~ Please note: The oryginal work was completed and published December 5th. This is the translation from polish. ~
'Lucifer...' whispered gently, but with some degree of firmness Michael.
'Brother!' Lucifer exclaimed, turning his gaze from where he stared at the ground to look at the archangel. When their gazes met, the anger in his eyes melted.
Michael's face was a mix of sadness and repulsion. Lucifer stared at him wordlessly, as if trying to read his brother's mind. The archangel's thoughts were racing furiously like an open-sea storm, vigorously exploding here and there. His lips were moving slightly but no words came out. He looked like he was trying to answer Lucifer's questioning gaze but every word known to him seemed small and ridiculous. He snapped out of it eventually and reached his belt for the sword.
'Michael! What's this about? What are you doing?' Lucifer backed slowly, reaching a hand to protect himself from the strike which never came, but he felt like he was dead already.
'I'm sorry. There's nothing else left for you or me to do. I've warned you. I've begged you a thousand times to stop hating humans, to see them like our Father does… you've wasted all your chances, Lucifer. This ends now' he deadpanned.
'What? You want to kill me in the name of those misshapen creatures who desecrate our Father's holy work with every sleazy breath they take?' Lucifer shouted furiously.
'Stop! Can't you at least pretend you've changed? Can't you see it? You're full of wrath, envy… Father can't even look at you anymore! With every gaze He gives you, His eyes swell with tears' he continued.
Lucifer listened to his brother's words with disbelief.
'You can no longer stay here, brother. You're a threat. For humans, for us, for yourself…' he added softly.
Lucifer stared at his brother's face with dull eyes. He was breathing heavily and with difficulty prevailed over the growing anger. Seeing this Michael turned even more sad than he already was but at the same time also realized there's no other way. He picked up the sword and hit his brother stone-faced. Lucifer was observing the movement of the weapon with a frantic indifference. He kept that face expression even while falling with a great speed, in a ball of light, down the Earth of the hated humans.
Michael, of course, didn't kill his brother. By the order of their father he cast him to the prison in which he was supposed to stay for thousands and thousands of years repenting for his anger. When the earth closed beneath Lucifer, Michael looked around grimly. Suddenly a strong astonishment depicted wrinkle on his forehead. He saw that the last flight of Lucifer wasn't for the fact lonesome. A gust which Lucifer caused took along several angels.
Here and there another angel was hitting the ground observing his own grace exploding in the distance. One saw as the flash created a fabulous bush, other turning around noticed an unexceptional, azure lake full of beautiful creatures, another with an admiration was looking higher and higher trying to reach the top of a great mountain that has showed up suddenly a second before his body fell into a dense grass.
In the distance, amid the stunning silence of the steppe was brushing off the dust, pained from the collapse, small, but very loyal and devoted angel, whose name, so far known to few, was soon to sign up for the most important pages of the history of the world.
Castiel, a brave soldier of the heavenly hosts, looked around the vast plain. Stunned by the fall, was slowly recovering, when suddenly, just a few steps from the place where he was standing, his grace touched the earth.
Hot blast blew the grass and unusual smell filled the air. Slowly he walked towards where it fell, because he could not see what it had become. High-pile green carpet of nature ceased to rock and everything came back to normal. While moving farther he was pushing the plants away gently, trying to find the act of creation.
Suddenly he stopped. In his eyes, enlightened by a surprise, reflected a figure resting limply on the sand. A young woman, basically still a child, was lying on her back with head to the side and slightly gaping mouth. From her back were growing strong, extremely white angel wings.
Castiel stared at her stunned. He crouched down and tried to figure out what to do. Suddenly he felt someone standing behind him. He quickly turned and saw a man. His eves, however, were stacked on the form lying on the ground.
'Who are you?' asked Castiel quietly.
'My name is Balthazar. I'm an angel.' answered the man looking up at Castiel.
