The Angel Side (13 page)

As Uriel
readied to
speak a messenger came rushing up.

“Beg your pardons for my interruption
,
but I have a message for Rahovart the Arch.” The messenger huffed as he took to one knee with his head bowed.

“What is the message?”
I said, motioning the messenger to rise.

“Father requests your immediate presence in the war room.”

“Thank you. You’re dismissed.” I
said, passing a wary glance between the Arch
e
s.

“This can’t be good.” I said to my brothers.

Not wanting to waste any
more
time, I
rushed
to the war room entrance. Placing my hand on the knob of the door, I hesitated.
If it we
re bad news, I didn’t know if I’d be able to
handle it. So much had happened since Etta came back into my life. For once I wanted good news
and a happy ending. But I wouldn’t get it standing outside.
Releasing an exasperated sigh, I pushed open the door and entered the war room. Father had been in
His
usual position in the center of the round
,
white space.

“You need
ed
to see me
,
Father?”

“Yes. Please sit down.” Father motioned toward my chair.

“How is Etta? Is she okay?” I asked
,
taking my seat.

“
That
is why I called you here. It would seem we have a problem, Rahovart.”
Father clenched his jaw
.

“What is it
,
Father?”

Father paced around the room as if searching for the right words to say. With
every thump of his
step
s,
my
heart
pounded in my chest.
My inner voice chided me for thinking anything
would
be easy, even with Father
on my side
.

“Etta has always been a special spirit
,
but I have underestimated just how special she is. You know we have never had anyone released from Purgatory
,
much less a spirit manifest in a fluid state.
Stone, yes
,
but not water.
”

Father let it slip that the
tales
about Lilith had been true. I had a thousand questions but
the
one more important than the others had been if Etta would meet the same fate as Lilith.
Would
Father fix her
,
or would she be banished instead of taking her place here in Heaven?

“Father?”
I gulped
.

“
But, w
e’re not the only ones who have had something special show up at their gates. Come in!” Father called out. My gaze snapped to Father’s left
a
s Lucifer, two of his
newly
highest ranking officers, Nicor and Astaroth, along with a nameless goon
,
entered the war room carrying a large bulging sack
. Taking
the
offensive, I leaped in front of Father with my wing spread out before me.

“Calm yourself
,
son. I invited him here.” Father said
,
tucking
my wing
down.

“What is he doing here
, Father
?”
I asked
,
standing back
.

“Rahovart.
It’s good to see you
,
too.” Lucifer nodded with a smug grin as he lowered the sack.

“You slimy son-of-a—” I snipped
,
but
F
ather cut me off
.

“Are you quite finished?” Father’s voice thundered. Lucifer and I passed
daggered glares
then turned our attention back to Father.

“Yes.” Lucifer and I grumbled in unison.

“Lucifer, open the bag.” Father ordered.

O
pening the top
of the bag,
Lucifer jumped back as a burst of bright orange flames shot out. The fire pulsed, flickered
,
and popped until taking a familiar shape. Staring into the blaze I became transfix as it cast an image of Etta. But it
wasn’t
the Et
ta I knew. No, this abomination’s
hate
-
filled eyes
and menacing stare
was
nothing like my Etta’s
. Casting her eyes upon me, she released a deafening roar
,
charging toward me
.
Flames streaked the room.
In disbelief
,
I flew back to the wall.

“Lucifer!”
Father cried out.

With lightning speed
,
Lucifer
darted
to the pillar of flames, snatched her up in the sack and double
knotted the top. With little effort, he tossed
the bag
to one of
his
sidekicks who then disappeared.

“Where is he taking her?” I demanded
.

“One of my spies has also reported another one
,
made up of rock
,
has
appeared
in Purgatory. I haven’t received word from Earth yet
,
so I don’t know if another piece has manifested.” Lucifer said
, ignoring
my demand
.

“This is a trick!” I shouted.

“Etta’s soul is torn
,
Rahovart. To make matters worse, each of the fractures are dissipating. I fear if we do not merge her components, Etta may disappear completely.” Father
coolly
explained.

“So merge them!” I
ordered
.

Father and I had had our disagreements in the past, offering plenty of opportunity for one of us to cross the line. We’
d
only ever danced
a
round it, until now. With E
tta
‘s soul at stake
and Father failing to take immediate action,
he had past the point of no return
. F
urious with His inaction, I’
d no longer
been able to
hold my temper.

