Even Angels Fall (Book 3)

Isis

I stand at the edge of Heaven’s End. This place used to be a lookout point, a favorite spot of God, of Metatron and many others to peer upon the Earth and observe the humans in all their reckless grandeur. I never understood why it was so fascinating. I was thrilled to be off such a cruel and destitute world. I did not care to ever journey back. Heaven was exactly the healing agent I required. My Soul belonged in this Realm and I enjoyed every waking moment. There were no wars. There were no fires. No dying children burning in the flames. No death at all. Only peace lingered here.

Too soon did Lucius abolish it. He marred the unsoiled ground with the first drop of his holy blood. I watched as many, unwavering as he sawed his glorious white wings from his back. The bright red liquid defiled the untainted flooring at his feet. While many gasped in horror, while they cried and begged, while God stood before the three of them: Lucius, Tymician, and Gerald, so many shocked and appalled at the misery happening before them; I said nothing. As stone I stood. Dion was static beside me. I wished only for their disgusting figures to hurry and leave from my sight. I had other things to do that day.

Now Heaven’s End is a cursed place. Rarely anyone dares stand here. This is the location where Angels come to Fall. They cut their wings from their back with a rigid blade and let the appendages drop to the floor, mingling with the pool of blood, soaking into the silk feathers, and then step off the edge and surrender to Lucius’ hold.

I hear a distant whisper.

Though there is no knife in my hand and my wings are guarded well deep in my Soul, the Angels gossip nonetheless. They wonder why I come to such a place. Talk will stretch to the limitless walls and all of Heaven will know that an Erelim Elder stands at this foul place. My loyal subjects will question my motive. Metratron will wonder what it is I seek. There is so little I can do that isn’t watched and studied.

Why do I stand here?

It is merely to observe the world on which I will die.

I stare at the Earth’s surface, contemplating its creation. When God and Nature struck out to create us, did they know how unconventional we’d become? Did they foresee how sinful our Souls would rot?

Footsteps approach and I slightly turn my head and find an egregious sight.

Arch Sariel draws near. He flicks his hand toward the twittering gossipers and they promptly disappear, shutting the doors to Heaven’s End giving us a privacy I do not warrant. I hold my chin high. He does not pose an immediate threat but the words that are bound to pass between us will decide my fate.

He folds his hands behind his back, adjusting his meager sized wings. His robes stretch over the expanse of his belly and somehow manage to keep from bursting. Covered in jewels he stands as a Roman Cardinal, as if he is something holy and reverend. “I’ve been told you denied my brother’s request for marriage.”

I pursue my lips, staring at the world. “Not that it concerns you, my lord, but I have no desire to marry anyone.”

He steps beside me, hoping, I expect to gain my attention but I do not give it. Sariel looks to me and then to the world. He contemplates his next set of words with tedious hesitation. “The Earth is such a small thing. It contains so much that a single spark can set it aflame. It is the Merci’s occupation to dispel these sparks before they gain momentum.”

I turn my green eyes upon him, daringly.

“If you return to Earth, Erelim Elder Isis, we will have no choice.”

A grin stretches my painted lips, “Do you fear me, sir?”

Unwilling to be taunted, he boldly replies, “The Merci works with many organizations. None of which, are your friend, Madam.”

“Do you believe Metatron will stand by and allow you to hunt me down as a rabid animal? I am a member of the Ten Great Houses, they will not sit idly as you attempt to hound me.”

“I’m afraid Metatron might not be informed of our decision soon enough. He is so busy at the moment.”

My hands curl around the letter in my hand.

“And though it may seem a shock to you, the Ten Great Houses are not a threat to us. They are simply a gathering of well-managed individuals with great intellect and money.”

Folding the paper in the bosom of my dress, I step around him. He fidgets in my movement. There is a superstition that pushing an Angel off Heaven’s End would abolish their Light. It seems he believes it and humorously, believes I am capable of such a heinous act.

“This is personal, Sariel. Does your pride still bleed that I spurred your touch so long ago?” I cackle as I turn away.

“Do not hold yourself so highly. After your two hundredth lover, I pitied any man caught in your web. This is not personal, Isis. This is simply business.”

“Business? How so?”

