chapter one

Chapter one
Beginnings
Demon cycle:
Hell lowest level year1599

In the lowest level of hell Lucifer called forth three of his most trusted fallen to give them a special mission. As the three filed into the room Lucifer looked at them in the rooms dim light.
First was a giant amoung the fallen named Faber his black skin and wings made him out to be the symbol of evil. Following him was Sorin her white skin and wings as red of snow were as legendary as her temper. the last was Rayner cold calculating rayner was next in line for Hells throne. After they had taken their places Lucifer began.
“My loyal brothers once you followed me into hell now I ask you to lead an army out of it. You may take as many soldiers as you need, and their number will be great for you will have to face angels and better before you get to your goal.”
“And what my brother is our goal?” Asked
“Your goal Rayner is to find the gates of heaven and then summon me and the rest of the army so that once again we may enter heaven our true home. Rayner you will lead this task.”
At this Sorin and Faber looked at each other. Sorin spoke cautiously “Lord should Cadoc and his demon horde not join us seeing as it is so important? I mean offence to you to your soldiers Lord. But it is well known that Cadoc has the finest soldiers in all of hells domain.”
At this Lucifer smiled “Indeed he does have the best soldiers but where I send Cadoc is my choice and not of your concern. I have sent him on another mission before he joins you. However I have faith that three of my best Fallen and a legion of demons should be enough to get out of hells gate and into purgatory.” he looked to Sorin as if now doubting his decision “Or am I wrong?”
“No of course not brother." Rayner said drawing Lucifers gaze to him "We will not fail you.” he stepped in front of Sorin and Faber. “Comrades I know that these are not the desired circumstances for a revolution but have I not proven my worth on the field as a commander? I swear that I will not fail as your leader, and I ask you to take the vows you took for my brother. Will you serve me as you served my brother in heavens war? Will you serve under me loyally until our goal is done?” Sorin and Faber stood facing him for a moment and then spoke in unison.
“We will serve you Rayner until the gates of heaven fall around us or until Lucifer Father of the Fallen releases us.”
With the vow complete Lucifer told them of the entrance out of hell and how he would hold open the gate allowing them to send souls both in and out, then the army would go through.
"Once the army is out you can summon me and all the demons in Hell by having a single demon enter heaven and enter The Temple unharmed. You are dismissed."
The next morning Rayner formed squads of two thousand. Five squads were too be under his control, two and a half would go to Sorin and two and a half would go to Faber. Twenty thousand strong. I wonder if this is possible even with so many? Rayner had asked himself this many time sin the last few hours the answer was always the same It has to be.
On a night darker than the blackest of skies Rayner of the Fallen marched upon the gate of hell and was the first to pass through.
As soon as the demon army exited hell the five hundred guardian angles sent to protect the middle world from just such an event, sent fifty messenger Angles to warn Heaven of the approaching army. The rest set up a small but powerful resistance.
However Sorin and Faber fought through the kake shift resistance and killed all but one of the messengers and gave him a new dark message.
“Tell God we’re coming to his children’s home and it will burn. Then we march on heaven to free Lucifer.” They then turned around and attacked the Guardian Angles from behind killing all but the Archangel Uriel. As Uriel kneeled before them bloodied and beaten he asked a final question.
“Please stay you scythe but a moment Faber for i must ask Reynar my fallen brother how does a once pure and good angel do this to his brother?” Faber stayed his blade and laughed, the once pure laugh of an angel replaced with new deep dark notes. “Well my brother” Reynar said “as you can see by our darkened wings and more than mild tempers we have changed just a bit.” With a laugh and a nod, Faber brought his scythe above his head, gripping the shaft firmly with both hands he struck, silver blood ran down his blade as Uriels now headless body joined those around him the last vanguard of angels had killed many demons but could not have stopped three fallen and the legion in their wildest dreams. The blood of both the angels and demons turned the ground a dark but shining grey as the silver blood of angels mixed with the black blood of demons.


