PrologueMature

I closed my eyes enjoying the rare silence that surrounded the vast throne room. The high walls were covered with long crimson drapes, bringing colour to the otherwise unadorned room. Death permeated this area of the castle; anything that subdued its dark aura was a much-needed improvement. A great deal of work still had to be done.

The black onyx floor had recently been polished and showed the thin gray stripes hidden within its core. Lucifer had surely chosen this stone himself for it matched his heart and soul to perfection. I despised it. It reminded me of the very reason why we were here. Of why I was here. If only I had said no…

The recently extinguished candles saturated the air with a musky scent and filled the room with an eerie smoke that danced around as if it was taunting me. The dim moonlight rippled on my black feathered wings. It was the only light to ever grace this desolated land, without it, we were in the dark. Total darkness; the one place where I could think clearly.

The souls living here were still resting at this hour, unable to break away from their mortal habits. But soon, they would wake and go about their daily tasks.

I took advantage of this silence to collect my thoughts, something not so easily done. I could already feel the early risers’ thoughts buzzing at the back of my mind like a never-ending swarm of flies.

A sigh escaped my lips and I looked up. “How do you do it?” The stillness of the room was my only answer.

The majority of my subjects were on the proper path; reflecting about their past and the many ways they could improve on themselves. However, some resisted and forever opposed their fate. The burden of leading them back to the light rested on my shoulders.

I closed my eyes once more and took a deep breath. How was I going to achieve this assignment?

An expected knock on the door brought me out of those thoughts. “Come in,” I said not needing to look up to know who was entering the room. I could feel them; their movements, emotions, thoughts, even the most secretive ones they so desperately tried to hide.

Footsteps echoed through the room as the two figures approached the black marble throne with measured precision. They held their heads high and their white wings folded neatly behind them.

The angels stopped a respectful distance from me. They lowered their heads and clasped their hands behind their back, silently awaiting orders.

I opened my eyes and looked at the taller of the two, my second in command.

“How are you Danyael?” I asked.

He lifted his head nodding once, catching the faint moonlight with his steel blue eyes.

“Very good Sire. And you?” His deep voice filled the room with an imposing presence.

I frowned slightly at the new title.

“I’m sorry brother,” he said. His facial expression softened but his posture remained the same.

“Don’t be.” I lowered my head and rubbed my palm on the pommel of my sword. “I just wish you didn’t have to call me that.” But I knew they had to. We didn’t always agree with one another but respect was a strong value between us and our new positions demanded as such.

I pushed myself up and folded my wings in a more comfortable position. The other angel shifted slightly. Unease and discontent poured out of him in steady ripples.

“How are you Erael?” I said turning towards him.

His cold green eyes met mine with all the authority I had come to expect out of the general. He was far from pleased to be assigned to me, but it didn’t stop him from accomplishing his tasks to perfection. He was honest and meticulous, I admired him for it.

“Good Sire, thank you.” he answered on a firm tone.

I inhaled slowly, bracing myself for the long day ahead and motioned for them to begin their daily report… but they remained silent. I lifted an eyebrow at their hesitation. Something was bothering them; they were worried. How could I blame them? So much had happened in the last few weeks.

“Brothers, I’m fine. You can stop worrying,” I said forcing myself to smile. It was a hard thing to ask of them but they had to cope with the recent events one way or another. “Please proceed,” I added, hoping to move on from this subject.

They gave each other a quick glance and began their reports. Each of us knew that I was already aware of the news they informed me of, and yet here we were, wasting precious time in the name of politeness and formalities.

As usual, my thoughts trailed off. Never did I imagine myself in such a position, ruling over so many fallen and lost souls… especially after what I had done to Father.