Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (17 page)

Though he can morph into and has smelled of
an unkempt one many times before; he didn’t resemble anything remotely close to a horned beast or a goat except for his pupils, but even those he could shift at will in order to deceive. They were elongated sideways and sometimes his entire eyeballs were complete black onyx marbles, glinting with wicked malevolence.

All I can say is that no human would ever know the true face of Morning Star, even if he
was looking straight at them on the streets in the mortal realm, and that had always been his advantage. He was the master and originator of the lie and all things deceitful after all. He spoke before I even had a chance to materialize completely into physical flesh. His voice was deep, rich, dripping with darkness and iniquity so strong, that I had witnessed just the mere sound of his voice and words alone causing demons he had admonished to start bleeding black, viscous blood from their eyes and ears. He was evil in its purest form.

He sat down his silver wine goblet, without even looking at me as he continued to eat and watch his performing pet slaves with a look of boredom on his face. The couples e
ngaging in the throes of the sexual acts didn’t stop at my arrival either but the females and some of the males instantly took notice of me with wanton invitations. I ignored and moved past them to join him at his table without having been invited.

He didn’t even look at me but that didn’t mean anything, “Back for more so soon Cam`ael? You really need to cease your ra
ndom unannounced entrances into my personal chambers. It may get you killed one day.” He spoke first in a paltry tone, still watching each couple in a way that made me think he was probably deciding on which one or ones to murder in the sickest way possible after this show. Morning Star always spoke low and soft, but it was just a ruse.

His tone did not match his persona, let alone who he was, what he looked like and what he was capable of.

“Since when have I ever announced my arrival?” I said pulling in my wings.

It was then that he finally turned to face me with a smirk, “Just don’t say I never warned you. But since you have made yourself a guest at my dining table, how about some succulent human flesh then? It’s been slow roasted to perfection and quite delicious, tender and sweet actually. I think she may have been a runner or weightlifter. I’ll have my chef ask her when he takes the other leg at another time. I’m sure Rahab would be envious.” He grinned. I gave him a wry look of exasperation and disgust. 

Morning Star and his demons didn’t consume regular mortal blood, eat, defile and wear human flesh because they liked it, they did it because it was forbidden and blasphemous to Elohim, and they took joy in that. He took my expression exactly as I had meant it and the smug look on his face slowly faded.

“It isn’t disrespectful enough that you return at your leisure uninvited and now you mock my graciousness in offering you the best of my food? You’re lucky I happen to be in a relaxed mood,” He then said with an annoyed expression.

I pursed my lips.

“Some sort of festival about to happen out there?” I asked with a nod towards the window overlooking the main square.

He smiled proudly, “Something like that. B.Y.O.S, bring your own slave or slaves. Are you joining us?” He raised a brow.

I gave a sarcastic smirk, “What’s the occasion?”

He simply grinned, “There’s always an occasion here. We’ve just pulled in a dozen young, beautiful human women too, and I’m willing to let you have first dibs if you like since you’ve returned. I’m going to breed the others.” He said.

I glanced around noting every sound, movement, shadow, smell, entrance and ope
ning while trying not to seem obvious. I sat down in the large gold gilded throne across from him at the table, “I’ll think about it. I’m here because I want to talk to you…alone.” I stated with a serious tone and stoic expression.

He eyed me for a moment in thought, making no apparent moves or suggestion to cease the orgy in progress and clear them out. The scent of sweaty human flesh and their sexual fluids was over powering and hung cloyingly thick in the air. Their panting, grunts, squeals, cries and screams I actually found about as exasperating and annoying as hearing a deceptive priest recite a useless e
xorcism passage complete with self-proclaimed holy water and cross right now.

“You tread on thin ground right now Cam`ael If you were not one of my favorites; I would have destroyed you myself a long time ago.” He then said.

“And we both know that if you could, you would have,” I stated with a challenge. Morning Star did not like being sassed or being threatened in any way by any being, and I knew that so I tensed and waited for his immediate retaliation, whether it would be physical or verbal. He was good at that; his face, his body language and reflex actions never conveyed what he was thinking or planning. He could strike with a smile on his face and not necessarily right away either. He eyed me with loathing for a moment as his mouth worked slowly to finish chewing the last bite of the leg he had taken.

I continued to eye him regardless, leaning back with elbows resting on each arm of the chair casually. I didn’t give way to any of my thoughts via my expression in the momentary silence between us.

“Take them and leave us promptly,” He stated, not taking his eyes off of me. In that instance, the show was over and the shuffle of his guards moved in to chain the performers, and forcefully lead them back to their prisons quickly.

Once they were all gone, and the heavy obsidian door to his chambers was clo
sed, he shot me a sardonic look, “Happy?” He stated to me.

“I’d be happier if you could banish that nauseating concoction of human funk too.” I then said referring to the strong odor of sex, sweat and semen left b
ehind. He looked at me incredulously as if unable to believe my request, but he obliged anyway and the air suddenly took on a neutral, fresher scent. “This had better be of fucking importance Cam`ael,” He warned calmly, “What is it that you wish to speak to me about or should I guess? I like the haircut by the way. Is it Edanai’s work? Is that the new hip trend in the mortal realm or what? How is she anyway?” He then said with a smirk.

I waited, craning my head and scanning the room carefully and then returned my eyes to him with an exhale of impatience, “What are you afraid of?” I asked with a raised brow.

He eyed me and then laughed softly, giving me a challenging gaze, “My apologies, I guess you are serious after all,” He said before turning his head towards the direction, I had craned mine.

“Leave us.” He stated firmly again.

