chapter six

Chapter 6
Rochelle meets Sorin
Demon encampment later that day
“Hold your breath” I said as I increased up my heart rate to almost its full power. A few seconds later we were passing through the giant cloud above my camp and I circled down through the middle and landed in the middle of camp. The sentries had been alerted to my presence long before I arrived. They had learned the feel of the dark tainted purity all of the Fallen gave off. “Breath” I felt her chest fill with air against my back. It felt good to have someone cling to me again. Krishna stepped forward “Sir you have something on your back should I swat it?” he asked laughing at the look on Rochelle's face at both his size and appearance. “Now, now Krishna be nice to Rochelle. Lucifer and I both want her to reach hell in one piece.” I told him Krishna nodded saluting “Yes sir. So how was the flight you seem bloodier than usual sir.”
“Well I met an old friend and got kicked out of his camp, I found Rochelle stalked her for awhile and then today I met someone new.”
“New sir?” Krishna was thrown off by how up beat and unofficial I was.
“Yes I have never seen someone with that amount of skill or speed and his clothes were made of the same material as mine.”
“So what’s so important about that?”
“He was as fast as me fully dressed. And I had only my pants and swords. He was wearing more his weapons wee heavier and he was still keeping up with me.” I could see Krishna's surprised reaction as I told him about the mysterious warrior and our fight. “Well sir he sounds like a good ally and a worse enemy. Too bad he’s an enemy.”
“Not necessarily he’s an assassin and he goes by the pay not by honor. So he could become an ally for the right price.” I was thinking they had said Rayner had hired them to kill Rochelle. But Lucifer wants her alive. So why is her bounty to be claimed when dead? Too many possibilities for my taste I’ll go and see him after the campaign.
“Krishna right?” it was Rochelle Krishna looked down at her no with disgust but interest as to how she would affect the war. “Yes Elle what is it?”
“Elle? Shouldn’t you ask if can call someone if you can give them a nickname?” Krishna laughed “Why are you here with us Demons and a Fallen Angel?”
“I am soul bound to Cadoc.” She said it as casually as she would have said hello. Cadoc laughed in the back ground. “Lucifer wants her for a special assignment.” Krishna looked at me. “Really her, are you sure?” Krishna and I looked at Rochelle she just sat down on a barrel smiling swinging her legs. “So where are we going now?” at this Cadoc and Krishna just smiled “Well she can’t stay here you’ll have to take her to see Faber or Rayner.”
“I was thinking Sorin. She could teach Rochelle some self defense.” Krishna’s face lit up with fear. “You can’t take her to Sorin.”
“Why not, I think it’s better than putting her with Faber or Rayner.”
“Do you remember what happened to the last girl you hung out with?”
“Yes her name was Ashley I really liked a lot. It was going well with her until Sorin found…. Oh right.”
Rochelle looked from Krishna to me “Well what did Sorin do?” Krishna looked to Rochelle his face dead serious “Sorin killed her after stripping the flesh from her bones. Sorin REALLY likes Cadoc.” Rochelle's face dropped as she looked from Krishna to me. “Are you serious?” I nodded “Ok so Sorin is out I guess she’ll have to go to Faber.”
“Probably the safest place sir.” And so it was decided that Rochelle would go to Faber. “Hey wait a minute!!!” Rochelle did not seem happy “So who am I going to again? And what if I don’t want to go to them?”
I looked at her my voice still full of joy must be because of her stupid purity “You are going to go to Faber and you will stay there until I come for you. Krishna will take you there and will guard you.” I turned to Krishna “You will protect her with your near worthless life do you understand you sack of shit? Cause if I get there and she isn’t and your alive then I will personally rip out your tongue and shove it down your bloody throat.” I sounded so happy I don’t know if I sounded as commanding as I should have. In any case Krishna saluted and took Rochelle into my tent he stepped out a few moments later. “Krishna I don’t know how or why but my future lies with her so I’m going to go with her in your stead. You will pretend to be me as of now. First you will take the Dardanos fields in four days from today. If you do not then retreat and keep the army back if they engage you then lower the cloud and kill them all using Azar's future troops. Do you understand no one can no I’m going with her.” Krishna had returned to his old military self “Yes sir just one question sir.”
“What is it?
“How are we going to switch. I’m a lot taller than you and I sound and move different.” he had just finished when my hand hit his forehead. Again the soul switching light could be seen but this time I was witching entire souls. I looked through Krishna’s eyes my new eyes. “Wow why do you see in red? Why am I black and what is the white light?”
