The sun had just about risen over the tree line when Malakai decided that it was time to go. Standing by the stairs with Raphael, we both watched as Raziel helped Noah down.
The weakness Noah was experiencing was becoming even worse now. In fact, it had been very difficult for him to even get out of bed without help. This had deeply concerned Malakai. It was marked in his eyes as he touched Noah's shoulder blades.
"There's not much time left. We'll have to go now," he told us.
"So where exactly is this? Is it somewhere around here?" Raziel asked him.
"No. It's a more specialized place beyond the Veil, and it's the only place where we may be able to speak to one who can reverse this." Malakai replied.
"Are you sure that he can make it that far?" Gabrielle asked as she stood near us with the others.
Everyone had gathered there, hoping that this was the beginning of Noah's salvation. Of course, we weren't stupid about it either. This may very well have been our final goodbye.
"Do not worry too much about that. I'm going to use the same method to take him and the rest there that I did when I appeared. It's the fastest and least stressful way." Malakai assured her.
By us, Anna was hugging Noah and Raziel.
"Please be careful. I want you both to come back to me." she was saying.
"We'll try Mom. Just don't hate us if we can't." Noah responded.
"No trying Noah. You're both going to come back. You have to." Anna told him.
She was trying to sound like herself but wasn't doing a very good job. I couldn't help worrying about her. She was too worn down. Hopefully, being there with Gabrielle and the others would keep her safe until all of this was finally over.
Malakai watched as she hugged them goodbye one more time, then gathered the four of us in a circle.
"Come. It's time," he instructed as a bright light surrounded us.
Within seconds, we had been transported out of the house and beyond the Veil. However, the place that he brought us to was definitely not one that any of us recognized. It looked like a long, dark hallway with torches lining the walls, and was eerily quiet. There was no entrance or exit in sight.
"What is this place?" Raziel asked, holding Noah up by letting him keep an arm over his shoulder.
"This is a place that few creatures are ever privileged to see. We like to refer to it as one of the Gateways of Eternity." Malakai explained.
"Where exactly is this hallway going to lead?" Raphael asked him.
"It can lead many places." Malakai admitted, "But the one that we need to get to can only be reached from here. The one who resides there is the only one who could possibly help Noah at this point."
"What kind of creature is it?" Raziel asked.
"Well, it's not something that I can really explain right now. Instead, I'd ask for you to just follow me." Malakai answered, walking ahead.
Once again, the question was avoided. I had the feeling that he knew full well how to explain anything that he wanted with all of this. He was just choosing not to.
But for now, I felt it best to leave it alone. If anything, I could confront him once everything was said and done, and hopefully, Noah was cured.
The hall that we had to walk down was very foreboding looking. Shadows danced across the damp walls from the torches, giving one the impression that they may have somehow been alive. I shook my head at the thought, then glanced at Raziel and Noah. While Noah seemed to be holding his own, he still looked extremely worn down.
"He's fine for now, Michael." I suddenly heard Malakai's voice say in my head.
"So now you'd like to talk?" I surmised.
"If you wish," Malakai answered.
"I'm taking it this is just between you and me."
"It is."
"Then tell me, where are we going?"
Malakai seemed a bit amused, "Always with the suspicions."
"Don't play games with me. Even if you are a Seraphim and made sacrifices to save us, we're still your family. At least, that's been the card you've been playing since you admitted who you were." I argued.
Malakai was quiet for a moment. It was like he was giving his answer some serious thought. Finally, he gave his response.
"I'm not trying to hide anything from any of you, Michael. There are just things that cannot be said right now due to the circumstances. I've told you as much of the truth as I am able. That I can promise you. Things will become clear soon enough."
"At least give me a straight answer on one thing then. You probably know it, but I'll say it too. I hate being jerked around, especially on important issues." I responded.
"And in that, you are like me. In fact, you're more like me than you ever imagined. But I will relent. Go ahead." Malakai allowed.
"Eclipse told me right before you showed up that to save a life, you may have to sacrifice one. Is that true?"
"That depends on the situation." Malakai answered, "However, in this situation, that may be avoided. I cannot make any promises on that right now Michael, but I am going to do whatever I can for all of us to make it home together."
I could literally feel the sincerity in those words. In fact, at that moment, I could feel a warmth envelop my soul like I'd never known before. Yes, this was the angel who led our family, and yes, he did love us so much. I was certain that he loved us more than any of us could ever begin to understand. That was why he was so desperate to do all of this. He would not let another die if he could prevent it.
