Romanus Angelus
Chapter three
Britannia bound
And now they are coming, yeah, now they coming
Out from the shadows
To take me to the court because they know
Gotta shut this down, cause they been watching all my windows
They gathered up the warrant cuz' they know
You understand I got a plan for us
I bet you didn't know that I was dangerous
It must be fate, I found a place for us
I bet you didn't know that I was dangerous
Joywave Big Data Dangerous
Semont, Iberian Peninsula
"This is taking way to long," Ven said as she watched Amandus graze beside a pond.
"The roads are the safest place. With the regular patrols..."
"If I can't stop a demon, do you think the guard can?" She asked. He considered for a moment.
"Alright, your suggestion?"
"As the crow flies. It's always been the best way for me. Helps me avoid people..."
"But you're so charming." He offered with a touch of sarcasm.
"Well, that's new." She said and turned to him with a grin.
"You are rubbing off on me. If we stay on the road, we only have to worry about demons. Off-road there are bandits, animals, wandering demigods..."
"Your exaggerating. I've never seen a demigod."
"Not that you know of..."
"It will take a week off the trip." She argued.
"That won't matter if you die." He answered.
"I can't die. No one in the afterlife wants me over there." She returned. "Cass, if we go the long way, Brutari could be anywhere by the time we get there."
He nodded. "And no chance we leave the horse?" Amandus whinnied at Cass. "Fine. But before we go any further, there is a library not far from here. We need to go there so I can teach you about demons."
"That's what I'm talking about!' She said and jumped on the horses back. "Lead on."
"What's with this creepy eye thing." She asked, fingering the symbol etched into the metal door of the building they were at.
"It's the symbol of the Viri Literatum. They are a group that collects arcane knowledge. Wizards. They might even have a weapon you can use." He put his hand on the door and it glowed. Inside there was a ringing and a moment later an ancient man came and opened the door.
"Can I help you?" He asked, eyeing both of them up and down.
"I am a servant of the seal. I need the use of your facilities."
"You are sent by the I AM?" The old man asked.
"Yes," Castiel replied and the old man stepped back. He watched very carefully as the two of them crossed the threshold and seemed relieved when they passed unscathed.
"I am Castiel and this is Ven."
"Ah, yes, the progenitor." The old man said. "Oh, but where are my manners? I am Caelinus. Have you been traveling far?"
"Mostly in circles." Ven griped and started looking around the room. There was a font in the center of the room and the walls were lined with glyphs and reliefs in Byzantine style.
"We are headed to Britannia." Castiel said softly.
The old man raised an eyebrow. "Britannia, you say. I'd heard..."
"Yes, well. An errand calls first."
"They will wait for her. If you need allies perhaps you will find them in Georgovia. I am told that you have friends their, Servitor of I Am."
Castiel's eyes narrowed. "Who?" He asked.
"The keepers of the Grail."
Castiel's face opened in recognition. "I thought they were further South." He said.
"Well, with Nero and his insanity and Crocell on the move." The old man said.
"Who is this Crocell guy and how do we off him?" Ven suddenly asked.
"Well, you don't "off" him." the old man said. "He is immortal."
"Nothing is immortal. Even the gods will die..." She responded.
"Perhaps." Castiel said. "In the beginning of things, when the stars blazed with a fire that illuminated the four corners of the Universe and Earth had yet to cool, there was a war in Heaven. My heaven. A usurper named Lucifer tried to take the throne from God and we loyal angels cast him down into hell. He took with him his minions, and among them was a female who was with child. God offered to spare her for the sake of her child, but she chose to follow her husband into the depths of the Earth. There she gave birth to an Abomination. His name was Crocell and he is the most beautiful angel ever born. More beautiful then Lucifer, the morning sun. But for all his beauty, he is also the foulest and most corrupt thing. His only joy is pain and destruction, wanton, pointless destruction. He has no desire to rule or subjugate, he only wants to watch things burn."
"Sounds like a party." She uttered and helped herself to a glass of wine from a shelf. "Sure we can't kill it?"
"Better angels then I have tried," Castiel said. She looked at him and nodded.
"So, what's the plan?" Ven asked and downed the wine. "You got anything stronger?"
The old man sighed and went to fetch a bottle of spirits.
"The plan, the only plan is that I take you to Britannia, we kill this werewolf..."
"Slowly." She added.
"Slowly and then get you to Ithaca so you can be taken East."
"Why East?" She asked.
