as she wrapped her arms around her own shoulders, her wings wilting.

Xyphiel heaved a frustrated sigh, staggering towards her, “What are you seeking?  An apology?” Xyphiel’s eyes narrowed on Dinah, “It was you who turned your back on me!”

Dinah looked ahead as Xyphiel ranted behind her, her sorrow slowly returning to a neutral and indifferent expression.  

“You who abandoned me!  Who labeled me as unforgiven!” Xyphiel spat, “If you had aided me in breaking that vile curse on me, or at least on Sume, then I wouldn’t be who I am today!  It is entirely your fault any of this ever happened!”

Dinah tossed the cigarette aside after a final drag of it, “Never the one to blame, are you Xyphiel?”

Xyphiel narrowed his eyes on her, growling to himself.

“Are you rather finished?” Dinah asked as she looked over her shoulder.

Xyphiel remained stoic.

“Good,” Dinah said firmly, spreading her wings, “You have an appointment.”

“Oh?” Xyphiel chuckled, “Where?”

Dinah pointed to a large blade-like ivory tower in the distant sulfury haze, “The Tower of Pride, of course.”

Xyphiel looked to where Dinah pointed, walking to her side, “Well… I do suppose I should take my rightful seat upon the throne.”  Xyphiel turned to Dinah, “Since, I take it… Lucifer is no longer here?”

Dinah wordlessly offered Xyphiel her hand.

“Oh?” Xyphiel chuckled, “So you’re not the one in charge, I take it?” Xyphiel asked.

“I never said I was,” Dinah narrowed her eyes on his hand, “take my hand.  The less I touch of you, the better.”

Xyphiel took Dinah’s hand, she quickly flapped her dark wings and soared into the air, without giving him so much as a warning to her abrupt take-off.

Xyphiel grunted in pain as his arm was wrenched from its socket.  He held on tightly to his bicep with his other hand, glaring up at Dinah, “Foul woman!  How dare you!”

Dinah let a cocky smirk cross her face as Xyphiel’s eyes narrowed on her.

“Oh… You think that this will go without reprisal, wench?!” Xyphiel barked at Dinah.

“As a matter of fact,” Dinah said without even casting her eyes to Xyphiel, “I know it won’t.”

As the pair soared over the once overcrowded landscape of Hell, there was a noticeable drop in the population.

A scant few demons roamed the infernal planes, and as the pair flew over the Fields of Lust, they appeared all but vacant.

Xyphiel’s eyes scanned the smoldering ruins, “What’s become of the souls of the damned?  There should be legions of them…”

“A shift in management,” Dinah spoke firmly, “Worry not.  All will be revealed to you shortly.”

As the pair neared the ivory Tower of Pride’s topmost point, a large balcony could be seen at the top of the tower’s peak.  

Xyphiel turned to Dinah as they grew closer to landing, his arm having finally returned to its socket, although painfully so. 

Xyphiel looked Dinah over, and considered a different approach as he took stock of his surroundings.

“Dinah… I understand you feel that I hurt you.  But if not for my actions, then you never would have had our child.   Search our daughter’s memories of our time together… Of the pleasures she and I shared.  Certainly you must have some feelings towards me.  You must understand my reasoning for how aggressive I was with you.  The betrayal I felt?  As far as I was concerned*, you* were the sole cause of my fall.  But if you search her memories you will certainly see I was a much more tender lover to our Rachel,” Xyphiel reasoned.

“You were a tender lover with your Daughter,” Dinah recoiled with disgust.

“Yes,” Xyphiel said with a sly grin, “But now our daughter’s sins are yours.  As such… You can certainly reminisce upon them, yes?  Perhaps… Together… Consensually the two of us could accomplish great things.”

Xyphiel’s feet touched the balcony first, Dinah still holding his hand as she landed gracefully ahead of him.

Dinah turned back to Xyphiel, appraising him critically.

“You said you weren’t the Queen of Hell,” Xyphiel smiled wickedly, “But you could be.”

Dinah smirked, her hand still holding Xyphiel’s, “Is that so, Xyphiel?”

Xyphiel moved closer to her, “Yes.  I can make it so.”

Dinah scoffed, “I see why the Avatar of Pride clung so well to your feted soul, Xyphiel. Even now, you are still full of Pride,” she chuckled, “Perhaps that’s where She gets it from?”

“Who?” He asked, his eyebrow raised.  Xyphiel's body has nearly recovered completely from his initial fall, even his most recent injury felt slightly less painful as he spoke.  Though his strength was returning, he did his best to hide this fact from Dinah.

“Come, Xyphiel,” Dinah offered, “The Sins await.”

Xyphiel’s lip lifted into a sneer as he followed after Dinah, “Traitorous swine… I’ll see they have their comeuppance.   Has any one of them run afoul of you?  I highly doubt one of them and you share any similarities.”

“All but one,” Dinah spoke, not to Xyphiel, but out loud as she walked towards the grand and imposing entrance around the mighty balcony.

The grandiose opening had tattered gossamer veils around its oblong entrance, stretching almost one hundred meters into the air, and twenty five meters across.  From the outside, nothing but darkness could be seen.

“Then join with me Dinah, and we’ll turn this nightmare into a dream the two of us can share,” Xyphiel said with a grin as they passed the threshold of the entrance.

Xyphiel paused as he took in the six figures that were set before a massive set of stairs stretching high up into the darkened ceiling.

The figures were kneeling when Xyphiel and Dinah entered.

But as they approached, five of the six figures rose from their kneeling positions.  

The closest to the door was the demon Mammon. His eyes had changed, strangely.  Wisps of yellow rose from a pair of golden spheres which sat nestled in his eye sockets.  Silvery chainmail adorned his massive off-white wings, while he wore a tight wool-like shirt with a tail-coat, giving him the appearance of a grand duke.  While his pants and boots mirrored a more military fashion.  

Mammon had several golden and platinum bejeweled piercings along his lip and eyebrow as he narrowed his golden yellow eyes upon Xyphiel, “Well… Look who finally arrived.”

Xyphiel’s eyes narrowed on Mammon’s, “I thought the eyes of Greed burned red.”

“Pardon me for wishing to no longer share something with you,” Mammon grinned, his tone turning to ridicule as he mockingly bowed, “Lord Xyphiel.”

Astaroth chuckled, his fiery orange eyes flickering as his hulking form loomed nearby, “Seems you hold more enemies here, than friends. Perhaps you were a bit too greedy during your brief time as our Lord?” 

Astaroth’s armor was darker than Mammon’s.  The heavy plate was blackened by ash and flames on both his shoulders and gauntlets.  Though along the breast plate, nearest his mouth, stains of black appeared far more like drippings of fluids.  The steel and black complementing the amber gemstones set into his belt and gauntlets.

Astaroth’s wings were gray and covered in rusted and worn chainmail, the wings appearing almost too small for the mighty bulk of the avatar of Gluttony.

Xyphiel narrowed his eyes on Astaroth, “Oh?  If I recall, I devoured you, after you failed us.”

Astaroth’s smile grew to reveal his yellowed teeth, “There is only one failure here, Lord Xyphiel…” Astaroth’s orange eyes shifted to a figure across from him, “Though, that number might be larger, given our current company.”

Astaroth’s eyes were fixed on Asmodai, who turned to greet Xyphiel.  

Asmodai’s wings were as black as ever, his full demonic armor had been restored.  The Ram and Bull heads on either shoulder.  The salivating mouths of the armor appeared to grin tauntingly once they regarded Xyphiel.  Though now the eyes within burned with a pulsing blue.

Even Asmodai’s armor, where normally tabards of crimson had been adorned, now hung with cyan and cerulean hues.

Asmodai gave a dismissive grin to Xyphiel.  His deep voice greeting the fallen ruler in a laugh as his now blue eyes fixed upon him, steam rising from them like dye dropped into clear water rather than a vapor.

Xyphiel glanced at Asmodai as he was addressed, “...You?  You’re Asmodai.  You were wrath.  What is this?  What has changed?”

“Much has changed,” Asmodai chuckled, shaking his head, “I have left my anger behind, though my lust burned all the stronger.  To the point as such, Lust found it suitable to reside within me,” Asmodai grinned, “While I have regained my place as a Prince of Hell.”

Xyphiel growled, “One whom I am sure could serve Hell well.”

“As always,” Asmodai bowed.

“I do believe Lord Xyphiel is out of the loop,” a woman’s voice called from beside Mammon.  She towered over the others, nearly eight meters high herself.  Her large black horns rose above her head, with blackened skin across her body.  A dress made of massive dark green draconic scales ran down her body, making her appear like a tall and looming serpent.  Green flames flickered within her sockets as she looked down upon Xyphiel, “Xyphiel! My, do you seem unimpressive from up here.”

“Zelletia…” Xyphiel hissed, “I gave you all you have!”

Zelletia’s clawed hand moved to her chest as she bent forward slightly, “And yet… it was not enough, now was it?” Zelletia said with a wide grin, large teeth on full display as she swished a serpentine tail behind her, scaled wings shifted along her mighty body.

A flash of red light caught Xyphiel’s eyes as he turned to see the face of a woman Xyphiel knew as Bella, glaring at him with contempt.

Bella’s black and gold dress was pressed firmly to her half human, half demonic body by a tarnished rose gold corset.  Her black hair and horns flecked with rose gold jewels which flickered with the red flames flashing from her eyes.  Bella’s mighty black wings, although wrapped in rose gold chainmail, glittered in the light like glass.  Her lip lifted in anger.

“Ah…” Xyphiel grinned to Bella, “Speaking of those who owe me.”

Bella took a step forward, a black cloven hoof lined with a rose gold shoe clacking on the floor.  Before she could advance further a hand reached out and stopped her advance.

Bella’s ire had shifted to the figure whose hand held her back.

A weak bluish aura surrounded the kneeling man as he smiled weakly, looking ahead at nothing in particular.

“He,” the man’s soft voice echoed through the halls, “is not yours to punish,” Belphegor reasoned, barely moving his mouth as he spoke.

A deep laugh grew from Astaroth, who stood to Belphegor's left.  Orange flames licked at his empty sockets as he turned to Xyphiel.  Astaroth’s figure towered over Bella and Belphegor, dwarfed only by the mighty Zelletia’s stature.

“Indeed… Lord Xyphiel has quite the promises he fell short of…” Astaroth growled, “so few were devoured… And yet I do admire his hunger for power.”

“So, I have your respect, at least, Astaroth?” Xyphiel asked as he lifted his eyebrow.

“For what that respect is worth,” Astaroth chuckled as he stepped aside.

Xyphiel looked to Dinah, then to all the Lords of Sin around him.

Dinah shrugged, taking a step back.

Xyphiel walked past all of them, moving to stand before Belphegor who remained knelt.  “So… You are still loyal, Belphegor?” Xyphiel grinned, “The only Sin who gave me their power willingly.”

Belphegor looked up to Xyphiel meekly through a gaunt and wrinkled face.  He wore simple robes, his hair was unkempt, and he appeared as if he was only recently awoken from a long slumber.  “Loyal?   I do not believe you understand, Xyphiel.”  Belphegor looked around the room, “Loyalty here is nothing.  There is none.  Fealty is earned only by the ranking of power.  Those who have power, in Hell, earn their following only due to a path of least resistance.  No Loyalty exists here.”

“Is that why those I previously chose to take your roles were removed?” Xyphiel asked.

Mammon chuckled, “La Cruz was always mine, when I returned the entity of Greed sought to return home, and as such La Cruz had no choice but to release his claim.”

Asmodai grinned, “Lust chose me, once Khairunisa had proven an unworthy vessel.”

Xyphiel’s eyes moved to meet Zelletia’s green ones, “And what of you?  Beelzebub should have taken your position, yes?”

Zelletia grinned, “Seemed he lacked my disdain and thirst for power… Envy is mine,” Zelletia’s fiery green eyes glanced around the room, “But now that you’ve finally arrived, I suppose we can conclude our last bit of business.”

Xyphiel nodded, “Yes… Seems you’re a sin short.”

Dinah looked to Xyphiel, “Are we now?”

“Unless I am not in my world, and I sit in some alternative reality’s Hell,” Xyphiel proposed, “I am confused as not so long ago each of you were dragging me down into Hell… Yet I fell alone.”

Bella scoffed, “Alternate reality?  We should be so lucky.  No, Xyphiel, this is the world you were born in.  The one we all were born in, and bound too!” She growled. “Your judgment was deferred, for a time,” Bella explained as she turned towards the stairs before her, “For us, It has been 23 years since you were defeated.  For 23 years we have waited in Hell without your influence or your ego,” Bella turned to Xyphiel with a scoff, “It was rather liberating.  The rebirth was truly a sight to behold,” Bella said, her hand upon her chest as she looked upwards at the dark above them in reverence.

“Rebirth?” Xyphiel scoffed, looking around, “Explain.”

“All was remade,” Belphegor said in disappointment, “Reality, which had nearly broken and turned to void?  Mended,” Belphegor lamented, “So it continues… this dreadful existence known as Creation.” 

“But without me… You couldn’t remedy that issue, now could you?” Xyphiel boasted. “You were waiting for this day, yes?  For the New Lord of Pride, to return to his absent throne?”

“Who said that the Throne of Pride was absent?” A feminine voice bellowed through the air.

Xyphiel turned to Dinah, who merely pointed to the top of the mighty staircase that was previously shrouded in darkness.

There a glowing set of violet flames slowly descended towards the other six sins.

A small imp fluttered down to the base of the steps from the top.  His red skin and small horns were pristine, his form wrapped in a formal black tuxedo, as if he were a butler.  He cleared his throat, announcing, “All kneel, for the Lord of Pride, and all of Hell descends!”

Xyphiel’s eyes lifted up to follow the two violet flames as they slowly descended from the darkened throne.  

Xyphiel could see from the corners of his eyes all around him as the other sins knelt.  His lip curled as he saw this show of fealty. “Who would dare steal my throne…?” 

Stepping down from the darkness was a small girl, no taller than 168cm, her hair was long and black, a twisting crown of silver thorns woven through her hair.  Her lips were thin and pale blue, her burning eyes flickered with violet light as they tracked Xyphiel.  

Her wings were black, and had no form of armor wrapped around them as the other sins did.  The dark angel’s clothing was regal.  A black bolero jacket wrapped around her upper body, a pale violet shirt fitted firmly beneath. Under the jacket a small silver waist cinch and a number of petrified wood and silver necklaces around her neck hung down to her chest.  

Only her fingers were exposed, displaying black fingernails, sharpened to points.

Her legs were clad in long blackened leather boots which laced from her ankles to her thighs, with matching satin pants.  A small belt with intricate silver and violet buckles held them up.

“Steal?” Her voice moved through Xyphiel like an icy chill, “I inherited it, Father**.”**

“All rise for Eve Hippolyte, Lord of Pride,” the imp turned to Xyphiel with a toothy grin, “And Queen of Hell.”

Xyphiel scoffed, “Evangeline?” He snarled.

“Eve,” Eve hissed as she narrowed her eyes on Xyphiel, “Father. About time you finally arrived.”

“Finally?” Xyphiel quipped, “I died mere moments ago, and these lackeys claim you’ve waited 23 years.  What treachery is this?!” 

“Time, as you experience it, matters not,” Eve quipped as she stood at the base of the steps which led to the Throne of Pride, “What matters is what is to happen now that you have arrived within my domain.”

Xyphiel chuckled, “Eve… have you forgotten what you signed?” Xyphiel said with a smug grin, “Did you forget, whilst you sat here biding your time, that I own your soul?!” Xyphiel reached out to Eve with his golden clad hand, the ruined metal of the gauntlet squeaking, dangling from his wrist and fingers as he closed it upon her chest within his vision. “Now, Give me the power of Pride, the title of King of Hell.”

Eve remained unphased by Xyphiel’s command.

Zelletia’s chuckle was the only sound filling the room.

Xyphiel glared at Zelletia, “...What?”

“Oh… Xyphiel…” Zelletia’s voice lilted, “You should be more familiar with soul contracts than that, yes?”

Xyphiel narrowed his eyes upon Zelletia.

“Where are your wings, Xyphiel?” Zelletia asked as she lifted an eyebrow mockingly.  

Xyphiel reached behind him, a panic on his face for a moment before he realized his wings were gone.-

“Transubstantiation before death,” Asmodai chimed in, “Means Transubstantiation forever after death… unless you of course, can gain back your power through other means.  Although, it doesn't mean your previous contracts are returned to you.”

Xyphiel glared at Eve, “I am aware how Hell works…” Flames sparked around Xyphiel, “If you will not relinquish the power I seek yourself, then I shall seize it from you!” Xyphiel’s body was soon wreathed in flames as he dashed towards Eve.

“Oh, Honestly Father…” Eve bemoaned, exasperated by Xyphiel’s stubbornness. She did not move as he dashed towards her, “Did you think you held some form of power over me?”

A scraping sound of glass on glass was heard, and in a blur of red and black Bella appeared before Xyphiel, her hand gripping his neck as Xyphiel’s flames surrounded both of them, causing neither any harm.

Bella’s fiery red eyes fixed firmly on Xyphiel’s, a look of pure rage burning into Xyphiel as she held him firm.

“Belvanna,” Eve said as she walked towards Xyphiel, looking up at him, “I need not your hand to stay him.”

Belvanna narrowed her eyes, burning with ruby flames, upon Xyphiel, “He is not worthy to be felled by you, My Queen.”

Eve turned to Belvanna with a shrug, then to Xyphiel, “Father… It seems it’s my task to deal with you for the foreseeable future.  Do follow me, if you would.”

Xyphiel struggled in Belvanna’s grip, speaking shortly, “Bel…vanna?”

“I chose a new name when I reclaimed the title of Lord of Wrath here in Hell… My father had named me Bella, and he is only partially responsible for my rise.  So, I decided a change in decorum was required,” she smiled to Xyphiel, “Do you like it?  I had considered others but… Belvanna had a lovely ring to it,” she said with a wicked grin.

Xyphiel grunted as Belvanna and the other sins took to the air, her grip still firmly around his throat.

Xyphiel could see the Tower of Pride vanishing into the distance as they flew outward and onward.

Dinah flew a not-so-short distance away from the Seven Avatars of Sin as she followed behind.

Xyphiel struggled, attempting to speak, “What is it you plan to do to me?”

Belvanna chuckled, “You’ll find out soon enough.  Be patient,” she taunted, “You’ll have all eternity with it.”

“Belvanna,” Eve chided.

Belvanna’s fiery eyes focused on Eve, “My apologies, my Queen,” she grinned, “Of course… no spoilers, yes?”

Xyphiel lifted an eyebrow as the odd quip from Belvanna.  In all the time he knew her as Bella, never had she shown anything he’d consider a sense of humor.  A self entitlement that made her cocky to taunt her foes, certainly.  But not an ounce of playfulness that he could recall.

But that sort of quip to him sounded familiar, and eerily so.  

Xyphiel struggled for a moment before his eyes fixed on Belvanna’s wings.  The feathers appeared like black glass.  Wings that were unique, he had only seen them on one other angel before.  

“...The Science Experiment,” Xyphiel thought to himself. 

Belvanna’s fingers dug into Xyphiel’s flesh as they flew, passing over the burning landscapes, “Shh…” Belvanna chided, “Your mind is on full display here.  Best keep such musings to yourself.”

Xyphiel’s eyes scanned below, noticing a smaller population once more.  “So… How many were destroyed?  The legions are all but gone.”

“The Guardians saw fit to give most a second chance,” Dinah informed, looking at Xyphiel, “Some made the same mistakes again, others chose to remain here.  Belvanna, for instance, has no faith in humanity’s ability to redeem themselves, so she opted to remain with us.  Asmodai and the others made similar decisions, as did a small handful of demons and fallen… But far more have decided to take the Lord’s offer of redemption and been reborn in a new world.”

Xyphiel hissed, “A new world… As if it will be any better than before.”

“It is lacking you,” Dinah quipped, “So by that measure alone, it is already a marked improvement, Xyphiel.”

“Say sayeth you, Dinah,” Belvanna quipped, “We can work on unmaking it going forward,” Belvanna’s red fire flickered in her eyes, “Finally.”

The Avatar’s of Sin and Dinah landed near a large plain, overseeing a massive chiasm in the distance, no more than 500 meters away.

Xyphiel grunted as Belvanna thrust him to the ground.  Xyphiel tumbled in the dust, grunting in pain as he rolled from the thrust.

“Oh dear…” Belvanna said, raising her hand mockingly to her mouth, “Did I let you down too hard, Lord Xyphiel?”

Xyphiel growled as he got to his feet, dusting himself off, “We can dispose of the pageantry…” 

Asmodai chuckled, approaching the edge of the chiasm, his deep blue wisps flashing to Zelletia as he looked upon the eternal void, “Bring back memories, Zelletia?”

“Yes, of more desperate times.  I debate whether or not you did me any true favors, to be honest,” Zelletia mentioned as she looked at the sins around them, “I see even Belphegor decided to attend.”

Belphegor walked slowly, his hands behind his back, hunched over slightly, “I was promised nothing, after all,” he said with an overly sweet grin, “Of course I would be here.”

Mammon turned to Xyphiel, “To be fair, I expected a bit more of a fight… But I suppose you are in the state you were,” Mammon chuckled, “Defeated.”

Asmodai chuckled, “And to think… You had all our power at your disposal, and still, you failed all those years ago.”

“Mere moments ago, to me!” Xyphiel motioned to Eve, “Surely you all cannot be so easily fooled!  That in mere moments my daughter claims the throne and yet all of you kneel before her?!  Allow me to fight at my former prowess and I will take her place in an instant!” Xyphiel demanded.  “She ruled over you in the blink of an eye!”

All were silent until Eve spoke, “Twenty three years have passed since the day you failed the demons of Hell, and were defeated by the forces of Heaven.  Do not think that the sins you see before you have not tried and failed to usurp me, Father.  Your arrival is only auspicious in one regard.”

“And what regard is that?!” Xyphiel bellowed.

“It heralds the next phase of the rebirth,” Eve said flatly, “The time when we are no longer bound to allow the Goddess’s plan to run unhindered by our designs.”

“Designs?” Xyphiel asked, walking towards Eve.

Eve nodded, “There can be no Good without Evil.  Nite proved that, for when there is no evil to measure against good, otherwise good people do horrific things.  Without a moral compass of what is devilish or angelic, people often treat each other well in good times, and viciously in bad times.  Heaven has had time to prepare… and now that you are here, it is time for that peace to come to an abrupt end.” 

Xyphiel chuckled, “Eve… If it is war with the Heaven you prefer, then I can assure you, you need me! Allow me to help you.  They may have thwarted me once, but you and I together?  I am certain we can bring the Heavens to their knees.”

Xyphiel looked to the sins as they each began to laugh.

Xyphiel glared, “So, what then?  You have a myriad of torment for me?” He scoffed, “Go on, every sling and arrow hurled at me will only empower me to destroy each and every one of you!” Xyphiel glared, “I have an eternity imprisoned alongside all of you!”

The laughter of the Sins remained before Eve lifted her hand to bring them to an instant silence.

Eve’s violet eyes turned to Xyphiel, then straight ahead. 

The Sins all stepped aside, allowing Xyphiel forward.  

Xyphiel looked at them all quizzically, but slowly made his way past them.  

As Xyphiel passed Eve, he took a few more steps towards the edge of the Chiasm, only for the ground to shake and roll.

Xyphiel jumped back, though no one else reacted as the ground shook and the sands burst upwards.  

As dust rained down, the sight before Xyphiel was that of a massive snake-like creature.  It had four scaled arms with massive black and green colors.  The upper body was that of a woman, her shapely and massive form covered in scales.  Though her mouth was exposed, the remainder of her face was covered in a thick bone-like mask with tribal symbols etched across it.

Xyphiel glared at the mighty creature as he heard a female voice speak.

“Do not give up hope yet, little one… Listen to the Mother of Demons before you seek absolution…” the massive figure lowered their face towards Xyphiel for a moment, “...Oh.  It’s you.” The serpent woman looked to Eve, “Has it truly been twenty three years already?”

Eve nodded silently.

“Does that mean that I can…?” the serpent woman whispered.

“Your instructions are to be followed to the letter,” Eve said, narrowing her violet eyes, “Your time safeguarding your young has now officially begun.  Do not interfere more than discussed.  Do I make myself perfectly clear, Lilith?”

The Serpent woman, Lilith, nodded, “Perfectly, My Queen.” Lilith bowed.

Asmodai looked up to Lilith as she slithered away, “Mother…” Asmodai called out.

“Yes, Asmodeus?” Lilith called back, almost hopeful.

“I hope you fail,” Asmodai said, his eyes looking forward. 

Lilith scoffed, and slithered down beneath the sands.  

“Free passage to the physical realm… and you send that bleeding heart?” Xyphiel said as he turned to Eve, “I can see you’re already preparing them for failure.”

Mammon’s lips curled into a smile, “Oh Xyphiel… there is no more loss for us.”

Xyphiel’s face fell, “What?”

Belphegor sighed, “Yes.  Seems we will persist regardless… Our tasks are as they have always been.  Unending…” Belphegor shook his head.  “In this regard, Xyphiel… I do envy you.”

“He really does,” Zelletia chuckled. 

Xyphiel lifted an eyebrow, “Why would you envy me?”

Eve approached Xyphiel, “I’m afraid your destiny has ended, Xyphiel.  The only fate that awaits you is what is beyond that chasm.”

Xyphiel turned to see a dark chasm which didn’t have a bottom.  It stretches downward and onward, the darkness unlike any Xyphiel had seen before.  “What?” 

Almost unlike any he had seen before.  

Xyphiel’s face fell, “...Wait, no.” he turned to Eve, Xyphiel’s face of pride and contempt cracked a moment, “Is that… the Abyss?  You couldn’t… wouldn’t cast me in.”  Xyphiel chuckled nervously, his attempts to hide his growing fear failing.

Eve’s eyes turned to Xyphiel, “I can, and will.”

Xyphiel balled up his golden gauntlet, turned and tried to run from the edge, only to find his feet sinking into the ground as light blue flames licked at his hips, “Release me!” Xyphiel cried out.

“How unfortunate…” Belphegor’s voice called out, his eyes fixed on Xyphiel with a silent and burning rage.

Xyphiel’s eyes frantically turned to Belphegor.  Xyphiel was shocked as the Avatar of Sloth showed an emotion other than indifference.

“Even though you claimed to strive for a return to entropy… You cling to existence.  Your goals were never absolution.  You deceived me,” Belphegor hissed, his bluish eyes producing a flame for the first time Xyphiel had ever seen.

Xyphiel struggled to escape, but as he did Eve backed away slowly.

“On the subject of entropy,” Eve said as she and the other sins backed away.

Rising from the pit was a black and blue mist, filling the area with a scent of the sea and dense fog.

“What is…” Xyphiel started to ask before the vision of a lithe girl surrounded by decaying sea life and saltwater floated near him.  

Her eyes were closed, but her pale skin and dark soaked hair, as well as the black clothing she wore with etchings of dark runes gave Xyphiel the cues he needed to identify the figure.

“...Meri,” Xyphiel whispered, his voice catching in his throat.

In a song, Meri’s voice lilted through the fog, “Hello Daddy….” she opened her eyes, revealing two blackened orbs, “I have such wonderful things to show you.”

“NO!” Xyphiel roared as black tendrils of shadow ripped out of the chasm and wrapped around him, “NO! MERI DO NOT DO THIS! EVE! DINAH!  FORGIVE ME!” Xyphiel’s voice called out in horror as he was dragged towards the Void.

Meri’s laughter filled the air as the tendrils pulled Xyphiel deeper.

“You’ve so many friends down below you’ve disappointed…” Meri sang softly, “They have so much to talk about… for so long… So many voices, Daddy…” Meri moved her face near Xyphiel’s ear, “Yet they’re so very quiet…”

Xyphiel screamed, begging incoherently as he was dragged away.

Dinah turned from the sight as the other sins watched on emotionlessly.  

Meri’s laughter reached a crescendo accompanying Xyphiel's screams before they were soon both gone forever. 

Belphegor heaved a sigh, “And so ends the mortal upstart.  Lucifer’s greatest failure, Xyphiel.”

“Good riddance,” Zelletia said, spreading her wings, “I can attest that Xyphiel has been disposed of, the Old Ones are satiated, for now.  Are we all in agreement?”

The other sins nodded.

“Then, My Queen, with your permission I request to take our leave.  As the armistice is now over, we have much to do,” Zelletia declared

Eve nodded, “Indeed, you are all dismissed.”

The sins all flew away, aside from Belvanna, Eve, and Dinah.

Dinah sniffled, turning to the chasm.

“Do you mourn him, Grandmother?” Eve asked, her voice no longer carrying the weight of her authority.

“Do I mourn Xyphiel?  The man who raped me and befouled our daughter?” Dinah sniffled, shaking her head, “No.  I mourn the loss of the man he could have been.”

“We saw but an echo of Kirggary Misho,” Eve explained.

“No.  Not even that echo,” Dinah sniffled, looking down into the abyss.  “The Guardians provided me with two visions, Eve.  One was where we are now.  Of destruction levied by Xyphiel should our rejection come to him and he meet our rejection with wrath.  But the other?  The proper vision…” Dinah whispered, sniffling. 

Eve and Belvanna looked to Dinah silently.

“He was my soul mate,” Dinah said as she dried her eyes, “He and I were to have Rachel, and she would be the Metatron.  Together we would live out our days in happiness after Xyphiel atoned for all his sins…” She shook her head, “I mourn that.  I have always mourned the loss of my love, in that Xyphiel destroyed my heart, my Kriggary, forever!”

Eve glanced to the Abyss, then to Dinah, her authority returning, “I do still need you, Grandmother.  In the coming centuries.” 

Dinah nodded, “I am aware.  I will not fail you.  Now, I think I’ll take my leave as the others have.”

With that, Dinah spread her wings and took flight.

As Dinah flew away, Belvanna moved towards Eve, approaching the precipice of the abyss.  Her hand gently placed on Eve’s shoulder, “We’re alone now.”

Eve nodded, “Good.”

Belvanna’s wings opened and wrapped protectively around Eve, “...It wasn’t hard for you?  Disposing of your father?”

Eve shook her head.

“Even with all your Grandmother said?” Belvanna asked.

“This was my plot from the moment Meri and my mind converged all those years ago,” Eve explained, “The dark knowledge that tainted me.  The true nature of the void and darkness, conveyed to me, corrupting my mind…” Eve’s voice trailed off.

Belvanna lifted an eyebrow, folding her wings and stepping back from Eve, “So then, what’s the grand scheme of it all?”

“My new destiny,” Eve looked out, “Whether intentional, or if I gazed too deeply into the vision provided to me by the Guardians, I don’t know for certain,” Eve turned to Belvanna, “The Guardians are not the sort to make mistakes.

“On that you and I can agree to disagree,” Belvanna said, her fist clenching, “I still feel my conception to be an egregious error.”

Eve sighed, “You have your place, Belvanna.  The Guardians' vision showed me the steps to take to lead me here. Why do you think I sold my soul to Xyphiel?  That I prevented him from harming Xei?” Eve looked out at the now distant Tower of Pride, “It was to lead me here.  To this goal. To grasp this seat of power for myself.” 

Belvanna frowned, “If you followed the vision provided, are you not following The Guardian’s design?”

“In some ways… Yes,” Eve heaved a sigh, “Their plan required me to kill my mother.  That, I will admit, was hard.  I think that act alone hardened my heart more than anything else I had to do.  Though it was necessary to bring my Grandmother to Hell to prepare the way for me.  I knew my mother would go to Heaven, so in a way it was a kindness.  It was the only way to unlock Zepherina’s full potential.  The only way I could be destroyed without being transubstantiated was if Zepherina destroyed my entire physical body.” 

Belvanna smiled warmly to Eve “I am well aware of your machinations,” Belvanna glanced around to ensure no soul was within earshot, “Sister.” Belvanna chuckled, “Why do you think I betrayed Xyphiel?  I knew you were here, lying in wait,” Belvanna explained looking over the Hellscape towards the Tower of Pride.

“Did you?” Eve paused, “Then, do you think that Rachel and Zepherina do not recall me because I deviated from The Guardian’s original plan?” Eve asked. 

Belvanna paused, “Small details which caused your plan to unfold slightly differently could have caused that.  Maybe Ragna wasn’t pleased with your deception?”

“Or your attempt to devour Zepherina,” Eve added, turning to Belvanna.

Belvanna shrugged, “Did that truly alter things for the worse?”

“No,” Eve said, “It didn’t.  And to be honest, it is rather pleasant having a deeper connection to you, Belvanna,” Eve turned to Belvanna, her burning violet eyes sympathetic, “The world above treated you far too harshly.  Your anger, your wrath, was more than deserved.  Truly, the Avatar of Wrath could never have passed to anyone after it found its place within you.”

Belvanna lifted an eyebrow, “So, must it be kept secret still?  Our link?  Your plot?”

Eve nodded, “Yes. That link between Zepherina, you and myself is something to remain between the two of us.”

Belvanna smiled, “Yes… From her I received a sister.  From me Zepherina received-” Eve shushed Belvanna quickly.

“Speak not of it,” Eve snapped, “That will come in time.”

“All will come in time,” Belvanna said as the pair walked from the chasm, “We have all eternity now, and even if it might be a filthy virtue,” Belvanna’s eyes flashed with a pulse of red flame, “I have patience now.”

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42l Chapter 43 l
Chapter 44 l Chapter 45 l Chapter 46 l Chapter 47

Zepherina

It’s been very hard to keep my thoughts straight, lately.

It’s why I was meditating in the basement of the Capitol building.

I’ve been reading through my own journal entries because I feel like these days it’s more consistent than my own memories. That is why I started taking the notes, after all. 

But, even if the journal is a disorganized string of ramblings, it is slightly better than my own head, sometimes.

What prompted all of these thoughts? Oh, right. Everyone is waking up. The last one seemed to be Demond.

I know that’s both good and bad.

When the battle had been finished, and we had our moment of victory, I was shocked when my Mom appeared.

Standing there with her bident, a bizarre look on her face as she looked at us. Sorrow, mourning and expectation.  

I thought I was going to just get a pat on the back and my hair ruffled as she congratulated us on our victory.

I recalled falling to the ground, my strength draining from me. My body became younger, shrinking. I saw the towering column of light behind Mom. I thought I was dying along with the world.

I mean, I was, sort of. But remade, not dying.  

Once I saw the light rush towards me, my next memory was waking up in bed in my 8-year-old body and talk about being shocked.  

I was a kid again!  

Mom and Momma came by and explained what was happening to me and I was pretty pissed.

I remembered everything, I didn’t have a ‘predesigned’ life, as Mom called it. I was just starting over again, from 8-years old.

Lucilia, on the other-hand, was aged up.

She was four years old.

Okay, maybe not the biggest age up, but that’s where we started.

Ragna, my Mom, said the Guardians gave Her a task. She was to shepard all the damned souls of Hell towards redemption.

In exchange, She was going to have time to raise us together, as a family. 

To accommodate this, She went backwards in time to rearrange some events.

For me, it was going through some of the worst parts of my life all over again.

Theodora? She still died. I was just as enraged, maybe more-so, but I was much less brutal than I was before.

I knew what I was doing, where I was going and the end goal.

Ragna said that those who were felled, good or bad, would all get another chance soon - so that I shouldn’t care about casualties.

I’m unsure if her Godhood has made Her more, or less empathetic, but that comment alone was fairly horrifying. 

Penthesil still became the global power.  We consolidated almost everyone and everything, except for China, Russia and Pakistan.

A New Iron Curtain was established for the most part for those states, at least until the Demonic Incursion came along.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself.  

The awakening of those in the Guardian Temple was something Mom told me about.

Wait, now that she’s God, is that ‘Foretold’?  Ugh…

Anyway: People waking up means that the forces of Hell are now consolidated.

Those who remained in Hell, the Lords of Hell and Avatars of Sin? They were told that they had to stay their hand until everyone who was part of the final battle had awakened.

So far, most of them are now awake.

Demond and Rasper were the most recent to awaken. That leaves only Timothy and Sofia… I hope they stay the way they are. That way the devastated forces of Hell wouldn’t be trying anything until Timothy and Sofia remember.

Besides the whole “Hell’s leaders can’t do anything” aspect, Timothy is dating Sofia, and starting to experience a normal life. To some, that sounds boring, but for me it’s such an exciting idea.

I wonder, briefly, what it would be like to have that. To just be normal.

I mean, okay fine, Timothy isn’t normal per-say.

Timothy is still heir to the seat of the Metatron, but he has the luxury of waiting for our Mother Rachel to grow old and pass on before he needs to worry about that.

For all we know, he could have a kid with Sofia by then and pass that burden to the next generation.

As I thought about this, I flexed my hand, slowly removing my gauntlet. 

My palm still bore the Seal of the Scribe Lord, or the Seal of Solomon. Whatever you’d want to call it, there it was.

Etched ominously into my palm, like a brand, taunting me.

It’s why I couldn’t be the leader of Penthesil after the Demonic Wars finally ended. I knew I’d give that up to Lucilia thanks to meeting myself in the Tower of Mourning, but now I knew why I had to give it up.

It’s my job to protect the world. To be its defender, not its leader.

A title that comes with great personal risk and a gnawing temptation of power.

I closed my fist.  

Kriggary was the first Scribe Lord and he became Xyphiel. It wasn’t instant, it was slow and gradual.

I looked up to the massive seal that lay dormant under the statue that was all that remained of Kriggary Misho.

It was quiet here and I seemed to be the only one who could enter this section of the Capitol building. It was a sanctuary where I could reflect in private, a luxury these days.  

Lucilia can’t see it and she can’t see down here. She says I ‘Disappear’ whenever I enter the Sanctuary, like the Guardian Temple.

Within the Sanctuary and the Guardian Temple, Lucilia can’t see. Lucilia complained of this to me once, or let it slip, that even with our mother Rachel’s help, she couldn’t see.

Personally, I think this has to do with Vael. Vael’s not too keen on technology, and despite Lucilia’s best efforts, all attempts to open communications between The Guardian Temple and Penthesil always failed.

Well, failed or resulted in stern warnings from Vael to the tune of: “Only the worthy or lost may enter the Temple. To permit those whom are not chosen to seek those who are within, is heresy.” 

The only exception seems to be my mother.  Rachel, of course, would never be one to give up her nanities. Even when taking on the role of Metatron, she said that they would enhance her abilities.

Mom even tried to convince her, giving her a couple of years with us as a family before, finally, the injury came that would lead to our momma having the Nanite procedure.

While she was certainly more humble than I recalled, she was still Momma. Queen Rachel Hyppolite of Penthesil.

Granted, Momma wasn’t brutal like she was in my previous memories. She never killed anyone and the law that anyone could challenge the Queen for her throne with a battle to the death was never made real.

