AGGELOI, Book 4: "Uprising"

Preangel of the Past

Demian had to pay the price. He summoned the Preangel three times. He committed hubris, just as we once did!

Why, even though we were Angels, have we been punished from the beginning of Time until now, while Demian was granted Mercy? He isn't even human. He's half-human and half-demon!

Is this His Justice then?

But I remember very well the Laws He set for the Angels, even if centuries have passed! Just as the Commandments He gave to humans are the same and have not changed, the same goes with His Laws, which are stricter and inviolable for us, and do not change! Yet, He generously granted Mercy to Demian, sidelining me.

However, I can invoke the Laws and claim my right!

Since He granted Mercy to the one who should have borne the punishment, I too, if I invoke His Justice, have the right to find a substitute for Demian, even if they are innocent, as long as they meet the conditions!

That's it! I've found him!

The time has come!

- According to Your Laws, I invoke Your Justice and ask for it to be imposed! You granted Mercy to the one who should have paid. I accepted it. But in doing so, I am wronged! So I ask for a substitute! You set the Laws, and according to them, I can choose a substitute who meets the conditions... I've found him! If you are just, then you will accept my proposal.

If He grants mercy to him too, then His image of impartiality will crumble, and this will shake the entire universe. An unjust God is something that brings chaos, lack of faith, destruction!... So, is He just with all His creatures, or does He make distinctions for humans and those who obey Him blindly?

Daniel

As a human, I remember my concern for Rachel, the pain of separation! But now that I have regained my angelic nature, I don't feel sadness or sorrow because I can always be invisibly by her side, watching over her, protecting her, as well as our child! I don't know why I still retain their memory... Since I have now left my human nature, I have been purified by fire. I have an Angelic essence, as before! Yet, I still remember Rachel...!

- Why did we stop?

I asked the Angel who came to me, telling me that I was going to ascend.

- I can't go on. Why did I stop?

I looked at the Angel next to me in confusion, not understanding what was happening.

The Angel retreated, leaving me alone.

Then, suddenly, chains appeared, wrapping tightly around me and pulling me away from where I was!

I didn't have time to realize what was happening when I found myself bound, somewhere far away, in no time!

Below me, was a luminous seal, and I was chained to a sword that pierced it! The seal kept me trapped there!

My fear grew! What happened? Why am I here? Why am I bound?

As if in answer to my thoughts, I heard an eerie voice!

- Although you are not to blame, Daniel, you are here because you happened to be a fallen angel! One of the fallen Angels and the most powerful in strength. You are the only one who approaches my power among all the others!

- Who are you? Who is speaking to me?

I asked because although I heard this eerie voice, I saw no one, and this voice was certainly not God's because I knew His voice well!

- I am the former Preangel of the Past!

The voice answered.

Preangel? How did I get entangled with him?

- You are simply the scapegoat, Daniel. Nothing more. In your place, there should have been someone else, but He granted mercy to him. So I had to find someone else for the punishment.

- This can't be! I was supposed to ascend to my Order! They are waiting for me. You can't keep me here!

- I think I was not clear. I just chose you! But He allowed you to be here, Daniel!

- No! I don't believe you! It's simply not possible! The Angel told me I was needed up there! I was to become the Leader of the tenth Order, the Terrestrial Angels who fought against Lucifer's forces. We atoned for our fall as we defended the safety of humans with our lives, and thus, fulfilling our duty and mission, we ascended to our old position, completing the fallen order!

- Well, then I must inform you that plans have changed! I'm sorry! You will not ascend to your old Order! You will stay here, taking my place!

- No, this is insane! Why should I pay for someone else's punishment? This is unfair!

- So now you understand how I felt when I was wronged? When the Father, instead of freeing me, left me here!

- No! Let me go!

- I'm sorry! You know that Father is above all just. If it were unfair, He would free you, Daniel! But as you can see, He doesn't intervene this time! This means that this is justice. These are His Laws, which He set! You know them very well, and I'm sure you remember the case! Sometimes, His actions seem without logic at least to us or humans, but only He knows the greater plan. We only see a glimpse of it. Since Father is Perfect, He knows better than anyone, right? So, it's a matter of faith. How much faith do you have to believe in His will? Well, I'll leave you now! It's time to enjoy my freedom!

- No! NO!!!

I tried to break free, but it was impossible! The chains tightened around my body and wings every time I moved. I couldn't move at all.

It was the first time I saw the Preangel remove his cloak!

Even though I was an Angel, I had never seen such a thing!

I was frozen with fear!

I had never felt fear in my long life! His form was terrifying and beyond imagination, inspiring awe and fear at the same time!

I caught a glimpse of him as he threw his cloak over me! It was enough to etch his image in my mind!

The cloak, as it fell on me, moved as if it were alive, taking its place, wrapping around me. Then, all the images of the past invaded my mind as I inherited the position of the Preangel of the Past!

I saw everything in no time. Time is relative. We Angels knew that very well!

But now I was the Preangel!

And I saw the latest events!

Now I knew whose place I took...!

I saw his sacrifice! The Mercy granted to him! I also saw in the past that he was expecting a child!

He would be able to be with Lavinia and his child... but I...

Before I could feel any pain for the woman and child I had left behind, I felt all my memories as Daniel, slowly fade away!

No! Not that...! Everything but this...

I was no longer Daniel but the Preangel of the Past!

I would have no personal life... I would have nothing...!

NO!!! RACHEL!!!

I would rather die than live an eternity without her memory!

No! This is unfair!

I screamed from the pain of our bond breaking! The bond would break, but because it was happening without my will, but forcibly, due to the new role I had to serve unwillingly, I knew Rachel would still be alive. She wasn't in danger...that's what I was hoping for!

I felt pain...

I saw that the pain was altering me, making me lose my mind! I felt madness taking over! I wanted to die, but I couldn't! For me, this was the worst torment. To live eternally away from Rachel and our child, knowing that soon I wouldn't remember them...

I may not remember them, lose them, but I won't leave it like this!

As a Preangel, I have access to the past, no matter how distant.

I will find a way to free myself and take revenge!

This thought was my last before feeling the absolute void!

Then I understood that Daniel "ceased to exist"...