Chapter 4: The Skies Of Heaven

Thirty-five days earlier:

Lute opened her eyes to a disturbing absence of noise, broken only by the haunting sound of hysterical laughter. She winced as pain shot through her head and her vision swam in blurriness. Blood seeped from where her left arm had been, now missing. More laughter echoed from the lieutenant's side, but as she turned to see its source, she was met with a horrific sight.

Adam, Commander of the Exorcists, lay sprawled on his stomach, his body covered in blood from a multitude of wounds. Standing triumphantly on his back was a small demon, its skin as pale as moonlight and its limbs sharp and pointed. One large eye glinted with malicious glee as it held a bloody knife and cackled with maniacal delight. The smell of death hung heavy in the air as the demon reveled in its victory over the once-powerful Exorcist leader. Lute's eyes widened with horror.

"NO!" She screamed as she rushed over to her fallen commander's side. The cyclops demon skipped out of reach, but Lute paid her no attention. Her thoughts were solely on her dear comrade. She quickly checked his vital signs and saw that his condition was deteriorating rapidly. "Sir! SIR!" She turned him and laid him out on his back. "Stay with me, Sir!" She begged, not wanting to lose the only person in creation who understood her. The only person in creation that she loved. "ADAM!" She screamed in desperation, tears welling in her eyes. The dying Adam's gaze fell upon her and they locked eyes. Their connection went beyond the typical dynamic of superior and subordinate. They shared one of the strongest bonds in all of Heaven. And as the Exorcist Commander drew his final breath, his voice failed him, but he still managed to silently mouth a single phrase to his comrade.

"I love you."

And with that, Adam's eyes fell shut, life leaving him. His body fell limp in Lute's arms as the lieutenant fell silent in shock and grief. She had no time to cry, however, as the enemy forces closed in around her. From behind her, she heard the Princess of Hell speak, her voice cold and without remorse.

"It's over."

And in front of her, the Ruler of Hell himself stood, spreading his 6 crimson wings as a show of utter dominance. "Take your little friends," he commanded, "and GO HOME!" His voice echoed throughout the underworld. Every word he spoke carried an air of absolute authority, causing even the most powerful beings to tremble in his wake. It was as if the very depths of the earth were responding to his every utterance, bowing down to his will. No one dared to defy him, for his voice alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of all who heard it.

In complete despair, Lute's gaze fell to the ground. She had been defeated. She couldn't eliminate the sinners, she couldn't defend her fellow soldiers, and she couldn't save the person she cherished most - her commander. She glanced over at Adam's halo, lying on the ground next to his body. Blinking back tears, her expression darkened with anger and frustration. "Retreat," She called out to the Exorcists while grabbing Adam's halo. "All Exorcists fall back!" After giving the command, Lute flexed her wings and took off, flying towards the portal back to Heaven, her expression stone-cold, as if already planning her revenge. With a heavy heart, Lute watched as the last of the Exorcists made it through the portal before she closed it behind them. The familiar weight of failure settled on her shoulders, making them sag as she landed gracefully on the soft, billowing cloudtops below. It was a terrible feeling. She was relieved that some of them escaped, but also destroyed mentally at their crushing losses on the other side. The sky above was a deep yellow-orange, the Sun beginning to set over the Heavenly Kingdom. Lute took a moment to take in her surroundings, the cool mist of the clouds wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. She silently vowed to continue their fight against evil, regardless of how many times they failed.

But for now, she had a more important matter to attend to. "You're all dismissed!" She called out to the remaining Exorcists before taking off into the sky. She had to find her, the one who started this whole mess in the first place.

After a long flight, Lute finally arrived at her destination: a beach near the edge of Heaven. As she landed on the soft sand, her gaze fell upon a feminine figure lounging on a beach chair. She marched toward her and threw Adam's halo at her feet. "Adam is dead," She said coldly. "Your deal is done, and I'm in charge now," She glared at the lounging being in front of her. "Your brat is threatening the very foundation of Heaven, and if you want to stay here, you're going down there, and stopping that bitch. Understand, Lilith?"

Lilith's expression subtly changed. She was wearing shades, but Lute could tell she was frowning. "No," She said nonchalantly, picking up a book that was at her side and beginning to read it.

