The Demon Side (15 page)

I was able to get him out of harm’s way, but not myself. The old brick wall fell right on top of my waist, pinning my legs. I tried pushing it off, but I was too weak. I had used almost my complete reserve helping John. I looked to John for help, but I couldn’t catch his gaze. Awestruck, he stood with his jaw on the floor staring at the golden ball glowing in the room. Separating the dust in the air as he walked toward John was an all-too-familiar being: Ramiel, the Arch. God had heard John’s prayer.

“John Morgan Divad, God has chosen to forgive you of all of your transgressions against him and has heard your plea for help.” Ramiel placed his hand on John’s head, dropping him to his knees. Ramiel leaned over, whispering something into his ears. John’s body went limp and he went to sleep.

Adrenaline rushed through me as Ramiel made his way toward me. Crouching above me, Ramiel extended his hand. I grabbed on to it. He ripped me from under the brick wall and in one fell swoop, bound me in a set of golden shackles on my wrists and ankles. With an arrogant smile, Ramiel looked at me and said, “You’re late for your Tribunal.”

The boom of our departure flattened what remained of John’s house around his sleeping body. Skyrocketing upward, the force crushed my chest. Just when I thought I would be completely smothered, we came to a sudden stop. Ramiel led me into a spacious, white, round room. At the far side of the room sat a large white desk with eight chairs, but only six Arches. A seat on the left end and the seat directly in the middle were empty. Ramiel shoved me down to the floor on my knees and golden chains ascended from the floor and locked themselves on to my shackles. Ramiel took his seat in the empty chair at the end of the table and threw my sword and shield on the desk in front of him. If this went badly, I had no way to defend myself against seven Arches.

“Rahovart the Arch, also known as Rahovart the Heir, you have been called before this Tribunal for your crimes against not only our Heavenly Father, but for crimes against humanity. What do you have to say for yourself?” Saraqael’s eyes were emotionless as he awaited my reply.

When I had come up with the idea to sacrifice myself for Etta, I really didn’t expect to be thrown before the Tribunal. I expected to disintegrate and be sent straight to Purgatory. So I wasn’t exactly ready to answer for my actions.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Michael rose from his chair and hit the desk with his fist. I’d subconsciously hated Michael for so long for what happened to my Abihail, but now I felt indifferent. Witnessing a man like John on his knees praying for forgiveness and repenting for his sins gave me strength and the humility to do what I always knew I must. The time had come for me to repent and ask for forgiveness, knowing full well I deserved neither. It wouldn’t change the outcome of my Tribunal, and I knew by the end of it, I would be sentenced to Purgatory.

“I am guilty for all that I have done. I allowed emotions to control me instead of the love I had for our Heavenly Father and the love he had for me. I allowed anger and rage into my heart. I blamed you for it all, Michael, but it was not your sin. It was mine. For this I am sorry. But, before you all damn me to Purgatory, where I justly belong, I plead with you that you may save the life of an innocent.”

“Lies!” Michael shouted. “All of a sudden we are to believe the same Demon that spent so many years not only slaughtering our kind, but his own eternal mate, has a change of heart, wanting our forgiveness, and to save an innocent?”

I wouldn’t argue with Michael. I didn’t care what happened to me, but I had to help Etta before she was damned to a life as an incubator for evil. It was a life no innocent soul deserved.

“Please! You must help her. You have no idea what they have in store for her. If Lucifer succeeds, it will not only bring Earth crumbling down, but your world as well.”

“Just send him to Purgatory so we can be done with this traitor!” Michael shooed his hand at me and looked away. I had failed. I had failed Etta, John, and myself. I proved myself a fool for thinking I could help. I lowered my head and for the first time in three thousand years, a tear fell from my eyes.

“I am here before you all on my knees begging you to spare the life of an innocent soul from a fate worse than Purgatory. You think I wish to save myself? You are wrong! Send me to Purgatory, I don’t care. But you cannot ignore a girl who desperately needs your help. You can’t possibly imagine what they will do to her! Please! I implore you!”

“See. Look at him…pathetic. Let’s be done with this.” Michael tried to further drive his point.

