𝕋𝖍𝖊 ℚ𝖚𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓
₳𝖗𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖓
With a flare of power and the stirring of wings, the angel appeared in my penthouse. I remained sprawled on the bed, and a cruel smile pulled at the corner of my mouth as I observed the intruder with narrowed eyes.
She’d used modern media as the inspiration for her human form, manifesting long blonde curls and a model’s body. Her curves were improbable, and she either didn’t know that humans had pores or didn’t care.
She smoothed out her dress and folded her hands in front of her, her image of composed elegance slipping as her hands paled from grasping too tightly.
I waited as she regarded my male form. My silver hair was long, complementing my golden eyes and sharp cheekbones. I didn’t steal inspiration, I was Muse.
Her eyes traced down smooth skin and muscle to where my hips met a loosely draped sheet. Then her gaze shifted and locked onto the beautiful young man who slept peacefully, his head resting on my bicep. She frowned.
A breath of wrath awoke within me. I gently guided his head to rest on a pillow, compelling him to remain in slumber. I withdrew from the bed and smoothly advanced towards the angel.
Sensing the danger, she took a step back and snapped her gaze back to me. “Archon, I have a decree,” she stammered before raising her chin,
“Archangel Aurelian, Commander of the Host, commands that you investigate the recent activities of the demon Astaroth. Take action if the treaty between Heaven and Hell has been broken.”
A sealed scroll appeared floating in the air between us, and I vanished it with a dismissive wave of my hand as I stepped further into her space.
She raised her head to look up at me and continued with less confidence. “Lord Aurelian also verbally instructed that you should return to Heaven. He stated his concern that this prolonged diversion of remaining in mortal form may be...” Her voice trailed off, and she looked down.
My hand snaked out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. “Maybe what?” I inquired serenely.
Her entire body shook as she finished “Corrupting, corrupting you.”
She didn’t know. The darkness within me grew each day, a black hole twisting me into something ruinous. It was too late for me and for her.
My hand moved down to her throat, squeezing precisely hard enough to deprive her of oxygen. Her knees buckled in fear, but she didn’t struggle as I held her suspended in my grip. She knew what happened to unwelcome messengers.
She was a lesser angel. If I destroyed this body, it would take her at least a century to gather enough power to manifest another human form. It wouldn’t harm her angelic being, not unless I wanted to put in effort.
Her mouth moved. Vaguely curious, I loosened my grip, and she lifted herself on her toes. “Please,” she rasped, “it’s my first time here.”
I let out a low laugh. Sliding my hand to the back of her neck, I extended my claws, and they bit into herflesh as I pulled her to me.
“First time feeling pain, little one?” I raised a hand and ran a claw down the middle of her bottom lip. Blood had power, and as I put my finger in my mouth, I tasted a drop of her essence-laced blood.
It was enough to get an understanding of her nature. My silver hair caressed her shoulders as I whispered, “And you want to stay?”
“That’s right,” She retorted with a pleasing dare of malice. I released her, and she fell to the floor, the adrenaline and human senses overwhelming her. I didn’t think less of her.
Most angels who were forced to visit the mortal realm quickly performed their task before discarding their human form like trash. Beings of pure spirit didn’t care to withstand the confusing merging of emotion, will, and body for good reason.
Giving her time to collect herself, I strode out to the apartment balcony, which overlooked the city.
Heaven was right to be concerned. I was a Seraphim, second only to Aurelian and the Morning Star in divine power. I had been Aurelian’s most trusted lieutenant, tipping the balance of the war.
Until a millennium ago, I’d awoken in human form, drowning in an emotion I’d never felt before. Anguish.
An unwarranted emotion, but it had been etched into my being nonetheless. I had no insight into what could cause such a profound emotion, except that an angelic rune, written in my own hand, was carved into the skin of my arm.
I had no memory of carving the rune. It was a single word, and it simply said, “Question.”
Angels did not lose memories, not even in human form.
Question what? Question my allegiance, my past, my sanity? My first thought was to abandon the scarred body. The terrible emotion wouldn’t be as devastating without the biological element.
But I would lose the rune. My only link to the mystery of the message I’d tried to leave myself.
I’d fought the despair and had remained on earth, coming to understand mortals in a way that no other angel had, which wasn’t saying terribly much, as they were still a mystery, even to themselves.
Aurelian was getting impatient. Without my Angelic form at his side, he was well balanced by Lucifer.
If he forced me from this skin, neither of us could be sure I would be the loyal soldier I once was. To delay that day, I would need to prevent open warfare and uncover what Lucifer was planning.
I turned to the little angel who had settled onto her knees. “Stay in this apartment, your mortal form should eat and drink every so often, do not forget.”
I walked over to stand over the sleeping human in my bed. “That look you were giving my companion, it wasn’t judgment, was it?” Her cheeks burned red in answer.
“Fine, I’ve finished with him,” I said.
I brushed a strand of loose hair off his forehead and placed my hand on his side, healing a claw mark. It wasn’t kindness. He would prefer to have a scar to remember me, and I couldn’t even give him that.
I had tried to fill the hole in my chest for a millennium; it was unfair to have hoped that a human could fill it. “You’ll be kinder to him than I’m capable of.”
I dressed and returned to find the little angel furtively looking in the refrigerator. She spun at the sound of my voice. “Your name?”
“Zaeriel.”
“Zaeriel.” I purred back. “You belong to me now. My people enjoy my protection and my expectations.” My angelic shadow slowly stretched out, cloaking the room in the night sky.
“However, if you try to gain favour by trading my information to angels or demons. I’ll hold your angelic essence down and bathe it in pure Soulfire until the only thing this universe remembers about you is your screams. Understood?”
She stood staring at me with wide eyes and a clenched jaw for several heartbeats before making her decision. She bowed her head. “My Lord.”
I smiled as I walked away and stepped off the balcony, with a flare of power and the stirring of wings.
