Guardian Angel (24 page)

 
“Ah, here we are. “
A ritual to gain access to the infernal realm
.” All it requires is that me and Michael," she read out deliberately, "shed blood while engaging in a carnal act within an unholy circle in a church. It should take us right into the center of hell without a problem.” Michael, thoroughly confused, was about to protest when Claire gave him a “shut up” look.

“
No!" Jazen yelled. "I will not allow it, damnit!” He put his hand over his mouth, realising his blasphemy. When he spoke again, he seemed defeated. “There is a way….”

“
Oh?" Claire raised an eyebrow, placing the book on the table. "What do we need to do?”

“
Through your dreams.”

“
Spit it out, Jazen," exclaimed Michael.

“
Sometimes, in exceptional cases, mortal souls have been brought on High through a special song. This is to guide them, for us to give them a message. Hell can do much the same, and the same principle applies to getting there. The song is sung while the mortal is asleep, temporarily separating the soul from the body to travel in dreams. However… I have never attempted to get to Hell before. I don’t think any Angel has; it would be…wait a moment.” Jazen looked down at the book on the table, his face turning white.

The pages contained pictures of various erotic positions and poses, and the red spots were clearly ink that had run. Jazen’s face turned pale. Claire had tricked him into revealing what he knew. He pointed his finger at her, looking indignant.

“
I’m sorry, Jazen. We don’t have much time, and I had to trick you into telling us." She smiled warmly. "I know you're far too devoted to my safety to willingly tell me how to go to such a dangerous place. Please forgive me, but I am determined to help Michael, and I hope you will help me."

“
Please, help me get to Jasmine." Michael pleaded. "I will go alone. You and Claire don’t have to come, just help me get there."

“
Oh no you don’t." Claire jumped in before Jazen could speak. "I…. we're coming too. I’m not letting you go somewhere like that alone" She looked at Jazen determinedly, "and I’m certain Jazen won't let me go unescorted, either. Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with us. So get used to it, buster. You won't be fighting this battle on your own.”

  
Jazen raised his hands, his expression defeated. “Fine! You two win. I'll help you. I owe Jasmine for all she has done for me in the past, and I suppose I owe you for finally letting me see Claire,”

“
So what do we do?” Asked Claire.

 
“Clear the coffee table out of the way and lie down on the floor next to each other. But don’t get any ideas. I need to sit over you and have physical contact while I sing." Jazen helped Michael and Claire move the coffee table out of the way, before turning back to them. He swallowed nervously. "I’m going to take us to the elemental plane of fire, to Hell’s gate. It would be too dangerous to take us right in as they'd sense us instantly."

"
Heaven wouldn't be too happy if I delivered what Hell has been after ever since this stupidity started.”

  
Michael and Claire lay down on the cleared space between the sofas. Claire’s breathing became erratic and Michael wondered if she was having another panic attack. He reached his hand over to hers and squeezed it, trying to reassure her.

“
How can you be so calm at a time like this?” Claire asked, her voice broken and on edge.

“
Because I know it will be ok." Michael was keeping his own fear tightly bottled up "I know we can do this.”

“
I need you both to close your eyes and try to relax now. "Jazen said, pressing his palms together." I'm going to send you both to sleep and then begin the song. If all goes to plan, when I ask you to open your eyes it will all be done.”

“Light has embraced you

 
Hope has empowered you

 
Spirits will guide you

 
Angels beckon you

 
Beyond the mortal realm…”

Jazen's voice was strong and resonant. He placed his hands on their foreheads and continued to sing, but the song became distant and fuzzy. The light of Jazen’s wings seeped through Michael's eyelids, he resisted the temptation to open them. Then the light's consistency changed to a red hue.

 
Michael opened his eyes to find himself standing next to Claire and Jazen. They stood on the edge of a rocky cliff with a sea of fire stretching out before them. Molten lava and uncontrolled flames flowed and danced freely. In the distance, Michael caught sight of a huge red door wreathed in darkness. He knew instantly that was his destination. Straight into the gates of Hell.

Chapter 10: Through the Gates of Hell

    
Gabriel stood before Heaven's gate, looking over the white fields that stretched out before him. The fields weren’t really fields as Heaven, was a spiritual realm, but the perceptions of the viewer gave them form. The threat of storm clouds on the horizon, however, was very real and represented extreme danger, whatever perception one chose.

  He'd often stood on the battlements above Heaven’s gate, but only once before ready to defend them from the fallen. Usually he'd climb up and look out over the calm landscape, watching the many souls living in peace. The sight always relaxed him, when he allowed himself the emotional freedom.

 
Today, though, he was anything but relaxed. Metatron had gone missing, and that idiot Guardian Jazen had tapped into the symphony and transported the mortal Michael right outside the gates of Hell. There would be a reckoning, if Jazen ever returned on High assuming his infatuation with his charge hadn't already made him fall from grace.

  
Gabriel paced up and down the battlement over the gate, watching preparations being made. The weapons looked like crossbows and fortifications from a mortal perspective, but were spiritual defences and potently bound songs designed to slay and banish demons. He nodded to his fellow angels as they worked and stopped a couple of times to assist.

