chapter five

Chapter 5
Assassins and a replacement soul

The middle world: march 1602
Hieremias plains village of green blades
Rochelle looked out her window the summer breeze pushing her hair over her eyes she lifted one of her hands and brushed back into place behind her ear. Her skin shined in the light of the sunrise showing her pale, cool skin. What shall I do today? Mt chores are done I have no date and it is a beautiful day. She thought to herself as her purple eyes surveyed the sky. There was only one cloud in the sky far in the distance a dark cloud that had been hovering on the horizon for days. “Well looks like I have time to go riding before that cloud gets here. It must be huge to still be so far away and so visible.” She said out loud to no one in particular. “Yes it is” Rochelle turned to see a middle aged man standing there smiling with perfect teeth. Though he was not a big man none could say he was small. “Who are you? Why are you here?” Rochelle asked. The big man smiled “Oh come now daughter is it not enough that I will have to suffer your mothers wrath?” he asked a mock worried look upon his face. “Oh fine ruin my game.” Rochelle’s body relaxed as she embraced her father in a huge hug. “I’m glad your home daddy. How were the Pits?” a grin spread across his face good I have brought home some treasures for you and you mother.” He said as he pulled out a small ring with a purple stone highlighted by four smaller diamonds around it. “Ahhhhh!!” Rochelle screamed as he pulled it out. “Oh daddy it beautiful is it for me?” Rochelle was jumping with the answer she knew was coming. Her father looked at her.
“Hmm I don’t know a second ago you didn’t even know ho I was. But for lack of a better daughter I guess so.” He said handing her the ring. “Now go have fun so I can ahem “suffer” you mother’s wrath.”
“Ok well I let you and mom ahem “suffer” alone.” She said as she sidestepped around her father. She went down the stairs and out the wooden door. As the breeze once again hit her face she turned and grabbed a small dagger from a rack by the door and tied it to her waist in case she met a bandit. She turned to go to the local stables to get a horse for the day. As she approached the stables she saw the smoke from the blacksmith shop on the other side of the stables. As she opened the door a young man with long black hair turned. This was Steven her best friend and cover boyfriend to keep the suitors at bay and from her mother from saying that she should be dating a good boy. Steven had been her friend since she was two and had never had any interest for her at all. She liked him best for that Rochelle was happy to be with a boy who was just a friend. Steven looked at her and with a look of horror exclaimed “What miss Rochelle in a stable? You wouldn’t be thinking of going off riding ALONE would you” he asked.
Rochelle pretended to be in mock horror of the accusation “Steven do you think I go anywhere alone?” she asked taking a couple steps toward him. He smiled and walked forward as well. “No I don’t suppose you do. After all I do stalk you twenty four seven.” He said seriously. “Oh you are such a pain. Now are we going or not?”
“Yes, yes but first you need to give me my reward for planning all of this secretly.” Rochelle turned toward Steven “Are you saying you’re not doing this because you’re my friend.” Steven put his arms around her “who wants friendship when there is physical approval.” He kissed her just a casual kiss just to keep up appearances for anyone who might be spying. Steven brought out two horses both were beautiful and looked eager to be going anywhere but here. As they rode out of town they passed a few houses as quietly as they could then raced out of the town. They rode for a couple hours then stopped and spread a blanket for their picnic.
Hell Cadocs quarters 15 years later in hell
Azar stood in the middle of a great hall her wings spread and her sword in hand. she listened for any sound any sign of movement. Then to the left a blur sped past she move to intercept it by teleporting to the left and stuck out her sword. There a few feet away he was standing where she had just been this dark figure clad in fine robes. His hands had talons instead of finger nails. He moved forward “Good but now increase your heart rate to get the necessary adrenaline to your body.” Azar looked at the figure as he disappeared and stated to increase her heart rate and she saw him running around her he seemed to slow down as she sped up. She teleported in front of him and aimed her sword to sweep across his chest. The figure bent backwards and dropped to his knee’s and slid under the blade cutting her leg with his talons. Blood covered him as her calf split open a smile spread across his face. “Well done Azar you getting better every time. Maybe you’ll get me next time.” Azar’s leg began to heal as she disappeared and reappeared behind him saying “The fight isn’t over till the opponent is dead Lucifer.” her sword around his throat. Lucifer disappeared her sword was now around her throat his talons in her back “Then maybe I should kill you.” Azar went on the offensive striking with her elbow to his gut and her head to his he fell to his knees. “Well done”
“Again” azar struck out with her sword in her right hand and drawing a dagger with the left. She spun in a wheel. Lucifer went for a low shot with his talons but Azar spread her wings she flew up into the air as Lucifer spread his and took off after her. She opened the other four wings and became invisible even to Lucifer’s sight. He was struck from behind as he was sent forwards he was hit in the gut. Then from above, below, left and right all the time he never saw Azar even once. When she finally let him fall he landed hard his body broken. His bones began to mend themselves and his skin healed he stood after awhile. “That was perfect you will have no trouble killing Tahir with your speed.” Lucifer praised her. Azar landed and turned to him “When will Cadoc be back? I miss fighting a real opponent.”
