Angel's Tale by Oriel
Rated: PG-13 for language, partial nudity and violence
Disclaimer: Refer to first chapter since it's still unchanged. Yes I know that most Satans are supposed to be dead. I don't feel like creating new ones. Therefore, let's just pretend they somehow revived. v.v; And for simplicity's sake, let's refer to Mad Hatter as "she".
" ": dialogue
/ /: thoughts
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Chapter 4 - Hell's Sorrow
Sheol.
The seventh and lowest layer of Hell. Nothing but desolation : sulphurous ground, rivers of lava, craters belching out columns of thick ash and smoke, . And still, many exiled demons and fallen angels had seeked shelter and still lived in this place so far from the Heavens that no light can ever reach it.
Then somewhere in the distance, as if carried by the wind, a melancholy whisper which no one seemed to hear echoed through this hostile, desolate landscape.
"I remember... Angel..."
****
Rafael had literally dragged Alexiel to Sheol, fighting off all the demons who had there blocking their path with a courage and determination which highly surprised the woman.
/ Mikael must be very important to him... /
The two angels had crossed Lethe, a beautiful river set like a misplaced jewel in the midst of this wild and arid scenery and whose water was said to have the ability to erase all memories. They now stood at the entrance of Astaroth's labyrinth, both looking miserable, soaked in blood from head to toe, tired and suffocated by the indescribably hot air.
Alexiel cast her gaze upon the Fortress of Dis, the residence of Lucifer and his Satans, standing proudly in the middle of the maze with its multitude of towers soaring toward the sky.
"Are you sure that Mikael is there?"
The doctor nodded quietly.
"How are we possibly going to make our way through this?"
The other sighed in discouragement and shrugged as a stiff, surprisingly cold wind blew in their backs, sending shivers down their spine and their hair flying forward past their eyes.
"Simple. Just follow one."
The two angels' eyes grew wide in astonishment and simultaneously withdrew their swords, prepared to stage a blood bath and combat. They searched around for the owner of the voice but saw no one. Shadows moved around their feet like serpents, gathering in one spot in front of them and slowly forming the androgynous body of the well know Jester of Hell. She stepped toward them and bowed politely.
"Please allow one to welcome you to the Damned Lands of Sheol."
Rafael cringed from the sight of the Mad Hatter, the one who had caused him to lose his innocence and started his aversion for women. Her short, wavy, red hair was almost entirely concealed under a oddly-shaped hat. A lustful butterfly could be seen on her left leg through the slit of her long black skirt.
"One is pleased to see you both again after such a long time."
Rafael tightened his grasps on his sword and gritted his teeth.
"No time for this, where is Mikael? I know you kidnapped him. We saw your emblem on those demon's bodies."
The Mad Hatter broke out in a fit of laughter.
"That's very smart of you, Rafael-sama. Indeed, one has brought Mikael-sama here."
Her black, mischievous eyes suddenly lost their manic fervor. There was a faraway look in them.
"One thought the sight of Mikael-sama would cheer up one's Master and take him out of the trance-like state he's been into for so long now."
Alexiel frowned.
And Rafael fumed, a frightening, dark aura surrounding him.
"Mika-chan is NOT some kind of buffoon!"
"One knows this very well. But one had to try anyway. If one's Master doesn't get better, one is afraid that Hell will slowly fall apart. Look around and see for yourself the anger of one's Lord."
The two angels peered around them quietly. Since neither of them came around here very often, they couldn't really tell whether Hell was dying or not. It seemed to them as though the Inferno was in its natural state of devastation. But there sure was this all-around, eerie feeling, as if something bad was about to unfold.
The doctor shook his head in impatience and emphatically shooting death glares at the Mad Hatter.
"This is none of our concern. Now release Mika-chan."
The genderless clown calmly brought a gloved hand to the coal black python she was carrying on her shoulders, stroking its head gently as her lucious, blood red lips curled up into a faint, delighted smile.
"Of course. Since it seems that you have given yourself all this trouble to get here, please follow one to the Fortress."
Rafael thought for a few seconds whether they should trust the Satan or not. It could be a trap.
/ I don't care. I will bring Mika-chan back to Heaven safely at all price. /
Without further notice, the fallen angel turned her back on them, now facing the Fortress of Dis. She arched her slender arms in the air gracefully as she started to recite a magic spell. A whirlpool slowly appeared in front of them and swept her in completely. As the two angels stared silently at each others, a hand extended itself from the middle of the portal, inviting them to walk through.
