3. Azazel
"Azazel has escaped!" A rather boisterous Cherub repeated with desperate anger, rising to his feet as he slammed his fists to the conference table in front of him. His crystalline ice blue eyes shot wildly around at the other celestial beings in attendance as if he had just announced a fact that everyone had been missing.
"That is correct." The powerfully calm voice of the ruling Seraph who sat at the head of the table rang through the large room and echoed off the deep walls. He folded his six majestic wings behind him as he sat rigidly upright with unquestionable authority. His gaze fell across the massive room that was currently occupied by the members of the Celestial Council.
White marble walls produced a soft glow that illuminated the entire room. The light from the stone was rivaled only by the light emitted from each of the occupants of the room. The walls seemed to reach endlessly upwards and were adorned with engaged columns. Between every pair of Corinthian columns was an impressively massive arch that added to the ethereal elegance of the room.
A great host of winged beings sat around an impressive Baroque style table. The celestial spirits were currently in the process of a heated debate at an emergency Council meeting. The tension that loomed trough out this particular Council meeting was making the members ever more sensitive to an impending anarchic state of the meeting.
Every celestial order was represented in the council: the Seraphim and Cherubim making up the majority, followed by the Thrones, the Dominions, the Virtues, the Powers, the Principalities, the Archangels and lastly, the order of Angels.
The ruling Seraph's gaze fell upon one such celestial creature belonging to the order of the Powers who stood quietly off to the side, taking in the scene around him, worry etched on his otherwise fair features.
"Ingethel," the commanding voice of the chief seraphim called to the angelic figure that visibly winced at the monotonous voice. Head bowed in shame, the angel timidly stepped forward with his arms held tightly behind his back in a gesture of respect.
"Yes sir?" He asked rising nervous eyes to meet those of one of his many celestial mentors.
"You know that it is a Power's duty to see that order is maintained in Heaven. Your order is set over Demons that would threaten the Earth." The patriarchal Seraphim placidly re-informed the Power of his position in the celestial hierarchy.
"Yes sir." He quietly complied as he shifted uncomfortably.
"Yet you were on watch at the 2nd Heaven where the fallen angels are imprisoned."
Finding himself unable to continue looking upon his Seraph superior, he dropped his gaze again in disgrace. After a slight hesitation Ingethel answered in the affirmative. "Yes sir."
"Under your watch a very powerful fallen angel was loosed upon the world, correct?"
"Yes sir" Ingethel replied with a soft nervousness as he felt all the disapproving eyes of the council members burn into him from all sides.
"I see." The imposingly calm Seraph replied in a weary tone. He rested into the comfort that the large chair provided and brought his right hand to his chin in contemplation. Suddenly releasing himself from the confines of thought, he informed the meek angel of his decision. "In order to redeem yourself, I am resting the responsibility of recapturing Azazel squarely on your shoulders."
The large room suddenly filled with hushed whispers as the Celestial Council members revealed their objections to their neighboring angels.
"Sir?!" Ingethel shot his gaze up at his mentor in utter shock, eyes wide with disbelief. The slightest hint of fear was apparent within his pools of shimmering teal.
"Surely you cannot trust him with such a task!" The boisterous Cherub who had yet to reseat himself roared.
"My decision is final." He said firmly as he closed his eyes and laced his fingers atop his lap "You are dismissed, Ingethel"
A composed Virtue to his side asked quietly without looking at his ruling Seraph "Are you certain of this, sir?"
"I can only hope he will wish to redeem himself of this act..." The Seraph stated as he watched the retreating wings of the Power as Ingethel exited the suffocating room.
Quietly closing the large door behind him, he caught the questioning remark of one of his peers. "How could I have let this come about?" He mouthed silently to himself, a burning sensation forming behind his aquamarine eyes.
"This was not supposed to occur." His hand covered his eyes in a gesture of annoyance as he hung his head. Ingethel was not in the mood to be stopped by someone inquiring about his current disposition as he stalked aimlessly.
He walked a short distance down the corridor until he felt he was far enough away from the intimidating conference room. He learned up against the wall and slowly slid down as hushed sobs began to wrack his delicate frame. He fell to a small crumpled heap and pulled his legs to his chest and slowly wrapped his long wings around his shoulders. His long, white silver-trimmed vestments were disregarded as the silken fabric wrinkled unattractively at his current position and grew damp with frustrated tears.
The angel silently wondered why he had been ranked as one of the Powers. He himself believed he was too feeble to uphold such a prestigious title. Besides, the majority of the Council despised him for his lackluster attitude; they believed an angel of his standing should be more passionate about his duty of guarding the Heavens.
This incident had been the last straw for many of the Council members. Mishaps like this had occurred in the past, but never to a being they already had numerous problems with. Ingethel knew he was in danger of being stripped of his position, a humility that carried with it the greatest deal of shame among the angels of Heaven. Desperation set in his tense body as he pondered the circumstances that would actually be worse then what he was currently experiencing.
After several minutes of releasing the stress that had built up within him ever since he had been told he was to attend the next Council meeting, he carefully rose to his feet using the wall to support his lithe figure. Tresses of shimmering gold fell past his shoulders as he attempted to balance himself once more. Standing up straight, Ingethel pumped his wings once in an attempt to work out the stiffness his position had caused. Wiping his cheeks hastily, his eyes set in newfound determination as his lip quivered slightly.
This would all be over if he could just find Azazel. He had a plan, but he could not ask the other angels for assistance, as they would never help him see it through. He clenched his slender fist, resolute in his isolation.
His delicate features contorted in a mix of despair and anger as he recalled the way in which the others treated him.
"I need help, and I think I know just were to find it." He informed himself, his desperate tone laced in hopefulness.
To Be Concluded...