Small church town: human perspective

As the rain poured and thunder cracked above the ancient church, the monks pulled up their hoods and headed indoors. Two younger monks stood in the old bell tower watching the storm. Brother Benjamin turned to go.
“Strange weather don’t you think brother?” his companion Brother Mclearly asked.
“Indeed it could be Brother Mclearly. But it is only a storm all be it a rough one.”
Brother Mclearlys thick Irish voice was full of confidence. “Say Brother, your eyes are sharper than mine am I imagining things or is there some strange flock approaching?” Benjamin turned round to look and saw nothing “You are imaging thing…” he was cut off by a flash of lightning that illuminated the sky. In the flash the Brothers saw a flock of birds heading for the church. Another flash the “birds” were much closer, close enough for the monks to realize that they were no birds, but some sort of flying creatures. When they looked horizon they saw Cadoc and his demons approaching on the field heading for the front gate. The monks rang the ancient bell to warn their brothers but it was too late for even as the first bell tolled my demons were upon them.
Monks grabbed anything and everything that could be used as a weapon expecting the bell to mean raiders or bandits. They could not hear their brothers in the tower over the storm, if they had they might have run instead. The noise came to a sudden end as three deep knocks rang on the old main door One priest went forward and opened an eye slot to see who was knocking. What he saw surprised him, for looking back at him was a man so beautiful he could have been an angel if not for a dark essence radiating from him.
A deep warm voice greated the priests suprised face
“Good evening father. May I please have shelter from the rain?” In the dark the storm old priest could not see the demons just beyond the lights reach.
“First I will have your reason for traveling here and a name good sir!” the preist demanded.
“But of course father. I am Cadoc of the Fallen and I have come for the dual katanas blessed by the Devil himself to restart for a war that is long from over.”
The priest had heard tales of the weapons and of Cadoc as a boy but had not believed the stories of the blades being here for he could never find any hint of their presence. “Be gone demon for this is holy ground!!”

Demon perspective

That was it! I am a Fallen and I am past talking. “Obviously father you should have paid more attention when you learned about the Fallen.” A white light shone in both my hands and a smirk appeared as I sent the door flying off its hinges and over the wall on the opposite side of the courtyard.
“I am Cadoc Fallen Angel and former Guardian of Heavens Gate. I am sickened even speaking to you poor excuses for mammals. I gave you a chance to do this peacefully father and you turned me down so now you will all die!!" i raised my hand and my elites raced forth.
"Leave no survivors.” I command them over the sound of their battle cries. Unable to control them selves they used their hands and teeth instead of their weapons to dismember every man woman and child in the church. Blood spattered on my clothes as I walked through the carnage towards the main hall where a stand of priests younger and stronger limbed had barricaded the doors. They held swords and pitch forks. I saw a group of my men approaching them.
“They are mine.” The demons slowed down but surroundd the group off. “I wonder how I look to them, are they afraid?”“Move or die” one man who must be the leader stepped forward.
“DIE!!!” he shouted and charged me.
His sword came down towards my head I blocked the blade with my left hand and spun around in a circle, using the edge of my wing to slice through him. The next two came at me from both sides the left had a sword attacking low, the right a pitchfork. The one on the left side was just ahead of the right. I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air. I used my free right hand to block the series of stabs from the pitchfork then grabbed it and cast it then delivered a flurry of blows to the mans chest and stomach that would have crippled a demon let alone a man. He fell to the ground his body broken. I used my left hand to bring the other man close to my face. He had dropped his sword in an attempt to free his throat. I smiled exposing not teeth but fangs and bit deep into his neck. Bleeding him until I was full and then casting him into the crowd of demons now watching, their bloody work already done.
The last three came at me from front back and side. The front had a spear the back had another pitchfork, the side a sword. I picked up one of the fallen swords in my left hand and prepared myself. The spearman made my job easy when he threw his spear at me. I crouched, spun the spear flew above me just missing my folded wings and hitting the man behind me in the chest killing him as I used my right hand to grabb the pitchfork as it fell from the speared man hands. I threw the pitchfork back handed into the man coming at my side. It pierced his open jaw as he screamed, his throat and his upper chest. I completed the spin stopping facing the man in front of me again. He fell to his knees and stared in disbelief as I stood up and walked towards him.
“What kind of angel are you?” he asked. I smiled at him
“A Fallen one.” that was the last thing he ever heard before I cut his head in half.
Blood filled the inside the main hall where the monks had raised their last stand. Limbs and bodies were scattered throughout with only a small path cleared through the center to the main alter. “That was amazing Cadoc.” I turned barely aware of the surroundings and in one quick motion I drew my blades and sliced an X design across the speaker’s chest, he fell his body dying, but his soul trapped inside. I placed the palm of my hand over his chest and a bright white light shot forth from my hand and destroyed his soul. His soul would not return to hell it was entirely gone. An old angel trick “Anyone else want to call by my name or will I be referred to as my rank allows?” “Yes Lord Fallen sir” In unison by all in the hall. I would not tolerate such blatant disrespect from anyone, even Rayner called me Fallen at the least in front of the lower ranks. And he stood a chance of surviving a fight with me.
Remembering my task I went to the main alter and said an ancient incantation in the devils tongue. Nothing happened. It wasn’t here five hundred km in two days to get here and the key wasn’t here. Oh well. My first in command approached standing at attention waiting to be recognized “It’s not here” I told him.
“Lord Fallen scouts report Angels on the way possibly Archs.” Archs short for Archangels gods attack dogs. “What now Lord Fallen?”
“Move the troops out we will meet them outside on the field.”
“Yes my Lord. On the field, battle formations!” No complaints would come from my troops they are the best of the best and would follow me into any battle even if it was at heavens gates. I had spent a millennia training my own special squad twice the size of a normal one. Four thousand demon soldiers trained to be faster and stronger, to be able to endure the worst forms of torture and then laugh. They had no fear, they did not tire, and they were loyal only to me. And they were eager for a real battle.



