No one's POV:
Lindo wasn't at school so the girls had quite a lovely time for themself, for about half of the day.
Angelicas POV:
We walked around the school for no apparent reason. We walked through the school's gardens.
„Oh, I lost my notebook," Azuna said after she went through her bag.
„Maybe you could have lost it in the lecture hall, someone did push you there after all. I can help you look for it," I said.
„Yeah, that's the best guess. You would be kind. Ritsuka will you wait for us?" Azuna asked.
„Yeah, I will be somewhere around here," Ritsuka answered.
We went to the hall. I started to search the back of the hall and Azuna searched at the front.
„Got it!" I said.
„Where was it?" Azuna asked with delight.
„Under the thermostat," I said and hand it to her.
„Thank you," she said. I suddenly got a really bad feeling.
„We should go quickly back," I said grabbing her hand.
„You got a bad feeling? " she asked.
„Yeah, really bad feeling," I said worriedly.
Once we got there I already noticed Shiki.
„I knew it," I silently said.
„Ritsuka! Thanks for waiting!" I shouted catching their attention. They looked at each other.
„Bring your friends the more the merrier," Shiki turned to us.
„Okay," Ritsuka muttered not really sure about that decision.
We didn't know what was going on but we went with them. We didn't want Ritsuka to get hurt.
We ended up in some back alleyway. The whole way there Ritsuka explained the situation, Shiki claimed that he knew where Ritsuka's mother was. How can she be so trusting toward them? We followed them just for sure.
„This is weird. We should go back," Azuna said.
„You can leave, we don't really need you here," Shiki rebutted.
„No way, she is my friend. I'm not gonna leave her alone," Azuna shot back. Shiki just shrugged his shoulders and continued his walk.
We ended up in some kind of gallery.
„I never knew there was a gallery so close to the school," Ritsuka wondered.
„How is this related to Ritsuka's mom? " I asked suspiciously. He absolutely ignored me.
„Are any of these paintings familiar?" he asked all of the sudden.
At that moment as we all looked at the art the illusion started up. I glanced back where should have the others been, but nobody was there. You got better at your tricks. I started looking for the exit in the art. It seemed obvious and was exactly the kind of thing he would do. I found a painting of a beautiful sky I came to it and put my hand on it.
When I opened my eyes I definitely wasn't at the gallery, nor I was at home or in school either.
„Rise, my child, from now on you will be known as Michael, protector of weak and carrier of heavenly justice," I knew that voice so easily, I turned in that direction, witnessing my own birth.
A bundle of stardust in seconds transformed into a beautiful genderless body. After that, the tall figure handed the body a golden sword.
„This is my gift, the holy sword use it wisely with humbleness and carry the justice," the voice spoke once again.
One-touch of the sword transformed the body into the form most known to me. He is showing me my own past, why?
It was like fast-forward, one scene to another. All the archangels were standing before the Lord, him introducing his new child Jesus. Back there I was standing next to a beautiful male with golden hair and eyes. The male kept hatred for the newcomer behind his calm facade. Only those close to him at that moment would be able to notice. And I did notice it at that time. The illusion blurred to moments later. The woman came to that male.
„You seemed a bit off, Lucifer. Is anything a matter?" the woman asked.
„None of your business. Go back to your duties sister," the male rebutted.
The woman let him go. I always regretted letting him go so easily. I should have pressured him to tell me what was wrong.
The scene changed once again, it was like some kind of theater play.
„Future humans will need guardians, to protect them on Earth," a firm voice said and at that moment new species popped into existence.
„From now on, your duty will be to protect future beings on this planet, with a small amount of blood. I will grant you greater powers," the same voice announced.
Those beings did not even answer. Looking back on that decision, it wasn't the best one he made. But who am I to judge the Lord.
The scene fast-forwarded once again.
„Michael, my child come here," the voice called. The woman came to him.
„Yes," she said.
„You need to discipline those creatures, they are averting gaze from the Lord," the voice ordered.
„I will," she bowed and disappeared.
With that scene moved.
„You avert your eyes from our Lord, face bravely your punishment," she appeared before the creatures, her sword in hand.
The largest of them, their leader came forward.
„What power do you have? You are just a sheep, following that delirious old man," the man mocked her.
Her sword moved before anyone could do anything, she took the leader's eye, with one swing. From that eye came a blood droplet that turned solid when it hit the ground. The woman picked up now formed gem feeling its power, the trapped power of their king. Then she turned to his underlings.
„From now you're bound to live in the darkness since you averted your eyes from the shine of our Lord," she cursed them.
Since it was night nothing happened, but she kindly left. At dawn from the planet below could be heard screams of pain from burning. This action her Lord approved. I was so cruel back then.
The scene broke again.
The woman was witnessing something that would change history. The prideful archangel built a throne above the Lord. Causing an argument that resulted in what you could call a civil war. One-third of the angels sided with the prideful archangel the rest with the Lord and his angel of justice. The biggest fight in history broke out. During the fight, the prideful archangel dropped his enchanted ring at the same time the woman's sword and gem fell off her hand those items merging in legendary relick with the name of grimoire.
