Chapter fourteen

Angeli-Espiris

That wall.

That wretched wall.

I just wanted it to stop staring at me like it had been doing for the past hours. As much as I wanted to close my eyes and chase away the sight of that cracked, worn out piece of concrete, something was forbiding me to shut my eyelids. Perhaps it was the feeling that I would forever lose any contact with reality.

Not that I would have minded.

Mivelris was dead, partly by my fault. If I had not dragged him in this entire Undersky mess, he would still be alive, living by Dulciane’s side, being happy. I was Heaven’s biggest fool, even though I had won an historical battle. Why, oh why had I chosen him for such a dangerous mission? My best friend!

I had cried most of the night, town in between an undescribable sadness and a gut-twisting feeling of raw fear. They would get us and kill every last one of my group. We were done for and there was no way around this reality, as much as I wanted to believe in the past. We were barely a hundred Angels, destroyed, hopeless, having lost all those we cherished.

Fortunately, Losmeriel was still alive, along with most of the Altacia soldiers. A slight relief.

My eyes itchy, my nose running on the blanket I was resting on, I drifted away in a nightmare-filled sleep, from which I hoped I would never wake up from.

**

Surprisingly, I did not feel so fresh as I was slowly waking up.

-He’s coming back, I heard someone say.

I slowly opened my eyes, which seemed to weigh a ton.

-Talk to me Saelius, said a voice that reminded me of Zhankiel’s.

-Let me sleep, I moaned, feeling awfully groggy.

-No way, boss. You’ve been sleeping for three days.

It did not make any sense in my head. Suddenly, reality seemed to be coming back to me, painfully. Zhankiel, Malakiel and Yui were gathered around my bed and oggled at me with worry.

-What?

-You were in shock after…Mivelris passed away, said Yui, softly. You’ve been unable to wake up for three days. We thought we lost you for good…

I sat down, feeling my muscles ache and my wings numb. This was not happening…I couldn’t see what was real or what was not: I was lost in a dream.

-I…I just want to be alone for a while…I need time…

-But the others, started Malakiel, with worry.

I looked straight at him, feeling my heart twist.

-No, Mal. No more others, no more Undersky, no more nothing. I’ve had enough, I cannot take any more of this suffering.

-But—

Zhankiel raised his hand and Malakiel closed his mouth, looking disapointed.

-Very well, Saelius, said my Seraphim friend. You need to rest a little longer.

Everyone was about to leave but I grabbed Yui by the wrist.

-Please Yui…stay with me.

She threw a quick glance at Zhankiel, who only nodded before closing the door behind him.

-What is it, Saelius, she asked on a sweet tone that almost was not hers.

-Just…talk to me, Yui. I have had enough of listening to my own voice, I need someone else’s…

She smiled feebly and sat down on the bed, putting her hand around mine: I felt a drift of heat go down my spine, a warm, soothing feeling envelopping my body. I felt a little better.

-I’m very sorry for your friend Mivelris, she said, looking down. If it can make you feel any better, I think you did a great job on the battlefield.

I shrugged.

-It was not I, a powerless Archangel who decided the outcome of this battle. I had some unexpected help, from the Angel-Spirit…and yourself.

She lowered her head, a smile on the corner of her lips.

-I’ve been blinded by my own ambitions, she whispered. In the end, I did not care about the Realm’s fate, I only wanted everyone to see I was worthy of being by Danërael’s side. But at what price…you made me realise that he, perhaps, was not worthy of me.

-It’s a pleasure hearing those words coming from you, Yui. I’m glad you chose the side that made you feel better. But nothing’s forcing you to battle at our side…

She shook her head and retorted:

-There is more to this war than mere politics. We are about to soil our name, our fonction as guardians. It took me forever to see what Danërael had in mind, to see his true face, the one of a murderer.

Those words were like medicine for my illed heart. Even though I had lost much in this entire revolution, I had the feeling I was close to obtaining the thing I seeked the most. Smiling feebly, said:

-Not everything is lost, Saelius.

She exited and I closed my eyes, falling in a sleep which this time, was mostly pleasant.

**

It was Kirveh who woke me up, the next morning. I got up, stretched as far as my little room allowed me to, and got dressed. I had come to the conclusion that sleeping and mourning would not bring Mivelris, or anyone else back: it was our duty to prevent any more live losses.

-Well, look who’s up, snickered Zhankiel, sipping on some tea, along with Yui and Malakiel.

I smiled and sat beside them, petting Kirveh on the head.

-So, I asked Malakiel, how are we doing?

-Seven seriously wounded, not in any shape to fight. We are now a hundred and four, counting everyone that can hold a sword or a bow. We had a new stock of bows and arrows coming from Jilankev, as well as food supply from Frasvin. I got a message from Des’Falso saying new troops should arrive in two days. That would make us about two-hundred.

