"Fuck." I moaned upon hearing the report. "You can't be serious."
I was seated in Gabriel's office. Opposite me, Gabriel sat at her desk, nervously chewing her lip.
Gabriel nodded. "Unfortunately, I am."
"How did he escape?" I asked, clutching my head. Ever since the Succession battle, my headaches had increased in both number and intensity. And no amount of meds was helping. "I thought he was under 24 hour guard!"
"He was." Gabriel sighed. "But I suppose after two thousand years, you have some tricks up your sleeve."
"Arrrghhhh." I groaned, half in annoyance and half from the splitting headache. "How can we lose him now? Central's going to kill us!"
Prisoner 1. He had been captured and imprisoned even before the creation of the Church. It was said that he lived during the time of the Savior himself, and had even interacted with him.
His identity and the reason behind his incarceration was a secret known only to a select few, including myself.
"If he's out there, there is no telling the amount of havoc he could wreck on our plans." Gabriel bit her fingernails. "My Exorcists are tracking him, but he's a wily old bastard."
"I'll have Cassian get Witch Hunt to assist you." I muttered, wincing as a bolt of pain ran through my head. "Damn that hurts."
Gabriel leaned over and touched my forehead. Her hand came back covered in my sweat. "You're feverish. Have you seen Raphael?" I shook my head, gritting my teeth as more pain laced through my head. "You should. You look awful."
"Thanks." I said, trying to smile. "I'll try to visit a beautician before I leave. Can't show up to the doctors looking like crap." Gabriel laughed.
"I'm sure Raphael wouldn't mind if you turned up looking like a skeleton and smelling like dog poop. You know she has the hots for you right?"
"That's what everyone says, but I seriously don't see it." Gabriel rolled her eyes.
"Have you ever been called dense before? Because you really are. Read the signs Samael!" I grinned lopsidedly.
"Seeya Gabriel." Gabriel sighed and shook her head, a small smile on her face.
"Seeya rockhead." I quietly stepped out and closed the door.
I barely took three steps before collapsing to my knees. My breathing was labored and heavy. Sweat was pouring freely from my pores. The ground in front of me was starting to shift and blur. Feelings of vertigo were causing my body to shake like a leaf in autumn.
And the pain. My head felt like someone was trying to tear him or herself out from it.
Shit. The Voice spoke in my head. This isn't good.
"He-he shouldn't be this strong." I gasped. "Normally-it takes him months to recover."
Less then three days had passed since the Succession Battle and I was already fighting for control.
Breath! The Voice said urgently. Try to calm down. And whatever you do, do not fall unconscious! He's trying to summon you back to the Warground!
"Can't-" I wheezed. "Can't breath."
Stay with me Daemon! The Voice was slowly growing weaker. Damn it! Don't do this! You won't survive another figh-
At that moment, I blacked out.
"Hello Daemon." I opened my eyes to find myself lying on the ground. Above me, the familiar struggle of Light and Darkness was playing in the sky above me. "Fancy seeing you so soon."
Samael's face appeared in my spherical vision, a mocking smile on his face. "You look like absolute shit by the way."
"Fu-fuck you." I gasped. While my body was no longer racked with pain, the mere memory caused me to shudder. "Ho-how are you still able to move? You should have been immobilized for months."
Samael laughed. "Maybe you aren't as strong as you think Daemon." He reached down and grabbed my arm, pulling me to my feet. I swayed, unsteady. "Anyways, I challenge you to the Fifth Succession Battle."
Before I could answer, the Voice manifested itself behind Samael.
"Samael, please reconsider."
Samael turned to face the Voice. "Reconsider? Why?" The Voice pointed at me.
"Daemon is, as you can see, still exhausted from your previous battle-"
"So? Not my problem." Samael pointed at the sky. Now that I looked at it carefully, it seemed as if it was more Night then Day now. "The Succession Battles were designed by the Big Boss when I was sealed in Daemon. It's in our contract that either one of us can announce a Succession Battle whenever we want, regardless of the personal circumstances of either combatant."
The Voice was about to say something, but I put my arm on his shoulder.
"He-he's correct." I gasped, taking a deep breath in an attempt to regain some strength. "If Samael challenges me to a Succession Battle, I have no choice but to accept. Denying the challenge is the same of losing the Battle."
"But-" The Voice was about to protest, but I cut him off with a wave of my arm.
"It's the Agreement. Times, it's not like this shitty Angel can possibly beat me anyways." I said, trying to put up a brave front. "I accept your challenge."
The Voice looked at me, worry etched on his face. I smiled at him.
"Don't look so worried Voice. You've helped me out a lot." I turned to face Samael, who was smiling. "Though Samael, I would have appreciated it if you stopped using the Voice to coerce me into accepting you."
Samael smile, upon hearing the accusation, grew wider. "You noticed?"
"You weren't exactly being subtle. Kill all fluffy things? Charmspeak? That just screamed you." Looking at the Voice's confused expression, I laughed. "Don't worry if you didn't notice. You're a mash-up of both my and Samael's psych, designed to be the bridge between the two of us. I always thought my influence was stronger, but apparently not." I turned to face Samael. "I suppose that's what I get for ignoring you for three years."
"Indeed. Three years without a Succession Battle? Naturally my powers would grow to the point where I could temporarily take control of the Voice." Samael laughed. "I have to admit though, it resisted. I could only somewhat control its speech, but not its loyalty. It genuinely wanted you to remain in control."
"Not surprising, considering how much of an asshole you are."
"Daemon-" The Voice tried to speak, to apologize to me. I smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"No need to apologize. Samael's a cunning little piece of shit. Anyone would have been controlled by his powers. Which is why I can't let him win." The banter that Samael and I had exchanged had given me time to rest. While I was definitely not at one hundred percent, I was certainly a lot better then a few minutes ago. Reaching over, I pulled one of the swords out from the ground.
"In my name, I will wage this battle." I muttered, pointing my blade at Samael's throat. "I swear this won't end till one of us is dead!"
Wonder who's going to win...even I'm not completly sure. It'd be pretty interesting to throw a wild card like Samael into the fray...no promises though.
Fave and review if you enjoyed it!
Daemon