"Azazel has escaped!" A rather boisterous Cherub repeated with desperate anger, rising to his feet as he slammed his fists to the conference table in front of him. His crystalline ice blue eyes shot wildly around at the other celestial beings in attendance as if he had just announced a fact that everyone had been missing.
"That is correct." The powerfully calm voice of the ruling Seraph who sat at the head of the table rang through the large room and echoed off the deep walls. He folded his six majestic wings behind him as he sat rigidly upright with unquestionable authority. His gaze fell across the massive room that was currently occupied by the members of the Celestial Council.
White marble walls produced a soft glow that illuminated the entire room. The light from the stone was rivaled only by the light emitted from each of the occupants of the room. The walls seemed to reach endlessly upwards and were adorned with engaged columns. Between every pair of Corinthian columns was an impressively massive arch that added to the ethereal elegance of the room.
A great host of winged beings sat around an impressive Baroque style table. The celestial spirits were currently in the process of a heated debate at an emergency Council meeting. The tension that loomed trough out this particular Council meeting was making the members ever more sensitive to an impending anarchic state of the meeting.
Every celestial order was represented in the council: the Seraphim and Cherubim making up the majority, followed by the Thrones, the Dominions, the Virtues, the Powers, the Principalities, the Archangels and lastly, the order of Angels.
The ruling Seraph's gaze fell upon one such celestial creature belonging to the order of the Powers who stood quietly off to the side, taking in the scene around him, worry etched on his otherwise fair features.
"Ingethel," the commanding voice of the chief seraphim called to the angelic figure that visibly winced at the monotonous voice. Head bowed in shame, the angel timidly stepped forward with his arms held tightly behind his back in a gesture of respect.
"Yes sir?" He asked rising nervous eyes to meet those of one of his many celestial mentors.
"You know that it is a Power's duty to see that order is maintained in Heaven. Your order is set over Demons that would threaten the Earth." The patriarchal Seraphim placidly re-informed the Power of his position in the celestial hierarchy.
"Yes sir." He quietly complied as he shifted uncomfortably.
"Yet you were on watch at the 2nd Heaven where the fallen angels are imprisoned."
Finding himself unable to continue looking upon his Seraph superior, he dropped his gaze again in disgrace. After a slight hesitation Ingethel answered in the affirmative. "Yes sir."
"Under your watch a very powerful fallen angel was loosed upon the world, correct?"
"Yes sir" Ingethel replied with a soft nervousness as he felt all the disapproving eyes of the council members burn into him from all sides.
"I see." The imposingly calm Seraph replied in a weary tone. He rested into the comfort that the large chair provided and brought his right hand to his chin in contemplation. Suddenly releasing himself from the confines of thought, he informed the meek angel of his decision. "In order to redeem yourself, I am resting the responsibility of recapturing Azazel squarely on your shoulders."
The large room suddenly filled with hushed whispers as the Celestial Council members revealed their objections to their neighboring angels.
"Sir?!" Ingethel shot his gaze up at his mentor in utter shock, eyes wide with disbelief. The slightest hint of fear was apparent within his pools of shimmering teal.
"Surely you cannot trust him with such a task!" The boisterous Cherub who had yet to reseat himself roared.
"My decision is final." He said firmly as he closed his eyes and laced his fingers atop his lap "You are dismissed, Ingethel"
A composed Virtue to his side asked quietly without looking at his ruling Seraph "Are you certain of this, sir?"
"I can only hope he will wish to redeem himself of this act..." The Seraph stated as he watched the retreating wings of the Power as Ingethel exited the suffocating room.
Quietly closing the large door behind him, he caught the questioning remark of one of his peers. "How could I have let this come about?" He mouthed silently to himself, a burning sensation forming behind his aquamarine eyes.
"This was not supposed to occur." His hand covered his eyes in a gesture of annoyance as he hung his head. Ingethel was not in the mood to be stopped by someone inquiring about his current disposition as he stalked aimlessly.
He walked a short distance down the corridor until he felt he was far enough away from the intimidating conference room. He learned up against the wall and slowly slid down as hushed sobs began to wrack his delicate frame. He fell to a small crumpled heap and pulled his legs to his chest and slowly wrapped his long wings around his shoulders. His long, white silver-trimmed vestments were disregarded as the silken fabric wrinkled unattractively at his current position and grew damp with frustrated tears.
The angel silently wondered why he had been ranked as one of the Powers. He himself believed he was too feeble to uphold such a prestigious title. Besides, the majority of the Council despised him for his lackluster attitude; they believed an angel of his standing should be more passionate about his duty of guarding the Heavens.
This incident had been the last straw for many of the Council members. Mishaps like this had occurred in the past, but never to a being they already had numerous problems with. Ingethel knew he was in danger of being stripped of his position, a humility that carried with it the greatest deal of shame among the angels of Heaven. Desperation set in his tense body as he pondered the circumstances that would actually be worse then what he was currently experiencing.
After several minutes of releasing the stress that had built up within him ever since he had been told he was to attend the next Council meeting, he carefully rose to his feet using the wall to support his lithe figure. Tresses of shimmering gold fell past his shoulders as he attempted to balance himself once more. Standing up straight, Ingethel pumped his wings once in an attempt to work out the stiffness his position had caused. Wiping his cheeks hastily, his eyes set in newfound determination as his lip quivered slightly.
This would all be over if he could just find Azazel. He had a plan, but he could not ask the other angels for assistance, as they would never help him see it through. He clenched his slender fist, resolute in his isolation.
His delicate features contorted in a mix of despair and anger as he recalled the way in which the others treated him.
"I need help, and I think I know just were to find it." He informed himself, his desperate tone laced in hopefulness.
To Be Concluded...