“You realize I could kill you in an instant with my powers? You shouldn’t taunt the devil.”
“Sorry I’m an Aerial Archangel I tell the truth. So where is he?”
“I sent him to his troops for some moral booster and to retrieve a… package for me.”
Middle world same day present time
From my place in the sky I could see that Krishna stood in the middle of a group of demons one stepped forward “We challenge you for control of this army.” Krishna unhooked his sword and held up his hand bending his fingers in a time old taunt. The demons charged the first was about to make contact when I landed my wings spread “Well if you want to challenge someone for control of my troops fight me.” I looked at the attackers none stepped forwards. “Who are you?” one of them asked. That’s right it may have been fifteen years for me but it was just over a month for them. My hair had grown out considerably now past my shoulders and I wore a cloth robe/suit (armoroid of course). I drew my katanas to give them a clue. All in sight bowed at this and the attacking soldiers lined up in front of me on their knees “Lord you have returned we did not expect you for many years yet.” This was the one who had come forth first to challenge Krishna. “You will be forgiven if you have good enough reason to explain yourselves.”
“Well you see Lord Fallen” he began “Commander Krishna refuses to speak. He wrote down that the last time you were here you told him to be quite and listen but you never told him he could speak again. We’ve been losing battles and soldiers because of it.” I looked to Krishna who shrugged. “Speak for the love of god man.” Krishna saluted me he was the only one who could get away with something like this. “Sir thank you sir, I was only following your orders to the letter.”
“Tell me what possessed you not to speak?”
“You told me not to.”
“For the duration of our talk not after brother Michael smite you for your stupidity. You troopers are dismissed.” Good reason though I thought. I had a good mood nowadays and now that I was out of hell it was only getting better.
“Sir Permission to speak freely?”
“Granted”
“You seem different more… happy or joyful or something. Are you?”
“Yes I am fine just glad to be out of hell and to be back in the fight again. Now here I’ll be back later and hold this I’m going out.” I tossed him my robes revealing the same old pants as always. I had forgotten that all my clothes were armoroid all I heard was Krishna grunt and fall to his knees as his arms were crushed. “Oh sorry” I said lifting up the garment. “It’s fine they are much better sir looking now sir” Krishna said as I spread my wings and disappeared on an updraft.
Lucifer had heard an old prophecy about a girl being so pure that she could trade her place I heaven with the devil himself. I had been sent to retrieve her. That was an easy reason to get out of hell and she lived by Dardanosia so I could see my old friend one more time before I went to war with him. I flew faster than before due to all the extra weight I was no longer carrying. The village soon came into sight and the sun was just coming up I would see her tonight. I landed out side the village closing and hiding my wings in my back and walked between the rows of houses in a few days when the army arrived this will become a bloody battle field. Too bad it’s not a bad place I found her house and memorized its location. Then went up the street asking a merchant where I might buy a steed and find the Golden Generals camp for I had news from one of his outposts to the north. He told me of the local stable a few blocks over and that the general was camped two hours south of the village. I soon found the stables and a beautiful black horse that I could buy. I paid and left riding bare back.
I rode south and I saw my cloud start to appear on the horizon from my army on the march. Other natural clouds formed and it began to rain about a half hour out. I arrived at the camp and was questioned by the sentries I told them to “Tell the general that Cadoc had arrived.” One of them left to find the general. The general soon came to the front with a squad of soldiers at his back. “What do you want here Fallen?”
“Just to talk I promise I am unarmed and alone.” I said raising my arms and pointing behind me. “You have no business here leave.” With that he turned and walked off. I was not about to start a fight with him and a squad of his men not yet. I rode the horse back at a leisurely pace allowing it to find its own path I was in no hurry. It was night when I eventually got back to the stables. I left the horse to the boy and then went to the house I looked in the downstairs window no lights were on there was an open window above me I jumped up on to the ledge making no noise. When I first saw her I thought she was an angel. The way her hair fell around her shoulders, or how she had the perfect colored skin. How could Lucifer want me to kill a human so perfect? I could not kill her I knew deep down I could not do it. God had once told me as I walked past him in heaven “That everyone has a perfect soul out there for them we just had to wait to find our match.” I had not understood then but I did now. I would die for this mortal. I went into her room to find out her name I saw a locket. “To my daughter Rochelle -love mom” Rochelle even her name sounded perfect. She truly was an angel in the Middle World.