As Uriel the Arch stood to pass my judgment as a thunderous boom crashed overhead. God himself was joining in, in a voice no human ear could understand, though we heard his words plainly.

“Michael, you are not judge and juror. You too have sinned against me.” A blinding light hit Michael, and he found himself next to me shackled to the floor.

“Once loving brothers, you both have allowed anger, hatred, and fear into your hearts. You lost sight of your purpose and let your personal wants consume you, costing the lives of thousands and ripping your families apart. What I had given you was a gift and you both threw it away.”

“Father?” Michael asked. He never did know when to shut up.

“Silence!” Thunder rolled as he spoke, leaving a ringing in my ears. “You eight are one family, one force. You are powered by the Arch next to you and he is powered by you. Together, you are all more powerful than you can imagine. Divided, you are nothing. What drove you apart will now be the only thing that can save you. Michael, you will help Rahovart with his quest to save the girl, as you all will. If he fails, you all fail, and Michael, you will serve next to Rahovart in Purgatory. Work together with your brothers and you will not only succeed in saving the girl, but what you seek most will be found.” His angelic form materialized. The Heavenly Father stood before me and in his hands were the wings I cut off five thousand years earlier.

The six remaining Arches rose from their seats and then knelt on one knee around God’s feet. With the laying of his hands upon our heads, we received His blessing. Michael and I were freed from our shackles and each took to one knee. Going around the circle, each Arch placed his right hand on the shoulder of the Arch next to him. I placed my hand on Uriel’s shoulder and waited patiently until Michael reluctantly placed his hand onto mine, completing the Great Circle of Arches. We lowered our heads and prayed. Our Heavenly Father reached over me and plunged my wings into my back.

“Welcome home, my son. Remember that you’re all in this together.” God spoke as the pain began to course through my body.

Similar to a falling row of dominoes, a golden light radiated from my hand into Uriel and continued on through the hand of each Arch, until passing back to me and starting the cycle again. In a few short moments, my brothers and I were crippled with the pain of attaching my wings, which normally took three days. The eight of us screaming in unison rattled the Heavens.

From my claw tips, I began to change. The scales of my serpent form lifted off me and smoldered on the floor. My claws receded and took the shapes of hands. My red eyes burned as they changed to green. My brothers held steady and fearless as my tail dropped from my body and began whipping around striking at them. The golden beam coursing in us flickered and then disappeared.

“My work here is done. The rest is up to the eight of you.” God’s voice broke off as his angelic form dissipated. Breathless, we all stared at one another for a moment before rising to our feet.

Raphael flung himself on me, embracing me in a hug. “I knew you’d return, Rahovart!” Soon the others followed in welcoming me back. We were as unruly as a group of teenage boys. Everyone appeared happy, except Michael, who stood back watching. When all the noogies and chuckles ceased, my brothers parted like the Red Sea. Michael and I walked slowly toward each other in the middle of our parted brothers.

I didn’t know what to expect. All harsh feelings I had toward him were gone, but that didn’t mean it was the same for him. Michael extended his hand toward me. I grabbed his forearm, when he pulled my ear tightly to his mouth.

“I don’t care what they all think and say. You are no brother of mine. If this is a setup or you do anything to screw this up, then I will take you out on the spot. Knowing my blade sentenced you, I will gladly spend eternity in Purgatory watching the souls you’ve wrecked get their vengeance upon you,” Michael whispered in my ear.

“Just remember, brother, you too have sent many souls there as well. If we fail, we’ll have plenty of time in Purgatory together to sort out who will get his vengeance.” I pulled from his hostile embrace. Our eyes locked intently on each other. Even God himself couldn’t change how Michael felt. I just hoped his anger toward me wouldn’t affect his fighting abilities. We were going to go get Etta, and I needed him at full power if we were going to get her, much less ourselves, out alive.

“The gang’s back together! Let’s go save us a girl!” Gabriel always excited easily like a child on Christmas morning before a fight. I grabbed his head and tousled his hair.

