Coming of the Seraph
Chapter 2
†
"Once lost, an angel can never grow back his wings." Uriel had taken to nervously tapping his foot as he observed the operation on Setsuna's eye progress to its final stage. Michael opened his mouth to protest, visibly fuming when the Earth Angel continued without pause. "He's very weak right now, eventually the remaining wing will wither into the astral planes. He needs to rest if he has any hope of spiritually surviving this."
"I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT GOD-DAMN KID!" Michael roared, finally reaching his boiling point. "I'M WORRIED ABOUT THESE FUCKS! DO YOU HEAR ME URIEL?!" The Angel of Fire and War snapped his head in the direction of the group of heavily armed angels stowing away on Uriel's merkaba. He jumped up and stomped towards the contingent, many of the young warriors didn't feign bravery in the presence of the temperamental redhead.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE DOING HERE?!" Michael pointed, sharp teal eyes narrowed at the familiar young blonde leading the angels. "You little shits are guerrillas! Aren't you!?"
"Allow me to explain Michael." Uriel stood and approached the Great Powers. "You remember Zaphkiel? The Great Thrones? It was his dying wish to see Sevi's political tyranny overthrown. To do this, I've sought an alliance with the underground organization, the Anima Mundi." Michael grunted in disapproval, frowning as his head tilted back to look at his elemental brother. The difference in height was staggering, but at 6' 10'' it was an effect Uriel had on practically everyone.
"The plan was for them to wait for my signal." The sable-skinned angel said flatly, his eyes darted down to meet Michael's. "However... Our plans were disrupted somewhat by some visitors." The lesser angels present marveled at Uriel's stoic sarcasm in the face of the great Michael.
"Well isn't that just too fucking bad! Go complain to the mighty Messiah or better yet, piss off!" Michael snapped as he stormed back across the room, a crimson patent leather jacket dragged slightly in his wake.
"Alex... No, the Messiah needs to be taught that he cannot run away forever. Something you know well, Michael." Uriel stepped carefully over his words, he didn't want to risk infuriating the Fire Angel; but it was a point well made. Michael ground his teeth together, and leaned back into his arms before clicking his tongue in disinterest. Minutes of silence weighed on the group until Mudou Setsuna was wheeled back into the main room. Alexiel's Messiah groaned; the thick gauze taped over his right eye did nothing to ease the relentless itching that the new eye suffered him. Setsuna gripped the armrests of his chair until the feeling ebbed away; then he glanced around the room, settling his one eye on the young blonde angel leading the Anima Mundi; a sharp pang of grief tightened his gut.
"Looks like I'll be employing your assistance against Raziel." Raziel was a vivid reminder of the hole Zaphkiel had left, but the young angel filled it well as he expressed his concern for the human that his former mentor had placed so much faith in.
"For now it would be best if you simply accepted treatment." Uriel advised, as Setsuna recalled that Uriel and Zaphkiel had once known each other. "You need to rest Alex."
"Ezekiel, when you get a chance." Mossy green eyes shifted to an angel standing apart from the others, he nodded as he was addressed. At 6' even, he wasn't nearly as tall as Uriel; but he had a slightly thicker frame and it was evident that it was tight whipcord muscle beneath the navy blue uniform he wore. He crossed the room and crouched down to the teen's eye level.
"Uriel? When... did you gain the ability to speak? You told me you injured your vocal chords." Setsuna's words slurred, he'd never undergone surgery before and had to wonder if talking was always this difficult after. He wanted water, but the medics had denied him; the anesthesia was acting as a painkiller at least until some proper drugs could be acquired.
"Things have certainly been shaken up, thanks to you. I've been forced to rely on something created by the science labs-" The elemental angel unzipped the high collar of his emerald green uniform, revealing a device strapped to his neck; much like the one Setsuna recalled attached to Sevotharte. Or rather, Lailah.
"Look at me Messiah." Ezekiel interrupted, he carefully removed the surgical padding over Setsuna's eye, ordering for more to be ready as he did.
