Attached to the skies above the spirit realm where the pure souls resided, there was a simple rock, mysteriously hovering above the clouds courtesy of the Author's magicks. Stabilizing and containing the rock in an invisible bubble above the home he guarded, following up the mineral-like debris that served as stairs up to the throne- the uniform of the Leader visible as his right foot pushed in front of the opposite. Reaching inside the slice in space, Uraku was the first to enter the presence of their father, with Demiurge and Commander Charmeine to follow. Twisting around, the laughter the Messenger and the Allfather shared gradually dwindled as God sensed the unique energy waves of His Children. Kneeling to their Father, the new Messenger followed in his sibling's footsteps, bowing their heads in respect for their superior,
"Rise, my children. Uraku, Yaldabaoth, inform me of how the Battle on Nitesun went with the demons. Were we able to free the damned souls of those poor monsters?"
Following His instructions, they all rose, Uraku's arms behind his back, the Demiurge went to search around, resting at the steps leading to Its Father's chair. Listening to Its brother from behind the Author, It watched as the extremities belonging to the Allfather wrapped around the mug pushing the edge against His lips. The liquid sliding down His artificial throat so it'd enter his stomach acids and burn once it hit the bowl of burning fluids, He listened on and on to His Oldest explain the fight from the beginning to its quick end,
"I managed to infiltrate the destroyed city and hide out in a destroyed, charred building. I'd waited patiently for the signal from Charmeine through the creak in the roof, then revealing my Omnipresence so the Demon Giant could come after and attack me. From there, I broke my human-like form and rose to about 80 meters tall in my true form. It was simple, then Yaldaboath descended from the sky in a larger form. Then the army was sent down from Char, and they slaughtered the remaining pure demons with ease. Especially the new Elite Warrior, he managed to kill at least five on his own. His name was what again?"
Inquired the Guardian, to which the New Messenger, Akuji, answered swiftly. Remembering passing him for but a moment earlier when they were returning from battle, the appearance of that soldier-turned-Warrior reminded him slightly of his older, paler brother,
"He went by Daniel. Oddly enough, that was your name when you went to Earth in the 1970s, right?"
"I still have no idea how you managed to stay among those filthy creatures for weeks, months- even returning years later. It pained me even to stay there for a few minutes when I fought the Reaper,"
Yaldabaoth made a side-comment, and ironically enough, the moment It brought up the discussion of that planet, the Author stroked His snowy, messy beard. Placing the mug on a wide slab of rock that'd popped from the platform beneath Him, the Allfather sighed,
"We must return there. Over the decades that'd have passed, we kept throwing attacks; one after another, giving them years to recuperate and gather new resources for the next one. More So than ever, they've grown knowledgeable about our existence, not to mention our influence, so shouldn't we use our full power and demolish them right where they stand? At least before they learn to trick their souls and plan an ambush against us, at the very least,"
The statement was an obvious one, everyone of the Children had been debating returning ever since they'd attacked with the Demiurge three years ago. Yet their forces have become stagnant, they could no longer afford to wait 15 or so years for another attack on the planet, especially with the public training of the teenage Requiem; Alexander Amara. None of them audibly disagreed, instead, Uraku and Charmeine glanced at one another. Akuji stroking his darkened beard, and Yaldabaoth audibly groaning at the thought of battling more of those resilient mortals. But, at the same time, as it irritated the Keeper of the Multiverse, It couldn't disagree with the simple argument that none of them needed to say aloud,
"We should discuss this further with the lower ranks. Though they are less powerful, at least inferior to all of those here, they were, at one point, considered for this higher League,"
Akuji and Yaldaboath shared a collective tiny giggle at their sister, the Commander quaking a brow over her eye as she tilted her head in confusion. Her brothers shared laughter sending a wave of curiosity over the peak of her snowy bunch of strands over her shoulder, the distant brighter stars in her optics twinkling, Commander Angel Charmeine inquired of her siblings,
"What's so funny, huh?"