Over the next few days I discovered as much about her as I could I was creepy I admit I watched her sleep at night but come on a girl who leaves her door open at night is asking to be stalked. After a week or so I saw her and Steven the stable boy leaving unusually early. I watched them from above on a high wind soaring enjoying myself until…
They had not been there too long when Steven realized that they were not alone in the field. Someone or something was watching them. He leaned over to Rochelle “Do not be alarmed. Do you feel that? It feels like someone is watching us.” Steven whispered into her ear his voice serious his face relaxed as if he was whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
“What do you mean?” Rochelle asked innocently “You mean raiders?”
“No not this time. Stay here I’m going to get my sword just pretend to be fascinated by it when I bring it back like I’m showing it to you.”
“Ok I will” she whispered. Steven got up looking excited and moved toward the horses. He drew his sword and began to survey the area he saw one quick flash of red then nothing. A man appeared behind him. He was tall and well built his clothes were foreign and covered in weird markings. Even though his fear was tremendous Steven did not drop his sword. But his instincts told him that he did not want to raise it against this man either. He jumped backwards only to have the man appear behind him again. “What the fuck?” Steven went flying as Tacitus pushed him with his bow. Steven flew a few feet before crashing down.
“Who are you and what do you want?” Rochelle asked alarmed but staying calm.
“Well usually we would want your money or horses or food. But on this occasion it’s your lives.” Hadriana said coming up from behind Rochelle “See Rayner for some reason wants you dead and we work for him so bye” she sat down beside Rochelle.
“Rochelle run” Steven screamed as he threw his sword at Hadriana. Tacitus moved and unhooked his axe and swung it upwards all in one motion cutting open his chest. Steven leaned over and collapsed fatally wounded. Many things happened at once Rochelle screamed, Hadriana raised her left hand blocking the sword with her dagger and Panther came up from the grass a few yards away his pistol ready to fire.
He squeezed his finger and the bolt flew. Time seemed to slow as a dark shadow sped past him and the wind raced behind Panther. A dark figure stood in the way holding the bolt. Rochelle looked up hearing a voice so pure it could have been an angel.
“By who’s right do you hunt under my shadow?” Hadriana stepped forward. “My name is Hadriana these are my companions Tacitus and Panther. We were hired by a Fallen named Rayner to kill this girl.” Tacitus re-hooked his axe and grabbed his bow then moved to the left as Pan reloaded moved right surrounding the new warrior in case of a fight. The warrior moved his feet into a half battle stance. “The bounty is revoked leave or die.”
“Sorry but not today.” Tacitus drew an arrow and fired Pan and Hadriana followed suit. The warrior blocked the arrows as if they were nothing but paper airplanes. Changing tactics Tacitus drew his axe and rushed forward with blinding speed. He swung high and low side to side his blade was everywhere but where his enemy was. Tacitus stabbed then held the blade out. What they all saw they could not believe their foe was standing on Tacitus’s blade. What happened next was a once in a lifetime experience for all of the witnesses the figure bent low sprouted wings and propelled himself up.
“Fools I am Cadoc of the Fallen Angels commander of the Elite forces of hell.” The voice was now dark and purity was nowhere to be found in its sinister tone. “Lord please forgive us we did not realize.” Panther began but Cadoc cut him off “You did not realize? Why should I care if you are sorry or not you attacked me and an innocent of the Middle World.” Cadoc raised his hand summoning one of his katanas “Now you will all die.” I spread my wings and then used them to charge forward to Hadriana planning to kill her fast then move on to Panther then the strange one. Hadriana couldn’t even see me coming I raised and dropped my sword but instead of resistance I found that Tacitus’s bow in my way. His bow is also made of armoroid but it was made a strange mix of the solid metal and flexible clothe it makes the perfect bow. Cadoc was shocked at Tacitus’s speed but he was an experienced warrior he realized this was no time to be caught off guard. He summoned his other sword and shifted his stance to give himself more power. I swung across backhanded Tacitus leaned back and used the other blade on his bow to block. Stopping Cadocs swing but releasing the other sword. I switched my footing and went for a down kick to his chest but once again he moved. He sidestepped seeming to twist his body around my foot to escape the kick. This was no man no mortal could move so fast only a soul with millennia's of fighting experience. I backed off a bit but he did a back flip moving away and drew a handful of arrows he lined one on his bow and shot. I barley had time to move faking left then going right. I had just begun to move left when I found the arrow cut my left cheek he had anticipated my movement.
I back flipped away drawing arrows and shot one right as I landed from the flip. I knew his type a fake then the real direction. He went left so I played him and sure enough he went right but my left arrow had got his cheek silver blood interesting so angels do bleed. I shot off another few arrows but he was on the defensive now and he was picking up speed me moved and dodged the rest I threw down my bow and unhooked my axe. I twirled it a couple of times I usually wouldn’t have played this long but now I was getting excited. It was solid armoroid and weighed thousands of pounds but I got used to it in my travels over the millennia's. I finished it with blade down behind my back. It was his move now.
