Sixpence

[maderr]

Chapter Five
Demons

Heaven, Earth and Hell. The three primary domains. Angels dwelt in Heaven, and descended to Earth as their duties required. Save for those Thirteen who had the ability to travel between the two places at their leisure.

Hell was the exclusive territory of the Demons and the Damned they kept watch over. Even the highest of Angels could go no further than the Gates.

The Gates of Hell were guarded by four angels, to keep the Demons in and all others out: Kinor, the captain, and the soldiers Kipod, Nasragiel, and Nairyo Sangha. They looked strange - so much time in Hell had faded their colors. Wings and hair had turned gray like the Fallen, but because they were not Fallen, it retained a light the Fallen lacked and so it was silver rather than gray. They were oddly shining in a place that was dim and faded.

The soldiers snapped to sharp attention as the three angels approached. Kinor smoothed his close-cropped silver hair and approached them. "This is an unexpected visit. What can I do for you?"

"We need to speak with the Morningstar. Would one of you be kind enough to see that this message is delivered to him?" The four guardians were the exception to the rule - they could enter Hell to deliver such messages. Or the occasional visitor.

"Of course," Kinor saluted. He turned sharply on his heel and addressed the only soldier with longish hair - it just reached his shoulders. "Nairyo, deliver this to the Morningstar with all haste."

"Yes, sir!" Nairyo Sangha accepted the message. Behind him Nasragiel and Kipod lifted two heavy keys from their belt and unlocked a small door set in the center of the ponderous Gate. A second later Nairyo was gone, and the door shut behind him.

The angels waited.

They didn't wait long. Only a few minutes after Nairyo had vanished, he reappeared. Four figures followed him out of the gate.

In the lead was Lucifer himself, the message clutched tightly in one fist. Even faded, he was beautiful. His hair was the pale gray-white of ashes still hot from the fire that made them, and his eyes were dark moonlight. Skin that had once been fair was now extremely pale, as if he were sick. Tall and thin, he radiated grace - and pride. None could match the Morningstar for pride.

Two men stood on his right, one on his left. The angels recognized them as his three closest advisors. Almost skeletal in thinness, with floppy curls the color of a rain cloud; gold-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose - Baalbeith, Secretary of Hell. Beside him, steel-gray hair so flat against his head it almost looked painted on, with a sharp nose and thin lips, eyes like a hawk - Belial, General of Hell. To Lucifer's left, one of the most infamous of the fallen. Hair and eyes like smoke, his almost boyish prettiness hardened by bitterness - former Angel of Destruction Camael.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lucifer demanded, voice like cold water on a hot day. "Where is Gabriel?"

Uriel uncrossed her arms and approached, "That's what we're here to discuss. Gabriel has been kidnapped. We currently have very little information as to who and why."

Lucifer's eyes flashed, "What do you mean, he's been kidnapped? Where is he? How do the mighty Seven allow one of their own to be stolen?"

"Watch your words, Morningstar," Uriel said in her level but somehow menacing voice. "There are very good reasons we permit Gabriel's whereabouts to remain vague. It is not us who are to blame if that suddenly blows up in his face."

With a muffled curse, Lucifer nodded. "What information do you have?"

"Whoever they are, they are after our Stars of Passage. At least one Punished and one Demon are involved."

Lucifer's tone was nothing short of ominous as he spoke, "Which demon?"

"Rabdos."

"The Star Stopper will be dealt with." Lucifer turned to his Secretary, who replied before he could even ask.

Baalbeith's spectacles shimmered and flashed as information darted across them; files and lists and information that only the secretary could access. The flashing ceased as he found what he wanted. He looked at Lucifer, "Rabdos, summoned four days ago by persons unknown. Whereabouts unknown. Wherever he is, we can't go. Length of summoning indefinite." He adjusted his spectacles, "We can't touch him, unless we can find him."

"Then I guess we'd better start looking." Lucifer turned back to the angels. "I hope you don't think I'm just going to sit here and watch you attempt to fix things."

"We don't need your help, Fallen." Israfel said sharply.

"I won't just sit here."

Sandalphon's voice was cool, "You will if we decide you will. It is fortunate for you that the Metatron has ordered us to permit your assistance. But you will obey the rules."

"Of course. I want Gabriel back, nothing more."