-Well, those are rather good news…

-But they are not the only news, added Zhankiel, a grave look on his face. Heaven is, as you all know it, under martial law, and more dangerous than ever: Danërael has doubled his guards across the city and the eastern and souther part of the slums are being systematically searched. They are looking for us.

He had said that as if it was only a mere detail.

-We have nowhere else to hide, said Malakiel, a bit discouraged.

I was silent for a moment, but I suddenly blurted:

-The surface.

My three friends oggled at me.

-The surface! He’ll never go looking for us on the surface.

-But Saelius, started Yui, we are almost two-hundred! A few Angels can go unoticed, but so many will surely attract some attention.

I would have argued if it were anyone else, but Yui was right.

-Well, it’s an option, mumbled my Seraphim friend. We’ll think about it.

I got up, asking where Ismael was. It had been a while since I had last seen him. Not that I was worried…

-I’ve seen him with the Angel-Spirit, said Malakiel. That guy is creeping me out, he’s so weird…

-Once you get to know him, he’s a fascinating lad, I retorted.

I walked away, searching for my little missevah, Kirveh flying by my side. The wounded had been placed on more elaborated beds and did not seem to suffer too much; once again, Angelic medecine proved to be highly efficient. The other Undersky members were looking at maps, playing chess, or comforting each other. I met my brother Losmeriel, singing a song to some kids, who were on the run with their parents, having lost their home to Danërael’s wrath.

We were a shelter, as well as a resistance movement.

Cerjevi, busy cuddling against Jeruvehel, told me Nervanael and Ismael were outside, on the roof. I thought it was a bit foolish, exposing themselves like that. And with his colours, Nervanael was easily recognizable.

I found them seated on a far edge of the warehouse’s roof. I was about to sneak up on them when I saw Nervanael raise his arms slowly in front of him. Intrigued, I listened to what he said:

-See, just like that. Let go of the heat inside your blood, imagine it is going away, like steam. Feel your magic escaping from your body, gently. It is only a warm, pleasant feeling. It does not cause pain.

I was amazed. Even though they were facing the opposite direction, I could see Ismael stretch his arms in front of him, in slow, steady movement. His little body was moving up and down very gently, as if he was taking long breath.

-Saelius?

I turned around and saw Yui, who had popped her head from the trap that lead on the roof. She joined me, asking what they were doing.

-Nervanael is teaching Ismael how to control his overabundance of magic. When we think about it, they are very much the same.

-But the Angel-Spirit was a unique case, and still is. However, it surprises me to see him in such a calm state. You were right, he has suffered more from solitude than madness.

I smiled and looked at her straight in the eyes. I still could feel her soft lips against mine, from the first kiss I had so passionately given her. But now was not the time. I did not even know how she truly felt about me, even though I was now sure her intentions were good.

-Blue, she said.

-Huh?

She turned and glanced at them, a hint of mystery in her eyes.

-Nervanael’s eyes were as blue as yours. Almost the same colour, it struck me just now. I’ve seen pictures, drawn pictures of course, of the time he was young, six-hundred thirty five years ago. He hasn’t changed at all, other than the colours.

-It is truly amazing we got him on our side. Imagine if Danërael had managed to get a grip on his powers?

-We’d have no chance, she said. None of us, Angels nor humans.

We got back inside. Before entering the warehouse, I threw one last look at them: under Ismael’s amused eyes, Nervanael was making flowers grow on the roof.

**

-We are indeed in a very delicate situation, said Zhankiel, crossing his arms.

-We are too numerous to split into little factions, added Malakiel. If one is located, there is a slight chance that one of its members talks and reveals the other’s positions. Moving to another city is futile, since most of Danërael’s activities take place here. What should we do, boss?

I pondered longly, scratching my chin.

-First of all, we’ll send the wounded elsewhere. Those that are not in any state to defend themselves will have to leave, as well as any children present. We must form another refuge, for those who perhaps don’t have the will to battle. From now on, that choice is theirs. Second of all, we must be ready to leave and to fight at any moment, so all useless equipement must be put aside. We will not be taken by surprise.

Everyone nodded and got back to their occupation and I let myself fall on a chair, exhausted. Taking all of those decisions was not an easy task.

I suddenly felt two warm hands on my shoulder and did not even have to turn around to see who it was.

-It’s my turn to do the massage, said Yui, pressing her long fingers on my neck.

-I didn’t know you were so good at massaging, I whined, appreciating the gesture.

-There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, she added.

Since the others had left the door opened, Ismael peeked inside and entered, shyly, as if he was afraid of disturbing us.

-Come here, missevah, I told him.

He sat down on my lap and hugged me tenderly, under Yui’s soft eyes.

