Chapter 8: Angelic Injustice
~.~.~Matthew~.~.~
Heaven, Alfred and Matthew's Home, Above New York City, 4:30 PM, July 11th, 2013
Matthew's POV
I was well aware of the fact I was pacing in my living room, putting my floor in danger of getting unneeded holes. I didn't care though. I was too worried.
Alfred hasn't come back in almost a full week. I'd searched the area of New York many times, and a bit beyond for him, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Not even a little trace. I went to the Angelic council 2 days after my own personal search. I didn't meet with them personally, but I was told by an assistant chairman that wasn't present in the meeting that they'd let me know if anything turned up.
Well, today I got a little note on my kitchen table that someone would be coming over later on, with information of Alfred's whereabouts and what action'll be taken on the matter.
3 hours have gone by already, and no one's showed up yet.
All through the week, I've been a bit of a mess. My sleep schedule just kind of jumbled itself because I've been worried and restless. Generally the Angelic council didn't take long to find an Angel. Maximum it took was at least a whole day, from what I've heard; the Angelic council doesn't slack with the head count of Angels in Heaven.
It's been almost 5. This was probably worse than it should have been. Oh God, what am I saying, it was already worse! Alfred's been missing for 6 days, so how could it get any worse!?
I shouldn't ask myself that…
Alright, calm down Mat, the Angelic council will find a way to solve this so your brother can come home. Don't freak out yet.
*Knock Knock*
I stopped pacing to look over at the front door. I felt my heart speed up dramatically, and I ran over to it. Once I opened the door, I was met with…
…Uhh…a-awfully large…umm…my cheeks felt warm suddenly.
"Oh privyet! Are you Matthew Williams?" a female and Slavic sounding voice asked me, snapping me out of my…ahem…'trance'?
I looked up a bit to see who was the owner of the…'massive pillows'…l-let's just call them that for now. Thank God for the 'barely showing anything' toga she wore.
Honestly now that I look at who owned the 'massive pillows', I felt even more shameful. The woman who was blessed with those was awful pretty. She had a round, sweet face with short wheat blonde hair, the bangs being kept away from her face with two hair clips, and a shining pair of ocean blue eyes, kind of like Alfred's. Her skin looked healthy and peachy too. I wonder if it's as soft as it looks. Oh geez, snap out of it Mat! Now is not the time to be gawking at the very pretty council member at your doorstep!
"U-Uhh, hi! Y-Yea I'm Matthew!" I introduced.
Did my voice raise an octave? What was with that?
The pretty council member's face brightened and she smiled. God…even her smile was lovely to look at.
"Oh wonderful! The Angelic council sent me here with, er," I noticed she had a sort of satchel tied with a cloth belt around her waist.
She was digging through it for something. It took her a minute or so to find what she was looking for: a creamy colored rectangular envelope with a golden seal, with 'Angelic Council of God' written in gold letters below the seal.
"This! I'm sorry to keep you waiting." The woman said.
"Oh no, it's alright, umm…"
"Oh my goodness, where are my manners? I am Katyusha. You can call me Kat though." Katyusha said smiling warmly.
The temperature got a bit hot. Despite my worry, I felt a small smile tug at my lips.
"That's a pretty name." I found myself saying.
I wasn't lying, but I didn't mean to say it out loud!
She giggled.
"Why thank you." She said.
I blinked a couple of times before realizing I was just standing in my open doorway.
"You can come in if you want, Kat. I don't want to leave someone hanging outside my door." I said chuckling nervously.
What if she thought I was a weirdo? Then this would just be awkward.
She beamed again. "How polite of you. Actually, it would be nice to sit down, my back is sore." She said before sighing and walking past me, mumbling something in another language.
She was going sideways, so I would be lying if I didn't feel one of her 'pillows' brush up against my arm. I felt my cheeks burning up, before I followed her, not saying a word. Don't get distracted now Matthew, you have a missing brother! Again, quit gawking at the sweet and busty woman in your home!
"Y-Yea, take a seat on the couch if your back is sore." I said, a little lowly.
So much for sounding attentive.
She sat in the couch, while I stood. I looked at her, and she looked back, blinking.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Kat, but aren't you a member of the Angelic Council?" I asked.
She shook her head. Then her brows furrowed upward.
"Nyet, I am very sorry, Matthew. I was just asked to deliver that envelope to you. I have no idea what is occurring." She answered.