It was only a few minutes after that when the hallway abruptly ended, and we found ourselves standing in front of a massive golden door. Malakai laid his hand on it, closing his eyes.
"So, you have returned after all." A deep voice said from somewhere within that door.
"Yes. I told you that I would bring the boy back here to eliminate the sickness that is trying to take his life." Malakai answered.
"You have taken quite a chance here. There is no guarantee that It will agree to heal him." The voice told him.
"I am aware, but you knew that I was willing to try," Malakai informed him.
"I knew. But what if I am not willing to open this door for you? I never said that I would allow them into this sacred place." the voice taunted.
Malakai lifted his head, his eyes narrowing, "You will. To not do so would be to defy one of your superiors, and I know that your elite reputation would not allow you."
"And you would threaten me with such?"
"I am more than capable of keeping threats."
At that, the door creaked. Malakai took his hand off and stepped back.
"I take it that we'll be meeting the owner of that voice now." Raphael surmised as he helped Raziel keep Noah standing.
"Indeed. But do not mind him. He's simply a low-level gatekeeper, and tends to not quite accept his place at times." Malakai explained.
The door continued to creak as it opened, finally revealing a large, cavernous room. Walking in, we were surprised to see that it looked a lot like the great hall that the Sumarians kept where they lived. Only this was much more elegant. The walls looked like crystal ore, and you could see your reflection on the floors.
In front of us, Malakai stopped and looked ahead as a glowing blue sphere floated out of one of the nearby walls. As we watched, it transformed into a beautiful man with long brown hair and blue eyes. He may have looked a lot like us, aside from the fact that he currently had his wings out. Both of them were the same color as ours, and just as radiant.
"Still in a human form I see. Are you that concerned that they would not take you for one of them?" the man said.
"Not at all, but I find it only fair to remain as I should be with them. After all, this is what I appear as when I play human," Malakai informed him. He glanced at us, "This is Artemis. He is the guardian of this gate."
"So, these are the grandchildren that you so eagerly wanted to see. I can sense your powers there quite well. They also seemed to share that pen gent for trouble that you have had in the past." Artemis commented.
Now that was an interesting statement; although I imagined that some of it may have been to spite Malakai for whatever reason, I had the feeling that at least a part of that was true. Perhaps Malakai had caused some troubles in the past. That may have been the reason he was chosen to sire us.
Of course, I doubt that we'll ever know for certain. I had no real time to think it over though before Artemis walked over to look at Noah.
"And this is the one you were so concerned about. Afraid of another repeat?" he continued.
"You know what's happening here, and it's not the same. He had nothing to do with it this time." Malakai told him.
Artemis looked back at him for a moment, then suddenly reached up and put a hand over Noah's eyes. His remaining wing suddenly came out. As we'd seen before, it was almost completely black. I felt a bit of relief at seeing that it hadn't spread anymore.
Artemis frowned as he removed his hand, "And one wing as well, just as you said. The odds were against this one from the beginning."
"That's why I said that we'd need It," Malakai stated.
"Even though that is true, you know that it can be extremely difficult to get It to cooperate. Most pure Angels will not be healed by It simply because It refuses." Artemis reminded him.
"What is It?" Raziel asked, giving Artemis a skeptical look.
"It is one of the beings aside from God Himself that you could not possibly understand. But for the sake of this conversation, I will give you a name that you might try to comprehend. It is also sometimes referred to as one of the four Seraphita." Artemis explained.
Raphael and I immediately recognized that name. The Seraphita were some of the closest angels to God. They were incredibly radiant and powerful, and said to be able to heal anything with simply their will.
However, they are also some of the most elusive of all of the Angels. In fact, some stories claimed that the ones such as this Seraphita were sealed away because of their power and the fear that they may fall if wrongly influenced.
Neither of us knew if any of this was true, but we would've imagined it was close enough. Still, to think that Malakai had brought us to one of them was pretty humbling.
"So that's why you brought us here. You were hoping to have this Seraphita help him." I finally managed to say.
"I do not hope. I know that It would. It simply needs us to come to It." Malakai explained.
"You have no great repore with the Seraphita either, Malakai. You simply assume that It would be willing to help you." Artemis scoffed.
"It would be. You know I have my own influence when it comes to the ones like them." Malakai stated without missing a beat.
Artemis didn't seem impressed, "Just because you are a Seraphim does not mean you are anything great in the Heavenly courts. You know that power is achieved, not assigned."
"And I achieved it," Malakai countered, "I warned you before, Artemis, do not push me on this issue. My desire here is to have my great-grandson healed, and I will have that desire, no matter what the cost against me."
