This chapter is mainly for Beca (Azrael) as it delves further into the eleven year transformation into Azrael. No Chloe in this chapter but she will be in the next.
Beca opens the set of drawers to find the traditional Assassin's outfit that is worn by all League assassin's during the time of their kills. The last time Beca had worn this outfit was New Orleans a month before. She takes the assassin's outfit out of the drawer and puts it on, thinking about what the day was. She was going to execute Amitiel, her closest friend and greatest enemy in one body. With Michael and Uriel watching too, meant she had to actually do it. She remembers her discussion with Michael the night before and how he comforted her when she felt lost. Michael was her Saviour and she would do anything he asked of her, even kill her friend, she already proved that when she snapped Jophiel's neck at nine years old, a friend that died by her hand and she had no regret from it. Beca completes the outfit with her mask and takes a look in the mirror before flipping her emotional switch off and walking out of her room, toward the direction of the sound of drums. The execution was going to start soon.
"l jarimat alghadir, 'ajid guility almthm w aleiqab ... almawt . (For the crime of treachery, I find the accused guilty, the punishment... Death.)" Michael dictates and Amitiel drops her head as Raziel and Haniel drag her over to the metal stump, freshly cleaned for Amitiel's beheading. Amitiel watches as her executioner enters the room, dressed in the traditional assassin's outfit. She looks to Michael who seems unhappy with the executioner.
"Aljilad, 'iizalat alqinae alkhass bik. (Executioner, Remove your Mask.)" Michael calls out and Beca removes her mask as her master asks. Amitiel looks to Beca then back to Michael.
"This is your kind of sick joke, isn't it Michael? You know how I feel about her and now you are making her kill me." Amitiel spits to Michael in disgust before turning to Beca.
"Az, don't do this. What does he have over you?!" Amitiel yells out as tears begin to form in her eyes. Beca shakes her head.
"He doesn't hold anything over me Amitiel. I accepted his request." Beca replies as she steps forward, pulling out her sword, Amitiel feeling her heart shatter. She knew that Beca had flipped her switch and she was in full Azrael mode. There was no talking to Beca as a human now. Amitiel drops her head as she realizes it is all over for her. She was going to die by the hands of the girl she was in love with.
"Almudi qudumaan fi alttanfidha eizrayiyl. (Proceed with the execution Azrael.") Michael calls out as Raziel and Haniel lower Amitiel's head to the edge of the stump, her neck in the centre. Beca moves herself into a position from where she can perform the beheading.
"Az. Please listen to me. I love you." Amitiel pleads quietly but Beca doesn't listen.
"I love you Beca. Please." Amitiel adds and Beca snaps out of Azrael state for a moment and instead into a flashback.
"Hi there, I haven't seen you before. You look really young to be in the older classes. I'm Amitiel." Amitiel says to a twelve year old Beca, holding out her hand. Beca takes the hand and shakes it softly.
"I'm Azrael. Michael told me to be here and I do as my master asks of me." Beca replies and Amitiel shakes her head with a small laugh.
"So you're the famous Azrael. We've heard there was someone who was more advanced, fights like a demon not of this earth. I didn't think you'd be so young. What are you 12? We are all 17 and above in here. However, I'll keep an eye on you Azrael. If what Michael says is true, you are going to do great things for the League." Amitiel smiles before taking Beca's hand and taking her into the class to meet the others.
Two Years Later:
"Az, hey! Happy First Target Day! You'll nail it, I promise!" Amitiel bursts into Beca's room, a wide grin on her face. Beca was the youngest in League history at only 14 years old to venture outside of the League's home in Tse'elim and become a true assassin by completing the ritual that is the first target. Normally assassins were 18 when they got sent out but Michael, Uriel and Amitiel had faith in Beca.
"Thanks Aim but we'll see how it goes. I'm just really nervous." Beca says, looking down at her hands. She is sat on her bed and when Amitiel notices how nervous Beca really is, she moves over and sits next to her best friend on the bed.
"Az, you are Michael's favourite, he put the extra time in with you, more than any one of us. You are going to do great, I promise." Amitiel says, wrapping a comforting arm around the younger girl. Beca turns her head into her best friend's chest, seeking further comfort, something Beca didn't get much of except from Amitiel.
"Thanks Aims. You always know how to make me feel better." Beca says as she pulls out of the hug to stand up.
"No worries Az, I love you, you know that right?" Amitiel replies and Beca nods quickly with a half smile.