The Queen of Penthesil had real respect, thanks to our grandmother. I still never got to meet her, by the way.

It’s said Ragna came much sooner in this version of reality, and so Ragna became Empress of Penthesil, even before I was born.

Still, an assassination attempt is what started the whole war with Penthesil and the rest of the world proper.

There were certain events Mom told me I could not change. Theodora had earned her place in the Ageian Fields, because of that, her death couldn’t be undone. It sucked, but… I knew when she was going to leave.

I made the most of the time I could with her.

You’d think that would make things easier, right? No. Not in the least.

I think that’s why I got as angry as I did.

Knowing that in death I’d never get to see Theodora again, that she’d be beyond my reach forever.

My mom, as a note, was very helpful in this. For her, she’s lost countless friends and those she’d considered family, some who she’d never see again.  

Even now, as the stand-in for the Guardians, or God.

I slowly stood up, looking at Kriggary, “Time to get going. I’ll stop by to visit again soon.” I whispered softly.

I was unsure if the statue could hear me. If there really was anything left of Kriggary. Did that tiny sliver of him that I pulled from Xyphiel burn away when he made the Seal?

I couldn’t be sure.

Whether the warm peace I felt here was just my own emotions or if it stemmed from Kriggary, I wasn’t sure.

Personally, I didn’t need to know.

I turned and made my way up the stairs.

“I should have known you would be down there,” Lucilia’s voice echoed in my mind.

“It’s either there, or the Temple, little sister,” I responded.

“We are speaking prior to this event, yes? I’d hope I could get your attention, at least for that long,” Lucilia complained.

I sighed.

Lucilia was every bit my sister, in that she was the full fledged daughter of Ragna and Rachel.

So, every personality trait I found insufferable in my parents, plus insecurities of a young adult, had been rolled into one.

It didn’t help that, despite growing up with her as a child, I still had my adult mindset and memories.

The age gap was pretty clear, is my point. “I am very confident you can handle this, because I know you. I’m on my way, of course. No reason to panic.”

“I am not panicking!” Lucilia countered, clearly panicking. 

This was going to be Lucilia’s first time addressing the nation and the first day I would announce the end of Martial Law and the beginning of Lucilia’s administration.

Despite everything she had, she was nervous.

“Are you in your small quarters?” I asked. That would be the small container that Lucilia would rest in to perform her simulcasts, as I called them.  

Our mother Rachel had told Lucilia about the dangers of replicating herself, so the chamber’s main point was just to allow Lucilia to have her consciousness reaching out to multiple places at the same time.

Well, to us it seemed that way. For Lucilia, with a brain mixed with nanties that had grown with her, and were beyond anything even my Mom Ragna could cook up, it was just her doing a lot of tasks all at once. 

“...Yes,” Lucilia admitted.

By the time she had done-so, I had reached Lucilia’s room and found her in the large cylinder.  

The front was a frosted glass, the rest all brushed steel reaching from the floor to the ceiling at a very slight angle.

“Mind coming out?” I asked.

Lucilia’s cylinder opened with a hiss, a flood of fog which cascaded across the floor and multiple LEDs, beeps and hydraulics powering down.

“I don’t see why I cannot just do the announcement from here,” Lucilia’s voice called out as she stepped gingerly out from the vessel.  

Lucilia was barefoot, though her body was covered in a form fitting bodysuit from her ankles up to her neck.

Her shoulders and arms were bare, Lucilia’s black wings slipped out, glinting with an iridescent shimmer as her long red hair swung down around her face.

I smiled at her as her violet eyes shifted from the swirling, crawling set of nanites to what some would consider normal iris’s.  

“Welcome back to the real world there, Neo,” I chuckled.

Lucilia rolled her eyes, “What is with you and classic movies?”

My eye twitched slightly as she jabbed at my age, “Some things are timeless, Lucilia.”

“Yes yes, Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis,” Lucilia said facetiously, walking towards her closet, “What’s the proper attire?”

I smiled, “Whatever you think is proper, you’re going to be Empress.”

She fretted near the closet as she went through her options, “What did Mom wear when She was Empress?”

“Times change, huh?” I chuckled.

Lucilia glared at me, arms crossed, “You're the one insisting I do this in person! I could just do it remotely,” she scoffed as she turned to the closet, “Like I always do.”

“Oh calm down,” I walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, “Pretty sure Mom wore whatever She wanted,” I grinned a bit, recalling some of Mom’s flashier outfits. The armor paying homage to Alexander the Great was always a favorite of mine.

“You are maddeningly unhelpful,” Lucilia griped, “You’re supposed to be my big sister… I could use some sisterly advice!”

“Now who's quoting old movies?” I snickered as I  walked over to her and hugged her, “Settle down.”

Lucilia froze for a second, sighed and hugged me back.

“That’s my advice,” I said, smiling at the much shorter Lucilia. She took after my mother Rachel, heightwise.

Lucilia rested her head on my shoulder, “...Okay, so, I’m not panicking but I am nervous.”

“Explain the difference?” I asked, smiling down at her.

Lucilia rubbed her exposed bicep and looked to the floor, “...I’m not afraid. Does that make sense? I’m not scared but I’m… worried? Excited? I don’t know how to explain it.”

“You just never expect it to really happen, couldn’t imagine it even though we planned for it for years and now that it’s happening you’re feeling a bit anxious, that’s all,” I said, trying not to diminish Lucilia’s misgivings.

Lucilia was normally very analytical. I mean, why wouldn’t she be? She’s got advanced cybernetics.

She told me once that I had a cold or something because she detected a ‘biological virus incursion attempt’. Then spent the entire day ‘reinforcing’ her immune system.

Seeing this much raw emotion from Lucilia was rare.

“But I knew this was happening! Why is it right now, mere hours before we go out there, that I am so… flustered?!” Lucilia complained.

I laughed, “Because you’re not a machine?”

Lucilia looked up at me, her eyes shifting to their nanite infused state, “Really?”

“Yes, really. You aren’t. You have some machines in you, but that’s not what defines you,” I smiled, “It refines you, slightly.”

Lucilia closed her eyes, opening them again to appear normal, “...Thank you.”

“Anytime. Now get dressed, okay?” I grinned at her.

“Okay,” Lucilia sighed, turning to her wardrobe, “One crisis at a time…”

“And do not simulate the effects your outfits will have on specific demographics,” I advised her, “Just wear what you want.”

Lucilia nodded, her eyes scanning the wardrobe meticulously, likely against my suggestions.

...

I stood at the Capitol’s massive balcony, before a massive crowd of reporters and citizens of the Empire.

Mothers, daughters, citizens and soldiers all.

I cleared my throat, “It’s been several years since the demonic incursion and I know that we all lost a lot. But I’m proud to say, with the efforts of our esteemed soldiers, the cooperation of our religious leaders, and the diligence of every citizen of the Empire, we can finally declare the war against the demonic forces, over!”

The crowd reacted, cheering, flashing photos as the cameras rolled. I simply smiled.

“As the war is over, so is the Martial Law I imposed, under authority of my Mom, Empress Ranga, forever Her soul rests in power,” I said, giving the crowd a moment to pause.

I could hear a large portion of the crowd repeat, ‘May Her soul rest in power.’

Much like the ‘Amen’ of the Empire now. I’d be concerned if not for the fact that, well, Mom was basically God now.

“With the end of Martial Law, comes the return of your local elections and the restoration of statehood for many of the Empire’s Nation States,” I stated concisely. The authority in my tone was firm and I was keeping myself as calm as I could.

I was getting increasingly excited because I had rehearsed this a million times in front of the mirror.

I was about to pull the rug out from the entire population and it was going to be epic. “I am sure all of you expected this announcement. I would also like to announce that I am abdicating my rightful claim as Empress to the Penthesilian Empire's throne.”

There was a long deafening silence. After what felt like forever, growing slowly at first as a murmur and escalating into a roar, the crowd began to roil into a fervor. Yet more cameras flashed, the reporters were all looking back and forth from their notes, staring at me in shock and confusion, as they were forced to draw up questions on the fly.

After a few moments I lifted up my hand to compel the crowd to silence.  

“I am a General and I plan to remain one henceforth. As such, I do not believe my time as the leader of our armed forces will translate properly to managing the Nation States in peacetime,” I explained, my eyes looking out to the crowd.  

The shock on everyone’s face was an odd sort of satisfaction and I realized why Mom always liked her big flashy announcements.

They were fun.

“That is why,” I continued, “from this day forward, Princess Lucilia Hyppolite, my sister, will be crowned as your new Empress of the Penthesilian Empire.”

Oh man, did they start to panic and freak out!

Everyone knew I would announce the end of Marital Law, yes. They were also expecting me to take on the official role of Empress.

No one expected me to give up my power.

I turned to let Lucilia take the podium.

To her credit, she had put on something that was similar to what Mom would wear, but her own style none-the-less.

The armor was light, just a pair of plate shoulder guards. Her coat had five huge brass buttons closing over her left side, starting from the left shoulder and ending in the middle. Mom liked those asymmetrical looks for some reason. The fabric was heavy wool, a dark royal blue hue, along with a simple short collar.  

A small silver chain ran from her breast pocket to the central seam of the coat, hooking just under the third button. Slacks and thigh-high boots seemed to be the normal sort of thing to wear around Penthesil and Lucilia was no exception.  

On her head was an ornate, but thin, crown. Platinum with a smattering of crowned jewels, a tanzanite gem at the center.

Lucilia walked up to me, as she made her way towards the podium.

I hugged her and whispered into her ear, “You got this.”

Lucilia hugged back. After the embrace, she held me at arms length and locked her eyes on me. She gave me a firm nod and a slight smile, before she moved to the podium herself to address the masses.

“My people, thank you,” Lucilia announced to the crowd.  

Many clapped and shouted, but Lucilia continued to speak over them.

“I know that maybe I am new to you. Apart from my relationship to my sister General Zepherina Hyppolite.You know her great work protecting this grand Empire, and our entire world, but little of me. I want to express that General Zepherina will continue to protect us all, that I will be here to manage your matters of state. I will facilitate the elections of your local representatives, the formations of your parliaments and senates, as well as hear all of your wants and desires. I will work to show you all why it is that my sister has chosen me for this all-important role. I promise you that, under my leadership, we shall all find prosperity and peace.”

There was uproarious applause and I smiled as Lucilia gave her first public address.

I heard a door close behind me and turned to see the Guardian Temple door just standing there. 

It was far back from the podium and the balcony where none from the ground could see it. I slowly walked towards it and reached for the heavy handle.

I opened it and stepped inside, finding Vael waiting in the threshold of the foyer for me.

“Greetings, Scribe Lord,” Vael chimed.

I closed the door behind me, “Vael? Did you summon me?”

“Indirectly, yes I have,” Vael informed.

“Who told you to summon me? There’s an extremely important event occurring,” I quipped.

In a contest of ‘who’s the more logical automaton’ I sometimes wondered who would win between Lucilia and Vael.

Both were young, both were highly intelligent, though Vael did often have a stoicism to them that was beyond most.

“Again, no direct order came to summon you and your sister. I made this decision because it was the most likely desire of our Lord,” Vael said, “And to expedite the current visitation, before it causes further complications.”

I was about to say something before I saw Mom walking out with my mother, heading from the Guardian Chambers.

“Mom?!” I shouted, rushing towards Ragna.

Mom smiled and opened her arms to me.

I hugged her tight, squeezing her firmly as I pushed my face into her shoulder, “How long are you here for?!”

“As long as I can manage…” Mom chuckled as she held me.

“Preferably a shorter duration.Your power has grown considerably, My Goddess, and even the confines of the Temple struggle to contain your awesome power,” Vael said, bowing their head, the many eyes on their crows closed in reverence. 

Ragna seemed agitated and snapped her fingers, a pulse of power surrounding Vael for a moment, “I trust that’s sufficient to prevent any damage, yes?”

Vael opened their many eyes, now glowing with newfound energy, “It will suffice for the time being, My Goddess. I shall ensure the Guardian Temple is properly fortified to withstand your might.”

With that, Vael vanished.

“Vael summoned you, didn’t she?” Ragna asked.

“Seems so,” I smiled, “I’m glad she did. How long have you-”

“Just a day,” my mother, Rachel sighed, “So far, anyway.”She glanced around, “Where is your sister?”

“Giving her coronation speech,” I said with a smile.

“Ah,” Rachel said, surprisingly indifferent, “I do hope Vael left the door accessible for your sister as well.”

A few short moments later I heard soft footsteps, “Mom, Mother?!” Lucilia shouted, rushing to Rachel and hugging her tight, “Oh, it’s a little reunion!”

Rachel looked at Lucilia with a small smile, “I heard you just gave a speech…” She looked Lucilia over with a wry grin, “Is that what you wore to address the people?”

Lucilia took a step back and blushed, “Y-Yes.”

Ragna smiled wide, “It’s lovely.”

Rachel, for her part, seemed a bit more reserved, “I do agree… Lucilia, sweetie, I have a few things to talk to you about.  Come, let's leave Ragna and Zepherina to catch up for a bit.”

Lucilia looked longingly at Ragna.

“Go, I promise we’ll have time together, little one,” Ragna said with a warm smile.

Lucilia beamed and nodded, following Rachel into the Guardian Temple Chambers.

I turned to Ragna, “What was that about?”

“Your mother likely wants to discuss some statehood with your sister,” Ragna smiled, placing her hand on my shoulder, “I’m sure there’s a lot to go over.”

I nodded, “Yeah… So, if you’re here for a visit that means it’s about to start up again?”

Ragna nodded as she walked towards the stairs heading downward, “Yes. Walk with me, Zepherina.”

I nodded and followed.

As Ragna walked, I could see the ground under her boots light up, small cracks forming in the material of the Guardian Temple. The cracks healed slowly after each step.

“...I don’t remember that happening before,” I commented.

Ragna sighed as we walked down the steps, “I’m getting more adapted to the task The Guardians gave me… meaning my ability to exist here is quickly eroding.”

I frowned, looking ahead, “Is this the last time I’ll see you?”

“I wish I had an answer for you, Zepherina, I do,” Ragna sighed as we reached the Overlook, the many stars reaching out before us.  

“You must see this all the time,” I chuckled.

Ragna’s eyes scanned the nearly infinite stars before us across the void of space and heaved a sigh, “No, I don’t, actually.”

“What is it like, then?” I asked.

“Everything is everywhere, all at once,” Ragna chuckled, “It’s a terrible way to describe it. Sifting through things takes so long… And to add to the matter, the better I get at it, the further away from time and space I become,” Ragna turned to me, “I'm not even certain how many times I've visited you, since I left you all to begin my service.”

“This is the fifth time, actually,” I smiled.

Ragna chuckled, “To me, it’s the 2nd. So, if I’m behind on things, I’m sorry,” she shook her head, “You’ve probably told me so much but that was, to me, something that would happen later. I came when I did today because I’m trying to prevent another catastrophic event.”

“Like a major flood?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow, “I thought the Guardian Temple Angels handled that.”

“The Guardian Temple Angels handle the works that I give to your mother. From there they prevent things from reaching catastrophic levels, at least on a universal scale,” Ragna sighed, “It’s why what I did to the Temple the first time was so detrimental.”

“The first time?” I asked.

Ragna held out her hand, a sphere appearing. At the center, was a tiny representation of the Guardian Temple, “This is the seed of all creation for this universe. The Guardian Temple remains as the linch-pin that holds it all together.”

I saw cracks form in the Guardian Temple replica within her palm.

“Damage to the Guardian Temple can have lasting repercussions, as a result,” I saw the sphere growing dark in some places, cracks forming along the surface.

“Damage?” I asked.

“When I destroyed the Guardian Temple in my mortal life, I caused this,” she showed me the sphere, “From that point onward, a tear was forming in reality. Slowly growing worse.” 

More cracks formed in the Guardian Temple as it grew dark, with more cracks appearing in the sphere around it.

“Timothy did well to stop it, of course,” I watched the Temple slowly change. Growing whiter, the cracks almost vanishing. The cracks in the sphere did not. “But the damage was done… That was the first thing I had to do. Repair the cracks. It’s why I kept some Angels here and others left.”

“Who left?” I asked, “and when?”

“From here forward, Zepherina, the guard has officially changed hands,” Ragna sighed, looking out to the vast sea of stars. “Uriel has all but vanished. He did so the moment The Guardians stated They were leaving. The Underworld is now managed entirely by my Mother, Persphone. Though, of course, I know she’ll keep Sheol in good condition,” Ragna smiled, the cracks vanishing in the small sphere in her hand.  

“Did anyone stay?” I asked, wondering if the ArchAngels would still be around from here on out.

“To my shock, Gabriel did,” Ragna chuckled, “Though it wasn’t for me. I believe they had someone who wanted to remain, and as such, Gabriel decided to remain here. A Reaper by the name of, Elon.”

“Really? I thought the Angels were loyal to a fault,” I forced a smile, “But, that Gabriel stayed for Elon, that makes sense.”

“Well, I was rather surprised,” Ragna said with a faraway look, “Gabriel was no fan of me, truth be told. They were disgusted with the news that I would be allowed to speak to The Guardians. They had some… chorus lyrics to sing to me as I left them for my audience with The Guardians.”

“But…?” I asked, waiting for the rest of her story.

“But, Gabirel came back to me, apologized and asked to remain in this world. I told them I had no issues and would appreciate their help,” Ragna turned to me, “As a reward, and a show of no hard feelings, Gabriel now holds Michael’s previous position as the ArchAngel.”

“Oh,” I blinked, shocked, “Wow.”

Ragna chuckled, “Yes. As you can imagine, there were some other promotions,” Ragna’s gaze remained set on the stars in the distance, “A certain Reaper now holds Gabriel’s previous position.” 

I smiled, “You mean, Elon?”

Ragna nodded.

“So, the Winter Brothers are both Angels, huh?” I chuckled.

“Yes,” Ragna sighed, “It doesn’t mean everything is going to be easy for you.”

My smile faded, “I know. This is when things are going to get tougher.”

“I need you and the others to focus on redemption. The more souls who go back to The Guardians and to Heaven, the less forces Hell has,” Ragna explained.

“Right…” I sighed, “Mom, what happens when all the souls of Hell are judged?” 

“Neo-Genesis,” Ragna said firmly.

“The what?” I frowned.

“A turning point, spiritually, where all new births will have fresh souls. Those new souls will be made in my image,” Ragna turned to me, “it will be subtle, but a clear shift.”

“So, you can have the new souls worshiping you directly?”  I asked.

“Well, more souls, yes,” Ragna chuckled.

I gave her a quizzical look, “The people of Penthesil respect you, but not many worship you as a Goddess, yet. Do they?” I asked.

“It’s not them… oh…” Ragna chuckled, turning to me, “Right. You’ve not met the others yet.”

“Met the others?” I asked, my curiosity peaked.

“Now, now,” Ragna placed her hands on my shoulders, “All in due time, you'll meet them soon enough,” Ragna smiled at me, “Come on, let's go find your mother and sister, we don't have much time.”

We headed back up the stairs and saw my mother and Lucilia walking towards us.

“Do remember what I said, dear,” Rachel said to Lucilia, “Now, go say hello to your Mom.”

Lucilia nodded and rushed Ragna. Jumping into the air, “Mami!!” Lucilia shouted in child-like glee.

Ragna caught her and spun Lucilia around, “Oh, there’s my little one…!”

I turned my attention to Rachel, “Did Mom tell you She was coming?”

“No,” Rachel said, her eyes fixed on Ragna, “She works in mysterious ways.”

“Mmmhmm,” I shook my head, “What did you tell Lucilia?” I asked.

“Just some advice on how to best handle certain cultures and situations,” Rachel said simply.

“All that in like, a few minutes?” I chuckled.

Rachel’s icy blue eyes shifted into swirls of tiny nanties for a moment as she smiled to me, “Minutes for you, perhaps.”

A chill ran up my spine. 

The nanites always gave me the creeps. How mother and Lucilia could be so comfortable with those things inside them always baffled me.

“So, advice, I guess?” I asked.

Rachel closed her eyes and sighed, turning to face the large angelic statues adorning the foyer, “My only time to escape this place. To commune with Lucilla and see what’s really out there. But yes, advice as well.”

I frowned, “Escape?”

My mother chuckled, “Zepherina… Do you think I wanted this?” She turned to me, her face falling, “My mother had a plan for me. A destiny. One I never wanted. Yet, despite my wants and desires, she foisted it upon me. Even in my death, when she took on my sins to allow me into Heaven, why do you think The Guardians allowed for such a thing?”

I frowned, “I thought because, as your mother, Saint Dinah pleaded to Them and offered to suffer your punishment in your place.”

Rachel scoffed, “I doubt she’s suffering. If she is, I have no pity for her.” She crossed her arms, her wings wilting, “The mortal realm is the last place I wanted to be. I would rather be in Heaven with Ragna, not this place. It’s nothing but a prison for me, made by my mother. I’m certain she knew of this outcome, or at least that it was a possibility.” Rachel's tone had grown accusatory, “Oh, She had no qualms condemning me to the task of the Metatron.”

“Mami, it’s not that bad,” I tried to force a smile, “You get to talk to Mom all the time.”

Rachel rolled her eyes, “No. I hear Her edicts. Occasionally they will come with a comforting message for me, or a pet name, but they are edicts to be enacted by the slowly growing forces of the restored Guardian Temple Angels.” She shook her head, “They’re not even all here yet, by the way.”

“Who’s not all here yet?” I questioned.

“The other Nephilim who will serve as the Angels of the Guardian Temple,” Rachel clarified, moving a strand of long red hair from her face in annoyance.

“I’m still confused. You’re not a prisoner here, you’re the one in charge of the Temple!” I said happily.

“In charge?” Rachel scoffed, “Tell me, dear: Can you leave the Capitol whenever you desire?”

“Well, yes-” I tried to add before Rachel interrupted.

“That is a luxury I do not have,” Rachel growled, “Unlike you and your sister, I am bound to this place.”

“But everyone here has to do what you say,” I added, “It doesn’t seem so bad.”

“A beautiful prison is still a prison,” Rachel countered, “Yes, I can ask Vael to do anything I’d like. Make me a new bed, redesign my chair, produce whatever I desire. But I cannot leave and I cannot speak to all my children.”

That’s when it struck me, “Wait, is that why Lucilla can’t see inside the Guardian Temple?”

Rachel nodded, “Yes. That is Vael’s doing. There’s no distrust, just preventing me from speaking to anyone without officially bringing them to the Temple, under supervision and extreme scrutiny,” Rachel’s eyes locked on mine, “Why do you think an Angelic Construct as potent as Vael was allowed to exist here, despite her mere existence being a paradox?”

I frowned, “I don’t know.”

“Because I required a proper jailer,” Rachel said, her fist clenching, “One even I couldn’t circumvent. Though, I must admit,” she smiled wryly, “It is flattering that I required such a potent and elaborate prison to keep me bound.”

I shook my head, “Mami, you cannot consider this place a prison or your job a sentence.”

“But it is, my sweet daughter,” Rachel’s face fell, “I never wanted this. I wanted to be free. But your grandmother got her final wish. Here I am. Doing exactly what I did not want,” Rachel’s gaze turned to Ragna, “As I watch my lovely Ragna slowly grow further and further away.”

I frowned, glancing at my mom, Ragna.

“She’s different, newer this time, but every other time she changes,” Rachel said softly. “Her concepts of time and space are warping the more time she spends tending to the wounds she inflicted on the universe. The more time she spends remaking the universe, the farther and more distant your Mom grows. This? This is a welcome change,” Rachel sighed.

Ragna and Lucilla were speaking happily and I did notice Mom was far more open and emotional than the last time she visited.

Lucilla was so happy.

“It’s torture,” Rachel hissed.

I turned to her, frowning.

“But,” Rachel said, taking a deep breath, “I know it’s deserved.  My mother took the memories of my sins, yes. But that doesn’t make me unaccountable for them,” she glanced at me, “I’ll tell you an interesting secret, dear daughter.”

I turned to Rachel, my attention fixed on what she spoke to me.

“It’s not God, or the Angels, who reject or keep souls from Heaven,” Rachel said softly, “It’s the weight of their sin. Uriel was a cruel and harsh judge not because he is vicious or spiteful, but because he had to measure against what souls could, or could not, walk across the fields of Heaven.”

I blinked, confused, “Wait, what do you mean?”

“It means it’s sin, my daughter, that keeps us from Heaven. Sin and sin alone that drags us from the highest of places,” Rachel chuckles, “You don’t even have to praise a deity to enter the Heavens. You just need to be righteous, good and remorseful of your ill deeds. Though there was a system in place to more effectively remove sin, it was the sin alone that would damn a soul for eternity.”

“What system removes sin?” I asked.

“Forgiveness,” Rachel said softly. It was the most sincere I had ever seen her. “It’s through forgiveness you can remove sin and nothing else. True forgiveness, by the way, a deep and sincere effort to right your wrongs,” she looked to the large angelic statues, “No one is perfect, certainly. Everyone makes mistakes. But it’s the effort you go through to undo them that will actually save your soul. Not whom you pray to.”

I smiled softly at Rachel. I rarely saw this side of her. “That’s… kind of nice to know, Mami.”

Rachel heaved a sigh, “And a final truth to give you, as your Mom already imparted it to me. You and I share a lost knowledge, it would seem.”

I felt a sinking feeling as Rachel spoke, “I think I know what you mean.”

A more serious tone moved through Rachel’s voice, “One of my sins, it seems, was in raising a child with resentment. A child I do not remember. Either born of Xyphiel or another, I know I cannot, and should not recall, from either of my memories.”

“So, I do have an older sister?” Ever since I spoke to Rasper, I knew there was something off.

Rachel pulled me close, whispering softly, “Do not speak her name, should you hear it,” she glanced at Ragna and then back to me, “And should you hear that name at some point, treat it with fear and caution. Tread carefully. For whatever reason it is, Ragna has said we cannot know of her. If even your Mom is wary, I do not wish for you to cross her path.”

I nodded. An odd sort of De’ja vu came over me as I wondered, briefly, if I had fought this sister before.

I must have. But I must have won. Which would mean that she’d likely be out for vengeance, “I’ll be careful, Mami.”

Rachel nodded, “Be careful going forward, my dear.” She took a step back, “Because with your Mom making Her arrival as she has, it means that the awakening is complete.”

I smiled, “Timothy’s not going to wake up?”

Rachel shook her head, “He will wake up if he is needed,” she glanced at Ragna, “Pray we do not need Timothy or the Avatar of Samael in the future, Zepherina.”

Ragna turned to us, noticing our tone, “Enough of that. Come on, I don’t have much time and you all will have plenty to ruminate on what your tasks are going forward.” She approached me, Her hand moving to my shoulder, “How about a family dinner? I haven’t eaten in…” my Mom paused, “I can’t even quantify it.”

Lucilla smiled, “Kabob?” 

“Lamb sounds nice right about now, actually,” Ragna chuckled, her smile weakening, “Oddly fitting, but nice.”

I smiled as Lucilla, my Mom Ragna and Mother Rachel walked towards the dining area. I felt a roiling mixture of emotions.

Fear for what was to come.

Joy for what I was about to have with my family.

Regret over the friends I had lost along the way to get here.

But one thing was certain in my mind: This was the start of the real work.

Restoring more than just the Guardian Temple. Rather, restoring the souls of the forsaken and the damned so they can be redeemed.

I felt the Seal of the Scribe Lord grow warm in my hand, and I sighed, as I swear I could hear a calm, soft voice speaking to me.

“The Scribe Lord is the protector of Creation. Creation’s protector must have faith, but know more than that, I placed my faith in you, little one.”

I smiled, looking at my hand, the seal hidden under my glove. I walked to join my family, looking at my Mom as the final words of my grandfather, Kriggary Misho, echoed in my ears.

“For what it’s worth, you will always have my Eternal Faith.”

I smiled, looking out at my family as I felt love and hope swell within me, “It’s worth more to me than you’d ever know,” I smiled, “Grandpa.”

Demond

The last thing I remembered was Ragna standing before all of us in what should have been our moment of triumph.

“Please… Forgive me.  This must be done,” Ragna’s words echoed through the battlefield.  

The tall bident she held began to glow and a blinding light began to surge towards us. 

I dashed to Tasha, or was it Xei? I didn’t know for certain, nor did I care.

“Xei-Tash-Xeisha! Run!” I shouted, frantic, panicking as I tried to figure out what was happening.

Despite my panic, Xeisha didn't have an ounce of concern on her face.

“No… This is as it should be,” Xeisha sighed in contentment.

Was this just her accepting her fate?

I rushed to her, grabbing hold of her, my fingers digging into her back as I held her firmly against me.

No matter what, I wasn’t going to let go of her. Somewhere inside Xeisha was Tasha. I wouldn’t lose her again.

I looked up at the white wall of burning light surging towards us and I braced as best as I could. 

That’s when my senses went into overload.

Like a flashbang had gone off right in front of my face. My ears were ringing and my vision was completely overwhelmed, with nothing but bright white.

That’s when I heard the voice of Cassara, of all people, in the distance.

“...You left yourself wide open, what’s wrong with you?” Cassara chastised.

I heard Xei’s voice, or what sounded like Xei’s voice, “As Zepherina would put it: She rocked your shit!” followed by playful laughter.

“Probably,” Cassara’s voice rang out.

My vision returned and I was staring at the ceiling of the training room within the Guardian Temple. 

I was laid out on the floor, my cheek felt sore, like I had just taken a punch.

I shook my head, sitting up slowly, “...where am I?”

“Oh, you did rock his shit,” Xei’s voice chimed in as I saw Xei, or Tasha, look over me.

They had both their eyes, which was odd, though one was pink and the other red.

“...Tash?” I asked.

Cassara’s face soon loomed high overhead, as she looked down on me, “Uh… Who’s Tash?” Cassara asked, her eyebrow lifting, “Do I need to hit you for real, Demond?”

The two eyed Tasha’s shocked face slowly turned into a grin, “I got him Cass. You go chill, okay?”

Cassara huffed, “You fool around on Xeisha and you’re getting more than a love tap,” Cassara warned before walking off.

“Okay, up baby… slow and steady,” Xeisha, I guess, said as she helped me to my feet. “I know this must be so overwhelming.”

My head was still spinning as I looked around, “Where are we? Last I checked-”

“We were facing what you thought was the end,” Xeisha grinned at me, “But, you’re awake now!”

I shook my head, still getting my bearings, “I don’t understand, Tasha-”

“Okay, so… I go by Xeisha now,” Xeisha beamed at me, holding my hand softly, “We’re still married. You’re still a Lycan, you’re still the Avatar of Ariel, and we don’t need to worry about you turning me into a were-wolf.”

I lifted an eyebrow, “That’s a lot,” I looked around, “Are we in Heaven?”

“Kind of the opposite, though not Hell,” Xeisha said, holding my hand, “I think Cass’s punch really knocked you hard, you don’t remember the current timeline at all?”

“Current timeline?” I asked.

“Ragna remade the world, starting about 13 years ago, she changed a few key things but let everything play out mostly the same, sans some minor details,” Xeisha whispered, “Evangeline, for example, is gone.”

“Evangeline? Gone?” I asked, my brow furrowed.

“Shush!” Xeisha chided, “Don’t speak her name too loud, okay? It’s dangerous.”

I lifted an eyebrow, “Uh… Okay. So, she’s gone?”

“Yes,” Xeisha looked down, “That’s the most important thing to get out of the way. We’re barred from speaking of her, to anyone.”

“I can’t just pretend that Timothy’s sister doesn’t exist,” I growled, “Is Timothy fine with this?!”

Xeisha forced a smile, “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?!” I could feel the Xei in her, that was for sure. Xeisha wasn’t all Tasha, she had a bit of a coyness to her. A strange shadow looming behind her redder eye as if she was hiding something. “And why are you not separated?”

Xeisha’s face hardened, “Oh, I’m sorry! That’s your concern? I’m whole, I can’t be split apart again, okay? Not easily, and if I was, I surely wouldn’t be the same!”

That was certainly Xei talking, “Yes, it is my concern. Because I love, and married, Tasha.” I growled.

Xeisha’s eyes each flexed oddly, as if their eyes had shifted briefly from human to reptilian and I could see the small horns on her head, normally hidden by her hair, growing larger.

I knew that look, Timothy had it when he didn’t have full control over his Seraphim form. “...So you’re still Xyphiel’s kid.”

Xeisha closed her eyes, her horns shrinking, “Better than being either a Succubus or Vampire,” she opened them, calmer, “Sorry. I should be more understanding, Monty.”

There was my Tasha, shining through.

I took her other hand, looking her up and down, “You need to realize that, last I checked: Tasha was dead and Xei turned into… well… You.”

Xeisha nodded, looking up to me, “Sorry. You’re usually more used to me,” she tapped my forehead, “You remembering anything? You’re supposed to remember both your current and previous memories from before and after Ragna fiddled with the universe.”

I rubbed my head, feeling a lump on the back of my skull, “How hard did Cassara hit me and why?” I asked.

“You two were training. Then, in the middle, you just froze up and she dropped you like a sack of shit,” Xeisha said slyly, the hint of Xei peeking through.

I just heaved a sigh, looking around, “So, give me the tour of where we are then, okay? I’m sure I’ll get my head on straight soon enough.”

Xeisha smiled warmly, her eyes gleaming in that excited sort of manner Tasha did when she had a secret.

“Also, tell me why you don’t know how Timothy feels about this Eva-” Xeisha cut me off.

“Don’t say her name,” Xeisha hushed, “Please, Demond.”

I nodded, “Okay.” I started again, “Tell me why you don’t know how Timothy feels about her being gone.”

“Because, unlike you, Timothy hasn’t woken up yet,” Xeisha explained.

“Woken up? So, what, he’s in a coma?” I asked.

“No,” Xeisha smiled, “He’s living his life. If you want, you can go and meet him.”  

“Living his life?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

Xeisha smiled, “Many had a choice, some didn’t. But, from what I know, Timothy never had a childhood. He was always fighting, even when he was younger. Fighting Xyphiel since he was a teenager and the like. Timothy always put the mission ahead of his own life. From what I understand, Ragna told him his mission was completed. He had done it: Xyphiel is vanquished. Now, Timothy can live a normal life.”

“Normal?” I asked.

“Well…” Xeisha chuckled, “Normal Adjacent? He’s still the heir to the seat of the Metatron, unless… Well…” Xeisha smiled, “why don’t you go meet him?”

“Shouldn’t I wait until my memories fully recover?” I asked, smiling.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Xeisha asked with a wide smile.

I was convinced she was my Tasha, with a hint of Xei in there. Almost like spice to her original personality.

Even if this wasn’t Heaven, I was pretty convinced it was close, “Of the things that changed, I have to know: What happened to Elon?” I asked, holding out a glimmer of hope that maybe, this one thing had changed for the better.

Xeisha’s smile faded, “He… He is still with Gabriel. If anything, he continues to work as a Reaper.”

I sighed heavily, my heart sinking.

“He’s very much committed to his role,” Xeisha forced a smile, “He’s happy, Demond.”

I nodded, “It’s a strange comfort, I guess, to know your brother is happy and safe on the other side.”

Xeisha led me out of the training room as I looked around, confused and not so sure of what was going on.

The Guardian Temple looked to be in full swing, or mostly from what I could tell.

Cassara was there, I saw Irfan, Rosalie, her mother and even Jorge.

I was stunned, however, when I saw Vael appear before me.

When I say they appeared, they literally manifested from nothing, appearing in an instant before Xeisha and I.

“My, so many awakenings. It seems this is the starting point for many things,” Vael’s voice rang out around me like wind chimes.

To my ears, anyway, they sounded like wind chimes.

“Oh, you can see Demond is awake?” Xeisha grinned.

I sighed, “Awake?”

“We call it an ‘Awakening’ when someone recalls the events which occurred prior to the remaking of the universe,” Vael informed, “To be clear: You have been physically awake, but now your spirit has been reawakened.”

“Vael, maybe you can be of some assistance to us,” Xeisha asked, “Demond doesn’t recall current events. His last memories are of the wall.”

“The Wall?” I asked.

“When Ragna reset things, it appeared to many as a wall of light,” Vael clarified, as their many eyes focused on me. An arm lifted up and pointed to my head. The eyes blinked and then rolled, “Demond’s issue is twofold. One: A severe trauma occurred to his skull, causing a momentary lapse in long term cognitive functionality. Second: This event appears to have triggered Demond’s awakening, and as such, his feeble mortal mind is having difficulty grasping the magnitude of the situation.”

I narrowed my eyes on Vael, “Feeble mortal mind?”

“Demond isn’t mortal,” Xeisha quipped.

There was the Xei again.

Vael was unphased, “By Mortal Mind, I am referring to the fact that Demond and yourself still perceive time and space in the mortal realm almost exclusively. Unlike some of us. If you took any insult to this, I would find this to be a personal problem.”

“Feeble,” Xeisha hissed, “Is an insulting term, Vael.”

“I will keep that in mind,” Vael stated.  “Regardless, Demond’s memory will likely resolve on its own. If there is any issue, and I doubt there will be, Irfan will be more than capable of addressing it.”

“Thanks,” I stated firmly, trying to be as short as possible.  

Vael remained unphased, “There are many awakenings, if you wouldn’t mind, I have to see them next. Blessed Be.” 

With that, Vael vanished.

I turned to Xeisha, “Vael seems… Off.”

“They don’t have the full memories of Sofia or Samael, it seems. They’re very much a new being, even with thirteen years of experience, it’s as if they’re still lacking social skills. Granted, Vael is like Rachel. They can only exist inside The Guardian Temple,” Xeisha informed.

“Why can’t Vael leave?” I asked as we headed across the foyer. I paused, “Wait, Rachel?!”

Xeisha rolled her eyes, “Wow… Okay, yeah.  Uh… So, that’s one of the things Ragna changed in the universe. She brought Rachel back,” Xeisha cleared her throat, “You know.. Since… you know who, doesn’t exist?”

I sighed, “And…? Is it a caveat of that resurrection that she can’t leave the Temple?”

“Yes,” Xeisha nodded, “And as for Vael? They are physically unable to use the door of the Guardian Temple. I believe it’s because their existence is a paradox,” Xeisha said with certainty, as if Xei were speaking, “Rachel is a different matter. Rachel, even in this world, is all but considered dead. Her punishment for turning down the task of the Metatron is to fulfill it in its entirety,” Xeisha’s tone was much more empathetic now, like Tasha.

“Meaning…?” I asked, thinking I might know the answer, but unsure if I did or did not.

“Meaning Rachel is trapped in the Guardian Temple, serving as the mouth of God, until her dying days,” Xeisha said solemnly.  

I would have felt bad, but to be completely honest, I didn’t.

Rachel was, at her worst, a direct enemy who nearly killed me and was at the very best, an enemy of an enemy.

For her to be confined to The Guardian Temple to basically do the equivalent of Heavenly Community Service seemed, at the very least, like a light punishment for all she had done.