Through the intense cackling, the dark-skinned Akuji coughed into his fist for a moment as the Aether just continually kept chortling in the background. Explaining with minimum bursts of hilarity croaking out from his throat to his light-skinned sister,
"So you decide to easily just end the discussion we were having about the future of our Multiverse prematurely? We all know you want to get back to your little 'Creation' experiments, Charie,"
Blushing at the playful teasing, Meine pushed her brother away with a simple push against the center of his chest, the Messenger laughing. The Father of these Children holding a proud smile, twisting His anatomy so He could lift the mug He'd filled with wine back to His salmon-colored lips. The Author took a quick sip from the fluids, Uraku stifling a humored momentary chuckle, removing his arms from his rear. Yaldabaoth shaking Its head at the blush Its Angel sister held over her snow-tinted cheeks, It rose and stretched to the air, after hearing their sister mutter, "Shush..." under her breath, It stated as It swiped Its hand so It could slice a vertical line through space. Speaking, the mix of female and male vocals echoed with the male first booming with the woman's following as It spoke,
"Ya know, I kinda feel bad for those poor souls Sirilla makes with her victims. Luckily yours get to stay, but those things... bleh, they get to spend time with those malevolent 'things' on Earth,"
"I suppose it's not all bad, though, they do get returned after about five years,"
Akuji added, nodding to Charmeine and bowing his head to which she playfully chopped it as Uraku nodded, quick eye contact made with their Father who sent a nod back in unison. The group about to break off for the day and go onto their separate paths, the Author announced to them all, the League turning their head to their Deity superior,
"Tomorrow. As the clock hits noon, we will be meeting at the Icarus Tower to discuss a Heavenly Invasion regarding the capturing of the Requiems. That will be all, you may flee, my Children,"
Without taking a second to lose, the Demiurge fled with the Messenger to rest their forms. Charmeine, the Angelic Commander, returning to her home. To 'fill Heaven up with more pure souls', she called it, while Uraku was about to enter through a galactic warp-gate to his Temple. Deeply inhaling, the breath sliding and entering his nostrils as it trailed around in his insides, filling his lungs- a step pushed against the shiny floor of the Temple. Brushing back his long strands of blackened hair so it'd slice back to the rear of his skull, the voice of his 'roommate' entered the eardrums of the Hierophant. Those vocals belonging to no one other than the devious Moon and former Outcast; Ryder Karlo,
"Took your old ass long enough,"
Their feet hitting the ground at the same time, the long-time allies walked side by side with one another, the other at their sides. Uraku's voice held nothing to add to Ry's information regarding the day he had. Listening, though memories of another time entered his mind,
"So, after you and your idiot sibling cleaned up that dumbass Capital, Rilla and I were sent in to clean up your mess. She... was so nice, for some reason. Even gave me a kiss on the cheek and some comfort regarding Rosa and Azazel... I wish I could see them. If only I could make it up; for leaving all their lives. Heh, I doubt they'd forgive me though. I bet they hate me-
I guess you and I have that in common, huh?"
That question sent the Guardian further down the rabbit hole, trembling lips on the verge of parting. Visibly about to interject with his son's nemesis, but how could he? How could he ever do or say anything, agree with him? Act like he cared or maybe even sympathized with this man. A soul twisted and corrupted by the hatred of humanity, as a result of 'Creation' experiments regarding the Angels he considered his 'people.' How could he consider any of these self-righteous actions 'justice' when all they were fueled by was a personal bias against the creatures He created? The actions, the twisted things he'd done, just for this singular selfish goal...
"Do you have regrets regarding the Riveras? Their mother?"
How could he lie here? Usually, he'd come up with some sort of stoic professional answer to give to anyone who'd answer that question; but this was someone else. He was different from his brother, his sisters, his sibling, his Father especially. Maybe if he'd stayed, maybe if he prevented that Universe from ever existing, and maybe if he'd stood with that woman, none of this would've happened,
"Every day. I regret ever leaving that planet for my children to grow up without a father, without a mother to see them grow old properly. All it took was a simple decision, to stay or go, but how could I ever... how could I truly ever leave a simple Earthling for my true family? I had the power to end this horror story, right then and there, but I didn't. And I can never go back to change that, not truly, anyway,"
Ryder's features held a saddened look regarding his comrade's deepened regrets, with the Temple's Guardian blankly staring at the endless hallway ahead. Though he hid it from the male to his left, the hatred for himself he held in the depths of his heart; was too immense to truly fade. The silence reigned over the halls, loudly hovering the top of their heads as Uraku and Ryder shared a solemn look of self-hatred at one another. Deeply sighing, Karlo rubbed the back of his neck, taking the first step ahead so he could continue down the path to the end of the hall,
"Enough with the grim talk, so, has Ben woken up yet on Earth?"
