The Angels' Pride Page 4

  As beliefs became longer lasting, Gods grew ever stronger, but they also grew greedy. Their civilisations flourished and grew, conquering weaker nations and absorbing their strength. The Gods continued to breed with each other and also, their subjects, birthing Demigods of great power. An age of great magic existed which allowed for magical races to flourish and diversify. One of these magical races was the Angels. They are mostly descended from the bastards of Sky Gods, Zeus particularly is responsible for half the Angel bloodlines.

  There was a balance between Man, God, and Demons, you could say. Terrifying Monsters and beautiful Angels roamed the Earth providing balance, essential for nature. But everything changes and the Angels grew very powerful while we in our arrogance of our own power never noticed. We paid no attention to the work of Angels, after all, they were our servants. We rarely entered Eden nor made any demands to see inside their domains. We were busy with our own power struggles, our empires swallowing others whole. This was the time that the Roman Empire was swallowing most of Europe as well as parts of Africa and the Middle East. In the East, the Han Dynasty was swallowing up the Orient. We were very preoccupied with the major world events, and particularly the efforts of many ousted Gods to re-establish themselves.

  We never thought for a moment that the Angels would enter our power struggles, let alone imagine they could even have a chance at winning. We were so sure of our absolute power over the world, so arrogant in our assumptions. Perhaps it is our own failings that allowed the Angels to succeed.

  As it was the Angels started breeding and training Humans to their will. It is remarkable the patience that the Angels showed in breeding a Human line from their Nephilim offspring. These Humans had never felt our presence, so to them, the Angels really were the voice of God. They had no idea that their God was a collection of their Arch Angels. These Humans were eventually released into the Cradle and from there they spread, developed and were enslaved. The Egyptians particularly swallowed up their numbers in droves. We all laughed at these strange Humans with their quaint new beliefs about an unknown God. We thought one of our own was having a joke.

  We really should have paid more attention after Moses, but we wrote him off as a particularly powerful sorcerer with a flair for theatrics. Soon enough the Roman Empire swallowed up their numbers, but they had diversified. Splintering into different religions and sects, they spread and grew. The first time we realised there was a problem was when Jesus walked the Earth, he was no mortal Sorcerer. They were so sure that his death would solve this little problem, but they didn’t realise that it was a spark that would ignite to bring down Heaven. Mohammed caused alarm once again but by then we realised there was a problem.

  Islam had spread across the Cradle, the Roman Empire converted to Christianity, and the scattered Jews clung desperately to their beliefs despite their continual persecution.

  From there it was a downwards spiral. Islam spread to Africa and into India, Europe was swallowed whole by the Church even after the collapse of the Roman Empire. The spread of their religions removed the power of many of the Gods as the War started to take its toll. On the outer edges of what had been the Roman Empire, Gods and Goddesses were weeded out and captured. Many Gods escaped, especially those who lived in the Underworld. Some started afresh with other races, only to be hunted down later. Monsters and Divine beings started to decline, many species hunted to extinction. But many races were not eradicated despite the Angels best efforts.

  Sects of Pagans still existed throughout Europe, and they had the problem of their own people fighting each other. The Crusades started, and we laughed from our prisons, excited for their power to come collapsing down. Instead, it only strengthened their power, people fought and died for their beliefs, which only grew stronger. Once Europe started conquering the world, we realised there was no hope. Christianity ruled Europe completely and had spread to the Americas, Australia, and its Pacific brethren. Islam had spread from the Cradle to most of Africa as well as forming battle lines in Pakistan, where it battled with the Hindu power base. It even reached as far as Indonesia. To this day the only Gods left fighting are the Hindu Gods, their power base being the only one strong enough to withstand the incursions of Islam and Christianity.”

  She laughed wearily “but the Angels had not seen the flaw in their plans, for how could anyone have predicted that Humans would have lost their faith. With the loss of magic, miracles ceased, with the eradication of Monsters they stopped fearing, the world became theirs to control. Brilliant Humans started a revolution that is scouring away the Angels’ powerbase. Science is Humanity helping itself and seizing control of its own future. Despite the Angels’ attempts to stop and control it, science continues to evade religious control. Humans now live longer, healthier and happier lives, due entirely to their own merit, something the Angels’ religions do not offer.

  While the Angels are still converting the heathens at the edges of their powers and still struggling to wrestle some semblance of control in India, their ancient strongholds are crumbling. Science grows ever stronger in the modern world, and more and more Humans are rebelling against the Angels’ decrees. They don’t want to think about Sin or the constraints it sets on their lives. In part it may be the mixing of the bloodlines, diluting the absolute control the Angels enjoyed, that makes them remember their true nature. It is probably more due to them finding scientific evidence about their true natures. They want to live their own way.

  This may be the deathblow for Gods and Demons alike. Even the Angels cannot escape this new turn of events. It is too far gone even for them. They are making various attempts, from migration to war, but it will not work. More is lost to science than gained from it.”

  Sariel stood up, saying nothing. She was too stunned, now she understood what Patrick had meant by there being no going back. Her mind had been blown, stretched forever beyond being able to resume her old existence. But it explained so much.