I reached the door, turning to Xeisha, “I’d say that seems like a slap on the wrist.”

Xeisha nodded, “I thought you would. You told me so before, not shocked you’d make the same statement again.”

“Was I… like a zombie, this whole time?” I asked, “I mean before I ‘awoke’?”

“No,” Xeisha chuckled, “You are you, always. You made the decisions you wanted to make and I could tell,” Xeisha said, her hand on my chest, “It was always you deep down.”

I smiled, “So… just… I can’t remember what I did with you?”

Xeisha nodded, “The memories will come back, as Vael said.”

The doors opened and I moved towards them, noticing Xeisha wasn’t coming, “Uh, Xeisha?” I asked, unsure what nickname I had picked out for her.

Xeisha chuckled, “Timothy doesn’t know I’m in the Guardian Temple,” she snickered, “He knows you are. You’re part of Project Serph and you’re a Major, he’s a Colonel.” 

I frowned, “...And Anderson?”

Xeisha’s face softened as she looked upwards, “He sacrificed himself, much the same way he did originally. He’s at peace now, I can say that with utmost certainty.”

I nodded, “Okay. Well, see you later, then?”

Xeisha smiled and jumped up to give me a kiss.

I kissed her back, catching her before she fell.

Xeisha beamed to me, “Later, Monty.”

I paused, wondering, or trying to think of a nickname for Xeisha. One didn’t spring out right away, because I always called her ‘Tash’ when she was just Tasha.

But, I did have a name from a favorite movie that would fit, I wondered if it was the same I’d pick before, “Later, Tish.”

Xeisha’s eyes widened, “Do you remember?”

I chuckled, “No…”

“But… You always call me ‘Tish’,” Xeisha said, blushing.

I smiled at her, “I guess it was me the whole time after all, huh?”

Xeisha hummed happily as she got back to her feet, “Good luck!”

The doors closed and I turned to see myself in what would have been Colonel Anderson’s office.

There was still a desk in front, though no one was there. 

On the door, I saw a plaque.

Col. T. Crestfall.

I gave a knock, waiting to hear a response.

“Who’s there?” Timothy’s voice called out.

I decided to be as formal as possible.  “Sir! Major Winter, sir.”

“Enter,” Timothy ordered.

I walked in, glancing around the room to see a fairly standard commanding officer’s office.

Timothy sat at his desk, in full uniform, glancing at his computer screen. “How’s the Temple?”

I figured I would be as honest as I could, “Sir, some minor rumblings about recent events, but nothing disturbing, sir.”

“Good to hear,” Timothy said, standing up. “You didn’t happen to speak to my mother by any chance, did you?”

“Sir, not today, sir,” I responded.

Timothy nodded, “I’m sure she’s busy,” He said with a flat tone, “I’m glad you’re here Major. The end of the Martial Law is going to require a significant downturn of troop numbers. I expect the majority of our units to withdraw. I would appreciate it if you continued to be my primary Temple liaison, of course.”

Timothy really wasn’t part of the Guardian Temple? This was bizarre to me. He was the one who took Elon and myself in. In this timeline, was I the only link he had to The Guardian Temple? What about Zepherina?

“Sir, Yessir,” I said, firmly, “But, may I ask a question?”

Timothy nodded, “Go ahead, Major.”

“Why me and not… well… someone of higher rank?” I asked.

Timothy’s lips pursed, “Because I trust you more than her.” Timothy said firmly.

Was he talking about Zepherina? I lifted an eyebrow in confusion, “Sir?”

Timothy took a measured breath, “The end of the Martial Law means that our operations are going to scale down immeasurably, which means that information will come from select sources. I just want to make sure I have more than one, Major. That’s all.”

Timothy was always hedging his bets, that was for sure. Seemed even in this timeline, contingency plans were his forte, “Sir, understood, sir.”

Another knock came at the door behind us.

Timothy cleared his throat, “Who’s there?”

The voice that came through the door gave me a shiver, “Captain Vazquez, sir.”

It was like hearing a ghost.

“Come in, Captain,” Timothy ordered.

I saw Sofia walk in. She was, well, human! Sofia was just as she was before she made her pact with Samael. No blindfold, no bizarre eyes, no wings, even her scent was human. She stood there, her normal brown eyes looking at me with a slight hint of contempt.

She wore a normal military uniform. Well, a mostly normal uniform. The only key difference was that, in addition to a US flag, which oddly was a 13-starred US flag, there was the flag of Penthesil over it. 

“Major Winter, nice to see you sir,” Sofia said with a salute.

I returned the salute, out of habit.

Vael was still here. How could Vael and Sofia both exist?

Then again, Xeisha did say Vael was a paradox. Maybe the two could never meet face to face?

“Captain, good to see you. Are you here to discuss our rendezvous later tonight?” Timothy asked.

“Sir, yessir. Can it be discussed in the present company?” Sofia asked, her eyes moving to me. 

“Of course, Captain,” Timothy confirmed.

“Sir, I would have messaged you, but I noticed you didn't have any appointments. I wanted to confirm in person. But, as we’re here: Yes, I would appreciate it if we arrived at the location at 19:00 hours, sir,” Sofia announced.

“That sounds good, Captain. I’ll rendezvous with you at 18:30 hours, sharp, yes?” Timothy confirmed.

“Sir, yessir,” Sofia chirped back.

“And, of course, formal uniform is not required, Captain,” Timothy said with a smile.

“Sir,” Sofia said, smiling back, “Yessir.”  She turned to me, a wary look in her eyes, “Major, I’ll leave you and the Colonel to continue your discussion. Pardon my interruption, sir,” and with that she turned and left the room.

When the door was closed, I couldn’t help but grin and turned to Timothy, “Sir, permission to speak freely, sir?”

Timothy took a measured breath, “I’m going to regret it, but granted, Major.”

“You dog,” I said with a grin.

“There’s a measured irony in that coming from you, Major,” Timothy said with a smile, “...Martial Law is ending, the war’s over, so… Sofia and I had an agreement that once that happened, we would take things further.”

I chuckled, “Good for you, sir.” I considered everything and cleared my throat to ask, “Sir… Is she aware of your…” I paused, “Heritage?”

Timothy’s smile faded, “Well..” he cleared his throat, “That’s going to be a big part of our… discussions.”

I noticed Timothy’s wings were not displayed, but considering Timothy’s parentage was all the same, “And the uh… obvious issue?” I said, motioning to my own shoulders to hint at Timothy’s wings.

Timothy sighed, “Thankfully, I think that will be less of a shock than it would have been 13 years ago… Trust me, the wings are the least of my worries.” Timothy sat down at his desk, “I fought demons and orchestrated a massive defensive operation against the literal forces of Hell, Demond,” Timothy said, all pretenses of formality gone now, “Why is a single date with Sofia making me feel terrified?”

I chuckled, “Maybe because there’s no Standard Operating Procedure for relationships, sir?” 

Timothy leaned back in his chair, “Wish there was.”

“I think things would be fairly dry if there were, sir,” I said with a grin.

“I like dry,” Timothy sighed.

“I can assure you: You do not want ‘dry’ with women, sir,” I joked.

Timothy sat up, looking like he was about to draw a line somewhere, when a gust of wind filled the office.

Papers flew everywhere and I had to shield my eyes as dust was kicked up.

I saw a sphere of yellow wind pulsing in the far end of Timothy’s office, hovering over the carpet before it touched down.

Once it did, it vanished and I could see who was standing before me.

One was Zepherina, who you could never mistake for anyone else.

Zepherina wore her plate mail, as well as some kind of violet ceremonial cape draped over the shoulders. On each shoulder I could see the insignia of Penthesil branded into the fabric.

Before her was a much smaller woman, in comparison, if she was a woman.

Maybe a teenager? Her skin was olive but her hair was light blonde, eyes were green, but glowed with a slight yellow energy as her feet touched down on the carpet shortly after Zepherina’s boots made a much more noticeable ‘thump’.

This younger woman wore a wool uniform, dark violet, with a black shirt and tie. The tie had the symbol of Venus etched on it in yellow thread.  She had calf high black boots, with slacks matching her jacket.

Timothy was on his feet, looking rather shocked, “Grand General Zepherina! We weren’t expecting you,” Timothy gave a firm salute, his eyes moving to me.

I saluted quickly, clicking my heels as if standing before a general.

“...Col. Crestfall, Major Winter,” Zepherina said, with some irritation in her voice, “I’m sorry to drop in on you. It seems…” Zepherina cleared her throat knowingly, “That someone didn’t fully understand the spell she was casting…?”

The small girl let loose a breath as if she was holding it in for too long.

I could smell ozone in the air and the scent was similar to someone else I had seen. My nostrils flared as I sniffed instinctively.

She smelled like Fatima, but also had a scent exactly like Syria.

“Sorry, Mistress,” The young girl replied, “I… I lost focus. It won’t happen again, I promise, next time I will take you to Lucilia’s quarters.”

“Tufan,” Zepherina spoke firmly, “I only allowed you to use your magic to take me here at your express request. You asked that you take me, did you not? Now, instead of being alongside Lucillia, I am in West Point with Col. Crestfall.”

Tufan pursed her lips, turning to Zepherina, “Mistress, if I am not able to use my powers to practice then how can I ever hope to be the Titan of Air my mom was?!” She shouted, her body taught and fists clenched.  

Zepherina looked down at Tufan, an eyebrow lifted and not a word spoken.

Tufan’s hands shot to her mouth, eyes wide, “...Forgive me, Mistress. I spoke out of turn-”

Zepherina lifted a hand, “...No, you have a point. However, I do have to get to my sister. Practice all you want, within reason, yes? Don’t do anything that your mother would be upset with.”

Tufan’s face fell, “Mother’s upset with everything,” she said in a fairly typical teenage lament.

“Mother’s have a tendency to be that way,” Zepherina said with a smile, “Off with you. I’m close enough, thank you, Tufan.”

Tufan clenched her fist and thrust it to her shoulder, bowing to Zepherina, “Yes, Mistress. Thank you, Mistress.”

With that, Tufan walked away from Zepherina and turned to Timothy and myself.  

My nostrils flared as I could sense a hint of pheromone in the air as Tufan’s eyes locked onto Timothy.

I could hear her heart race and saw Tufan’s face blush as she was engulfed in swirls of wind and lightning before she vanished.

I grinned a little, knowing why Tufan’s first spell took her to Timothy’s office, of all places.

Once Tufan was gone, Timothy spoke, “Tufan’s a little young, isn’t she?”

“She’s sixteen,” Zepherina said smiling, “The war’s over, she has plenty of peacetime to finally learn her powers,” Zeph chuckled, “Besides… She wants to be like her mom, Syria. How can I say ‘no’ to that?”

Timothy let out an exasperated sigh, “Like this: No, Tufan.”

“Aww, are you being the protective uncle again, Timothy?” Zepherina grinned at Timothy, “The Alexandratta are my personal royal guard and I can do as I please with them. Don’t forget: They function outside of your authority, Colonel.”

Timothy grumbled a bit, “Zeph…”

Zepherina chuckled, “Oh, come on! Like I’d actually pull rank on you,” Zepherina turned to me, “Hey Demond, how are things with Xeisha?”

“Uh… Fine, I think,” I answered.

Zepherina’s face turned to confusion, then to glee, “Wait…” She grinned, “No way.”

Timothy looked confused between myself and Zepherina, “...Uh, is this Temple business?”

“Yes,” Zepherina said firmly, “Go get ready for your date with Sofia.”

Timothy shook his head, “How did you-”

“Lucilia told me,” Zepherina grinned at Timothy.

Timothy narrowed his eyes, “I don’t like being surveilled.”

“Lucilia literally sees everything, Timothy. If you did something without her knowledge, I’d be immeasurably impressed,” Zepherina smiled, “Shoo, lover boy! Go get ‘er!” 

Timothy cleared his throat and stood up, “Yes, ma’am,” before he headed out.

The second the door closed, Zepherina clapped her hands together, her violet eyes bright and her smile wide, “Oh my God, or well, oh my Mom? Eh! Demond, tell me everything! Are you excited? When did you wake up?” She was bizarrely enthused.

“Uh… Well I ‘woke’ up during a training session with Cass and…” I cleared my throat, “Not going to lie, the last memory I have is of the final battle.”

Zepherina’s expression softened slightly, “Wait so… You… You only remember The Wall?”

I nodded.

Zepherina’s eyes went wide, “Wait…!  Did you not talk to Xeisha?!” 

“Uh, well, I was with Xeisha when it happened, why?” I asked.

Zepherina looked at me, expectantly, “...Did she… Tell you anything important?”

“Uhm, like the world got remade and this is a weird new timeline?” I asked.

Zepherina’s expression was more exasperated, “I swear the next time I can, I’m going to kick her ass.”

“Please don’t kick my wife’s ass,” I said, narrowing my eyes on Zeph.

“Figuratively,” Zeph chuckled, “What did she tell you?”

“That I shouldn’t talk about a certain person, since it seems they don’t exist,” I said firmly.

Zeph lifted an eyebrow, “Uh… Yeah there’s a lot of that going around, I guess? Rasper was talking about someone named ‘Eva’, which is really weird. Is that who you’re talking about?” Zepherina asked.

I just nodded, deciding it best to listen to Xeisha and not say Eva’s name.

“You’re the second person who woke up and mentioned someone who didn’t exist. Next time I see Mom, I’ll have to ask,” Zepherina thought out-loud. 

Zepherina doesn’t remember Evangeline?! What the Hell?  

“What, exactly, did Ragna do?” I asked point blank.

Zepherina smiled, “Well, The Guardians handed her the keys to the Universe and she’s taking care of it now.”

I paused, waiting for more. “Like… Temporarily?”

“Nah, The Guardians retired,” Zepherina said with a warm smile, “Mom’s taking over and… Well, she has a few tasks. One is to rehabilitate those in Hell,” Zepherina’s expression hardened, however, a glint of green flashing in her eyes, “Well, most, anyway…”

“Dare I ask?” I was slowly starting to piece things together.

“Mom basically gave every single soul in Hell a choice: Reform by living a second, mortal, life. One where you’ll have no memories of your past transgressions until you die or remain in Hell,” Zepherina scoffed, “Most of them were fairly polite if they declined.”

“I’m sensing a ‘But’ in there somewhere,” I said, wondering who would turn down such an offer to start with.

“Bella,” Zepherina snapped, “She spit at my Mom’s feet,” Zepherina hissed with a vitriol that I only recalled shortly after her friend Theodora’s death. 

“I see…” I wondered why, of all the people, Bella was so against possibly getting a second chance, “Did she give a reason?”

“I would rather suffer an eternity in Hellfire than ever take a breath among the mortals again. Enjoy your time, Goddess, for my only task will be to see the mortal world wreathed in fire and fury*,”* Zepherina said, her voice taking on an Italian accent as she spoke the words, “Something like that, basically.” 

The way Zeph spoke, it sounded far too close to reality than a mere impression of Bella, “Okay… uh…” I cleared my throat, “So… Ragna is now…?”

“God, yeah,” Zepherina chuckled.

I looked Zepherina over, “So, what year is it?”

“Around the same time as when we all defeated Xyphiel,” Zeph confirmed.

“Then, why do you look older?” I asked.

“Aww, you look great too, buddy!” Zeph chuckled, rolling her eyes.

“I meant your eyes, you physically look the same,” I explained, “You just seem more jaded in some respects.”

Zepherina’s face looked troubled as her brow wrinkled, “Yeah… Rasper said something similar.”  She sighed, “So… I technically was made younger and older, at the same time. Mom had a request, basically.”

“A request?” I asked, “Like… Request from us or a request of someone else?”

“She asked the Guardians for a favor. Basically, they offered her the job and she said ‘yes’ but with conditions,” Zeph explained.

“Yeah, leave it to Ragna to literally hold God Himself to some kind of bargain,” I said, narrowing my eyes on Zeph.

Zepherina took a deep breath, “I know. Trust me,” she looked out the window, “The request wasn’t what you think. Mom never had a lasting relationship. Maybe two or three years, tops, but something always happened, you know? Whether by calamity or otherwise.” 

Zepherina moved to Timothy’s desk, her hands placed flat on the desktop as she turned to me.

“Ragna always had her potential lover ripped from her life, somehow,” Zepherina shook her head, “So she just wanted one. She wanted a chance to have a family.”

“So, what happened?” I asked.

“Rachel still ran off with Xyphiel,” Zepherina explained, “But in this version of reality, Ragna and Rachel arrived at Penthesil together, took power, had me, the US tried to assassinate my mom and mami saved her. Then, after barely surviving, she had Lucilia,” Zepherina broke down the events at a rapid fire pace, “That’s kind of when the gears started going for the rest of the world.”

“Wait, so that would mean that Rachel still had Lucilia after the-” I was cut off.

“Yes, after the nanites,” Zepherina chuckled, “Mother really didn’t want to go back to ‘Thinking like a single being’, she was… oddly good at controlling the nanite swarm. She said she felt like it was integral to her being.” 

I crossed my arms, “Seems like Rachel and Ragna are in control of everything now. Why did they get the keys?” I asked.

Zepherina shrugged, “I don’t know. It wasn’t my choice. My Mom, so you know, feels it’s a form of penance.”

“Where is Ragna now?” I asked.

Zepherina pointed up, “Watching, overseeing… whatever it is.”

“So She can see us now?” I asked.

“No,” Zeph said, frustrated, “When Mom first took up the role She vanished and we didn’t see Her for months. She came back to visit, only in the Temple and nowhere else. She can’t manifest on the mortal plane anywhere but the Guardian Temple or bad things happen. Like, there’s so much concentrated power around Her that things start going wrong.”

I furrowed my brow, “So… She’s trapped, too?”

Zepherina nodded, “She came for a few weeks, then vanished, then She was gone for a year. Then five, and…” Zepherina heaved a sigh, “It’s been almost a decade, now. Every day I wonder if she’s going to come back soon and for how long. Eventually, I think She’ll never be able to manifest in this world and when that day happens, I’ll literally be oblivious to it,” Zeph turned to me, sorrow in her eyes, “Heck, it could have already happened.”

“Sorry,” I sighed, “It sucks, to lose your parents, even if they are assholes.”

Zeph cracked a half smile, “Yeah well, you don’t have that problem.”  Zepherina’s face turned shocked, “Oh, shit! Right, you don’t know!”

“Huh?” I asked, confused.

“Demond, everyone got a second chance in Hell, but there were plenty who were in Hell during the reset… Those who could have been alive sometimes managed to live again,” Zepherina smiled, “Check your phone contacts.”

I lifted an eyebrow, but picked my phone out of my pocket. I looked through my contacts, unsure what I was looking for.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until I reached the ‘P’ section.

‘Pops’

I felt the color drain from my face, “...My father is alive?”

Zepherina nodded.

I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck starting to rise, then I caught something out of the corner of my eye.

In the window, I could see a reflection of someone who wasn’t in the room.

Elon’s pale face looked at me, as if he were standing next to me, but looking at my eyes as I saw his reflection.

“Hey, bro,” Elon said with a smile, his single arm reaching out, “You’re in for a trip. Check your messages.”

 I smiled, my eyes watering, “Elon?” 

“Don’t get all sentimental,” Elon said, “Check your messages from Pop.”

I nodded and I tapped on the messages portion of the contact for pop.

“Hey, Demond. Meeting up later at the cemetery for your mom and Elon. Text me when you can.”

My head spun and my memories came flooding back.

The night I came home and my father and I had our fight, I put him in the hospital instead of killing him.

Somehow Elon had prevented me from tearing Pop’s head off or scratching him.  

After that, he joined AA, eventually stopped drinking and started being a parent.

I remembered a life where my dad was distant, but trying. He was very far from perfect. He was deeply flawed, still. Constantly criticizing, constantly on my ass about things.

Then we lost Elon and he changed for the better again.

I remember my father coming to the hospital, after they failed to save Elon.

The tearful hug, and him holding me tight, begging for forgiveness.

Pops apparently didn’t like my relationship with Xeisha. He had some racist shit to say about it for a while, but finally warmed up to her after Elon’s death.

It seemed he needed a second turning point in his life, and while he was miles from perfect, we were at least on speaking terms.

I checked the messages again, as more memories flooded back and saw a picture I had sent to him.

It was a pregnancy test, only from a few days ago.

My head spun and I remembered Xeisha beaming at me and handing it to me.

“So… I’m unsure what it means but…” Xeisha smiled at me, “You’re gonna be a Dad soon.”

I shook my head as slightly different memories of battles kicked into my mind, though the results all seemed about the same, just missing Evangeline in key moments. 

I smiled, as I stared at the photo of the pregnancy test, “...That sneaky little Tish.”

Zepherina giggled as I looked up.

“You get your memories back, Monty?” Zepherina teased.

I glanced at the window, Elon’s reflection gone.

“Yeah…” I looked up to Zepherina, who was once more her excited self, “...You’re gonna be an aunt.”

Zepherina hugged me tight and spun me around the room, “You get to be surprised twice! Isn’t that great?!”

I grunted as Zeph squeezed the air out of my lungs and as the room spun around, I couldn’t help but smile.

Things weren’t perfect, sure. But for me? This was the best my life had gotten, and wondered, hell I hoped: Could things actually get better from here?

I felt warm tears of joy leak from my eyes as it slowly hit me, that maybe, just maybe… I could have a ‘Happily Ever After’.

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42l Chapter 43
Chapter 44 l Chapter 45

Rasper

I awoke from a horrific dream, laying in my bed.

At least, I knew it to be my bed, somehow.

Like I had seen a film of myself in this room before. It was mine. I had memories of it, but I don't recall ever doing anything here.

My covers were tossed off of me and I was naked. That was normal, I always prefered to sleep naked. I was sweating, in a panic as I sat up, I could feel my muscles tensed, ready to pounce.

“Wot the ‘ell?!” I shouted.  

The last thing I remembered was that I was about to die, or was dying… was that the last thing I remembered?  

Polites was startled awake by my screaming, “Rasper?! What’s wrong?” Polites looked me over, a blush coming to his face, as he placed his hand on my abdominal muscles, “Babe…?”

My heart was hammering in my chest still, as if I had just come from the battlefield, I was panting.  My attention was on Polites, who was still covered, “...Pol? What’s… Where am I?”

Polites lifted a sculpted eyebrow, “Our bedroom? You’re in our bed. Naked, I might add,”  Polities slid over to me, taking my hand, moving his free hand from my abs to my chest, “Your heart’s beating like a rabbit… What did you dream about?”

“We… It was on the battlefield…  Da horde was upon us and then I saw dat light…” I tried to phrase it properly for Polites.

Polites hugged me quickly before I could continue, “It’s okay, babe. You’re safe, here. It’s just a memory from one of your many wars,” he smiled warmly at me, “Wars you won, remember? It's okay.” His other hand caressed my cheek as he kissed me softly.

I returned it, though I was still on edge. 

Polites could clearly tell, “Come on… Let's get you a nice scalding shower and some coffee. I bet in a few minutes, you won't even remember the dream.”

“It wasn't a-” I tried to state before Polites kissed me again.  

“I know, babe,” Polites said, now taking both my hands, “The wars? They're over. You are safe. You're with me. You aren't on a battlefield… but you are sweaty and you reek a bit,” Polites teased, “So, shower and coffee?”

I was still confused but I just caved to Polites's insistence, “Aye… Dat sounds good.”

“Allright, then!” Polites got up out of bed, himself wearing nothing but a pair of tight underwear, showing off his tight arse. Polites was smaller than me, heighwise, but still lean and agile. “I’ll start the water running, then I’m going to get the coffee going!”

“Ight,” I said as Polites walked out of the room. I swung my legs out of our bed, looking to the wall.  I was so confused.

Was this the afterlife? Just me and Pol? Together without any major troubles?

The visions I last had seen were certainly those of that final battle alongside Zithero. I know I had called forth the power of the sun itself to burn those fucking demons.  

But, I have so many other memories jumbled in between.

As if they were memories of another time. I remember coming back to Terra, but with Ragna, and Ragna alone.

There was no Xyphiel, nor Xei in those memories, not the new ones.  

The old ones weren't gone. I knew them well. I recalled Xyphiel, the bastard. I knew of every fucking atrocity he made me perform.  

But between the final battle and now, I had a strange new feeling.  

While I didn't like it, I tried to parse through the fresher memories that had invaded my mind.

Ragna arrived to find Rachel, but when she did, a demon also arrived: Lucifer.

Penthasil was forced to come out of the shadows, and when infighting had caused multiple countries to fall to a demonic uprising, Ragna soon rallied the American Nations under her banner.

Ruthless as she was, Ragna and Zepherina still conquered the United States, pushing into Europe not to do the same, but seen as liberators against the demonic threat.

More memories filled my mind. Memories of Ragna’s death, of her giving Zepherina the Alexandratta. 

I felt a tear run down my cheek as I recalled Syria’s death. It was nearly identical to her first death in her final moments against Xyphiel.

She had stood to defend Ragna, her Mistress, but in doing so, Xyphiel had killed her.

It was then that Lucifer engaged in battle with Ragna, only for Xyphiel to intervene and destroy both of them, seizing power over the forces of Hell.

The cardinal sins had all fallen one by one. Most by Zepherina, some by the remnants of The Guardian Temple. Rachel had even done battle, and though she was victorious, it was announced she had perished from her wounds.

Even now, as I sat in my bed, the final memories gathered in my mind. I knew the greater war was over, in this reality.

Maybe this is the afterlife? Just a rosier version of the events that happened? No Xyphiel? But then… Why isn't Xei in the new memories? I thought to myself.

I knew a few things. Zepherina had only held onto her power as the General of all armed forces as a statute of a Global Martial Law.  

But that time was ending, Zepherina was to end the Martial Law, as the final embers of the Demonic Incursion were snuffed out.

“Oh, babe!” Polites called out from the hallway, “Your ceremonial uniform is hanging on the door! I had it pressed for you! Can’t have the Captain of the Royal Guard of Penthasil with wrinkles on his jacket!” 

I grunted, “Stuffed shirt day…” I chuckled, as if falling into a routine as I got to my feet.  

I saw the garment bag hanging on the door. I opened it up to look at my uniform.

I knew, and did not know, this uniform.

In my new memories, I had worn it many times. Though it was still somehow alien to me. 

A dark violet wool jacket, slacks and black shirt underneath. A black tie with bright violet etchings showed a flame, Greek lettering for the planet Mercury and the seal of Penthasil. 

“If this is real… If this is a dream… If this is Elysium… I don’t care,” I thought to myself with a warm smile, “I got all I need right ‘ere.”

I headed into the shower and Polites had set it as scalding hot as he could. My preference.

After a shit, shower and a shave I was dressed in my uniform.

“That's the second best thing I've seen you in today, babe,” Polites gushed as I sat down at the table.

Polites hummed as he dropped a plate of black pudding, sausage, beans, toast and eggs on my plate.

“Dare I ask wot da first is?” I questioned.

Polites blushed, and as he did I couldn't help but remember why I loved this damn little twink.

“I know da answer,” I said as I cut into the black pudding, taking a bite, “So, while I'm out there playin’ toy soldier, the hell do you plan tah do all day?”

Polites rolled his eyes, “Well, I'm going to do what I always do: Clean up your mess.”

I chuckled, “Always da lady o’ da household.”

Polites fake gasped, “Did you just call me a Hestie?!”

“Yeah,” I finished my breakfast, standing up and pushing his shoulders against the wall, “...Am I  wrong?”

Polities blushed deeper and bit his lip, “...Babe,” Polities mock whined.

I kissed him, Polites kissing back before I broke the kiss and grabbed his ass, “Just be ready fer me when ah get home, my lil’ Hestie,” I said with a wink.

Polites let out a squeal and scurried off to do whatever it was he was going to do for the day.

I headed out the door, knowing where I needed to go.

I was still tied to Zepherina. Grand General Zepherina, to be more precise.  

I made my way through the village before I found a large stone platform, with the royal seal of the Hypolyte family adorning it, mixed with Ragna's ‘Omega’ Crest.

From here, I saw precast runes that clearly only myself and the other Titans could use. I activated them and appeared within a large war-room of sorts.

A number of Penthasilean Valkyrie were mulling about, none batted an eye at me as I made my way through the large room, seeking Zepherina.

I approached her office, and once I did, I gave a firm knock on the solid oak door.

“Come in Rasper,” Zepherina's voice called.

I walked in, looking around to see if Zithero or Alexis were here. Neither were, it was just me and Zepherina.

Zepherina was sitting at her desk, looking bored. She was jotting something down on a tablet. She was dressed in ceremonial armament. A full set of platemail not unlike Ragna's, that strange stone-like material she had developed.

She wore a violet cape over her left shoulder, the long violet cape attached on her right hand's shoulder pauldron, making the left side of the cape hang over Zepherina’s left side, her right mostly uncovered.  

The desk was littered with a myriad of unorganised papers, random figurines, a few knives (one shoved point down into the desk). The walls behind her were decorated with a number of demonic looking blades and bits of armour.

“Rasper,” Zepherina said firmly, “Good. I was afraid you'd be late.” Her tone was shorter than I recalled, succinct and to the point.

“Yeah… Had a nightmare…” I paused, figuring it was worth a shot.

Zepherina was my Mistress, I couldn't hide much from her anyway.

“Wot da ‘ell is goin’ on?” I asked.

Zepherina looked up from her large desk, “You know what's going on…” She paused, her violet eyes fixed on mine, a half smile on her face, “...Wait, did you wake up for real?

“Aye,” I said, lifting my eyebrow, “I tend to do it ‘eryday… But uh, fer real? Whaddyah mean?”

Zepherina paused, “No, I mean… Did you really wake up?”

I took a measured sigh, figuring I had a good idea what Zepherina was on about, “Aye, I think I did, Mistress. I'm a bit confused. I can recall the current day but…” I had trouble forming the words.

“Oh, thank Mom!” Zepherina laughed, “No, seriously… I was getting so damn impatient!” Zepherina walked over to me and hugged me tight, “I mean, I knew it was still you and everything but it's just good to not have to pretend none of it happened.”

I gasped as Zepherina forced the air out of my lungs, “None o’…wot… happened?”

Zepherina dropped me and started talking way too quickly, “Well, mom remade the world but kind of reset everything and made me younger and brought mother back for a bit and we had an actual family life for like 13 years and then Hell literally broke loose, then the war enveloped the world!” 

I just nodded and smiled, watching Zepherina ramble.

“And then mother had to ‘Die'” Zepherina said the word with hand quotation marks, “Then Mom ‘Died',” Zepherina said again with the air quotes, “And we had to start doing everything ourselves… But Zithero and Alexis woke up like, a few months ago and I've been waiting for you to wake up too!” 

I chuckled, “Well, anything else?”

Zepherina smiled, “Today is the day we end Martial Law and I hand over the keys to the Empire.”

I crossed my arms, “Right, Martial Law…” I cleared my throat, “So wot exactly is going on from ‘ere on out den?”

Zepherina’s enthusiasm died down quickly, “Well… So, we lost a lot of people. Friends, family and such… Some went on to Heaven, those who didn’t make the cut? Well, they’re getting a second chance.”

“Didn’t make da cut?” I snapped, “So… Wot, I was gonna go tah Hell?”

Zepherina cleared her throat, moving to her desk, “You didn’t really lead a… bloodless life, Rasper.”

“Oh, right,” I chuckled in jest, “I forgot about all the horrible things I did wot with my immortal soul owned by anotha!” I glared at her.

“...And before?” Zepherina spoke firmly, an odd gaze in her eyes. I never recalled her being this cold.

“Before wot?” I asked.

“Sparta?” Zepherina asked succinctly.  

I let a grunt out as I considered what she was accusing me of, “Wartime, following orders, I suppose those are horrific things?” I argued.

Zepherina heaved a sigh as she stood behind her desk, her palms falling flat on the top of it, “It’s not that serious. Rasper, you likely would have passed into Heaven for a few decent enough reasons. But, I needed you,” her gazed moved upwards, “...And I think Mom gave you a pretty decent life, all things considered. You and your husband.”

“Husband-” I shouted before catching myself, clearing my throat. I did recall Polites and I tied the knot. Though, I’ll admit, it was the edge of what I wanted.

In my memories, the wedding itself was something Polites insisted upon. Not that I was against it, I just didn’t see the point in a ceremony. 

“There’s nothing that could have happened in this life that you wouldn’t have wanted, Rasper,” Zepherina explained, her brow furrowed, “You just have your current life and the past mixed together from here out. Not everyone is awake yet or will wake up for some time.”

I paused the conversation there, “Hold on, just pump the brakes.”

Zepherina lifted an eyebrow.

I took a measured breath, “So.. Me aside,” I looked up to Zepherina, “You said those who didn’t make the cut are gettin’ a second chance? Howso?”

Zepherina’s smile returned, “Well… All the damned souls of Hell? They have a choice. Remain in Hellfire for eternity or be reborn to give life another try. A crack at redemption. It’s going to be our job to help rehabilitate the damned souls that we already have.”

“And… wot happens after those souls are redeemed?” I asked.

“They go to Heaven, return to eternal bliss with their loved ones or can wait around in Sheol,” Zepherina said, a slight smile on her face, “Eventually, the old God will leave, along with a number of the lesser Gods. Then Mom’s in charge.”

I paused, the pit of my stomach dropping, “...When you say ‘Mom’, yah don’t mean…?”

Zepherina’s smile dropped, “Ragna. My mom, yes. Do you have a problem with that, Rasper?”

I narrowed my eyes on Zepherina’s. She was never so quick to anger and yet I could tell what I had said somehow flipped a switch in her, “I do, actually. Yer Mom ain’t no saint, sure as shit ain’t worthy of bein’ a God.” I didn’t 100% believe it, personally. Ragna had lived a long time and I sure had met less scrupulous deities in my travels.

Zepherina’s eyes flashed green for a moment, her white wings shimmering a slight vermillion hue, “Rasper… mind your tongue around me, especially when discussing my Mom.”

“Is dat an order?” I asked, “Mistress.”

Zepherina’s eyes narrowed on mine, “It is.”

“...Back to da same den,” I said, “Just like with Xyphiel.”

Zepherina crossed the distance between the desk and me in an instant, her fist gripping my neck and hefting my shoulders against the wall. Through her feathers I could see a glimmer of green flickering within.

Something was inside of Zepherina, deep inside. Something not originally a part of her and yet it was intrinsically melded into her being.

“...Provin’ me point, ain’t yah?” I managed to ask, despite her grip on my throat.

Zepherina closed her eyes and took a deep inhale through her nostrils, the green vanishing from her wings as she released me.

I coughed a bit, landing on one knee.

When I looked up, Zepherina’s face was in a bit of turmoil, her eyes closed tight.

“...Wot happened to you, Zeph?” I asked firmly, suppressing the natural desire to call her my mistress.

“A lot,” Zepherina said through gritted teeth, turning from me, “Why were the others waking up so much happier than you?” She asked.

I got to my feet, “I dunno… Maybe I’m just a bastard? Black sheep o’ da family, like Eva is for you.”

Zepherina paused, turning to me, lifting her eyebrow, “Who?”

I blinked, rubbing my throat, “Eva, yer ol’r sista?” I reminded.

Zepherina looked genuinely confused, “I don’t have an older sister. I’m the first daughter of Rachel and Ragna Misho.”

My confusion only grew, “Wait, yah don’t remember Evangeline at all?”

Zepherina’s brow furrowed, “You do? That…” Zepherina crossed her arms, “That doesn’t make sense. I wouldn’t forget someone, that’s not what my Mom did.”

“Yer anger,” I said, curtly, “Yer anger isn’t your own. That’s not you.”

Zepherina sighed, “I know I have a temper and I’ve been working on it, okay? I will not have another outburst like that.”

“Long as I don’t provoke yah,” I pointed out, “But yer anger wasn’t anger. It was Wrath.”

“And?” Zepherina asked.

I didn’t mince words, “In yer final battles against the sins, one of ‘em took something from yah, an’ you took something from them.”

Zepherina considered this, “I mean… I fought a few sins but-”

“An’ who was the toughest one yah went against? Who did you almost lose against?” I questioned.

Zepherina turned to look at her desk, “...Wrath.  Bella.”

I nodded, “Yah have a shard of her in yer very soul.”

Zepherina shook her head, “No. I… I couldn’t.”

“Yes, yah do,” I said, walking to Zepherina, placing my hand on her forearm, “I can see it in your eyes, yer wings and in yer attitude.”

Zepherina shuddered, “Get it out.”

“I can’t,” I explained, “Soul merges aren’t easy tah undo, damn near impossible. Just to give an example: Xeisha’s still herself, ain’t she? Tasha and Xei are gone.”

Zepherina nodded.

“Well,” I patted Zepherina on the back, “Good news is, I’m well versed in being an esteemed and noble advisor.”

Zepherina turned to me, a half smile on her face.

“And I’m pretty sure that I can help you out plenty,” I grin, “If you actually listen to your advisors.”

Zepherina nodded, “I will, Rasper,” she sighed, “Just… Call me on my bullshit whenever you can, if you see that shard coming out.”

“It isn’t coming out,” I frowned, “It’s always gonna be there. I’m just gonna make sure it doesn’t cloud yer judgement too much, Mistress.”

Zepherina nodded, “Well… I guess we need to check on the others, see who’s up.”

I gave a nod, “Aye, I agree wit you there. But I do gotta ask,” my smile faded, “You got a bit of Bella’s anger, but it ain’t so simple. She got a chunk o’ yah.”

Zepherina frowned, “Meaning what? Is that good, or bad?”

“Souls have power, Mistress,” I explained, “It might not seem like much, but yer no ordinary soul. Something tells me that Bella didn’t take the offer at another life, and if not, den she’s still a lord of Hell,” I shivered, “She may just be the most powerful one in existence.” 

Zepherina chuckled, “The good news there is, at least, she’s stuck in Hell.”

“Right… But my question is still: Where is Eva?”

I heard a noise from the door to Zepherina’s office. I turned, noticing the door had changed.

Now it was an ornate, wooden door.

The door to the Guardian Temple.

I turned to Zepherina, “You uh, want to show me something?”

Zepherina stared at the door, confused, “It’s not here for me. I didn’t summon it.”

I walked to the door and opened it.

Zepherina chuckled, “Well, I’m going to go drop by Demond and Timothy if you’re going to go visit The Temple. Have fun Rasper, say hi to my mother for me.”

I had passed through the threshold before that last bit hit me. I turned, confused, “Wait, Mother?” the doors slammed shut.

That’s when a familiar voice called to me, or at least newly familiar?

“Rasper Alexandratta? I suppose I should bid you welcome,” the disembodied voice called to me.

I turned to see Vael, floating behind me about a meter from the smooth white floor of the Temple.

I looked them over, confused as I considered the inhumanly pale and nearly stone skin, the jewelled eyes of their halos rotating around their head. “Vael, was it?”