“It’s not that simple
,
Ra.
Lilith
is pretty amused by her new toy. She
has refused to
release her portion. We must go in and take it.” Lucifer replied.

Something about the way Lucifer spoke raise
d
the hair on my arms. It had been as if he already knew this day would come
,
and he had a plan already in motion.

With everything happening so fast, I hadn’t put much thought
into
the day’s events. All I knew
was
Etta had been killed by Lilith
,
but I didn’t know why.
With Lilith’s
disdain
for men, a strong, independent woman such as Etta had been an
inconceivable
victim.

I had sent Abihail’s soul to Purgatory when in an attempt to kill Michael, I accidently plunged my sword into her belly. Though Father and Lucifer had to come to an agreement for a soul to be released, Lilith also had to agree. After all
,
if a soul had been sent to Purgatory, it rightfully
belonged to her
. After centuries, Father and Lucifer had gone to Lilith asking for her release. Surprisingly, she agreed. As to not give any side an unfair advantage, Abihail’s soul had been sent to Earth as Etta.

I knew Father’s and Lucifer’s reasoning for wanting Abihail’s soul released, but why would Lilith release her, only to snuff her out? Only two reasons came to mind. Either Lilith
thought
she
may
los
e
Etta or Lucifer and
she
had
made a deal. Staring
Lucifer down as he flashed a smug smirk, I knew the latter had to be the case.

He had made a deal with Etta preventing him from further attempts on her soul as long as she lived on Earth. But
in
typical Lucifer
style, he
found a way around the deal by having Lilith do his dirty work. But what
prize
had been
so great
that Lilith might
possibly gain
for her to
align
herself with a male? I had to push Lucifer as far out of the equation as possible.

“We?
I’m not going anywhere with
the likes of
you.
We can go
get
her without your help!
”
I exclaimed

“I
didn’t plan on
going. I have business to tend to.
However, y
ou will be traveling with two of my best Demons to help you retrieve Etta’s
‘
it
’
from Purgatory.
I will hold my
portion to ensure the safe return
of my Demons. Once you have mended the two other portions, I will give you
my portion
.
”

Lucifer’s word dance had been as transparent as Etta’s water form. He’d use us to do the heavy lifting and once we were done, he’d try to take the reward.
There
had been
only one problem.

It wouldn’t be as easy as
simply flashing
into Purgatory, grab a spirit
,
and walk out. Flashing abilities only worked
if granted by their master
,
on Earth
,
and
the domain one called home. A Demon
didn’t have the power to fl
ash in Heaven without Father’s permission
,
and an Angel
would be unable to
flash within Purgatory without Lilith’s approval.

With more souls than Heaven and Hell combined, Purgatory’s borders were heavily guarded and booby
trapped to prevent any soul from rescuing a loved one from their ill-fate. If one had been lucky enough to make it past the borders, the mountainous landscape made any sneak attack impossible. Any attempt on the fortress would be suicide.

On top of the high risk sacking Purgatory carried, I would have to deal with Lucifer
’s
good old boys
on my own. I
wouldn’t
risk another soul get
ting caught in the cross
fire again,
leaving me vulnerable on all sides.
Thinking of all the obstacles, trials
,
and tribulations Etta and I had survived, I wondered how long our luck would hold
out
. Chances were I wouldn’t be returning home from this mission. There had to be another way.

“Father, you know as well as I do getting anywhere near Purgatory’s gates… it’s near impossible. And say I do make
it
past the guards, how wi
ll I find Etta and make it out?”

“I hate to say this, but I don’t know. This is an unprecedented situation.
But I can say
,
you,
Rahovart my son, are the only one I know who can retrieve the other portions of her essence.”

Taking note of the desperation
on
Father’s face, I processed the situation. It must have taken extreme courage on Father’s part to admit he didn’t know how to fix Etta’s predicament
,
but the gravity of what he
was
asking me to do
weighed
heavily
on me
. “
Where your soul rests, so shall mine
.
”
the vows Etta and I had spoken played in my mind.

I made a promise to Etta
,
and
I intended to keep
it
even if it meant my life. She went to Purgatory
because of
me, now it
was
my turn to go for her
.
I had my doubts I would be successful as long as Lucifer had any part of Etta.