Hearing this words Castiel breathed a sigh of relief. 'Ah, it's you my brother... I understand you either can't recognize me in this odd personage. It's me – Castiel.'
Balthazar smiled and nod his head. Castiel answered the same way. Since ever they were a great friends. The fact that they ways crossed even in such an unusual situation could be called only a quirk of fate.
'Who is it ...?' asked tentatively Baltazar kneeling next to his brother.
'I have no idea' answered Castiel slowly 'I saw my grace landing in this place, so I followed and found her.'
Brothers looked up on each other. The brief moment of silence was interrupted by Balthazar suggesting 'Maybe that is your grace?'
Those words shocked Castiel, but he couldn't exclude such a possibility. He saw exactly were his grace touched the ground and around, except the creature, were nothing unusual, just the never ending grass.
'Halo? Halo?' Castiel kept saying while nudging the girl lightly on the shoulder. She, however, was still not responding. Brothers started to think she's dead. Finally, Castiel put his hand on the spot where he supposed her heart should be placed and right after a rapid breath filled her lungs. Her eyelids slowly revealed a large, brown like the earth, on which she lay, eyes. The first thing she saw was the face of Castiel bent over her, burying his filled with the azure of the sky eyes into her face.
She was looking around not knowing what's going on, or who she is, where she is, what are all those things surround her. When Castiel touched her face she moved away nervously, not understanding what is that something she just felt. She was moving successfully another parts of her body discovering arms, legs, fingers, feet... Again she looked at the figure, which first emerged from the darkness of closed eyes. She noticed that his lips are moving, but the sound that pierced her consciousness had no meaning to her.
'Hey? Who are you? How do you feel?' Castiel asked with a concerned voice. Seeing that the creature had no idea what was going on, he looked questioningly at Balthazar. He returned with a shrug and equally surprised look.
'Do you understand what's going on?' tried Castiel again.
'Do you un-' murmured uncertainly the creature.
The brothers exchanged glances again, but this time in their eyes began to glow hope
'Castiel' said the angel pointing at himself.
'Cas-' tried to repeat the girl.
Castiel smiled and laughed a little while taring at him girl's mouth twisted into a smile. Gradually, her eyes lit up. She started to feel she's safe.
She looked now at Balthazar. He pointed at himself trying to do what Castiel did, but he didn't even yet opened his mouth when the creature first said 'Cas!' and then smiled do beautifully the brothers laughed cheerfully.
'Balthazar' tried the angel one more time.
At first misunderstanding showed on her face, but just a moment after, when Balthazar repeated his name she slowly said it.
She turned her gaze on Castiel and with trembling hand she touched the face of an angel saying his name, more to herself than to anyone else. At this very moment between those two began to grow the feeling. The feeling of pure love, interdependence and trust. Castiel began to understand that the creature he's looking at was born thanks to him and it too felt an instinctive bond with an extraordinary parent.
The creature seemed to be becoming more and more aware. The brothers decided to help her get up, but it turned out that she doesn't yet have a full power in the limbs. When they were helping her to sit down Michael appeared. Immediately after he understood what had happened, he went to the Earth to help the angels to get back to heaven.
'Balthazar and... Castiel?' asked Michael briefly.
'Yes.' they answered.
Michael came closer seeing a pair of eyes staring at him from above the grasses, and the tops of angel wings he could not fail to notice. Castiel concerned by the haughty expression on Michael's face instinctively approached the unusual creature ready to take up the fight against powerful brother. Michael noticed that immediately and with a warm voice said 'Take it easy. I'm not here to hurt anyone. I just want to see who it is.'
The brothers exchanged glances. The soft look of Michael overcame in a bloodless battle the fear hidden beneath Castiel's eyes.
The archangel came closer, followed by the gaze of the unusual phenomenon. He circled the grass and stood right in front of it. Just as the angels before, this time Michael was surprised staring at the winged woman.
'Who is that?' he asked eventually.