"Who...are you?" The Messiah felt his new eye start to water as the hard light streamed unto his dilated pupil. He was certain that he'd never met this angel before, his features were sharp and his hair was the color of black espresso; it was neatly trimmed to the bottom of his ears and parted to the right.
"My name is Ezekiel, Cherub. Not a Virtue and certainly not Raphael, who should be the one doing follow-up on major surgery." The angel shot a glance at the two elemental angels. "Where is he anyway? Follow my pen, boy." Ezekiel waved a pen past Setsuna's chocolate brown eyes, he tracked it back and forth several times
"That bastard ran off with the Messiah's woman!" Michael barked, he rolled his intensely blue-green eyes as Setsuna turned to glare at him. The Cherub named Ezekiel raised a coffee brown eyebrow, rarely did the Air Angel need to seek out the company of women; but kidnapping seemed absurd. The angel shook his head and clicked on the ballpoint light to test the new eye's dilation.
"Have you been hiding under a rock? How do you have no idea whats going on?" Setsuna blurted sleepily as the angel stood, he gently rubbed at the new eye with the ball of his palm. It did nothing to relieve the irritation.
"I am the bodyguard of the Zodiac Angels. I've been following the situation; but I wasn't aware that Raphael had kidnapped Jibriel." That part had been news he still hadn't processed, he found it hard to swallow that the Great Cherub had awoken claiming to be a human girl named Mudou Sara.
"More importantly, what is your name Messiah? Or is that what you prefer?" Ezekiel curiously eyed the young man, Setsuna blankly gazed into the angel's brilliant aquamarine eyes;
"Setsuna... Mudou Setsuna." The teenage Messiah revealed, he realized quickly that no one had actually asked his name; many of the angels here already knew it, didn't care, or worse... preferred to use her name. Ezekiel acknowledged his answer with a small nod.
"The eye is working, I'm not seeing any issues with its functionality." The man said, straightening the navy-blue uniform of the Cherub phylum; decorated with various medals of military duty. "But again, I'm not Raphael. My expertise is limited."
"Thanks." Setsuna leaned his head back, drifting off to sleep again.
†
"The eyes of all the angels in Heaven were able to witness Jibriel-sama's trial. And now they're waiting for action!" Raziel had had enough, sitting around waiting for the Messiah to sleep off the anesthesia from his surgery was unbearable. "We mustn't waste this perfect chance to capture Sevotharte, while the public stands behind us." The others in the room snapped their attention to the young leader as he announced his intentions to invade the White Mansion.
"We will capture the Great Seraphim, Metatron and Sevotharte. He won't slip his arrest again. Messiah, Great Powers Michael-sama, and Ezekiel-sama. Though it may be against your wishes, in fear of our situation, The Anima Mundi will be placing you under arrest." The blonde Thrones was ready for action and there would be no stopping him now.
"Raziel...! Thats completely un-" Uriel started, casting an uneasy eye on the Great Powers, who's eyes narrowed dangerously as he sat up.
"Feh... Alright, I'll let you play your game. My only true enemy is Satan's army anyway." Michael snorted, sliding a thumb over his chin; he'd been itching to get to the battlefield and if all he had to do was stay away from White Mansion, he was happy to do so.
"Not interested." Ezekiel scoffed. "If those are my options, I'd rather just return to the Council. I've had a bad feeling since yesterday, I'd much rather be there until this is over." The Cherub shook his head, blue eyes saturated with uneasiness, he rose from his seat nodded to the Great Powers and headed to the exit.
"Wait, Ezekiel." Uriel followed the Cherub, clamping a dark hand on the man's shoulder. Ezekiel turned with a brow raised, he hadn't expected to find such a desperate look in the Earth Angel's eyes.
"We could use your help. I'll be honest, I'm not sure if Alex and the Anima Mundi will be able to take on the Prime Minister alone." Uriel had immediately noticed that Ezekiel had changed even less than Michael; he'd maintained the image of noble duty in his immaculately starched and pressed blue uniform. The assistance of the 4th seated Cherub, no the keeper of the Zodiac Angels was an asset he couldn't allow to walk out.
