chapter two

Chapter 2
A battle and a funeral
Combined Cycle: England, church field

As I walked toward the Archangels I realized I knew one of them. Raphael that was his name Faber’s little brother if I was remembering correctly. Oh well they will all die regardless although Faber would be angry. “Well, well, well five little Archangels standing on MY lawn. Commander Krishna this simply will not do. Please remove them.” “Yes Lord Fallen” Krishna took one look at the Archangels and started giving orders.
Krishna moved forward at the head of fifty of our best hand to hand combat soldiers, favoring speed over strength hoping to overwhelm them quickly. Krishna had yet to fail me in anyway. If I told him I wanted heaven he ask “In how long Lord Fallen?” or “silver or gold platter?” and be totally serious. I had found him on my torture table one day and seeing his size and resistance to pain I asked him what he did to get into hell. He responded “You know humans?” “Yes” of course I did “I tried to kill them. All of them and I got pretty high it was two hundred and counting when I got ganged up on by some blasted angels bet they wouldn’t have done so well in a one on one fight.” Now I wont lie I was intrigued “Well aren’t we lucky today because you know what I need? I need a First in commanders to lead a war against the Angels and if you can be my current one the positions yours. It took him thirty seconds to rip off my last commanders head and limbs, limbs first. We had been together ever since.


Across the field the Archangels readied themselves both mentally and physically, for the fight. “When they come we will circle up facing out side by side it will be: Calanthe, Tahir, Abiel, Maeve and then me. Do not let them in the middle or we will be separated and we will fall. If separated try to run. Tell someone we lost the spear and to fall back to the fort. And prepare for literal hell.” Raphaels face was grave but determined “Agreed” we all said.

Twenty paces, fifteen, ten, contact the first few demons hit the angels shields to test for any damaging reactions, none. Next was the initial attack. Krishna had the troops circling them full speed I decided to watch from above. Spreading my wings I took off into the air and soared to above the battle. Krishna was locked in combat with Raphael one on one, holding his own and better. I looked to the other angels. My troops were striking over and over never stopping their attack, but leaving Raphael for Krishna. Hmm they are fighting in two man squads. “Dodge, strike, kick now he will stab side… how do I know this? Its all so familiar… hahahahahahaha” losing control of myself I burst into uncontrolled laughter.

“Hold the circle!!” Raphael yelled as he exchanged blows with the lead demon he was too fast, too strong to be any other. Kicking the demon in the gut knocking him back Raphael yelled “Krishna I challenge your leader Cadoc of the Fallen to one on one combat!!” as he got up he shouted something in the Devils tongue. The circling troops stopped, showing not a single sign of being dizzy or tired. These were no ordinary demons these were well trained probably an elite Squad for Lucifers personal use. These must be Cadocs warriors for his soldiers discipline was legendary even in heaven.