“You see in red because that is the color for demon I am black because Fallen Angels have cursed souls. And the white light is Rochelle she has a soul so pure that it outshines any angel I have ever seen and it shines brightest by you.” Krishna summoned the two swords and swung them a few times. “Not bad nice and sharp easy to use thank god you have your reflexes though I’m going to need them until I get used to these.” I walked forward into the tent and was instantly blinded by the light she gave off “Lord Cadoc says we depart tomorrow afternoon be ready.” I closed the flap to the tent and walked back to … me. “So where is my horse and sword?” he looked at me. “Well you have the supply horse out back and your sword is on your back.”
“Oh so it is. I unhooked the sword it was a hand and a half double edged sword good for open space but not hallways. I re-hooked the sword and took the daggers from his waist these would be my main uses each the size of a short sword they were a killer’s wet dream. Small versatile and made of armoroid all of Krishna's equipment was. Even if he didn’t know it I had suspected a day would come when I would need his body and so I had equipped him to fit my needs. “Thank you Krishna you really are the closest thing I have to family now.” I said. He nodded then walked into the tent. I walked off towards my new tent and found that aside from a cot and his military supplies Krishna had nothing in here. No pictures or mirrors nothing of his life or family. I had once asked him and he had told me “The only two things I have kept from my past life are my body and soul.” That was all he said. I now knew just how literally he meant that. I laid down on the mat and found that I was actually rather comfortable. “Tomorrow a new life begins.”
I awoke the next day with a lot of energy and I found that Krishna had woken up early and taken over the camp and had already told all of the commanding officers to report to him from then on. Good I could just leave. “I turned to my left and found Rochelle sitting outside my tent “Good morning” I said “How are you?”
“I am fine and good morning to you too.”
“Are you ready to go yet?”
“Yes I am all ready not that I had a lot to pack.” Rochelle was in the same garments she had been in the night before. “One moment” I said going into my… Cadocs tent and going into the chest in the back corner I found the human clothes that I had bought in the store in town and brought them out to her “Lord Cadoc acquired these for you Elle I hope they fit.” Of course they did I measured her using my speed when she was walking down the street one day. She went into Krishna's tent and came out a few minutes later. She had chosen a red dress that was not tight but loose and easy for travel while still showing her more prominent areas. “A good choice Elle you look terrific.”
“Thank you” she said curtsying. “Oh and I almost forgot Cadoc told me to tell you not to touch me or he’ll something your something up your something else. Or something like that.” Good he’s playing his part wonderfully. “Right then so shall we go Elle or would you prefer to stay and see your people brutally murdered?”
“I want to go.” She followed me to the stables to get the horse which was a huge monster easily ten eight feet at the shoulder ten at the head. And then to my tent to grab a few things when we were done packing I put my hands around her waist and lifted her up she put her hands on my shoulders for balance. Becoming and angel would not improve a single thing. It would lessen her in all her glory. I was surprised at how quickly I had fallen for a girl I had know under two weeks and yet I would die for her if need be. I began too walk out of camp when she turned to me “Aren’t you getting on? There is plenty of room up here.”
“I did not think you would approve riding with a demon behind you.”
“Bullshit you are far too nice to be a bad demon you are just following the orders of a foolish leader.” I could not contain the laughter as I looked at her face it was serious.
“Cadocs a good leader he just doesn’t like failure.” It was strange to be defending my self from Krishna's body. She turned to me in the saddle “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Oh and what is that?”
“Are you getting up or are we going to be going this slow pace all day?” I tilted my head to the side and she moved forward. I put one foot in the strap the swung up behind Rochelle she leaned back into me. “You’re not comfortable. You’re too solid and rigid there’s no give.” I chuckled quietly “Sorry I’ll try to be fatter next time.”
“Good now I’m going to go to sleep try not to wake me up.” She said closing her eyes. I grunted as my response. A few minutes passed when I heard her singing quietly to herself it was a beautiful song about life and its experiences.
Insert song don’t forget any one who reads this remind me to make a song or poem or something.
It was such a beautiful song that by the time she had finished and fallen asleep I had memorized every word. I was repeating a poem from my childhood when she woke up.
“Her father was worried and thought she was dead
But then she walked in through the big oaken door
He asked if she was hut she said I am sore
I was knocked unconscious and hit in the head
But then came my hero and he rescued me
He fought off the villains and set me free
And where is this hero this man of such strength
Show him to me so that rewarded he may be

But when she turned her hero was gone
The demons had come for his soul
Their plan he had foiled and now he must pay
Dragged down to hell by the demons to rot
Never to be see the light of the day
This man a great hero named

She changed her breathing just enough so that I cold tell that she was awake.