I sighed a bit, out of irritation. I had expected one of the members to come here personally. I heard her gasp.
"Oh my goodness, that irritates you that I'm not a council member? If they were supposed to send someone else, I could find a member! I am very sorry Matthew!" Katyusha exclaimed.
I snapped my head up to her, since she was now standing. Kat looked like she was about to cry from the way her eyes looked wet, and very apologetic. I immediately went up to her, waving my hands a bit.
"No no it's not that, Kat, you're okay being here! I-Its just…" I sighed and rubbed my face again.
Katyusha sniffled and wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry." She said, I think for her crying.
I shook my head.
"No it's fine. I'm just a bit stressed. Hopefully this letter will relieve that stress." I said smiling a bit at her.
She again sniffled but smiled at me, nodding. I then remembered the piece of news in my hands, the news of my brother. I know it was just some piece of paper in my hands, but never the less, I sucked in a breath, and broke the little seal and opened the flap. Time seemed to slow a bit when I pulled the letter out. I looked up at Katyusha to see she seemed just as anxious. I guess I should ask about it later. I did invite her in after all.
Opening the letter, I saw the rather fanciful writing with black letters. Least to say, you knew it was written by a council member. I straightened it out and began to read.
~.~.~
Dear Matthew Williams,
We apologize for making you wait for a longer period of time than specified, but it had taken longer than anticipated to find your brother, Alfred Jones. We are pleased to inform you that we have found him.
We, however, are also displeased to reveal where exactly he is.
The Angelic council scoured the country, the whole world even, to find Alfred. As it turns out though, Alfred Jones is not anywhere in Earth or even in Heaven for that matter. The Angelic council had to look deeper, which lead to his finding.
Matthew Williams, we are displeased to inform you that Alfred Jones is being held captive in 'Treachery', or the 9th Circle of Hell.
~.~.~
Wh-What?
WHAT!?
A-Alfred's….in…Hell!?
My head felt light all of a sudden and my blood drain.
"Matthew?" I heard Katyusha call gently.
I didn't say anything to her. There was more. I continued reading, hoping for some good news.
~.~.~
We know how you would have felt about this, so the Angelic council wasted no time going to our Father for his word on the matter.
These are His words exactly:
"I have seen Alfred Jones in the darkest part of Hell. He is cold, he is ill, he is injured. Yet, he is a strong soul, and he prevails against 'Treachery's' dark forces. Yes, he is in need of assistance. However, I request that none is sent for Alfred's retrieve. No one, not even his brother is to retrieve Alfred. He is not in our hands this day."
We apologize greatly for this, but as much as the council wants to intervene, it is His word. We advise you not to attempt to traverse the Circles of Hell. We can tell you care very much for your brother, but it is unwise to try and retrieve him. You may not survive.
As of now, Alfred is apparently in another's hands. You must accept that.
In the name of the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
we hope you find some sort of peace.
Amen.
-The Council if the Angels and Heaven
~.~.~
I felt my heart sink. I felt everything around me crack.
Alfred was in danger…
and the council, nor God of all beings, was going to do nothing about it.
Nothing…
"M-Matthew?" Kat called again.
This time I looked up at her. She gasped.
"Matthew, what's the matter?" she asked urgently taking a step towards me.
I felt like I should say something, but nothing came out. Just a sound.
A sob.
It was when I fell to my knees that Katyusha came to me. I felt her arms wrap around me. I felt something warm going down my cheeks.
Tears.
I was sobbing, and this woman, who was still practically a stranger, was trying to comfort me.
The note was abandoned nearby while I let myself be comforted by Katyusha.
I still can't believe it…
My brother is being held captive in Hell…being tortured…
And God has abandoned him to it…
~.~.~Toris, Eduard, and Raivis~.~.~
Hell, Treachery, 6:31 PM, July 12th, 2013
Toris's POV
Eduard, I, and Raivis were standing side by side while our boss, Ivan Braginski, was pacing in front of us. He had called us into his quarters after I asked him to see upon the Angelic prisoner Alfred. For some reason, all three of us have been hearing the poor Angel cough a storm. We live a wing away, and we hardly intervene with the prisoner enough as it is. We would have checked him ourselves, but we've no business in the Punishment wing unless it is to assist Ivan with his souls.