Angel cycle:
Heaven great hall of judgment late 1599

The Great hall of Judgment is one of the most beautiful halls in Heaven and the home of God himself. The walls are filled with pictures of angels and animals from all over the worlds. As Calanthe entered the she stared about her in wonder. Just over ten millennia’s had passed since the day that Lucifer and his Fallen Angels had started the Angel Wars. It was in this very room big enough to be an arena. And on that fateful day that’s what it was a bloody, murderous, treacherous arena. That day it was brother against brother, sister against sister, friends against new powerful enemies.
Calanthe, Maeve and Abiel had been standing guard duty outside the hall when they heard the fighting start. They turned and opened the doors to see Cadoc fighting three angels, one of them the Archangel Raphael. Reynar was covering Lucifer as he bellowed orders and more angels drew weapons and turned on the guards. Rayner had set a trap and the guards fell right in to his plan. Cadoc finish all three of his opponents with a Holy Light blast sending them all flying. Then headed for the door followed by the rest of the angels all the guards were dead. Except us and we held our ground many angels fell to our powers and our blades. But then Rayner broke my relaxing effect and the enemy came at us full speed. “Hold one chance move or die” this had been Cadoc‘s only warning. We did not move before our eyes could follow Faber and Sorin were both behind us. I blacked out then but Maeve stayed awake long enough to have Cadoc but both his swords across her chest and give her an X across her chest. I was later told we were the only four survivors.
But some things had changed over time with some of the fallen getting impatient they had launched an attack on Heaven and nearly succeeded in conquering the gate. But in the final hour Abiel, Calanthe, Tahir and Maeve killed 5 of the Fallen. Tahir, Abiel, and Calanthe were given the rank of Archangel. But God decided that Maeve had too much hatred in her and was not given the rank of archangel. When this happened Maeve decided that all she had was revenge. She grew distant and hostile. She made a vow to God himself that as long as she breathed no demon would ever walk in heaven and for millennia’s she had kept her word for since that day no demon had passed even the outermost gate. Her entire life had gone to the defense of the city, and she knew every nook and cranny of its walls and defenses.
An old man walked I the hall disrupting Calanthe’s line of thought. “My children I hope you are all well?” “Yes father” the angels replied in unison. “Do you know why you are all here?” none spoke “well I assume that you in the least have some suspicions Maeve.” Maeve looked eager and hopeful “I have a theory” God simply nodded in encouragement “Well since all the archangels are out for the first time in forever. I think that for some reason you don’t think the Fallens weapons are safe anymore. And have decided to retrieve them but they are many and have been moved in and out of different place throughout history so your going to send us out to look for them.” Maeve finished out of breath. All the angels thought that she was going a little far for a theory. Seeing the looks on their face God said “No my child she has not gone quite far enough for it is as Maeve has said. The weapons are not safe and I cannot find the last few for the fallen his them well and covered them with seals in their own tongues. Why I am so worried now, after all this time I will tell you. Today a messenger angel came to me covered in the blood of his brothers and sisters and told me the Fallen have escaped with a legion 2000 strong and are coming here. All they have to do is get one demon in the gates and Lucifer will rise. With an army beyond number and comparison, if that happens heaven will fall and all will be lost.”
At this Maeve jumped up angry at Gods lack of faith in his angels, Abiel and Tahir stood at her sides. “I have stopped the demons every time for millennia’s! I will not fail now. We must prepare the defenses!” The other angels nodded in agreement. “No your being foolish Maeve. If the demon army reaches the gates then we will all fall.” This put Tahir and Abiel in shock they had not expected to be reprimanded by Calanthe. “You have only ever repelled an army of hundreds at the most and some of those nearly got passed the defenses. You cannot defend against thousands. It cannot be done not even if you had every angel in heaven could you save the city. But Father if you would allow I ask to lead what troops we have and make a blockade on earth at the foot of the mountain pass and hold them there until the army is assembled and we will kill every demon that comes until we die ourselves we may kill enough to give you a chance.”
“Calanthe my daughter this is why I have chosen you all. You will go and gather as many of the weapons as you can and then retreat to the Mountain pass. Remember the fallen are angels so your weapons will not work you must get the devils Blessed weapons.” God looked at Calanthe and then added “I have decided on a leader for this operation, the Archangel Calanthe will lead. Then the Archangels Tahir and Abiel.”
“Still I am ignored and passed over I am most capable to build the defenses and yet he doesn’t trust me because I want revenge.” “Chief of the Gate Maeve you will follow Calanthe’s lead and give advice when asked.” “Yes Father”