“Oh so you’re awake are you? Enjoy your nap?”
“Please go on I want to know who the hero was.” I thought about it.
“It was the story of my life, of the first time I had r seen hell. But I escaped back to the Middle world and to my family. When I returned I could not see with light because there was light all the time when my eye were open and closed night or day there is always light for me.” Rochelle looked up at me “What did you do?”
“I killed an Archangel.” It had been in the midst of my first real full out blood bath I had gone berserker and the Archangel Mamonoth got in my way I killed him as soon as he landed.” She looked at me “You liar” she elbowed me. I laughed “Yes but it made a good story.” She did not talk to me for awhile. I had no problem with silence but I did not want to keep this silent. I could see the harbor ahead. “Have you ever been this far before?” I asked
“No but I always wanted to see it. It’s amazing just like I imagined but with more of a serenity to it.” I could see Faber on the bow of his ship. I brought the horse up to the dock dismounted, then helped Rochelle down.
Faber walked down the boarding plank up to me “It has been awhile General Krishna. Tell me how is the campaign going?”
“Lord Faber it goes better now that Lord Cadoc has returned. How are your affairs? I had heard rumors of the Oceans Keeper giving you troubles.”
“He was bothering us for a time but he lost many creatures to my machines of war and has retreated for a time. So you must be Rochelle am I right?” he said turning to Rochelle.
Rochelle lowered her head “No Lord she is coming on the horse.”
“Ah I see she has a sense of humor, but no talent for lying. Poor girl we shall have to teach you how to do that. It can be quite fun.” He smiled and turned back to me “Well I have her you may depart.” He said putting his hand out to grab Rochelle. I had unsheathed both of the daggers and put them towards him. “Not going to be that easy is it?” he asked. “I go where she goes.”
Rochelle stood behind me “Why don’t we establish some rules for while I stay at Fabers to make this easier?” she suggested. Faber looked at me “Ok what are your terms?”
I sheathed my daggers. “I go where she goes excluding “personal” times. You and you men never touch her, Rayner does not know she is there and finally if Sorin comes to visit I am notified a full day before she arrives. Clear?” he looked at me then cut his hand and put it out “Crystal” I cut my hand and shook his. He smiled a big white smile and yelled “Well then let’s get out of here before I change my mind.” He stepped aboard and then moved to allow Rochelle to pass without touching her. She smiled at him and if his black skin could redden I’m sure it would have. “She is not going to live through this is she?” he asked me as I passed.
“Not if Lucifer has his way.”
“And if Cadoc and you have yours?”
“Our plan is the same as Lucifers. Or do you question Cadocs loyalty to Lucifer?”
“Of course not I am Cadocs friend and supporter.” Rochelle turned around “What are you two talking about?”
I stated to walk to wards her “Nothing Elle just catching up. How do you like the boat?”
“It is marvelous are they all this big?” Faber came up behind her “You really haven’t been to sea before have you?” Rochelle shook her head “This is a rather small ship that I use for trading or picking up guests who cannot fly. Now your quarters are down below my Lady and I assume you’ll be sleeping at the door Krishna?” Rochelle spoke her voice full of a rather cute but commanding authority. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh really so where will I be sleeping?”
“Well how about in the room instead of outside it like a stray dog.” She said. Faber laughed “I will have another bed brought in for your new “dog”.”
Faber walked off still laughing. “Thank you Rochelle that was very… cruel of you.”
“No problem Krish.”
“It’s Krishna.”
“Oh c’mon you call me Elle why can’t I give you a nickname?” when she looked at me with those purple eyes I’m not going to lie she was “Adorable”
“What did you say?” she asked.
Oh crap I thought to myself that was out loud stupid inside thought coming out.
“I said adorable. I just realized that you just reach my neck. You’re so cute.” I said mocking her. This had an undesired effect she turned around and walked off. I really needed to practice my people skills.
As we approached the fortress of the sea Rochelle was in shock she =had never seen a fort made for war in her life and this was one of the better one I had to admit. The walls were thick, strong, watertight, and they were made in a star pattern for maximum cross fire from the siege machines on the high walls.
“It is a nice fort Faber who did you steal this one from?” I asked sarcastically.
“The water keeper he went on a deep sea dive for a couple of days so I moved in.” I looked at him and he shrugged “Wasn’t all that difficult.” Rochelle was totally oblivious to the fact that at will Cadoc could kill her by sending one angel to Sorin and he probably already had.
