The Angels' Pride Read online

  She had relaxed to the point that she had accepted it as simply the fading of ancient spells when she discovered one of the prison doors hanging ajar. The room within was completely dark. She thrust her hand and light into the prison.

  It was completely empty.

  Where was the prisoner? The chains? The containment spells? There was no trace of the room’s purpose. The lingering magic she had sensed was from the broken containment spells. The prisoner was long gone.

  She rushed back to the door to read its plaque, swearing when she did. Brigid was a converted Goddess, she would have a ready supply of powers and could blend in with the Angels.

  She called out to all the Arch Angels, and the whole Council *Raise the alarms! Brigid has escaped, and she’s kidnapped Sariel!*

  She felt minds probing her, to which she readily showed the images of Brigid’s empty prison. She heard the palace bells peeling in response.

  As she rushed back up through the corridors, she was left thinking how could this have happened. It just wasn’t possible. How could Brigid have escaped?

  Ariel walked through the gates hanging on their hinges, barely registering the destruction she had wrought once upon a time to the palace grounds. Much of the gardens were recovering but the front of this palace never would. Demons and pretenders had once lived here, just like the rest of Heaven before it had been scoured clean.

  She had once worked in this palace, had once fought battles for its owner, as well as for other Gods and Goddesses. The Gods had trained the army that had overthrown them. Her one-time mistress still resided in her palace prison. All that had been required was an adjustment to her chains. Where once she could not leave the palace, now she couldn’t move at all.

  Which was why she was here. Sariel had been kidnapped by Brigid, but it was unlikely Brigid had the power to currently teleport to the Surface. She couldn’t use the main portal in the Citadel, which left her one of the smaller ones scattered across Heaven. They had all closed, and the only one who could open them was the Queen of Heaven. If she were going to use a portal she would have to come via Hera.

  Unless she was desperate enough to try and fly down to the Surface. A dangerous task for anyone, irrespective of how powerful they were. It had been done many times during the War, but legions of Angels were safe enough from the natural hazards between Heaven and the Surface.

  She passed through the dark corridors with ease, having tread these halls thousands of times before, alone and with her Inquisitors. Hera had been an excellent subject to relearn their earthly skills and refine them for a Divine audience.

  The Inquisitors were uniquely hers. They were her spies, informants, warriors and above all else loyal servants. They were, in essence, the secret police of Heaven. They didn’t officially have any standing in Heaven, other than publically being recognised as her personal guard, much in the way the other Arch Angels- excluding Sariel- had their own guards. But like the other Arch Guards they had their own special purpose.

  By all rights, none of them should have been in Heaven. They should have been barred for their disgusting actions while alive. In life, they had also been Inquisitors hunting down people in the name of God- the deluded fools- to cleanse the Earth. Their actions while in the name of God broke all rules- torturing, raping and generally being completely sadistic to defenceless people were not acceptable actions by anyone’s stretch of the imagination.

  She had however seen their value and after seeking Gabriel’s agreement had started bringing them into her fold. She had, of course, let them go to Hell for their actions, let them suffer for at least a century, if not more, before calling them up through Purgatory, to really make them grateful for her. Without her, they would automatically go back to Hell.

  They were not allowed into the Citadel unless accompanying her, so instead they lived on her island, which had originally been part of Asgard. It was there they lived out their sick desires of control and torture. Gabriel gave them a regular supply of people who had pissed her off enough- Humans, Jinn and Lesser Angels. Naturally all captured Demons were given to them after Gabriel was done with them, and there had been times she had even given them Ascended Angels.

  When she came out into the amphitheatre, the first thing she noticed was that there was no clinking or moaning. Her footsteps echoed loudly as she descended, and there was no answering whimpering. But then again last time Hera had barely been able to move at all. Hera had been dying, or as close as a Divine could get to it without being stripped of their power and Lifeforce by another Divine. Ariel regularly had the urge to do so, but she was more valuable alive. Even without her followers she was a very powerful Goddess.

  The stage was empty. Her chains lay shattered on the floor in puddles of filth and acid. The IV machine whirred away, its tubes dripping toxic bacterial solutions all over the floor. She kicked the clump of metal which had a few days ago been festering in the hip bone of Hera. She cast around with her powers but felt nothing but the usual haze of the palace. She was gone.

  *Gabriel*

  She felt Gabriel’s mind turn its focus towards her. Felt the full irritation focus on her. *What is it Ariel?* she snapped.

  *Hera has escaped.*

  *What!*

  *Brigid has freed her to access one of the portals.*

  There was momentary silence, probably while she spoke to Michael.

  *Gather all your nearest Inquisitors and head to Mount Olympus. If Hera is likely to go anywhere, it’s there. Some of my Seraphim will join you.*

  That scared her a little. Gabriel’s Guard was probably the most feared in all of Heaven, not because they were excessively violent or cruel- as was the case of some of the guards- but because they were Gabriel’s. They were the most dedicated of the lot because if they failed, they failed Gabriel. If Gabriel’s Seraphim were ordered to execute you, they would kill with absolutely no hesitation. Some people whispered that they were little better than Automation, but they did so very quietly.