  No wonder Gabriel and Michael were so desperate for a child, no wonder she was considered valuable despite being powerless. They had won the War, with a few exceptions, but now they were facing a new battle that they were losing. The Gods that were not dead were experiencing continual revivals as Paganism came back in vogue. Science as a whole was the dominant mindset of Humanity, despite what beliefs they had. The Modern World and the future belonged to Humanity.

  The Angels wouldn’t die, not entirely, but in time, they could end up like the Gods, clinging to the edges of society. Believed only as myth or by the devout few. They might win Humanity back, but she doubted it. Something huge would have to occur for Humanity to start believing in magic again. And it would have to be very widespread as well otherwise, the Science Mind would discredit the evidence.

  It was strange to think that Humans were unknowingly throwing off the yoke of their masters, the same masters that had overthrown their own masters.

  Patrick gently led her out of the room, away from Brigid’s paralysing stare. She was magic incarnate from the way she pinned you with those glowing eyes, to the compulsion on her voice. But Sariel knew that every word Brigid had spoken had been true, there had been passion and resignation when she spoke. There was a sorrow in her eyes when she had spoken of the old times, fond memories temporarily easing the pain.

  She didn’t see the vicious and triumphant smile Brigid flashed at Patrick or the nod he gave in return as he escorted her out. Things had been set in motion, but it was yet to be seen what would occur.

  As for Sariel, she returned to the Archives and Main Library, dusting away in a haze. For weeks she was absent minded, turning over and over everything she had been told. All of Gabriel’s cronies reported that she was efficient as ever in her continual cleaning of the library but was very distracted. She had initially been cheerful and chatty but was now withdrawn and vague.

  Patrick and Mary were concerned for her, as too were Gabriel and Michael finally. They were worried about her change in behaviour, for different reas
ons.

  She might have been absentminded to everyone else, but her mind was ablaze with hunger and passion. She was throwing herself into her research, unbeknownst to everyone. She was smuggling in and out journals, scrolls, and tablets. She poured through journals of Angels, Nymphs, and Gods, devouring their tales and histories. Trying to piece together a semblance of the truth.

  She was shocked at the decadence and debauchery that had existed before the Angels; orgies, experiments, switching lovers, political intrigue, the list went on and on. The Gods had been so sure of their own power, demanding every little whim and expecting it to be met. Lovers in their bed, cities to be razed, empires to be destroyed, curses on those who had slighted them. Everything was a game to them, with no real consequences.

  The Angels initially seemed like a better alternative, they did not condone the lifestyle of the Gods. And yet many happily did. Many Angels had seduced hapless mortals, bringing about more of their numbers and also countless Nephilim. It had gotten to the point the Arch Angels had banned relations between Angels and mortals to deal with the uncontrollable Nephilim.

  The edited histories she read were flowery and full of holes. There were gaps that didn’t add up, gaps that were filled in by either journals or Brigid. Brigid was quickly becoming her most valuable resource about the Angels and Gods.

  Her knowledge of before the War dazzled her with how the world had been, but also her complete acceptance of how the Gods had lived.

  Brigid was bitter and angry, but she was resigned to her imprisonment. She seemed to enjoy Sariel’s company, which may have only been because she could relive the past she missed so much. But either way, Sariel found her utterly fascinating. She had lived before the War, had been captured and drained over and over for her powers to empower the Arch Angels. She had seen the world she had known disappear and been transformed into the enemy she hated. She had tales of all mortals and their transition from cave dwellers into empire builders. Her knowledge of the world after her capture was much less accurate, her understanding pieced together from arrogant Angels drivelling their tales.

  There were many gaps in the journals, someone at least had made some attempt to cull them. Though she had found many a secret nook and cranny containing the most startling journal. She read about experiments and breeding programs, of Gods living mortal lives to escape the endless intrigue of Heaven.

  She also read about the change in the Angels after Gabriel and Michael had come to power. The slaughter of traitors, as well as the eradication of any undesirables. Which had then extended to mortals- the Angels had hunted many species to extinction, forced many races into hiding, culled off Humanity’s magical abilities and tried to eradicate its more promiscuous behaviour and sexualities.

  She had hoped initially to try and adjust the Council’s perceptions, but now that seemed useless. In their eyes, she was just a girl who had never known about any of their atrocities.

  But what was there for her to do? She had expectations from the other Arch Angels and the Council, and she felt sure that Brigid was grooming her to a certain mindset. She also felt sure that Patrick, Mary, and John were also grooming her to a certain mindset. She really wanted to talk to somebody about it all, but she had no one. She never got to visit the Citadel to make friends, and there was no one else anywhere near her own age in the palace. She was as alone and friendless as she had been for all her life.

  Would it ever change?

  Chapter 5

  It had been several months since she had first seen Brigid but she had continued to meet with her, as well as Patrick and Mary. Her behaviour had caused alarm not only for Michael but also for the rest of the Council. She had been taken off her humility cleaning in the hopes that that would correct her behaviour. But the Sariel everyone had known seemed lost. Instead was a vacant girl who did exactly as she was told but didn’t seem to be inside anymore.