-You attract all sort of unique Angels, she said. Most people would flee this little boy, ignore him, believe what they’ve seen in the papers. But you don’t… Everyone thought the Angel-Spirit was an insane, lunatic criminal…yet, you proved them wrong. You managed to turn an ancient threat into a powerful ally, only by becoming his friend.

I didn’t know what to say.

At this very moment, I was picturing us three as a wonderful family.

**

A week had passed since the Hazarah battle.The tension was unbearable: our spies confirmed that Daneraël’s army was searching every houses and that they were getting awfully close. We would be discovered sooner or later. I kept those informations for me and for my close allies: there was no need to spread panic amongst our already decimated troops.

Even though we had Nervanael on our side, something was telling me it wasn’t going to be enough.

I was pondering as always, seated on a rough chair. Everyone was busy with their own little task. I found this monotonous routine quite strange…no abnormal activity around the core, no squads of Thrones…it was fishy.

Ismael stormed into the room, an horrified look on his face.

-What is it, missevah? I asked, suddenly very worried.

He was moving his arms up and down and glancing everywhere, as if he was having some kind of panic attack.

He started mimicking something, but I just couldn’t understand; it was the first time I was seeing him in such a state of fear. Yui, who was passing in front of the door, just stopped and stared at him, her eyebrows frowned.

-What’s wrong with him?

Suddenly, the room shook so hard it knocked me off my feet: objects fell on the floor, shouts were heard. And I felt it, stronger than usual, this oppressing feeling: my ears hurt because of the pressure and I immediately knew why.

-We’re stopping! I shouted, getting up as fast as I could, despite the steady rumbling.

I rushed outside, passing over Angels that had tripped and were still wondering what was happening.

Clouds were gathering around the core.

-Djimmeh, djimmeh! The Nemesis is going to shoot again!

Why hadn’t I thought of it sooner? Why did I not watch for which city we were flying over? I was so worried about our safety that I had forgotten all about the human’s!

Zhankiel met up with me and had the same reaction.

-There’s nothing we can do, Saelius, he said, enraged. The core is way too dangerous now that the Nemesis is charging.

-We’re going to watch it happen over again, just as it did on Mexico? This is New York, Zhankiel! The Nemesis will blow up the entire suburbs, the surrounding towns! Millions of lives will be lost. Aren’t we supposed to help them!

I heard stomps on the roof.

A split second later, a rainbow-winged creature was disapearing in the clouds beneath us.

Even Zhankiel’s hold was’t enough to prevent me from chasing after Nervanael, in a crazy freefall towards the surface. Paradise and Heaven were getting further and further but I could still feel the intense radiations emanating from the core.

New York was in sight.

A greeen flash lit the sky, forcing me to close my eyes and stop my descent.

“This is is”, I thought. “There’s no stopping it now.”

But the large green beam was stopped just over the highest building and a vast radius of energy formed itself around what had seemingly stopped it.

And under the stream of light was standing Nervanael.

I could not see that well and I did not want to get closer, but the little I could distinguish was enough to leave me breathless: litteraly pushing away the energy produced by hundreds of tons of metal and raw power, he was holding on.

Waves of green light were parting in every directions, like an explosion shockwave.

Then it stopped.

Fluorescent particles of energy floated in the air for a few seconds and vanished, as the Angel-Spirit collapsed on the cement surface, cracked and burnt around his feet.

I rushed up to meet him, worried that this time, even his amazing powers would not save him. Sirens, screams, cries…I could hear it all, yet, I was relieved. They were still living.

-Nervanael, I yelled, landing on the roof and running up to him.

I knelt down beside him and shook him so he would open his eyes: that was when I noticed that his hands were missing. Only a mass of burnt flesh remained.

-Nervanael, wake up, for Heaven’s sake…why did you do this?

He opened his eyes, slowly, but it was obvious all of his strenght was gone. Dark clouds started to form over the city, spiraling over our heads.

-Uuungh… did it work…

-Yes it worked, Angel-Spirit. You saved them all.

As the clouds grew thicker and darker, I noticed that his rosey cheeks faded; his hair turned a dull bluish-grey, his wings tarnished and his eyes…

-Take it Saelius…take my life… it holds by nothing…end it, I beg of you. I’ve done…one thing I have been proud of.

I searched in his pocket and found the magical artefact that contained his very soul, a cube that once shone with an amazing light. It had taken centuries before he was able to regain his freedom and it had lasted only a few days. How the scholars managed to turn his soul into a solid object and then chain it to the Earth was still a mystery but there it was, almost out.

-Blue, I said. Like mine. Those eyes of yours.

I clasped my hands around the warm object and whispered:

-Rest now.

In a long sigh, he closed his eyes and disappeared in a blue flash.

Rain started falling down