  *We will find her.*

  Gabriel broke the line turning her mind to others clamouring for it. She pushed them all aside to reach the other Arch Angels and their Masters of the Guard. Heaven had to be scoured and the two Goddesses captured.

  Sariel gasped in awe as Mount Olympus materialised around her. This was the power base of the Greek Pantheon, where all the Greek Gods had ruled over the ancient Hellenic cities and empires. It was here mortals had been summoned before the Gods, and where the Olympians had gained victory over the Titans.

  The actual mountain was miles below, they stood on its ethereal peak high up in Heaven. And it was stunning.

  The mountain was a light grey-blue, clothed in cloudbanks of soft pink and orange. The morning sun was spearing through the cloud banks, seemingly setting the whole mountain on fire. Mighty palaces dominated the edges of the square they stood in. Magnificent plants seemed to explode upwards in a blaze of colours, many similar to the ones in the Palace and Citadel but many not. Where these Surface species?

  Quick glances showed shrines and temples hidden amongst the foliage and standing atop ridges. She would have loved to have explored them, but it would have to wait for a time when they were not being chased by Heaven’s Guard.

  In the middle of the square was a crumbling open-air shrine. It was perfectly circular, with steps descending into its heart.

  Hera led them over to the shrine, glancing about with longing. This had once been her home, before becoming Queen of Heaven and permanently relocating to the Citadel. How long had it been since she had walked on Mount Olympus?

  In an instant, her attire changed, from ragged escapee into the Greek Goddess she was. Rags gave way to an elegant purple chiton tied with a golden cord. Gold and silver bracelets grew up her wrists and ankles. With a flick, her long brown hair hung clean and shining across her bared pale shoulder.

  She sighed as she stepped down the steps, lights flaring softly under her bare feet. The whole shrine gained a slight glow.
/>   In the middle of the shrine was a circular pool of clouds. For what reason Sariel could not fathom. Hera stopped on the very last step above the clouds, turning back to them both.

  “Brigid I presume you wish to return to Avalon.”

  “Aye I would, Avalon’s Isles are now Great Britain and I missed it all.”

  Hera nodded in understanding, her whole empire had been converted to Christianity before slowly decaying, leaving both of her civilisations to be ravaged by war. Both were quite firmly in the hands of the Angels, but at least she had got to see the peak of her empires. Brigid had missed out on her land’s violent and grand history.

  There was a ringing noise, Hera’s head snapped around before she dropped to her knees. “The Angels come, we must hurry.”

  The clouds shimmered multi-coloured before darkening quickly. They started to swirl around, taking on the bruised colouring of violent storms. Lightning flashed, and thunder roared. Suddenly the lights turned amethyst, its light shining upwards into the gloomy sky. They were a beacon for the approaching Angels.

  Hera raised her slender arms upwards, raising the vortex upwards until a miniature hurricane whipped the shrine.

  Hera stepped backwards up the steps, before dropping down her arms. The whole maelstrom collapsed inwards, making the ground shake. The clouds drifting across the square were dragged in, forming rivers of clouds.

  Hera cast her eyes through the pillars seeing the Angels scrabbling against the defensive spells she had awakened. “They are here you must leave now before they see you.” She yelled at Sariel above the roar of the vortex. Without further ado she pushed her into the vortex, her shriek short-lived above the roar.

  Hera spared her a fleeting glance before turning to Brigid “This is farewell, for now, I do not know where you will be spat out, but I wish you well dear Cousin. Find your Great Britain and make the Angels pay.”

  She gave Brigid a quick hug before pushing her into the vortex.

  Hera turned back to face Ariel as she and the other Angels poured through the columns of the shrine. She raised burning hands, her face twisted in loathing. Her fury was legendary, her powers beaten only by the oldest Gods and they thought they could take her on. A wall of fire and lightning exploded out from her, clashing against the Angels’ magic. Both felt the clash, the slight resistance before Hera’s magic burned through theirs. Suddenly they were on the defensive, scrabbling backwards and uniting their shields.

  The Angels greatest asset was the ease in which they blended their magic with each other, allowing them to achieve incredible power. Hera was not waiting around for them to complete it. With a maniacal laugh, she plunged backwards into the vortex, its magic reaching out to cocoon her and sealing the path behind her. Then the entire world went dark as she left herself to the mercy of the portal.

  Chapter 8

  The vortex roared around her, spinning her around and around as she tumbled down its height. She had no idea which way was which anymore, and despite her Divine nature was in real danger of vomiting everywhere. She had tried to gain some control by using her wings to steer, but she had nearly broken them. She kept them clutched in around her, shielding her from the worst of the vortex.

  Lightning flashed all around her, starting to increase in its intensity and frequency. Somewhere far above there was a roar that shot down past her. The vortex shook violently. Lightning flashed past her, striking down further in the vortex. Shot down through this dark gaping maw.

  As she looked behind, she saw the swirling vortex just disappear. There was no way back.