  While Gabriel was both pleased and concerned by these turn of events, the other Arch Angels were getting really concerned. Except Azrael, who had not been in Heaven for several months. It was Uriel most of all who was concerned about her, having always had a soft spot for her.

  It was his concern that had caused him to seek out special Council permission to escort Sariel into the Citadel. Which was why this morning he was knocking on Sariel’s door once Michael and Gabriel had gone to the Surface to deal with a civil war, to sow the seeds of religious control.

  Sariel answered the door, her sleepy eyes acknowledging him. She shuffled backwards to allow him in. He was surprised to find her room cluttered with various books, scrolls, and tablets. A casual glance told him she was reading up on everything from architecture to warfare to weather patterns.

  “Your tastes seem rather eclectic Sariel.”

  “My interests vary depending on what I’m reading.” She had recently been reading journals by the numerous servants of Athena, Sekhmet, Odin and Anu. It was fascinating reading their collective views on similar events. Most of their servants had been content with their place and treatment. Both Lucifer and Michael had served under both Athena and Sekhmet at the same time. They had once been comrades.

  “How can I help you, Uriel?”

  “I’m here because the Council has granted you permission to be escorted around the Citadel today.” She squealed in delight. He was surprised by the absolute shock and wonder that flashed across her face. Was it really so rare for her to get to leave the palace?

  She dashed away, the sounds of running water, splashing, muttering, clattering and flapping echoing back to where he waited. He sat down next to a pile of books, curiously looking at them. She did seem to have very eclectic taste, piles seemed randomly chosen; there was a pile made up of books on blood, fermentation, insanity and ancient Egyptian wars. Another pile was made up of books about spiders, weaving, engineering, warfare, Athenian Naval tactics, swords, and olives. The one on his other side had books about ravens, horses, warfare and storms.

  There was an even weirder collection on her coffee table. Books and scrolls about death, diseases and reaping. There were a lot of books, scrolls and especially tablets about magic. Littering across the whole thing were texts about Angels.

  His attention was drawn to a thin red book poking out from under some scrolls. Intrigued he pulled out the journal to see who she was reading about. The crest was burned on, a flaming sword beneath a halo. She was reading one of Michael’s more recent journals thankfully. He should mention it to Michael.

  He looked up as she walked in. She was a vision. Ornate white over robes, decorated with gold, bronze, and metallic pink. She looked every inch the Arch Angel, when in Heaven. Her black wings caught the reflections well, making them shine with a pink iridescence. It was a pity she had no access to her magic, her innate beauty would match Gabriel’s.

  He felt suddenly underdressed in his armour, being so used to the other Arch Angels living in their armour. Well except Azrael but he always wore his long black shroud. Gabriel and Ariel were really the only ones to wear anything other than their armour and then they tended to look imperial.

  Sariel simply looked delicate and beautiful.

  He wondered how the Citadel would respond to her. The powerless Arch Angel looking neither soldierly nor imperial.

  They stopped underneath the grand statues guarding the palace. They were of two Elder Angels, male and female. Surprisingly they didn’t look like any of the Arch Angels but were rather generic.

  She had recently read that before these statues had stood sculptures of Uranus and Nut, both had claimed to have built Heaven and had left the statues as a reminder. Both Primordials had long since returned to Chaos. She wondered how either would feel to see what they had created ruled by Angels.

  From where they stood, she could see straight down the Skybridge that connected the ancient palace to the main square of Citadel. She could see the bridge disappearing into the tall cluster of towers that dominated the heart of the Citadel, and the sprawling manors bey
ond.

  All had been constructions of the Gods.

  The Palace, which now housed the Arch Angels, the Elder Angels and their servants, had originally been used only as a meeting place. It was where the Gods had chosen to meet and play their game of empires. It had been neutral territory, belonging to none and everyone. It was why it was so stunning, generations of Gods and other Divine had added to it with constructions, decorations, and artwork. It was the one place they worked together cohesively.

  Despite the Palace being large enough to house all the Gods, they had all preferred living in their own manors. Most of which were within the Citadel but there were others scattered across the various islands that made up Heaven. Most had lived in the Citadel, it was the only city in Heaven.

  Not all the Gods had lived in Heaven, though. Most of the Mother Goddesses tended to live on the Surface in their garden; Eden, Avalon, Tír nanόg or Arcadia, to name a few. They preferred living on the Surface or floating in spirit form in the Lifestream. For they needed the connection to Life to be nourished and give back to it. They had a special relationship with the environment.

  Then there were the Underworld Gods, who lived in their ethereal domains. Some by choice, some by punishment. Usually most had been shunned by the Divine that lived in Heaven. Ironically enough they had escaped the Purge of Heaven, they might be trapped in the Underworld, but they were presumably still alive.

  As Uriel led her out onto the Skybridge, she felt a sense of loss and freedom. Melancholy at what Heaven must have been like when the Gods ruled and all the Divine lived in relative harmony. Many things had been mentioned in the journals in passing, she had had to piece together what they must have looked like.