              With that the two large demons who had melded into the shadows behind him dissipated into a black, oily vapor and were gone. I waited again, listening, scenting the air before speaking. “Where are the two prized divine ornaments you had here the other day?” I inquired. He paused and squinted his flat aqua blue colored eyes at me; his pupils were elongating vertically like those of a cat. “Why, are you interested in making a purchase or trade? Are you finally starting a collection of your own?” He asked as he took a sip of wine.

I smirked, “If I wanted some of my own, I would have them.” I plainly told him.

He laughed softly, “I’ve always wondered about that. You do realize that the light you possess would allow you to mate with a divine one right? You and your offspring could rule this earth as rightful kings after the fall of the human race…alongside me and mine of course. How could you not want that?” He seemed perplexed.

I raised a brow, “Do we really need another Nephilim repeat and the consequences thereafter?” I asked.

He laughed then, “You humor me well Cam`ael I’m sure you could take one of your own, though I sincerely hope it isn’t the same one I have my particular sights set upon as of late.” He then said as he leaned back in his throne.

I knew he would already know what happened. We both stared at each other for a moment, the other trying to read past the ot
hers' true veneer.

“Which one wou
ld that be?” I played the game.

He studied me for a moment and then laughed again but didn’t answer the question outright. “Take me for anything but a fool Cam’ael and show me the same consideration that I do you. I may be many things and have been but an ass isn’t one of them,” He then sta
ted.

I simply smirked, unwavering in my own gaze upon him, “No, your minions have been doing that for you.” I said.

              He raised a single, thick, dark eyebrow and leaned forward with his elbows on the table now, “If you have something to say to me then say it. Remember, unlike the one you still give allegiance foolishly to and serve— I have no patience.” He then said in a low tone and making sure to pierce me directly with his dark glare. His pupils shifted back to their usual goat like slits. I challenged his gaze with an intense one of my own to let him know that I wasn’t anything like his cowardly minions and soldiers, and that I meant business.

“Well, that’s not entirely true. Look how long you’ve waited and how many times you’ve failed trying to acquire some sort of sovereign status of your own. That’s a hell of a lot of patience in my book,” I grinned.

His mouth and eyes twitched; his jaw working as he narrowed his gaze. I could feel heat rising in the room. I knew insulting him wasn’t in my best interest right now, but I couldn’t help it. I hated his guts. I interjected before he could do or say anything in order to smooth my insult over, “That was actually a compliment believe it or not. Anyway, I wondered if she'd be worth the price of the two you recently acquired.” I then said to ease over any hard feelings. His demeanor shifted instantly and this time; he smiled and leaned back in his chair once again. His calmness didn’t fool me; I was prepared for something he would unleash unexpectedly soon without a doubt.

“She who?” He asked cunningly.

“You know who. What is it that you’re trying to do anyway?” I replied.

He looked at me inquisitively, “Do? I should be as
king you that shouldn’t I?” He then said with an innocent expression followed by an accusing look.

“Nothing is hidden from you. You know what I know as well as the angels. They’re all watching now. If you don’t get a handle on those shadow servants of yours, you’re going to ignite a new war with his son, the angels and divine warriors before it has even b
egun as it was supposed to have. If you continue to break rules in the process— you may not win no matter what.”  I told him.

As I predicted Rahab and I may have been correct. He didn’t seem alarmed or fazed at all by that possible outcome. He was some confident bastard; I’ll give him that much.

He took another long drink, set the wine goblet back down and then paused for a moment as he licked his lips and thought about his words.

Then he finally spoke, “And as long as none of their blood has been spilled, no true laws have been broken. I have no qualms or fear of retribution. You, on the other hand, have always been a being of your word, which is one of the things I am not ashamed to admit, that I’ve admired about you. Though I at no time thought you to deceive— let alone led you to believe that you could at any time deceive me, I do understand your dual dilemma Cam`ael. The wee bit of light r
emaining in you gives you somewhat of a conscience, so I guess I can’t completely blame you, and though you will never admit it to me, I know what it is that you truly desire,” He went on to say as he grinned complacently.

“You have no idea what I desire.” I flatly replied.

He chuckled with a patronizing nod, “I know what all men desire, I’ve proven it time and time again and the outcome is always the same. We as immortal beings male or female are no different.” He said.

I ignored him.

“I want to make a deal or a trade; two for the price of one. I can get the one you want for you faster and easier than you or your servants can, and you know it.” I then told him.

His perfect face morphed into surprise and then seriousness as the dark energy in his eyes
attempted to infiltrate mine. I steeled myself mentally against his power and remained poker faced.

He finally rose from his chair with his hands clasped behind his back in thought, still keeping me in his sights as he moved towards the wide window overlooking his kingdom. His wings hadn’t been out when he was sitting. Now they were folded in, and unlike the ones in my legion among other fallen, his no longer resembled actual angelic wings at all. They were hard, fully black and leathery like those of a bat. Now that was something to hide and be ashamed of, thought as he paced the large room. He began to speak, “You know Cam`ael
, though you have apparently forgotten, I haven’t. I gave you shelter and allowed you to remain in my established kingdom, after you were newly cast out for your deviance, without judgment, punishment or rebuke— for nearly a thousand years and now, this is the way you choose to repay my graciousness?” He eyed me momentarily with mistrust to make his point but continued on, “I have a total of five hundred and twenty divine chosen in my possession that I’ve managed to acquire without your assistance. Six hundred and twelve if I had not allowed you to set some free and don’t think I don’t know about those. If they weren’t expendable to me, you would have not succeeded or been alive to try again.