He saunters along the edge, strolling around as if we are conversing in the park and not talking about imprisoning my Soul for the rest of eternity. “You are the fifth Earth Erelim. Do you know how many follow you? In the next two hundred years, we will have twenty-seven. Do you understand the implication? If we cannot control you, how can we control them? The Merci will become obsolete. The Ruling will be deleted.”

I roll my eyes, “You over exaggerate.”

“Do I? Dane Monte controls the entire Arch Court. There is not an Angel on Earth or in Heaven that will touch him and there is rarely a creature of Darkness daring enough. Tymician had his hands so deep in the Gloria Patri and the Ruling, they would ignore the requests of the Merci if he so much as blinked with discontent. Ariel is loved so profoundly she had an army of five thousand follow her, the largest in our history. She has become God! That is only three of such beings. What will come of the ones that exist in our future? Dion controls Demons and you, you my lady,”

I am quite intrigued by what he will say about me.

He steps up and looks at me with pity. “Are the supposed Ruler of Earth.” He attempts to cup my cheek but I yank my face from his reach. “Yet we know what a farce that is. We are thankful to you, Madam Isis. We’ve realized that we are not ready for such power. Now we must prepare. “

I glower, “What of Lucius’ war? Do you even think of that?”

“The present is as tedious as the wind blowing. The future is my concern. Let the humans deal with him. He means only to destroy them. Not us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Something unimportant to this conversation. The Merci has decided upon your Soul to prove to the world that Erelims will no longer be treated with such reprieve. We will come for you and then we will go after your Soul Mate. But, I offer you one last plea.”

My brows knit as I watch him. He twists the jewels on his fingers.

“Stay in Heaven. Let Earth Go. I will personally see to it that you be given a place among the Seraphim. A glorious position, revered as you have yearned.”

“You’d let me be free, if I stay here?” I scoff, “You imprison me nonetheless. Earth is my home.”

“You foolish woman. I give you a hand and you refuse it. I give you a door and you lock it. There is no helping you, Isis.”

“What made you think, sir, I would ever take aid from anyone? I have gotten by my entire life on pure will and God alone. I am done with this imprudent conversation. Go assist some frail buffoon needing your fat hand. I surely will not touch it.”

I must find the girl. She is my key. She is my survival. If I save the Earth, all of my sins will wash away. The reason I have lived so long will finally have its dawn. Every child’s death will not be in vain and I will vindicate each of their short lives.

I cannot find her if I’m the ‘Ruler of Earth’. The job is mundane and belongs to someone who has the patience to deal with the simple-minded fools that occupy it.

I take out the letter as I walk the Dust. Mario writes to me about the clan. He tells me things that I need to know but I am careless of. I require the power of the clan to help me capture the girl but I don’t care if Tessa is with Felix and I don’t care if the Sofitel was destroyed and moved to France. I only care about the strength of its military. I need its might.

I land on a barren street in London. I ignore the humans as they gasp in surprise at my sudden entrance. They will forget eventually, believing it was just the trick of the light or a slip of their thoughts.

Where it takes devices and satellites to locate another being, I do not need to see with my eyes to find the other half of my Soul. I feel him and it pulls and tugs at my chest, begging me to come closer, to be nearer, to be whole.

I have my necklaces about me and they echo loud in the expanse of the alleyway with each step I take. I boldly barrel through, feeling each pair of eyes glare at me in the shadow. Members of the Tiya do not dare lift a brazen hand against me but their vibrant loathing follows me as I approach a Net.

I press my hand against it. To any normal Angel, hitting an opponent’s Net is similar to an electric fence, but for me, I tear through it and hear a distant cry from the host. It must have been painful for them.

A smile spreads onto my lips and in no time at all, Tiya soldiers rush out to block my entry.

They keep their guns pointed to the floor. It’s humorous because Dion’s breed of Fallen are malicious Angel killers. They are covered in scars. The Darkness encircles their little Souls foully and it feeds off their Light with passionate desire.

But even they know better than to threaten my life.

Dutifully, they take me to Dion. Through an underground tunnel and after numerous passwords and doors, I arrive before a door. The soldier knocks once before he disappears, glowering as he does so. It must burn him to act like a servant. It only makes it that much more enjoyable.