I also grappled the courage to ask him because he seemed so interested in Alfred than anyone else. Even when he is not anywhere near the Angel, we three have noticed that sometimes he just talks about him out of thin air or when he's in some sort of dream-like state. I, Eduard, and Raivis recognize that type of state he's in. It sometime occurs when he is finished punishing a rather horrid soul.
All three of us are terrified of Ivan. It is obvious he is not stable and we fear what he could do. If one of us slips, we could be like one of those poor souls he punishes. Right now, we fear we have slipped that boundary.
"Alfred gave me some clarification." He spoke up suddenly.
All three of us flinched. This was it.
"Wh-What do you mean?" I spoke up.
Out of the three of us, I am the bravest. I accept that, I just don't know how I came to possess it. Since we three are subjected as Ivan's assistants, we stay close. Because of that, all three of us have a job for each other since we work for a fearful and dangerous demon such as Ivan: I talk to him; Eduard creates weapons Ivan requests, and Raivis helps deliver since he is the fastest, though we never leave him alone. He is after all younger than me or Eduard, and neither of us can see the boy punished by Ivan. If he is punished, we are punished as well.
Ivan turned to face me. He looked…oh no…he looked rather angry.
"You three say you hear him from this wing, yes?" he asked.
I nodded slowly. He turned away again.
"The Angel told me that you hear him from that distance because you three feel pity for him." He clarified.
I felt myself pale. I bet Eduard and Raivis did as well. How could we pity Alfred? Above all, how could pitying someone have that sort of effect? It must be his Heavenly power. We are not allowed to feel pity. If we feel that way towards any soul, it is instant punishment. Once a demon, or even an assistant, you are to erase all sorts of feelings, pity or sympathy being the prime of those feelings. All we feel is fear and wariness, so could we feel bad for Alfred? I have long forgotten how to. I bet Eduard and Raivis have as well.
"Th-That's impossible sir, we have lost the ability to feel pity." I said.
In an instant, we were nose to nose. I was nose to nose with a beast.
"Apparently not." He growled.
I wanted to yelp, but that would most likely make him angrier. He backed away and looked at all three of us. We couldn't make eye contact with him.
"Apparently, the Angel stated that if one is to here his noises of suffering, they feel pity or sympathy for him. So, my assistants, I want to know: do you three feel that way towards that creature?" he asked.
Did we? Ivan has such a high intolerance for the feelings of pity or sympathy towards anything. It was how he was brought up by the other captains. As his assistants, we know Ivan has no memory of his life, but we don't bring it up. We also know that by other captains' words, he believes pity or sympathy is weakness and something acquit to bile. No demon was to feel sympathy to a soul. This must have been why Ivan is so merciless and cruel to almost anything. Though knowing him in this situation, it was that Angel that brought those traits out to the point it was monstrous. He wouldn't want any sympathy towards anything such as Alfred.
"Well?" Ivan continued, getting impatient.
I only had one answer to him.
"We…don't know." I said meekly.
I heard him growl again. I peered a bit and saw his hand clench to a fist. He was angry.
"Sympathy is meaningless Toris." He said his voice low.
"Yes, I know." I said carefully.
"If you do, then why is it felt? Sympathy is deserved by only so many people. Creatures of sin do not deserve it. Those creatures, deserve nothing but death and suffering." He said.
I gulped. His cryptic words were confusing.
"Wh-What exactly are y-you trying to say, sir?" I asked.
He turned to me, his face dark and grim. I saw sort of look in those cruel violet eyes of his. It equaled to that of a predator.
"Stop feeling sympathy. It is worthless and nothing. All three of you, stop feeling for the Angel. Forget about it. I don't care if his coughs grow louder and worse, you will not sympathize for that…thing." He spoke in a hiss.
All three of us flinched but otherwise nodded.
"Consider this a warning, you three." He spoke lowly.
The aura in the area grew. The area seemed colder and grim.
"Get out of my sight." He grit.
Again, all three of us left in a hurry once we were told. All three of us left to our shared quarters.
Once we made it back, all three of us immediately sat on our beds, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Th-That was close." Raivis spoke.
Eduard and I couldn't help but agree. This may sound normal to us, but I believe we've literally escaped something worse than death.
Eduard and Raivis suddenly looked to me; they're faces asking for explanation.
"H-He said, we sympathize for the Angel." Eduard repeated.
I looked at him; he and Raivis looked at me.