A few days passed and Rochelle soon new her way around the castle basics but was never anywhere that I was not I did not trust these unruly demons Faber commanded. They were brutish and crude more monsters with weapons than actual warriors. I could not shake the felling that something was wrong until on the sixth day of are arrival it happened.


Angels cycle:
Calanthes plains encampment 2 weeks prior:
Calanthe stood in her war tent discussing the latest news of Sorins fortress and the mines with Sieghard, Alaric, Tahir and the Golden General. She had received the Golden Generals scout the day before and invited him to join her for a meeting to discuss a union of the armies.
“General, where do you stand as far as schematics for the mines go?”
“Not good I’m afraid. Those mines have been changed many times since they were made and they now go much deeper and wider than before. God alone knows what they look like now.” Sieghard walked forward putting a map on the table. It was of the area surrounding the mines in a mile wide radius. “Our scouts drew this yesterday. They could not enter but we have their positions and rotations for the above ground at least.” He took another parchment from his attendant nearby. “This is a copy I had made for you and your men general from one soldier to another.” The General took the parchment
“Thank you Sieghard this will be most helpful.” He gave it to one of his men and then said something about storing it on his desk for later. Just as his man was leaving Abiel burst in. “Abiel what is wrong?” Tahir asked going to her side she was bloody and covered in wounds that had not healed.
“Cadoc has returned to the Middle world. He flew out of the gorge the yesterday and flew to a few villages. By the time I found out what he was looking for it was too late.”
Calanthe looked at the General “Please wait in your tent General” the general went to object but Tahir stepped forwards. “If you do not go willingly I will escort you.” Even the Golden General was not about to challenge an archangel to a face off he left without a further word. Tahir started back to Calanthe and Abiel.
“Slow down Abiel, breath deeply what was he looking for?” Calanthe whispered into her ear using her voice to calm her down. He found the Pure Spirit in middle world.” Tahir stopped walking. “that is not possible she is a myth. A fiction for new angels not in a hundred millennia’s has there been a Pure Spirit in the Middle world.”
Calanthe remembered the stories from her first few years as an angel. They told of a human soul so pure that if the Pure Spirit wished to trade her soul with one in hell than God himself would raise that soul and trade it with the Pure. Calanthe stood her confidence failing. “Does he have it yet?”
“No not yet, it’s a girl. And she is beautiful more so than some angels.”
“This means only one thing. That girl must be taken alive she cannot die.” Tahir spoke his voice heavy with determination. Abiel walked to him “Why can’t we kill her?”
“Because if she dies and she has already been turned then she can trade her soul for Lucifers we must first find her and then convince her of the truth. Only then can she die.”
As much as they hated themselves for what they we about to do they new that it was necessary for the survival of the Middle World and Heaven. Calanthe looked to Sieghard and Alaric “You two will go and find this girl. You will not harm her in any way she must trust us completely if we are to convince her of the truth.” Alaric spoke first
“Will it really be that hard to convince a human that angels are telling the truth? I mean we stand for justice purity and truth. Remember?”
“But you forget the Fallen are angels too even if the are fallen ones.” Sieghard explained. “She will be just as likely to believe that they are telling the truth simply because they are angels too. Plus they are terrific liars who could convince you that you were a goat’s uncle.” They all had a short laugh at this but soon the glum mood returned. Sieghard turned to Calanthe “Now is the time when we avenge our fallen comrades. We will leave two days from now and Abiel you say that he found her three days ago?” Abiel nodded Sieghard continued “Good then we have two more days until he moves her. He will not send her to Sorin she would kill any girl who even looks at Cadoc. His own men are in a war with Dardanos and soon the golden General so he will not bring her there. Rayner would frighten her away from their side the only place left is Faber.”
Tahir stepped forwards “So he will bring her there then?”
“Maybe either way we have time on our side.” Alaric said Calanthe did not understand.
“What do you mean Alaric we have time? If they can convince her and kill her then they win this war.”
“Not if we soul bind her to both me and Sieghard before she dies. She would have enough soul left to live on until we were both dead.”
Abiel walked over to a chair and sat down “So instead of saving this girl we, who are Archangels of God, are going to kill the purest soul to walk on Middle World in hundreds of millennia’s. How is this right again?” Tahir and Sieghard looked at each other they did not speak. Alaric broke the silence “It will save billions of lives on hundreds of worlds. It is for the greater good.” Calanthe nodded “He is right Abiel and you two” she pointed at Tahir and Sieghard “both know that what Alaric and I say is true.” Sieghard looked at Abiel
“They are right we all know it and we aren’t really king her. We are just evolving her to our time in existence.” He looked to Calanthe for support but she looked distressed “Are you all right Calanthe?” Calanthe looked about the room then focused on Alaric “Who taught you two about this method?” Alaric answered “Cadoc” then his face went white. Sieghard looked almost as pale.