Vael’s featureless head nodded, “I am the custodian of the Guardian Temple. I see you have awakened, Rasper Alexandratta.”

I frowned, looking around the large foyer.

Through the normally empty halls, I saw a number of angels passing back and forth. All were Nephilim. I couldn’t spot any Seraphim or Cherubim angels - clearly only the Nephilim avatars remained in the Guardian Temple.  

Though which angel’s avatars were here, I couldn’t really determine.

The twin statues which once represented the cowled angelic figure on the right and the statue of Timothy, however, had changed.

While the sword wielding angel on the right remained, the left-most angel was clearly a depiction of Rachel.

Rahcel’s face was looking down to her feet, eyes closed, an expression of humility on the expertly crafted angel’s face. Her body was clad in holy robes, with a possible depiction of a veil pulled back over her long hair.

“Yes, this is your first time here, at least in this timeline,” Vael’s explanation pulled me from my observation.

“‘Ight. So, why’d ya summon me?” I asked.

“Are you asking me if I opened the doorway for you?” Vael asked.

I nodded.

“I did no such thing,” Vael explained, “The doors of the Temple open for those whom are worthy, when they are most required. Do you know for what purpose that might be, Rasper Alexandratta?” Vael questioned.

“I ‘aven’t the foggiest,” I chuckled, “Though…. Me Mistress did tell me tah say ‘Hi’ to ‘er mother.  Last I checked, however, she was dead.”

“By the events in your previous memories, I was as well,” Vael stated, “However while I was physically destroyed, I was awarded for my sacrifice with continued existence. Though my individual memories from my parents are more limited.”

I lifted an eyebrow.

“Ah, you’re not aware of my origins,” Vael stated, their eyes almost rolling, “Apologies to you, Rasper Alexandratta. My existence in what you consider time is, at best, alien to me at most times. With allies restoring memories of a timeline long since remade, you can see how my confusion may grow considerably.”

“Right,” I cleared my throat, “So, Rachel lives?”

“Indeed,” Vael stated, “The Metatron does live.”

I turned my head to the side, eyes narrowing, “Rachel is the Metatron?”

“It was her right, as always. Now she serves the role she once abdicated as penance for past sins she no longer recalls,” Vael explained.

“How… Noble…” I frowned, “I suppose I oughtta meet ‘er, yes?”

Vael cocked their head to the side and then moved their right arm, pointing me to the left in the foyer, “The Council Amphitheater is where she resides. I would suggest you find her within.” 

I made my way through the hallways slowly, glancing at the angels who were walking through the halls.

All paused as I did so, looking me over curiously before they continued on.

I wondered how many could see I was a Titan and how many even considered me a threat.

I didn’t need much hints to tell me which doors I was heading to.

They were almost ten metres tall, standing from the base of the marble flooring to the towering ceiling above.  

Crafted into the door’s material was a grand epic. A depiction of the battles between Heaven and Hell, with the forces of Heaven clearly victorious upon the top of the doorway.

As I approached, the doors cracked open.  

“Curiouser and curiouser…” I said to myself as I walked into the room.

Several older angels were standing from their seats, and while they regarded me with some mild concern, they walked past me and out of their chamber without too much thought, let alone a word to me.

The only one not moving was Rachel, who sat upon the largest seat in the centre of the large ampathreater’s towering structure.  

Rachel’s eyes were closed, her red hair smooth, though a few streaks of white were visible.   Rachel’s face was immaculate, her robes a mixture of soft reds, whites and trimming of silver. On her head was a thin silvery crown.

Slowly, Rachel’s familiar icy blue eyes opened, revealing to me that clearly no change in parentage had been made. “Rasper, was it? You’re my daughter’s servant, yes?”

I nodded, “Aye, I am. She told me to say ‘Hi’ but…” I looked around, “I somehow don’t tink dat’s why da Temple doors opened fer me.”

“Did something occur prior to the doors opening, Rasper?” Rachel asked, slowly rising to her feet. Her large white wings folded demurely behind her.

This wasn’t the Rachel I knew from my time with Xyphiel. “Yah seem… Calm,” I remarked.

Rachel took a measured breath through her nose, exhaling slowly, “You recall a version of myself who was misled by demonic influence and lust.”

“Yeah… Xyphiel and Belial didn’t make fer good role models,” I reasoned.

“I do not recall any time with Belial,” Rachel shook her head, “Nor time with Xyphiel, outside of an adversary. I do recall my times with Ragna and they are spotty in places.”  Rachel’s face took on a sombre expression, “My mother took that sin from me and suffers now for it.”

I nodded, “So… Least yah could do was take up the task she had originally given yah?” I asked.

Rachel’s attention turned back to me, “Indeed, Rasper. I am now taking on the role I once was too afraid to take on, in her memory. L Because of her sacrifice for me.”

“Right, so… yah see this as a punishment?” I asked.

“Mostly,” Rachel chuckled, walking down the steps, “It’s the only sin I seem to have been left with. Well, major sin.”

“I wouldn’t call ‘not wanting to be the voice of God’ a sin. Just sounds like nerves and normal reservations to me,” I reasoned, “Dat’s a lot to put on a person.”

“Less now, with the changing of the guard,” Rachel said with a slightly mischievous grin.

“So, you’re the Metatron,” I said, trying to keep things on track, “Vael is the custodian, Zepherina the Empress of the Penthasilian Empire…”

“For now, yes,” Rachel said firmly.

“Dat leaves the only mystery as to why the Guardian Temple doors opened for me,” I said out loud.

“Was there something you spoke of prior to the doors opening before you, Rasper?” Rachel asked.

I nodded, “Aye. Yer daughter.”

“Which one?” Rachel asked.

“Eva,” I said.

Rachel’s brow furrowed, “I have no daughter ‘Eva’. You must be mistaken, Rasper.”

I narrowed my eyes on Rachel, “If you don’t remember her, and neither does Zepherina, den what’s going on?”

“Maybe this person no longer exists?” Rachel said, shrugging, “Things did change.”

“Do yah recall Timothy?” I asked.

Rachel turned from me, “I do… that sin I know of, though my memories are poor. I knew not of Xyphiel’s sins against my mother. Even in this reality, the act that led to Timothy is… less than scrupulous. Still, he is my first born, and I cherish him from afar.”

“Timothy had a sister, a fraternal twin,” I said, “Her name was Evangeline.” 

Rachel didn’t react. She didn’t even breathe.

I turned and looked out the doorway, spotting an angel standing perfectly still, like a statue.

Time had stopped.

Before me, not far from Rachel, a bizarre fluctuation in the air occurred. As if a wave of heat had distorted the air around it. From its center, I felt a powerful pull, before the distortion vanished and Ragna appeared.

Ragna was her usual height and build. Her wings jet black, as was her long hair. Her armour was bronze, however, and her cape was long and white.  

“Ragna?!” I shouted, confused.

Ragna glanced at Rachel and then to me, “Good. Caught you right on time.”

“Pardon?” I narrowed my eyes on Ragna.  

“Time’s… difficult to tell when you exist outside of the universe as its overseer,” Ragna said with a smile and shrug, “I’m still adjusting.”

“Overseer?” I asked, concerned as I looked Ragna up and down.

Ragna chuckled, looking at the cape and armour, “Hmm.. Yeah, I know,” she sighed, “It’s uh… A lot.” 

“A lot?” I asked, “You’re telling me-”

“I am She who is called I Am,” Ragna smiled, “I took over for the old Management, the Guardians needed a break after so many eons.”

“So, all dis is by yer design, den?” I asked.

“Some mild redesigns, but I kept most everything the same,” Ragna explained.

“Except Evangeline,” I added.

Ragna’s expression hardened, “Eva,” Ragna emphasised the name, “Made her choices and decisions. She’s where she intended to be and had little desire in adhering to my visions.”

I furrowed my brow, “So, you know about…” I paused for a moment, “Eva?”

Ragna let out an exasperated sigh, “Yes. And while it seems that most who know of Eva’s transgressions are quite understanding of where she is, you’re the outlier.”

“Oh?” I glared at Ragna now, “Yah mean to tell me you changed my sibling’s memories? All of ‘em?”

“No,” Ragna snapped, “Your siblings just have the good sense to not try and torment Zepherina and Rachel with that name. A name that was torn from their very souls.”

I started to grasp what was going on now, “Really? And who made my brotha hop onto dis lil’ agreement?”

“My mother spoke to Zithero and Alexis,” Ragna smiled, “She was convincing, apparently.”

“Zithero’s a softie,” I chuckled, shrugging, “Me? I’m much more pragmatic.”

“Are you now?” Ragna asked.

“Aye,” I said with a grin, “Pragmatic enough to know that you, in your inexperienced nature as ‘Overseer’ risked tearing a hole in reality to stop me from pressin’ the issue wit yer wife here means that I’ve got power.”

Ragna’s expression hardened.

“Gettin’ Rachel or me Mistress to rememba Evangeline throws a wrench into the proper order o’ tings as yah have ‘em, don’t it?” I asked with a sly grin.

“Unfortunately,” Ragna hissed through her teeth, “It is a situation that can’t be removed… And I would have hoped that you’d be very happy where I placed you in my new reality.”

I now hardened my expression, “Excuse you?”

“Polites could have died in the war. He didn’t. You could have died. You didn’t. Instead the two of you are happily married, with a lovely home and a charmed life,” Ragna stated.

“And wot… you thought you could buy me with a ‘Happily Ever After’?” I chuckled, “I thought you knew me, Ragna.”

“Rasper…” Ragna growled, her fist clenched, “This isn’t an ego thing, do you understand? Your little bit of knowledge, if unchecked, can cause actual damage to all of creation as it stands.”

“Oh, yeah,” I chuckled, “And trust me, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the thought, but… uh… Well Ragna, I don’t want you tink’in you’ve got one over on me when I have such a juicy bit of leverage, yah know?”

“Leverage?” Ragna chuckled, “Rasper… I could remove you with a thought.”

“If yah could do it dat easily, yah’d have done it,” I pointed out, “But all ya came to do was intervene directly.”

“As a courtesy,” Ragna hissed.

“Sure,” I shrugged, “But if I felt so inclined, I could just zip out of here and find someone who’d be more than interested to know about this lil’ flaw in yer design.”

Ragna narrowed her eyes.

“I’m sure things are a bit too orderly for her tastes these days anyway,” I smiled at Ragna.

Ragna lifted her hand up, her fingers ready to snap, “I’m about to rescind that courtesy.”

I smiled confidently.

“You seem overtly calm, Rasper,” Ragna growled.

I just grinned to Ragna, “You tink she wouldn’t notice yah comin’ all the way to this reality just to pop me outta existence?”

Ragna’s eyes narrowed.

“Calm down, Goddess,” I chided, “I got no desire to unmake reality or help the spirit o’ Chaos.”

“Not the guarantee I wanted,” Ragna said, her hand wavering.

“Just tell yer daughter to ban me from mentioning Evangeline and all’s well dat ends well,” I smiled.

“You can disobey an order, Rasper. It just causes you insurmountable pain. Why should I trust you?” Ragna asked.

“Well,” I walked towards her, placing my hand on her wrist, “Let’s just say you found me useful enough to keep me ‘ere.”

Ragna scoffed, “Your sins kept you here.”

My face fell, “...Sins? I followed orders most o’ me life. Wot Sins are yah on about?”

“Rasper, you were a Spartan. A warrior. You didn’t fight for country or for honour,” Ragna’s face fell, “You fought for the love of the kill.”

I narrowed my eyes on Ragna.

“I did the same,” Ragna admitted as she lowered her hand, “do not think of me as someone who wanted to condemn you.”

“But I’m ‘ere and not in Elysium or the Aegean Fields, because o’ sin?” I growled, “What o’ all the good I did do?!”

“What good, Rasper? Siding with another army for your final moments?” Ragna shook her head.

“Plenty would argue dat’s enough, don’t yah tink?” I growled.

“A decision that would be decided in Uriel’s Court in my mother’s realm,” Ragna smiled, “Do you trust the Angels of old to judge your deeds properly? Uriel is a pitiless angel.” 

“I ain’t askin’ fer pity!” I snapped, “I’d be askin’ fer fairness!”

“Fairness,” Ragna smiled, “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

I lifted an eyebrow, “Wot yah mean?”

“Truth is, Rasper, this world was given to me under a specific condition: New souls will slowly filter in, surely, and I will have the right to judge those souls however I deem is fair,” Ragna sighed, “But for the old souls in Hell, and those who have yet to pass the Guardians judgement, I will usher them to a second chance.”

“Second chance?” I asked, looking around at the frozen space around me.

“All souls are going to live another life. Be given another chance and thus judgement. Upon their final judgement day, they will either be passed on to the Guardian’s Heavens or cast into my Hell,” Ragna sighed, “Only then will the new souls begin to get created. When there is no-more of the old sans the debris.”

“So…” I paused, confused, “Dat’s why I’m ‘ere? A second chance?”

Ragna nodded, “You’re getting one, certainly. But you’re mostly here because Zepherina needs you,” Ragna gave me a weak smile, “...And so did Polites.”

I turned from her.

“I think what you have is rather nice, Rasper,” Ragna added.

I recalled my memories with Polites, old and new and heaved a sigh, “Yah it’s… It’s nice. I tank yah fer dat. It alon’ weren’t nuff to get me to just take yer new world at face value, tho.”

Ragna nodded, “You would be the pain in my ass, Rasper.”

I smiled at her, “Always will be.”

Ragna chuckled, “So… you’ll keep this to yourself?”

“Aye,” I looked at Rachel, “Tho… yah came ‘ere just fer me?” I asked.

Ragna smiled warmly to Rachel’s frozen form, “No. I am going to spend some time with my family,” Ragna’s smile faded, “It’s harder and harder for me to manifest each time. More time passes on the mortal plane as I grow my power over the universe.”

“Omnipresence yields Omni-absence?” I asked.

Ragna nodded, “The first time it was just a few months. Then a year. Now it’s been five or more years since I last visited them,” Ragna turned to me, “I don’t know if the next time I’ll see them is a decade or a century.”

“But yah speak to Rachel?” I asked.

“When she reaches out, I hear all of her prayers and requests. They come to me together and separate all at the same time,” Ragna sighs, “It’s difficult to pick and choose when to speak to her and how. I’m unsure of how long ago I spoke to her, even if she believes she spoke to me today, it may have been answered years ago or in the future,” Ragna shook her head, “Existing outside of time and trying to interact with those within, is difficult.”

I gave a nod, “Seems difficult to understand. Vael said the same.”

Ragna nodded, “Vael… Talk about an anomaly. Their creation was entirely accidental, you know? They exist and I cannot get them to un-exist even though her existence should be a paradox.”

I chuckled, “They seem to fit in around here.”

“A being created outside of time and space,” Ragna nodded, “They are, indeed.”  Ragna’s eyes focused on Rachel, “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to spend time with my family, Rasper. I suggest you do the same.”

“Aye,” I frowned, “But before I go silent on the point all together,” I narrowed my eyes on Ragna, “Where, exactly, is Eva?”

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42l Chapter 43 Chapter 44

Rasper

The ground around me was molten, but I staggered across it.

I didn’t see corpses or figures.

Only slightly unmelted patches of earth, where demonic forms once sat. Forms that sat long enough to soak up the energy I had put out.

I fell to my knees, feeling the heat of the surrounding landscape slowly sustain me.

I inhaled flames, and as I did, I felt myself slowly recovering my strength.

Still I fell forward, my hands landing on the molten earth. My form was so starved for fire, that the earth gave up every ounce of heat she had to fill me.

Like a dry sponge given a drop of water. The molten rock solidified, as if being drawn up by my body, returning to its previous state of solid stone, though charred.

My eyes looked upwards, above the smoke which now choked out the sky above me.  

Air came back.

The heat of my fire was so much that the very air around me was burned away and now a rush of wind blasted me.

As it did, I could feel my body reignite.

Fuel for my eternal flame.

I trudged up out of the molten lava pit I had just formed. As I reached the cusp of the crater, I could see a fresh wall of demons approaching.

“I am… The Titan Of Fire… I burn Eternal!” I shouted to the oncoming demon horde.

I watched as spikes of earth ripped through them, sending some skyward. Others fell down the massive crevasses that were created to form the huge spikes of rock and earth.

Zithero’s voice chirped in my ear, “I can’t let you have all the fun! Though, I must admit, that was rather risky, Brother.”

I glanced at Zithero and behind us, “...How many left?”

Zithero’s face fell before he asked quietly, “Friend or Foe?”

“Friend,” I commented, looking out at the amassing forces as they climbed through the spiny forest of mighty stone pillars that Zithero had conjured, “I can see da foe. At least, a number o’ dem.”

“Forcas recalled everyone when you started your stunt… but…” Zithero sighed, “We’re but a handful now.”

“And three titans, one out of her element,” I growled, “And two stretched thin enough as is.”

Zithero turned to me and scoffed, “Speak for yourself!”

“Cockiness ain’t gonna do shite fer yah, iffin yah don’t have the power to back it’ up,” I spat.

I wasn’t a fool.  

Zithero had had to conjure a mighty stone barrier to keep my Solar Flare from destroying our own forces. I can’t imagine what toll that took on him.

“I’m holding up fine, brother,” Zithero said, placing his staff firmly on the ground. As he did, I watched his fist turn to stone, cracks running through his fingers.

My eyes scanned back up to Zithero, “Dat so?”

Zithero’s smile faded and he replied in a somber tone, “...Can’t face the end with a sour attitude, brother.”

I took a measured breath and turned to the demons now only a few hundred metres from us.  “Tink dis time we’ll finally get some rest?”

“Rest?” Zithero asked as he readied his staff.

I nodded, “Our lines are dead. Our Mistress may yet live, but the only Alexandratta lineage lies in a little girl, barely older than a toddler. Less yer Grandma-ma hasn’t told us somethin’ of yer family,” I turned to him.

“Roma are good at hiding,” Zithero attempted to rationalise.

“Aye, yer lots the only ones left with the blood o’ Alexander the Great? I’d be shocked if a one of ‘em lived,” I glared at the army, “Dis is it, Zithero. Dis is the end. I only ‘ope we get to the Aegean Fields or set foot upon Elysium, what fer all the terrible ting’s we ‘ad to do… Wouldn’t blame a single angel or God who cast me downwards.”

Zithero’s hand was on my shoulder, “You aren’t responsible for what he made you do. The fact that you regret it at all, says the world of you, Brother.”

I sneered at Zithero, turning to face the end.

I would go down swinging.

I would fight until my last breath.

For as long as I had fire in my lungs, I’d make sure to put fear into their hearts.

For I may be a Titan of Fire. An immortal. A man who’s lived many lives.

But I will always and forever be the first thing I ever was.

I am a Spartan.

And a Spartan doesn’t surrender.

I let out a war-cry, my fists writhed in flames as I let fire cover me from head to toe. “Come at me, yah bloody bastards! I’ll send da whole lot o’ yah back to Hell, but not before makin’ it feel cold compared to me fury!” 

I slammed my fists down upon the ground, sending a shockwave of fire and flames through them.

Some demons were hurled into the air from it, others managed to run right through as if it were nothing.

My flames were no longer hot enough to scald those who were fireborne. 

Just as one massive goat-like beast was ready to hurl an axe through me, a huge spike of stone ripped from the ground and skewered it. 

I turned to see Zithero’s staff in the ground, his free hand slowly crumbling to dirt. He turned to me, a pained smile on his face, “...To the end, Brother.”

“Aye… Tah the end,” I turned to see another wave coming, “Try tah hold yerself together a few more minutes, yah? I’d hate to see yah go first.”

“Same to you,” Zithero commented as he took his staff, holding it at the ready.

A horrific cacophony of screeches and cries echoed from the back line of the horde - how far away that was, I wasn’t sure.

As it echoed, however, those demons at the front paused, turning to see what the commotion was about. 

A massive wall of white light was expanding across the entire horizon, towards us.

It reached from the earth to the highest point of the sky and my eyes went wide in shock.

“Wot the ‘ell is dat?!” I shouted, staggering back.

Zithero slipped down on his staff, panting, “The earth… it’s… something is happening.”

“Zith?!” I turned to him, watching his body turn to soil and begin to crumble. “Brotha!”

Zithero’s face smiled to me, “No… It’s… It’s good. It’s…” Zithero’s body fell to the ground, his face turning to dust, “Rebirth.”

I looked ahead, shocked as the wall of white ripped apart the demons it touched.

I closed my eyes and fell to my knees.

“If this is the end, then please let it be quick. Either let me feel nothing at all or at least give me justice…” I thought to myself as I felt the white-hot light crash into me.

Then?

Nothing.

…

Sara Baker

Like the agents of God would have helped me in any way.

I asked for one thing, Goddamn it.

To see Belial crucified or his soul ripped apart or at the very least deep fried in holy water.

I mean, come on! How the hell do you not smite a damn demon?! That’s your whole thing!

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Belial’s been tricky and ever since he ran off, I’ve been hunting him.

The majority of the big baddie demons are busy moving across Europe and causing mayhem and havoc.

I managed to discover that, state-side, things changed a whole lot.

The Amazon ladies have taken over, but on top of that, the one running things over here started some kind of ‘Amnesty’ program for Demons.

If you were human, sold your soul and became a demon, they’d off the guy who owns your soul if you had some kind of out.  

Considering the demonic leadership turnover, it wasn’t a bad idea to be completely honest.

What got me, was that the bitch running the place had found out how to make ‘Thralls’ - which is just what happens when a human drinks demon blood. They end up becoming a “Temporary” demon that can be cleansed later.

Though I’ve yet to see anyone actually ‘Cleanse’ themselves, at least not since I was here.

Then again, why give up demonhood when the demons might just win anyway?

Though I don’t think anyone understands what it means to be under the thumb of a demon.  

I clenched my fist as I walked through the desert air.

I had tracked Belial down to Vegas, which, to be fair, makes a lot of sense.

Of course it would be Vegas.

I landed at the edge of the dirt road leading to a small club.

Though it was small, I could feel the bass music from outside.

No windows, only one door. A bunch of high-end cars were parked out front of the building, on which a big neon sign hung that simply read “Compulsion”.

I cracked my neck and adjusted my wings.

One nice thing about all the demonic thralls who milled around, most folks didn’t bat an eye if you had wings and horns. The trenchcoat was just hiding my hooves.

I made my way to the door, where a big Amazonian bitch was guarding it.

I tried to just walk past her, but she placed a meaty hand on my shoulder.

“Hey hotness, cover charge,” She said with a grin behind a pair of reflective sunglasses.

I looked her up and down. Leather jacket, leather newsboy cap, thick denim jeans, leather boots, a pixie cut and pair of leather wrist guards with spikes on them.

There’s a term that used to be used for women like this when I was a kid, but it’s not in season anymore. Not even now.

“You’re so sweet,” I cooed, moving her hand.

The tall chick scoffed, “It’s a grand to get in, toots.”

“A fucking thousand dollars?!” I screamed.

The bouncer laughed, “This is VIP only. We don’t just let anyone in, you know.”

“I ain’t just anyone, bitch,” I glared at the bouncer, narrowing my eyes.

The bouncer grinned, “Tell you what, hotness…” she moved a bit of hair away from my face, “...I’ll let you in if you and I can have a lil’ play time on my break.”

The eye thing didn’t work, but I knew the kiss trick was pretty clear, “Show me what I’m working with.” I pointed to my pouty lips.

The bouncer grinned and leaned down to me, “No problem, hotness.” She puckered up.

I leaned forward and kissed her. I felt the mind control spell go off. I knew it, but something didn’t stick for some reason.

The bouncer leaned back, grinning, “Mmm… Hey, you know that might have worked on most girls.” She removed her cap, revealing a pair of tiny horns. Her eyes were yellow as well, “I’m a thrall, bitch.” She chuckled, “Succubus shit doesn't work on me, to be clear. Kind of why I work the front. But hey… I will play with you still. You can get in and it’s all good.”

I narrowed my eyes on her, “I swear, is everyone a fucking half-demon?”

“Hey,” she scoffed, “I’m a vet, served against the fuckers. So don’t you go raggin’ on me. Besides, you’re a fuckin’ ‘Half-Demon’ too.”

I snapped my fingers, the trenchcoat vanishing.

I was done being covert, “You’re wrong there.”

“Oh! Fuck! How did-” she shouted before I threw a kick straight from the ground towards her face.

She managed to dodge it, barely. I should have listened more carefully, she was a fighter and an Amazon.

I had to uneven the odds quickly, so I pulled out my blade, going all out. Green flames all around the sword as it snapped into its whip form.

I thrust it up at her neck, watching the burning segments wrap around her throat as I pulled her down to my level.

I pushed her down to the ground, my hoof on her back and I pulled the chains tight, “Where is he?”

The bouncer grabbed at her throat, grunting, “I… I…”

“Tell me where your fuckin’ boss is!” I growled, pulling the chains tighter.

The bouncer gasped for air, “He… He’s inside… Penthouse…” she gasped.

I let the chains around her neck go, looking at the burn marks as they slowly healed.

“You’re not getting in there,” the bouncer winced as she rubbed her neck, “I’m not the biggest thrall inside…”

I kicked the back of her head hard with my hoof, bouncing her face off the desert floor. A smack of blood followed by a grunt from her and she was out.

Still breathing though.

“Good,” I said as I rested the sword on my shoulder, “It’s been really fucking boring lately…” I grabbed the end of my blade, snapping it back into a whip and igniting it, “I’ve got some steam to blow off.”

I moved to the door and kicked it in.

The door flew off its handles and crashed into the club.

Maybe, just maybe, I overdid it.

I walked in, the music still pulsing as a multitude of patrons looked at me funny.

I scanned the room, a good amount were human, most of them were thralls. I could even sniff out the odd demon or two.

I cleared my throat and grabbed a speaker, using an old demon trick involving magic and modern electronics. The music crackled and popped, muting as I spoke over the entire sound system.

“Belial!” I roared, “Show yourself!”

No one moved for a moment. After some confused glances, I tried again.

“If one of you doesn’t start spilling the beans as to where your boss is, I’m going to start pulling pieces off of each and every one of you until you beg me to stop,” I narrowed my eyes, “And then, if you’re lucky… I’ll kill you.” 

The crowd seemed a bit more hostile, but plenty of folks ran for cover inside.

I looked up, over the stage where a number of girls had been dancing in various states of undress.

He was dressed differently, wore heavy glasses and his wings were hidden, but I knew those yellow eyes anywhere. 

His hands gripped the bannister of the balcony overhanging the stage, and he grinned at me, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Sara Baker,” He chuckled, “What’s the plan this time, going to put me in Timeout again?”

I pointed my sword at him, “I’m just gonna kill you this time.”

Belial chuckled, clapping his hands a few times before he clapped once more, his smile fading, “Kill Her, Now. Or I will kill you all.”

Great, now I was going to have to kick some ass.

I grinned, two thralls bum-rushing me, both about the same size as the big bitch outside.

I ducked down and knocked one off her feet, then jumped back to my hooves, knocking the other big bitch over with my horns, sending her to the floor like a sack of potatoes.

I cracked my neck again, bouncing on my hooves as I pulled out my whip blade, “Just to give all you bitches the 411 on me,” I smiled, green flames igniting around my sword, “I’m the right hand of the former Lord of Wrath,” I pointed to Belial, “And I only want him, so if you don’t wanna die, feel free to leave.”

Some of the thralls ran off, but more of the full blooded demons came at me.

One was hiding his form under a heavy coat like I was, his heavy hooves smashed on the floor as he stampeded towards me. The burning red eyes set in his bull-like face burned as his cowl came down, showing his long black horns. He towered over me, almost three times my size.

As he reared back and hefted his massive club, which had to be the same size as me, I didn’t move an inch.

With a loud bellow the bull-demon swung and I slipped out of the way at the last second.

Before he could pick it up for another swing, I snapped my whip into a short sword and jabbed the blade three times into his neck.

The bull-demon grabbed at his gushing wounds, stumbling backwards as I sliced him from his stomach up to his chest, spilling his guts to the floor.

I turned as a claw swung through the air towards me. I blocked it with the blade and I couldn’t help but laugh as I saw the disfigured greasy painted face that looked similar to a clown’s.

The malformed horns on his head were another dead giveaway as his green eyes burned at me.

“Ubiel? The fuck! You couldn’t even be bothered to fight on the front lines? You fuckin’ pussy!” I laughed.

Ubiel roared, grabbing my hand and tossing me into the air.

I spread my wings, landing behind the bar.

A bartender, a young man in his twenties, was hiding under it, looking up at me in horror.

I glanced down at him and then reached towards him, spotting an unopened bottle.

The bartender flinched as I reached past him, only looking up at my hand as I grabbed a bottle of Jameson, black label, and took a heavy swig of it.

I looked him over, “Get the fuck outta here,” I ordered before I jumped up on the bartop, “So, you workin’ for Belial now? What? Asmodai gets transubstantiated and you can’t even be bothered to stick with the same crew?”

Ubiel roared, “Whore! You failed all of us and for what? Your Master’s even turned against us,” he grinned, “But, if I give you to Lord Belial… I’ll finally be in a Fallen’s favor.”

“First time for everything, I guess,” I shrugged as Ubiel charged towards me.

I tossed the whisky at his face, the bottle smashing against his horns as he roared in pain.

I grabbed one of his horns and smashed his head into the bar, shattering the bartop as the giant demon tumbled to the ground.

Another thrall rushed at me from behind. I had to round-house kick that one, my hoof connecting with her face hard enough to send her spinning to the floor.

The bull-demon was back on his feet, his guts in his hands, holding them together.

I shook my head and jumped onto a bar table, leaping over the bull demon and slicing his head from his shoulders.

The beast tumbled to the ground, finally dead.  

I wasn’t trying to kill the thralls, they were people who had made bad decisions. But the demons? Fuck ‘em. Yeah, some might be like me, but they were fighting for Belial, which told me all I had to know about them.

Ubiel pulled his head out of the bartop, roaring, “Angel Sympathizing Whore!” 

I turned to Ubiel, narrowing my eyes on him, “Watch it buddy, my son’s an angel,” I grinned, “And he kicked your ass when he was still mortal, so don’t you go thinking I won’t have any trouble putting you down.”

Ubiel roared and charged at me, “If you could put me down so easily, then you’d have done so already!” Ubiel roared, slamming his fist down on the table I stood on.  

I flew up to the ceiling, my hooves connecting to it as I looked down at Ubiel.

Ubiel grinned at me, “When I’m done with you, I’m going to find your grandson… and I’m going to finish-”

I had jumped down and thrust my blade into Ubiel’s forehead.

Ubiel’s mouth went slack for a moment, his eyes wide in terror as he looked at me.

I could feel the fire burning in my eyes, “I was fucking with you because of what you did to my family…” I twisted the blade in his skull, the flames intensifying as my fire wrapped around Ubiel’s body, his flesh burning as he screamed. “But that’s the line, buddy.”

I pulled my blade from Ubiel’s body as it turned to ash and looked around the room, eyes narrowing at the few remaining.

No one wanted to make the first move, so I thrust my blade out, grabbing the biggest thrall in the group.

My blade transformed into its whip form, wrapped around her neck and I pulled her towards me.

I kicked up, my hoof cracking the thrall’s jaw, and brought my hoof crashing down on her shoulder, shattering her shoulder blade and sending her to the floor in a heap.

I pulled my blade up, looking around, “...Anyone else?”

The remaining thralls ran away.

Belial was up on his balcony watching but now he turned and walked away from the glass.

I roared, “Oh, no you don’t!” I jumped into the air, smashing through the glass.

Belial stood at a large bar, a pair of girls cowering in the corner.  

I glared at them, both were still human, “Get the fuck out of here before he fucks your after-life up like mine.” I cracked my whip.

The girls got up and scurried off, their heels clicking as they rushed to the door.

Belial was casually making a drink.

I rushed him, thrusting my whip blade at him.

In a flash, Belial’s fist was wrapped around my burning blade, the flames doing nothing to his flesh as I tried to pull it. “You know Sara, I have to give you credit,” He threw the blade to his left, ripping it from my hand as it clattered to the floor. “I got cocky. It’s true,” he sighed, turning around with a whiskey of some kind. He took a long sip.

I screamed and charged him, my hands opened so my sharp nails were ready to tear his face off.

Belial ducked, tripping me into the bar. 

I tumbled forward, smashing into the glasses and bottles on the other side. I clenched my fists, my teeth grinding in rage.

“I underestimated you before and you capitalized flawlessly on it. So, kudos to you, dear,” Belial said with a mocking grin as he finished his whiskey.

I pulled myself up from the bar and thrust my hand out to my whip-sword, calling it to me.

Just as it flew to my hand, I turned to see Belial’s large black wings spread wide.

“I will not underestimate you again, Sara Baker,” Belial said with a sneer as he thrust his wings forward.

A sulfury wind hit me, and while I managed to weather the force, the building itself did not.

The bar bottles that I hadn’t broken burst into flames and shattered, glass blasting all around me as the mirror cracked.

Soon, the whole wall behind me was blasted out and once the floor gave way, I went sailing out of the building with it.

I tried to get my hooves under me, only to hit the ground too fast and tumble backwards onto the hard desert ground behind the bar.

I coughed as the dust flew into my eyes and mouth, managing to see Belial falling towards me.

I rolled to the side as Belial’s wings slashed into the ground.  

I pulled my sword back into a sword, staggering back. He would have skewered me if I hadn’t noticed him.

“Imagine… Under his tutelage, even a whore like you can go toe-to-toe with a former Avatar of Sin,” Belial turned to me with a wicked grin, his yellow eyes glinting, “Forcas is truly amazing.”

I glared at Belial, “Shut up!” I screamed, charging him.

Belial pulled one wing up from the ground, thrusting his opposite wing at me from under it. His hands were in his pockets.

I rolled over his first wing, landing behind him and swinging at his ankles.

Belial jumped, or rather lifted his legs up, his whole body barely moving as he seemed to float in the air.

I felt it coming long before I saw it. His foot whipped out and cracked my jaw, sending me tumbling through to the desert floor once more.

My world spun and pain wracked my brain as I tried to get my bearings, the sound of his footsteps the only thing keeping me aware.

“You know, I ought to thank you, Sara Baker.” Belial mocked, “You gave me time to think in the Guardian Temple prison… about how I’d rather live in Hell for all eternity than ever rot in that pathetic cell again.”

I spit blood from my mouth as I clenched my jaw, feeling it snap painfully into place.

“You cannot tell me you want to live like that, can you?” Belial asked, stopping before me, his black wings looming over me in the setting sunlight.

I slowly got to my hooves.

“I have an empire to rebuild. Should Xyphiel win or lose we don’t need to go anywhere,” Belial explained, “You were so much more than a simple succubus, Sara. I never should have sold you to Asmodai, I see that now.” Belial shook his head, “You really were my best work.”

I growled, “I am not yours!”

Belial chuckled, “I made you. I took you from a sad, poor, lonely, dying little girl and made you into a beautiful, and admittedly, powerful demon.”

I readied my sword, keeping my eyes on him for an opening.

“Even now you’re resisting and fighting when it just doesn’t make sense,” Belial smiled deviously, “Why? For the God who abandoned you? For Asmodai because he loved you? Or did you make some new friends in the Guardian Temple?”

I glared, rushing him again.

Belial dodged my attack, tripping me and slamming his fist down hard on my back.

I felt a crack and my legs went out from under me. I fell flat in the dust.

Belial chuckled, then let out a long and taunting laugh, “No, no… I know what it is, Sara.” His foot pressed against my spine, I felt it snapping but couldn’t feel anything below my waist, “A name comes to mind… Oh yes! Jason.”

I gritted my teeth, grunting as I tried to push myself up.

“He’s your boy, isn’t he? It’s little Jason, the Avatar of Michael, isn’t he? If you were to come with me, I’d see to it that the boy lives,” Belial paused, “Assuming he isn’t already dead, of course. Soldiers of God do, of course, die. They are proud of it most of the time to boot,” Belial chuckled low, “Such a waste…”

I clenched the sand in my fist, squeezing my eyes tightly shut.

“Much like it would be a waste to just send you back to Hell,” Belial sighed, “Because of course, that is where you’d be going. Your time alongside the forces of God isn’t enough to make up for those you murdered while you were on the mortal plane. You and I both know that.”

I tried to muster my anger and rage, but I couldn’t. He had a point and it sucked.

I killed a lot of mortals. The police girl who first took me into the fire, the fishermen I used to get to Europe, hell even that poor bastard at the airport.

Not to mention the three idiots that made up my armor. I was the demon who tormented them until they had nothing left and were nothing but soul cores.

I gritted my teeth, “...Yeah. Well, I wanted to bring you down so I was the last one you ever did this to.”

“How nobel,” Belial chuckled, taking his foot off my back, “But, that’s not the real reason.”

I felt my spine starting to heal, now that Belial wasn’t holding the broken bones apart with his foot. I laid there still, wondering what he was going to expect me to do.

“You just want revenge,” Belial chuckled, “You should have paid favor to Arioch,” Belial laughed a bit harder, “Assuming he wasn’t destroyed, of course!” Belial acted like he had just told the funniest joke.

I kicked myself up to my hooves, turning and swinging my blade at Belial.

In a flash, his hand was on my throat with the other on my wrist. “Such an arrogant girl…” Belial’s eyes looked me up and down, “...Sara, don’t waste yourself. Come back to me, I’ll do far better by you than I did before. I know your true value now.”

I gasped, choking, trying to move my hand, but Belial was still too strong.

I guess I had just gotten the jump on him when I saw him last or he was weakened from fighting Xyphiel.

I swallowed hard, dropping my sword, “Never!” I kicked my blade before it hit the ground, the edge piercing Belial’s crotch.

Belial roared in pain and released me, ripping the sword from his crotch as he hunched over, cursing, “You whore!! How dare you!?”

I gasped, catching my breath before Belial was back over me, his foot pushing me to the ground, his eyes full of hate.

I spit on his foot, “Fucking end it already!” I snapped.

“No,” Belial hissed in hatred, kneeling down over me, his knees pressing painfully into my thighs as his hands pushed my shoulders down, “That would be too easy for you, Sara…”

My eyes widened.

Belial’s smile turned truly wicked as he descended down over me, “You were unwilling, but forced to comply when I owned your soul. Now? You’re just unwilling,” Belial’s eyes flashed in a sick sense of glee, “But now, Sara… Now, I’ll get to truly enjoy you. And I do hope Asmodai finds out,” Belial chuckled as my armor started to fall away.

I struggled, trying to free myself from under Belial before I saw a flash in Belial’s eyes. Belial’s grin vanished as he looked up, surprise on his face.

I tilted my head back to see a massive wave of light rushing towards us. My eyes widened in shock.

“...Well, as much as I’d like to finish this, I have a favor to call in,” Belial shot to his feet, reaching into his feathers and dropping something on the ground. A series of strange runes formed on the ground before he glanced over his shoulder, “Your last chance Sara,” he offered his hand to me, “Come with me, be by my side and we can rebuild after everything is destroyed… or be obliterated with the rest of the world.”