'We don't know. I found here right there where my grace fell. Just a second before I managed to wake her up and I assume she's not able to walk or talk' Castiel explained.
Michael nodded. 'Well, we won't find any answers here. I'm taking you and ... this thing back to Heaven. There God will decide what to do.'
All three nod confirmed the validity of the decision. Castiel with Balthazar took the girl into the sides, and Michael moved all home.
In the blink of an eye, all four found themselves in Heaven, next to the great temple in which, according to tradition, God lived and to which accession had very few. Michael said he will go inside and tell God the news about the creature they found. As he said, he did. He opened high , looking extremely heavy, wooden door and disappeared into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Castiel and Balthazar drawing on the power of Heaven gradually regained their strength, and also their companion seemed to enjoy the heavenly favors. After a while she grabbed tightly leg of standing next to her Castiel trying to get up. Several failed attempts later she was admiring the walls of the temple proudly looming before her eyes from a standing position.
While the brothers, observed by the gathering crowd of intrigued by the turn of events, angels assisted at the first steps of a newborn, temple door creaked and Michael appeared. Seeing the progress made by the creature he ordered her to approach.
Angels watched in surprise as she went through the door unscathed. Clear and indisputable became, therefore, that the creation is of unique, since it crossed the doorstep of the temple without any harm.
Michael led her through a long, wide corridor which walls at the entire length were filled with doors made of precious materials. Under their feet was lying a soft, wide carpet. The ceiling covered in shadow, was imperceptible. Only few places glowed with flames of the wall lamps.
In the air you could smell the same unusual aroma, as before, on the steppe, but here its tone was much clearer. This remarkable passage seemed to have no end. The winged girl was looking around in wonder and half-consciously was taking more reliable steps.
Finally, out of nowhere, a wall appeared in front of them. They went through the velvet curtain and found themselves in a round, bright room resembling a stone cave. In the very center of the room was placed a round source of a most pure, spring water, spilled across the floor in tiny rivulets, which looked like a beautiful patterns, dancing on the stones and disappearing into the cracks between them. Above the source was spinning a huge, diamond shaped Turquoise. This room seemed to be extremely strict and modest, but in the air spread a sense of strength and power.
Michael closed his eyes, took a deep breath and whispered 'Father', while the creature went near one of the rivulets observing the movement of water. Suddenly the whole place filled up with a warm, very physic light. The girl raised her face and froze with delight. Just in front of here eyes she saw a beautiful, full of light face of God. She touched it softly like she did before with Castiel.
'Nahili' said the Light. The girl frowned and slowly repeated the name. Standing on the side Michael also said it to himself silently and stared thoughtful look at the floor. God took her face in his hands and at the same time her body was pierced by light, and her eyes for a moment turned turquoise. The wings have opened wide and shown in all their glory, the light danced on their stunning shell. Her legs and arms have gained strength and confidence. Her mind filled with the languages of nations around the world. Inside her heart like a devastating wave spilled love and courage.
'I give you the name Nahili. From today, till the end of all things, you shall bring solace to the tortured souls, souls doomed and raped. You are a creation of love, and love you will spread. Your legs will pass through the most terrible parts of the underworld, but you will not be harmed. Evil forces will wage war with you, but you will not die. You will fight terrible battles, but you will not succumb. You will take difficult decisions, but you will never be mistaken. No door will not remain closed in front of you, no obstacle will be quite big to stop you, to no evil you will ever surrender, because you are filled my strength, and my love will wash thy wounds.' said God with the gentle voice.
Nahili's eyes filled with tears. 'Father ...' she said with a trembling voice.
God smiled good-naturedly and said 'Not I am thy father. You were born from the destiny of than small angel who's close to my heart, as a big fire of love to a human grows inside him. Him, therefore, you should call father. His advice you shall follow and learn from him. Put your trust in him and verily I say unto you - your destiny will be fulfilled. The fate of his will be stormy, as he will be prosecuted and damned by many, but all of those who will rise against him will perish and the abyss is ment for them, he himself, under the words of my given at this time, will never die, though death will not remain unknown to him. Be true to yourselves and do not ever let the evil to separate you.'