"We Viri have a network of places to hide you there. We can move you from place to place. I would do so myself, but alas, we here in the West have few resources and are hunted ourselves." Caelinus said returning and handing her a bottle. She opened it and took a sip. She gasped for a second.
"Smooth" she hissed.
"I brew that myself," He offered.
"So how long am I hiding out..." She asked and took a seat casually on a bench.
Castiel and Caelinus exchanged a glance.
"I hate it when you guys do that." She said.
"I'm afraid we don't know. Days, Months Maybe your whole life..."
She thought for a second and stood.
"It's been… what's the opposite of fun?" She moved to the door by Castiel blocked her.
"You will save the world. Ven." He said, meeting her eyes and speaking with great urgency."
"You don't know that. You said yourself..."
"I know Angels aren't dispatched for anything less than world-altering. Especially Seraphs. I command legions in Heaven and God wouldn't pull me for no one. I'm sorry, Ven I know you hate it..."
"You got the wrong person here. I'm nobody, I'm wanted in half the prefects of the empire and I haven't got two denari to rub together. My whole family is dead…"
"I know, it's difficult."
"What do you know? You know nothing. I like you, Cass, but you know nothing about life on Earth. You're some golden god by compare. All my life I've been nothing, an orphan left to fend for myself and if a hunter hadn't taken me in, I'd probably be dead. I have nothing but my work. And maybe right now I'm not saving the world, but I am saving some lives of other people like me, that no one gives a crap about. For a lot of them, I'm all they got. And now you tell me I need to dump them, walk out and let these monstrosities kill the because your God got a wild hair up his ass? Why the hell doesn't he fix it, Cass? Why don't they fix it? Why are they screwing up my life?"
Castiel sighed. "I have no answer for you. I just know you're important. Look. the Universe is a balance. There are those who want to tip that balance and people like you are the balance to them. I don't presume to know how or why it works. And I haven't known you for long, but I do know that God is right. You are very special. I believe in you, for what it's worth. If you want to leave, I won't stop you. Other angels will, but not me."
She regarded him. Finally, she sighed. "When do I get out of Jail?" She asked.
"As soon as Crocell is caught."
"So, whose working on that?" She asked. "Someone good?"
"My brother Michael and Uriel. If anyone can take him in hand, it's them. They are… hard asses."
She laughed a little. "Fine, let's do this demon thing."
"So, Demons can't be harmed with regular weapons," Castiel said. He pulled out his angel blade and showed it to her.
"Ohhh. I need to get me one of these!" She said and fingered it. He pushed her hand away.
"The only way a human can get one of these is to kill an angel." He told her.
"And how do I do that?"
"With an angel blade." He said and gave her a look.
"So, if I can't kill them, what can I do?"
"Well," Caelinus said. "I've been working on a little spell that is very promising." He motioned for them to follow.
He led them deeper into the building, past sleeping cells and an empty meal room, down some stairs into the depths of the Earth. There, chained to a chair sat a young woman, Gaulish, with large Blue eyes and red hair.
"Citizen! Help me! This madman has taken me hostage. Save me!"
Ven looked at Castiel. He took out a flask and threw it at her. Smoke issued forth and she shrieked and howled.
"Well, angel, can't blame a girl for trying." The woman crowed. Her eyes flashed black.
"This is s demon. A very weak, lowly placed demon. One so low I don't even know its name..."
"Everyone got it, Castiel. I am not match for the princess of Heaven's favorite Seraph. How is your girlfriend, anyway?"
He leaned forward and the angel blade appeared at its throat. "You will show proper deference to the Archangels." He growled and it swallowed hard.
"Calm down, bird boy, I was just making conversation."
"Let me show you the spell," Caelinus said. He stood in front of the demon and held out his hand.
"I liked looking at the little girl, better. Send her back, old man."
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica. Ergo, omnis legio diabolica, adiuramus te... cessa decipere humanas creaturas, eisque æternæ perditionìs venenum propinare... Vade, satana, inventor et magister omnis fallaciæ, hostis humanæ salutis... Humiliare sub potenti manu Dei; contremisce et effuge, invocato a nobis sancto et terribili nomine... quem inferi tremunt... Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Domine. Ut Ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facias libertate servire, te rogamus, audi nos."
As he spoke the words, the creature in the chair
shrieked and struggled until finally the mouth opened wide and the head flew back. Black smoke issued from the creature but seemed to be trapped in the arcane circle on the floor. A moment later it dissipated into nothing.
"Wow." Ven finally said. "Where did it go?"
