BASED ON ERIC KRIPKE'S "SUPERNATURAL". ALL COPYRIGHTED CHARACTERS AND STORYLINES BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS.
CHAPTER IV: LEADERSHIP
The five demons are curiously staring at the creature named Belial, who is sitting on a chair, leaning his legs against the table. The question that fills their thoughts is how such a thing can exist. Belial, getting bored by the silence, gets up and addresses them: "All right … time to get to busyness." His double voice frightens the others.
"What is it that you want?" Malakay dares to ask.
Belial starts laughing, revealing his fangs. "What do I want? The same thing as you: power … unending power and domination over the entire universe."
"So? What the hell are you doing here? What do you want with us?" Alice addresses him.
"You are the most influential demons in hell. If you want, you could unite everyone into one massive army."
One of the demons, Lester, realizing the alliance Belial speaks and fearing that he may loose control over his share of demons, promptly refuses and insults the beast: "I don't understand why we're listening to this freak show instead of doing something more important." However, when he looked at the creature, his courage was impaled by Belial's motionless smile and by his stare. In mere seconds, the beast grabs his throat, strangulating him with immense strength.
"You fool. You're nothing but a maggot. You can't see past your own doubts and that's why you'll never lead" Belial lectures him before throwing him on the ground. "This goes to all of you. Look at yourselves. Pathetic. What have you done since daddy went back in his cage? Nothing. You only wasted time in this room arguing about control."
The others have no response to the beast's accusations. He is more than right and the confidence with which he speaks pushes them to admittance.
"All right, if you're so smart tell us: what should we do?" Alice inquires.
"Like I said before. You have done nothing because you were too busy stabbing each other in the back. Divided, you fail. Yet, if you stand united, work as a team, the opportunities are enormous."
"I get it" Malakay interferes "we all unite, work as a team, but under you, right?"
"I will be the one who keeps this new project alive. You all report to me, follow my orders and…"
"Or else what?" Lester, getting up from the ground, questions Belial. The same expression can be read on the other's face. To prove his point and make a success out of his plan, Belial lifts his hand and starts choking all of them with his powers. "Don't you see? This is exactly my point? Instead of doing your job, you all focus on yourselves, on how to be number one, how to be over the others … pointless effort. If you would have proceeded as a team, the war with the angels would have been won a long time ago." The beast lets go of the choke, watching how they struggle to recover their breaths. "Now, are you with me or not?"
At the Heavenly Host Command Section, a massive crowd gathers outside. Angels from across the universe and from Earth have arrived, answering the horn's call. The security detail, comprised out of virtues, is standing at the entrance, prepared for an outbreak at every moment. Adriel, who managed to find several board members, appears at the lowest floor balcony and speaks to the crowd:
"My fellow angels, the sound of the horn was only a drill, a test." The crowd starts shows itself displeased at the dominion's message. "Please, we must keep calm and order … especially in these times when our general is no longer with us." To everything Adriel says the angels have a different and a more aggressive reaction. He fears he will definitely lose control and a riot will be at hand. Suddenly, Selaphiel appears beside him, joined by the lovely Ellen. The archangel addresses the crowd which makes complete silence to be able to hear what he has to say.
"My brothers, times are hard. Michael is gone, our system is falling … the Heavenly Host is collapsing. However, none of that matters if we loose our faith in each other. We mustn't. We mustn't let anyone to divide us; we have to trust each other. In these dark times, we are all that we have. So my brothers, I ask of your patience. Allow me time to find out the identity of the one who deceived you and I promise … I will bring him to justice, no matter what the cost."
The crowd starts to cheer and chant Selaphiel's name. He managed to stop a possible outbreak and convinced everyone to trust in his mission. Despite any negative circumstances, an archangel will always have the greatest respect from all the angels and his word highly valued. That is why the crowd dissipates, some going to the Elysian Fields, others entering the Command building.
From the balcony, Selaphiel, Ellen, Adriel and the board make their way to the conference room. Once there, they begin to discuss he current situation.
"And what happens if you don't find the perpetrator?" a board member asks.
"He has to" Adriel responses "there's no other way!"
"This is a long shot," the same member "we need martial law!"
"Are you crazy?" Ellen snaps not without realizing she insulted a superior. "I'm sorry but with all due respect sir, we can't. I mean judging by the way that crowd was manifesting itself, a martial law declaration will be like the last drop. It's too dangerous."
"Since when does Ellen from Chicago garrison started giving orders to the board?"
"She's right" Selaphiel confesses. "Imagine the reaction of all our brethren when they found out we've just passed to severe leadership regime. Not a good option."
"What we need is a new general" Adrel reflects out loud "…yeah, someone who can give back everyone the notion of order again."
Ellen points her view to Selaphiel. The rest, thinking the same, start to stare at the archangel too. Noticing this, he abruptly refuses.
"Why not?" the woman is curious. "That crowd really listened to you and trusted you. You're the most powerful angel in heaven at the moment … you're perfectly capable of leading because you have experience with your team … I don't see any reason why you shouldn't do it."
"Look" the archangel explains "I may have led a garrison but from there to being the commander of the Host of Heaven … I'm sorry but that's a way too big coat for me."
"At least until we can find someone else" the board members beg Selaphiel. His answer is still no.
After the meeting is over, Selaphiel and Ellen walk side by side.
"It is not a big coat for you!" Ellen says. "What are you afraid of?"
"Look, leadership is complicated all right. No matter what you try to do, things will always turn out bad. I don't want to be a scapegoat when that happens. And plus, Michael was commander a very longtime. Don't you think at the first sign of trouble, everyone will start to blame me, because they don't know me?"
"That's really not what's bothering you, isn't it?"
The archangel avoids answering and leaves her to wonder on the reasons why he turned down so fast a great honor. She decides she has to find out and determine him to accept the general position. There is no one else and time is running out along with the other angels' patience.
Somewhere in an unknown forest, a figure hidden by the darkness of the night, kneels and, while staring at the stars, crosses his palms and starts to prey:
"Father, I took a road I'm not sure I'll cross. I don't know what to do or how to do. Give me strength to overcome my weaknesses, defeat my fears and doubts. Help my brothers to do the same. Please look over them and protect them. They're very confused right now and need you the most … I need you the most. I beg of your guidance and your wisdom. Help me to achieve my goal. I don't know how."
The figure slowly gets up, makes the cross sign and vanishes …