My eyes started to open it took a second to remember what had happened. I jumped to my feet weapons in hand looking around. I was in some kind of cave there were rock surfaces everywhere I looked. I had been left on an elegant bed with black silk sheets. there was a huge tapestry depicting a battle scene between angels of heaven and hell fighting viciously against each other.
There was no door to the room and the air was thick with humidity and the smell was horrific.
"Finally up I see."
I turned to the door that had just materlised as Kail entered the room, I lunged at him aiming my claws at his face. He deflected my blow, I brought my sword in to plunge into his stomach. He grabbed my wrist and kicked me in the chest, I was forced back but still managed to slice into his arm. Charging at him I twisted last second using my wings to take out his feet. He anticipated this and used his wings to jump up avoiding my own. I brought down my wings going after him lunging up with my sword he grabbed my wrist again he punched me hitting me in between my ribs forcing me to the ground.
I sat up coughing trying to gain air back into my lungs, he was smiling.
"Not bad, not bad at all for a noob. I said you were good before but dam girl."
How was this possible I knew I had more strength than this but my body felt like it had been in a battle for days.
"Where am I?"
Kail laughed.
"Ah now you get it don't you?"
I stared at him in shock.
"You brought me to the underworld?"
Kail laughed.
"No one will find you here, why do you think Dantalis intrusted you to me?"
I shook my head an angel who had not pledged their allegiance to hell could not come to the underworld without losing a huge portion of his or her powers. It left them weakened, unable to defend to their full potential.
"Why would Dantalis want me here, this place makes me weak. I'm never at full strength here."
Kail laughed again.
"That's why I'm here babe, I'll protect you. Though it would be easier if you just join our side."
"I'm not joining any side. Both heaven and hell deserve each other."
Kail extended his hand offering to help me up, I ignored it standing on my own.
"Where's Dantalis?"
"Probably dead by now or worse."
I stared at him in shock.
"What are you talking about?"
"He went back."
I shook my head at the implications.
"What do you mean he went back?"
"We needed time to get you here so he went back to distract them from your movements."
Denying his words I shook my head.
"No! That idiot I told him I didn't want to hide?"
He shrugged.
"Knowing Michael hes probably being tortured at this very moment."
I puched him across the face.
"he's your brother!"
"Half brother."
"it's the same thing Kail don't you care what happens to him?"
He leaned against the wall like he didn't have a care in the world
"not really."
"You're the biggest dick in the world how I ever found you attractive is beyond me."
At this he laughed
"but you did find me attractive and here we are in my room you and me alone without that worthless cursed brother of mine."
Realisation at what he was getting at fuelled my anger, turning towards the door I made to leave.
"Whoa where do you think you're going?"
"I have to help him, I refuse to stay here with you."
Kail pulled me back into the room.
"Reece you can't just waltz into heaven they will kill you on sight and his sacrifice will be in vain."
I ripped his hand off me.
"I'll not leave him there to die!"
"If you try to leave I will chain you up Reece, I'm not risking you to save him."
I pushed him off me.
"You wouldn't."
He smiled menacingly at me so I spit in his face in my weaken state there was little more that I could do.
"you disgust me."
Grabbing my wrist he pulled me towards him til we were a mere millimetres apart
"Try me, I'm a dark angel Reece do not test me."
That smile sent chills to my spine but I refused to be intimidated.
"And I'm the daughter of two archangels you should not test me."
We stood staring at each other neither one backing down, with my drained energy I could do nothing as he lifted me up and carried me to the bed.
"Kail put me down!"
I didn't even have the energy to solidify my wings any more having wasted it all earlier. He threw me on the bed crushing my wings. He pinned my hands above my head as he hovered over me menacingly.
"So forcing me gets you off does it?"
I screamed at him struggling to get out of his grasp.
"You think I would force you no Reece I would not force you merely persuede you"
His lips crashed onto mine as he forced my mouth open struggling a managed to bite down drawing blood, distracted his grip loosened enough for me to pull my hand out of his grasp as I summoned my claws slashing at his face. He pulled back but not fast enough as blood ran down his cheek. He didn't get the full force of my blades but just enough that three gashes now ran across his cheeks.
"You always did like it rough."
"Kail release her now!"
Instantly Kail stopped. looking up towards the door eyebrows creased in anger at being interrupted but didn't let go.
I couldn't see who had entered the room but was grateful none the less
"I said release her."
Kail roughly pushed me away, quickly I jumped off the bed hand claws at the ready aimed at the new comer.
He was a man with black hair tall and strongly built his wings leather like bat wings they were all shades of red as if they were made of fire. Handsome beyond measure in an evil kind of way.
"Leave now I wish to speak with our guest."
"Yes father."
My eyes widened as I whispered
"Father?"
"oh and Kail.. "
Kail stopped at the doorway
"Touch her without permission and ill have your wings cut off….. again."
Angry Kail answered through gritted teeth.
"As you wish father."
Once out of the room Lucifer turned back to me.
"I apoligise for my son he can be a bit.."
He seemed to be shearching for the right word
"Forward."
"Forward! You call that forward? Hes a monster if we were on earth I would have cut his throat open for what he tried to do and I will if I ever get the chance."