"Unfortunately not, those around him believe that he's entered the ranks of the Elite and otherwise, however, I cannot sense his soul's unique signature in the slightest,"
Reaching a balcony, they entered an open door so they could gaze down upon the planet this location existed above, a sleeping Emperor surrounded by his wife and daughters sitting around his body. Before his loving wife pressed her lips to his forehead, Cecilia covered herself in blankets and slept beside her husband's comatose body. Back against the railing, the clouds spreading apart so they could see through a gap in the sky, Ryder's head spun to the right for a moment. Watching with the father of his greatest rival, the Leader informed the Moon somberly,
"He's been like this for almost three years now. And nothing has changed, not even a jolt in his leg, not even the twitching of an eye. Yet, that paper he keeps on him with his hands over his chest under his hands is always taken by someone. August, your son, Alexander, and more he was close with,"
"Maybe it's to keep his memory alive? Some sort of will he left behind to everyone he knew and cared for?"
The Protector was certain of that fact, those three he listed in a particular order weren't limited to that trio, though they were the most apparent visitors. Disregarding his brother and sisters, adopted and otherwise like his best friend and long-time ex-girlfriend... Uraku nodded, sure of the suggestion the Elden Karlo had offered. Stretching his arms and raising the limbs to the sky, the Protector and Watcher entered his home once more, skin cracking away and reverting to his galactic true form. Male vocals booming as he informed his attendant,
"I'll be saving my energy now. We have a meeting with the lower Generals and Captains in the Elite Guard tomorrow at noon. I suggest you rest when you get the chance, Ryder,"
Returning to his chamber as the floor swallowed him up, the Moon watched and rubbed his right wrist, having grown accustomed to it once more. Without anything else to do, he went to meet up with Sirilla, seeing as how she seemed to have a particular interest in him at the cleanup. Unzipping the hoodie, replacing it with one without a zipper and everything, he stared at himself in the mirror. Hands against the left and right of the sink, greyed and emerald pupils gazing at one another in the glass, Ryder scoffed. Throwing more transparent liquid unto his face, the Moon left the Temple to spend time, or better yet, a better description is to act as if things were 'normal.'
In the darkness, though this form brightened and illuminated the silent quarters he resided within, there was nothing but the shadows. Uraku glared with hatred at the glowing hands he'd been created with, birthed with the simple purpose to aid the God who was fated to destroy the Multiverse. There was nothing left but the regrets for the past, for this chaotic story he'd begun, though he'd created a monster with the power to destroy his Father and halt His crazed motivation; was it worth the cost? There was just one thing he was sure of, though. If he'd just stood with them, in that simple home together in the projects of Brooklyn, with his power and knowledge- he could've raised them. He would've been able to prevent her death. Maybe, just maybe, his son wouldn't be bedridden... maybe those who'd died and lost their purity would've been spared. However, what could he even do?
In this vast complex story, he wasn't the one with the strings, controlling every single movement of simple fleshy pawns: he was nothing but a useless... bystander.
"Oh, I'm fine! You don't need to worry about me, Ry, Doc here has me covered, ow,"
The needle flicking out from her arm, the red-skinned Daughter of the Daughter rubbed the side of her limb with a cute whine. The Doctor rolling her eyes at the sounds she was making, Sirilla's follower was seen by the side of the Angel Medical Professional. Hand staying over the chest of the Demon, Lillith glared at the woman to her right, arms over her chest from behind. Karlo chuckling at the sight of the demon lady being jealous, Lili was seen manifesting a tiny barely visible blush over her cheeks. Embarrassed, she turned around, facing away from the Moon, and as Ryder stood beside her, they stared at the news of the Battle between the Angels and Demons in Nitesun. Calling out to the Moon, Sirilla loudly asked,
"Hey! Remember when you saved me from that four-legged one?! That was pretty badass!"
Shaking his head with a humble laugh, he shook his head at the comment, walking back over to stare and gaze at the beauty of the demon girl. The Daughter of the Demon, named Sirilla Morningstar, wore her signature bright purple dress over her body with no leggings. Only the undergarments were dark in comparison to the vibrant shade of her front outfit, thigh highs up to the halfway point of the limb. If you moved just a bit further up, you'd likely be met with the bottom portion of her dress. For her face, there were devilish ears, two horns with rings over the middle of them, a chain running down from the left-sided horn and moving into her black hair. A happy smile spreading over her lips, eyelids sliding shut over her ruby optics, after seeing the comforting smile from Ryder, she stuck out her tongue- her index finger pulled at the border of her dress. About to pull it down so her breasts would pop out, Karlo widened his eyes, looking away, to which the Doctor loudly declared,
"You're free to go!!"
