Better Angels

Chapter Seven:Michael

Chapter Seven

Michael

Michael paced back in forth in the meeting room while his fingers nervously twitched at his sides. Every single angel had felt the surge of darkness, it was a wonder that they hadn’t all fallen from Heaven right then and there. Michael sighed in frustration and once again brought his fist down on the solid rock of a table, splitting it into two. How could things have gone so wrong. They were not meant to be this way. Everything hurt to damn much. And for the first time in all eternity Michael, the leader of Heaven, cried. Losing Ariel was worse than losing Lucifer; Ariel was his twin, his companion. Michael needed her. Ariel and Michael were the Angel equivalent to the Nephilim parabati. Their father had created them to lead Heaven together. They were never to be alone. Sworn to protect each other until paradise was brought to Earth. He missed her and on top of that Michael had no idea what was happening to her.

That was when he felt it.  The pain was unbearable and excruciating. Michael collapsed to the ground and screamed. A fire seemed to ignite within him filling every inch with pain. It was far worse than anything else Michael had ever experienced. It was too hard to breath and too hard to think. It was horrible. Sharp and quick. It would repeat. There was a tear in his soul and he could feel it rip apart separating him from Ariel. How could this have happened? All he could to was feel the emptiness and loneliness replace the pain. He was hollow every inch of Michael's glory stripped away in a single second. How could this be? Michael was only aware of the emptiness and the sharp pain in his heart before he blacked out.

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The whispers and screams of pain echoed through the darkness as Michael attempted to wade through the blood and the bodies that lay all around him. He’s never been to this battle field before, though it seemed familiar.

“Michael,” a voice whispered behind him. The voice was soft and beautiful it was almost musical. Ariel’s voice had the same musicality, but there was something different about this voice. It was not light and cheerful; it was low and somber. He’d never heard Ariel’s voice reach such a sadness. Michael attempted to respond, but no sound came out and the scene before him changed.

Now he was in a cave watching a young girl get tortured. She looked familiar with her golden red hair and sparkling green eyes. She looked like Ariel’s ture vessel Victoria Carstairs, but with her features contorted in pain, Michael could not tell who she was. She was held aloft in the air with chains. The girl just dangled there, not even trying to get free. Had she been there long enough that she’d given up all hope of being rescued? A demon stood behind her and cracked a whip on her back repeatedly. Never stopping. Michael was yanked toward the girl and whipping her himself. WHAT! NO! Michael tried to make himself stop, but was unable to. He was not in control.

“It’s okay Michael, this what needs to happen,” the voice came back. He brought his arm back and flicked his wrist bringing the whip crashing down onto the girl’s snow white back. She screamed. It shook Michael to his very soul. In all of his battles he’d never heard anyone so desperate and alone. It was agonizing. She let out another blood curdling scream.

“You know why it's affecting you so much Michael. Say it. Admit it to yourself.”

She sounds too much like Ariel.

“That is because she was my vessel.” A figured shimmered next to Michael. The figure laid a hand on his arm and brought the whip back again. The figure looked just like the girl. The girl and Ariel.

Ariel? She smiled and nodded. Why are you doing this?

“I’m not making you do anything Michael. You are merely witnessing the last few moments Victoria Carstairs has as her true self. She is the darkness that will plague the world after this. Come with me Michael. You need to see what’s happening below. For soon you will have major role to play.” The scene shifted before him once more.