angels and demons ➳ l.h.

prologue

[edited]

Heaven is a vast space, and it has a brilliant light which does not leave it. It is a life which people do not know here on earth. A place where angels call it their home and a home you must keep safe. It wasn't normal for an angel to be roaming around the surface of the earth.

Not unless you're in a field trip with Mr Clifford, but it wasn't exactly a field trip, or maybe it was—I still don't know. He wanted us to have a proper visualization of what he teaches, so here we are in Paris listening to him, and in front of us is the Fontaine Saint-Michel Monument.

Mr Clifford is not your ordinary teacher, he lived longer than any other existing life, and has an immensely tremendous knowledge of the Universe. He was what people know him as the Archangel Michael, one of the oldest beings in creation, and possesses an immeasurable power that exceeds his siblings.

"Huddle up so everyone can hear!" Mr Clifford said with a tone of anxiousness.

I've grown up with a serious protection that can only come from Michael. He protected me from a lot of things, except for one person.

"Why is he so nervous?" I asked the guy next to me.

That was Ashton. He was my partner in everything. It also implies that we don't get things done, and although his plans always lead us to trouble, he was still my best friend.

"Beats me," Ashton said, "but he's definitely afraid of something, I just can't put my finger on it." His nose was always scrunched up whenever he thinks, tapping his finger on his lips while in deep thought.

Ashton looked like an elf in Santa's workshop. He had a cheeky face that showed dimples whenever he smiles. He wasn't muscular or huge, I think we're even the same height—but he would never agree to it—and he had a curly, caramel-colored hair wrapped over by a bandana.

The bandana was a blessing from Michael, and if you look really close, it showed the harmonic chaos of the Universe. The cloth would have been pitch black if it wasn't for the stars lining up and filling the darkness in it.

"Anyway," Ashton said, "I used my worksheet to clean the mud of my shoes sooo I hope you have yours. Why am I asking? I'll probably be the one answering it anyway." I rolled my eyes on him, before hearing someone clear their throat.

"And when I said everyone," Mr Clifford said aloud. "I meant you, Ashton."

"You got it!" Ashton chimed, making Mr Clifford roll his eyes at him.

He later on went back to his lecture as I scan my surroundings, a woman with a little girl holding a red balloon passed behind us. "Blah, blah, blah! I already know these things. Do you want to know what I want to do?"

"No."

"I want to travel! Fight Evil! Go on an adventure! Save humans from whatever stupidity they make!" He said with too much enthusiasm.

"But we're only twelve." I reminded him.

"Age is just a number, Divine!" He claimed, "Jesus was twelve when he showed the priests in the temple who's boss. So why can't we?" He said so loud that it made Mr. Clifford huff in frustration.

"That's it!" Mr Clifford yelled from the front. "Tell me something about our lesson today that you're apparently too smart to listen?" He pointed at us.

But Ashton had so much confidence that when he spoke, Mr Clifford knew what he would say was exactly right. Ashton may look like an idiot, but he's far more intelligent than you'd expect him to be. And can be too honest for anyone's liking.

"No not you," He shut him up, "I'd like to think you weren't listening because you were busy giving Divine trivia's about this monument." He then gestured to me. "So, please."

I gulped, "Me?"

"Yes you, Divine."

I immediately scowled at Ashton, who simply gave me a thumbs up and urged me back to answering the question.

"Well, the statue shows you—I mean Michael." I corrected myself, Mr Clifford raised an eyebrow. "It shows Archangel Michael and Satan."

"Lucifer," He said. "His real name is Lucifer." His voice sounded so miserable, like hearing the name pained him. Ashton gave me a thumbs down.

I just nodded in agreement, "Yeah, so he tried to take over Heaven with his legion, but Archangel Michael defeated Lucifer and was sent to eternal fire together with his legion."

Mr Clifford shook his head, disappointed with my answer. "Did you know that Lucifer means morning star?" He gave his attention back to everyone.

"Yep," Ashton said, then leaned closer. "By the way that was good."

I rolled my eyes, knowing it was a lie.

"We all know that the Father is not in good turns of favoritism." Mr Clifford began. "But I'll tell you this. When we were all loved by God, he loved Lucifer the most. Lucifer was once the morning star and he was beautiful inside-out. He served God with so much honor and glory, but pride overtook his heart and sin cost him everything."

"This is my favorite part," Ashton whispered.

"There was War in Heaven," Michael began, "It didn't take long for Lucifer to tempt every angel in Heaven with the prospect of overthrowing God. Most denied him, choosing to serve the Lord. But there were still those who sided with him." He looked at me with warning, "And a great many of those there were."

Mr Clifford was still unfinished with his story, but it was already giving me goosebumps that I took a step closer to Ashton. Just feeling his presence gave me reassurance. "If you were to count every star in the universe, a third of this number sided with Lucifer." Ashton said and added, "Imagine, millions of angels."

I take that back. "Stop it. You're making me nervous."

He shrugged, "What? It's the truth."

Mr Clifford continued, "The War waged hot and bloody, many angels on both sides died, or as much as an angel can die anyway. But Lucifer wasn't afraid to lose his soldiers. Every angel of his—dead or alive, had given him strength and now he had control over this new found power and had found a way to seize power over all of the angels."

"So he just let them die?" Ashton commented. "That's so selfish."

Mr Clifford goes on with his story, "But by the grace and glory of God, Michael was victorious and he cast Lucifer out of Heaven, and every angel who had worshiped Lucifer was dragged down with him.

Down they fell like bolts of lightning crashing to the earth, then deeper into the darkest depths, then deeper still until you could no longer call where they were earth, but some place darker. A place called Hell." He finished, the hair on the back of my neck rising just by hearing that place.

"That always gets them," Ashton laughed while everyone was shaking in fear. "It's weird to hear him talk about himself in third person. He's such a humble guy. If I set all the pegasi free do you think he'll loose it?" He laughed shortly and sees my face. "Divine, you okay?"

"Ash, what if I become a demon?" I asked, a little panicky. "We'll have to eat souls for breakfast."

"Then I'll just have to do something stupid."

"That's not much of a reassurance, you know." I told him.

"If you're going down then I'm going with you." He says, not caring about the consequences. "Anywhere is good as long as you're there."

I could only smile and thank God himself for giving me someone like Ashton. I didn't see us much as a rebel, but I knew he'd change for me in a heartbeat.

"Plus, you won't survive ten minutes without me so I kinda have to."

[a/n]: I decided to rewrite this whole chapter because of Ashton. He sounded too serious and Ashton is not a boring person.

I just really want Luke in the story right now. He can make things interesting for these two, but I'll guess we'll have to wait a few chapters more.