His door whooshes open and a cascade of women’s perfume assaults my nostrils as a dim light shines on me. Twins stand in front of me, tall beautiful Russians. The blond one on the right has flowing long hair with tattooed snakes crawling up her tanned legs and a viper mouth open at the top of her collarbone. The transparent shirt covers some of the picture but I can make out the vivid detail of the snake wrapped around her breast.

The brunette chopped off her hair in ragged designs to expose the black cougar clawing up the left side of her body and ripping open her throat. She leans to the side if only to show it off, smirking as she notices me eyeing her.

“Nravitsya li vam eto?” She wonders, licking her lips.

If I rip her skin from her body and use it as a rug, I wonder if she would then inquire, if I liked it?

“Polina. Take Nina before Isis rips her heart out.”

The blond giggles as she snatches her sister’s hand.

Before me now, Dion sits upon the end of the bed with a hand on his knee. He grins, his long brown hair gleaming and groomed, hanging off his shoulder. He wears only a pair of linen pants and leaves his chest bare, his necklace twisted over his shoulder to expose his chest. The hideous Death Scar lies at the center, between his pectorals, bloated and distended.

I try to ignore it but each time I see it, I remember the day I lost him. My last human life I spent alone for a decade all because he died in war with a spear in his chest ten years earlier. I grieved so much as a human. I’m glad I’ve forgotten how to cry.

“Do you wish to destroy this building as well?” He mocks, chuckles deep in his throat.

“You’ve heard then.” I step in the room. I’m not at all surprised he knows about my transgression. I destroyed an entire army base and hurt many. If there is some news, I’m sure it’s front page.

“Who hasn’t? For once, I am not the one shaming the Erelim name. I wonder what your God says. Does She forgive you? Of course She does. She’d let you murder millions and love you still. Do not however expect such devotion from your fellow Angels. They carry no such piety no matter what they preach.”

“I am aware.”

“Oh?” He questions, vividly interested. “They are dismayed with you, are they?--”

“I did not come here for your words--”

“I am curious, why did you come? Certainly not for my love.” The humor is so vibrant upon his broad lips. He basks in this moment. He loves that I have made a grotesque blunder.

I came for a reason but now I want only to shove him from his high cloud and hurt him.

“Uriel has asked me to marry him.”

Dion straightens, his back poised rigid as he stares at me with a precarious gaze. It is silent between us for a long moment before he manages to ask, “Arch Uriel, that pussy boy I bested at a round of scrapes some odd years ago?”

I step closer, my gaze lowering to keep in contact with his own. He looks up at me, his tight jaw and round face as gorgeous and thick as the day I met him. It is as if I am taking a dirty ragged dagger and I’m sticking into his heart. “He is no boy.” I breathe.

Dion has a hand upon my throat and steps behind, yanking me against his chest. I struggle for air, clawing at his fingers. He digs his dull nails into my larynx, heedless for my suffering. His lips are at my ear and through clenched teeth he questions, “Did you tell him, you are already married?” He pulls at my hand, pinning it to him. “Did you tell him, that I own your Soul?”

His fingers only loosen enough to allow me to breathe and I take in a sharp deep breath, gasping for air. My chest heaves against his arm. I twist my head, managing to make out his face through my peripheral. “I must have forgotten.”

Dion shoves me on the bed and gives me no time to recuperate, crawling beside me, dragging me further up till my legs stretch upon its mattress. His leg rests between mine as he leans over, pinning me down with his hand wrapped tight around my neck. He only squeezes when I attempt to fight. I barely do. He does not intimidate me. He will not hurt me and there is little he can manage. I dare him to try.

“I shall remind you then.”

He connects to the Source and the ground trembles beneath the weight of it.

So that I can feel his touch, he would risk his Soul.

He claws his fingernails along my ribcage and I twist away, searching for an escape. By igniting his Light, he calls upon the Ruling, the Messiah, the Gloria Patri; every force that deems us unworthy. Why would he risk it? To prove his point? To be a man?

