The Above || Completed

49 Poison

It was easy to breach council headquarters. With the archers down for the count, the only obstacles left outside the building were the security guards. But considering most were like Robertson and Stadler, they weren't about to risk their lives in a futile battle against angry angels. A lot of them retreated and were left untouched. They weren't our targets after all. Still, so much for reinforcements. The council really was all too confident. A fatal mistake. My squad was fairly large for the task we were set to complete. I hoped Aeron was holding on. I was coming, and I would obliterate those who tried to stop me. Zachariah took off in leadership of the remainder of our forces. A group much larger than mine.

We went in through the front door, walking at a normal pace.
"Maddison," my father spoke suddenly.
"What?" I asked.
"Do you know where they might be keeping your friend?" he said.
I frowned thoughtfully. "I'll turn the place upside down if I have to."
"We both know there's no time," he pointed out. "You cannot go in blind."
"I don't have a set of eyes anywhere in the building, Dad," I argued.
He gestured subtly at the group behind us. "You have an entire team at your disposal.
Luziel had a point. I stopped in my tracks. The rest of my angels followed suit, albeit rather confused.
"Everything all right, Maddison?" one of them asked. I recalled her name was Evangeline.
I turned to face them. "Our first objective is to find Aeron."
"There isn't enough time to search the building. We need eyes," Luziel added.
I nodded. "Any volunteers?"

Evangeline, as well as two other angels known as Daniel and Yuriel, spoke up immediately.
"I think that'll do. I'm going to need you to fly on the outside and look through all the windows. As far as I know, every room in this building has at least one." I instructed them.
"Aye, aye." Evangeline took off with the boys at her sides.
I turned to my dad. "I want you to scan the building for security. It should be denser near wherever they're keeping Aeron."
"You expect me to do this without being seen?" he enquired.
I pushed him forward. "Stay safe, old man."

Just as my dad left, Evangeline, Daniel and Yuriel returned.
"Headquarters is being put on lockdown," Daniel reported.
I raised an eyebrow. "A little late now, don't you think?"
"Maybe they only realised we're here now," Yuriel suggested.
Evangeline shook her head. "They could be planning something. They need us trapped."
"We need to be careful," I said. "But there's no need to panic. We keep going according to plan. I've sent my father to scan for security."
We waited for a few minutes until my dad came back.
"I managed to pinpoint a certain area on the third floor," he briefly disclosed.
I resisted the urge to smirk. "On to the third floor then."

^^^
Zachariah's POV

We all knew what we were doing so it wasn't challenging to lead my forces. We started out on a balcony protruding from the council dining room. I didn't sort out a particular formation or even a plan. I thought we would only devise one if we needed to. For now, it was simple enough. Remove our obstacles and corner the council.
But as lockdown began, I panicked. "Smash the windows! Get inside!"
No doubt, my panic was contagious and the entire group obeyed my order without a second thought.

When we were all inside and metallic blinds were locked in over our only escape, I briefly thought of Grace, feeling utterly trapped. Luziel left her to rest in his old home, which hadn't been occupied since his capture. I calmed myself with the only positive thought I could muster through the racing of my heart.
At least she's safe.

"Listen up!" I called. "From here, we proceed to the head office and confront the enemy. No death, just clear your obstacles."
A shout of ascent issued from the angels.
"Any questions?"
Silence.
"Good, let's move."
They followed me out into the corridor. Aside from the flood of footsteps, there was barely any noise to be heard. The only thing I found suspicious was the emptiness. Not a soul roamed the hallways. Where in the world were the guards?

Suddenly, the lights blinked off, leaving us all disoriented. There was a hiss, a slam and a guttural groan. Then the lights flickered on once again. I turned around and saw the body of a guard sprawled on the floor in a pool of his own blood. Dead. Without question. Above him stood the shameless, bloodthirsty angel who had performed the deed. I didn't know his name, but he stood tall and intimidating. Dark skin, long and dark hair as an angel. He must've looked strange disguised as a white-skinned citizen. Well, I had thought he was shameless until he held up a small can. Poison gas.
"They're trying to poison us," the angel growled, throwing the can to the side. "This is war."
The one thing I hadn't been wrong about was his bloodlust.

^^^