Caged

Chapter 18

     Throwing the stupid leather bound book in frustration I screech, how hard could this possibly be. 

     "I told you to start with the easiest spells," Abigor scooped up the precious book and flipped back to the very first page. 

     "It'll take me a decade if I start there!" His gentle touch guided me to the couch and crouched in front of me, removing my frustrated hands from my face. Placing the ancient piece of history in the palm of my hands he smiled. 

     "Great leaders went through great struggle to get to where they are now. Nothing should be handed to you on a silver platter, you work to climb to the top," my fingers graze the yellowing pages and the foreign language scribbled on the pages. 

     "Focus on the letters."

     "How do you possibly expect me to focus on a language I've never seen before."

     "For once in your life, Athena, don't be so stubborn. Trust me it'll all make sense," my eyes focused on the series of loopy letters, doing my best to concentrate I squint my eyes. Everything hit me so fast that I began feeling dizzy, I wasn't prepared for this. 

     "I, uhm I know this," his smile was beaming, gesturing for me to continue I do as I am told. I continued to read on, the book explained the ranks of demons and our roles. It also listed the powers we could possibly possess. 

     "Why do I need to learn all of this in the first place, I didn't ask to be a demon, I didn't sell my soul to the devil." 

     "Honey, your grandfather is one of the most powerful demons to ever live. This book contains every trick he knows and more, if you want an ounce of hope to believe you can defeat him, you'll need to know as much as you can." 

     "Why would I want to defeat my own grandfather, he's all the family I have left."

     "We're not really sure about him yet, but he's not the most trustworthy demon out there. He loved you to death when you were younger, but he thinks you're responsible for the death of his daughter, your mother." Glancing down at the ancient book in my hands, I sigh. Abigor took my hands in his, squeezing reassuringly.

     "You'll be okay, I'll be here right by your side every step of the way, and I don't plan on going anywhere." His eyes were glowing, literally. 

     "Abigor, something's going on with your eyes." They weren't pitch black anymore, they turned white, shining with the same intensity as the sun. 

     "There's something I haven't told you yet," he got off of his knees and sat next to me. He closed the book in my hands and set it aside as he got closer. His eyes were pitch black again. 

     "The reason why I'm technically still part angel is that once I make up for my wrongs, I have a choice to turn back if I so choose to." 

     "I don't understand, you have that choice?" He nodded silently and I was immediately struck with fear, I don't want to be abandoned. He's the first person I can open up to after everything I've been through, after all the torture, pain and emotional distress. He's the first person that's been able to bring a standstill to this storm I'm cursed to live through. 

     "What did you do?" 

     "A very long time ago I," coughing he hid the obvious agony in his voice 

     "I fell for a human girl, her name was Addilyn. I was supposed to be her guardian angel in disguise as a normal human being, guardian angels have clear orders to feel no kind of emotional attachment to their assignments. I started feeling more, once we got closer she fell for me too. I thought we were safe so I told her the truth about who I was and for once in my existence, the person standing in front of me didn't falter. She believed me. What I didn't know was the archangels were keeping a close eye on me, archangels are just higher ups, they're the boss of the rest of us. When I told her everything about me it put her in danger I wasn't capable of protecting her from. She got killed and I was the reason why, when the archangels found out they sent me straight to hell. They let me keep my wings, with one catch. If I ever wanted a chance to get back into the heavenly court to stand for what I've done, I have to give my life for another human being." 

     By the time he was done speaking he was a mess, his hair was disheveled due to his nervous hands running through it and his eyes held no emotion within them. Elbows resting on his thighs he looked like a broken man, this is the first time he has ever let me behind those very tall barriers he built for himself. 

     "Abigor, I'm so sorry you had to go through so much on your own," I threw my arms around his large frame, hoping to squeeze all his broken pieces back together again. 

     "I'll help you get back, I promise." 

     "See that's the problem, if I do get back, I won't be able to see you again. The archangels have strict rules forbidding us from being anything but enemies with demons." With tears rolling down my cheeks, I briefly bite my lower lip to stop myself from sobbing. 

     "Sometimes we have to give up what's important to us to allow the possibility of success. I know you said you'd be by my side every step of the way, but you need to keep in mind what's important," he cut me off, pulling me into a bone breaking embrace, tangling his fingers in my thick dark hair. 

     "You're important to me." I kept opening my mouth like a fish out of water. There were no words worthy of his attention, there wasn't anything I could say that could possibly convey the emotions I'm feeling. 

     "I don't want to lose you, Athena. You're the closest thing to home I've ever had, I'd rather walk through hell a million times than feel content without you by my side." We stayed like this, holding each other until my tears ceased. I want the best for him and I don't want to be the reason he's held back from being anything less than absolutely amazing. 

      "How fast can you train me?" 

     "Train you to do what?" 

     "Defeat my grandfather, so we can figure out a way around this personal ordeal we're having." 

     "Well that depends on your level as a demon and I haven't quite been able to figure it out myself." He ran his fingers through my hair before letting me go. His fingers swiped through the pages of the book and his eyes searched the pages with a ferocity I haven't seen before. 

     "Ah, here it is," placing the book in my hands he pointed to a tier system. 

     "There are six tiers in the system, there's the devil who's tier one, other royalty in tier two, army leaders generals and such in tier three, soldiers along with servants in tier four, black magic users in tier five and the humans who are sent to hell are in tier six." Nodding I take in as much information as possible. 

     "So which tier do I belong to?" 

     "That's the problem. You don't belong to any of them." 

     "What does that mean?" 

     "You could either be the undoing of the devil himself, or you could be the undoing of both heaven and hell." His smile immediately showed, a wave of relief rolled across my body. 

     "And I'm sure you'll be one of the strongest of you try hard enough."