The duo of Moon and Devil turning their heads at the announcement, there were differing reactions. Bouncing up from her bed, Sirilla pushed her heels on the ground, thanking her protector as she dragged Ryder along with her,
"Thanks, Doc! C'mon, Ry! Let's go!"
The Doctor and Lillith standing side by side as they watched the duo of human and demon flee through the front door of the hospital, the latter of the two with her finger to her forehead; disappointed. Or better yet, tired from all the shit she had to deal with as a result of holding debt to one of the craziest demons in Hell,
"How do you deal with that crazy bitch?"
Answering with a sigh, a shrug rolled off the shoulders of the Woman's Follower, arms crossed over her chest, Lillith gave quickly as a response,
"I have no fuckin' idea,"
Before Sirilla would drag the man to her chambers, she decided to take a basic stroll through the streets of the city so they could stare at the sights. The golden palaces, the twinkling stars as the clouds spread to reveal the space around this realm, Ryder inhaled for a moment... forgetting for a moment where he was. If this were anything else, if he were anyone else, he would hate it here. But peace, harmony, and calm? Something someone as horrible as him could never deserve, but he had it here with him- the only thing he could wish for now? To gaze upon this sight with his beautiful children.
Arms in the pouches embedded to the side of his dark green sweater, the dress-wearing Demon digging her hand into the pockets so she could grab his hand and hold it tightly, he smiled. Walking together on the curb, angels going about their daily lives, some seen flying overhead with their wings. Some simply eat on beds of grass with their families, and others bathing in the pool they'd been given as a result of dying 'with no sins.' It sickened him to think that the 'Boss' above truly decided that some people had no sins, everyone has done something bad once in their lives, no matter how nice they say they are. That was the way the world worked, or better yet, the world still works,
"I'm surprised you had enough strength to punch, Ry! And with your bare fist, too. Your time in that Temple of his really gave you some more strength, huh?"
The memory of what'd occurred earlier this very day had flashed back into his mind, angels and imprisoned demons flying around with their shattered and feathered wings. Rebuilding the Capital from the ground up, how they were standing beside one another and taking the sight in of everyone doing work as they stood around, just watching lazily. All of a sudden, one of those monsters with broken chunks of flesh and destroyed bits of blood hanging off of its wide figure, drove out from beneath the ground. Widening its mouth and unhinging its jaw, about to swallow the Daughter whole, a simple punch to the left side of its face had launched it into a fiery gate right back to Hell. Nothing more, nothing less. But, just a tiny side note, the plain innocent little punch had created a shockwave that sent some debris flying and some feathers off of the wings of construction angels.
Maybe she just liked the strength the punch held...
As the red-skinned lady went on and on praising his power, with more distinct words about her apartment and otherwise throwing into the back of his head, Ryder's attention divulged elsewhere for a moment. The yell belonging to an older man by appearance and vocals, Sirilla and Karlo's skulls turned in unison at the sound of the Warrior crying out to the duo,
"Oi! Over here!"
Walking over to the lone bench, the Warrior Angel that seemingly went by the name 'Danny' was seen showing his whitened teeth to the 'couple.' Smiling at the sight of him, Sirilla bent down, greeting him so they could kiss one another on the cheek. Then, following that, he stuck out his hand introducing himself to the Former Outcast, stating proudly,
"Recruit for the Upper Echelon, Elite Warrior; Daniel. You must the Temple's attendant, Karlo, right?"
"Ryder... Karlo, yeah, that's me. I work with Uraku at the Temple and everything. Is there something you'd like?"
"Yes, sit with me for a while. Just you and I on this bench,"
Spotting a nearby fountain spraying and illuminating with the white glow belonging to Omni, the stream of energy piercing through the clouds above, Sirilla waved to Ryder. Inquiring to the curly-haired Moon as she repeatedly moved her hand from side to side, a wide smile over her lips, revealing the whitened rows of teeth in the interior of her mouth,
"I'm gonna go make a wish in that fountain! Come call me when you're done with Danny!"