"No?" Lute questioned angrily. She clenched her fist into a ball, digging her nails into her palm, threatening to draw blood. "Perhaps you didn't hear me correctly," She hissed. "I said that if you don't go down there and stop your cuckwhore of a daughter from slaughtering my comrades, I will personally send you back down to that shithole for all of eternity!"

Lilith sighed as she put her book back down. "Oh I heard you the first time, and I answered you the first time," She commented. "Maybe it was YOU who didn't hear ME,"

Lute's rage bubbled up to the surface. "Listen here, you old harlot. I will-"

"Will you calm down, please?" Lilith laid her head back on her chair. "The beach is supposed to be for relaxing,"

"DO YOU THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF JOKE?" Lute roared as she pressed an angelic dagger to Lilith's throat. In response, the lounging woman calmly grabbed the blade of the dagger and snapped it off the hilt before throwing it into the sand. Sighing again, she took off her glasses and glared at the Exorcist.

"Listen closely, little one," She sat up straight. "My deal with Adam was to open a portal to hell once per year so you bunch could go down there and slaughter my people for your amusement. I made this deal nearly 200 years ago now because, before that, you peons could only manage one trip every century because apparently, angels are incapable of opening portals big enough for more than two measly souls," she continued, "The fact that Adam made me open another one after only six months was already a breach of our contract. I overlooked it once because I was in a good mood earlier," She picked up the halo lying in the sand. "You said Adam is dead now, meaning I am technically no longer under any contract. Meaning, I am no longer obligated to listen to a word you say,"

Lute gave her a chilling smile, her fury barely containing itself. "Well then, I guess you're done here then?" She gave a cold chuckle. "After all, no contract means no Heaven for you,"

"Not so fast," Lilith raised her hand, silencing the Exorcist. "I never said I was unwilling to make a new contract. I'd LOVE to make one with you!" She exclaimed with a warm smile, though, Lute could see behind the act. She knew their hatred was mutual.

"Whatever game you're trying to play, I won't let you do it, traitorous bitch," Lute snarled. "You abandoned Adam twice now. Your goals end here!"

"Goals? Darling, my only goal is to remain in paradise away from the rattling noise of the underworld. And I intend on seeing that through," She looked up at the angel. "Now, here's what I propose," She formed a spell in her and shot it between herself and Lute. Between the women, a circle filled with writing in an unknown language expanded, glimmering with a magical aura. "I will open a portal to Hell once per year. No more, no less. In exchange, I stay here and don't dirty my hands with your work under any circumstance,"

Lute stared at the magical circle in front of her, writing appearing in the middle of it, spelling out Lilith's terms. "No," She said, coldly. "I'm not waiting another year to avenge Adam," Her voice shook with anger. "Instead, here's my counter-proposal:" She gave another chilling smile to Lilith. "You open a portal down there whenever I request it, no matter how many times per year, and in exchange, I'll give you an angelic disguise, allowing you to roam free around Heaven. How does that sound?"

Lute smirked as the writing on the circle changed to match Lute's words. Lilith thought about it for a moment before giving the angel a response.

"My my, this is tempting," Lilith pondered, "More souls destroyed, but I get to move around freely?" She smirked back at Lute. "You drive a hard bargain, Exorcist." Lute chuckled in response. After a moment, the first woman in history gave her answer.

"Deal."

The two women put their hands on their respective sides of the spell, causing it to glow and turn from yellow to blue. After this, the circle dissipated, signaling the completion of the spell. As Lute walked away, Lilith called after her, "Oh, and Lute?"

The angel turned around to look at her new contract partner.

"Don't insult my daughter in such a manner ever again."

Lute scoffed at her and turned away before taking off without a word. As the Exorcist flew away, however, the lounging woman touched her hand to her necklace, causing it to glow briefly before returning to reading her book. The chain of the accessory changed from black to a perfect shining white, and the jewel at the bottom slowly morphed from a dark magenta diamond to a deep blue sapphire heart. And elegantly engraved onto the heart, in a font that exuded luxury, was the letter "E".