"I know Amitiel. I loved you too but you shattered any emotion I had for you when you tried to bring the League down, when you killed 3 members of the group that raised you, your family, when you tried to kill Michael and Uriel, your masters and then me. I allowed you to get close to me, to be a friend and you tried to destroy everything I had. I'm sorry Amitiel." Beca says as she snaps out of her flashback, looking down at Amitiel whom has tears in her eyes. Amitiel had realized that she was going to die but she didn't want to go out like this. She wanted to be with Beca, show her the truth about the League like she had been trying to. She needed to protect Beca from the ones Beca trusts the most.
As Beca swings her sword above her head, Amitiel bring her head up as well as bring her leg out to kick Raziel, avoiding the blade that Beca has thrust down. The clank of metal sword meeting metal stump echoes through the room, followed by grunting and the cracking of bones. Beca snaps herself out of the daze she was in to look around the room, the members attending the execution were in chaos. Uriel and Raphael removing Michael from the room whilst Gabriel, Raziel and Haniel were trying to fight Amitiel. Both Raziel and Haniel were unconscious on the floor, taken by surprise Beca guessed so it was Amitiel and Gabriel whom fought in front of her. Beca watches as Amitiel fights valiantly, swiping a blade across Gabriel's cheek, taking him by surprise before she lunges.
"No!" Beca jumps forward and blocks Amitiel's deadly blow on Gabriel.
"Gabe, get the others out of here." Beca says to Gabriel and he nods, understanding that this was Beca's fight. He bends down and helps Raziel and Haniel to their feet, escorting them out of the room.
"Az, I know you feel obliged to follow someone who raised you for most of your life but I need you to remember your real family for a second. Your mother, Sophia and Hailee. What would they think if they saw you now?" Amitiel holds her blade steady as she asks Beca, trying to appeal to her human side, her past before the League.
"I wouldn't know Amitiel. They were murdered eleven years ago." Beca replies angrily, holding her sword in front of her, the blade pointing to the ceiling.
"You don't need to do this. You don't owe them anything. They beat you and tortured you. They made you a weapon not a human. They just point their precious weapon in the direction they see fit and pull the trigger, setting you loose on their enemies! Michael was scared of me because he knew I was back and could convince you he is lying to you, to all of you. So he sent you after Lucifer and Lilith, hoping to end you before the secret got out but when I showed myself. He wanted to make the game more fun for himself and sent you to kill me because he knows I am in love with you." Amitiel confesses and Beca allows her mask to lower for a second, taking in Amitiel's words but Beca straightens up again and lunges for Amitiel, the older girl dodging the initial attack.
"Don't make me do this Beca. Don't make me have to hurt you or even kill you so I can get away from this place. Drop the sword and come with me please. Let me show you the truth." Amitiel drops her sword for a moment and Beca lunges on that moment, piercing the sword into Amitiel's shoulder, creating a half scream in the room. Beca pulls the sword out of her old friend's shoulder only to have Amitiel swipe her blade across Beca's cheek then plunge it into her abdomen. Beca winces as Amitiel rips the blade out and steps away, watching the blood ooze from Beca's wound but Beca remains alert and awake. She decides to try a different approach of surprise for Amitiel instead.
"Aims." Beca whines for pretending to collapse, Amitiel moving forward to catch her. The raven haired girl helping Beca back to her feet and holding her. Beca glances over Amitiel's shoulder to see Gabriel holding a knife, he waits for Beca's signal.
"I'm so sorry Azrael. I'm sorry. I love you. Please." Amitiel pleads in Beca's shoulder and Beca has to hold her emotional switch off with all the strength she has left before she did what she had to do.
"I know Amitiel, I love you too and I'm sorry." Beca replies, trying to sound convincing as someone more human. She clenches her fist to Gabriel and he throws the knife into a position where Beca catches it and thrusts it deep into Amitiel's back. The gasps escaping Amitiel's lips were of both pain and betrayal as Beca lets her go to fall to the ground. Gabriel runs out to fetch Michael and Beca leans over her friend.
"Beca, don't trust the league." Amitiel whispers between aching breaths. Beca reaches around and pulls the knife out of Amitiel's back.
"Why wouldn't I trust them Amitiel? They didn't try to kill me. I'm just making sure we were even before I finish you off." Beca replies coldly and Amitiel cringes at the harsh tone of Beca's voice.