"I'm sorry Uriel-sama, truly. But the Council is my first concern, like I said." Ezekiel gave the Earth Angel an apologetic smile, he hated to turn his back on a friend as old as Uriel; but there was tenseness pooling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't shake it and it mounted as the hours passed.
"Is there no way to convince you?" Ezekiel frowned at the elemental angel, he'd hadn't expected Uriel to return, but too see him here with the rebellion confirmed that the Earth Angel hadn't entirely left Heaven behind.
"The Council gave me permission to oversee the surgery. I'm well aware that you used that as a means to get me here. But I'm not staying, this isn't my conflict." The angel narrowed his eyes, as he opened the hatch of the airship. The sudden rush of air left them breathless for a moment, and Uriel's expression hardened as the cold air lashed around.
"This is our conflict Ezekiel, you can't hide behind the Zodiac Angels for much longer." Uriel followed the Cherub onto the deck, he telepathically sent the words for fear of loosing them in the roar of the airship.
"I'm not hiding, not anymore, I'm completely behind the cause Uriel. But things are spinning wildly out of the control, and still He sleeps, even after the crash of the Celestial planes. That is only a promise of more chaos, if even that couldn't wake our Creator." Aquamarine met mossy green and both angels nodded in silent agreement.
"Are you afraid of what is going to come crawling out of Hell?" Uriel had known exactly what had happened when Heaven and Hell had collided. The barrier, God's barrier had been weakened; lesser demons and their like from the upper kingdoms could now easily gain entrance to the Divine Lands; and though their numbers where great, they were still relatively safe from any real threats. The armies of the lower Hells were gathering, waiting for another disaster to completely shatter the boundaries between worlds.
"Not what, but rather who." Ezekiel hadn't admitted that to anyone in a long time and the thought of her churned his stomach sharply.
"She's dead Ezekiel. Michael confirmed it himself... Azreal is dead!" The Earth Angel found himself shaking the Cherub's shoulders, the fear in his eyes was frustrating beyond measure.
"He didn't find a body. And if my sister didn't want to be caught, she wouldn't." Ezekiel flinched as her name hung in the air.
"Alex has been to Sheol, and if she's anywhere its there." The Earth Angel reasoned, unwilling to let the much needed assistance go yet.
"With him." Ezekiel's eyes narrowed, adding the words bitterly as he pushed past the guardian of Hades. The Cherub returned to the hanger of the merkaba, pushing past the younger angels crowding the only human.
"Mudou Setsuna." The man approached the Messiah quickly, who had tried his hand at standing.
"Yea...?" The boy glanced over, wobbling a bit as he was distracted from his task. He was quickly leveled by one of the surgical staff.
"When you were in Sheol. Did you meet a woman named Azreal." The question prompted the young Messiah to think for a long moment, he'd met many monsters in the pit of Hell; but none of them had worn that name.
"No. That name isn't familiar." Setsuna shook his head, immediately regretting the action as his head swam and he sunk further into the arms of the men at his side.
"Are you certain? She has dark blue hair and silver eyes." Ezekiel offered, considering that she could easily go by a different name. Setsuna's brows creased in thought, he couldn't recall a single person with features that specific.
"Positive. I didn't see anyone like that." The angel wanted to sigh with relief, but Ezekiel remained unsettled. He turned quickly, leaving without another word. The others fell silent, refusing to offer Setsuna an explanation.
†
"Ezekiel. We did not expect to see you so soon." Malahidael called. "Did you decide against assisting Alexiel's vessel?" His voice was ethereal and low, it felt like throbbing in ones ears. If there was a leader of the Zodiac Council it was him. While not the oldest, he was governor over Aries and his appearance was the most similar to the celestial beings of today. If not for the four arms that bore long talon-like fingers.
"Forgive me Malahidael-sama." Ezekiel swept his bow low, and turned to the other elders in the room. "I'm nervous about the upcoming events. I strongly feel the need to be here."