“All right, Gabriel. Get them ready.” Gabriel jumped and up down in his excitement as he went to ready our troops. The words seemed so strange to me and yet so natural. I once again bore the wings of an Arch. Raguel handed me a golden shield and sword, which held two curved blades representing a bull’s horns. A large winged bull forged in the center of my shield. On the underside of the shield, tied to the handle, dangled Abihail’s sky blue handkerchief. She had given it to me as token of her love during our courtship. They had kept my sword and shield in pristine condition for all of these centuries. And now I prepared to use them in the depths of Hell to fight for good once again.

The seven Arches walked outside together. I hesitantly followed, stopping at the doorway. On the golden streets, tens of thousands of Angels assembled in their battle best. As I remembered from my time here before, everyone seemed to be in good spirits and joyous. It was such a contrast from preparing for battle on the Demon side. I could see Gabriel address the Warriors briefly, then he turned to me, waving me out. As I stepped out from the doorway, I was met with familiar faces. Warriors I had once led and warriors I had once fought stared at me as I made my way to Gabriel. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but suddenly I became overwhelmed by an onslaught of smiling faces, hugs, kisses, and even a few cheek pinches. Ending the commotion of my return, Gabriel called the troops to ready. Families and friends gathered around to send us off to battle with well-wishes. After our farewells, we were instantly thrown down into the opening of Hell.

“All right, boys and girls, we’re going deeper than we ever have before. If the girl is here, she’ll be held in the throne room located in the underbelly,” I called out, preparing to enter when Michael stopped me.

“Wait! What do you mean if the girl is here?”

“I don’t know who took her or where, but my gut says it’s Alastor the Executioner, and this would be the only place he would take her,” I answered.

“So you don’t actually know? I told you guys this would be a setup. He’s just trying to get us down there for an ambush.”

Saraqael stepped between us. “Michael, relax. You heard what Father said. He wouldn’t just send us down here if he didn’t know she was here. We are stronger if we fight together.” Saraqael walked to the gates, looking up at them. “Well, are we going to do this or what?”

“Let’s go.” Michael gave me one last hard look before walking off to Saraqael at the gates. I shook my head in frustration before following.

“So, who wants to knock?” Remiel asked, as we stood there dumbfounded. “Fine, I’ll do it.” Remiel pounded on the gates with his fist six times. “Wait. Is it six times or six-hundred-sixty-six times? I can never remember.” I couldn’t help but smirk at his playfulness. In retrospect, I guess I missed that about my Angelic brothers. Demons were all business. They never found the use in a little laughter or joking around.

“Guess no one is home. Let’s take a look, shall we?” Uriel pushed himself through Ramiel and Saraqael, and with a single kick, smashed the gates open.

I led the Arches and our troops through the labyrinth without incident. When we made it to the landing above the city, I stood shocked. I prepared to fight through the city streets to Devil’s Peak, but the place appeared deserted. We cautiously made our way to Devil’s Peak. I waited for droves of Demons to jump out from behind the rundown stone buildings that lined the streets, but the ambush never came.

“Step aside, little boy. It’s my turn.” As we approached the gates at Devil’s Peak, Ramiel pushed passed Saraqael and tried to kick the gate open. It didn’t budge. We all chuckled to cover our surprise. We knew we weren’t at our full strength once inside Hell but even then an Arch should have been able to decimate something as weak as the gate with a single kick. The seven of us lined up next to Ramiel and together kicked the gate, knocking it off of its hinges.

The winding corridor bottle-necked. It was made narrow only one, maybe two Demons could walk it during one of their many security checks. I took the lead with Michael next to me. The others filed in behind us. As we came around a bend, I caught sight of two sentries. Sneaking in closer, I had grabbed the first guard and slit his throat when out of the corner of my eye, I saw the shimmer of a blade come toward me and get stopped by Michael’s shield. With one swipe, Michael split the guard in two. I gave a quick
thank you
glance and made my way farther down the corridor to a large open room with its iron gate raised. The intake lobby was always full of the freshly fallen, desperate to prove themselves. Just a day ago I had been here, and it had been empty. Today it filled over capacity. Lucifer had crammed his whole population inside Devil’s Peak for a celebration.