Alexiel sighed and glanced back at her friend.
"We have already made all through here, we might as well continue, what do you think?"
Rafael nodded in agreement.
"All I know is that I'm not going back without Mika-chan."
On those words, the two unfurled their blood-stained wings and flew across the portal. It closed after them in a ear-tearing noise as an evil laughter rang through the plains of Hell.
****
The Mad Hatter had been dragging Alexiel and Rafael around the Fortress, going from room to room restlessly for now more than an hour. Everything in this citadel was so dark that even the dim light of the candles scattered around the place seemed to be absorbed by the shadows. The floor, walls and ceiling were all made of black granite. They could feel an icy, rhythmic breeze, chilling their skin despite the overwhelming heat. It gave them the unpleasant feeling of someone breathing down their necks.
The two angels were both extremely tired and irritated by the Mad Hatter's little game. Yet they continued to follow her, swallowing their anger, repressing the urge they felt to pin the genderless clown against a wall and make her regret abducting their friend.
As they entered yet another room, this one bigger and darker than the others, Rafael finally lost his legendary patience and cut the jester off in mid-sentence as she was about to spout the usual presentation speech.
"Quit messing with us now! Release Mikael, NOW!"
The Satan chuckled softly.
"My, my! One was just getting there, my dear. One simply thought you would have enjoyed visiting the Fortress before going on to more serious business."
Alexiel rolled her eyes and shook her head, long strands of brown hair flowing voluptuously about her. She had a gut feeling that the Great Power wasn't about to get out of this place. Furthermore, the aura this room gave out was so dark it was as though the dark energy it was filled in was suppressing all the good vibes.
The two angels shot their heads back as a muffled cry followed by a loud thumping sound was heard behind them. As their eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness, they clearly distinguished the small, delicate frame of the Angel of Fire, struggling fruitlessly to free himself from his bonds.
"Mika-chan!"
Rafael ran to Mikael and kneeled down beside him, quickly proceeding to untie the short, infuriated angel from the chains that kept him dangling from the high vaulted ceiling like a vulgar rag doll. He had also been gagged and had a huge concussion on his forehead. Moreover, the mysterious sting mark on his neck was still very apparent, though diminished in size.
As soon as he was completely extricated from his chains, the fiery red-head charged at the jester only to be held back by Alexiel, flailing his arms and vociferating.
"FUCKING SCHEMING BITCH! WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?"
The Mad Hatter watched, smiling contentedly as Mikael yanked free of Alexiel's tight grip and directed his anger at the taller woman.
"YOU DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME, WOMAN!"
The jester then turned around quietly and walked further into the room. Now completely hidden in the darkness, a hand placed over a heart which beat only for the one she called her Master, she bowed deeply to the person who sat there, motionless, observing the scene in a distant silence.
"Lord, did you enjoy spending some time with your brother?"
Mikael froze right in mid-sentence and peered into the darkness, his heart pounding in his chest, his mind racing.
/ Aniki? Aniki is there? /
They all stodd silent in the middle of the room, waiting for a reply from Lucifer which, unfortunately for Mikael, never came.
"... One takes it you didn't enjoy."
Those few words hit Mikael like a sledge hammer on the head. He felt his heart stop, break into thousands of pieces.
/ Aniki... Aniki doesn't like me? /
He rasped, choking on the lump in his throat and fighting back the burning tears pricking at his already misty amber eyes.
Alexiel and Rafael watched a childlike Mikael silently, both wishing they could hold him in their arms and comfort him, hold him together to keep him from crumbling.
Within the shadows, the Mad Hatter's neither male nor female voice was heard.
"It doesn't matter. One has another present for you."
An evil smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Alexiel, the Organic angel, for you."
Alexiel gasped quietly.
/ So this was the trap? /
Her hand quickly reached for her sword as she did not intend on letting herself be captured so easily.
But Mikael stood up between her and the spot were his brother and the Satan were hiding. His eyes had a strange lustre to them, a glow that had not been seen since the day he had to cast his brother out of Heaven.
"Time has come for us to settle the scores, aniki."
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(The story will get more intense from this point. But unfortunately, Spring Break is over now so I couldn't tell you exactly when the next chapter will be posted. It's already written (so is the sixth) but I need to correct and proof-read, re-written, edit some more and... ;_; Reviews help me work faster. *tsk tsk*)