His lips descend against my cheek. I turn my face, forbidding him to touch my lips. He murmurs against my skin as his teeth scrap across, “You may have as many men in your bed as you wish, mate, but your Soul belongs to me.” His hand crawls down my belly and then fastens to my thigh, gripping the chunk of meat over the fabric of my dress. “And do you know why you fuck so many?” He pulls at the dress, reaching skin, moving to the inside of my leg. I rush to cover my apex, refusing him entry. “You are never satisfied because you search for me.” He cups my hand, pushing against my fingers.

Tears burn my eyes. I stare at the ceiling, willing to leave my body and never return again.

Dion lowers his face. I don’t know why I stay. Why don’t I speak? I allow it for what purpose? I don’t want his Fallen body. I want his Soul. I want the man I knew nine thousand years ago. Yet I cling to a creature that resembles him. I fantasize and I pray. I make believe that if I will it hard enough, he will transform and be that man again.

I swallow harshly, tears pooling but refuse to fall. Dion stills as he finally notices the fading bruises upon my skin. I don’t doubt he’ll hate me. He’ll know what they are. He’s seen them before when I’ve flaunted lover’s touches in the past.

Staring at the ceiling, a tear rolls down my temple. “But I can’t have you, can I?”

He flings himself away.

I curl into a pillow and lie still. My body flinches as he smashes glass and upends furniture raging through the bedroom with a careless wrath. Only he has ever managed to make me feel this vulnerable. What power does this man have over me?

Eventually I sit up, fixing my hair and my dress, clearing up my face, restoring my pride and vanity. He sits in the corner, despising me, glowering with a diligence I careless for.

I rise from the bed, holding my head high. “The Merci has decided we are a threat to humanity. I thought I would warn you since you use your Light with heedlessness.”

“I am a threat. But not only to humanity.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Marry him if it will save your Soul. I will renounce my vows to God, I’ve done worse things. But do not show your face to me again.”

Dion moves toward the exit and I scream at him, “Do you truly believe I wish to save my Soul? What is there to save? Let them come.” Tears fall unbidden. “I will bear my grief and bleed them for their impudence.”

Dion fastens toward me, his large hands encompassing my cheeks. “Fall, Isis.”

My body goes rigid.

“Stand beside me in Sheol where you belong. You refute it but I am not blind. You harvest as much hate as I. You are on the wrong side of this war and you know it. We could love again in the depths of hell. We will be as one as it should be. Together you and I will avenge our children. Abasi, Femi, Khepri, Dalilia, Eshe, Nassor, Omari, Haji, Zahra, and Ziyad. They deserve to be remembered.”

Even as my knees tremble, I manage to reply, “God remembers them.”

Dion shoves away, “God stole them! She created them to take them. What sense is that? Tell me and I will stop my revenge. But until then I will go on and I will bleed dry Her hybrid and unleash Hell upon this Earth. All the humans will burn and She will know our suffering. That is what She will remember.”

Dion flees from my sights, his hair billowing behind him, unwilling to look back upon my face.

This is where our differences separate. Where my grief is as an endless river overflowing the banks and rushing to the tree line full of self-blame and self-hatred, Dion’s is like a cascading waterfall, harboring only deadly loathing for all those that stood by as our children were taken from us. We are two separate beings, bound together for eternity by our Souls and our love for the lives we created and lost.

I rush from his safe house in fear of being found. I don’t know how long I will have before someone sets out to find me. Sariel acted as if I were a top priority. For the Merci, that usually meant within the next twenty-four hours.

I arrive in the courtyard of the Sofitel. Pieces of concrete splattered with artificial shrubbery and destroyed parts of the sidewalk. The sight of it does not prepare for what lies inside.

The Mother Theresa Chandelier lies in ruin across the front of my foyer. All 160 lights crushed and the Strass crystals lay scattered across the tile. My heel steps on little fragments as I get closer to the front stairs. Fire ate away at the walls, demolishing the reception area, the restaurant, and crawling its up to the second floor. I climb the stairs but carefully for each step is dangerously on the verge of giving in.

It’s here there’s blood on the floor. Veronica killed two of my own. There was a mourning ceremony while I was hiding in Heaven. I lean down and press my fingertips against the dry carpet.

I should have been here. I should have protected them.

Moving further on, it abruptly ends. This is the spot Matthias came. Through the second story window, he smashed his way through and ended their brutish tirade. In mere minutes, he crushed their attack and subdued their leader. The entire outside wall is gone. The fire department placed a tarp over it but questioned its origin. There was no fire, no evidence of a blast. Yet the wall simply disappeared, incinerated by Matthias’s powerful Light.