After these words been pronounced the light left the room. Nahili knelt still staring straight ahead. Violent creeks of feelings were thrashing her body, tears were streaming down her face, and dripping into the rivulets floating beneath her knees. Michael walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. 'Nahili.' he said and she turned her head towards him. 'We have to go.' spoke the angel calmly.
Nahili stood up and took a deep breath. She gazed into the eyes of Michael with a look of wisdom and strength. She straightened and headed for the exit walking with confidence. Michael followed her still not fully comprehending what she is. Nahili on the other hand, already understood exactly what she is, where she is and what is waiting for her. This time walking down the hallway, she knew exactly what lies behind the door, and why are they so beautiful and rich. She knew why over their heads there was no way to see the ceiling.
She pushed open the door and found herself in the courtyard, which was filled with a crowd of angels. In front of them stood Castiel, who in the blink of an eye saw the changes that have taken place in this strange little creature that just few minutes was lying unconsciously on the brown earth of the steppe. Now he saw a beautiful, strong, young woman that was walking toward him, smiling innocently.
When they finally stood face to face she put her hand on his chest. 'Hello, Father.' she said, and her eyes sparkled beautifully. Castiel covered her hand with his own and with a gentle smile intertwined by bewilderment was staring at her face.
At this the sight murmur rose among angels. They asked each other what does it mean, who is this person, why is it calling an ordinary angel father.
Finally, Michael came to the center saying 'Brothers and sisters. Let me explain to you what is happening. The creation, you're looking at God called Nahili and ordered her to lead souls and save them from perdition. God told her that her father is ... an angel Castiel.'
These words painted a shock on the faces of all. They looked at each other, trying to understand how is it possible that an ordinary angel became the creator.
'It happened today, quite recently. I do not know ... I just, like several other brothers was grabbed by a wave of falling, cursed Lucifer, and when I woke up I found her on the ground, right where my grace fell. I'm ... I'm just as surprised as you are.' explained Castiel
Eventually Nahili walked in the middle of the crowd.
'My name is Nahili. I was born in order to bring salvation. God told me to go to hell and pull out of the flames all the souls that Satan had kidnapped and ties there, although they do not deserve it. I am supposed to walk the paths of the underground and give hope to sinners who repent. My Father is an angel named Castiel, who's destiny is to love a human and to give his life for him.'
Silence fell among the congregation. Nahili's voice sounded so powerful that no one dared to speak. Then a sudden stroke shook her body. Her eyes became turquoise and her skin was glowing.
'My children. Creature this I put over and above all creation. Angel it is, but born on earth. Human it is, but it's veins are filled my power. Teach her and from her take lessons. Help her and in her seek help. Trust in her and give her a reason to trust you.' she spoke the words of God.
The Angels fell to their knees. 'Father, what does that mean? What do you want me to do? ' asked Castiel.
God in the form of Nahili approached the angel. - 'Son. I entrust to you today one of the most important tasks in the history of the world and do it, because I know that like no one else you can handle it. From now on, you're a father, just like me, and like I do you also need to take care of what you have created. Help her, teach her, show her the right way. Do not relieve her, do not force her to do anything, do not hurt her, but be supportive be the one she can rely on. Show her the paths of Heaven and Hell. Show her how to be my soldier. Be... human. Love.' the last word had not yet resound, when turquoise disappeared from her eyes, so that eventually she made this request.