  Michael stared at the cloud-covered surface of the Olympus Portal as though it would suddenly open up. Behind him stood Ariel and Nuriel, both cautiously hanging back, while he was not as aggressive as Gabriel he was well feared for his slow-burning fury. Considering it was very possible his sister had been kidnapped through this portal it was a surprise he hadn’t tried to destroy it.

  Around them milled all sorts of Angels. Her Inquisitors were busily ‘investigating’ all the buildings, just in case, any of them had any clues- or long-forgotten artefacts. His Cherubim stood at the ready, perhaps he was about to explode. Gabriel’s Seraphim stood awaiting orders, they had done a preliminary search of the area and turned up no clues.

  Now they all stood awaiting his orders.

  “Nuriel” he summoned. She stepped up beside him. She didn’t cringe like many of the Inquisitors did in his presence. She was a full-blooded Elder, with considerable power. She had once served in his Cherubim before being promoted. Now she was in charge of Divine Investigations. She and her underlings scoured the Heavens and Earth for traces of magic, Divine and pretty much anything else Michael or Raphael asked her to. “Yes, my Arch?”

  “I want this mountain scoured and searched for any trace of Sariel. Use every skill you possess to prove whether she was here or not. Also, check the signatures of both Hera and Brigid, when you have a trace notify me immediately. We need to track those two down.” He turned to Ariel “call off your Inquisitors” he laced the word with so much scorn that all the nearby Inquisitors cringed.

  “But they have already begun their investigations, they can be of assistance to Nuriel.”

  “Nuriel needs no assistance. She is thoughtful, methodical and completely efficient. If something needs to be found she will find it, anyone else will only get in her way.”

  Ariel raised a burning pink hand, immediately all the Inquisitors teleported away to their island. Michael was in no mood to put up with any argument, Ariel had no desire to be in the firing line of his anger. Putting up with Gabriel’s was bad enough, but she was used to that. Michael was a blank book on dealing with while this furious.

  He turned back to Nuriel “Some of your people are on the way, but they may not be what you need. Half of Gabriel’s and half of my Guard will stay behind to set up a defence. While here they are under your authority.”

  Nuriel nodded, Michael was leaving nothing to chance. He wanted things done fast. “Then with your permission, I’ll begin.”

  “Thank you” he nodded before turning to Ariel “Come we are needed in the Council.”

  They disappeared back to the Council, and to crisis control. Michael hoped Gabriel had had more luck tracing Sariel. They had never had any of the Divine escape, and now two had very likely kidnapped an Arch Angel and were now on Earth. They would not last long, the might of Heaven would crush them.

  She had walked for ages and ages. She had glided and flown across vast chasms, she had thought about flying down into the chasms, but was scared of what could be down there, or if she would get more lost. She had thought about flying upwards, but the darkness above was more oppressive.

  She knew she was in some vast cavern system, but she had found no signs of life. There was occasionally mist and fog, but otherwise nothing other than rock and darkness. There was nothing to suggest any trace of Humanity; no extinguished torches, no fences, no forgotten belongings, nothing to suggest that Humans even knew about these caverns. She was lost and had nothing to help her find her way out onto the surface.

  She was completely and utterly lost.

  She slept when she grew tired, but her sleep was restless. Strange dreams invaded her mind, all she saw were ghosts and spirits. Awake she always felt the oppressive weight of the darkness above her. She wasn’t used to such darkness, it played tricks on the mind. There seemed to be things at the edges of her vision, but when she investigated they were never there.

  Her sporadic sleep became increasingly needed as hunger and thirst started to build. Elder and Ascended Angels being Divine did not need to eat or rest anywhere near as often, but they did sustenance. She was starting to get worried, she didn’t know how long she had been down here, but it had to have been some time for her to start feeling so tired and hungry. She was really beginning to fear that she would collapse and be lost forever down here, a petrified shell that would be utterly defenceless. She shivered at the thought of an eternity trap
ped in such an existence.

  Perhaps immortality wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. It had its own flaws. She presumed the Gods would fall into a similar existence, but she wondered what would happen to a Primordial. They weren’t quite like their offspring, she had come across little about them. They seemed mysterious shadows more often than not, not really concerned with the power plays of the other Divine. Most of them just seemed to disappear. She didn’t think it was likely they were trapped in some dead flesh shell, someone would have found one of those by now.

  She perked up when she heard the sound of running water. She sighed in relief, drinking water would revitalise her significantly. She could go without food as long as she had a reasonable amount of water.

  She had to pass through several small tunnels, her heart running wild with the thought she was going to get lost, but she thankfully came out onto a small ledge.

  Underneath was a vast chamber, surprisingly well lit by spots of sporadic fire dancing along the surface of a black river. She stared in amazement at the first river she had ever seen. Its water was glassy black- was water only clear in Heaven?- and thrashing about violently. She was instantly reminded of storms, was nature always so violent? It roared through the cavern, splashing over jutting rocks and the dancing flames.

  It all seemed very foreboding.

  On one bank of the river were dozens and dozens of tunnel mouths all with sandy trails leading to a small ancient looking wooden wharf. It looked like it was about to collapse at any moment. But at least it was her first sign of Humanity. For people to have built it, they would have needed access to trees, and they only grew in the sun.