As above, so Below

II. Shock to the System

I lay in a heap, a shaking mess; watching the heavens and skylines before me burn.
This couldn't be my home.
I am one of the Father's chosen ones, I don't belong here.

Squeaking wheels sounded in the distance, accompanied by the screaming of the damned piercing my senses.
The wheels came to a stop and a voice spoke out.
"Oh dear, oh dear! This is not good. Not good at all"
I opened my eyes to see a short man dressed in black cassock and black biretta.
Honestly I've never been so confused in all my life. Mimicking of the Catholic faith in hell, thus shouldn't have been a shock to me.

Even just turning my head was causing a searing pain deep within my eyes. Keeping them open wasn't a good idea at this present time.

As I was being picked up off the floor my back burned and singed. The remaining embers falling to the ground.
"We need to get you looked after promptly!"
The smell of sulfur filled my nostrils and made me sick to my stomach.
I was being punished for bringing punishment down on those who deserved it. I was taught that going to hell was a consequence of immoral and negative actions...hell punishing the criminal.
It seemed like an oxymoron in my mind...I was taught if you do bad you go to hell to repent so surely hell could be considered a good place? Punishing those who were deserving.

Limp, I lay in a strangers arms. A fallen angel being helped and saved by a bringer of evil. Ironic, isn't it?

He lay me down on a long couch, my arm draped over the edge as there was physically no energy left inside me to breathe let alone move. I was able to overhear a few men and one woman chatting frantically in the farthest corner of the room.

"Seestor, I'm more than happy to stay and monitor her..."

"Oh Cardinal, you're just excited that it's your first time seeing a woman that isn't sister imperator..."

"No squabbling you two, act your age or you'll both be caring for Nihil all weekend..."
The woman trailed off and waited on one of the two to chirp in with a sarcastic retort.

"Seestor, honestly, I'll stay. She could do with company..."

"Cardinal, we've never had the misfortune of a fallen angel coming into our hands so we do not know what to expect. I shall entrust this task to you for now...don't make a mess of anything until I return with Nihil. Terzo...do whatever it is that you do..."

A large wooden door swooshed open followed by multiple sets of footsteps, some quicker than others. A cold cloth was laid on my forehead and I shivered in response to the sensation, it was surprisingly pleasant.
I could feel eyes on me so bravely, I opened my eyes and seen the man from before kneeling next to me with a worried expression on his face.
"Oh, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

He was polite and well mannered but also nervous. There was a somewhat childish and kind hearted nature about him which made him appear to be much younger.

"I'll be honest...I'm in a lot of pain and I have no energy"
Even just speaking was draining all of my energy, I had so many questions but I didn't know where to start; not that I could.
This was all so confusing, they were being hospitable and accepting of me; was this place not supposed to be terrifying.

"I'm sure you are, is there any way I could help? Anything at all?"
I was physically struggling to stay awake, my fingers twitched in his direction hoping he would take my hand. Low and behold he did.
He was a kind soul.
"Thank you..."
Trailing off, I fell to sleep in the hopes of easing the pain.

Unfortunately I was awoken by the large door closing and immediate talking and bickering.

"Nihil, what do you suppose we do? Has she been sent here for a reason? Is she a test? A spy? An accident?"

Two more sets of footsteps entered the large room and the smell of incense filled the air.
It was certainly a welcomed change.
The old man audibly inhaled and sighed
"We give her a room and ask the necessary questions when she is awake. There are stubs where wings once were...assuming she is here for a reason..."

"Terzo, since you are stronger than Copia...can I trust you to carry her to the spare room. Secondo, could you accompany him..."

"And I have to accompany him because?"

Nihil hrew Secondo a knowing look which resulted in an eye roll from Terzo.
"He's a filth monkey...now just do as your told"
"...please..."
Sister Imperator finished for Nihil as he clearly had no intentions of being polite about it.
I felt two strong arms lift me off of the sofa and carry me. I wholeheartedly expected to be thrown over his shoulder but he gently scooped me up and took me to wherever I was staying.
Under supervision of the older individual, Terzo gently lay me down on the bed and pulled the duvet up over me, tucking me in.

"See. I can be responsible..."

Secondo tsked and snickered under his breath.
"Yes, because you're being supervised. Now you can go find a sister..."
Still towering over me, Terzo sighed.
"Can I seriously not stay here with her?"
"No Terzo, you can't, I understand that there's a magnetism about her but you can't be left alone right now..."

Terzo huffed and puffed before following Secondo out of the room.