“Well you should think yourself lucky he still has some honor left. Or you’d be dead right now. And you are very lucky it’s me you get to fight Raphael. I’ll be sure kill you quickly.” I landed in front of Maeve and Tahir. “And I see you brought me a present so sorry I couldn’t kill you last time Maeve. But I will not fail to this time I promise you. No one will interfere on pain of death at my hand no matter what way the battle goes. Understood?” the chorus of yes sirs sent a proud chill up my spine. “Krishna if any of the other angels begin to interfere you can have them.”
“I am your target Fallen not her.” Raphael started moving between us “We shall see who kills who Fallen I claim the right to vengeance.” Maeve shoved Raphael out of the way. “Maeve no,” Calanthe stepped in between us “not now.”
“Boring time to fight” I moved quickly into a round house kick Calanthe blocked with her shield but the impact sent her flying. I turned to Maeve who had moved into a battle stance. When Raphael tried to get in between us he found his path blocked by Krishna “Play time angel.” And so our battles began, I started mine with a double blow to Maeves shield. She blocked and returned with double sword swipe X pattern to my chest I move to the side crouching low and using my wings to sweep out her feet. But instead of falling she used her own wings to launch into a back flip. Suddenly I felt very confident. “Playing mind games now are we?” I shut my mind and my focus returned I couldn’t see her face but I bet that pissed her off.
I landed from my back flip perfectly on my feet and started my mental attack. Haha that’s right I could feel him getting confident then a picture ran through my mind it was me lying on the floor while Cadoc cut open my chest. This was his blockade he focused on this to get me out of his head and it worked because in my surprise to the image I faltered. He attacked again a katana for each side I blocked the left with my shield and the right with my sword. Oh-no!!
“FATALITY!!” she fell for it while blocking my blades she left her chest wide open. I raised my right leg so that I was side ways and kicked her once with my right and then launched myself into the air and spinning around kicked her helm off with my left. Damn if she hadn’t had that on helm shed be dead.
Oh-no thud I felt my armor absorb the contact as his foot hit me and then before I could recover he knocked off my helm with a head kick. I went flying backwards. Landing on my back and wings only my instincts saved me as I used the backwards momentum to stand up. I crouched and as I did I could feel the katanas cut off some of my now free flowing hair. I used my shield to hit his chin and then stabbed his gut with my sword. Once I had him I didn’t let go I smashed his face with my shield until I couldn’t recognize what I was hitting. Then I felt two small vacuums fill with air at my sides as his blades disappeared.
I used my now free right hand to grab her shield stopping it dead mid-swing. “Now that really hurt Maeve.” I used my left hand to wipe away some of the blood showing my already healing face. Grabbing her right wrist I pulled my self deeper on to the sword ripping her shield out of her grasp I tossed it away. I kicked her stomach still holding her wrist to straighten her arm out then hit her now exposed elbow joint breaking her arm. “Any last words before you die Maeve?”
“You forgot something. Cant think of what it’s the sword in your gut!!!”
I used my left hand to twist the blade sideways. He released my right arm and backed away. My sword still in his gut, I looked at my arm straightening it out and heard a crackle as it healed it’s self.
“You really are Heavens biggest pain in the ass.” I grabbed the handle of her sword and pulled it out. The hilt and blade were covered in my black blood. Tossing it away I saw her take off her chest plate, seeing as it was now useless do to the dent I put in it. Ok fist fight this I can do. We started to walk to wards each other fists ready muscles loose. Maeve used her wings for a small jump going for a face shot. I dodged back then front flipped over her wings as she used them to sweep where I had just been.
Now he’s behind me I launched myself into the air and then shot straight down superman style. Both of my fists hit his chest knocking him down. I recovered and went for my sword. Haha ok now I have a chance. I turned just in time to get my shield thrown in my face breaking my nose. I heard him shout “Now were even!!” I looked up it time to see him use his wings to fly straight at me. A katana in each hand, he landed a few feet in front of me. His swords sweeping at me, I blocked left then right. I dodged an uppercut to block a shoulder stab no time to attack back in between. Then pain as I felt one of his cursed blades cut my calf, my leg collapsed under me sending me falling straight into his kick.
Uppercut, shoulder, calf hit!! Haha down you go Maeve kick. Her sword went flying her body limp. Calanthe, Abiel and Tahir were by her side in a second. Her calf would not heal a cut from a cursed blade. “Ah, ah, ah remember our agreement Maeve.”
“Move guys, he’s right.” Calanthe looked at me with determination and confusion. “We can take him.” Tahir and Abiel suddenly changed their stances to Maeve’s sides as the demons closed in. “But you can’t take them. Let me die Calanthe let me rest. Calanthe lowered her sword and shield. “Calanthe retreat to the hill protect the Gates don’t let them in. Promise me!” “I promise you they will not pass while I breathe.” “Good now go run.”
“Yes run killing an Archangel and Maeve is enough for one day.” I saw their confusion and pointed behind them where Krishna was walking back from across the pains silver blood was covering his sword and armor. I saw the look on their faces fall. As Calanthe gave the order to fall back, Maeve looked at me.
“Now I can rest in peace go on Cadoc send me to the light.”
“Haha sorry we have other plans for our soul. I have to say I was kind of disappointed in you so I’ll see you in class first thing Monday morning.”
“What?”