I pulled my armor on, glaring, “I’d rather not exist than ever see you again!” 

“Suit yourself,” Belial said before he sank into the ground.

I screamed, grabbing my blade and stabbing at the ground in a blind rage, the runes having vanished. “Coward! Come back here and face me!” I felt the wind at my back and turned to see a wall of light from the ground reaching high into the sky rushing towards me like a tidal wave.

My jaw quivered and I swallowed hard as I let my blade slip from my hand. I felt hot tears running down my cheeks.

“...I'm really sorry,” I whispered, not sure who to, “I just… I didn’t want to die young. Can you blame me?” I sniffled as the wall grew closer.

My stomach dropped as it rushed closer and closer.

“I… I just wanted…” I swallowed hard, “I just wanted a life worth living, okay? I’m… I’m so sorry…” I whispered before I felt an intense heat strike me.

It didn’t hurt, for once.

It just felt like I was dissolving, vanishing.

The last thoughts to run through my head were, ‘Maybe this was for the best. I’m so tired. I just want it all to stop.’

That was the last thing I recalled as the wall finally struck me.

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42l Chapter 43

Zepherina

 

I had pulled Kriggary’s essence from Xyphiel’s soul and now we had Kriggary on our side.

 

Four against one.

 

The odds were in our favor. 

 

But then why was I getting an impending feeling of dread?

 

Xyphiel's rage shifted, his crimson eyes pulsing with intense heat as a maddened laugh slowly rose from his chest.

 

His crimson wings spread wide as he brandished the Puriel blade firmly, his burning eyes locking on me as his laugh reached an uneasy crescendo.

 

“I suppose I should thank you,” Xyphiel taunted with flourish, “I held back before, fighting my own children must have caused me to pause in my assaults…” Xyphiel's grin turned devilish as a deep-seated darkness spread out from his form. “But now? I feel nothing towards any of you. So I thank you, Zepherina.” He pointed the Puriel blade to Timothy, “For now I see only foes who must be felled by my blade.”

 

I dashed before Timothy, blocking Xyphiel's almost instantaneous assault.

 

Xyphiel's wings thrust forward, his bladed feathers slicing at my cheeks as he launched himself backwards.

 

As Xyphiel flew into the air he swung the blade towards us three times. Each swing gave a burning slash into the air, splitting the air and screaming towards Timothy and I.

 

I dodged, as did Timothy. Each slash left a burning scar in the ground below us.

 

I glared at Xyphiel, jumping into the air to press the attack.

 

Xyphiel's wings began to glow brighter, flames wrapping around him as his eyes glowed with intense fire. 

 

He spread his wings wide, a blast of fiery heat flashing out from his body.

 

I blocked as best I could, but the flames whipped at me like a thousand thorns thrashing against my skin.

 

I had to close my wings and land quickly, getting away from Xyphiel’s unholy firestorm.

 

Once I landed, I saw Timothy readying an attack of some kind, his body surrounded in a pink sphere, protecting him from Xyphiel's fire.

 

I turned to see Kriggary standing near the glowing white seal on the ground.

 

Xeisha was standing near Kriggary, helping him to keep the seal up.

 

It was clear to me that despite being separated from Xyphiel, there was not much left of Kriggary to help us.

 

Timothy's black scales crawled with pinkish lightening as his claws pushed him up and into the air.

 

I jumped up alongside him, joining in his assault.

 

Xyphiel pulled out a crimson feather from his wing, holding the Puriel blade in his right hand, the feathered sword in his left.

 

I clashed with Xyphiel's feather blade, shocked to see him parrying my attack.

 

He wasn't looking to strike me, he was looking to attack Timothy!

 

My heart skipped a beat as I watched Timothy’s attack not just parried, but countered completely. 

 

Timothy was completely open! I was already in motion and unable to defend him.

 

The Puriel blade slipped through my brother’s defenses, despite this Xyphiel turned the blade just enough to slash Timothy’s cheek.

 

I was confused. Xyphiel could have easily ended Timothy. But why didn't he?

 

Timothy recoiled, blood seeping from his face.

 

I turned to Xyphiel, seeing a vicious grin on his face, his crimson eyes scanning towards me. 

 

Xyphiel tapped the side of his face tauntingly, and I felt a sting on my cheek in the same place Timothy was struck.

 

I slipped my hand over my cheek, seeing wisps of violet mana seeping from a wound I hadn't noticed.

 

The wisps, however, kept coming. My wound wouldn’t close.

 

My eyes turned to Xeisha and Kriggary. 

 

Xeisha was trying to heal a wound on Kriggary's face! I saw a similar cut on Xeisha’s cheek. Her blood, rather than seeping from the wound, sparkled like broken glass. A black mist rose from the shimmering wound, a dark ooze dripping from the bottom of the cut. To my shock, the wound was closing slowly from the top down, leaving a white scar on her cheek. 

 

I swiftly blocked a strike from Xyphiel, the Puriel blade now held centimeters from my throat as he crossed both his blades against mine.

 

“Your final gambit will be your undoing, girl!” Xyphiel boasted, “Now I can use the Puriel blade at my leisure! I no longer need to fear suffering the blows of the Blade of Genocide, for my spirit is no longer tied to your bloodline!”

 

My heart sank as I realized what I had done.

 

Yes, Kriggary was free and we had a tool to use against Xyphel. But now I had unbound Xyphiel's greatest weapon. He was free to harm us with the Puriel blade, a weapon so potent, we wouldn’t be able to recover from its strikes.

 

Worse yet, if Xyphiel so chose to attack Kriggary, the weakest of the four of us, he could end this battle in an instant.

 

Though that would mean he would need to get close to the Seal. Was it possible that I could goad Xyphiel into the seal or at least close enough where he could be forced into it? Would Xyphiel allow himself to be placed in such a position?

 

I didn’t have many options, so it was worth a shot.

 

So I took a chance, and screamed, “Xeisha! Protect Kriggary!!”

 

Timothy's eyes widened in shock at my tipping of our hand, but as far as I was concerned, it was a hand we had already revealed.

 

Xyphiel and I separated as Timothy rushed towards Xyphiel with a string of pinkish runes slashing towards the Puriel Blade.

 

Timothy pulled me away from Xyphiel, his hand holding my wrist firmly, “Are you mad?! You just exposed our weakest link!”

 

I turned to Timothy, speaking directly to his mind while keeping my face in a state of panic, “Tell me a better way to get Xyphiel closer to the seal?”

 

Timothy frowned and we both watched Xyphiel moving towards Kriggary.

 

Xeisha rushed to defend him, only for Xyphiel to hurl three more slashes from the Puriel blade towards Kriggary.

 

Xeisha held her staff firmly before her, holding a large shield over herself.

 

The Seal's light pulsed, creating a shockwave which echoed around it, disturbing the air and forcing even Timothy and I back slightly. As the shockwave pulses, Xyphiel’s three strikes were disrupted, each flung to the sides of Xeisha's shield, narrowly missing Kriggary.

 

Xeisha turned to Kriggary, confused.

 

Kriggary appeared winded, his face twisted in excursion, “...Your spirit is your shield, girl. Let not the Puriel blade touch your barrier.”

 

Xeisha frowned, but nodded, lifting her staff up and readying it to defend against Xyphiel.

 

Xyphiel, for his part, remained high in the air, but I could see he was near the edge of the seal.

 

I turned to Timothy, “We just need to get him inside of it, we're so close! I'm going to rush up to fight him head on, you flank him!”

 

Timothy nodded and with that I flew up to Xyphiel, screaming a loud battle cry to grab his attention.

 

Xyphiel's eyes tracked me as our blades clashed.

 

The blast let loose a shockwave across the sky, all of the air around us vanishing for a moment as a burst of cavitation flashed between my blade of light and Xyphiel's Puriel blade.

 

“It's a shame, your blades are not manifestations of your own soul… what are they if not your essence?” Xyphiel dragged the Puriel blade against my glowing blade, his eyes narrowing on mine as he gave me a sanguine smile.

 

“Like I'd bother telling you anything!” I growled as I pushed hard against his blades.

 

Timothy flew into view behind him, trying to slash at Xyphiel's wings with his blade.

 

Timothy slashed with his Sanctified blade, dozens of pink runes glowing around it, but Xyphiel did not flinch, merely grinning to me as he spoke to Timothy, “Two against one? So unfair**. Shall I even the odds, Timothy?”**

 

To my shock, Xyphiel grabbed my throat, dropping one of his feather blades.

 

With a thrust of his wings, he shoved me back.

 

I gasped as it felt like the wind was knocked from my lungs and I was ripped from the air violently.

 

White light filled my peripheral vision as I was cast downward.

 

I barely managed to get myself upright and my feet smashed into the ground below me.

 

I heard muffled shouting and turned to see a panicked Kriggary shouting at me over the sound of what I could only describe as loud chimes.

 

“I will break the seal and release you!” Kriggary shouted as loudly as he could, but I could barely make it out over the harmonious din within the seal.

 

I looked down to see my feet held firmly within the Seal that Kriggary had made.

 

I closed my eyes in frustration.

 

Xyphiel tricked me.

 

He knew what Timothy and I's goal was. To get him into the seal.

 

Now that I was in the seal Kriggary would need to shatter it and reform it, if he even had the energy to do so.

 

That gave Xyphiel more time to attack, either Kriggary or Timothy.

 

I knew any blow Xyphiel stuck on them would harm Xeisha and I and now I was powerless to stop it!

 

Xeisha seemed ready to assist Kriggary in breaking the shield.

 

I held up my hand, my eyes fixed on Xyphiel. “Do Not Break It!” I ordered, spreading my wings and casting my hand towards the seal.

 

The edge of the seal flickered slightly and I could see a small echo of my power flashing towards the edge.

 

While I could barely hear Kriggary’s voice, I could see a look of shock on his face.

 

I shouted as loudly as I could to Xeisha, “Xei-Tash-WHATEVER!” I tried to calm myself for a moment, “Protect Timothy!” I ordered. I faced Kriggary, “Ready the Seal. You have to use it to drag Xyphiel down to Hell!”

 

“What of you?!” Kriggary called out to me.

 

I narrowed my eyes, “No matter what happens, no matter who else is going down, Xyphiel will be in Hell by the end of this fight.” I looked down to the seal, pushing my own energy into its pulsing rings, “We close this seal when Xyphiel is inside. No matter what.”

 

 

…

 

Xeisha

 

“Xei-Tash-WHATEVER!” Zepherina had shouted to me, “Protect Timothy!”

 

Our staff had changed. Mine? Things were so mixed up in our mind.

 

Even as I thought of ourselves more I found that I kept shifting to the singular.

 

Tasha's thoughts had briefly thought that this was how we were always supposed to be.

 

A single soul split in twine. 

 

The Sundered Child.

 

I shivered, readying our new polearm as I rushed into the fray, my wings carrying me quickly into the air.

 

I wasn't sure what Zepherina's plan was, but she had brought Kriggary back from the dead or at least I thought she did.

 

I recalled rushing to his aid the first few moments after he appeared from the arm Zepherina had severed from Xyphiel.

 

When I saw the severed arm begin to reform, I was concerned at first. But then ice blue mana had poured from the severed end of the arm. Slowly the form of a red Niten Dragon appeared, sprawled out on the ground. There Kriggary lay, face down and wearing tattered priestly robes.

I rushed to his side.

 

I knew my father was once a red Niten Dragon, the Scribe Lord.

 

Though I never knew him, nor saw him as this. 

 

But the tattered robes he wore seemed to imply all I needed to know, “Father?!” We shouted, shocked to see him.

 

It was here that Kriggary spoke the first words that made my heart sink. “Child…?” his icy blue eyes focused upon me, his face falling.  “No… No you are not her. I hold but one child, and that is not you.”  He staggered briefly towards Sume's damaged body, his ice blue eyes watering and shaking as he did so.

 

As I saw the despair in his eyes, I felt a lump in my throat.

 

“...Sume,” Kriggary’s voice started off so quiet and weak. But as he looked Sume over I could see hate filling his eyes, “You too, Sume? Does this rampant hate spare none? Not even you…? My most precious?!” A newfound power rose in Kriggary. Not that of hatred or anger, nor vengeance. I could see it in his eyes. The light of retribution, of a desire for justice. “No more! This ends now. We must be held to answer for all we have done!”

 

It was there that the seal had begun to burn itself into the ground before Kriggary’s bare feet.

 

I was shaken from my memory as my polearm's blade smashed into Xyphiel's Puriel blade mere moments before Timothy's hand was almost sliced by the cursed blade, “Begone with your utterly abhorred and cursed steel!” I cried out.

 

Xyphiel’s leg lifted in the air briefly before he swung his heel down towards my shoulder.

 

I barely managed to slip away from him, his leg passing with such a powerful strike that I could feel the turbulence around his strike.

 

Xyphiel's crimson eyes locked onto mine as his wings slashed towards me.

 

I grabbed Timothy and dodged his attack as best I could, spinning through the air as there was yet more turbulence.

 

Timothy growled, “We have this one last shot to defeat him,” he turned to me with his ice blue eyes concerned, “It's now or we lose everything. In this form, Xyphiel’s hitting us with everything he has! Where's Zeph?!”

 

I pointed to the seal, where Zeph seemed to be paying more attention to the potent barrier where she was imprisoned.

 

Timothy frowned and I had to push him away from me as Xyphiel sent a slash of air from the Puriel blade.

 

Xyphiel was now above us, his wings spread wide.

 

“We're at a disadvantage then,” Timothy lamented.

 

“Just dodge what you can and take every shot you can,” I advised Timothy, I suppose that was Xei's battle prowess speaking. 

 

Xyphiel's feathers began to glow brightly, his wings closing slightly over his chest, his arms crossing as well. I could see his muscles flexing, as if his entire body was tensing up. Even his legs up into his chest. From the edges of his wings, I could see many feathers shimmer like blades.

 

“Dodge!” I screamed as Xyphiel spread his wings, legs and arms out with a loud bellow.

 

A rain of blade-like feathers was showered upon us. 

 

I dodged them as best as I could. One that was too close I managed to knock away from me as the blade spun and slammed into the ground below.

 

Each quill landed with such force that the ground cratered below.

 

I swallowed hard as I spread my wings and flew up towards Xyphiel once more.

 

I saw Timothy flying as well, Xyphiel brandished the Puriel blade and another feather-like weapon in his other hand. 

 

Timothy's blade clashed with Xyphiel's Puriel blade, runes surrounding the Blessed Blade of the Temple as the two locked in a power struggle.

 

I rushed upwards, looking to thrust my blade up into Xyphiel's leg or groin. Anywhere I could land a hit upon him.

 

Xyphiel broke his power struggle and allowed Timothy to fall toward me. I dodged Timothy's blade, shifting my strike a glancing blow upon Xyphiel's face.

 

My blade struck his cheek, a blast of crimson mana blasting from the wound as it did. 

 

The mana curled in the air, Xyphiel’s enraged face pushed through it, a look of burning hatred in his eyes as he reached out and grasped my neck with his golden gauntlet.

 

“Every moment of my life you were either not enough or far too righteous for your own good! Now you think, in my final moment of triumph, that of all those who spawned from me, that you will be the one to end me**?!”** He readied the Puriel Blade, aiming at my chest as we hurtled through the air, falling downward with such force that the billowing mana trailed behind Xyphiel and I. His rage broke for a moment, “What is the saying? Ah yes… a Haughty spirit goeth before the fall.”

 

As he was about to thrust his blade, I moved to strike it away, Timothy’s blade coming to my rescue as well, both of us barely managing to parry the cursed weapon from my heart.

 

I just managed to free myself from his grip, prying my neck from his gauntlet clad hand.

 

“Pride,” I snapped, “Goeth before the fall!” I corrected, readying my polearm.

 

Xyphiel’s wings flapped hard, the blackened trail of mana slowly dissipating behind him as he soared high into the air.

 

Timothy and I gave chase, following as close as we could while avoiding the miasma he left behind him.

 

Xyphiel stopped in the air, both wings spreading wide.

 

Then another set appeared below it, a pair of blackened wings.

 

Finally a pair of white, his eyes swirling with a multitude of colored flames.

 

I tried to slash the blade of my polearm towards him, empowering the strike with a burst of holy energy.

 

A torrent of foul energy snuffed out my strike, Xypihel’s crimson wings spreading wider. “The world shall be burned,” He hissed, the flames sparking in his eyes, smoke lifting from his eye sockets as his fists shook.

 

He let go of the Puriel Blade, dropping the other sword as well. Both blades floated next to him, hovering next to his body as the dark sphere flickered. 

 

Timothy’s runes crashed against the surface of this dark aura, having little to no effect!

 

Xyphiel growled, “From its ashes… It shall fall to the void… but first…” I watched as the sphere vanished, a horrific sulfurous stench filling the air as his wings spread wider.

 

A massive firestorm of flames burst from Xyphiel!

 

Waves of yellow, orange, cerulean, red, green, violet, and blue ripped through the air. I felt the air pressure crash against my body before anything else, the heat following shortly behind it.

 

Timothy grabbed me tightly as the fire wrapped around us. His runes shielded us for now, but I could see them shaking, pulsing and beginning to crack.

 

I placed my hand on Timothy’s shoulder, empowering him as best I could.

 

The pinkish runes turned white and steadied briefly.

 

I could feel the onslaught. Not just the fire, but the emotion behind it.

 

The anger, the hatred, the thirst for vengeance, the desire for vindication and the need to end everything - to return to a state of nothing.

 

Xyphiel was pouring every emotion he had into this attack.

 

It was then I felt something else crashing against me.

 

Confusion and more anger?

 

The flames weakened and I saw Xyphiel’s glowing form, nearly white hot from the energy exploding from his body.

 

A single shimmering golden chain now locked around his neck.

 

Another whipped out of the ground, clamping onto his gauntlet clad hand.

 

I turned to see the source of the chains.

 

The shimmering lengths ended at a pair of shackles which were affixed to the enchanted bracers adorning Zepherina’s forearms. Were those the same bracers that Zithero had given her?  I could see runes of violet and green which sparked and sputtered potent energy as she pulled the golden chains taut. 

 

Was this some kind of Trump card Zepherina manifested from the seal? It was the only explanation I could think of, if she could do this before, I can’t imagine she would have held back at this crucial time.

 

Zepherina’s eyes pulsed as a pair of solid, yet fierce violet orbs beset by her glowing white eyes, “I will not let you!”

 

Xyphiel grabbed at the chains, the flames dying down as he focused his efforts on removing them.

 

I pushed away from Timothy, rushing Xyphiel with my polearm, slashing at him.

 

Xyphiel’s feather blade blocked my attack, the disembodied sword of Puriel attempted to strike me, but I managed to dodge it.

 

Timothy rushed towards Xyphiel’s wings, swinging his blade at them.

 

I could see the blackened aura that deflected Timothy’s strike, but as it did Xyphiel sank further to the ground.

 

“He cannot defend against us and fight Zepherina off at the same time!” I cried out, rushing to Xyphiel’s wings and swinging at them.

 

My polearm slid down, and though I was rebuked from striking his primary wings, my polearm sunk into the flesh of his blackened wings.

 

I heard a woman cry out in pain as my blade cut past the onyx feathers, green mana pouring from the wound.

 

I pulled my blade out, thrusting towards the white wings.

 

As my blade struck, cerulean mana ripped from the fresh wound, though I heard no screams of pain.

 

Timothy rushed to deflect the Puriel blade before it could soar into Xyphiel’s grip once more, runes wrapping around its hilt and causing it to plummet towards the ground.

 

Xypheil’s feather blade whipped across Timothy’s back, causing Timothy to spin in the air.

 

I kept my assault up, striking once more at the barrier protecting Xyphiel’s wings.

 

Each strike yielded another few meters downward, and whenever Xyphiel attempted to flap his wings to gain ground, I would ensure my blade sank into another one of his exposed wings.

 

The white wing on the left, curiously, spewed red mana as I sunk my blessed blade into the cursed flesh.

 

Xyphiel tried to turn to me and strike at me with his free hand.

 

A burst of flames ripped from Xyphiel’s fist, I let my own wings loose, falling away from the strike just before the flames could burn me.

 

For Xypheil’s efforts, however, he sank another few meters down from the sky.

 

I could hear Zepherina’s voice calling out and my eyes widened as I saw her now waist deep in the ground below, the seal slowly sucking her in.

 

“Zeph!” I called out, looking to Kriggary, who merely knelt beside the seal.

 

Xyphiel’s teeth gritted as his dark aura expanded. He opened up his gauntlet clad hand, the möbius crest on his new seal glowing crimson red, “I had wanted you devoured by Hellfire… But I see that is no longer my best option.”

 

Kriggary cried out in pain as a möbius slowly etched its way across the glowing Seal of the Scribe Lord.

 

Xyphiel’s eyes turned to Kriggary, a sick grin on his face, “We may have been split in twain, but your seal is weak compared to mine. You were always the weakest part of me. I am so glad to be rid of you, at last!”

 

Kriggary fell forward, his hands landing flat on the ground, “...I am weak.” He looked up to Xyphiel, “But the seal given to me by the Guardians is not! The Seal is still strong,” Kriggary shouted, holding out his hand, “And it is mine to wield,” the seal upon Kriggary’s hand began to glow white, before it slowly flickered and cracked away from his palm, “and mine to yield!”

 

The seal dimmed for a moment and as it did I watched it shift in color.

 

The glowing white of the seal shimmered, before glowing brightly again, now a lavender hue saturating its intricate circles.

 

As it did, Zepherina rose slightly from the seal, no longer drawn in as deeply as she once was. The golden chains ignited with violet flames.

 

The short horns on Zepherina’s head grew larger.

 

I watched as they cracked and curled around her head, encasing either side as the violet spheres within her eyes shifted in shape.

 

They grew longer, thinner and more draconic.

 

Her white wings spread wide as her neck elongated.

 

My eyes widened as I watched Zepherina shift into a different creature. A white and violet Niten Drake! Zepherina had become a Seraphim!

 

Then, on the white scales of her forehead, the Seal of the Scribe Lord etched itself, shimmering with the bright pulsing light of her violet mana.

 

Xyphiel grabbed at the emblazoned chains around his neck, violet flames burning his hands as he struggled. His teeth gritted as he continued to sink downward. “Fool Girl! The both of us will be imprisoned once that seal closes!”

 

Zepherina’s fiery eyes now locked firmly on Xyphiel as she pulled the chains closer and closer to her, her Niten wings spreading wide, Xyphiel’s seal flickering, then shattering all around her. “If I must go too, then so be it! I will drag you down to Hell with me, Xyphiel! I will be your jailer, for all eternity!”

 

Xyphiel gritted his teeth and roared in anger as he struggled.

 

Each attack he tried to levy I managed to put down before he could do anything, Timothy assisting me, keeping Xyphiel hindered as best we could while Xyphiel inched closer and closer to the seal.

 

I slashed at Xypihiel’s crimson wing, while Timothy attacked on the other side.

 

I watched as the shield around his crimson wings began to flicker, finally weakening.

 

Xyphiel’s free hand reached out and out of the corner of my eye I saw the Puriel blade whip towards him.

 

I gasped as it seemed the blade was headed straight towards Timothy’s back, “Timothy!”

 

Timothy turned, the blade stopped mere millimeters before his chest.

 

The blade quivered in the air, but held still.

 

I was so focused on the blade’s tip, I hadn’t glanced at the hilt.

 

Standing there, arm shaking, feet firmly set on the ground, I saw Kriggary holding back the cursed sword by the grip, his ice blue eyes locked on Timothy’s.

 

“...Father?” Timothy whispered.

 

Kriggary looked up to Xyphiel, his hand barely managing to hold onto the cursed blade, the scales of his hand burning, “...It must end here.”

 

Xyphiel glared as Kriggary moved the Puriel Blade into the pulsing barrier around the Seal of the Scribe Lord. The blade began to char, and disintegrate, along with Kriggary’s own forearm.

 

Xyphiel roared in pain as he pushed his dark aura out before him, now nearly within the seal. His wings spread out, a burst of mana ripping from each of the other wings on his back, knocking Kriggary, Timothy and I to the ground.

 

“I will not fall to the likes of you**!”** Xyphiel roared at Zepherina. He thrust his feathered blade at Zepherina, the feather striking her as if it were just that, a feather behind the barrier. Still, Xyphiel grinned as a dark shadow slowly crept through the barrier around the seal, “You are a great warrior, but you are nothing of the arcane, of spirits, or of the power of magics!”

 

We needed to recoup, and finish this!  This was it, our last chance! 

 

I slowly got to my feet, ready to help before a white blur whizzed past me.

 

I watched as Demond, in his wolf form, rushed Xyphiel!

 

“Demond!” I cried out, afraid he’d get harmed by Xyphiel.

 

Even restrained, Xyphiel was too much for my precious Demond!

 

It was at this moment that I realized my feelings had, if anything, redoubled for him.

 

Demond ducked under a strike from Xyphiel’s injured wing and pulled a large white shard he had been clutching tightly to his chest.

 

It was covered in blood. It was the same shard that had pierced my own shield and Tasha’s chest.

 

Demond thrust the shard into Xyphiel’s back, the barrier shattering around him.

 

Xyphiel’s eyes widened in shock as a burst of Crimson mana poured from the wound, the shard remaining lodged in his back.

 

Demond landed on his feet a few meters behind Xyphiel, panting heavily, “That… That was for Elon,” he growled.

 

I took the moment and rushed towards Xyphiel, Timothy alongside me, our blades ready.

 

I moved to Xyphiel’s left side, Timothy attacking from the right and together we swung down - severing Xyphiel’s crimson wings from his back.

 

Crimson mana spewed out into the air, nearly choking me as it did so.

 

Yet even as it spewed forth, it dissipated unlike before.

 

The crimson miasma fizzled and burned away as it came into contact with the mighty barrier around the seal.

 

Kriggary called out, “Cast the wings into the seal!”

 

I glanced down to see each wing sputtering a different color of sin.

 

Timothy kicked one or two wings into the seal, and I did the same with the remainder.

 

As each wing vanished, I could see their owners appear next to Zepherina.

 

I recalled each of them, Mammon, Zelletia, Astaroth, Kharisnusia, and even Bella! They all took hold of the fiery chains, finally dragging Xyphiel into the seal.

 

“Traitors!” Xyphiel roared, “I gave half of you your power!”

 

Bella stepped forward, her hand caressing Xyphiel’s chin as his face was pulled into the seal, “And you took it… just as easily…”

 

Xyphiel’s body slipped completely into the barrier.

 

Zepherina dragged him in roughly, hurling him into the ground as she too began to sink.

 

The other demons dragged Xyphiel down as he screamed in anguish, “I will not stay fallen! I shall rise up, I shall have my vengeance!”

 

All but one.

 

Bella remained, watching as Xyphiel was dragged downwards into Hell.

 

Zepherina glared at Bella before Bella’s tail whipped across Zepherina’s body with such a vicious blow it hurled Zepherina from the pulsing seal.

 

I gasped as I caught Zepherina.

 

I watched, curiously, as Bella gave a half smile to us, before the seal dragged her down as well.

 

The Seal itself, now holding no foes within it, began to shrink.

 

It shrank down until it was merely a one meter diameter pedestal. 

 

My heart hammered in my chest.

 

“Did… Did we?” I asked breathlessly.

 

Timothy slowly got to his feet, panting, “I think… Yes… we did it!”

 

Zepherina laid in my arms, now in her normal Cherubim form. She shook and coughed from an extreme overdose of Mana.

 

“Shh… Zeph, settle down,” I smiled as I tried to heal her wounds.

 

Kriggary slowly walked past me, his forearm had reformed.

 

I frowned as I realized he was slowly approaching Sume’s body.

 

“...Sume,” I whispered softly.

 

Kriggary knelt by her upper body, turning her onto her back and weakly smiling to her, “...I’m so sorry, my Star-light.”

 

Sume, to my shock, spoke, “It’s okay, Pappa.”

 

Kriggary’s smile grew as he moved her slowly back to her upper body, holding her firmly in place, despite the slash severing her in half.  “It was me.”

 

“No, Pappa,” Sume tried to argue.

 

Kriggary’s finger moved to Sume’s lips, “I lost myself. I tried so hard to find cures for you and every failure eroded my faith all the more. You, my precious innocent child, never should have suffered… Yet, you suffered for my failings, daily. Trapped in a stone prison by which you had no right to be. For I had done as I had asked and the foes of God cursed me and as a result, my first born. My frustration turned to rage over years and I began to doubt the Guardian’s motives at their very core.”

 

Sume’s expression shifted.

 

Kriggary’s eyes dropped, “And when I heard that the Guardians of the Temple would not help me… My faith finally shattered,” his eyes moved back to Sume, “And so… I walked away from everything. Even you. Even when I found, at last, how to free you.”

 

Sume’s eyes widened.

 

“But by then… I was so full of vengeance that I could not bring myself to make the sacrifice it would have cost to save you,” Kriggary spoke as his face twisted into anguish, “For that… I cannot, should not ever be forgiven. So, all I can do now is make the sacrifice I was too selfish to make before.”

 

Kriggary held Sume softly in his arms, his wings wrapping around her as he whispered something.

 

Sume’s arms moved slowly to hug him, at first.

 

I watched in shock as Sume’s stoney fingers grew softer, more flesh-like. 

 

Her hands next, then her arms. I watched as gray stone was replaced by soft pinkish skin. 

 

Sume’s body slowly shifted from stone, to flesh, her stony hair turning black as her soft honey colored eyes blinked in shock, “Pappa? I… I can breathe again!”

 

Kriggary slowly let go of her and he smiled as he looked into her eyes, he placed a loving kiss on her forehead, “...I have not seen your mother’s eyes in so long. To think… I doubted…” Kriggary’s smile faded as he stood, walking from Sume.

 

Sume fell to her knees, looking to her midsection to see only a small scar where she had been sliced in half just moments before, “Pappa!  Wait, where are you going?!” Sume asked as she unsteadily got to her feet.

 

Kriggary walked to the Seal, sinking down on his haunches upon it, “...Sume, your curse could never be broken,” Kriggary whispered, his eyes slowly turning gray. “It could only be taken… by another… of your blood…”

 

Sume’s eyes widened as Kriggary’s flesh lost its color, his icy blue eyes losing their luster as his flesh turned to stone. “Pappa!”

 

“Here… I remain… Silent guardian of the Gates…” Kriggary spoke slower and slower.  “My final… eternal act… as the Scribe Lord.”

 

My hand moved to my mouth as I watched Kriggary turn to stone completely, his feet fusing with the small dais on the Seal of the Scribe Lord.

 

“Pappa!” Sume shouted, rushing to his stone body. She wept against him, holding onto the stone effigy tightly as I found it difficult to speak.

 

Demond approached me, “Uh… so…” He looked me over, “...Xei or… Tasha?”

 

I blushed, feeling heat in my cheeks as Demond spoke to me, “Oh.. uh.. Well… uhm…” I tried to compose myself, “...I had mostly settled on… Xeisha.”

 

“Are… you going to bring Tasha or Xei back?” Demond asked.

 

“I…” I chuckled, “Well to be honest, we were sort of… supposed to be like this.” I blushed, “I was sundered, I guess. My spirit that is.”

 

Timothy turned to me, “Wait, I had lost my arm… I thought I was the sundered child.”

 

I frowned at Timothy, “Sume was literally cleaved in two, Timothy.”

 

Sume called out between her sniffles, “All of us were sundered children!”

 

Timothy turned to Sume, “What?”

 

Sume stood, drying her eyes, “We were all sundered, even Zepherina… Though she might not know it for a while. We all lost a piece of ourselves in this war,” she turned to Demond, “Even the Avatar of Ariel over there.”

 

Demond frowned.

 

“Your brother, you thick-head,” Sume hissed, sniffling. “Sorry just…” she shook her head, “I just got him back and he…” She turned to the statue.  “...Is all of this my fault?”

 

Timothy shook his head, “No. It’s his. Xyphiel’s, Kriggary’s…” He sighed, “Kriggary’s faith failed and he turned to wrath and vengeance. He could have saved you at any point after learning the cure to your curse. But once he knew he’d have to take your place, he knew he’d be unable to exact his revenge against God.”

 

Sume turned from the statue, “...It’s hard for me to believe my father would do that.”

 

“It’s not for me,” Timothy said firmly, “Unlike you, I saw what he did. The depths to which he had fallen,” Timothy shuddered.

 

Demond heaved a sigh, “We might have taken out Xyphiel and the pillars of sin, but we still need to clear the rest of the board.”

 

Timothy nodded, “Those of us who can, we need to meet with Gabriel and the other Archangels.”

 

I nodded, about to spread my wings when I saw something off about the sky.

 

It was violet.

 

The sky then shifted, as if the very firmament was made of a massive eye looking down upon us.

 

A violet eye.

 

“What the fuck?!” Demond shouted, grabbing me protectively.

 

My heart caught in my throat as I watched a vision not unlike a bit of the sky being dragged down to the ground.

 

It was as if the sky were a sheet and someone had pinched it, dragging it downward towards the ground.

 

Once it met the ground, forming from the tip was a figure.

 

A pulse of some kind echoed through the air as, standing before us, was Ragna!

 

The fabric-like sky was attached to her shoulders like a cape and rose infinitely upwards.

 

“Sorry….” Ragna’s voice boomed, “I’m not used to this.”

 

**“**M-Mom?” Zepherina whispered. I looked at Zepherina, watching as she shrank in my arms, “W-what’s happening?!”

 

Zepherina looked younger, as if she were a teenager!

 

“Please… Forgive me.  This must be done.” Ragna formed a bident in her hand and slammed it down onto the ground.

 

A burst of white light erupted from where her staff met the ground and it surged towards us all like a tidal wave.

 

Demond rushed to me, but I stopped him, a grin on my face.

 

“Xei-Tas-Xeisha! Run!” Demond screamed.

 

I smiled, turning to Demond, “No… This is as it should be.”

 

As I felt the white light wash over me, I could feel Demond cling to me.

 

But through all of this, I knew I should not fear.

 

For I trusted in the Lord.

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41l Chapter 42

Ragna

 

I didn’t feel any wind. I held Gabriel’s hand as we ascended, I could certainly tell we were moving upwards.

 

“My mother said time worked differently in Sheol, have we met on the mortal plane yet?” I asked Gabriel. 

 

“Yes,” they said curtly.

 

I looked away, “...So, you know St. Michael chose poorly, then?”

 

“If you think St. Michael chose poorly, then I suppose he did,” Gabriel spoke, their words soft and demure, “Had you said nothing on the matter, I would not agree with you.”

 

I furrowed my brow, “But I failed.”

 

“You were defeated,” Gabriel clarified, “Whether you failed or not has yet to be determined.” 

 

I felt hopeful, for a moment. Maybe in Timothy’s hands the Sanctified Blade of the Guardians would find better use? Maybe that’s why Michael gave it to me? Because Michael knew I could lead the Archangels with it symbolically, knowing that I would give it to the right person?

 

“Your intuitive mind takes little to reach its conclusions,” Gabriel noted.

 

“...Oh,” I paused, “You can hear my thoughts?”

 

“I can see your emotions,” Gabriel explained, “It’s why I am unable to tell you why you have been called upon. If I gave you even the slightest clue, you’d likely already have deduced the nature of your meeting with Our Father,” Gabriel sighed.  “You share that trait with your father: Far too wise for your own good.”

 

I was unsure how to take such an assessment of myself, but decided I had best remain quiet going forward.

 

As the scene around me changed. Towering over us was a massive silver wall of light. At almost 10 meters high, was a huge golden gate with white alabaster accents glimmering in surreal white light.

 

Standing before the gate, with a massive bronze staff in one hand and an oversized tome in the other, was a Cherubim Angel, clad head to toe in bronze armor. Over the armor were long white robes, covering them from the shoulders to their knees, tied to their armor with a large silvery belt.

 

The helm of the Bronze Angel turned to me, “... Melinoë Walters, also known as Sellenia Misho, the Ragnarök.” As the Angel spoke, its massive book opened, pages turning on their own as it did.

 

I paused, “Walters?” I turned to Gabriel, “Wait, Persephone had a last name on Dei?”

 

“Her first name was Cleopatra,” Gabriel’s voices echoed through the nearly endless space we stood in.

 

“Cleopatra? But Teryn called her… oooh… Pat, okay, yeah, that makes sense for Teryn, yeah,” I sighed, “...Guess she did that to everyone she met.”

 

“Only her friends,” Gabriel said, one head smiling, “...She calls me ‘Reia’.” 

 

“...Huh,” I said, unsure how else to react.

 

Teryn would know Seraphim, wouldn’t she? Especially if Gabriel and other angels ferried souls to and from Sheol.

 

I wondered what she called the Angel Duma?

 

“...Your sins are so numerous, I am unsure, even with Gabriel ferrying your feted soul, how you do not sink into the depths of Hell,” the Bronze angel spoke, the gates opening, “I would carry that knowledge with you. For should Gabriel release you for but a moment behind these gates, the weight of your sins would drag you downward to eternal damnation.” 

 

**“**Thank you, Brother Cephas,” Gabriel whispered, as we passed by, “For educating Ragna on her current predicament,” Gabriel looked down to me, “Come along, Ragna. We should not keep Our Father waiting.”

 

I turned to Cephas, looking at their visor, “Who did I hurt the most, in my life?”

 

Cephas did not hesitate in the least, “Our Father.”

 

My brow furrowed, “I don’t-”

 

“All sinners harm Our Father the most, above all!” His mighty voice boomed through the air.   “For He sees all and He loves most. For Our Father loves His children more than any. To see them falter, to see them suffer and to bring others suffering, pains Him more than any other being on this or the next plane!” Cerphas declared.

 

I flinched as I felt Gabriel tugging me.

 

“Come,” Gabriel’s voice called. The large gates began to open before me. “...I should warn, those whom you vanquished that were found to be worthy are likely to be here. Your coming was, indeed, heralded.” 

 

“And what does that mean?” I asked.

 

“It means keep your anger in check,” Gabriel chided.

 

I heaved a sigh as we walked through the gates.

 

As we passed through the towering gates, the scene changed entirely.

 

We were not standing near a gateway at all, but rather we were surrounded by towering white marble structures that defied all logic and physics.

 

Huge marble spires floated, upside down, on the horizon. Some were not even angled, but smoothed out hive-like structures with many windows and doors.

 

A yellow light filled the air, with both a flawless sunset on the far eastern side and a beautiful sunrise on the west.

 

I looked straight up and saw the shimmering twinkle of a night sky. Depending upon where I looked, the entire landscape took on the time of day I had last glanced upon.

 

My voice was caught in my throat as Gabriel began to lead me through the vast and almost infinite reaches of this place.