Damn he was good I was just barely blocking these arrows and dodging was not my specialty. But soon he ran out of arrows and unhooked his monster of a axe. If that was made of armoroid then I would stand no chance of surviving a strike from that thing. It would cut me in half and keep going just like my blades through him. I rushed him jumping up and spreading my wings so that when he went for where I would be I went over him and sliced his back. It should have left a good sized gash but my sword only left a cut. It armoroid it is all armoroid, his entire outfit clothes, boots, even the skulls he was decorated with had a coat of it over them. How strong is he? I could not help but wonder. I took both swords and charged.
Cadoc and Tacitus disappeared and then arrows started to appear all over then Tacitus's bow was in the ground a few feet away. Panther came up behind Hadriana “Were leaving this wasn’t in the contract.” Hadriana nodded then took out a small whistle and blew it twice in quick succession. In the few seconds for them hours had passed for Cadoc and Tacitus. Both appeared exhausted and bloody. Heaving” Why aren’t we in our time zone anymore?” Cadoc asked. “Nifty isn’t it. Hadriana here whipped it up it slows the heart rate to a normal speed. So we can see you.”
“She is safe we are leaving now. This was not in the contract so were going to go get a raise.” Tacitus started walking towards the distant forest. Even though he could not see it he knew where it was. Pan and Hadri followed behind him not asking about the fight he would tell them if he wanted to.
Rochelle turned to Cadoc he was covered in gashes and a tick grey blood. A cut below his eye made it look like he was crying blood. “Are you alright?” She asked. Cadoc simply nodded as his wounds began to heal. “I will recover but he will not.” he said pointing to Steven. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at her fallen friend. Then she looked at him and she shot off a surprising question “You used to be an angel right?” Cadoc nodded “I was”
“So can’t you save him heal or something.”
“His wound is too deep to be healed I would need to literally give him life. And for that I need part of a willing soul to replace his broken one.”
“What would happen to me if I gave up a part of my soul?” Rochelle asked it was her fault he was dying she would save him no matter what.
“You would die unless I gave up part of my soul to replace your missing piece I would need to bind your soul and mine. You would be my companion not a slave or lover not yet anyway but would accompany me on my travels. but you would not be able to enter heaven only hell. You would not be sent there but you would be able to enter if you wished. You would be faster stronger and more agile than most humans. You would live until someone killed you.”
“Wait why wont you die or need a replacement soul or anything?” Rochelle asked seeing a flaw in this plan. “No due to all the people dying in the wars over your history the angels developed a method to lend out bits of our souls. I will get it back if and when you die.” Cadoc knew she would agree but her reaction surprised him. “tell me one thing and then no matter your answer start the process. Can you do that?” Cadoc nodded again.
“Will it hurt?”
“Yes” then Cadoc was behind her one hand on her head and the other on Stevens. A white glow came from all three of them as a soul was transferred from Rochelle to Steven and then from Cadoc to Rochelle. The day was gone when Rochelle awoke to find the world a clearer place. She could see and hear better she could hear Steven’s heart beat and his breathing. She looked to Cadoc and could not hear anything. No heart beat, not a single breath escaped him. But she could see his chest move. “What” she stopped her voice had changed it sounded less human more angelic, like a cool breeze on the wind. She started again “What happens now?” Rochelle looked around she was astounded at all she had missed in her life.
“I will take you to the Dardanos pits for a time. I have a campaign going on there. Then we go to hell for your training.” I spread my wings “Climb on my back it’s time to go.”
“What do you mean time to go?” Rochelle was not a fan of being carried up to high places like the sky for instance. Rochelle walked for ward and was about to climb onto my when she stopped “Um what about all the blood?” she asked Oh right I thought as I walked over to Steven who was still lying unconscious on the field he would not wake up for a few hours. I grabbed his sleeve and tore a piece off and tossed it to Rochelle “Wipe it off.” She took a bottle of water she had brought and dampened the cloth wiping off all of the blood she was startled by the design of two sword carved into my back. “What are these” she took a step back and looked at the scars. They were detailed exactly like my katanas every small detail the same made to scale. “They are the holding spells for my katanas.”
“Who did them?”
“They were done by the Archangel Lucifer. When I summon them the scars open up and release the katanas into my hands. When I am done with them they return into the scars and then they close.”
“Does it hurt?” she asked her voice did not have sorrow or pity just concern for me. Every time I thought to myself. “No not anymore.” Out loud I said she sighed and started wiping the blood away again. When she was done she climbed on my back and I opened up my wings and took off.