"Chloe." Amitiel says and Beca shakes her head for a second.
"What?" She asks.
"My name… Is Chloe." Amitiel replies and Beca is thrown back for a second. Thoughts of the redheaded Chloe waiting back at Barden pop into her mind.
"If you really are right about my target, what is Chloe then? Why does she have an effect on me?" Beca decides to ask, the redhead on her mind.
"Chloe is just… A normal girl… A girl you have feelings for… You can't help destiny… She is your soulmate Az." Amitiel breathes out and Beca takes in the information before realizing Gabriel would be back any second with Michael and Uriel.
"I'm going to end your suffering now Amitiel." Beca says as Michael enters the room with Uriel and Gabriel as Beca predicted.
"Arqad fi salam ya sdiqy w aleaduww. (Rest in Peace my friend and enemy.)" Beca adds as she takes the knife and pushes it into Amitiel's chest, directly where her heart was. Beca and the League leaders watch as the light fades from Amitiel's eyes and she passes on to the next world. Beca takes a deep breath before standing up to face Michael.
"She is dead Sir." She reports and Michael's lips turn into a smile along with Uriel's as they look upon the dead body of Amitiel.
"Very well done my girl. I knew you could do it." Michael smiles before turning to Uriel and Gabriel, his smile fading.
"Take her to the post." Michael orders sternly and Beca pricks up at the mention of the post. Michael leaves the room as Uriel and Gabriel grab Beca and take her to the familiar room with the post that she had received many lashings on.
"Not finishing a target immediately, 10 lashes. Stating the redemption creed to a traitor, 25 lashes. Not obeying my order when I say to execute her instead of kill her in battle, 15 lashes. Amitiel has now died a warrior in battle which is an honour that should not be given to a traitor. I hereby order Azrael, you are to receive 60 lashes for your mistakes. Uriel, make sure you spread the lashings out." Michaels orders as he leaves the room, Gabriel chains Beca to the post as Uriel prepares the whip, which Beca found out had been upgraded with a small silver hook on the end of it to cut deep. Beca cringed at the thought as Gabriel strips her down to her underwear before stepping away. Uriel then begins to proceed with the lashings, starting on Beca's back before moving to the back of her thighs and calves.
By 40, Beca's body was numb and she couldn't feel the whip hit her back anymore, she felt the blood making its way down her back and pooling below her. At 45, Uriel stops and Gabriel moves back in turning Beca over so her abdomen and chest were exposed. She watches as Uriel changes back to a normal whip which brought Beca slight relief. She hadn't screamed or cried out once. She simply closed her eyes and meditated, trying to shut as much of the pain out as possible as she did eleven years before and all the other times she was punished, but a the whip cracks against the wound on her abdomen, she bites her lips to the point that they draw blood, realizing that pain was real and did exist. Instead of pushing it out, Beca had to embrace it as Michael first told her to do.
When the lashings were over, Beca was practically unconscious from both the blood loss and using all her energy into making it less than it actually did. Gabriel and Uriel take her to her room and throw her on the bed, drenching her wounds in salt water which causes Beca to cry out in her unconscious state. The wounds had to be cleaned however so the 2 seniors continued, Michael standing at the doorway, proud that his favourite student managed to take all the lashings. As Gabriel and Uriel leave the room, he enters, taking a seat next to Beca's unconscious form.
"I do these things to make you stronger Azrael. To make you realize and strive for your full potential. You will be the greatest assassin on the planet, keeping your pain switched off until the wounds heal will help you complete your task. It will make you mentally stronger. Do what needs to be done Azrael. My Angel of Death." Michael says before standing up and walking out of the room, leaving the beaten and bloodied assassin to rest.
So I wanted to get more into the League and how they treat Beca to sort of show why she is the way she is and why Chloe has an effect on her. Amitiel dying had to happen too but it opened the story up. Also I really didn't like writing the bit about Beca being punished for doing the right thing by the League but it shows that they don't show appreciation or love, they only show pain.
Chloe treats her the way a human should be treated, she loves, she cares… Beca is not used to that so when she experiences it, it makes her vulnerable and begin to open up but with what happened to Amitiel (other Chloe) now. Will Beca take a step backward and be more driven to complete the task at hand or will she start opening up to Chloe?
I hope that you guys understand that.
Also, someone will soon find out about Beca, maybe around chapter 15-17… Who will it be? Aubrey? Chloe? Stacie? Someone Else?