Does his victory replace his neglect? He should have been here to stop Veronica from getting through the doors. It was his job to keep the Sofitel safe. I cannot be in two places. I had put this hotel in his hands and he failed me. I had no choice but to get rid of him.

I open the door to my room. I’m relieved by the sight of it. It’s been so long since I’ve been home. I’m regretful about how I reacted. I should have come here the moment the Sofitel was in danger but I was feeling sorry for myself. I did not feel like I deserved anything.

My back hits the door.

A sob escapes my lips but I cover it quickly with a trembling hand.

The tears roll down my cheeks so suddenly and swiftly I can’t stop them. My body curls over on itself and I slide to the floor, holding my knees into my chest.

How did I become this? I went to Dion to ask about the hybrid and I come away with billowing grief. He manages to make me see everything I hate about myself, because everything I hate, he loves. I’m manipulating, I’m obsessive, I’m a liar, I’m cruel, I’m vengeful, and I am unforgiving in the most foul of forms. I’m not fit for an Angel. Yet all I want to be is what God wants. I want to make Her happy so She will forgive me for whatever wrong I’ve done. Then, perhaps, She’ll give me back my children.

In all the years I’ve been alive, I’ve not found one Soul. Is it possible that none of them have survived? They would be Erelim Elders, like me. Yet out of ten, how come I never found a single one?

I have to find the hybrid. If I save Her Earth, She’ll forgive me. She’ll have to return my precious little sons and my darling little daughters.

I rub my face, washing the tears away in the sink. When I find my eyes in the mirror, they are swollen and red. It’s disgusting.

“Matthias.” I murmur, reaching for a towel to dry my cheeks.

He stands in the doorway, unhappy as he observes me.

I throw my long black curls over my shoulder, “Do you need something? Aside from a girlfriend?”

“You were crying?”

“Huh. I had something in my eye.” I shove past him moving out into the bedroom, searching for something more attractive to wear.

“Are you well? Did someone hurt you?”

“Listen to you. I fire you and remove you from my bed and you still come bounding to my heels like a newborn pup.”

He scoffs, “Why do I bother?” He slaps a white letter on the bed and steps away.

I hastened forward, snatching hold of it. My finger spreads over the unbroken wax seal following the pressed circle and the two twin lines extending from the right side. It’s the symbol of the Ten Great Houses. My heart thumps wildly with anticipation and eagerly I rip it open.

Madam Isis, our employer would like to express their humbled apology for their subordinate’s crude actions upon your grand hotel. Please note that we instructed such misgivings to be performed. As you will recall, one of our employers deeply desires for the leadership to Kio’s throne and has asked for our help. We believe the attack was therefore in our employer’s best interest. We ask in turn you do not hesitate to take the initiative that we have laid out for you. It is in your right to begin a campaign against Kio and tear the present leader off his seat. His death is not necessary but we will appreciate your sacrifice.

Concerning other matters, your actions at the military base have confounded us. We cherish your Light. We respect you and honor you. However, your behaviors as of late have been most unruly. They will not be tolerated. You will fix your conducts immediately or we will be forced to reconsider your involvement within our facility. This is our first and only warning.

I crumble the thin paper into a ball and rush to the living room where he waits sitting against the leather couch. “This is from days ago.”

He smirks, “Alas, I could not find you.”

“Liar!” I throw it at him. “Do you know what you have done? They will think I went against orders I didn’t even know of!” I grip my hair, pacing in chaotic turns. “Firing you is the best thing I have done in months.”

“About that.” He smugly replies, “The Elders decided against your command. Considering your three day absence, there might even be a coup.”

“Is that so?”

He smirks.

“How very brave.”

“I am not your enemy, Isis. I want the NYC to flourish. But there is a war coming. We have to be ready. It is no longer about Earth politics. It is about survival.”

I step toward him and he quickly straightens. His fear is like chocolate on my tongue. “Yes. Survival. Be careful you are on the right side.”

“There are sides, Isis, that I’m positive of. But I wonder if you aren’t all alone on yours.”