"As are we, there are many possibilities for the near future, and its impossible to narrow it further at this point. Canbiel of the Aquarius divulged, he shook his head and agitated the faded red-orange feathers of his bird-head so they stood on end for a moment. His body, half-bird half-humanoid was of the first angels brought into creation, and suffered much of God's creative freedom with it. Ezekiel tried to hide his surprise, he'd been with the Council long enough to know that they were rarely as a loss for the future.
"And the trial? How did our Jibriel fair?" Zuriel inquired, looming above the others in the highest loft, his pride still wounded when the Prime Minister demanded to oversee the trial.
"It never ended. Michael and the Messiah crashed into the courthouse, destroying it." Ezekiel sighed, almost smiling at the thought. "Raphael has also apparently taken Jibriel hostage."
"Oh?" Malahidael leaned closer, four gold clawed hands closed tightly around the starry stone globe before him. "Has he? What a strange development."
"We will have to take this into consideration." Gemini's overseer Ambiel spoke through both her heads. Ezekiel admittedly always found it strange that the slightest thing could tip their predictions for the future. How Raphael abducting a girl, that apparently wasn't even really Jibriel, could change the fate of Creation eluded him. He assumed it was for the best and he had no desire to understand the future.
"You may take your leave now Ezekiel. We have much to discuss in private." They spoke in unison, and allowed their guardian to take his leave in silence.
†
"I can't believe they're going to attach Sevi's castle with power like that. Stupid dreamers..." Michael snorted into the communication device around his wrist. The angel plunged his fire sword into the ground and settled down over the remnants of his battlefield. It had been easy pickings, but there had been enough of them to let him and his soldiers cut loose and blow off some steam.
"Agreed. It seems rushed, Setsuna is making things move too quickly." Ezekiel replied, his voice crackled as their connection wavered; he still didn't understand on why Michael insisted on using such old fashion technology in the heat of battle. But suggesting that the Angel of War change habits he'd held for thousands of years was not something anyone was willing to do.
"Who?" Michael absentmindedly blurted out as his teal eyes tracked into the distance, he spotted a Merkaba speeding closer and he frowned, had he ordered more soldiers to the front lines?
"The Messiah, Michael." They spoke often; Raphael always too busy with 'work' and Khamael was too slow to carry on an actual conversation. Ezekiel treated him with respect that wasn't cowering like a feeble child and old enough to understand references to previous wars.
"Oh, is that his name?"
"Yes. Anyway. Do you think he'll come asking for help if things go bad?" Ezekiel had never considered aiding the Messiah, his long service to the Zodiac Angels had left him ready to fight, but uninterested in war.
"I've already decided that I'm not getting into this battle. I'm going home-" Michael froze mid-sentence and he felt impossibly lightheaded. The redhead tilted his head back, again spotting the airship as it passed directly overhead.
"You're looking well, Michael." Why those words decided to run through his mind Michael was unsure, he rarely lingered on his brother; actually he made a conscious effort not too. But that hateful velvet voice curled around his spine like ice cold vines.
"Michael?" Ezekiel raised a brow, this wasn't the first time that the call had been cut and as he leaned in closer to the speaker he was able to make out a gasp and the sudden rustling of clothing.
"Michael? What's wrong?" Ezekiel sat forward, tensing up as his own uneasiness peaked. He fought the wave of nausea that had accompanied the memory of his sister screaming.
"-Brother..." Between the waves of interference the Cherub made out the word and his eyes widened in surprise. He'd heard stories of how the High Power's responded to the mention of his brother, but had never heard of him bringing up the subject.
"What about him, Michael? What about your brother?"
"He's-" The reception in the old watches cut out, and no amount of retrying would connect the line again, and whether it was from bad interception or the Fire Angel's refusal to answer Ezekiel couldn't tell. Aquamarine eyes swept across the black earth of Zebul, for a brief moment he considered returning to fight a war with the Messiah.
Afterthoughts
Again, a big thank you to everyone for your support! 3