Return of the Angels
Eons ago, there had been a prosperous planet that existed in the universe alongside all other planets that bore life. Living in the light where no darkness could be found, even during the night, were beings that had been called Angels by other civilizations. These winged beings held title, rank and power. They were like all other species, gaining power to earn title, respect and honour. But never once did they fight each other for such things. Their creator was said to be the creator of all existing planets of life, but they the first ones to be made in his grace. It was him that all of these creatures tried to please the most.
It no longer matters, Celine thought.
That planet had been annihilated and the Angels had fled to someplace else where she was unable to go or find. Could the Angels have really been made in His Grace? If they fled and not stood and fought against those that had managed to score a win against them, does that really make them in the creator's grace? Yes grace, she realized but not image. The Angels were never created in God's image, just his grace. They were his messengers and his warriors; they were his will and command; they would do everything just so that they could please him and earn points with the big boss.
She may not be able to live her life like those Angels, but she was certainly not going to dismiss them quite so quickly. They were her species, her people, whether she acknowledged it or not, one day she would have to return even if she were to be an outcast. But would she be accepted back in her rightful place? She wouldn't know, she'd never know, not until she found them.
Then the battle began between Angels and Demons. Two eternal enemies for all existing times!
The past was supposed to be the past; she could never live her life in it. She manages her life by responding to the present. What's a piece of the past except a mere memory? For her it was nothing, just a bedtime story, but it was recited as her history. It was not written in anyplace she has seen but what do you expect? Planet Zi was never the home of the Angels in the first place. But she couldn't help but think something else, some kind of missing piece that tied everything together. What could it be?
She looked up from the sand that had been darkened by the night, but her eyes focused to the horizon where the sun was rising with its glorifying colours. She flicked her hair behind her as she stared directly at the dawn. The smile on her face was bright and there was no way she could suppress the feelings within her. She could watch the sun forever if she had time to do that. She shook her head. There was never time for it, not even this early into the morning, but she needn't it after what had happened hours ago. It was closing into twilight hour when she had gone beneath the buildings to enter the dungeons. Down there had completely shaken her up, and she knew that she needed to see the light of the next dawn to be able to focus her mind. Seeing it was a relieve to her soul that seemed to glow with the sun's intensity.
Her golden blonde hair caught the light and sent the feeling of heaven to soar through her. She closed her eyes and allowed the light to soothe inside of her and around her. It was as if her body was absorbing the light. At least this was a voice that she could willingly listen to as she knew that this was part of her she could never deny. The darkness however was a different matter. It was something she had no choice but to reject. It being what it is sent something wrong through her; it wasn't a darkness that she would normally stand in. There was something down there, something that required her attention. But how was she going to be able to do something about it when she was being stopped from trying to get access down there? She needed everyone else out of the way and those prisoners needed to be treated and quickly. She wasn't sure if they could last long in that insane darkness that was swallowing them. She just had a very bad feeling about the whole thing.
"Celine…" her eyes opened wide at the voice and she turned to face the girl who called out her name.
The silver haired girl was definitely unsure whether or not to approach. Her blue eyes were saddened and they wouldn't meet hers. She was glad that Storm had decided to come out here after all.
"It's okay, Storm…" the gentleness of her tone must have made Storm feel welcome beside her friend again.
Storm's back had instantly leaning against the wall beside her and her blue eyes were focusing to the rising sun. Apart from she was shielding her eyes from the bright light.
"Will you forgive me for what I said?"
Celine looked at her and then away at the sun. "For what…?"
Storm looked at her in disbelief and when she caught Celine's smile, her own spread across her face. "It doesn't matter…" she said looking up at the bright sky above them.
The reason behind Celine's pretending of not knowing what Storm was on about was because she had already forgiven the girl. But the truth in behind it all was that Celine knew that she should be the one to say sorry, but since now it appeared that everything was sorted out between the two. But as Celine made quick glances at Storm, she already knew that her silver haired friend knew what she was feeling. That was why she wasn't saying anything. It was because Storm didn't want Celine to think that it was all her fault that they had a small argument, Storm only wanted her to feel comfortable and not have to take the entire burden upon herself. Like last time, apart from then she was not known as Celine, but as Sapphire. And that burden she had taken upon herself was the fate of the world.
"You're so stupid…" Storm muttered but she knew her friend heard.
Celine never looked away from the sun. "What do you mean, Storm?"
"Sacrificing yourself to defeat Rafael… you were so stupid. You could have asked your friends to help you. You know we would have been there for you."
"And risk losing you in battle? I don't think so. You know I'd never let that happen and if there was a chance to prevent that, then you should definitely know that is the one that I will take."
Storm grew silent. "But still you're stupid…" she muttered low enough she thought that her friend hadn't heard, but she had.
Celine smiled at nothing in particular. "I need a favour, Storm." Storm perked up and then stood straight, awaiting commands. "I need access to the prisons, but I can't with Kristen not listening to me at all. So I need a long enough diversion so that I can do something. Will you help?"
"When do you want this happening?"
"Not yet," she said with the shake of her head. "I don't want anyone becoming suspicious, but we need to prepare. It's dangerous like when I battle Rafael, but this time I know you won't let me leave you behind. So I need you to inform the rest of the gang what's happening and make it inconspicuous. I really don't want the rest of the Guardian Force to know what's going on."
"You can count on me," she said with a salute and a smile.
Celine watched as she ran off back inside the gates of the base before she turned back to the horizon of the rising sun. Closing off her eyes she wondered what she could do whilst she waited. There were many possibilities that occurred to her but would she even be able to do them as of yet? No, she thought with a shake of her head. Her main priorities come first, even if it means that maybe her life would in risk with them; that is what she has to do no matter what happens. It was her mission that was set upon her at her birth.
