Part 23 (2/2)
”No, we can't. They are talking too low.”
”I hear them very clearly.”
”You must be still tapped into one of their Essence. What are they saying?”
”They are talking about how their Essence is slipping from them, making them weaker.” I start, before pausing to listen some more. ”They think the Heavenly Host have changed the makeup of the Epitome, granting it the ability to absorb the energy of those denied entrance.”
”The fallen will not attempt to attack themselves,” Penuel says thoughtfully, sounding more disappointed than I expect. Shouldn't that be good news? And then I hear something that raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
”I cannot hear them anymore, the connection must be broken. But before it broke, I heard one of them say something about sending the army in first. Can they do that?”
”Yes,” Araqiel confirms quietly. Her forehead furrowing in deep thought. ”Abaddon has decided to call us bluff, and he'll win the hand in this case.”
”What do you mean,” I cry in a whisper, fear gripping my heart. ”Couldn't we just keep reinforcing the s.h.i.+eld like before?”
”Not if the fallen angels stay back,” she says in her tranquil voice, ”and let the Divine Army march in by itself. He will take the risk that there is no Archangel in here and release the Divine Army, or a part of it, off his command and they can then come in through the s.h.i.+eld. If he is right that there is no Archangel in here, which we know he is, he will shout his orders to them from outside. With no one in here to challenge his decision, the Divine Army will carry out his orders.”
”What orders?”
”I would guess, to kill whoever is inside, definitely, and capture any angels, being that we are immortal.” My heart stops at the words uttered. I guess this time I'll not be coming back, now that someone has captured my beloved angel of death.
”And to find out why the s.h.i.+eld keeps getting stronger.”
”We should run!” I declare, but neither of the two budges. ”Now!” I cry desperately in as low a tone as I can manage, given the rollercoaster of emotions I am going through.
”We have nowhere to run. They'll hunt us down. We cannot defeat them. All we can do is not let them get the Portal.” His words sink in slowly as dread sips like venom into my heart.
I know what those words mean very well, even without listening further. But he doesn't say anything anymore, and I lift my eyes to watch the two bright pairs of eyes looking at me solemnly.
”I have to die?” I ask pensively, and they both nod almost apologetically. ”But this time I'll die forever.” Another nod.
”Samael, a fallen angel of death, is most probably with them. So you have to die before the s.h.i.+eld gives way completely, and the fallen angels come in.”
”So you have to kill me?” Araqiel looks at me with the saddest green eyes I have ever seen, and the thought that she would probably moan my death rea.s.sures me.
”We cannot harm humans, princess,” she uses my dad's cajoling nickname in a loving tone, making me hold her tighter to myself as she envelops me in a hug.
”You have to kill yourself, or let the Divine Army kill you.”
”Will they kill me quickly?” I ask, because I cannot imagine having to take my own life. She nods in answer.
”Yes, just appear fickle, like a meagre son of man on their path, and they will dispose of you very quickly.” She sees the questioning look on my face and then proceeds. ”Stand in front of me when they come in, they will kill you without hesitation, in their need to capture us...”
”They are coming!” Penuel whispers sharply before dropping to the soft ground in the park far away from the tree we had perched on with me in his arms. It still surprises me how fast they can move.
Araqiel and Penuel immediately find a spot behind me, their bodies placed in stance communicating that they are ready to go down with a fight.
I do not know if I pity them, or admire their conviction. An army of a hundred or so is coming to fight them, probably to the inch of death. But unlike me, they will not die. They are immortal, and if captured, will have to go through years and years of torture, probably for eternity until that infamous judgment day dawns. I, as a human, will be spared that fate by a quick death. Thank the heavens.
I hear them, before I see them. They aren't any different in appearance from the other angels, except for the fact that they all look alike. Dressed in some dark suit, with wide night-black wings soaring above them, and blank faces.
If there is a G.o.d, protect my family after my death, I allow myself to think as I stand in position and pretend not to see them. I'd forgotten to ask the angel's if these creatures are visible to humans or not, because in the dark it is hard for me to distinguish which dimension they are on.
Why are they not attacking yet? I think to myself, before I steal a quick look skywards.
There are about twenty angels, and they all are staring down at me.
Please kill me, I think as a prayer, for I fear for my fate should I be captured. But the strangest thing so far happens. The angels drop soundlessly to the ground before me in unison, and get down on one knee, one hand folding before their lowly bent heads.
What the..? I think as I turn slowly to the two angels behind me. They too look startled and confused for a second. Araqiel then breaks from her position and glides over to me quickly.
”Tell them something,” she says to my puzzled look.
”What?”
”Order them to rise.”
”I order you to rise,” I say in a shaky voice almost as a question, but the army immediately rises in unison.
”Wow!” I whisper, more to myself really.
”You... You... Archangel?” I think I hear her say, though it's highly doubtful.
”Who?” I ask, turning to look behind me in case the Archangel is standing behind me, but all I see is darkness, and Penuel's gleaming eyes.
”How- How can it be?” Araqiel is reduced to fumbling with words. This must be something much unexpected, for her to be this surprised.
”She can order them,” Penuel speaks quietly from behind us as he advances, completing the sentiments Araqiel had been unable to enunciate.
”Archangel Gabriel's Essence in you- it must be greater than we thought,” he simply explains, moving to place an arm around Araqiel's tensed shoulders rea.s.suringly, making sure to avoid my gaze.
”Kill all! Capture any divine angels in there, and report back!” I hear a loud voice boom with authority from beyond the forest around the park in the angelic language.
Nothing happens, however. I look up at the army of angels before me, and fight every urge to cry out in relief. I hear the same voice from beyond the s.h.i.+eld give out a bellowing cry of anger. He does not sound like one to give up.
”What do we do?” I ask the angels before me in a low tone.
The two take a pause, thinking quietly for a while. I too take the moment to calm my heart, which is fast beating out of rhythm.
”We cannot let them out. Being that you are not an Archangel, but only possess an Archangel's Essence. Abaddon the destroyer would recapture their loyalty in a second.”
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