"I-Is that true, Toris?" Raivis asked in his small and meek voice.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
"Well, I personally think he does not need to be subject to Ivan's methods…or any for that matter. I have seen no sin on his soul." I said truthfully.
A silence developed between us for a brief moment before Eduard spoke up.
"I…Yes, I agree. A demon's job is to punish the damned, right?" he said.
He received a nod from me, and finally Raivis.
"I see nothing wrong with him, and Master Ivan says he's sinful." The boy said.
All of us were interrupted by a familiar sound resounding through our heads. Alfred was going through another fit. Simultaneously, we covered our ears. It didn't help, but our instincts simply told us to cover our ears in hopes of drowning out Alfred's sounds. It must have been a bad fit this time, because it lasted almost a whole 10 minutes. Once we uncovered our ears, Eduard was the first to speak.
"Ivan said we must forget about him." He said quickly.
Raivis nodded as quickly as he spoke. I however, was hesitant. I didn't want to forget about the suffering man in the other wing, but I was too afraid of what would happen if I didn't. All three of us were. We were terrified. It was because of Ivan. We've seen what he is capable of; we've had a 'front row seat' as you could say of a few of his sessions with other souls! It is because of those encounters we are afraid to defy Ivan in any way, shape, or form. We may just end up as the petrified statues in the lounge of this wing.
"Toris, I know it is bothering you. It is bothering us too, but we cannot do anything about it, as far as I know." Eduard suddenly said.
I looked up to see he came off his bed, which was next to me. His hand was on my shoulder and he was looking at me sadly. I knew immediately that he did feel the same hesitance I did, along with the same insecurity. I just sighed and nodded. Eduard nodded as well.
"I don't think Ivan will want to see us the rest of the night, so it may be best to turn in early." He said.
I couldn't help but agree. Today, like the ones before, was tiring. Demon assistants don't get many breaks, unlike the captains they serve. Also, I'd like to sleep before Alfred's next fit comes along. If I was to forget about it, then I may as well start now.
It didn't stop the numerous thoughts in my head about the Angel before the three of us fell asleep some time later.
~.~.~
I heard a voice.
I knew I was dreaming. I knew I was still sleeping, but this voice was too vivid, too clear.
It was dark, though I could tell I was still in my bed, in the same bedchambers as Raivis and Eduard. Speaking of which, I looked over to my right to see that both of them were up as well, looking around.
"Did you hear that?" I asked them.
They turned their attention towards me, or my voice because of the dark.
"Hear what?" Raivis whispered.
"A voice." I clarified.
"Yes." Eduard spoke.
I also heard Raivis make a noise of agreement. Good. I wasn't the only one.
I heard it again. It was clear, yet muffled at the same time.
"Listen." I said to Raivis and Eduard.
They both quieted down and listened as well. It sounded like a man's voice, but I couldn't discern what he was saying. One thing was sure: it was getting louder. I turned to Eduard and Raivis. I felt their eyes on me as well. All three of us apparently were wondering what the voice was. I was about to speak when all three of us heard a sort of humming…in this room. There were three audible gasps from all three of us as we listened to the humming grow louder. When it got to the point I thought it would get too loud, the room suddenly started to light up. I looked ahead to se something start to form in the middle of the room.
A light.
Instinctively, I should have felt frightened, but as the light grew bigger and brighter, I couldn't bring myself to be afraid. I felt…comforted. The room itself got a warm sort of feel to it. It was odd, but it was welcomed.
Looking at the light again, I saw it was done forming. It was growing bright and featureless, but in the obvious shape of a man. The light itself was…beautiful to look at, even if it was pure white. Not even some of the rare ice structures in Treachery could compare to this light's beauty.
"You must help him." The voice spoke up, smooth and warm.
It was in a whisper, but I could hear it. It also seemed to be pointing to Raivis and Eduard as well. After it said that, the figure turned around to leave the room. A sudden urge came over me, and I found myself getting out of my bed. I felt the need to follow this figure. Apparently, Raivis and Eduard had the same idea as well since I heard the covers to their beds shift with bodily movement. With that, the figure left our room, but all three of us followed the figure.
It seemed the whole place was filled with an inky sort of darkness, and it was…quiet. Silence in this sort of base was a rarity if not from the damned, then the captains. Be that as it may, we continued following the figure through the darkened wing, and out of it. The figure seemed to go towards the punishment wing.