"Very well," Sandalphon said. "You may join us on Earth, one demon to each angel." He looked at Lucifer, "You will come with me." He glanced at the others, handing over the bracelets that would permit the demons to wander Earth so long as they were in the company of an angel. "Camael, go with Uriel. Belial, this bracelet will attach you to Azrael. Baalbeith, to Israfel."

Lucifer motioned impatiently, "Let's go. I am tired of this incessant standing around and talking." He snapped orders at his men, "When you find Rabdos, notify me immediately. I care not what you do with the Punished."

"You will leave them alive." Uriel countered.

"Unless they've harmed Gabriel," Lucifer said firmly. "If he is hurt, their lives are forfeit."

"You do not give the orders, Morningstar."

"Nor do I take them!"

Israfel interrupted the dispute. "We're wasting time. Let's get to work."

"Agreed," Lucifer said. "Time to go."

With a farewell to the guards, the angels and demons departed.


*~*~*~*

"Munkar! Nakir!"

The twins halted in the air and turned toward Vrevoil, who was flying toward them. "We've figured out who else is missing!"

"Who?"

Vrevoil stopped a moment to gasp for breath, worn from chasing them down across the silver city. "Harut and Marut."

"Those two? How did they get out of the well?"

"Don't know yet. Our theory is that Azza escaped and then broke them out. But we're not sure. If you find them, be sure to ask them about it."

Munkar's eyes glinted, "We'll be sure to question them."

"After we thrash them," Nakir finished.

Vrevoil sighed.

"Anyone else?" Munkar asked.

"Not as of yet," Vrevoil replied. "We're still looking into it, but personally I don't think we have to worry about any other Punished. Rye, Four and Twenty have gone to Hell. They should be letting us know within the next hour which Demons they're taking out of Hell."

"All right," Nakir flapped his wings and the twins prepared to set out once more. "Let us know if we're needed elsewhere. And if anyone sees Azza, he's ours."

"You'll have to take that up with King or Pocket."

"Then relay the message for us," Munkar snapped. "We're going to continue our patrol. Keep us informed."

Vrevoil rolled her eyes and turned to fly back to the spire, "Be careful."

But the black twins had already shifted their attention back to their search. "Shall we try the Archangels' homes again?" Nakir asked.

"Can't hurt. They're more likely to appear there than anywhere else. Let's start with Raph's home and work our way through the City."

"Sounds good to me."

Flying rapidly across the city to the end opposite their own home, the twins landed lightly in front of the simply, three story structure that was home to the Archangel Raphael. "You suppose Raph would be too upset if we just stepped inside?"

"He won't care. I'm sure the Met will explain things to him and Michael once they get out of their meeting."

"Mmm," Nakir said noncommittally. He started to say more, when a loud crash came from inside. He slid his twin a glance, silently communicating. Munkar nodded.

Folding their wings down close to their bodies, blue eyes flashing bright in anticipation, the twins approached the house. Halfway there, Munkar split off from his twin to circle around back.

Rather than opening the door, which was simpler, Nakir passed straight through it. An angel would have sensed the use of power…but a Punished most likely would not have felt such a small amount.

Nakir hissed silently as he took in the figure tearing not-so-quietly through Raphael's study. The sound they heard had clearly come from the knickknacks knocked off of a shelf - probably by mistake. Movement at the floor to ceiling windows had the intruder whipping around, which gave Nakir his chance to move into and block the doorway.

The windows flew open and Munkar stepped inside, sneering. "Well, well. How rude, Harut. Did you leave your manners in Babylon?"

"Munkar!" With a flash of silver-gold light, Harut held is sword in hand, a wicked, curving scimitar. It flashed dully in the lamplight. He looked behind him, breath hissing out between his teeth in dismay. "And your other half."

"Unlike you, we aren't dumb enough to separate. Where's your brother?"

"None of your business," Harut lifted his scimitar.

Blue eyes glittered, and the twins held scythes, the blades glinting silver and dripping the same clear, shimmering Poison as Azrael's sword and Ruman's claws. Poison of Death, a single drop would kill a human in the space of a heartbeat. Only Angel's were completely immune.

"You can come quietly, Harut. Or we can do this the hard way."

"I don't need my brother to take care of two sniveling angels of death."

"So be it."