 

The horizon stretched out in every direction. The ground my feet treaded on was both yielding and firm. Looking down showed me the material looked like clouds, but felt like a sort of padded floor.

 

I noticed angels flying in the air. They began to land nearby.

 

It wasn’t long before I felt a chill running down my spine as I realized I recognized some of their faces.

 

Some gazed at me with somber eyes.

 

Others fixed me with glares full of anger and in this place I could see they felt a mixture of aversion to my presence but a satisfaction of justice. A sense of retribution filled the air.

 

“...These are the angles of the Guardian Temple I slew, aren’t they?” I asked Gabriel quietly.

 

“Yes,” Gabriel spoke succinctly.  

 

One walked before us, the angel’s white wings opened. He had long blonde hair and his gray eyes fixed me with a look of disdain.

 

“Hastapher, clear a path,” Gabriel instructed.

 

Hastapher. Oh.

 

I frowned.

 

The old leader of the Guardian Temple’s defenses.

 

I gritted my teeth.

 

Hastapher pointed to me, his eyes narrowed on me, “Did you taste love but for less than 5 years, wicked one? Spawn of the Morning Star?”

 

I paused, narrowing my eyes on him, “...What?”

 

“Hastapher,” Gabriel growled, “Not now. Father has requested her presence.”

 

“Answer me, Cursed Daughter of Lucifer!” Hastapher shouted.

 

“No,” I quipped.

 

I recalled the words Hastapher spoke before I slew him: “May any happiness you ever have be tainted by greater sorrow. May the feat of victory always turn to ash in your mouth.”

 

Hastapher’s angry face changed and he moved, “Good.”

 

I gritted my teeth.

 

That curse upon me was real?! I nearly leapt at him until I spotted someone out of the corner of my eye.

 

Standing next to a mighty black-skinned Niten Dragon was Rachel.

 

Her red hair was down and her eyes were once again a soft blue. She looked so pure, so serene, but so heartbroken watching me.

 

My eyes filled with tears and I pulled away from Gabriel.

 

I heard Gabriel call out as my hand left their’s. 

 

I watched Hastapher’s armor appear on him as he moved to stop me.

 

I jumped into the air and I soared towards Rachel.

 

Rachel pushed the Black Niten Dragon away from her and flew towards me.

 

“Rachel!” I shouted as I flew towards her.

 

Rachel smiled and shouted to me, “Ragna!” 

 

We embraced.

 

I held her tight. The scent of her hair was the same. As we latched onto each other and landed on the ground, I could feel the memories we shared.

 

It was as if I was reliving every moment I had with her, however brief.

 

Memories of us on our little Eden. Visions of her pregnant with Lucilia.  

 

I pulled back just enough to kiss her and she kissed me back.

 

At this moment, nothing else existed. Just her.  

 

Just my Rachel and I.

 

My Dream. My Amaranthe. 

 

When the kiss broke, her forehead pressed to mine and I couldn’t help but laugh through my tears of joy, “My Amaranthe…” I whispered, barely able to speak.

 

Rachel sniffled, “...Ragna. I missed you.  I’m so sorry… I… I didn’t mean to leave you.”

 

My lip trembled as I heard footsteps behind me.

 

“...An enigma you both remain,” Gabriel’s voices spoke softly.

 

All around us, angels had cleared a circle, as if we were toxic or could somehow harm them.

 

Hastapher was closer than others, but held back many, “Do not touch them…” He spoke softly “...Ragna hangs here but by a thread.”

 

I looked at Rachel and I felt my knees sinking into the floor.

 

Rachel held me tight, “Don’t leave me again!”

Gabriel’s hand seized my shoulder, my knees no longer sinking. “Even with pure love, you nearly fell. It is a miracle you did not, Ragna. That was reckless of you,” Gabriel warned.

 

I turned to Gabriel, glaring, “I thought you lived for reunions.”

 

Gabriel’s three heads all raised their eyebrows.

 

I turned back to Rachel, looking at her beautiful tear filled eyes. I kissed her forehead and dried her tears, holding her face in my hands, “I will come back for you. I swear to you. Nothing here can keep me from you.”

 

Rachel just pursed her lips and nodded. She kissed me once more and I returned it.

 

“...That is enough, Ragna,” Gabriel whispered.

 

I broke the kiss and stood, my hand lingering on Rachel’s face as she looked up to me longingly.

 

“I promise,” I shouted as Gabriel led me onward, “I will come back for you!” 

 

Rachel reached out to me, the Black Niten Dragon holding her back by the shoulder, Hastapher standing between us as Gabriel led me onward. 

 

“Ragna!” Rachel cried, “I love you!”

 

“I love you too!” I answered back before I was taken far from her.

 

“...You should not make promises you cannot keep, Ragna,” Gabriel explained once we were out of earshot.

 

I took one of Gabriel’s hands as they led me onward, glaring ahead, “If anyone here… and I mean anyone thinks they can keep me from my Rachel, they’ll be sorely mistaken.”

 

Gabriel scoffed as they led me onward and I noticed less and less structures around us, “You are indeed, your father’s child.”

 

I glared at Gabriel as we continued forward.

 

Eventually, I saw a golden staircase looming out of the horizon.

 

It was narrow, but towering. Reaching high into the sky, where it ended I couldn’t see, outside of a pin-hole of white light where the stairs top could no longer be seen.

 

The base of the stairs had black obsidian-like flooring.  

 

Gabriel stood there and turned to me, “Here you may release me. You will not fall from here onward.”

 

I let go, looking around, “So… where is ‘Our Father’?” I asked.

 

Gabriel pointed up the stairs, “They are there,” Gabriel turned to the steps, “Upon the top of these steps is the Throne of Heaven, where Our Father sits and waits.”

 

I looked up the dizzying steps.

 

No railings, no structure holding the steps together.

 

Each step floated on its own accord, suspended by nothing, connected to the other steps by nothing. All only half a meter wide.

 

“And I’m climbing to meet Them?” I asked.

 

“You will attempt to climb,” Gabriel said as they turned from me, “Only Angels have survived the journey. Fall from the steps and you will burn in Hellfire. But that is the least of your concerns,” Gabriel explained.

 

“The least of my concerns?” I scoffed, “What do you mean?”

 

“To climb upon these steps is to face the Creator of our universe. The raw power of The Almighty is so grand that even to stand near Their Radiance is to stand before a burning star. Those souls who lack the constitution to weather such power will burn away, until nothing remains,” Gabriel spoke firmly to me.

 

I shrugged, “So, I need to climb up the stairs, not fall and face the power of a star unprotected?” I spread my wings.

 

“You’ll find your wings will not help you here, Ragna,” Gabriel chuckled, “The power of The Almighty would cast you down immediately.”

 

I narrowed my eyes, “...Thanks for the warning. Are you hoping I will fail?”

 

Gabriel nodded, “As I said, you should not make promises you cannot keep. I suspect this will be the last time we see one another.”

 

I turned to Gabriel, “If I don’t make it… What happens?” I asked.

 

“God shall enact His final act and His children shall be with him,” Gabriel sighed, “The mortal realm will be left to those immortals who would call themselves Gods and the damned left at their mercy.”

 

I frowned, “So… Eris… Xyphiel…” I winced, “...And every demon in Hell.”

 

Gabriel nodded, “Yes. But worry not, your love will be safe. I can promise that much.”

 

I looked to the steps and then back to Gabriel, “Thank you for that.”

 

“This may come as a shock, but I know what it is like to lose a loved one, only to find them on the other side,” Gabriel explained, “This is something I only discovered recently… after I suffered a remediation from my Father.”

 

I scoffed, “And what did you do that angered your father?”

 

Gabriel paused, the eyes on two of their heads closing as the eyes on one faced me sternly, “I loved a mortal and kept him on the mortal plane without an edict or any other logical reason. For this, I was punished.”

 

“Well, even the pious can err, huh?” I mocked.

 

Gabriel’s eyes opened, all fixed upon me with wrath, “If you fall now, none would know if it were by my hand or by your own failing.”

 

“I think someone would know, since They know everything,” I chuckled as I shook my head, “But I will not fall. Not to you and not as I climb” I declared as I made my way to the steps, moving to the first and already feeling a potent heat hitting me in the face.  

 

I moved to the second step and nearly stumbled back as a powerful wind pushed against me.

 

“It starts with one~” Gabriel’s voices began to sing.

 

I growled and started slowly up the next step.

 

“All I know,” Gabriel’s voices called out, “It’s so unreal.”

 

I walked further, at the fifth step at least, I found the heat was nearly unbearable, like facing into the exhaust of a powerful engine.

 

Gabriel’s voices rang out in song, both mourning and joyful, “Just to watch you go~”

 

I grunted, pushing myself up to my feet and moving up farther. I pushed past several more steps before I fell forward, gripping the hot golden metal before me.

 

I felt my hands searing from the heat and turned back to see only a dozen or so steps had been cleared.

 

Gabriel remained below, their voices ringing out, almost taunting as they sang. “I tried so hard, and got so far. But in the end, it doesn’t even matter. I had to fall, to lose it all, but in the end, it doesn’t even matter.”

 

I growled and pushed myself higher, feeling the heat through the soles of my feet as I climbed.

 

The hot wind blew my hair wildly and the heat penetrated my clothing as I climbed, keeping my eyes fixed on the next step before me.

 

“I try so hard,” Gabriel’s voices sang, “Got so far.”

 

I gritted my teeth and started a mad sprint upwards, trying to ignore the heat, the pain and every bit of chaos around me.

 

I focused on one step before the other.

 

I moved up at least another dozen steps before I had to fall to my knees, the heat overwhelming me as I felt my clothing start to burn.

 

“In the end~” Gabriel’s voices rang out, the final word holding for what seemed like eternity as I knelt.

 

I tossed my jacket off, watching it ignite in the air as I pulled my belt off. The soles of my boots had already burned away, my bare feet sizzled on scorching gilded steps.

 

“Pain is temporary,” I tried to encourage myself, as I pressed onward.

 

Gabriel finally changed from their long note, their voices somehow still reaching me, “I tried so hard, and got so far! But in the end, it doesn’t even matter. I had to fall, to lose it all!  But in the end, it doesn’t even matter!”

 

I grunted and pushed onwards, the song Gabriel’s voices sang now seemed far more personal. As if they hadn’t been personal enough, I now set myself to a slow, steady and grueling pace of setting one bare foot before the other on burning step after burning step.

 

“I’ve put my trust in you. Pushed as far as I could go. For all this, there’s only one thing you should know-”  Gabriel’s voices called out as a potent wind made me pause for a moment, their voice taking on a venom I didn’t expect. “I’ve put my trust in you! Pushed as far as I can go! For all this, there’s only one thing you should know! I tried so hard and got so far. In the end, it doesn’t even matter! You had to fall to lose it all - but in the end, it doesn’t even matter!” 

 

I pulled myself up, gritting my teeth as I continued, the wind growing in strength both in intensity and heat.

 

My hair ignited and despite this I pushed on. Gabriel’s last words that I could hear were ringing in my mind.

 

I wasn’t going to fall as they wanted. I would see Rachel again. I’d see Zepherina again. My Lucilia. I would see my family once more!

 

As I pushed onwards, a blast of heat nearly knocked me off the edge of one step.

 

I could barely see as my eyes felt like they were burning.

 

I paused, grabbing the step ahead of me with one hand as I knelt on the other.

 

I screamed in pain as what little clothing remained ignited and burned away.

 

Now, I was completely and utterly exposed. I held my wings tight to my back, pushed myself up and kept walking.

 

The searing heat from each step only grew more intense as I climbed.

 

I glanced down to my hand, seeing my very flesh bubbling and charring.

 

I turned away from the sight, trying not to focus on what was happening to me.

 

I glanced upwards and it seemed I had made almost no real progress. The pin-point of light was still so far away.

 

I pushed onwards, the heat only growing, my pain only intensifying.

 

Still, I pushed onward.

 

A shot of light shocked me, a soft violet hue filled my vision.

 

I glanced down at my hand, noticing no flesh remained, but now a glowing essence of sorts. 

 

A violet light, faintly glowing around me. Steam seeping from my hand in the powerful hot wind.

 

“Oh Guardians… My soul’s being stripped bare…” I thought as I watched violet mana slip away in the monstrously brutal wind.

 

I shook my head and carried on with my climb.

 

By no means did it get easier.

 

If anything my flesh was a buffer against the pain.  Now every blast of hot wind felt like pins being slammed into my body. My soul?

 

I think all of my physical form had been eradicated at this point as I made my arduous climb skyward.

 

Even though my wings lacked feathers, a dangerous glance backwards showed they were bare wings. Even the flesh on them was stripped away, all that remained were glowing violet wing bones with wisps of mana between them.

 

Even turning nearly made me fall as the dizzying height I had reached showed I was so far away from where I started that it looked like nothing but a pin-prick of a black dot.

 

I began to panic slightly as I looked up at the sky above.

 

There, the pin-prick had changed.

 

Now, a fiery ball of light shimmered in the distance and gazing upon it burned my eyes.

 

I cast my eyes down, looking at the burning golden steps I was currently frying on.

 

I crawled up the steps now, one hand ahead of the other, one knee at a time.

 

The only relief came from when I would lift a limb up and while the pain stopped for a moment, it came back when I made contact with the golden step.

 

It was here that I realized my hands were withering away.

 

Each moment they remained on the step more and more of my hand burned away.

 

Now, I climbed with the stumps of my forearms, unable to grasp the step before me.  

 

I couldn’t feel my feet as well.

 

I wondered what I looked like now. An unfinished model of a figure, perhaps?

 

Lacking all definitions that made me what I was. 

 

My hair, my skin, my feathers.

 

Was I even myself?

 

What was driving me? Why was I subjecting myself to this horrific experience?

 

Rachel.

 

With renewed vigor, I pushed myself further.

 

Rachel, Timothy, Lucilia, Zepherina and even Maddy.

 

My family, my friends, everyone who would call me nothing more than the product of my parents.

 

I wouldn’t fall.

 

I would pass this trial, no matter how excruciating it was.

 

No matter how much of myself was burned away.

 

I wasn’t going to fail.

 

I couldn’t fail, not now.

 

I chuckled, it was just as Gabriel said, “I had come so far…”

The wind stopped abruptly. As did the burning in my limbs.

 

Though I still felt the heat.

 

I looked up and was immediately blinded by an unyielding white light.

 

I recoiled, trying to guard my face with my arm but still the light burned my eyes. All I could do was cast my eyes away from the source.

 

A cacophony of voices of all ages, genders and accents filled my ears.

 

It felt as if someone was stabbing my ears with a thousand needles. It was so loud.

 

“Ah, I see you have finally made it.”

 

I gasped in pain, “Please… Not so loud!” I begged.

 

The volume didn’t change, nor did the pain of every word, “I am sorry. These words shall pain you. I will attempt to be brief.”

 

I grunted as I heard the words, “Fine! Then… Speak! Why have you brought me here?! What do you want with me?!”

 

“Want? No.” The cacophony called out, “Need.”

 

I panted as I heard that the Father, Guardians or whatever, was doing Their best to be brief. But it seemed that being brief meant They were being vague. “Just… Please tell me everything you need from me. I’ll just… Bare it…” I shivered in pain.

 

“Very well. I do not wish to harm you, Daughter of Lucifer. But, I will tell you all now, since you are before Me.” The Guardian’s began, “No God rules forever, though all Gods are Eternal. How does this strike you, Ragna?”

 

I winced, taking a moment to collect myself, “Gods… Come and go with worship, right? Some rise, some fall… Eris was weak and then she started to get some praise, she got stronger when Chaos took hold of the world.”

 

“Yes. The Spirit of Chaos is but a trifling thing. Though the power she wields, it is very specific for one. For even she cannot peer past this moment,” The Guardians explained.

 

“And, I know this will hurt to hear but, what is the significance of this moment?” I asked.

 

“The moment when Ragna Misho comes before Us. Not every path led you here. In fact, but one path did. It was not the cleanest path, nor the one I desired, but such is free will. We know all choices made, We know all paths forward. We see the beginning and the end, for We are the Alpha and the Omega.” The Guardians declared.

 

“So free will is bullshit?!” I shouted, still reeling from the pain of the Guardians' words.

 

“Far from it,” the Guardians bellowed, “Free will is why I am, both Omnipotent and Omni-absent.” 

 

I caught my breath, the Guardians allowing me time to understand.

 

“We see all choices of all people. As such, We cannot know what true path the world will take. There are endless destinies and We have seen every one of them. We cannot choose the outcome. We plan and We wish for one, but the Free Will of Mortals is a constant challenge. A blessing and a curse.” 

 

I panted, “So, you know the outcome of every decision I could have ever made?”

 

“And the outcomes of those decisions you could not make. Those of your mother and father, your brother and even those whom you did not realize altered your path.” The Guardians explained.

 

“So,” I took a deep breath, which only served to steel myself, “What is it you want from me? Why have you asked me here?”

 

“We want to offer you a path to redemption. For you, Ragna, have found Love. You understand, for once, what Love is. That is how you climbed. If you did not know Love, you would fail. Either fallen or vanished. Your faith remained with your heart. But still, you have done so much wrong, your soul is unclean, unfit to rise. It will either sit in Sheol or burn in Hellfire.”

 

I looked up, trying to stare at the blinding light once more, but I had to turn away, “So… What are the terms? What must I do? Will you send me back to finish it? To vanquish Xyphiel?!”

 

“No. We will leave this plane. We shall take our children and retire. But someone must shepard the damned souls and give them a chance at redemption,” The Guardian’s voices all appeared to change tone, they were happier, for a moment, “Who better to guide a flock of those needing redemption than one who, herself, seeks a second chance?”

 

I paused to consider and I slowly got to my feet, “So, I cannot go back… You want me to watch over the souls of the damned and help them become redeemed?”

 

“Yes. For We love Our children. Even you, Ragna, who slew so many. We love you and We wish for all those who suffer to attain one final chance to join Us in Heaven. So I will ask: "Will you shepard my lost flock, Ragna?”

 

I let out a slow breath, lifting my face to try to gaze at the bright light again. I got as far as looking at the base of a mighty throne. “...Under one condition.”

 

The voices of the Guardians all grew angry with me and I staggered back from a powerful burst of heat, “Doth thou think We are bartering?! Doth thou think you can disrespect Us, Your Spiritual Father?!”

 

Trembling, I slowly answered, “You know what I want. You know what I’m thinking,” I said softly, “...You know all I want is Love, right?”

 

The voices seemed to calm, “There were two choices you could have made, Ragna.”

 

The voices didn’t hurt my ears now as I felt a rush of cool air surrounding me.

 

“We are pleased that you have made the best choice,” The Guardian's voices called to me.

 

I felt calm, the pain in my body vanishing as my heart felt, for once, at ease, “...Thank You. I won’t let you down. But… What about Xyphiel?”

 

“That is for the mortals to resolve,” The Guardians called out, “We have given them all they need. Now, the task is upon them. The most difficult part of my task, as always, is to extend to my children my most powerful gift.”

 

I shivered as I felt my flesh and clothing restoring, “What gift is that?”

 

“My Eternal Faith.”

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 l Chapter 41

Ragna

It was dark.

Once I fell to the ground, it was dark and I felt something, floating?

My daughter, I could feel her. I was in her arms as she carried me.

I’ve never been afraid before. Not like this.

I thought I was facing death once or twice but that was different.

My death was here, right now.

My real death.

Not like folks get more than one.

Right?

Would I even deserve a second chance, if offered?

Maybe I did? Maybe I’d get a reprieve?

The falling sensation didn’t help, of course.

Though, after falling, things were calm.

Before this moment, everything was going numb.

My vision, my hearing, even my sense of touch was vanishing.

But still, through all of it, I could smell something. Does that make sense?

A coppery smell, strong, pungent and familiar.

The smell of blood.

I think it was the sound that came to me first. Then I could feel something.

A sensation of a cold hand moving over my face, clearing my hair from it.

“...Oh, it does pain me to see you in such a sorry state,” I heard a cool yet powerful voice speak over me.

I opened my eyes slowly.

Before my death, my vision would take time to focus or adjust. But now, the moment I opened my eyes, I saw everything around me.

Above me, I saw a dark violet sky, soft pale lights emanating from plants, buildings and even from the one who held me.

My eyes moved to hers, her violet irises shifting to meet mine.

She wore silver robes, her large white wings stretched out behind her. Her delicate long white hair framing her immaculate face as she gazed down upon me.

While there was some sorrow in her eyes, I could see she was mostly happy.

The black crown on her head, it’s three spires reaching up high, told me all I needed to know about who was holding me.

My birth mother, Persephone, had finally gotten her hands on me.

I sat up slowly, “Send me back…” I said, weakly.

“So quick to die again, are we Melinoë?” Persephone asked.

I narrowed my eyes on her, “Since you’ve never done anything for me, do this one request!”

Persephone’s eyes narrowed on me, “I’ve never done anything for you?” She scoffed, “Child, I have done more for you than you could possibly know.”

I let out a short chuckle, gritting my teeth as I tried to investigate my surroundings from her lap, “Like what?” I hissed.

I felt us rise up as Persephone stood, carrying me in her arms.

She walked towards a glittering palace. The stone looked like granite, flecked with shimmering stones and beset with dark stained glass windows.

A garden of bizarre plants held within it multiple statues of Gods, old and new. Some statues showed merely the Gods themselves, others showed events.

As we passed by one, I couldn’t help but notice a certain dragon.

It appeared to be Zelletia, complete with horrific tendrils ripping from her form. Facing her was a statue of Persephone, with a small figure on her shoulder.

“Yes, that is Zelletia,” Persephone explained, “When she first died she came here, as all dragons used to. I cast her into Hellfire with the help of your Aunt Eris.”

I flinched at that, Eris my aunt? How? Why would she help with such a deed? Why didn't she aid me in my own fight against Zelletia sooner if Eris had faced her before? So many questions swirled in my mind.

But one pressing matter needed attention first: “Please, let me go home,” I pleaded.

“You are home,” Persephone explained as she walked, carrying me as if I was an infant, “You’ll find that time does not function the same way here, as a note. That will be important for you to understand later.”

I growled, “Put me down, at least! I can walk on my own!” I snapped.

“Can you? Fine then,” Persephone set me gently down on a walkway leading to her palace.

I took a step, my legs shaking beneath my weight. I nearly toppled over as I held my balance precariously.

I turned, briefly, to see if my wings were still cut from me, even in death.

I managed to confirm they were gone, just as I fell to the ground.

Persephone remained by my side, I could feel her gaze looking down on me.

I tried to push myself up to my feet, a glance at my arms showed me how weak and thin they were.

Every ounce of strength was sapped from my limbs. But still, I tried to collect myself.

“No need to put on a strong front here, dear. This is the end. This is Death. You’re with me, you’re safe,” Persephone whispered calmly.

I screamed.

I clenched my fist and slammed it down into the ground.

The stone was unyielding, my hand bouncing off of it, sliding to the side.

Though unbruised and uncut, it still hurt even as I uselessly hammered my small fist against the ground.

At some point during my breakdown, Persephone had knelt over me, her wings encompassing me as I cried out in vain.

I turned to her, blinking tears from my eyes. “What?! Now you get to keep me, is that it?! Now that I finally failed, now that I’ve let everyone down I’m just here to be your little pet?! The one you always wanted?”

Persephone let me shout for a few moments before she spoke. “I have you here, because you are my daughter. A daughter whom, despite my best efforts, I've never met. Something you should be able to relate to now, yes?”

I glared up to her, “Did you… Did you somehow cause Zepherina and I to be separated? So I could learn that lesson?!”

Persephone’s face changed from that of calm patience to anger, “Do not think I would waste my power to inflict such pain on you intentionally, Melinoë!”

“That’s not my name!” I yelled.

“It is, because it’s the name I gave you! And your adoptive parents named you Sellenia, yet you reject that name as well! You adopted the name Ragnarök, shall I call you that? Do please tell me,” Persephone chided, “For I know not my own daughter’s whims!”

I looked to the shimmering stone beneath me as I stared at my thin fingers, splayed out powerless over the ground, “...Call me nothing. It’s all I amounted to.”

“Oh please!” Persephone snapped, “You are not one to beg nor garner pity. You, regardless of name, are my daughter. Act like it.”

I gritted my teeth as I clenched my fist along the hard stone, dragging my fingers against it, “Would me razing a city make you feel better?”

“It would be a welcome change to the sad display you’re providing me now, Daughter,” Persephone reasoned.

I glared at Persephone, unsure what I could say as my eyes locked on hers.

Persephone heaved a sigh, “I will admit, I’ve not much experience in motherhood.” She knelt next to me, her hand resting on my shoulder. “But I know what feeling powerless is like. It’s not a state the likes of us can carry well.” She let out a deep sigh and silvery strands of light rose from the ground around me.

I gasped as the light penetrated my body, or spirit? It felt cold and warm all at the same time.

A sharp pain struck my back and I gasped as I felt my wings emerge.

With them, I felt my physical strength return. At least, a fraction of it.

I got to my feet, looking at my black wings. Without even waiting to say a word, I attempt to shift into my ascended form.

Nothing

“You were still transubstantiated. You only now have an echo of your former strength because you are now tied to the Underworld, as I am,” Persephone rose, towering over me as she looked down on me, “A strength that will grow in time, the longer you remain here. This place is, after all, yours by birthright.”

I looked around, examining my body and my tattered clothing. I was missing my armor, all I had on was the padding beneath.

Like tattered and soaked pajamas.

I flexed my arm, finding my arms no longer spindly, but at least appearing as sculpted as I had them in my former life.

Persephone looked me over, “Hmm, yes that is not your style at all, is it?”

A cool glow overcame my clothing.

In an instant, I was dressed in a pair of calf high leather boots, loose fitting black slacks and a left breasted blue jacket.

My hands were gloved and I felt a high necked shirt from under the jacket. Turning behind me, I saw the jacket had ornate tailcoats and slits to allow my wings to slip through. I huffed as I appraised the outfit.

“I’ll take the silence to mean I’ve read you well enough,” Persephone stated as she walked past me, “Always dressing more like a prince than a princess.”

I narrowed my eyes on her, “Says the ‘Queen’.”

Persephone wasn’t moved by my jab.

I followed her, not sure what else I could do. “You are Queen here, of course. So there must be something you can do for me,” I reasoned.

“I am Queen of all you see, daughter,” Persephone said as she glanced over her shoulder at me, “All of the Underworld is my domain.”

We walked into the palace and I couldn’t ignore the grandeur of it. The garden of statues was one thing, but the staircase leading into the grand foyer was another.

Not only were there grand staircases, glittering chandeliers, ornate carvings and pillars, many glittering sprites and fluttering creatures floated within.

Many pillars had beautiful flowering vines climbing up along their length, all the way to the ceiling. Colors of flowers I had never seen, some fluorescing in the strange light calmly leaking from the chandelier.

In the center of the foyer was a grand fountain, where many of the fluttering creatures and glowing sprites congregated.

“What are those?” I asked, pointing to the sprites.

“Some are fairies, some are spirits who followed neither Heaven nor Hell and chose to exist here,” Persephone explained, “Those who sought Pagan beliefs and traditions. Those who found themselves to be more in tune with nature and the earth than anything else,” she smiled weakly, “They come to me, at their final hour.”

“Somehow I feel like I’m an exception,” I remarked.

“You are,” Persephone confessed, “I had to pull some strings to bring you here. I bribed a reaper, just so you know.”

“A reaper?” I frowned.

“Yes. The Ferrymen of the Underworld. They traverse souls from the mortal realm here and there,” Persephone said with a sigh, “This reaper I had to bribe using young Evangeline.”

I clenched my fist.

“Ah, yes. She made choices after I let her go,” Persephone turned to me, “You need to understand, my dear: Time does not affect us as it does the mortal plane. A minute can be an hour as it can be a year, on a whim. There is no connection. To some the destruction of Dei was but a fortnight ago, to others it’s an eternity,” Persephone smiled, “How time passes here? It’s in the eye of the beholder.”

“So, between time manipulation, your power in the underworld and your ability to deal with life and death… You must have some way to send me back!” I tried once more to plead for a way to rejoin the fray.

“You’re dead, Daughter. Let it go. Enjoy the afterlife. You needn’t commit yourself so hard to the land of the living now that you’ve left it,” Persephone reasoned.

“My daughter is still there!” I snapped, “And unlike you, I will not just sit back in the Underworld and do nothing!”

Persephone paused and I felt the air chill.

The fluttering sprites all rushed away as the temperature in the room grew colder.

The flower petals on the vines wilted, some fell.

The fountain’s waters grew black before they froze over.

“Nothing?” Persephone hissed as I felt a frigid wind blow over me. She turned to me, anger in her violet eyes as she closed the distance between us.

I stood my ground, glaring up at her, “Name one thing you’ve done for me, as my mother. Just one.”

Persephone glared down her nose at me as she took a measured breath to calm herself, “You know not what I have done, and tried to do, for you.” Persephone sighed.

“Then show me and send me back there!” I demanded.

“You ask me to send you back? As if it were a favor? All I could do in this regard is to send a soul back through the mortal world to inhabit a fresh vessel,” Persephone narrowed her eyes on me, “Meaning the best I could do, is have you reborn as an infant. Somehow, I doubt you could do much against your brother in such a state. Besides, when I have done this for you before, it hasn’t worked out.”

“Done this for me before?” I frowned, “What do you mean?”

“You are ignorant of the favors I have granted you,” Persephone snapped her fingers, “But allow me to reunite you with my former favors.”

I was about to speak before I heard an all too familiar voice call out from behind me.

“I’m so glad to see how healthy Zepherina turned out. I must say, the Heavens crowed for days about her birth. The first Angel created from science rather than from nature alone,” the cynical and calculating voice called out.

I turned to see Moira, my lover from Adridia.

Her soft blue hair was short as always, her face thin and body lithe. She wore a garb of a pale blue overcoat and slacks, a simple white blouse under it.

“M-Moira?” I whispered.

“Yes,” she chuckled as her skin changed tone, shifting bluer, “And more. Your mother granted me a favor, since me and her go back aways.”

I was confused as I watched Moira’s form grow into a blue Niten Dragon.

From her black horns to her smooth scales and blue eyes, I could never forget that face.

“Hey, Sellie,” Soardoria smiled warmly.

I rushed to her and hugged her tight.

Soardoria hugged me and sighed, “I know, I know… We just never seemed to get the time we deserved after Nite.”

I gritted my teeth, “I took in your granddaughter…”

“Yes, Scalia, I know,” Soardoria chuckled. “It broke my heart when you found my resting place on Nite.”

I winced at the memory.

“It’s why your mother let me go back, we tried to time it right to meet up with your path,” Soardoria explained.

I pulled away, blinking tears from my eyes. It was confusing, as I didn’t feel the tears, but still they came.

Soardoria brushed the tears from my eyes, “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I… I really wish we had more time.”

I frowned, turning from her, “I… Soardoria, I don’t know how to say-”

Soardoria cut me off, “I know. Rachel,” she chuckled, “I’m happy for you.”

I looked at her longingly, “I always thought of what could have been, had you survived.” I paused. “Had you survived either time.”

“Me too,” Soardoria smiled, “Both times.”

I turned to Persephone, “...The other Rex Dragons, where did they go?”

“Many are here,” Persephone explained, “We have a grand library where there is one or two you might remember.”

Soardoria frowned, “It’s… probably best you not see them, though.”

I let out a soft chuckle, “I doubt Vekloden would be pleased with me, right?” I glanced up to Soardoria.

Soardoria had a mixed expression. Both concerned and empathetic.

“...You’re not very pleased with me either, are you?” I asked.

Soardoria sighed, “You sent a lot of people your mother’s way.”

“Do not act as if they were all so innocent!” Persephone interjected, “A respectable number deserved everything Melinoë gave them and more! Do not make me recount how many failed Uriel’s judgments!”

I turned to Persephone, narrowing my eyes, “Tell me who burned.”

Persephone chuckled, “There’s my daughter.”

I flinched, as if catching myself falling into old habits.

Soardoria sighed, her hands on my shoulders, “I know they were cruel to you, Sellie. But you didn’t need to prove them all right.”

I frowned, closed my eyes and shook my head, “No. Soardoria, I won’t just walk back everything. I made mistakes, sure. But plenty I put to the blade deserved to fall.”

Soardoria sighed, her hands slipping from my shoulders, “But it’s not up to you to decide. You’re not God.”

“Not yet,” Persephone whispered.

I froze, turning to Persephone.

Persephone’s grin was that of a cat who caught the canary. “...Do you think I didn’t notice your followers, dear? Those who praise you, the Dark Angel? Their sacred herald of reason and honor?”

Soardoria stepped away, “Sellie?”

I turned to Soardoria, unsure what would happen next.

“I love you always and good luck in what’s to come,” Soardoria forced a smile.

“Wait-” but before I could say anything, she vanished.

Persephone’s hand rested on my shoulder, “She doesn’t understand. You made the choices you made with good reason.”

“I don’t need your support,” I snapped, pulling from her.

“I’m merely letting you know, or reminding you, that you have it,” Persephone’s tone shifted as she looked me over. She sighed, her form shrinking dramatically to the point where she was now much shorter than me. “Despite your best efforts, I am your mother.”

“Only by blood,” I chided.

Persephone chuckled, shaking her head as the fountain melted and the sprites slowly fluttered back in, “I have yet to be told the name you prefer, Daughter.”

I followed Persephone as she walked through the foyer, moving towards a large hallway leading out into what I assumed was a courtyard. “Ragna,” I sighed, “I’ve been Ragna the longest.”

Persephone hummed knowingly, leading me out, “Indeed you are. The budding Goddess and bringer of the End Times: Ragnarök.”

I turned from her.

“You might have hidden the fact that you had prayers coming your way on the mortal plane, my dear. But, the immortal realms of Sheol and Heaven were quiet privy to your devout followers flittering about the cosmos.”

I heaved a sigh, “And?”

“And what?” Persephone turned to me as we approached a doorway to the large courtyard, “Gods come and Gods go, my sweet Ragna. From Egyptian to Greek and so on. Some gain power, some shift from old pantheons to new ones as belief shifts with them and some remain in practice from the beginning,” Persephone grinned, “But eventually every God must retire. Something you’ll discover soon enough.”

“I hid my power again,” I chided myself, “Maybe if I didn’t-”

“Your heart was broken,” Persephone said as she opened the doors to the courtyard of her palace, “You couldn’t face Xyphiel with the same power you faced your father, Lucifer, with. Of that much, your brother ensured.”

I clenched my fist.

“I feel your anger. It is those closest to us whom cause us the most harm,” Persephone flicked her wrist, “Cerberus, do come to me.”

A man rose from the ground.

He was an angel of sorts. He had blond wings, pale skin and darting amber eyes. “My Queen?” the accent was odd, I had heard a form of it from my mother once.

“Ah, good, Elijah,” Persephone smiled, “Do me a favor and go fetch the Fairy Queen for me? Tell her that my daughter has finally arrived.”

The angel Elijah turned to me and smiled, “Yuki raised you, didn’t she?”

“Yes. Are you from Dei?” I questioned.

Elijah nodded, “That I am. Your mom, Yuki, we went way back.” He turned to Persephone before he bowed and sunk back into the floor.

“Not every Dei angel sided with your father, you know,” Persephone explained, “Elijah even served me well in life.”

“How… Nice,” I frowned, thinking of what I would be in for and if I was trapped here.

I took in my surroundings, looking at the glowing trees around me. Frolicking among the grass and flowers were a number of small creatures. Some had tiny horns, others were fluttering on gossamer wings.

One such creature rushed over to me, “Oh! The princess is here!”

I frowned as more rushed to surround me, “Princess?! Excuse me?!”

They began to giggle and chant happily at my presence.

“Ipswella?” Persephone whispered.

The first little creature, Ipswella, giggled and bowed before Persephone, “Yes, Goddess?”

“Do not overcrowd the Princess. She’s only just arrived,” Persephone advised.

“Do not call me a ‘Princess’,” I growled at the little creature, though half of that was directed at Persephone.

The little creatures giggled like scolded children before rushing back into the trees and grasses of the courtyard.

They appeared to be playing games or otherwise enjoying themselves.

“What are they?” I asked.

“Fairies. Formerly imps,” Persephone explained, “Those who followed me became Fae. Those who followed your father became demons, though their attitudes didn’t change much,” she turned to me, “I believe after Hell opened up, Malik found you, yes?”

I nodded.

“Loyal creature, that one,” Persephone smiled, “He served me well.”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure Malik served you very well, Pat!” I heard another voice call out.

I turned to see Teryn or what I thought was Teryn.

A beautiful woman with Teryn’s face and large pink wings floated before me.

“Teryn?!” I gasped, eyes wide.

Teryn giggled, “Oh, I am not used to hearing my old name! What’s up Sellie?”

“That is not-” I was stopped by Persephone.

“I’ve spent the better part of my eternity trying to get her to stop calling me ‘Pat’ and I am the Queen of the Underworld,” Persephone advised, “Give up now. It will be easier.”

I sighed.

“Pat knows the deal,” Teryn chuckled.

I smiled, “Well… it will be nice now that you’re here,” I sighed, “This has been overwhelming.”

Teryn winced, “Yeah… It’s not getting better Sellie.”

I frowned.

“So uh… You remember my husband, right?” Teryn stepped aside.

My heart froze and my eyes widened.

In all my years, I had all but forgotten what his face looked like. His tired blue eyes set against his red scaled skin, his robes holding onto his sunken shoulders so listlessly. The dark horns jutting from his head.

It was my brother. My actual brother.

Kriggary!

“I knew it!” I shouted, rushing to him and hugging him tight, “I knew it… Y-You couldn’t be him! That monster… You were… You were here?!” I asked, pulled back, “How long? Why?”

Kriggary’s eyes were cast to the ground, “...I am that monster. Do not think otherwise, Sellie.”

My smile faded, “Kriggary…”

Kriggary lifted a clawed hand up, glancing to Teryn and Persephone, “May we have a moment?”

Teryn smiled, moving to Persephone, “Come on Pat…”

Persephone and Teryn left us alone.

“I don’t understand… You’re not Xyphiel. I can see that. Your eyes, you don’t have-” I was cut off.

“I am Xyphiel,” Kriggary said, a stern look on his face, his teeth gritted, “What you see before you is my guilt. My sorrow. My remorse. Even then… I’m an echo of what I once was.”

I frowned, “Kriggary…”

“Do not think me some… saved portion,” Kriggary hissed as he shook his head. “I am aware of what I have done. I am guilty of all of it,” Kriggary growled.

“No!” I shouted, “Kriggary don’t say that, you couldn’t have done those things!”

“I did!” Kriggary’s voice echoed through the courtyard. “Every soul killed, every horror and atrocity I performed, it was me!” Kriggary whispered, “I need not your pity. I seek not salvation, for I deserve none!” Kriggary’s voice cracked, “I had my chance. Once. And rather than take it, I earned the mantle of the Unforgiven.”