The woman picked up the weapon and with a swing, half of the opposing forces got wiped out. That moment was devastating. I was so sure that will get me kicked. After that, she dropped the weapon which again split into the three items. The ring was returned to its owner. Which did not help him win. The rest of rebelling angels fell out of haven. The woman stood there terrified of what did she had just done.
„Good work my child, you did what you must," the voice calmed her. When will it end? I don't want to see any of these anymore. They are dark stains of my past.
The scene broke once again. A time came to create the first humans, man Adam and woman Lilith. Both were made from the same material. I often visited Lilith, and we often spoke. But one-day thanks to her attitude, the Lord had forsaken her and cast her to hell. Thanks to that Eve was raised and we know how that ended. That one was unfair, she wanted to live her own life without Adam.
The scene changed, hopefully for the last time. The woman has been doing her duties when two cherubim came to her.
„Sister Michael, will you teach us?" they grabbed onto her rope and refused to let her go.
„Don't you have your own teacher?" she smiled.
„But, you are the famous Michael. Who would not want to be taught by you," they were so excited.
„Now, now children. Don't flatter me. But I really can't," I apologized.
They did not give up. After one month her friend came to her and pressed her to take them under her wings. They would not listen to anything she told them because of her. So she took them under her wings. She taught them for so many years, she gave them everything she knew. Thanks to that strong bond she thought of them as her children. Apollyon and Sariel were the most talented angels she ever saw. She felt so happy with them. These memories are now so bittersweet.
„Sister Mika! " now the young man approached her.
„What is it Apollyon?" she asked.
„I have a surprise for you. Will you meet me about two hours at that spot on Earth, you like," he asked her.
„What are you planning?" she asked jokingly.
„Just a surprise for my dear mentor," he smiled so kindly. Why did I not press him about it furder?
I tried to force the scene to stop. I don't want to see that again! The illusion flickered like a broken old TV. It's working! As I thought that, my head started to hurt causing me to lose focus, so the illusion continued. The whole time I saw everything from a third-person perspective but for this moment I saw it in the first person. Those movements were prescribed I couldn't control my past body. The body went to the favorite spot, which was a hidden patio with a beautiful view. It was perfectly hidden by a sharp corner, that didn't seem like it. I was trying so much not to turn the corner, but I did. And what I saw then and what I saw now will hunt me to the end of my days.
Five dead bodies, laying their blood pouring out. Four humans and one angel. Crimson liquid mixing with pearlescent one. And above them stood a figure covered in blood. a man with light purple hair and blue eyes. My stomach turned even when I knew what to expect.
„Sister Mika! Glad you made it!" he greeted me like it was nothing he even stepped at the bodies when he was coming toward me. I did not know right away but the one angel was Sariel.
„Stay away!" my voice from back then came out.
„What's wrong? You don't like this surprise?" the male stopped.
„N-No I do not like this. How could you do something like that!" my voice housed disbelief.
„I saved them don't you see?" he said so calmly.
„No, I don't see. You didn't save them you murdered them! " my voice cut the air.
„For that, you will face punishment. You killed four humans and a fellow angel. I'm stripping you of your angelhood, thus falling shall be your fate," my voice at that moment sounded like thunder.
As that fate fell on him he cried in pain but he was still smiling. The ground under him opened and swallowed him whole.
„I will bring you down, into the dark abyss of despair with me," that was the last sentence I heard from him.
But that sentence now revibrated in my head. Stop it! Just stop it! My head hurt so much that it made me cry. I shut my eyes and grabbed onto my head, digging my nails into my scalp. It suddenly stopped and I opened my eyes.
I was back at the gallery. I wiped off my tears. Get it together, don't whine, you have to make sure that girls are safe. That train of thought got cut by a sense of demon spell. I ran in that direction. When I got there Azuna was trying to exercise Shiki.
„Don't! It won't work, he is a fallen angel only hymns and chants actually work on him!" I shouted, but it was late he managed to grow his wings.
„She is right. Listen to the expert, after all our dear Mika is experienced in bounding angels to fall," he mocked me.
„Mika?" Ritsuka asked not getting anything.
„Feeling confused, daring? Such a pitiful moment, finding out your two closest friends, are not being who they claimed to be," he mockingly pitied Ritsuka.
„We have to go. We can explain everything later," Azuna took her hand and I nodded.
„No, just tell me the truth now," Ritsuka refused.
„Let me explain that one. That one," he pointed at Azuna.
„Is an exorcist, just like your dear brother. And that one is an archangel, my past mentor, and the very being who cursed me it this fate," he pointed at me.
„Don't tell me you befriended me just because of the blood gem," Ritsuka was horrified.
„To be honest at the start yes. But I wanted always to protect you," Azuna tried to explain herself. She was in disbelief.
„For how long did you even know?" I asked him, kinda ignoring Ritsuka.