Angel, divine soldier, is men to obey, to follow the orders, to do what ever God's will is without asking questions. How should he act now, when God told him to preach and love? His interior was bombed by hundreds of feelings he didn't understand and couldn't name. However, looking into the eyes of his child he was finding hope his inner storm was gradually stopping and the sky was beginning to lighten. The seed sown by God in his mind, heated by the warmth which emanated from Nahili slowly, but gradually sprouted. Every moment he had, he spent sharing everything he knew and could with an extraordinary daughter. With each passing day Nahili fought more efficiently, was feeling more and more confident in living among other supernatural creatures, more often she wandered alone discovering the distant reaches of Hell and Heaven. The fight became something natural, her hunter sense sharpened, her name started scaring demons and awakened hope in their victims.
Initially Nahili was looking for violated and converted souls with Castiel by her side. Together they were helping them with escape and the redemptive journey. Together, at the end of the road, they led rescued soul through the sacred waterfalls, which were removing the dust and blood, making them to forget all the bad memories and suffering. Together they watched how happy and free it ascends to the heavenly route and leaves them to find its place. Castiel undoubtedly gave Nahili base of the soldier's sword fighting, system of values , a sense of obedience and mission, while Nahili with each smile, each question, each successive warm look nursed the fruit sown in the interior of an angel. So much divine, yet so very human. Earth, man, his development, his need for closeness, the pursuit of happiness for Castiel became something more and more familiar. As he helped his daughter, more and more he wanted to be among people and help them.
Has finally come the day on which Castiel knew that his work is finished. Nahili was strong, able to fight, she could take care of herself, she had the knowledge which would allow her to continue to develop by herself.
When she was venturing to Hell they didn't see each other for tens of days, but always longed for each other and spend time together, whenever there was opportunity to do so. None of the angels could understand why Castiel was spending so much time in Thursday's Heaven watching Nahili dancing with a kite, why was he sitting on a flowery meadow holding her to his chest for hours, what was the purpose of staying so often on the riversides. None of them truly knew what love is. Castiel himself didn't know that, but he did felt it. Somehow he knew that the only thing left to give to his child fighting bloody and painful battle with demons, are these moments of being together in Heaven.
Nahili, invincible, and what can I say - the brutal warrior, somewhere in the depths remained a child. One day soaked in the blood of demons she was crawling through a narrow tunnels leading souls to the escape route, next with an innocent expression on her face she was sitting in the grass, watching the flying bees.
One day, when Castiel spent time in his favorite, Thursday Heaven, Nahili came to him to tell about something that would soon change their lives forever.
'Dad?' she said, hugging his arm.
Castiel looked at her and stroked her face. 'Hello. Finally you arrive. I do not remember the last time I saw you ' said the angel seemingly cool, but then a smile lit up his face.
'I know, recently I spent a lot of time exploring the new underworld!' said Nahili excitedly.
'What new underworld?' Castiel was surprised.
'It's probably... Purgatory. Remember when you told me about it? You said it was a place where God hid leviathans and that there are all of those souls that can not be either in Heaven or in Hell. So... I was there and... '
'Nahili! That's not possible. No angel, no demon knows how to get to purgatory, or even where it is. '
'But, Dad, I was there! I wandered through hell, found a new corridor, and, you know - I wanted to see how it looks, I wanted to check whether I could find there any souls. It was very cramped and dark, and it seemed no one went that way since a really long time. So I walked and walked, and suddenly I saw some light shining close to the floor. I started to dig, move away stones, and finally saw a great forest. It was not hell, and certainly not heaven. I felt that every leaf and every blade of grass is soaked with blood. I went through the hole and... that's it! I was there! I have found the gateway to...! '
'Keep it down.' ordered Castiel covering her mouth. 'It must remain our secret. Did you cover the hole? ' he asked nervously.
'Yes, father...'
'Nahili, are you sure?' Castiel kept asking.
'Yes, father. I am sure.' she answered rolling her eyes.