Earth small church town: year 1600

On a vast open field five angels stood forming a circle facing out. Raphael, Calanthe, Abiel, Tahir and Maeve stood absorbing their surroundings. They could see for miles in all directions and feel the wind put mild pressure on the suites of armor that covered every part of their body in some way except for a small visor for sight, and on Raphael who wore no helm. Finding no danger Raphael spoke “We go west from here and then north at the cliffs.” Spreading their wings one by one they took off soaring high above the world. Any who saw them would have thought the birds, or wisps of clouds.
“There” Tahir said as down below the ground had fallen in to a deep ravine so deep the bottom could not be seen. “It’s a looking evil thing” Abiel said. Raphael grew a somber look and said almost to himself “And so it should that is the gate to hell. Five hundred angels and Uriel lay dead somewhere down there.” The Fallen will pay no one spoke these words but it was thought by all. They turned north and pursued that course for many hours. As they flew they began to see great storm clouds in front of them. Suddenly Raphael dropped down to the ground. “Do you see them?”
“See what?” Abiel asked out loud then whispered “there are twelve of them on the edge of the storm and more further in. What do we do?” Calanthe responded first “Look like we didn’t notice and go over it. Just like any other storm cause no suspicion.”
“Agreed” Raphael asked they all nodded. So as before they launched themselves up in to the sky and flew to wards the storm.
Once above the storm Tahir turned to Raphael “The church is under the clouds. What do we do?” Raphael turned to look at Tahir “How much farther till were above the field in front of the church?”
“A mile and closing fast” Tahir said.
“Angels on three were going to dive through to the church. One … two … three!!” upon three the angels all drew their weapons and dove through the cloud. All around them they saw them moving faster than could be followed small, slim demons made for scouting a perimeter. The cloud seemed to never end and the demons were closing in on them from all sides. “Close you eyes” Abiel yelled above the thunder “Light Wave!!” a blast of white holy light shot from Abiels body pushing the demons back and blinding many lost their concentration and fell. “There!” Maeve said as the cloud appeared to thin out. The angels punched through the cloud making a small hole in the bottom that quickly closed up on its self. “What is that?” a bright light shone in the dark shadow of the cloud. It was the church and from it demons began to march, not in a mob like usual but ordered lines, battle formations. And at their head with wings as black as his soul strode Cadoc of the Fallen. In his hands were his katanas, on his back the Dragon Spear. Raphael did not turn to the other but simply said “Prepare your selves, this is going to be a rough storm.”