"But you are not on earth and you can not go back, at least not any time soon. You are here in my realm and I will ensure that you will not be harmed."
I stared at him suspiciously
"why?"
"pardon?"
"Tell me the real reason your being so…"
I pretended to shearch for the right word just as he had done.
"hospitable."
He smiled
"I wont pretend my reasons are purely selfish I wish for you to join us."
I sighed in frustration this was turning into a broken record I knew that it was the way of things as an angel you had to choose heaven or hell, but how could I on one hand Heaven wanted me dead on the other I would have to become like Kail. I grimaced at the thought
"Forgive me my dear it is a hard decision I know and not one taken lightly however consider this at least I wont try to kill you if you refuse."
I stared at him in shock
"You lie if I choose heaven then according to the prophecy evil will loose the war."
He laughed
"look around you Reece what more could they possibly do to us no one side can completely wipe out the other sure there will be a peace for a time and we will be weakened bacuase of it but nothing will change we will still be comdemed to live down here with those souls that have committed some of the worse crimes in history. You see good, evil one can not survive without the other there must always be a balance. The victor of this coming war will merely tip the balance in their favour for a time that is all."
"then why fight at all if the outcome never changes then why bother?"
"Because we deserve a chance to live in the light."
Surprised by his words My mind reeled. I looked around me the heat the smell it was horrible anyone would want to get out of this place why must they stay here?
"Ask yourself what has heaven ever done for you? Your father failed to save your mother your fathers sworn brother ordered your own execution and for what? Because he feared a prophecy how do we even know you're the one it spoke of. Michael could try to convince you to join heaven yet instead he went straight for cold blooded murder. Ask yourself who deserves to live in the dark more? Someone who will let you live even if you refuse or someone who wont even give you the choice?"
As his words sank in I found myself agreeing with every word what gave them the right to choose when I die? Isnt murder a sin so why am I marked for death? It was simple because Michael fears what I might do. I was not a complete fool though I knew this charm Lucifer exuded was all to get me on his side.
"and if I don't choose you what then youll just let me leave."
"if that is what you wish then you are free to leave at any time whether you join or not, you are welcome to stay as long as you like."
"Can I trust your word?"
Rising from the bed he summoned a small athame cutting his wrist he held out his hand
"On my honour as an angel you have my word you will not be harmed not by me whether you choose to join hell or not and are free to leave at any time."
He held out the athme with his other hand hilt first taking it I cut my own wrist joining hands my blood mixed with his as a blinding light flashed sealing his oath.
Releasing me he smiled
"Now that you have my word please make yourself at home im sure you have much to think about."
Turning to leave he paused at the door without looking he asked
"How is Dantalis?"
My eyes widened I had forgotten that Dantalis was lucifers son then it hit me he was probably even now giving himself over to Michael all to save me.
"I don't know."
It was an honest answer I didn't know how he was for all I knew he could be dead and my heart ached to think it.
"Very well please think on all I have said and let me know your decision in your own time."
I barely heard his last words as my heart ached for the wings of ice, he has to be alive I can not believe he would let them kill him so easily.
"Dantalis is dead Reece or at the very least soon will be."
Kail had returned I scowled in his direction
"fuck off you pig."
He laughed
"come on Reece I was only having a bit of fun."
"I wouldn't call forcing me to kiss you fun."
"You wont feel that way forever. face it Reece hes not coming back you might as well get used to it you cant spend enternity alone."
"I'd rather be alone for eternity then be with you. If he is still alive then I will just have to save him"
He growled in frustration.
"Are you insane you even think of going after him and Michael will kill you the first chance he gets."
"He can try."
"Not even you could beat Michael hes not the commander of heaven for no reason Reece."
"Then ill die trying I wont let him sacrifice himself for me."
Kail punched the wall in anger.
"then Get used to this room Reece until you give up on him it will be your prison."
He left the room slamming the door behind him locking it in the process. I ran to the door and tried with all the strength I had left to pull it open but it was useless.
Why Dantalis would you let someone so evil take me away. How did I end up like this stuck in hell of all places. Surely Lucifer would not allow this he made his oath swearing that I was free to leave.
It was then that I realised what a monumental mistake Id made. Oaths were tricky if worded right the person casting the oath can word it in a way that they still get what they wont without breaking it. He had said he would not harm me but that doesn't apply to anyone but him and he said that he would show me out himself if I choose to leave but no one else was under any such oath god how could I be so stupid.
I turned my back on the door sliding down til I sat facing the room wrapping my arms around my legs. I could not get Dantalis out off my head, What were they doing to you? Something in me told me he was still alive but beyond that I knew it wasn't good. I had to find a way out of here.
like a light bulb had been turned on it hit me. Looking down at the fresh cut on my wrist I smiled.
Pulling a feather from my wings I sent it flying, any angel could contact another angel whether they be from hell or heaven providing they had seen their face all you had to do was pull out a feather and think of the face of the angel you wanted to contact and they would receive the feather and since no two angels had the same wings the reciver would always know who the feather belonged to.
I heard the footsteps mere minutes later standing I faced the door as it opened
"I had not expected an answer so soon my dear."
I smiled
"I will join you."