Acheni Me Si

Chapter Four: Heaven Is A Lie

Malik strode across the skull clogged path leading to god's chambers.

"I am here as requested. "As soon as the words left his mouth he was struck and sent flying towards the pillars holding up the ceiling. He quickly spread his wings to slow his collision. His back struck the pillar and his body crumpled at the base.

The sound of feet slapping against marble hit his ears as they quickly approached him. His throat tightened and he felt himself suffocating, the sound of chains filled the air. He looked up into god's face. There was anger. But there was something else also in the god's expression. A blood chilling viciousness that elicited fear within the angel.

The god spoke "You're late boy. Have you forgotten the last time?"

Malik went still. The last time he had been late the god tore out his wings and waited for them to begin to grow again. And in that growth he would pluck each feather out one by one again. After he became bored with this punishment he branded the head of a ram onto Malik's right shoulder.

"What shall I do this time? Shall I carve into that pretty face of yours? Or maybe ...give you back your memories and let you watch me kill the girl"

This was new and shocking to the angel, Malik was confused. What memories had he lost? What girl would be killed? His mind went back to the strange girl on the volcano. He looked up into the face of the god he's served since he could think to remember. What he saw shocked him just as much as the words. He saw worry.

The god mumbled and dropped Malik. Malik croaked out a reply "My lord?"

"I SAID ready yourself for I have a task for you. You will find the half deity Leilani and kill her. You will burn her corpse and make sure her ashes are put in this jar."

The angel took the jar and rose without question.

The god clutched the angels face in an iron grasp. His eyes depicting scenes of battles, murders, executions, every tragedy played one after the other. "Do not fail me boy. For if you do, I will ensure that you become a permanent resident of the hell you so closely guard."

The god brought his head back and brought it forward swiftly connecting with Malik's forehead. The pain blacked the angel's vision but he still heard the words clearly "Just a friendly reminder that pain is your only truth."

By the time the angel's vision was returning he was plummeting towards the gates between purgatory and earth. Once again he spread out his wings to slow his fall this time he was successful. After a couple minutes of gathering his wits, he landed in the middle of a forest and immediately began to change himself. His wings folded into his back leaving behind a swirled pattern. He shrunk the jar and put it in the pocket of his battle cargos. He took one look around and began walking.