Thirty minutes later:

Lute arrived back at the Heavenly Court to finally report back to Sera. She knows she probably should've come here first, but the loss of Adam really threw the Exorcist off her game. She landed on the top platform, next to Sera's meeting room. As she prepared to enter, however, she was greeted by a curious scene. The young seraphim, Emily, came running out of the building and whizzed right by her before taking flight. Even more puzzling was the being she brought with her on the way out. A snake-like being wearing a white suit and top hat was being dragged by the seraphim before screaming in terror when he was lifted off the ground by the over-excited angel taking flight. Most alarming of all was that Lute could've sworn she recognized that being as one of the sinners the Exorcists engaged in battle mere hours ago. The angel quickly brushed it aside as her eyes playing tricks on her. He was left down there. Dead or alive, he couldn't have made it up here. Lute sighed and pushed open the doors into the building. She was immediately greeted by the Archangel of Judgement cringing in disgust, clearly having a rough time. Something the Exorcist elected to ignore.

"Lady Sera?" Lute announced. "I apologize for the delay, but I've come to report on the latest Extermination."

The Head Seraphim groaned. "Not now Adam, I'm currently dealing with something way more impor-," She paused, realizing who was in the room with her. "Lute?" Sera wore a confused expression. "Where is Adam?"

Lute's expression darkened. "Commander Adam was slain in battle by the sinners," She reported. "As were a great many more of our comrades,"

The archangel's eyes widened. "Adam... is dead?"

The Exorcist nodded. "Yes. The Extermination ended in complete failure. We only managed to kill roughly 40 souls, and only one of the ones associated with the Princess of Hell,"

Sera buried her face in her hands. "No no no, this can't be happening! Adam's dead, and now HE'S here?"

Lute's curiosity got the better of her. "My lady, forgive my intrusion, but who is this "He" you are referring to?"

Sera looked over at the Exorcist, wearing a panicked look on her face. "He's a sinner!" She exclaimed. "One of the demons from that hotel! I don't know how, but he's here!"

Lute felt her heart skip multiple beats. So she was right. In a cruel twist of fate, the very same demon that Adam had blasted into oblivion had replaced him in the realm of paradise. "But, that shouldn't be possible!" She gripped her head in frustration. "Once souls are killed by an angel, they should be gone for good!" She thought for a brief moment. "Unless..."

Sera desperately looked at the Exorcist for an answer. "Unless what, Lute? Tell me!"

Lute responded, "Unless Adam never actually killed him,"

The Head Seraphim looked even more confused now. "What do you even mean by that? Are you suggesting that Adam spared him on purpose?"

Lute shook her head. "No, I'm saying someone else did,"

Sera looked utterly flustered. "But the only other way he could've gotten up here is if..." She paused as a horrific realization came to her. "No... he couldn't have,"

The Exorcist merely stood there, equally as stunned. She knew the only way a soul could enter Heaven was if Lord Raphael, the Archangel of Law allowed it. But to think he would defy Lady Sera's ruling? It was almost inconceivable. The Head Seraphim looked every as panicked on the outside as Lute was on the inside. She wouldn't be giving any major orders anytime soon. As such, the lieutenant knew who she had to report to next. "Lady Sera," She bowed respectfully. "May I be excused?"

"Huh? Oh, yes. You're dismissed," Sera replied hurriedly, clearly still distressed over the whole situation. Lute turned around and flew off the balcony. The Sun had completely set by this point, the sky a dark navy blue, almost black, littered with stars forming vast constellations. The Exorcist may have taken time to admire its beauty if she wasn't in such a rush. The journey took roughly 20 minutes, the angel soaring over lush white clouds and sprawling towns and cities filled with the purist of souls before finally landing at a magnificent palace. From above, it resembled a formidable military fortress with tall glowing walls and watchtowers dotting the perimeter. As she landed on the grounds, she marveled at the grandeur and opulence of the heavenly construct, with its intricate architecture and lavish gardens surrounding it. It was a sight that left her breathless and in awe of its sheer splendor. Quickly snapping herself out of the distraction, she entered the palace and began walking directly towards her destination.

Following a short stroll, she arrived at the end of a corridor where she was greeted by a pair of grand double doors. Engraved with intricate designs crafted out of gold and precious stones, they glimmered in the light, radiating an aura of wealth and luxury. She took a deep breath before giving a gentle tap, causing the doors to swing open on their own, revealing a battle chamber fit for royalty. The walls were adorned with magnificent weapons made from divine materials, each one exquisitely finished in shimmering gold. From spears forged from Angelic steel to firearms that fired bullets made of pure Holy Iron, and even retractable blades fueled by Soul Energy, every weapon displayed was a testament to extravagance and power.