“What is wrong what does that have to do with this?” Tahir asked he was getting tired of all the dramatics. Alaric looked at him “If Cadoc taught us this then that means that he will also have thought of this method. And knowing him he’s probably already done it.”
Abiel looked at Sieghard “So what does that mean? Can’t we still join souls?” Sieghard looked at her “Yes we could but. If Cadoc put any of his soul into her then she can enter hell but not heaven. If she dies she will go to hell and then they will have another chance to convince her.” as this occurred to al of them a messenger angel came in “Commanders we have found the cloud.” Even this news did not bring any joy to her heart. “Very good you are dismissed take a days leave as a reward.” She did not hear his reply but went into deep thought as did all the others. At some point Sieghard and Alaric left to get ready. Now being gifted with eternal life gives you the bad habit of not keeping track of time and as she was in the middle of an army that could have been run by anyone of it’s fifty commanders she was not disturbed for two whole days.
Two days later
Shit what day is it how long have I been out of it? in the two days she discovered she had been out of it she had only thought of one way that this could work in their favor if Cadoc switched some of his soul with hers then maybe her purity would start to purify him. It’s a long shot but I have to know if it is possible. She left her tent and went to find him. He was the same angel who had killed the demon in Troop Moral. He seemed to know more about every thing than anyone else. He had a better memory for things he read than most angels.
As she approached his tent he called out to her “Welcome Calanthe what do you need?” she entered his tent and had to laugh at what she saw. “Solomon we have talked about this” in Solomon's bed lay two sleeping female angels. “What?” Solomon followed her gaze and looked the two angels. Both had messy hair, smelt funny and smug smiles on their faces. He smiled at Calanthe “What I cannot give out y own Troop Moral?” Calanthe shook her head. “If Michael ever found out about this he’d kill you.” she said her voice had a heavy undertone to it.
“Are you blackmailing me?” Solomon asked surprised at Calanthe.
“Yes now tell me all you know about reverse soul binding.” Solomon turned to her “I’ll be at your tent in ten minutes.” “Too bad though I really wanted to give some more moral” He thought to himself.
Calanthe strode out of the tent and headed back to hers. And ten minutes on the dot Solomon walked in holding a book the size of his hand. “Lady Calanthe this powerful stuff why do you want to know about it?” Calanthe stood from the chair where she had been sitting “No reason in particular just something Alaric brought up.”
“Really so it has nothing to do with he Pure Spirit?” he asked.
“How did you know about that?” Calanthe could pull rank but having Solomon around would be an asset.
“I know because I’m not stupid Abiel comes in beaten and bruised. The Golden General is dismissed by you when he is here because you invited him. And then you come to me asking about soul switching. And the pure Spirit was born only twenty years ago. I am not stupid Calanthe.” Calanthe had only one question
“How did you know when she was born?” Solomon paused for a second looking both embarrassed and proud. “Well she might be it was a total accident, it was only one night.” Calanthe was loosing patience “SPIT IT OUT SOLOMON!!”
Solomon shouted back “SHE IS MY DAUGHTER” both Calanthe and Solomon stood there for awhile neither said a word. Finally Calanthe broke the silence.
“She is your… daughter. How did this happen?” Solomon looked ashamed as Calanthe glared at him. “It was my first solo patrol on earth. I was passing through a village when I came upon one of their women being raped I saved the women and she thanked me. I saw her a few times on my patrol and soon we started going out with each other and then we started fucking and she became pregnant. I erased me from her memories replacing me with a man from out of town and gave him my memories of time with her and then left to check in from my patrol. And now it is known that I have helped the apocalypse to come wonderful.” Calanthe was speechless for a few moments then realizing that he had a right to know she said
“Cadoc might have your daughter. We think he may be planning to take her to hell to raise Lucifer.” Expecting him to explode n anger she readied her self.
“Is that where Sieghard and Alaric are going to find her?” Solomon was trying to think calmly but it was difficult. “Yes they are going after her.”
“Then I would only get in their way. I must go to heaven and work on something, may I be dismissed.” Calanthe did not even hesitate when she spoke “Yes of course go.” She knew what he was going to do he would go to heaven and before god himself claim his family right to the rank Archangel. That was the last time she ever saw Solomon like that.