Hell training area: year 1601
I never finished that sentence because two things happened, one I realized Cadoc was holding my sword and two he cut off my head. When I awoke I did not open my eye I kept my breathing even and listened nothing was I dead? I felt warm, hot even, I opened my eyes a sliver and I saw him Lucifer but he was no the evil I remembered, he was beauty, grace, and warmth rolled into a human an angels body,. He had a look of peace on his face just waiting calmly and yet darkness surrounded him. “How is this possible?” I asked. He just stood there smiling and said “Welcome to hell Azar. Tell me how do you feel?”
“W-what how did I get here! Who is Azar? I am an angel of God not one you.” “Oh but you are Azar, you live only to kill the Fallen, your fellow angels if you remember, you are just as filled with hate as I am or as Cadoc is.” He smiled at me “come find out our story.” He had talked for what seemed like days telling of his plan. These were some of the things he told me.
“Do you know why I would not bow to man? No I would not bow because I could see that man was flawed and undeserving of all the love I give to our father.” He stopped, seeing the surprise on my face “you thought that I would not still call him father. I am an angel of heaven. And I loved my home and with you as a witness I defended it with my life as did Cadoc, Faber, Rayner and Sorin.” “I will kill Cadoc” I said my voice trembling in hatred. “He saved you, you know” I scoffed “You lie. Cadoc killed me sent me here remember? He hates me he wouldn’t save me.” “NO he does not!!!!” I was experiencing the devils wrath and now I knew why everyone feared him. For in his rage Lucifer was terrifying, and had I been his enemy I would have been very afraid. “He favored you above any other angel.” He was calming down “You’re lying.” Again I said now unsure “Am I? Can you remember your first battle? You were the only survivor left from an entire squad. Remember?”
“I remember it was the first time I ever saw him.”
“Good then you know that I am NOT lying. I promise you Azar I may hurt you physically, push your limits but I will never lie to you or do something that will not improve you in someway.
I could not believe it Cadoc who had never shown me any favor except as an exceptional student but he sacrificed himself for me. All I could say was “God acted wrongly to send you to hell for loving too much.” Not daring to say it out loud I thought “Oh my God this is blasphemy I really due belong in Hell” but then another voice like the summers breeze came to me and spoke. “No Maeve you don’t. you belong back home like me” “How did you do that? How can I hear you in my head?” Hell is not a bad place it’s just full of bad people.” Lucifer really did have an oxymoron there “Like angels and you?” “Well talk more about me later. But for now I have work for you to do both of you.” “What do you mean both?” A dark voice came from the shadows. “Hello Azar welcome to class.”
“Not happy to see him?” Lucifer smiled well that’s too damn bad. Know why because no one cares, this is hell if you enjoy it you really do deserve to be here. Now as much as you hate Cadoc you will once again be his student.”
“What?!” Azar and Cadoc exclaimed at the same time. “You told me I got to kill her and then to bring the body here so you could fix the body and then raise her. You never told me I had to train her. You deceived me Lucifer this wasn’t the deal.”