I swallowed hard as Kriggary spoke.

“I am here, now, only to satisfy Teryn’s wish to speak to me before I remit myself to my final task,” Kriggary whispered.

“What task?” I asked.

“What I was supposed to do, all those years ago,” Kriggary spoke softly, glancing to his hand where the Seal of the Scribe Lord pulsed weakly. “A task I’ll take on forever. In silence and solitude. Deservedly so.”

My brow furrowed, “Kriggary, we can still-”

“My chance at salvation slipped away,” Kriggary whispered softly, “Between my fingers and because of my pride,” He looked me in the eyes, “You may yet have a chance. Do not let it slide, Sellenia. If I have done no good at all since I was pulled away from my power, let it be this: Heed my words, please!” Kriggary’s voice shook as tears leaked from his eyes.

“Kriggary… I don’t understand. What was done? Maybe I can convince my mother or-” I was cut off.

“No,” Kriggary snapped, “Sellenia… I weep for fear of my punishment, but not aversion to it!” Kriggary took a deep breath, “Part of me will suffer, part of me will vanish,” his jaw trembled, “It is all I deserve. Nothing more. But you? There’s still a chance, slim as it is, for you to make the right choice.”

“I… I think I’m at the end of the line, Kriggary,” I frowned.

“You yet may be,” Kriggary whispered, “But, all I can say is this: Have Faith.”

I looked Kriggary up and down, pursing my lips as I did so, “...I’ll try.”

I heard Persephone shouting in the courtyard, “You will allow me the time I was granted!”

I turned to the shouting, glancing back to Kriggary, “Come on, lets see what-”

I paused, shocked.

Kriggary stood still, skin pale and solid.

Under him was the seal of the Scribe Lord, pulsing a soft white glow. But the rest of him appeared to be nothing but a stone statue.

“K-Kriggary?” I whispered.

There was no response.

“Queen of the Underworld,” a chorus of voices sung, “This is the will of none other than He, Our Father,” the voices rang out through the courtyard.

I rushed towards the sound to see Persephone, at her full stature, facing off against Gabriel in their full Seraphim form.

Gabriel’s heads were snarling, glaring down at Persephone as they floated over the courtyard.

Persephone rose her hand up, vines crawling along the courtyard, the canopy growing denser, darkening the air, “My daughter has been here for the blink of an eye. You will grant me the time I requested.”

I rushed over, “Stop!” I shouted, standing before Persephone.

Persephone paused, the fire leaving her eyes for a moment, “Ragna? Leave us, now!”

“No, she is who I need,” Gabriel informed.

I sighed, turning to Gabriel, “What is going on?”

Gabriel landed as the canopy above us cleared. “You are requested, Daughter of Pride and Spring. Daughter of Light and Death,” Gabriel stated, “In the High Heavens.”

I frowned, “Why am I to go to the High Heavens?” I asked.

“It was a Decree of Our Father,” Gabriel explained, “I asked not for the reasoning behind His plan.”

Teryn chimed in, “The ineffable one?”

Gabriel narrowed their eyes on Teryn.

Teryn giggled.

Gabriel’s three heads turned to me, “Daughter of Pride, you will come with me,” Gabriel opened their hand to me.

I frowned as they did so.

“She will be returned here, when you are done with her,” Persephone countered.

“I can make no such promise,” Gabriel answered.

“Gabriel… You and Duma’s reapers traverse my plains happily and Uriel holds his courts here. I am not making a request of you,” Persephone spoke, her wings glowing white as the vines began to grow denser around us.

“Our Father holds all of the Heavens and Earth in His domain,” Gabriel countered, “What Our Father says is law.”

“The Heavens and the Earth,” Persephone hissed, “But if you are to imprison my daughter, or if you harm her in any way, all of Sheol will rise up to claim her.”

Gabriel landed, approaching Persephone, towering over her as they narrowed their eyes, “The last ruler of The Underworld spoke similar words. Do you wish to share his fate as well?”

“My husband Lucifer fought a war to take over Heaven,” Persephone growled, her eyes glowing violet, her pure white hair shimmering along with her white feathers, “I will fight to bring my daughter home. I am asking you not to force my hand, Golden Herald.”

Gabriel growled low, “Do not think you can win any war with Heaven, Persephone, no matter how powerful your forces are.”

“I have held far more powerful angels than you within my hallowed halls at the behest of Your Father!” Persephone’s voice boomed as the vines grew darker, glowing with an ominous presence, “Do not think such an act was done only once! I shall decorate my halls with the souls of Angels as trophies should you try to steal my daughter away from me now!”

“Mother!” I shouted loudly, feeling an echo of my old strength pulse through me before I nearly collapsed to the floor.

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40

Zepherina

I will admit, I think I lost control for a bit when I first saw Xyphiel. I was using the first part of this battle to work through some issues.

My mothers were both dead because of this monster, but whenever I thought of Xyphiel and my sister, all I felt was an immeasurable rage burning within me.

Despite the anger, for the life of me, I couldn’t think of what he might have done to Lucilia. I’m sure he likely threatened her at some point.

There was this strange sensation that I was missing something. Like a part of myself wasn’t with me.

That being said, it felt particularly good to go berserk on Xyphiel. Smashing my fists into Xyphiel’s smug face was more satisfying than I could have imagined.

Every punch I landed felt like a hand crafted gift I was giving to my mothers, a message from everyone in Penthasil, and especially to those we had lost in battle thus far.

Still, while I was causing him temporary pain, lasting damage wasn’t kicking in like I’d hoped.

Sure, we lopped an arm off but he just regenerated it from his Mana.

Xyphiel either doesn’t care about the Mana poisoning he’ll suffer later or he has no desire to ever return to his full physical form.

Considering his desire is to end all of creation, he’s probably not giving a crap about returning to normal after this. Unless he found a way to mitigate it? If he did, I doubt he’d feel like sharing such a breakthrough.

Maybe I could try to take in more mana, but I had barely survived from the battle with Bella. I didn’t want to chance pushing myself too hard and failing to take Xyphiel down. Timothy had different plans, however.

Half-way through the battle Timothy threw caution to the wind and was willing to tear his body apart if it meant defeating Xyphiel.

Not that I disagree with his choice, it’s just that I was afraid to go there. Not again. Not if I could help it.

The two developments I was most surprised about right now, however, were the sudden appearance of Xei and Tasha as a single person.

So, unconjoined, kinda?

And Xyphiel grabbing the essence of Lust.

I don’t know if he had that in his back pocket or if we lost track of it in the chaos.

I didn’t even know if it was going to give him a substantial power-up.

I know I didn’t have to worry about it, but Teisha, or Xasha, or whatever: She had Succubus blood in her. Was that going to be a problem? Sure, Tasha had resisted Belial before. She told me about her visions and temptation.

“The Soul Who Sins, Shall Die!” Xeisha’s prayers echoed across the battlefield.

I felt her words in my wings and I took to the air, my energized fists ready to pummel Xyphiel down.

Timothy was at my side, he seemed to be rushing in with more caution, likely adapting to his new capabilities.

Still, I felt like being over confident would play against us. We had to be cautious, we had to approach our attacks meticulously.

I moved to smash Xyphiel with a right hook.

Xyphiel raised his forearm up and I struck his raised gauntlet.

To my complete shock he barely budged in the air, a shockwave echoing through the air as I smashed my fist against him.

I followed up with my left fist, only for Xyphiel to catch it in his hand, his eyes narrowing on mine.

“I am done playing with the children,” Xyphiel hissed as he spun me in the air and sent me towards the ground.

I managed to spread my obsidian wings and stop myself mid-air. Something I could not have done with my Niten wings. During our more recent training, it was Forcas’s suggestion. He realized how in such close quarters fights, my obsidian wings could serve me better.

I didn’t even know I could choose, but Forcas had shown me how to master my ascended form.

Halting myself in mid-air may not have been the best choice, however. I spotted Xyphiel speeding towards me, both feet ready to slam into me.

I gave a powerful flap, his legs slipping just beneath me. I took my position of advantage and grabbed his ankles, somersaulting over him and using his own momentum to hurl him downward.

The look on his face was priceless as he tumbled towards the ground.

Before he could spread his own wings, Timothy thrust his hand out, a pink symbol of runes appearing on the ground under Xyphiel.

A column of runes erupted from the circle and Xyphiel was pulled down to the ground.

Once he landed, Xeisha jumped into the circle, spinning her polearm through the air, slashing and bashing at Xyphiel.

Xyphiel, to his credit, blocked the blows precisely.

“So, daughter, this is who you should have been all along? Who would have known mixing imperfection within yourself could improve your physical being,” Xyphiel grinned, “Do you think that will save you from my wrath? I will see you begging me for mercy and you will die cowering in fear!”

Xeisha’s assault never halted as she slashed and smashed with the polearm. Xyphiel attempted to block with a glowing violet shield and Xeisha sliced it in half to Xyphiel’s amazement.

Xyphiel jumped back, as Xeisha readied her next attack.

“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear,” Xeisha said with a smile as she readied her polearm, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Xyphiel paused and turned around just as Timothy swung at him from behind with my mom’s sanctified blade.

Xyphiel blocked it with the Puriel blade as Xeisha rushed towards Xyphiel’s exposed back.

I dove towards him, swapping from my empowered gauntlets to a broadsword. I was aiming for his wings.

I was going to take them. I promised myself I would be the end of Xyphiel one way or another.

Xyphiel’s wings spread wide and he let out a terrible roar.

A pale blue mist burst out from him and I felt my blade deflect against something.

I tumbled to the ground, the smoke nearly blinding me.

I had felt this power before, I knew it well.

“Belphegor,” I thought to myself as I peered through the haze, barely dodging a strike from Xyphiel’s wicked blade.

I rolled back, the world spinning as I tried to get my bearings.

“He’s using the power of Sloth!” I cried out, or rather I tried to. The mist choked me as I spoke, but I screamed regardless to warn the others.

I saw an arrow flick out of the mist and glance off my shoulder armor. I staggered back from the blow, looking out for another one before I heard Xeisha’s voice echoing through the miasma.

“Love Eternal!” Xeisha’s twin voices called out, “Pray fervently that my sweat becomes like great drops of blood which fall to the ground like rain! Put away from us Acedia of body and mind, kindle within us the holy flame of your love! Give us your strength where you see weakness and drive our hands to act in earnest!”

The miasma was blasted away in a bright shimmering light glowing from Xeisha’s staff.

I saw Timothy and Xyphiel clashing, the Puriel blade and my mother’s sanctified blade clashing against each other, the metal of each growing hot from the forces behind them.

Xyphiel’s attention turned to Xeisha now and he kicked Timothy back, making a mad dash for her.

Xeisha’s prayer was able to clear away Xyphiel’s magic and while she wasn’t defenseless, I had to make sure not to leave her on her own.

I ran towards Xyphiel, dispelling my weapons entirely, gritting my teeth and pushing everything I could into my charge.

I aimed right for where his path was going to meet with Xeisha, ducked my head down and let loose a battle cry as my shoulder smashed into the side of his chest. I grabbed him, tackling him to the ground.

I could hear snapping of bone as I contacted Xyphiel, knocked to the ground as I was certain I had snapped his ankle as well as a few ribs.

Xyphiel roared in pain as we smashed to the earth below.

That’s when his massive maw opened wide and he chomped down on my neck.

I gasped, releasing my arms from his chest and grabbing his jaws with my gauntlet clad hands.

Even though my holy armor was burning Xyphiel’s flesh, his jaws kept pressing their teeth into my throat.

I gasped as I watched violet mana spurt from my neck. My arms were shaking as I tried to pry his powerful jaws off of my throat.

Xyphiel’s eyes looked up and he let go on his own, rolling away just as Timothy swung his sanctified blade at Xyphiel.

I gasped as Xyphiel fell back, panting hard as I grasped at my wounded throat.

Xeisha rushed over to me, placing her hand onto my wound, “God give your warrior’s wounds Your love and care, bring back her flesh as if it were new once more!”

I could feel Xeisha’s holy magic wrapping around my neck and swallowed, tasting a coppery flavor of sorts as I turned to her, “Thanks, Lady Tasha.”

Xeisha nodded, “Anytime,” she said as she took a defensive stance.

“We need a plan, we’re wasting a lot of energy and not making much headway,” Timothy advised.

Xyphiel lifted his hand up, a mighty green flame swirling around his wrist. He slammed it down, and another burst of foul wind rushed towards us.

To my shock the swirling flame erupted into a massive tornado towering in the air and speeding towards us.

I had to fold my wings tightly as the air was too thin and chaotic to fly through, the heat pulsing off of the massive cyclone as it tore towards us.

Timothy and Xeisha had to retreat just to save themselves and I had to do the same.

Once again, Xyphiel was separating us.

I knew that was always his plan. He cannot take us on together, but one-on-one he had a chance.

These tactics to split us up were sadly effective, but I had to do my best to find the others and attack as one.

Together, we could kill him.

But only together.

“Timothy!” I reached out into Timothy’s mind, only for my mind to be sent reeling.

I heard a cacophony of screams and cries, echoing into my mind. Each one was clear and distinct despite them calling out in unison.

I could make out their individual voices.

“Why me?!”

“It burns!”

“I did everything right!”

“Please, no! Not this!”

“Save me!”

“Not like this!”

“I feel it, so much pain!”

“Why didn’t you save us?!”

The last scream sounded familiar.

“Yes, why didn’t you save them…?” Xyphiel’s voice echoed through the whirlwind.

Xyphiel’s sword swung down at me and I blocked it just in time, manifesting my own large sword to do so.

Xyphiel’s voice echoed from behind the burning whirlwind, my eyes unable to focus fully as his voice reverberated in my ears.

“Poor Zepherina! What immeasurable and immense power! A skilled warrior and by far the most challenging opponent I have ever faced…” He paused to laugh, “Even more so than your dear mother…”

I roared in a rage and thrust Xyphiel back, slamming my fist into his jaw.

I flinched as I felt the top of his teeth scrape against my armor.

My armor didn’t burn him anymore and that worried me.

Soon the fiery tornado was all around me as I tried to get my bearings, Xyphiel’s voice echoing around me.

“Did I touch a nerve?!” Xyphiel’s voice taunted

“Show yourself, Coward!” I demanded.

“Why bother?! You’re already too late! Your half-brother is as good as dead and I’ll see to my dear sweet daughter shortly!” Xyphiel’s voice cackled, “Once again: You’re Too Late to Save Anyone!”

I gritted my teeth, spotting a figure in the fiery winds. I jumped into the air, keeping my stiff obsidian wings tight to my body, soaring skyward on my leg strength alone. “Not if I stop you!” I screamed as I swung at the figure in the fire.

My blade was blocked and I was sent spinning through the fiery winds.

I flinched as I felt my flesh singe and burn slightly. My armor was protecting me, but my face and hair was far more exposed.

I quickly manifested a helmet onto my head and over my face.

I did so in the nick of time, a blade glanced off the top of my helm and I heard Xyphiel’s voice hiss in anger.

“So close to being rid of you, I can taste it!” Xyphiel’s voice radiated around me as I spotted a Niten tail flicking past me in the burning wind.

I grabbed hold of it, holding on tight as it dragged through the fires.

“You will not escape me!” I screamed, “For my mothers and my brother, I’ll kill you!”

“No love for your dear sister, science experiment?!” Xyphiel’s voice chortled.

“You leave Lucilia out of this!” I screamed, slicing at his legs as I tried to stabilize myself in the tumultuous winds. “If you somehow survive this day, I promise you she’ll grow to destroy you and everything you hold dear!”

Xyphiel laughed, “Oh, is my sweet Eve not your sister anymore? Have you disowned her so thoroughly?!” His voice echoed viciously through the chaotic air.

“Who?!” I screamed as I slashed again at his back paw.

The tail flipped and I found a large Niten paw smashing against my helmet, knocking me into the chaotic tornado without any anchoring!

I spun and tried to regain some semblance of up and down, but I couldn’t even tell what direction I was falling or moving in as I tumbled.

“Playing coy? Evangeline, you fool! Or has her betrayal struck your heart too deeply for you to consider her?!” Xyphiel’s tone almost seemed offended, “It would be clever of you. Far too clever! But I couldn’t blame your anger against my daughter if you did take such a drastic step! I can blame your thoughtlessness! How dare you disavow my flesh and blood!”

I saw the ground and spread one wing to catch myself just in time to right my feet.

Though hard, I landed and rolled across the rough rocky ground. I spat out dust and debris as I closed my wing, looking to the air for Xyphiel.

“I don’t give a shit about your vicious little turn-coat of a daughter!” I hissed as I got to my feet, narrowing my eyes into the chaotic winds and fire.

I had to anticipate his next strike.

Xyphiel paused before his voice rose with more intrigue than malice, “You don’t recall her as your sister at all, do you? How…? Did you tear her from your heart yourself? If so, I underestimated even your dedication to my downfall!”

I looked into the air. If I could keep him talking, keep him distracted, then I’d have the upper hand.

I saw his figure in the wind next and his curiosity was over, “It matters not! In this time, I’ve ensured Timothy’s death: Once again, little girl… You Failed Them.”

I screamed in rage, rushing towards the figure in the fiery winds, “I will not fail anyone! You don’t get to tell me when I’ve failed them!”

I spread my wings, power rippling through my body more-so than I would have liked as my rage propelled me into the air and through the green fire and flames.

The figure readied to block, a gleaming sword which appeared to be the Puriel blade flickering in the light.

I split my blade into two shorter ones, empowering my wings as I rocketed into the air.

I moved to strike, but just before the Puriel Blade could come to block my strike, I gave a powerful flap and stepped on the broadside of the sword.

I kicked off of it, spun forward and crossed my blades, ready to put everything into my next strike.

I could see it so clearly, my shot directly at his wings.

I was about to end him.

“No blow struck in anger is a blow of victory,” Forcas’s calm voice echoed in my mind.

Time froze solid for a moment as I heard the voice, “I can kill him,” I whispered.

“No blow struck in anger is a blow of victory, student,” Forcas’s calm voice rippled through the fires surrounding me.

His voice seemed to calm the chaotic flames as it reached me.

Despite being upside down, I saw a vision of Forcas facing me, an almost disappointed look on his face, “All the time I spent with you and you still think the best method to defeat these cretins are the same weapons they wield against us?”

The scene was still frozen as I glanced between Forcas and my target, “Stop it, Forcas! This is no time for a lesson! I have him! He tried to goad me and now his pride is going to lead to his death!”

Forcas’s eyebrow lifted, “His pride? What of yours?”

“I don’t have pride!” I snapped.

“Pride is your legacy,” Forcas growled in a tone I hadn’t heard from him as his eyes flickered with echoes of gold behind his graying iris. “Or have you forgotten your Lineage?!”

I saw a vision of Lucifer standing tall over vanquished Angels, mighty buildings burning as weapons surrounded him. This followed by a vision of my Mom standing around hundreds of cheering Penthasilean warriors. A vision of my mother throwing the tower shield she had used to crush a dissenting voice in her court to the ground with a wry smile on her face.

Seeing her human face once more made my heart skip a beat.

The last vision that I saw was of me, my foot firmly planted on the body of a number of slain soldiers as I lifted my blade up into the air, the Penthasilean flag waving behind me to cheers and praise.

“You are the Granddaughter of Pride! Daughter of the Mad Queen of Penthasil. First Born of the Ragnarök!” Forcas chastised, “You are the true heir to Pride, my student!” He spat.

I blinked, shocked.

“But like other titles, like other thrones,” Forcas said with a smile, “This throne, this title, you can cede.”

I blinked, “I… I don’t-”

“Think, girl!” Forcas called out, “Think clearly! Who have you been fighting?!”

“Xyphiel!” I snapped.

“Truly?!” Forcas growled, “Then confirm it! Cut away his crimson Cherubim Wings here and now and vanquish the one who so easily killed your mothers - two of the greatest warriors who have ever lived!”

I moved to strike, looking at the leathery wings exposed to me, ready for the taking.

I would succeed where my parents had failed, I would win this day and destroy Xyphiel forever.

I would protect everyone!

But my heart seized right then.

I would? But Xeisha and Timothy are fighting too… Their fight is the same as mine. They’ve lost people. Xei lost Elon. Timothy lost Sofia.

I lost too, but I couldn’t fight for me. I had to fight for them. For Timothy, for Tasha and Xei. I had to win for my people.

So why was I hesitating now?! The target was right there: Right in the flesh before me.

All I had to do was to slice through the leathery skin of Xyphiel and watch as his leathery dragon wings fluttered down to the ground in a heap.

Wait! Leathery?

I jumped away, spun in the air and landed on the ground.

My blades vanished and I clenched my fists.

“No blow struck in anger is a blow of victory, ” Forcas’s tone and voice echoed through my ears.

I took a deep breath and released my anger. I felt my rage fall aside.

The tornado began to die down and as it did I looked up to see Timothy flying out of the dissipating flames.

Timothy’s face was battered and bruised, his legs bleeding with wisps of blue mana seeping into the air. The tip of his tail even looked damaged, battered and bent slightly.

He soared towards me, “Zeph! Your anger is feeding the flames!”

I let out a sigh of relief as Timothy landed before me.

Timothy was out of breath as he rushed towards me, “You figured it out?!” He gasped, “I couldn’t hear you! There were too many screams.”

I looked around, “Where’s Xeisha?!”

Behind me, I heard a cry of pain as I saw Xyphiel slash at Xeisha!

Xeisha fell back onto the ground, cuts and bruises across her body.

While Xyphiel had confused me and used me against Timothy, he had isolated and targeted Xeisha.

Xyphiel held a feathery blade at the ready. It swirled with red, green, cyan, yellow, blue, orange and violet flames! Every single sin empowering the weapon as he swung. The Puriel blade sheathed on his back.

I flapped my wings hard, pushing towards the pair of them, Timothy in tow.

I could even feel Timothy’s shockwave as he pushed past his physical limits to reach Xeisha.

But it was no use. I saw the empowered sword ready to strike with every sin Xyphiel had.

There wasn’t anything Xeisha could do to defend herself against such a powerful blow and she was already knocked to the ground.

I flinched and briefly closed my eyes as I heard the strike connect, ripping through stone.

As I opened my eyes, however, a different sight caught my attention.

A stone arm fell to the ground and standing before Xyphiel was a statue of a woman.

The statue, to my shock, spoke.

“Father…?” The woman whispered as I saw a burning slash form across her body.

Her arm was held up, attempting to block Xyphiel’s attack, only managing to have her arm be the first portion of her body lopped off.

Her midsection began to slide to the left and for the first time I saw Xyphiel hesitate.

“Sume…? How? Why?!” Xyphiel’s rage returned almost instantly.

But at that moment I saw something else.

“We, as Cherubim, exist as our bodies, minds and hearts are in synchrony with one another. All existing together. In this, you can read the emotions of one’s heart as if they merely were giving you a facial expression. Master this skill, to defeat your foes,” Forcas’s words resonated in my ears.

Xyphiel’s emotions might have been on full display to me, but up until now it was all just wrath, hate and vengeance.

But things have changed.

The wrath and hatred were still there.

Xyphiel was infuriated beyond all reason that yet another child of his had stood against him. He was enraged she had gotten herself killed as a direct result. I could even sense that he felt little regret for causing her harm.

But there was something else. A tiny echo inside of him, focused within his arm where he had slashed Sume.

The gauntlet clad arm within which he had the Seal of Solomon and his empowered sword.

There I saw regret, remorse and a strange and tiny hint of longing. I saw guilt.

The very last shred of guilt in Xyphiel.

It wasn’t enough for me to get past his other defenses and slash at his wings.

But his arm?

I knew what I had to do. It seemed to flow through me at that moment, as if ancient wisdom were being spilled into my mind from somewhere.

My mind filled with words and the air around me smelled of ozone.

“O Anpu, guide my mistress’s hand in your path, give life on her right hand, I pray thee and life behind. Life to her sight, life to her heart and life to her body; I pray thee.” I knew that voice and the tone.

Syria.

My blade shifted from that of a broad sword to a Khopesh. My other blade changed into a spaded knife.

I reached Xyphiel and my hands moved as if guided by otherworldly forces.

The spaded blade sunk into Xyphiel’s shoulder, and in doing so pulled the regret, guilt, longing and what small hint of love was within him, concentrating it into his arm.

The Khopesh slipped under his arm and I pulled it up, severing his arm from his body.

Xyphiel roared in pain as the burst of crimson mana forced his right arm to fly off several meters behind Xeisha.

I jumped back, the scent of ozone gone, my Khopesh now gone. I tried to summon it back, but the spaded knife merely vanished from Xyphiel’s shoulder, a short sword left in my hand.

“That better have worked,” I thought as I stood up.

Xyphiel turned, glaring at me, “Fool girl! As if I couldn’t be angered enough!” His arm reformed, though I saw on his palm a different symbol, “You think you can sever the seal from me?! How many times must I tell you: I am the Seal!”

“You’re a seal,” I quipped, smiling, “But that seal you had on your hand wasn’t meant to be used like that! Ragna told me that much.”

Xyphiel scoffed, cracking his neck, “As if your mother knew of what she spoke.”

“She told me how you used that seal to lock Lucifer away and I know you use it now to hold all the sins of Hell within!” I snapped, “That was not its original purpose! Not your original purpose!”

Xyphiel laughed, shaking his head, “And what do you know of my original purpose, Girl?”

I saw Xeisha was no longer behind him, but Sume’s body was on the ground, cut in half but still alive, somehow.

“Maybe ask the daughter you killed,” I hissed as Timothy ran to my side, his ice blue eyes fixed on Xyphiel in hatred.

“How many of your children must stand before you before you’ll realize your goals are folly, father?!” Timothy shouted.

Xyphiel glanced at Sume, letting an angered breath out from his nose as he turned his attention back to us, “Sume made her choice. She’s lived a cursed life long enough. It is of no matter to me that she sought to end her life by my hand.”

“Heartless bastard!” Timothy growled.

It was at this point I noticed Xyphiel’s physical body shifting slightly. I grinned at him, because it meant I managed to do exactly what I wanted.

Xyphiel glanced at his hand as he changed from his Niten form back to a Cherubim form, “...What have you done, girl?” His crimson eyes flashed with fire as he glanced at the seal on his right hand.

Rather than the intricate symbols that were once there, now a simpler symbol existed. There was a symbol for Sulfur, of sorts, but the bottom portion was that of a Mobius crest. Around the seal were the letters spelling out ‘Xyphiel’ like the other Angelic sigils I had seen on the Archangels. Smaller runes glowed around the seal as it seemed to glow with an eerie black light.

“What have you done?!” Xyphiel roared as he charged at me.

I blocked his enraged attack, Timothy attempting to flank Xyphiel from the side, only for Xyphiel to roll away from Timothy to prevent his wings from getting cut.

The three of us now faced one another, but a strange blue light began to glow on the ground around us.

The original seal was appearing on the ground! The Greater Seal of Solomon!

Xyphiel jumped back from it, as did Timothy and I.

The seal erupted into existence, pulsing with icy blue energy and holy essence.

The seal was pulling things towards it as well. I looked up to Xyphiel, a sly grin on my face, “What I did was unleash the true power of the Seal of Solomon.”

Xyphiel growled, gritting his teeth, “It is not the seal of Solomon! It is the seal of the Scribe Lord! A title given to me**! To be the patsy for the Guardians to inflict all ills and mistakes upon! A title which is only given to the poor, unfortunate wretch who is forced to make-right what others have wronged!”**

“Well spoken, Xyphiel,” a calm voice called out from behind us.

Xyphiel turned to see Xeisha, holding her polearm up alongside a large red scaled Niten Dragon.

His eyes were closed, his clawed hands grasping Xeisha’s staff tightly. Despite the fact that he was a Niten dragon, he looked thin, almost sickly. If not for Xeisha standing next to him, I don’t think he could stand on his own.

He opened his eyes, a brilliant icy blue light flickering from them, “That… Is the task of the Scribe Lord.” He lifted his tired head, his tearful eyes focused on Xyphiel. “That is my task.”

Xyphiel stared, mouth agape, “Impossible.”

“By the judgment of the Guardians, by the light of Their eternal wisdom,” The Niten Dragon’s voice called out, “I take it upon myself to rekindle the title of Scribe Lord of Nite. I beset myself back to the task I had been led astray from…” his voice hitched, “That I… Allowed myself to stray from…” His eyes narrowed on Xyphiel, “...You must be condemned to hellfire, Xyphiel,” he hissed, “So sayeth, the Scribe Lord, Kriggary Misho.”

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 l Chapter 39

Timothy

It was a bizarre thing. Sync was in my head, sure, as always.

But she felt different. Stronger, but not in a frightening way.

“I can feel your concern,” Sync’s voice echoed.

“Sorry Sync. I know I pushed you,” I apologized.

“First, your mother pushed ‘me’. Second, I'm Sync and not Sync. I’m Teryn, your father’s first wife. Hi,” She spoke so calmly, like Sync, but with a hint of amusement in her voice that I wasn’t used to.

“Uh, hi?” I responded, unsure.

Sync, or Teryn I suppose, just sighed, “It’s a good thing I’m used to working outside of time. But is Zepherina here yet? The mortal realm moves slower than I would like.”

“No? Should she be?” I asked.

“Soon enough. Oh, you’re stuck in a quantum state. This might hurt,” Teryn warned.

I felt as if I came to a sudden stop on a rollercoaster and winced as runes appeared around me. I realized I was in a fighting stance.

“I'm over humoring my ex**-wife,”** Xyphiel growled, “Let's send her back to where she belongs and you, Timothy, can join her.”

Xyphiel’s body crackled with green flame, mixed with blue and red.

I saw the normal digital numbers that Sync would place in my vision track over Xyphiel, identifying the energy signatures. Though now, instead of just raw numbers, I saw read-outs in plain english.

Green was Wrath. Red was the power of Greed. Blue was Envy. The overwhelming force there, however, was Wrath.

“That’s bad,” I commented to Teryn.

“I’ve got your back, kid. Go do your thing and let me worry about grumpy pants,” Teryn chided.

“Grumpy pants?!” I thought, shocked to hear the bizarre term.

“On your left, kiddo!” Teryn informed.

I dodged a swing of the Puriel blade aimed at my head, jumping back as Xyphiel was launching himself at me.

I took to the air, looking down to see him fast on my tail.

I paused, flipping through the air and cracking Xyphiel with my tail.

I tried to, anyway. Xyphiel caught it, tugging hard and sending me flying down to the ground.

My eyes went wide as I saw the Puriel blade aimed for my chest.

In a flash of bright blue, however, the blade was deflected.

Xyphiel roared in anger, flying backwards a few meters.

Glowing in the air was Ragna's Sanctified Blade of the Guardians, pulsing in front of me.

“Better take it! He just saved your skin!” Teryn informed.

I took hold of the blade and heard the voice of St. Michael echoing softly, “To arms!”

With the sword in hand, I dove towards Xyphiel, aiming for his heart.

“You’re headstrong,” Teryn chuckled, “Like your mom and me. Guess he's always had a thing for red-heads.”

I was nearly struck down by an attack from Xyphiel’s wing as it glowed a bright green, only to see brilliant pink runes block his attack.

Despite this, Xyphiel blocked my downward thrust, pushing me to the side as I sped towards the ground.

I landed, still running and turned to see Xyphiel swooping down, drawing a glowing bow and aiming right at me.

“Hold your ground,” Teryn informed me.

Xyphiel fired several arrows, all of them glowing with bright green flame.

Many of them halted in the air, bursting into plumbs of black smoke and green fire.

Ripping through the smoke screen I saw Xyphiel emerge, his eyes burning with crimson fire surrounded by green flame.

I tried to strike him with the blade, faltering slightly as the collision caused me to slide backwards, the ground giving way.

Xyphiel landed before me, growling as the fire burned bright in his eyes. He pushed up against me at first, before his growl grew more animalistic.

“He wouldn’t,” I heard Teryn gasp as Xyphiel’s skin darkened, turning redder.

Xyphiel shifted to his Niten form, pushing me back as he roared, his maw snapping at my neck.

I reeled back, noticing that his wings remained feathered.

Xyphiel dove at me despite me trying to put some distance between us. I was no match for his longer stride and speed. Green flame surrounded the blade, but something else pulsed around it.

I could sense some kind of aura of decay emanating from the blade.

“Dodge! My runes aren’t working!” Teryn’s voice cried out in my mind.

I felt my blade move to block Xyphiel’s strike before something dropped from the sky, landing square on Xyphiel’s back and pummeling him to the ground.

Flying up from the ground to stand by my side was Zepherina.

Zepherina’s eyes were solid violet orbs in her sockets, a glowing white energy holding them in place somehow. White horns stuck out from her head as her blackened glass-like wings folded behind her.

A cloak was wrapped around her shoulders and I could see glints of shimmering silver armor.

The expression on Zepherina’s face was decisive, “...We finish this.”

“How’s mom?” I asked, taking a stance as I was certain Zepherina had just saved me from certain death.

“She’s with Elon,” Zepherina whispered under her breath.

My heart sank.

“She’s fine, trust me. You don’t have to worry about her,” Teryn explained.

Confused, I asked Teryn, “What do you mean?!”

“She’s fine. Trust me, okay?” Teryn confirmed once more, “You have more important things to worry about; like not joining her.”

Xyphiel growled as blue flames danced around him, his sword wreathed in green and crimson fire, “To think I might not have been as angry as I could have been…” Xyphiel growled at Zepherina, “You’ll pay for that.”

“Xyphiel,” Zepherina snapped her fingers, two long blades appearing before her, one for each hand, “I’m going to end your fucking life**!”**

Xyphiel seemed taken aback by Zepherina’s words as she charged at him.

“She’s angry, you gotta cover her! Zepherina seems like she’s put together but she’s in a blind rage right now!” Teryn warned.

Xyphiel parried her first strike only for Zepherina to swing with a vicious swing from her left.

Xyphiel’s wing rose up, sparks flying as his reinforced feather’s clashed with Zepherina’s blade.

Zepherina’s arm shook for a moment before the blade vanished, her fist rocketing towards Xyphiel’s jaw.

Xyphiel reared his neck back for a moment, just in time to bite down hard on Zepherina’s wrist.

Zepherina’s armor didn’t flinch as Xyphiel bit down, but glowed white.

All of her armor grew a brilliant white! Zepherina's cloak burned away in brilliant beams of light as her armor began to pulse with holy energy.

Xyphiel roared in pain, flying back as the light burned him.

I rushed to Zepherina’s side, noticing that she was wearing Ragna’s armor.

Xyphiel landed meters away, his mouth burned from Zepherina’s counter attack, “That Armor failed Ragna! Do not think it will give you protection from me!”

Zepherina’s wings spread wide, making a sound similar to that of glass panels shifting over one another, “It wasn’t made for her,” she took her single blade in both of her hands, the singular blade doubling in length, “It was made for me!”

Xyphiel’s vicious lips curled up as dark violet flames joined the crimson, green, and blueish ones. “Then, she is dead,” Xyphiel’s eyes flickered with blue fire, “You failed her.”

“The only way I will fail her is if you win today!” Zepherina hissed.

“Then allow me to provide you with your final defeat!” Xyphiel roared as he lifted into the air, a number of different weapons appearing around him, all wreathed in violet flames. “I am done fearing my own power; If all burns this day at my hands, then so be it!”

I rushed to Zepherina’s side, Teryn pushing out a massive wall of glowing runes which pulsed as violet fire washed towards us.

Zepherina leapt past the barrier, rushing to strike Xyphiel.

Xyphiel landed on the ground, his leg rising up in the blink of an eye as he knocked Zepherina in her stomach.

Zepherina was sent flying and Xyphiel charged me next.

I rushed toward him, blocking his strike with the Sanctified Blade, parrying and slashing at his leg.

Xyphiel’s leg dodged my strike in an instant and I barely managed to duck his follow-up attack.

He was so much faster than I remembered, even with Teryn’s augmentation - I could barely track him!

A large mace swung towards me, wreathed in violet flames as it swung down towards my head.

I dodged it, the tip of one of its spikes striking the side of my left horn as I managed to disengage.

“We cannot keep this up,” Teryn explained, “I’m pushing the limits of the physical world just by increasing my operating functions. Even so, I cannot alter your perception of time any more than I already have: Your nervous system can’t react fast enough without long term damage!”

I narrowed my eyes, exhaling, “Forget long term damage!”

“But, Timothy if you-” I stopped Teryn before she could finish.

“If we fail, I’m dead anyway. So, what does it matter if I injure myself now, as long as there's a chance Xyphiel is stopped?” I asserted.

I felt tingling in my fingertips, tail and wings.

“This is why people follow you,” Teryn sighed softly, “This is going to hurt… a lot*.”*

Pain wracked my body in what I could only describe as if I was dumped into ice cold water, completely.

Every single nerve ending screamed in pain, every muscle tightened and convulsed and I felt everything my skin could possibly feel. Burning, freezing and I think the sensation of joints and bones snapping.

The pain lasted for hours, or so it felt like, but when it stopped Xyphiel was standing still, the Puriel blade mere centimeters from my throat.

I moved, my joints reacting instantly as I flanked Xyphiel.

I wasn’t breathing, not as I moved, my feet striking the ground with such speed I could feel the moisture in the air cavitate beneath my toes.

Xyphiel’s eyes tracked me still, his head turning slowly as I brought my blade to slash at his wing.

To my dismay, the blade struck some sort of armor or magic, bouncing off with intense force.

I leapt back with Teryn’s voice screaming in my mind, “You cannot do that too long! Short bursts Timothy!”

I blinked, time resuming normally. My heart hammered in my chest as my feet burned. Even my skin seemed burned in place from the friction of the air.

Xyphiel laughed, “I’ll let you tear yourself apart then, boy!” Xyphiel seemingly vanished, but I watched a trail of dust heading right at me.

Time slowed once more, I moved as fast as I could as I saw Xyphiel rocketing towards me.

Even with everything moving as slow as it was, I watched as his strikes came swiftly.

I blocked a slash at my shoulder, moving to the left, grabbing at a knife I kept on my side, attempting to draw it and stab him.

As I stabbed at Xyphiel, I saw the air ignite around the blade, a shockwave echoing off of the tip of the blade as I tried to strike Xyphiel with it.

“Timothy, too much!” Teryn roared in my ears as I felt my fingers and wrist shatter as the blade shot out of my hand, slicing at Xyphiel’s side before it flew off into the distance.

I stumbled back, time returning to normal as I realized I had moved the knife so fast I caused a sonic boom.

I grunted as my hand painfully repaired itself.

Xyphiel was about to say something before Zepherina landed next to him.

Her swords were gone, instead each of her fists were glowing with white energy not unlike that of her glowing blade.

A gut punch knocked Xyphiel up off the ground before Zepherina followed it up with another strike to his neck, a vicious strike to his temple. She continued to pummel him, knocking him back as each punch caused a shockwave to ripple across the ground.