"Is there something I can do for you?" A voice called out to Lute. It sounded like it was speaking directly into her mind. Out of nowhere, a person appeared before her with short and sleek black hair and three sets of pewter wings folded neatly behind their back. His visage exuded a youthful charm, resembling someone in their mid-twenties rather than his actual age. His grin was both inviting and formidable. The Exorcist quickly dropped to one knee and bowed out of respect.

"Lord Gabriel," She addressed him. "I have an urgent update regarding the last Extermination,"

The archangel touched down on the ground in front of her. "Proceed," He responded.

Despite holding the same rank, his voice commanded much more authority than Sera's.

Lute began, "As you are aware, earlier today, we Exorcists went down to Hell to begin our Extermination of sinners in the Pride Ring," She took a deep breath. "Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. The sinners fought back, using the hotel as a base,"

Gabriel's smile faltered. "The sinner's... fought back?" He asked, his calm demeanor slowly beginning to vanish.

"Yes, Sir." She responded. "In addition, they were being led by the daughter of Lucifer,"

The archangel's eye twitched. "You mean to tell me, these lowly degenerates of the underworld, fought back against the righteous duty of Heaven's Exorcists, and they were led by my brother's daughter?"

"Indeed. She even managed to give Commander Adam a fight," She paused. "She's untrained, but far stronger than she knows,"

Gabriel looked around briefly. "By the way, where is Adam?" He asked, "Normally, he's the one that reports to me. Why are you here?"

Lute's face fell. She looked down at the floor in defeat. "Commander Adam is dead, Sir. He was defeated in combat by Lucifer, and killed by the sinners."

Gabriel's eyes shot over to the Exorcist, his fists clenching with fury. "Rise," He commanded. Lute quickly stood up. "Move out of the way," The archangel's voice shook with unbelievable rage. The lieutenant moved to the side of the room away from her superior. Eyes blazing with fury, he conjured up a dozen holy iron blades that Lute could see glinting in the dim light. With a powerful flap of his wings, he sent them hurtling towards the door barricading the room from the outside hallway. The swords pierced the surface and emitted a bright yellow glow before exploding in a massive blast that nearly knocked the Exorcist off her feet, despite her being several feet away. As the smoke cleared, Lute saw Gabriel standing in the same spot, still shaking with anger. "Anything else?" He asked turning to his now unsettled subordinate.

"Yes, Sir," Lute swallowed nervously. "When I went to meet with Lady Sera, she told me one of the sinners from the hotel was redeemed into Heaven,"

Gabriel didn't bother requesting an explanation. In an instant, his body was enveloped in a radiant golden aura. His plain gray suit transformed into formidable battle armor crafted from heavenly steel. The feathers on his wings transformed into sharp blades, resembling the ones he had summoned before. His eyes glowed a bright solid blue. "So the worthless filth of Hell resist their rightful punishment, kill MY best soldier, and then, in an affront to God's very design, Raphael sends one of them UP HERE?" Gabriel roared with fury as a helmet materialized over his face. Unlike the Exorcist's design, his was much more traditional, being composed of steel with a glowing blue vizor on the front.

The Archangel of War's complete form caused Lute to cower in terror. She had never experienced an archangel's full power up close before, and if the other six were anything like this, she never wanted to again either. "SIR!" She called out, fearing for her life. Gabriel's overwhelming power threatened to blow the whole palace apart if he continued in this state.

The archangel quickly powered down, his armor dissipating and his wings returning to feathers, and touched back down on the floor, turning to Lute, he smiled warmly. "My apologies, Lieutenant," He tucked his wings behind his back. "It appears my emotions got the better of me again. Many of my subordinates have had the displeasure of seeing me do that far too many times. I'm trying to work on it," he chuckled lightly and raised his hands at his sides. Almost instantaneously, all the damage caused by the explosion was undone, leaving the room as pristine as it was before. He noticed Lute still extremely shaken up. "Don't worry, Exorcist, it wasn't your fault. There's just a lot going on right now, as I'm sure you're well aware,"

Lute breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't dying today after all. "Yes, Sir," She looked at her superior. "Is there anything else you require from me?"