“Wow, ok I can see your upset, and this is a big surprise. So let’s sleep on it.” Lucifer began to walk off toward the exit of the cave.
“Oh no you don’t! I am not being taught by Cadoc again, he already taught me once what does he know that I don’t?” Azar was a little upset by this new development.
“Hey I kicked you light feathered ass. You got soft.”
Why am listening to this crap I’m fucking Lucifer I don’t have to put up with this.
“ENOUGH YOU TWO WILL WORK TOGETER AND YOU WILL SHUT UP!!! AND IF FOR ANY REASON YOU DO NOT I WILL STRAP YOU TO THE RACK AND MAKE YOU HURT IN WAYS YOU CANNOT IMAGINE!!!”
Lucifer bellowed “Now. Cadoc you will train Azar in her new powers and Azar you will shut up and listen. Understood?”
“Yes Lord Lucifer” Cadoc replied going back to his professional self.
“Understood sir.” Azar said.
Lucifer walked towards the mouth of the cave spreading his wings, and taking off.
“Well let’s get started.” Cadoc turned to Azar “spread you wing and take off.” He said pointing to the mouth of the cave. The cave was a small rough hole in the side of a greater cave. The cave had to be two kilometers high and more in length. Azar approached the opening saw her surroundings and said “Ok that’s too easy”
“Just do it light wings”
Azar spread her wings and instantly felt a different sensation, it was strange but not unwelcome. Azar turned her head and saw what was different right away. “Why do I have six wings? What kind of angel has six wings What does this mean?” Azar said turning to Cadoc.
“When you embraced your death enough of the hate had left you and you became an Archangel. Unlike most archangels you received the rank of Aerial Archangel. They are elite air fighters nothing can compare to their speed, grace or power in the air.”
“So why am I here Shouldn’t I have gone to heaven?”
“Azar your here because when you died your soul still had enough evil in it to go to hell. I had to wait for a very precise moment to kill you or you would have gone to heaven. Murder, it truly is an art. Now jump and fly”
“I still think this will be easy especially since I’m “made” for this kind of thing.” Azar spread her wing and took off. Azar had no trouble getting started. “This is easy told you!!”
“Good now, do a turn and then do a dive.”
“No problem.” Azar turned but in stead of turning a little to the left she did a complete u-turn. Ok so there are differences in the angle and timing. Azar thought to her self.
Turning her wings the a little less than usual amount she would have to, to turn into a dive she found her self turning into a perfect dive going straight down too fast she pulled out of the dive inches above the floor.
“You have more wings therefore your going to go faster than ever before, you’ll be able to do more complicated patterns, fly circles around almost all the other Archangels, with my training you will be the perfect aerial warrior.” Cadoc encouraged from the ground by the caves entrance. “Only one will match you and you must be ready for him when he comes. He is the greatest Aerial Archangel in heaven since the fall of his teacher Anemone. Who fell in the first fight at hells gate after I became a Fallen.”
Azar landed her instincts telling her that there was only one Archangel in heaven who Cadoc could be talking about. “You mean Tahir don’t you.” She asked.
“Yes he is the one. And to keep our plan on track he must die and you must kill him. No one else can.” Azar stood unable to move. She would have to kill Tahir. “Ok.”