"He destroyed it. The incantation made it leave the body and the circle destroyed it." Cass said in wonder.
"Well, I'll take a dozen of each and one of those angel swords." She said.
"There is more to teach you, but this is a good start. Tomorrow..." Caelinus said.
"Sorry, we have to go," Ven said. "I have some business I've been putting off for a long time now."
"It must be important," Caelinus said. There was a moment of silence.
"Very," Cass finally said. "She should rest and eat and you and I can exchange information."
"Oh, of course. My manners. I've been alone here for far too long. I have bread and cheese and I make a fine Isicia Omentata. It isn't fine cuisine or anything..."
"Caelinus, If it's half as good as you say, I'll be in heaven."
Dinner was over and she finished the last bit of the meat patty.
"Caelinus, marry me." She said and burped loudly. Cass glared at her but Caelinus merely laughed.
"It's been a while since I've received so genuine a compliment." He said and poured some more of his homemade liquor.
"This is nice." They were sitting in the courtyard and she looked up at the stars. "Cass, are the stars really fallen heroes the gods placed in the sky?"
He looked up. "No, that's PR. Actually, they are suns..." He said.
"Suns?" Caelinus asked.
"Yes, like the one in the sky. It's a giant ball of burning gas and the stars are the same."
"But smaller?" Ven asked.
"No. Most are larger. They are just so far away. Billions of billions of miles. And that is just to the nearest." Cass said and lost himself in the stars.
"So, if they are suns, does that mean there are planets? Moons? People?" Caelinus asked.
"Yes. The universe is full of life, or joy and sorrow and beauty. It's a wonderful place."
"I wish I could go." Cass turned to her then. She too was lost in the stars, he could see flecks of their dust in her eyes and a look of such wonder and rapture he could not look away. This is why he loved them, humans. Moments like this. She was more breathtaking than the stars. He stood.
"I should go and gather our supplies for the trip." He offered.
"No, stay." There was a command in her voice. He followed it instinctively and dropped into the chair.
"How many more moments like this are there in creation, Cass. I don't think we should waste any of them. I don't think we should ever waste anything."
He leaned back and looked it the milky way. It occurred to him then that he had spent a long time helping create the universe but not nearly enough being in love with it.
And so they sat there, looking at the stars until she fell asleep in the chair and he carried her into one of the cells and laid her delicately down. He noticed a scar on her cheek. And yet, the face was a reflection of nothing but pure peace.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead and gave her happy dreams.
Amandus pawed the ground. He'd had his share of bagged oats and clean stables and was ready to travel again.
Ven leaned over and kissed Caelinus on the cheek. He smiled and blushed.
Castiel lifted her onto the horse and took the reins.
"Haec mihi faciant dii et custodiet te, ut custodiant te a periculo iter et te in me pacem habuit." Caelinus said.
"Is that a spell?" She asked.
"A fervent hope, my lady. Be safe. May we meet again this side of the veil."
"May we meet again and again. Caelinus." She said and Castiel and Admanus began walking forward on the long trek toward Britannia.
He sat at the end of a river, a beautiful angel with long hair, silver and his eyes the color of sapphires. His skin was pale and unmarked and he was thin.
He looked deep into the water. A demon approached him.
"Lord Crocell?" He began, cautiously.
"Shhh. I can almost see it."
"See what, sire?"
Crocell turned his beautific gaze on the demon and for a moment it dropped its guard. Before it could correct its error, the gorgeous creature reached out and pulled the demon close. With a quick breath, it sighed out a binding spell and then began to eat the demon alive. He started at the feet. The screaming didn't stop until he was halfway finished.
Meal finished, Crocell stood and walked back over to where Beelzebub sat.
"You are one disgusting bastard." Beez said, not looking up.
Crocell sighed. "I was peckish, Uncle Beez." Crocell said, his voice lilting and beautiful. It as almost hypnotic.
"It doesn't work on me, kid. I've known you too long. Can we go home now?" Beez asked. He threw the lots again. "Daddy needs a new pair of calceus."
It came up snake eyes.
"Now uncle Beez, you know this is important."
"Better be. I'm going to go over to the gladiator pit. You coming?"
Crocell shook his head. "This woman is important. Her line will destroy all our plans."
"I got no plans, kid." Beez reminded.
"You are the worst demon I ever met." Crocell whined.
"Dad used to say nothing done in love is a sin. You make me wonder."
Beez walked away toward the gladiator pit. Crocell returned to the edge of the river and tried again to scry the location of the first Winchester.