As Xyphiel lifted off the ground Zepherina laced her fingers together and slammed both of her hands together down onto Xyphiel’s chest, slamming his body into the ground.

I dashed to her side, trying to slice at Xyphiel with the Sanctified blade, only for the blade to slice through the ground and nothing else.

“Fuck!” I shouted.

Zepherina picked up her glowing fists, each wrapped in a glowing gauntlet of some kind. She put her back to mine, “He’s blocking your attacks with some kind of shield around him. We need to pummel him into the dirt until he has no more defenses, then we can slice him up.”

“If he can stand still long enough,” I growled.

“If this were going to be easy, we’d have defeated him long before today,” Zepherina said as she looked around.

The ground began to shake and massive lines of dark magic surrounded us. “Shit!” I shouted as I began to run as fast as I could out of the growing circle.

In the air Xyphiel floated, dark energy pulsing around him as he lifted his fingers up.

Green flames ripped up from the ground, sending columns of earth, stone and molten rock high into the air.

I took to the air, trying to dodge what debris I could.

Behind one massive rock, I saw Xyphiel leaping towards me.

I blocked his blade with mine, growling as we clashed in the air.

“What a beautiful day for Armageddon!” Xyphiel grinned wickedly, “Even the Ragnarök is dead!”

I roared, holding my hand out, Teryn taking my lead and runes igniting through the air.

Bright white light flooded the air, vaporizing the rock around my hand, holy light burning from my body.

Xyphiel was nowhere to be seen for a moment, before I felt his hand on my foot, tossing me down to the ground.

I roared in pain as my back struck several burning and tumbling rocks before I smashed into the ground.

My hand clutched the sanctified blade as tightly as I could.

“Mere children,” Xyphiel’s voice called above me, “Tinkering with power you can barely control…”

My vision was clouded as I could barely see through the dust and debris. My vision blurred from my violent descent.

I struggled to my feet, my chest heaving as my vision cleared.

Dashing between the falling rocks I saw Zepherina giving chase to Xyphiel, giving me much needed time to recover.

She smashed her way through the larger rocks as Xyphiel jumped between them, keeping his distance as he lobbed long range bursts of fire and dark magics at her.

Zepherina was growing frustrated as Xyphiel had adjusted his fighting style to prevent another vicious beatdown like he had received before.

I gritted my teeth in anger, as Xyphiel’s words slowly sank in.

I had unleashed my limits, only to find new ones. I tried to attack with my increased reaction time, only to do more damage to myself than to Xyphiel.

Even with Zepherina’s training under Forcas, Xyphiel had thousands of years of combat experience. The only one who had a similar experience was now…

I blinked a tear from my eye, unable to ruminate on Ragna’s passing. Zepherina’s words resonated in my head.

“The only way I can fail her is if Xyphiel wins today,” I thought to myself.

“You’re repaired,” Teryn informed, “You’re taking a licking out there kid. But you’re still ticking.”

I gave a nod, as I spread my wings and rushed to help Zepherina press her attack on Xyphiel.

Teryn’s runes showed me where Xyphiel and Zepherina were in the floating and chaotic debris field.

Through the fire and the flames, I could see Xyphiel leaping from stone to stone, Zepherina trying to anticipate his next leap, trying to give chase through the chaos.

Teryn’s runes glowed on the stones and the next one Xyphiel stepped on, she adjusted the mass of.

It quickly gained its own gravity, throwing Xyphiel off as all the debris began to rush towards it, along with Zepherina.

Once she closed the distance, the rune stopped adjusting the stone’s mass.

Zepherina landed a right hook onto Xyphiel, before he managed to barely dodge the next, counter attacking with a slash from his claws.

Zepherina’s cheek caught his claws, bursts of violet smoke seeping from her wounds, though she scarcely reacted to the strike.

Zepherina grabbed Xyphiel’s hand when he attempted to slash her again, interlacing her fingers with his as she did so.

She then proceeded to hold Xyphiel’s hand tight on her own, while her other hand delivered strike after strike to Xyphiel’s chest and gut.

I watched some sort of shield begin to crack and shatter across Xyphiel’s body and I readied my blade as I soared towards them.

I jumped from behind a floating stone, blade held high over my head, my sights set on taking Xyphiel’s wings off.

I moved as quickly as I could, feeling my skin and eyes burn from the friction of my body moving so fast.

I didn’t care. I had to strike at that moment.

Xyphiel’s shield shattered, but his eyes tracked my movement still.

I swung, as I did he pulled back, dragging Zepherina towards him.

I put as much speed into my swing as possible, but even so Xyphiel had spread his wings, my slash taking his arm.

I rocketed through the air, slamming into the ground as my body was almost entirely broken from putting everything into my last strike.

“Just, hold up…! I'm repairing you, Timothy. Hang tight!” Teryn called out as I felt runes burning around my body.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Xyphiel rush towards me, only to see Zepherina dive to block him. Zepherina blocking his blade with her glowing fists as a shockwave from their clash rolled my listless body over.

Xyphiel’s arm regrew from a blast of crimson mana bursting from his severed shoulder and he leapt back as red circles grew under me, heat emanating from them as he grinned to Zepherina.

Zepherina let out a frustrated growl as she turned around to grab me, saving me from a pillar of flame erupting from the ground.

Pain wracked my body as I watched more glowing circles appearing.

The pillars reached high into the air before they curved and slammed back into the ground hundreds of meters away.

They made mighty arches of red flames, more and more appearing.

Zepherina did her best to dodge them, but the ones before us were not made to kill us, but to direct us.

I managed to speak, “Zeph… He’s leading us-”

Before I could say anything, Zepherina leapt away from a wall of flames.

I felt the heat searing my flesh as Zepherina jumped away from the fire.

“Legs are working!” Teryn informed me.

“I can run!” I shouted to Zepherina.

Zepherina dropped me from her shoulder.

I landed on my feet, my shoulder was still shattered, but I was able to run alongside Zepherina before we were met with another wall of fire.

Xyphiel’s voice cackled through the air, “Amusing as this was… It is time to lay the children to bed,” Xyphiel taunted.

Above us were massive interlacing columns of flame, arching over us and surrounding us in a fifty-meter circle.

They began to close in on us, no gaps seen between them.

The heat inside grew rapidly and I could see the clothes on my body ignite.

Zepherina held her hands out, a white shield surrounding us, “Any ideas?!”

Teryn’s runes joined her shield, reinforcing it, but I watched as it began to falter.

Some runes began to shake and crack along with the shield.

I felt my shoulder snap back into place, looking for some kind of exit, trying to think of something.

Zepherina grunted, some of the cracks reforming on her shield, “We aren’t dying like this.”

I readied my blade, looking to see Xyphiel floating high above us. With the help of Teryn’s runes, I could see his form beyond the fire. I looked down to the ground, “Teryn, can we get out from under?!”

“It’s a sphere! The fire is above and below us,” Teryn informed.

I swallowed hard, my hands shaking as I tried to think of a way out.

There had to be a solution. The shield started to crack again as Zepherina fell to one knee.

“...If we can manage to push through the flames, maybe one of us will survive,” Zepherina informed.

I nodded, “Which?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Zepherina whispered, “Just one, okay? We just promise to make it up to each other.”

I nodded, “Zeph, if it’s me… just… I’m sorry I didn't try to get to know you more as my little sister.”

Zepherina chuckled, “I’m sorry I went crazy after I lost Theo,” Zepherina said, “Let's promise: We make sure to apologize to mom if we see her again.”

I nodded, “Yeah. Got it.”

My body was tense, my heart in my chest as the shield began to crack.

Zepherina and I both had a spot in the flames picked out. We’d both rush through it. It was a terrible plan, but the only option we had.

The other was to get crushed as the burning sphere encased us in molten glass.

I watched as Teryn tried to make frost runes which immediately fizzled and vanished around us in the growing heat.

“Count of three,” Zepherina said, pointing to one section of the shield with the most cracks.

I nodded.

“One,” Zepherina said, her voice hitching.

“Two…” I swallowed hard, steeling myself as best I could.

Before we could say anything else, a pink aura took over the shield.

The heat vanished and the cracks began to clear immediately.

“Zeph?” I frowned.

“Uh… not me…” Zepherina said.

“Teryn?” I asked as I watched the columns of fire start to shake.

“Nope, we held on long enough for her to get her shit together… Thank the Guardians,” Teryn said.

A staff passed through the flames and as it did the fire surrounding us vanished.

Holding the staff was Xei, her eyes closed.

I looked at the staff, realizing that it was Tasha’s staff, with a notable exception.

A scythe was attached to the edge of it now, making it appear more like a polearm.

One end of the staff pulsed with holy energy, while the side with the scythe resonated with the energy of death and decay.

“...Xei?” Zepherina asked, shocked.

I was taken back as Xei opened both of her eyes. The other eye was no longer scarred, but did appear a slightly different shade of red.

Her eyes looked up to Xyphiel as they narrowed on him, “Yes… and no.” Her voice sounded like it had a slight echo, almost like it was autotuned.

Demond rushed behind her in his wolfen form, “I’ve been going between Xeisha or Teisha, not too sure which. Kind of unimportant right now.”

“I’m sorry, what?!” I shouted, looking at Xei, or Xeisha - Teisha? I wasn’t sure.

Now that I could see her fully, she had Tasha’s horns and wings. Her teeth appeared elongated like Xei’s, her body was lithe like Xei, though not entirely without curves like Xei was.

As if Tasha and Xei had somehow merged into a single body.

My eyes went wide as I realized the prophecy.

I was wrong.

It all clicked in my mind.

Why Eva sold her soul to save Xei.

Tasha’s devout faith and Xei’s completely opposite atheism.

Like yin and yang, dark and light.

A single soul that was split from itself.

“...You’re the sundered child,” I whispered.

Xyphiel laughed above us, “What fairy tale did the Guardians feed you, boy? A way to defeat me?” His eyes glanced at Xeisha, their eyes meeting. “Ah. There’s my daughter.”

“We end this, now,” Xeisha said as she took her staff in her hands.

Xyphiel rushed down in an instant, his sword falling down onto Xeisha’s shoulder.

I was about to scream in shock before the blade bounced off of her aura, the blade never contacting her body or spirit, to Xyphiel’s shock.

“What?!” Xyphiel shouted in surprise.

Xeisha swung the polearm down, blade striking Xyphiel’s arm, ripping it from his shoulder.

Xyphiel roared as he thrust his still attached arm towards Xeisha, a mighty spear ripping through the air as it soared towards her heart.

Xeisha blocked it with her polearm’s bow, to my shock the spear tip was perfectly balanced at the center of the rounded wood of the weapon.

Xyphiel’s eyes widened as Xeisha took a step forward, moving despite the spear, the tip of the spear breaking like it was made of candied sugar as Xeisha moved towards Xyphiel.

“Behold, I will make you small among the nations,” Xeisha spoke as Xyphiel jumped into the air.

Xeisha’s leathery wings spread as she took to the air after him.

Zepherina and I were in tow, somehow reinvigorated as we chased Xyphiel into the air.

Xyphiel’s arm reformed from his mana, but I could see we had him on the run.

“You shall be greatly despised,” Xeisha hissed as she flew higher than Xyphiel, cutting him off with a burst of speed so intense a shockwave followed her.

Xyphiel turned his attention to Xeisha as she brought the blade of her Scythe down on him. Xyphiel just managed to parry with the Puriel blade.

“The Pride in your heart has deceived you!” Xeisha shouted, spinning through the air and landing a falling kick onto Xyphiel’s shoulder.

Zepherina pulled one of her hands back, her gauntlets changing into a blade as she tried to strike at Xyphiel as he flew past her.

Xyphiel hardly blocked the strike, his fall uncontrolled and chaotic.

Xeisha’s voice echoed through the air as Xyphiel’s dark magic, which was holding up stone and debris, began to dispel. Stones fell back to the ground. “You, who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who’s habitation is high, you who say in your heart: Who will bring me down to the ground?” Xeisha’s body began to glow with many colors, an iridescent energy.

As she spoke, I heard her voice echoing, but there was another.

A deeper voice which seemed to shake the foundations of the earth as her mouth moved, rippling through the air.

“Though you ascend as high as the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars,” Xeisha spun her polearm through the air, holy light surrounding her “From there I will bring you down!”

A blast of light crackled through the air, lightning cracked from the sky and encapsulated Xeisha, the lightning not causing her any harm as it wrapped around the holy light cascading towards Xyphiel.

As the light hit the ground, a massive blast of energy washed over the ruined battlefield below us.

I was shocked as what was left in the wake of such a powerful blast was not more destruction, but a wave of creation!

Lush grasses grew behind the shockwave, followed by trees which rose from small saplings to mighty oaks in moments. Olive and pine trees along with all manner of life sprung up from the previously destroyed earth below us.

“So sayeth the Lord!” Xeisha shouted at the center of the shockwave of creation.

Xyphiel’s body was at the center of it all. An oasis of sorts surrounding him as crimson smoke rose from his body. He knelt, attempting to recover from Xeisha’s assault.

“Do not… Think I am… vanquished,” Xyphiel gasped as he glared up at us.

Zepherina dashed down, slashing at Xyphiel, his blade rising to meet hers as the pair rocketed through the landscape. Xyphiel’s feet were not moving, but the earth beneath him was tearing apart as Zepherina forced him back.

I grinned down, “We can do this…!” I thought.

Xyphiel’s face changed to a wicked grin as he held out his hand, he abruptly came to a halt, “I must say, I did not think I’d be pressed this hard by the lot of you.” He rose to his feet, “It would be my children who would give me the greatest challenge,” His eyes moved to lock on Zepherina’s, “...And grandchild, of course.”

Zepherina moved to deliver a gut-punch to Xyphiel before he jumped back several meters.

A glint of yellow caught the corner of my eye.

A yellow gem slammed into Xyphiel’s right hand and shattered.

A foul stench filled the air and I had to brace myself as a dire energy filled the battlefield.

Plants that were once lush and vibrant began to wilt and drop their leaves. The scent of decay filling the air as I looked at Xyphiel's form.

Crimson lightning crackled around Xyphiel as he opened his eyes, a flood of different colored flames swirling within.

A whip wreathed in yellow appeared in his hand as his horns grew more menacing. The Puriel blade became wreathed in violet fire.

I staggered back as Xeisha jumped to my side, along with Zepherina.

Xeisha frowned, “We couldn’t find the Essence of Lust after Vael sacrificed herself,” she turned to me, “Sorry, Brother.”

I steeled myself, “This is it then…”

“Now, children… Quake in fear as the essence of all the sin of mortal men crashes upon you and drowns you in a sea of pain and suffering…” Xyphiel’s voice echoed across the battlefield, “Abandon all Hope and embrace the Despair.”

Xeisha’s red hair rose into the air, a sight I wasn’t used to seeing, as both of her eyes were fixed on Xyphiel, “Behold, all souls are Mine, the soul of the Father,” Xeisha’s eyes turned to me, “As well as the soul of the son, is Mine,” Xeisha took hold of her weapon as I did the same, feeling a rise in my resolve as we turned to face off against my father one last time.

I had to admit, Xeisha’s next words gave me more hope than any before it.

Xeisha’s glittering energy floated around Zepherina and I as she finished her prayer, “The soul who sins, shall die.”

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38

Rasper

There we were, hunkered down on a hilltop as we surveyed the potential battlefield out in the distance.

Where have I seen this before?

I put a cigarette in my mouth and snapped my fingers, lighting the tip. I took a deep drag of smoke into my lungs and I pushed myself up to my feet, “So, Forcas, what's dat brilliant military mind ‘ave in store for us?

I looked at the wizened old angel who was peering into a crystal ball of sorts, stroking his beard as he made the occasional hum of concentration.

“Ah, yeah. Well, taken yer time. Ain't several hundreds of legions of demons bashin’ da door in or anythin’,” I remarked as I took another drag.

“Of all the things I see that glitter of gold, I can think of none better than the golden sound,” Forcas said simply.

“An’ dat is?” I asked.

“Silence,” Forcas said, firmly, as he turned back to the crystal ball.

“Well den, I'll get outta yer hair,” I scoffed and headed away from Forcas, looking at the mix of Penthasliean soldiers, Niten Dragons and Angels who had descended from on High to join our plight.

I thought back to Penthasil and the man I had left in the village. I sighed, glancing at my phone. “I should call him. Tell him tah keep his head down.” I thought to myself.

“Penny for your thoughts, Brother?” Zithero's voice called out to me as he approached from the sidelines.

I looked over to him, a half smirk on my face, “Just tinkin’ about da comin’ slaughter.”

Zithero nodded as he set his staff before him, glancing out over the hill, “Suppose that's on everyone's mind.”

“Our slaughter, or theirs?” Alexis's voice called out coldly from behind us.

I glanced at Alexis, her eyes a bit more distant than usual as she stared out over the hill, “Either or at dis rate. Though, if we fail, don't tink’ we're comin’ back like all da other times.”

“And the Spirit of Alexandratta is no longer something we can call upon,” Zithero sighed, “Unless…”

“The child is far too young,” Alexis stressed, her eyes narrowing, her venom directed at me, of all people, “Don't even think about it, mister.”

I nodded, looking at Alexis, “And what are you so focused on, now?” I asked her. I could tell she was distracted, channeling a spell of sorts.

“...I've set a miasma around us. Blessed waters turned to fog to hold back the legions of darkness,” Alexis turned to me, looking ragged, “I am unsure how much longer I can hold it.”

My lip lifted in a sneer as I pulled a final drag from my cigarette and flicked it to the ground.

“You know those don't just vanish when you toss them, brother,” Zithero chided.

I growled and snapped my finger, causing the cigarette butt to burst into flames as I stormed toward Forcas.

“Seems you stand corrected, Zithy-Poo,” Alexis giggled from behind me.

I gave Forcas a shove, glaring at him, “While yer'r here hummin’ a bloody tune, me sister's exhausting ‘erself keepin’ us all safe! So, do yah have a bloody plan or we sittin’ ‘ere wit our thumbs up our arses waitin’ for the bloody apocalypse?!”

Forcas cleared his throat, turning to me, “Mr. Alexandratta,” he addressed me cordially at first.

“Drop it,” I growled, “‘Fore I drop you.”

“I would not be uninterested in seeing how that played out,” Forcas quipped, “But, I don't see how it would advance our current situation.”

I clenched my fist and glared at Forcas, “It would certainly calm me nerves.”

“If you're done grandstanding,” Forcas admonished, turning to me, “I was rather busy.”

“Hummin’ a tune?” I growled.

“Considering our greatest obstacle,” Forcas said calmly.

“Which? The giant demons out in da field or da wee bloody bastards?” I asked.

“Motivation,” Forcas explained, “We have lost two battles and now face a third,” Forcas turned to me, his gray eyes fixing on me firmly, “One that's likely to be man's last.”

“Aye, well, expected that much when we started,” I snapped, “‘ell da lot of us are well-prepared tah die!”

“Ready to die, most certainly,” Forcas reaffirmed, “but many are less prepared to die than they'd like to admit, yourself for example.”

I narrowed my eyes, “What da ‘ell are you on about?”

“You are ready, but not prepared, I would say,” Forcas argued.

I turned away.

“What's her name?” Forcas asked.

I scoffed.

“Ah, yes, sorry,” Forcas chuckled, “Spartan, of course. What is his name?”

“Polites,” I admitted, “Fellow I took a shine ta in da men's villages of Penthasil.”

“Ah,” Forcas nodded, “I assume he's not here.”

I scoffed, “Little skinny twink’ couldn't even swing a sword let alone stand ta fight in battle,” I frowned, looking out in the distance, “It's why he's home. Where it ought be safe.”

Forcas hummed again as he looked out over the field, the mist Alexis was maintaining showing shadows moving behind it. “It's prophesied that if we fall, there will be 700 years of darkness.”

I was silent as I considered it.

“You worry less for your life and more for his should you fall this day, yes?” Forcas asked.

“Aye,” I said with a sigh, turning to Forcas, “Which is why I'm even more infuriated at you draggin’ your feet. Or ‘ave yah been spendin’ dis time crafting up a speech?”

“No, a speech will not be too beneficial,” Forcas chuckled, “I'm afraid I'm not the master orator that my ward was.”

“Right,” I rolled my eyes, reaching for another cigarette, “you were once called ‘Merlin’ if it's all ta be believed.”

“I was there you know,” Forcas chuckled.

“Aye, an’ while da Arthurian legends are, indeed, legends, I don't tink dey help us out much now,” I explained as I lit up another cigarette, “So, whether or not I believe da ol’ tales don't make much a difference, now does it?”

“No, no I suppose not,” Forcas said.

“So iffin’ we lackin’ words, we're gonna need ‘eavy hitters,” I said taking a deep drag.

“Indeed,” Forcas chuckled, “And of those heavy hitters it is a shame we no longer have access to the Titan Amalgamation.”

I nodded, “Yeah well, suppose we need to fall back to our strengths, all to fight off 700 years of darkness.”

“Indeed, all while I fend off Stolas's plotting,” Forcas said as he turned to the crystal ball before him.

“Stolas?” I asked.

“Yes, Demonic Prince whom is more than likely in command of Hell's armies now that Xyphiel has been shown to still have his generals in the field,” Forcas spoke out loud, “The conundrum is considering Stolas's moves while he considers mine and plotting against how he would plot against me countering him,” Forcas turned to me.

“Right… Battle o’ wits,” I took another drag of my cigarette, “So, even yer tactical mind is challenged wit dis Stolas bloke?”

“Stolas is a Prince of Hell within the Ars Goetia ranks and a surveyor of the stars and planets. He has watched humanity and their ills for millennia and is no fool to be trifled with. I'm rather certain he survived our bout from the previous battle. He's well aware of my machinations,” Forcas grumbled, “A pain, to be sure. His strikes are swift and silent. I fear the moment that the blessed miasma comes down, he will be ready with a heinous blow,” Forcas sighed, “All this and our battle is both insignificant and poignant.”

“How so?” I asked.

“While the battle against Xyphiel rages, we stand to stem the tide. If he falls, then his forces will be in disarray, but not without potency. Little prevents another from rising to Xyphiel's place should he fall. Stolas, Piamon, Marbas, Beleth or even Barbatos all would quickly fight amongst themselves for control of the potency of Hell. Their defeat is as key as Xyphiel's,” Forcas explained.

“So tah defeat ‘em, yah need somethin’ ‘dey wouldn't expect from yah?” I asked.

“Indeed, Stolas specifically,” Forcas considered, “Last I checked, he had risen high enough in Xyphiel's favors to secure command of the legions of Hell.”

“And wot does dis Stolas bloke know about yours truly?” I asked.

Forcas turned to me and looked me up and down, “Hmm. Seems Alexander the Great saw much in you.”

“I know damn well what me King saw in me,” I narrowed my eyes on Forcas, “Don't yah dare tink yah know him betta den I do.”

Forcas smiled, “I don't suppose you still recall how to form a phalanx from your days as a Spartan, do you Mr. Alexandrata?”

I took a deep drag and puffed it to my right, “Call me dat one more time and you'll find out plenty of what I recall from me days of bein’ a Spartan.”

“Then, I suggest you look at the armaments a number of our Penthasilean Warriors carry with them,” Forcas showed me a small glowing representation of full plate armor, a tower shield and a number of rifles. “Granted they don't carry spears as they did in the old days, but it seems the warriors of Penthasil have borrowed some techniques from your Greek and Roman comrades.”

I looked at the tower shields, nodding, “Aye…”

Forcas smiled, “I think you can take the field as a commander and lead a good number of these warriors to victory in the coming battle.”

I glanced at Forcas and gave him a nod, heading out, “Fair ‘nuff. I'll do my part, you do yours.”

When I had walked out of earshot, I pulled out the small flip phone Polities had given me and dialed the only number in it. I put it up to my ear, taking a deep drag before letting it out slowly. “Pick up…”

A frantic voice called out on the other side, “Rasper?! Are you okay.?

“Fine mate,” I said as I looked out at the shadows looming behind the miasma, “...Listen, Pol. If I don't make it back from this, I want to tell you to do your best ta keep yer head down. Yah hear?”

“But-But-” Polities stammered.

“No buts,” I snapped, “You survive. You got me? You live for me, I don't want to see you in the afterlife for a long while.”

Polities started to sniffle, “R-Rasper… Please, come home.”

I took another drag of my cigarette, “I'm needed here, Pol. You take care.” I paused, taking a sharp breath, “I love you, by the way.”

Polities spoke through tears, “I love you too, Rasper… Please come back to me!”

“Godspeed, Pol,” I said as I hung up the phone, biting the inside of my lip before I took another drag of my cigarette. As I exhaled, I felt a tear run down my face. I dabbed at it and glared at it on my finger as it began to boil away, “Ain't got no time fer dat.”

…

I walked towards a group of Penthasilean soldiers, all of them were at the ready. Some sitting on their shields, others leaning against them. Some lacked shields entirely.

“Oy!” I shouted as I approached.

All of them turned to me.

“You lot know who I am?” I asked, walking towards them.

One looked me over, “You're General Zepherina's Titan familiar.”

“I prefer to consider myself ‘er right hand man,” I said with a smile.

It didn't get much reaction.

“Ight,” I snapped, “I'm yer field commander fer dis next battle.”

They chuckled, one soldier walked over to me. She stood a good six centimeters taller than me, “Oh are you now, little man?”

I lifted an eyebrow, lifting up my hand as I conjured a ball of fire, tossing it at a nearby tree.

The tree exploded into a shower of toothpick sized splinters, leaving a large crater behind it, “Aye, dat I am. Objections?”

The soldier backed off, the others stood up at attention.

“Ight, glad dat's sorted,” I said as I looked over them, “At ease,” the soldiers relaxed, “Now, ‘fore I was me Mistress's Titan, I was a Spartan warrior,” I smiled proudly, “A rather good one on the field if I do say-so myself.”

“A Spartan?” One Penthasilean warrior asked.

“Aye, familiar wit ‘em?” I asked.

“Yeah,” One cocky warrior chuckled, “Their women had to dress as men just to get the men to bed them.”

I cocked a wry smile, “An’ dey was still prettier den you lot, I can promise yeh dat!”

A few soldiers chuckled, even the one who was heckling me.

“I see plenty of yah ‘ave a good shield. I'm curious how many of yah are familiar wit Spartan battle tactics, not just our bedroom habits,” I asked.

“I know of the Hot Gates,” One warrior called out.

I nodded, “Well, lets hope we don't end up like dat lot. I'm gonna need groups of 7…” I paused, “Make dat 9 warriors. 8 shield maidens, one to act as a medic and sort of mini-quartermaster.”

The soldiers attention was now on me.

“We're going to walk out into dat field when dat miasma comes down,” I pointed, “and stand in da damn belly of Hell itself,” I pointed to the shields, “six shields held round our perimeter, two on top,” I pointed to one medic, “And one ta keep us supplied and patched up inside.”

They glanced at their shields and one another.

“The goal is: Everything on the right side of the shield stays alive,” I pointed to the looming shadows in the distance, “Everything outside? It dies.” I grinned, “So, who's gonna come wit me?”

The soldiers snapped to attention.

“Aye, dat's da spirit… Now, let's party up and see how many mobile pillboxes we can muster,” I ordered.

…

A few hours later, I made my way to Zithero and Alexis.

Alexis looked even more exhausted than earlier.

“How yah doin’ luv?” I asked.

“Trying,” Alexis said, turning to me and Zithero, “I'm sorry, when the fighting starts, I may not be of much use.”

I nodded, “Yah done more den enough already, luv.”

Alexis turned to me, “Zithy is very mad you blew up that tree, by the way.”

I chuckled, turning to Zithero, “Yah saw dat?” I asked.

Zithero shook his head, “That tree was defenseless.”

“Did it have children?” I mocked.

“As a matter of fact, yes it did,” Zithero sighed, shaking his head.

“My apologies. I'll plant some of its seeds in its honor, then?” I chuckled.

Zithero sighed, “One tree doesn't make a forest. But still, it was frivolous.”

“Right, replant three trees, make up fer da loss, yeah?” I continued, turning to see a pile of stones not too far from them, “What's this den?”

“Zithy-poo wanted to make you a gift,” Alexis smiled weakly.

The miasma wasn't going to last long, I could tell, “Well, make it quickly.”

Zithero chuckled, “We sort of needed you to help.”

“Makin’ me own gifts?” I shook my head, “Really, brother? Low.”

Zithero rolled his eyes, pointing to the piles of metal ore, “They need to be melted down, for armor and a shield.”

I looked the metals over, seeing a mix of iron, coal, chromium and a few other trace elements, “And it needs ta be hot, I'm guessing.”

“Uh-doy!” Alexis quipped.

Zithero and I gave her a perplexing look.

Alexis rolled her eyes, “Just let me know when my part is up.”

I turned my attention to the metals, pointing my hand to it and focusing an intense flame over the metals.

Zithero, for his part, rose a stone column around the metals, while giving me a port to push my flame into. Creating a sort of blast furnace to smelt the metals.

“They're done,” Zithero called out.

I stopped, watching Zithero manipulate the stone again, pouring it into a few holes laid out in the ground.

The grass turned brown as flames popped up from the earth around us.

I extinguished them quickly, glancing at Zithero as he was clearly doing something underground.

“Most blacksmiths would kill to control the metal and mold like this,” Zithero grinned.

“Most blacksmiths aren't Titans,” I retorted.

“Hephaestus was a God, does that count?” Alexis asked.

“No,” I grumbled, “It does not.”

Zithero lifted his hands up, a set of chest, shoulder, and leg armor lifting from the ground. There was also a large tower shield which rose, glowing red still from the heat of my flames. “Alexis.”

Alexis snapped her fingers, the ground below the armor and shield filling with glowing pure water, clearly ice cold.

The red hot metals all dropped into the cool pools of water with an explosive burst of steam.

“Titan forged armors,” I could hear Forcas call out as he approached us.

I turned to Forcas, “Don't yah ‘ave somewhere ta be?”

“Indeed, thus why I'm here,” Forcas remarked, approaching me as he looked to the shield and chest piece which rose from the waters.

The shield was shining steel, mostly. Across the front was a bronze Macedonian Star, the flower of its center, as well as the rays of light emanating from it, all bronze set against the steel background. The chest piece and shoulder pauldrons were the same.

“I thought you could use this, as you'll be taking the field,” Zithero smiled, “I doubt you would want to be without a shield.”

I turned to Forcas, “Ah, so you put him up ta dis?” I asked.

Forcas chuckled, “The Earth Titan merely wished to know what you had said to me. He feared you had offended me in some manner,” Forcas reached into his pocket, fishing for something, “Felt you might have gotten a little hot-headed.”

I scoffed.

“I've something to add, of course,” Forcas commented as he pulled two small gems from his pocket, “I've spent enough time in Hell to find myself in possession of a few soul cores here and there. Some I found not worth carrying, others I thought may be useful.”

Each gem glittered with an odd hint of red light as Forcas toyed with them in his hand.

“These two had an inclination for flame,” Forcas advised, “It's a shame I don't have the resources to create a soul forge at this moment, Asmodai could have made fine weapons for you. But, this will have to do,” Forcas knelt by the shield, pushing one gem into the center of the Star of Macedonia on the shield and another into the breast plate.

As he did, the steel pulsed with a surge of energy.

“Focus your flame through those and the armor should be able to resist just about any flame you conjure,” Forcas explained.

“Should?” I asked incredulously.

“Aye,” Forcas announced, “I do not confirm certainty if I am the least bit uncertain,” Forcas turned, “Now… I believe I need to rally the troops, as it were.”

…

I cracked my neck as I hefted the heavy steel tower shield up.

I was about to combine my experience with a phalanx with my experience in pillboxes, all to make what would basically be a series of holy and enchanted tanks to roll across the field of battle.

I just hoped we could do enough damage to give Timothy, Ragna and Zeph time to take Xyphiel down.

Forcas walked to the top of a hill before us, looking over the Angels, soldiers and Niten Drakes all around us, “I wish I had words for you that spoke well of our chances, I do. I wish I had words to rally all of you, to bolster you and to stand you up for the coming onslaught.”

“Rousing start, old man…” I mumbled.

Forcas looked over our forces, “Twice defeated, yet still we stand.” He turned to the Niten Dragons, “Your world burned, yet when its second chance called for aid, you left paradise to face the Hell that is War.” He turned to the Angels next, “You, made to serve God, but now stand here shoulder to shoulder with mortals who do so by choice.”

The Penthasilean soldiers looked uneasy as Forcas spoke.

“And soldiers, from distant lands, of many backgrounds, all enlisted to fight for your homes, your lives,” Forcas sighed, “But that's not what we must stand for.”

I was hoping Forcas would reach a point as I saw the miasma start to slowly fade in the distance.

“Death is a certainty, none can avoid it. Some stave it off longer than others. But it comes, one way or another,” Forcas pointed to the sky, “For soldiers there is Elysium, for those loyal to God there is Heaven. Fighting here, you've more than earned your place among the heroes of legend.” Forcas pointed his finger to the soon-to-be battle-field behind him, “They wish to bring it all down. To burn the heavens,” Forcas turned to the Penthasilean soldiers, “To set fire to the fields of Elysium.”

A calm came over the armies as Forcas spoke.

“Are we to let them?!” Forcas shouted.

A soldier shouted in the back, “No!”

Others joined her, shouting loudly.

“Though some of us may fall on this day, we shall take with us five of them!” Forcas cried out, “For we fight for our everlasting reward! We fight not for our lives, but for our very souls! We fight for Eternity!”

The miasma finally came down, massive hordes of demons rushing across the valley below.

Zithero rushed up, opening his hands to cause massive fissures and jagged hundred meter tall spikes to burst from the ground.

“They can take our lives, our bodies, but never our souls! They shall last for eternity!” Forcas shouted, taking to the air, “To arms!”

“To arms!” I shouted, other captains doing the same as I charged ahead, the 8 other soldiers around me forming tightly to my flank as we pulled our shields up.

…

I held my shield in front of me as we moved through the battlefield.

I had started with a squad of eight soldiers, and myself. Now, we were down to five.

Our medic was patching up one more as we hunkered down. The other three were firing through the rifle holes in their shields.

I focused my power through the soul-core on my shield, blasting flames at the oncoming demons I could see between the small gaps in our shields.

Adele, the medic, grunted as she tied a tourniquet onto one of our shield bearer's legs, “It will go numb, but you won't bleed out Helena,” Adele explained as she hit her with a shot of morphine.

“Fine by me,” Helena the shield bearer said with a grunt as she hefted her shield back into formation.

The ground shook below us and I turned to them, “Move! Right!” I shouted.

They started to move, but Helena stumbled. As Adele rushed to get her back up, the ground opened beneath us.

Two shield bearers immediately fell into an open pit.

Helena fell forward, Adele was falling.

I grabbed her, “Gotcha!”

Below in the pit was a horrific creature. A worm-like beast with spiny tendrils and rows upon rows of teeth. One tendril grabbed Adele's leg.

Adele cried out in pain as it tore through her flesh.

I gritted my teeth, holding out my hand to fire a blast of heat at the creature.

It wasn't affected by my flames in the least. If anything, it was unphased.

“Captain…” Adele said firmly.

I glanced at her and watched her tug the pins out of several fragmentation grenades she had on her belt.

“It has been an honor, Sir,” Adele's eyes were resolute as she let go of my hand.

I gave her a nod, “Take ‘em wit yah, soldier.”

I let go as Adele was dragged down into the horrific creature’s maw.

As it swallowed her, I watched as its flesh was torn apart from the shrapnel from Adele's grenades.

It roared as the blessed metals tore through its flesh, black blood filling the hole below us.

I got to my feet and turned to Helena.

Helena struggled to get to her feet, propping her shield up and readying her rifle, “Sir… Still here.”

The air began to fill with sparkling light, and the smell of ozone filled my nose. “Cover!” I ordered.

I pulled my shield over my head, but Helena was too slow.

Bolts of light arced through the air, almost as thin as needles. Many pierced through Helena's body.

Helena staggered to her feet for a moment before collapsing in a heap.

I growled, looking up to see a floating owl-like creature above me, “Ah, there's the thorn in my side… A titan of flame made from a Spartan. I thought the tactics far too crude and efficient for Forcas's liking.”

I moved to my feet, my shield at my side, “I assume you're the infamous Stolas.”

“Prince Stolas,” the owl-like demon hissed, “Not that I'd expect your sort to hold any respect or common courtesy.”

I lit a cigarette as I saw more demons rushing towards me, “Respect’s earned, mate.”

I threw my arms out, hurling a flurry of fireballs at the onslaught of demons heading my way.

Despite this, they emerged from the flames, mostly unharmed.

Stolas chuckled, “A lovely show… but we've existed in flames long enough where your little pyrotechnics are little more than a summer breeze.”

“That so?” I said as I looked out over the battlefield.

The battle raged on behind me, my soldiers had pushed in as deep as we could into the enemy lines, faring better than most it seemed.

Still, little were left of them.

“Zithero, yah still wit me, brotha?” I called out to Zith.

“Rasper, yes! I'm glad you're alright!” Zithero called out.

“Make a granite wall behind me,” I said as I took a deep drag of my cigarette, “A thick one.”

The ground shook and I felt the shadow of the wall Zithero made loom over me.

Stolas chuckled, “You think that will stop us?”

“Nah,” I chuckled, “Just protectin’ me own,” I tossed my cigarette towards the demons approaching. My cigarette vaporized before it even hit the ground.

My body began to pulse with flames and I looked at Stolas, “So, you're a demon prince who's da surveyor of all da stars and da planets… And yah lookin’ at me like I ain't shit, yeah?”

“A crude man below me,” Stolas chuckled, “A so-called ‘Titan’ about to die.”

I nodded as the ground ignited around me, “Aye, dat I might be… You lot like it hot, yeah?”

Stolas shook his head, “Trying to buy time?”

“Sulphur's… what? Flows at 115C? Pitch boils at 250C?” I asked as I channeled every fire spirit I could as I looked up at Stolas, “You tink I'm not hot shit, huh?” I grinned at him as my shield and armor started to glow white hot.

Stolas tilted his head to the side as he looked me over, pointing to me, “Kill him! Kill him, now!”

I watched rocks fly through the air towards me, as well as arrows and even some magic.

I held my hand out, the heat melting the ground around me, as well as all the projectiles approaching me.

Stolas flew higher, “What do you think you're doing?!”

“Come now… fancy bloke like you? One who knows the stars…” I grinned, “You know a star when yah see it, don't chyah?”

“Impossible!” Stolas gasped.

I chuckled, “Let's see how you like gettin’ up close and personal with a star,” I clenched my fist as I called upon the fire of the sun itself. “You lived in fire?! I'm a Titan of Flame!” I yelled, “I Am Fire!”

I was unsure if I'd survive calling upon such a potent body, but I was certain of one thing: They wouldn't.