Angel’s cycle
Heaven year 1600
2 days later

Abiel stood on the left corner atop of a large pyre along with Calanthe and Tahir were at the other end. God stood on the corner next to her. She heard god start speaking but did not really comprehend the words. All Abiel knew was that wrapped in one of the bundles of cloth was Maeve and beside her was Raphael. She knew that she would never see Maeve smile over a victory again. That never would heavens gate hear her, command her soldiers to victory and glory. Calanthe had been quite ever since the plains her soul was becoming consumed with hatred and soon she would choose the war path. And when she did Abiel planned to help avenge their fallen sister. She saw a single tear drop down Tahirs cheek, then another and another until his tears flowed like a river but not once did he sob or cry out. Calanthe was not crying she would cry when she had killed Cadoc and stopped the invasion until then she only new vengeance.
Calanthe listened to Gods testament to the angel that had been Maeve. “My children” he began “The day before yesterday we lost two very special, very loved angels died on the field of battle defending their brothers against Cadoc of the Fallen and Krishna his first in command. Both fought until the very end as true angels should and they fought with honor. I am proud to be their father and father to you all. May you find happiness wherever your souls have gone, Maeve my Guardian Archangel of the Gate and the ever patient Raphael you will be missed.” He was crying for them and the angels did the same they did not applaud but sang the song of mourning which cannot be interpreted into this tongue without ruining the songs beauty.
Tahir turned to Calanthe who was not crying but looking down. “They will suffer long and hard for this.” Calanthe did not respond except by looking up and dropping her torch lighting the pyre. She than walked off Tahir did the same. Abiel and God dropped theirs and got off as well.
“Calanthe, Tahir, Abiel. Wait” God came up to them as they left “Are you sure you want to travel down this path? It can lead to darkness.”
We all looked at each other “We know father and yes I gave my word that the demons would not reach heaven. And killing the Fallen will make that much easier.”
“You are all set of mind then?” We nodded. “Good then take these angles with you they are in charge of Cadocs old squad and are loyal to me,” Beckoning to two angels in the crowd to come forward and handed Abiel a thick folder filled with names ranks position special abilities of every one the angels assigned to the squad. “You’ll find that they are useful in a pinch.” With that he left.
The leading angel came forward “Hello Calanthe, Abiel, Tahir.” Sieghard nodded to each of them “Is this it then the final battle heavens best going after the worst of the Fallen?” he asked his voice solemn and tired.
“Hello Sieghard yes I’m afraid it is. Are you sure the Elites will fight him?” Calanthe asked with a worried expression.
“Yes those who would not have been reassigned to other squads.”
Abiel looked troubled “How many are left?”
“One thousand nine hundred” this was the second angel who had not needed an introduction. Any angel or demon would have known him from his rough raw voice, dark cloak and the sword sheathed at his side. It was Demons Bane and in the last hundred thousand years it had been used to kill twenty five thousand demons. He was the only angel who had gone in to hell as a training exercise and come out alive.
Tahir stepped forward “Welcome Alaric your sword will be most welcome in this fight.”
‘Well I couldn’t leave any of you too kill Cadoc. You’re not nearly crazy enough to take him on. Sieghard and I will be lucky if we make it out at all.”
Calanthe stepped towards Alaric her voice full of filling contempt at the very mention of Cadoc’s name. “I will kill Cadoc I don’t need you to do it for me.”
“Oh really” suddenly Alaric vanished. Tahir and Abiel move back a few feet sensing what was to come. Calanthe felt cold steel touch her throat at an angle that would kill her if she moved in ant direction. “And how are you going to kill a Fallen that moves faster than you can see, who can dent an Archangel’s armor with a single kick. Who killed Maeve and she was twice the warrior you could ever be.” Sieghard watched the hope disappear from Calanthe’s face as her only reason for living was struck down into the dirt. He stepped forward nodding to Alaric. Alaric removed his blade. Calanthe fell to her knees her head down. “Calanthe you may not be able to avenge Maeve, but we can. You must trust us with that task. We will not fail.” Calanthe raised her head “What can I do?”
“What can we do?” said Abiel stepping forward with Tahir putting their hands on Calanthe’s shoulders.
“Yes what can we do?” Calanthe asked again proud that her friends were still there for her.
Alaric stepped forward “Rayner has set up three bases on earth, and is fighting the humans in the pits for a fourth one. Each is commanded by one of the fallen. Sorin is in the desert to the west, one on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean to the east commanded by Faber. There is the fighting for the pits in the south now we cannot be sure but we think Krishna is in charge there but we cannot confirm. Cadoc himself has not been seen since the church. The last and most well fortified base is in the rain forest to the north. Where Rayner himself waits for what we do not know. It may be for Cadoc to return with orders from wherever he is or it may be for some kind of weapon. We can only guess.” Alaric finished.
“We need you too lead the armies while we fortify our own defenses. Especially with that new squad of demons you were telling us about. Battle formations God help us they must be Cadocs Elite Demon squad we heard rumors from captured demons about the worst demons being rounded up for some sort of new gift. But none of them were ever heard from or seen again. Well we know now. So will you lead the armies and vanquish the demons from four forts on earth?” Sieghard looked at Calanthe extending a hand to help her up.
Calanthe took his hand and stood up, looking from Tahir to Abiel. The smile reappeared on her face, and her eyes lit up with a new goal to fulfill.
“Yes we will.”