I was right. The figure went to the doors of the punishment wing, where both large and heavy doors…opened by themselves to let us and the figure through. All three of us stood for a second in shock but otherwise continued following the figure. We continued following him until he stopped in front of a certain door: the door the Special Punishment wing. I looked worriedly at the figure, and he stared back at me with features I could not discern or even see. He seemed to sense my discomfort, since I knew who was in that corridor. He just looked at the entrance, where it opened. He gestured us to go inside. I peered at my other two companions. They seemed just as hesitant as me. As much reluctance we felt in that moment, all three of us went in, the figure following behind.
We went through the hall. Time seemed to slow as we did. That was, until we reached the end of the small corridor, to a certain cell. I stopped in front of the cell while Eduard and Raivis stopped as well at both sides of me. All three of us looked upon the occupant of the cell we were in front of, though he didn't seem to notice us.
The Angel in question looked…horrible. He wasn't sleeping. Instead, he was just curled up, his knees to his chest, and shivering from the cold; his torn tunic was doing nothing to help warm him. His body had a whole array of scars and bruises, brand new and old, that I could see, that were hardly healing. I could hardly call his wings 'wings' anymore, just…bloody flesh with some feathers barely growing back. To add insult to injury, he was covered in almost nothing, but blood, be it fresh, or dried on.
The sight, just looking at it, was…sickening and…sad. I could barely look at him without feeling immense…sympathy. I guess it had been a while since we've actually seen the Angel's condition.
The figure that we followed went past us into the cell, going through the bars keeping Alfred in the cell. He stopped in front of him, and turned to us.
"You must help him." He spoke again, in a low and sad sounding voice.
"He is ill…lighten his suffering." The figure spoke.
The light from his body started getting brighter, slowly spreading around us.
"He is in another's hands." He spoke before the light emitting from him enveloped us completely.
~.~.~
I woke up with a start. From the gasps I heard from Raivis and Eduard, I assume they woke with a start as well. I turned to look at them as they did me.
"Y-You saw all that, right?" I asked.
They both nodded.
"What…does it mean?" Eduard asked, hesitant.
It took me a moment to think about the meaning behind that certain dream. At first, all I could think about was who that figure was and why his mere presence made me feel warm and secure. I haven't felt those feelings in a long time.
And his words: "You must help him. He is in another's hands."
It would take me a while to figure out what exactly he meant by 'He is in another's hands' since it can't possibly be ours, but I knew exactly what he meant by 'You must help him.' With that thought, I was standing up.
"We must lessen his suffering. We must help him with all the power we possess." I said with a sudden burst of confidence.
Eduard and Raivis slowly got out of their beds and walked to me.
"I understand, Toris, but the amount of power we three, combined, isn't much." The Estonian told me.
I nodded, knowing he was right. Just three frightened demons assistants only possessed so much power. But we had power, regardless.
"Yes, I know, but we have enough." I told him.
He blinked at me and nodded, slightly reluctant. I couldn't blame him.
I looked to Raivis.
"Raivis, get three veils for each of us. Eduard, grab your items bag near your bed." I told them in a low and quiet voice.
What we were about to do required stealth and silence since the captains were all sleeping, including Ivan. What we were about to do seemed simple, but in hindsight, it was dangerous for us.
No matter. We will use what we can to help Alfred. It isn't much, but it will make a difference.
~.~.~VIII~.~.~
Sighting upon writing on paper,
It seems He has abandoned the suffering Angel.
It is not abandonment however,
For no eyes can ever see through Father's, as he has seen for the Angel's future.
AN: I'm baaaaack~!
And with a new chapter!
I kinda have a miniscule little insecurity about this certain chapter, but I'm posting it anyway because you guys are awesome in almost every sense of the word (Prussia's still awesomer, but you guys are just near that point).
You're guy's reviews are just fucking wonderful, and were wondrous enough to give dear Sunny a little push~
Also, I'm starting a new fanfiction; PruAus to be exact, so I'm going to be writing that AND 'Between Heaven and Hell' in between times, so in conclusion, my writing schedules are doubling. I don't mind though, 'cause I love you guys. Don't worry, the next B.H.A.H chapter will be posted in between the normal amount of days, or so help me God, my name will not be Estabon Julio Ricardo Montoya Delarosa Ramirez! XD
Read, and review, and stay tuned for the next chapter~!
~Sunny