As she fled to the fountain, a plentiful amount of angels around, gazing with their families as they stared at the peaceful stream of energy flowing into the sky, Ryder took a seat beside Daniel. Locks shadowing his eye color, Karlo remembered a key event that he'd been informed of at that hospital. That the fighter to his left had fought in the Battle of Nitesun just hours ago. Turning his head so he could make eye contact with the older man, the Moon congratulated the man,
"You were the star Angel killing all those monsters, huh? And not even a scratch on you, usually they're all killed like fodder... cattle... I'd think someone like you would be partying with the rest of the Elite. What are you doing out here like some elderly woman feeding the birds?"
A short chuckle escaped the throat of this man, the Warrior tilting his head down so he could stare at the doves at his feet, a sight of those he'd loved flashed in his mind. Regarding the family, he'd left behind as a result of his repose, though he was old, and his life had been expected to end at any point now; he couldn't help but miss their loving touches. Tight embraces... he tore off a shorter piece of wheat from the loaf of bread he'd yanked out the coffee-tinted paper bag. Throwing the smaller piece to the birds, their beaks pecking at the substance, some of them fighting over the food, Daniel and Ryder shared a moment of silence. The former of the two leaning so he could gaze upon the creatures' beauty, eyes hidden behind the brown strands of his lengthy hair,
"I think less of those traditional instances, spending days out and wasting useful time you could utilize to do something worthwhile. Back home, I'd hate those sorts of people... I'd rather just stay and keep moving forward to my goal. Not wavering and staying here to fight without falter,"
Karlo dropped his head, eyes searching from side to side as his palm planted to his chin. Jaw unhinging as he stated, the middle syllable of one of the words drawing out briefly, images of children and teenagers talking as they walked past them on the sidewalk entering his line of vision as he spoke,
"Is that so? Tch... you remind me of someone I used to hate back on Earth. Real self-righteous prick, biggggg ego! But, if it weren't for him, my children wouldn't be safe, and I wouldn't have been saved from being manipulated by that tentacle prick. Hey, speaking of which, do you got any kids?"
Turning his head so he could attempt to make eye contact once again, the Warrior nodded somberly, a sad smile over his lips. Blankly staring at the scenery above them, the twinkle of their wings with the streams of light following their rears as angels flew overhead. About to ask another question, the parting of the lips had halted and he shut his mouth, listening to the Elder speak, eyes directly on his face the whole time,
"I truly do miss them, just as you likely do with your own... do you mind if I tell you something, Ryder?"
A simple nod was all that was needed for Daniel to continue, to which the Elite Warrior swept a strand away from his white eye. Patting the seat closer to him so Ryder could scooch closer and examine the shade of his pupils, the older one of the two began to speak to the younger man by his side,
"I came here to find a way for my people to survive because I saw the future three years ago in the summer. When I touched the boy who held my blood, I saw a specific scenery, and as the time grew closer, I hated myself more and more. I stare upon these creatures, those so-called angels who got to have an easy way out in life, letting the murderers they call their 'saviors' roam freely and abuse their power. Though, I suppose... I can understand them, to an extent. They're despicable creatures who took most of what I love from me, but, in the end, I'll be doing the same thing in a few days. I'll make them pay, truly... but none of it could be done, without you. Ryder, help me kill them all, so you can see your family again,"
It couldn't be... the way his voice shifted, wielding a sort of unbridled rage and irritation as if he was on the verge of blowing a fuse. That look in his eyes Karlo could spot just from the side, and the aura that oozed off his very figure. Not to mention the palette change regarding the former snowy shade belonging to Requiem energy, the Emperor's dark blue colors sliding over the white. The man stared at his past enemy with a hopeful gaze, extending out his hand so they could shake on this deal, Ryder held no words. All he could whisper out were these statements of disbelief...
"This... isn't possible..."
Without a shadow of a doubt, from that determined look in the center of his eyes, ready to disregard his humanity to truly accomplish his goal. Once more, Ryder Karlo tried to deny this fact, but he couldn't, not anymore. One. more. look.
And that was all it took, Karlo's hand moved on its own, the duo of rivals shaking on the words the 'Warrior,' everything had become clear now;
Ben Rivera, the Requiem Emperor, had infiltrated the ranks of Heaven's Elite Guard.
Synopsis for Chapter 57 of Heaven's Repent: The date is December 18 on Earth. A day has passed since the Battle of Nitesun, the meeting between the Upper Echelon of the Author's Children and the lower Elites commences. Tensions ramp up as Ryder contemplates what to do, having now agreed to something he likely shouldn't have- all that's left is to wait for that specific date. December 20th.
Next Chapter - Clipped Wings of Icarus