  
As he bent down to assist with attaching a ward seal, he saw the soul of a small child staring up at him. He caught the little girl's scrutiny. She smiled at him and, before he could catch himself, he smiled back at her and managed a small wave.

“
They say one’s true nature is reflected in the souls of children.” A familiar voice spoke from behind.

“
Where in the seven planes have you been?” Gabriel turned to face Metatron.

“
I had to run an urgent errand. How are the preparations progressing?” Metatron too waved at the little girl.

Gabriel
grunted before replying. It wasn't hard to guess what the errand was.

“
The preparations progress well. We will be ready, should the worst come to pass and the symphony be corrupted. I'd have thought the Metatron would be at his post in such a time of crisis, not putting outlandish ideas in the minds of mortals.”

“
I have no idea what you are talking about." Metatron continued to humour the child below, by waving.

“
Don’t play dumb with me, Metatron." Gabriel warned. "I have known you for centuries. Your grasp of the rules has always been flexible. Our father allows you too much latitude."

“
I merely advise. Mortals possess free will, and make their own choices. As for Jazen, he was maneuvered into his position, he couldn't abandon his charge, after all. Leave his punishment to me, should he return.”

Gabri
el grunted in annoyance, and moved off down the battlement to help his comrades. Sometimes, he really envied Metatron’s outlook.

***

Michael glanced at his two companions. Jazen looked worn, his wings fully manifest but glowing only faintly. A nimbus of light played around Claire's form, flickering white against the red backdrop. They both looked surprised, but clearly not at the change in scenery. They stared straight at him with confused faces.

 
Michael looked around him, ducking and turning; expecting an attack any moment. A faint outline of wings loomed behind him. For a moment he squirmed, trying to escape the outlines behind him, until he realised they grew from his own back.

“
Wha?”

“
Well," said Jazen, his voice tired, "that explains why you can tap into the symphony. Seems like you have a little of the divine in you. We are seeing the manifestation of your soul here. It’s why we can see your wings, even if they are very faded.”

“
So..you're saying I’m part Angel?” Michael looked over his shoulder again, trying to make out the faint outline of his wings.

“
Something like that. Somewhere in your distant past. Angelic blood entered your line. It’s not going to be much use here, though in the plane of fire, we can barely tap into the symphony. When we enter Hell, we will be totally cut off from it. The only thing I can do is manifest my armour and weapon. Perhaps you can too, but I doubt it will be very strong.” Jazen Stooped to run black sand through his hands.

“
Well, well, well, I always knew you were a special one,” Claire remarked, turning away from the awful vista all around them.

“
Metatron did say…” Michael murmured to himself. He remembered his brief meeting with the Archangel.

“
Huh? Metatron?” Jazen's head bolted up to face Michael.

“
Oh, no, nothing. It’s all just a bit confusing…I mean, jeese,” Michael managed weakly. He had never been very good at lying. Jazen’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“
So, how do we get in….there?” Michael gestured to the red gate in the distance.

“
We cross the plains over the fire and slip through somehow. You ever see that film where the little men try to slip into that dark land? It’s not going to be that easy.”

“
Won't you be detected easily?" Claire Asked. "I mean being an angel?”

 
“Cut off from the symphony, my presence is vastly reduced, and I can mask myself so I look like a human soul, at least for a while. The only way we're going to pull this off is if we enter Hell with one of the processions of the damned. Bind ourselves to their chains and shuffle in with the rest of the dark souls."

“
It seems like we have a plan, then,” Michael said, trying to move his apparitional wings.

“
We do, but those,” Jazen said, gesturing to Michaels faded wings, "could be a problem. They want you, Michael. and those are a big giveaway as to who you are. You need to suppress them, like I do mine.”

“
How do I go about doing that?”

“
It’s all down to willpower. concentrate on them and will them to be hidden. Focus all your energy on them and imagine them invisible. Then keep that thought in the back of your mind at all times. If you let it slip for more than a moment, they will begin to return.” Jazen paused. “Before I forget, manifesting armour and a flaming weapon is much the same. If we get into trouble, you should try it. It may save your soul.”

“
I'm beginning to feel rather mundane here, I must say,” Claire remarked.

“
Claire, you are anything but mundane. You are the most special...” Jazen was interrupted by Claire putting a finger over his mouth.

“
I was joking, Jazen. But thank you."

“
Two other things, before we set out," said Michael, unable to take his eyes off the red gate." Once I find and save Jasmine, how do we get out? And thank you both, I owe you so much."

“
Getting out…" Jazen frowned. "To be honest, I hadn’t thought about that. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If we can get back to the plains, I can return us, but from within Hell we are stuck. As for your thanks, save them for when we're safely back on Earth with Jasmine."

“
There's no need to thank me, Michael." Claire added. she gestured into the distance. "Let’s get this done so we can all go back."

 
Michael nodded. He followed Jazen’s instructions and, after a few attempts, his wings disappeared. He could still feel them there, but they were invisible. Should he try to manifest armour and a weapon? No, it best to not push it. With any luck, he wouldn’t need them, considering he was entering most human's worst nightmare, he probably would.