Castlevania Nocturne: A Guardian's Tale (Part 2)

Infernal Machine

Long ago I was cast from Heaven. Punished for a crime that should not have been a crime. The Council of Angels stripped me of my wings and memory, and banished me to Earth in a human body. I crashed in a field of flames, but before that I was adrift. Adrift in mind and body knowing nothing and feeling nothing. Just a presence free-falling  in the void.

It was the same sensation. I knew nothing. I felt nothing. Instead of plummeting like a fallen star I lay frozen like a leaf trapped in ice. Listless save for the twitch in my hands from the chaffing manacles. My eyes are heavy and dazed, blind to the prison surrounding me.

Here I am again,  imprisoned in a cell and chained down. Smothered by the darkness and thick, stifling air. The same as it was a long time ago, before the angels passed their judgment.Perhaps that memory  sent me into a catatonic stupor.

Pain brought me out of it the last time. I plummeted to Earth with burned wings and their agony brought me to my senses. I  was already in pain, the brimstone chains burned when I struggled to break free of them, leaving me throbbing in my wrists and ankles. This time it was a voice cutting through the void, a  song uplifting my despondent soul and pulling me into its light.

An angel? Close enough.

My breath shuddered and my body twitched, alert to my surroundings. The cellar was dark save for the flickering torchlight on the walls, but I could clearly discern the prisoner in the cell across from me.  It was a night creature I haven't seen before. It held its chin up belting an opera tune. I stirred, heart alight. Mustering my strength, I crawled on my hands and feet to the prison bars, the chains rattling behind me until they stretched their length. I knew better than to pull further, I planted my butt down two feet from the prison door.

"You have a beautiful voice." I complimented when it finished singing.

I expected the night creature to scamper  to the back of its cell terrified of drawing an angel's attention, but instead it perched at its prison door smiling . "Thank you. I am honored, for an angel of all creatures  to think my singing is beautiful."

I gasped, flexing my toes. I recognized his voice....... "You know what I really am?"

"My dear." The night creature chuckled. "We all do."  He glanced at the two demon guards; A centaur-like creature with a masked face and a muscular fellow adorned with teeth. Both kept  as far away from my cell as possible,  no doubt scared shitless of me despite being detained.

"Why are you locked up?" I asked.

"I rebelled." said the night creature. "So I was punished."

"A night creature? Rebelling?" I raised my brow intrigued. "Unheard of."

"Yes. So it seems, but I am not like others. I've become more than what they've intended for me, which makes them afraid."  He crossed his legs.  "Why are you here, angel?"

"The Abbot imprisoned me because I knew too much." I huffed. "I tried to stop him, now everyone I love is at his mistress's mercy."

" The Devourer of Light."

"Yes." I slumped. "Her. They're fighting to save all that is good, while  I'm trapped here caged like a bird and chained like a beast."

"Do you feel caged, angel?"

"I do." I shrugged. "Inside and out."

The night creature held onto his prison bars. "As long as your spirit is free and unyielding , you are never truly captive."

Great. Another philosophical demon. I wanted to thump my head against the wall.

"What is your name, angel?" asked the night creature amiably.