"As a matter of fact, there is," Gabriel responded, locking eyes with the Exorcist. "Kneel,"

Lute dropped back down to one knee, wondering what he was about to do. The archangel walked over to her and put his hand on her head. Immediately, she felt his power rush through her, giving her unimaginable strength. She could feel all her wounds closing and her own power being given a massive boost. Gabriel lifted his hand and stepped back.

"Rise, Commander Lute,"

Lute rose to her feet, brimming with newfound strength. She noticed the archangel gesturing to her left. She turned and found her severed arm had been replaced with a fully functioning cybernetic of angelic steel. Gabriel tossed her a metal ball. She caught it with her new arm. "Crush it," He said.

Lute studied the small sphere in her metallic palm. It was surprisingly heavy, and she estimated it to weigh at least 50 pounds despite its tennis ball size. She squeezed it with ease, crushing it into a completely unrecognizable shape. The impact of dropping it caused the floor beneath her to crack from its weight. Stunned, she turned to her superior. "Thank you, Sir," She stammered, honored to have received such a gift.

"Of course, Commander," He responded. "Now go. I just know you're itching for revenge. Go draw up plans for an invasion of Hell," He ordered. "We cannot allow these transgressions to go unpunished,"

"Of course, Sir," She responded. "There's just one problem,"

"I already know about your new contract. I saw it when I bestowed your gift just then," He sighed. "And while I cannot pretend to hide my displeasure at allowing that harlot to roam free in this realm, I realize you acted out of respect for your former Commander," He conceded. "You have my blessing, Lute. Go do what you do best," He added, "For Heaven."

Lute bowed and exited the room. As the doors closed behind her, she quietly uttered her response.

"For Adam,"

As Lute arrived back at her and Adam's place, she took a moment to just breathe. She had lost so much that day: her arm, her comrades... and Adam. The Exorcist raised her head to see a vibrant, lifelike portrait of herself and her deceased superior. In the photo, they were standing on a sandy beach, the gentle waves lapping at their feet. Their faces were bright and beaming with pure joy, captured in a moment of carefree happiness. The golden sunlight enveloped them, casting a warm glow over the scene. It was as if they were frozen in time, forever preserved in this idyllic moment of friendship and serenity. Walking upstairs, she passed her own bedroom and entered Adam's.

The ivory walls of the room were adorned with gilded trim and littered with signs of the Commander's interests in the human realm. A poster of Metallica, snapshots of him with famous musicians, and a plethora of portraits of stunning women decorated the space. Lute smiled smugly; she had always appreciated her Commander's preferences. After all, she too found the unique qualities of each individual to be visually appealing. She once again pulled out his Halo and set it on the nearby shelf before climbing into his bed. She couldn't help but think of all the nights she had spent in this room with Adam, simply because he claimed to be "lonely". She thought back to how they would hold each other and wondered why they never spoke about their true feelings for one another. Deep down, she always loved him and in his last moments, Lute knew he felt the same. Maybe they both felt like it was forbidden due to their professional relationship and differing levels of authority.

Not that it mattered anymore.

As the Exorcist pulled the covers over her and turned to her side, she grabbed the Halo off the shelf when she noticed the edge of a piece of paper sticking out of the bookshelf next to the bed. When she pried it out, she found it was a picture of herself...

...in her underwear.

Lute burst out laughing at the revelation, thinking about all the "forbidden activity" Adam got up to with the photo. It would have been mortifying if anyone else had seen it, but somehow it seemed funny coming from him. "Of course you would, you primordial pervert!" She exclaimed, closing her eyes, unable to bear the hilarity of the situation.

Gradually, her joyful laughter devolved into deep sobs as tears cascaded down her cheeks. The overwhelming sense of loss washed over her as she realized she would never again see his striking face, hear his confident voice, or feel his tender touch. A sharp pain pierced through her chest as her heart shattered into fragments, leaving behind a void that could never be filled. "I love you too, Goddamnit! I love you too!" She screamed as she wept. She clutched tightly onto the photograph and the worn Halo, clinging to the last physical reminders of her beloved Adam. And as tears poured from her eyes, every memory flooded back with vivid detail, reminding her of the love they secretly shared and the adventures they had experienced together.

To be continued...