It was obvious they needed someone of their species to survive and fight off what was killing them off. Demons would be the best option. But could she prove the statement whereas many others might agree with her? She opened her eyes to look at the shiny blue sky. No, she should not even think that demons might be innocent. They were born of sin and corruption; they don't stand a fighting chance if they were to try to make themselves innocent in a case which most justifies them as guilty. Who else was the eternal enemy of her kind? No one! Who else even know that they existed? No one; no one but the demons. With facts set in place, it's just a matter of time before she would be exiling them from this planet one at a time.
For now maybe a decent visit to Raven's cell might be appropriate for her confused mind about the prison itself.
XxX
She walked up to the Giant's desk and hovered over him until he stopped and looked up at her. She could tell that this man was gentle in some ways and absolute vicious and cruel like the prisoner's here. His black eyes looked at her and then a smile caressed his face and then lit up his eyes. She had no need to be weary of this man; he was as gentle as anything when comrades are concerned.
"Good morning, Celine, it's quite early for a visit isn't it?"
"I can only agree with you on that."
"You're not the only one to be getting strange feelings about down here." The Giant spoke as he slipped his fingers through each other.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Who said I was getting strange feelings?"
"I've heard about you in rumours from some of the guards that come down here to record that this place is in check. Besides, it's in your eyes and your stance. When you first came down here you were completely fine, feeling nothing at all. When you returned something had happened to change your view on what was happening down here. Now again you have that same look in your eyes, but more confidence about what you must do. But you're still a little confused about what exactly must be done to solve this feeling."
"You must have seen people come and go to be able to tell that much." She was indeed impressed.
"All the time," he agreed. "I must admit I don't like the rules that concern the prisoners."
"What rules are these?"
"You seem like a smart girl and I'm pretty sure that you'll definitely be able to get your say about this. Well much more than I could actually." That she has already tried and failed. Maybe she should be a little firm with Kristen? "Kristen's rules are to give the prisoners what they deserve. Very little food and water, a very thin cotton blanket and that's it. In other words, these criminals are to be treated like dirt and vermin."
Celine frowned. "If Kristen were to be one of these prisoners, he'd soon discover what it's like to have someone decide this fate upon them."
The Giant nodded. "I agree, but no one is capable of frightening that guy to realize the wrongness he does. Sometimes I feel like the Guardian Force is corrupted the way those in charge rules."
"Not if I have anything to say about it."
"You're actually going to do something?" he said, but there wasn't surprised that ignited his tone like that. It was happiness that someone actually was going to try to get something done. And changed!
"The Guardian Force was created to give justice a meaning to the world. Captured and retain dangerous criminals, but still be fair on their treatment. They are still human beings that have their own rights. The Guardian Force is the world united and helping each other to keep the peace between all and give that safe and security that people hope to see. But this…" she swung her arm out to the prison cells, "this is completely wrong. We look like we're justice and the right thing, but hidden from sights and in the darkness is where the truth lies of what we do with the criminals when captured."
"You can forgive human beings but not the demon you killed three years ago?"
"Demons are corrupted and sinful. They know no means to stop or correct their actions. Humans can make their choices and decide how they wish to live their lives. Yes, humans can be forgiven; they can repent on their sins and their wrongful ways. Demons, however, cannot. They will always been sinful for that is how they are made."
"Are you saying there is more than one of those things out there?"
She blinked her eyes at first. "On this planet…? No there's not, out there in their own void they call a home… yes there are. Many of them in fact, they are another civilization, just like us."
"You are not like us, Celine. In this world you are a foreigner, an intruder, an unwelcome guest… so to speak." Unwelcomed echoed in her mind and she couldn't help feel lightheaded. "Not to worry," he said leaning back on his chair, "you are welcomed here no matter what anyone tells you. You've saved us from a rule from a demon, or saved us from our death."
"I do not mean to be rude, err…"
"Jeremiah, ma'am, but just for you, you can call me Jerry." He said with a pleasant smile.
She stilled a chuckle. "I think I've watched too many shows."
"Oh?" he said leaning back on his desk.
"I have expected to hear your name to be Tiny, many shows I've seen often… well some of them… have a really big guy named Tiny."
"Ah, I expected an answer like that from someone someday." He shook his head. "But these people don't care for a joke or socializing nowadays. I'm surprised that they managed to create a force like this for the whole of the planet."
"There's a hidden truth behind the Guardian Force, more than you may seem to see."
"I've been in the darkness all of my life, I often hear hidden secrets that are pushed into the darkness. I can keep one more secret in my mind." He said tapping his skull.
"I'm not really one to tell it, but perhaps if you ask Van, he might tell you the truth that you deserve to hear."
"Ah, right, I do seem to have forgotten that you have come down here for a purpose, and not to talk to someone like me. I do seem to have taken up your valuable time, Celine; I should let you be on your way."
"Oh don't worry about Jerry; it was nice to be distracted from something incredibly important for once. But thanks for the chat, it was nice."
"You don't get to do it often enough, do you?" he asked with a small hint of sadness and knowing in his voice.
"Not really, I have been focusing more on what it is that I need to be doing instead of spending my time wisely with my friends. I really might not have much time left to be with everyone else."
"Well then, you know what to do now don't you?" she looked at him with puzzled eyes. "Spend some of your time with your friends while you wait to do something about this mission of yours. It may be important, but also think about the value of your friends and how important they are to you. I'm sure you'll be able to get an easy enough answer for that."
She smiled at him. "I think I will, Jerry."
He position himself with a pen poised in his hand. "So who are you visiting today?"
"I'm visiting our newest criminal, Raven."