After discovering Purgatory and realizing the fact that the fight is there a basis for survival, Nahili started to spend there most of her time. Explaining to herself that it was for training, she was spending the whole days on wandering and killing. When she opened the passage for the first time, she immediately headed to a nearby stream. It turned out that it's filled with the holy water, the same which was clearing the souls in the waterfalls, the one coming from the stone room of God. Sitting by the stream, cleansing fresh wounds, she suddenly felt a movement behind her back. Quietly and gently she placed her hand on a sword strapped to her hip, and then turned sharply ready to strike the death blow. Creeping creation was also in readiness. In fractions of a second in the air dust and leaves blew up in the air.
The winged woman struggled with the leviathan. These creatures aroused terror throughout Purgatory, because they were there since forever, knew every nook and were extremely strong, and therefore around the fighting immediately gathered a bunch of viewers. Nahili knocked down the Leviathan with several agile moves and killed it with a single flick of her invincible sword. The gathered ones watched the scene intently. It seemed that on stage there is a new, greater threat.
Nahili stood up panting and measured the crowd with a menacing gaze when suddenly a whole group of Leviathans surrounded her. The news of the death of the predator that yet seemed to be immortal spread through the land like wildfire. Initially, it seemed that Nahili fails to fend off such a massive attack, but in the words of God, "You will fight terrible battles, but you will not succumb", leviathan one after the other fell at her feet, and black tarry blood was splashing around.
None of the other creatures even dared to come close to Nahili who triumphantly strolled between bodies, slowly shaking down the secretions from the sword. She was breathing in the musty air, looked at frightened, grotesque monsters and relished with the fear in their eyes.
Some yet unknown feeling was drilling on inside her. Some fist clenched on her heart, but the pain was extremely pleasant. Frantic smile lit up her mucky face. She stood before the crowd and said briefly - 'I'm Nahili and as of today, I'm in charge here.' Then he walked away and plunged into the woods.
She wandered for hours, for days, fighting, exploring nooks and crannies of purgatory, creating secret passages and portals. Increasingly she was forgetting about her real duties, more and more time she was spending in purgatory in which she felt truly in place. Here, just like everyone else, she was a freak, queer, brutal creature whose only passion is spurting blood of its enemies. Her human side fell into addiction. She totally forgot about her mission, even Castiel stopped being important. Without any explanation she simply disappeared.
In heaven, it was noted that there is something wrong. The next angels began to notice that Nahili does not execute her duties, that she's disappearing, who knows where. Naturally, all accusations were headed against Castiel. Angels thought he was guilty educating Nahili wrong.
He tried to defend himself and her, but how long could he be hiding the truth at the risk of loosing life? In the end, he decided it would be best if he will confess the truth and tell everyone that Nahili found Purgatory and there ... is looking for to save. He couldn't say about his suspicions as to the real reasons why his daughter spends so much time there. Initially, the angels seemed to understand. Nahili was supposed to traverse the underworld and save souls, but there were many who did not accept this explanation. They have argued that Nahili had to travel through hell, because purgatory is a place for souls that cannot be saved anyhow, monsters, whose deeds can not be measured, the creatures, which, under any circumstances, can not leave this place. The leader of those became the archangel Raphael. His position and authority were undeniable and soon a substantial, strong group gathered around him and the real rebellion flared up.
It started from the wrath of angels on Nahili, transformed into a crack in the family, backchat and accusations, and finally ended questions why God does not intervene? It seemed like after introducing Nahili he was gone. It would seem that this is a small thing, each angel has its own tasks and issues and none of them was obliged to bear the consequences of Nahili's acts, yet this problem has divided Heaven. Everyone suffered because of this, the cold war hung over the skies, but the archangel Raphael did not seem worried. Quite the contrary. It has long been smoldering in his mind a vision of the taking control over Heaven, he only needed an excuse to initiate a revolution, and proving that even the most chosen creature is no longer respecting the words of God seemed to be a great first step.
To break the camel's back with the straw was only a matter of time. Rafael boasted his cunning, he was proud of how he turned a slight breeze into the deadly hurricane, but even he never suspected how close is a real threat.