„Since yesterday, your scent was all over Mage. That thing in your pendant was weaker, wasn't it? But none of those idiots noticed it anyway. Now tell me my dear mentor how did you not fall already? You obviously lied during your stay here," he asked.
„Well, take a wild guess buddy," I got a bit irritated since I taught him that one.
„Of course, that old man gave you permission," he said annoyed.
„But that doesn't matter if he won't do it I will," he smiled so sadistically. He spread his wings and his sharp feathers started flying but not at me but at the girls. I transformed and spread my wings to block them from harm.
Blood dripped down my feathers, but thankfully the girls were okay.
„Leave the innocent out of this!" I shouted, and with two swings of my wings, I kindly 'returned' him his feathers.
„Innocent? You gotta be kidding me!" he laughed.
„Back then for that lie, you would send them to purgatory for at least 10 years," he continued when he tried to land an attack on me.
„Time had changed! I changed!" I rebutted as I was dodging him.
I knew I couldn't stay on the ground since the girls could get caught in the crossfire. But being in the air wouldn't do me any good, thanks to that injury. He certainly was waiting for me to pull out my sword so he could take it, so that was no go. And I had to save up my magic because I knew that things will get worse. There was only one way to get everyone out without harm, a cowardly way but still a way. I grabbed Ritsuka's and Azuna's hands and quickly transported us to somewhere different.
The girls landed safely but I, on the other hand, thanks to the injuries, slid on the pavement.
„Are you okay!?" Ritsuka ran up to me.
„Yeah, it's just a few injuries, they will heal in no time," I got up and said it as calmly as possible but I was not now they will know.
„Please tell me what is even happening," Ritsuka bagged.
I explained my situation as simply as possible, but I refused to tell anything about our history.
„They will be now even more annoying to deal with," I sight.
„That's terrifying the thing about falling," Ritsuka gasped.
„I just have to be more careful not to slip up," I said.
After that, they left for home, and I left for the exorcist society. I just needed to be in a safe space for a while. It was getting late but I went there anyway. When I got there my wounds had healed, I kneeled before the altar and just prayed. After a while, someone tapped on my shoulder. I looked at that person.
„I see you like it here," a kind voice spoke out.
„Father Noel, it's you," I got surprised.
„A lot of thoughts on your mind?" he asked.
„Something like that," I answered vaguely.
„Then why not share it? " he spoke out.
„Well you are a man of the Lord, perhaps I could tell you," I was hesitant.
But then I explained what happened.
„My apologies. I shouldn't address you before so familiar," he apologized, kneeled, and bow his head.
„No need for that. Now on this ground, I'm equal to you, no need to bow or kneel," I said.
„I have been told of your kindness but now see for myself," he said.
„I'm glad you and Lindo keep so close," I smiled.
„If I may ask, you were the one who practically created the blood gem. So do you have knowledge of its whereabouts?" he asked.
„I did create it and I gave it to humans for a keepsake to protect themselves. It's been centuries since I gave it to the humans so even if I knew the whereabouts I'm afraid I couldn't even tell you. It's information of the utmost secrecy," I explained. I got a bit suspicious, he should know that I couldn't tell him.
„Oh of course," he nodded. We talked for a long time. That stress fell off me at least for some while.
„Thank you so much, you really helped me. May the Lord stand over your well-being," I said my goodbyes and went home.
Shiki's POV:
I stood there after they vanished. That was interesting she had never run from battle before.
„Could it be? She is weaker," I smiled.
Then I vanished into a puff of smoke. I appeared before quite a big mention. I came inside the servants all greeted me. I went to the living room where those two clowns were currently arguing about something. From what I heard they were arguing about that angel. I smiled deeply.
„Ah, the fallen angel finally calmed down from his temper tantrum," Urie 'greeted' me.
„Where did you run out to sulk again?" Mage was irritated.
„Well, I won't be telling that, but there is something quite important that you might want to know," I said teasingly.
„What is it? " Mage stood up.
„And now you are interested," I mocked them.
„Spit it out!" Mage shouted.
„What's the magic word?" I mocked. At that moment sharp delightful pain hit my cheek, it was Urie's rose.
„You know I don't like to wait so you better tell us," Urie said quite calmly, twirling his rose in hand.
„Okay. That little thing we were trying so desperately to get, is the one and the only archangel, Michael," I smirked.
„You have to be kidding," Mage questioned it.
„Well, that's a surprise," Urie smiled.
„So she played with us all this time," Mage said.
„She really tricked us," I nodded. We at once started thinking.
„Well, she did resist my charm three times,"
„She also did beat up four grown men with ease,"
„Don't forget the on-the-nose name," I said at the end.
We thought about it for a while.
„She was definitely laughing at us,"
„That little -"
„She will pay," we all agreed.
„How will we do it?" Mage asked.
„We will have to make her slip up," Urie said.
„That will be a problem, she is very careful. But there is something that could help us, exhaustion," I said.
„How?" Mage asked. We schemed about the whole topic the whole night.
So back so soon aren't I. I don't know how I managed that. But I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Bye!
