Mavobella: The Angel Of Death

Chapter 6

I soared high above the world, my massive set of red wings cutting through the air with effortless grace. Golden morning sunlight painted me in hues of amber as I glided silently across the expanse of the sky. Far below, Anubistopia stretched out like a living map—rivers winding like silver threads, forests sprawling in deep greens, and mountains rising in jagged lines toward the horizon. If I didn't know better, I would have naively mistaken it for a hidden gem, a place untouched by the darkness I knew it harbored.

But this prison… it was nothing more than a cage of torture.

With each subtle tilt of my wings, I shifted direction, riding invisible currents of wind. My sharp eyes, piercing and steady, scanned the ground below, catching every detail in perfect clarity. For a moment the prison seemed peaceful, almost small, but I wasn't fooled. It was a deceptive tranquil before the storm.

I needed to get my ass out of here. As soon as now.

As I ascended, the air began to thicken, growing oppressive. The higher I flew, the harder it became to breathe. Of course I wasn't expecting it to be an easy pass. There were reason why angels couldn't escape; this was one of them. I couldn't guess better than the intoxication of air was the Imperium's doing.

Reluctantly, I descended, angling my wings towards the sea in a distance.

“Zombies at night, sea monsters by day and night,” I whispered under my breath Nicole's warning echoing in my mind. She wasn't exaggerating. The creatures that lurked beneath those waters were not ordinary—far from it. Ancient, slumber horrors, Imperium-engineered to feast on angels and demons alike. Their hunger was boundless, and one of them was pissed at me.

Great.

My wings rustled against the wind as I clutched Ye, my scythe, her black blade gleaming faintly in the sunlight. I had conquered legions, consumed millions of souls, and my name was spoken in hushed whispers. Yet here I was, avoiding a fight with the damn see monsters. Not exactly the glorious exit I had in mind.

The wind shifted, carrying with it a cold breeze that covered me in goosebumps, but not the kind of goosebumps that bring about fright—it was the type of goosebumps that came from therapy or listening to your favorite song.

Then, the water stirred.

A tentacle broke out of the surface, slick and enormous, as if it had been waiting for me. Of course, it had.

“C’mon," I complained, a sharp breath escaping my lips. Seriously? It was as if this place had it out for me, like the universe was conspiring to keep me here.

My wings flared wide as I veered left, trying to avoid the massive appendage. I was familiar with its grasp, and I knew better than closing on it. But the monsters didn't give me time to breathe, another tentacle appeared, and another, and another. In a moment I was maneuvering across an actual forest of writhing limbs. Amusing. It has more tentacles than I have patience.

I darted between them, wings slicing through the air with precision. My body was streamlined, built for speed and maneuverability, yet one of the tentacles managed to clip me. The impact sent me flipping across the sky, my balance lost. I fought to regain control before the sea—the monsters' dominion—claimed me.

The blow bought me some space from the monster, but I could feel its eyes on me, its twisted intelligence assessing my every move. It twirled beneath the surface, sinister and calculating, before disappearing in the water, leaving behind faint ripples.

Intelligence was a meal served in all plates of the Imperium’s creations—including angels. So, as much as I wanted to imagine that I was smarter than it, I knew better; we were from the same creator.