Artemis actually seemed to back down a little. I wondered if he even held a slight bit of fear of the ones like Malakai. But when he spoke again, I felt a bit surprised by his words.
"You do realize that this very well could be the end of you if you push what cannot be pushed."
Malakai brought out his wings. But he had something that neither Raphael nor I had ever seen before. Instead of just one, he had six sets of wings that were the same blue as ours.
I recalled reading once that the legendary Seraphim had six pairs of wings, but this was amazing to actually see for ourselves. They were absolutely radiant, even more than those that Artemis had, and we all immediately sensed the power surge that came with those wings. Malakai wasn't bluffing when he spoke of his power, and thinking that some Angels were more powerful than him really could make one feel quite small.
"I told you, I am not afraid of consequences here. Now, I want you to contact the Seraphita and let it know that we are here. I know that it is within your power." Malakai quietly ordered.
Artemis nodded and turned back into a sphere of light. As we watched, he floated back up towards the high crystal ceiling, disappearing into it. I noticed Raphael give Malakai a skeptical look. He wasn't too keen on what was now happening, especially with what Artemis had been saying.
"I get the feeling you're putting yourself in jeopardy here," he noted.
Malakai let out a long breath as he turned back to us.
"You need not be concerned. I can handle whatever comes with myself. But right now, we do have more important things to worry about." he responded.
"So you were planning on bringing us here all along to meet with this Seraphita in hopes that it would help Noah," I surmised.
"I have, and I'm certain that It will. Artemis knows the pull that I have, and the reason that I was allowed to do what I've done. As I said, I did achieve my power, and I plan to use what I achieved to save what I have sired. We've already lost too many. I will not lose another." Malakai explained.
Raziel sat down with Noah to let him rest.
"But this action will cost you. You know that because something like this has cost you before. You said that you were sent back because you did something major to save Annabelle Renaldi, and I think that it was something like this." Noah breathed.
"Yes, you would be right about such a thing. I did end up being sent back for similar actions back then. However, the past is in the past, and right now, such things do not matter." Malakai replied.
"Well, they do to me." Noah said, looking up at him, "Why would a Seraphim want to save someone like me? It doesn't make sense."
"I want to because I love you. You're still my great-grandson, no matter what has happened to you; and besides, I think I know you quite well, Noah. I probably know you better than you know yourself." Malakai responded.
"What makes you think that? You couldn't have been watching this whole time, and you couldn't have seen things the way that I have." Noah countered.
"Will you shut up? You're pushing something that you have no business pushing." Raziel scolded him.
"I think I do." Noah retorted.
Amazing. Even as sick as he was, he still managed to argue with his father. Raziel and Noah may have been more alike than they realized.
"Tell me something, Noah," Malakai interrupted, "I'm curious as to your perception of the world. Do you truly believe that you don't belong anywhere?"
Noah stopped and stared at him. I believe that the question had caught him a little off guard. But he quickly tried to hide it.
"I guess I do," he answered honestly. I doubt that he could've lied to Malakai.
"That's a start. Now, tell me this. Do you honestly believe that you are worthless when compared to Sevee Renaldi?" Malakai continued.
At the time, I had no idea why Malakai had decided to play this question-and-answer game. But later, I would put it all together when I looked back on it. The truth was a soul had to be bared in order to be healed and saved. Even if the Seraphita had decided to show up then, It could not have healed Noah with the way that things were. Just like when a human goes to confession to alleviate their sins, an Angel has to confess their shortcomings in order to be healed. I suppose that in the end, all creatures living under God fell under such a rule.
Noah did hesitate on that one question. I highly doubt that he'd ever wanted to admit to such a thing out loud.
Malakai just stood back and waited. I had a distinct feeling that he knew that he was going to get an answer.
Finally, Noah relented, "At times." he confessed.
It was a weak answer, but I doubt that his pride would've let him say any more than that.
"That's what I thought." Malakai crossed his arms, "It seems that what was begun through the curse with Melvin has gone down through the generations."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Raziel asked, although I think he knew as well as the rest of us about the implications of that statement. This must have had something to do with our father's past and the events that happened when he was a young boy.
"It's so simple that it's almost painful. Rivalry." Malakai replied.
"Rivalry?" Raziel repeated.
Malakai looked at Raphael and me, "I'm sure that you both know exactly what I'm talking about. Even though the two of you have always gotten along quite well, you both know that you've always carried a slight rivalry between the two of you that was started by your parents while they were so influenced. It was instilled so deeply within you that it actually became a part of your subconscious for a long time."
"This is true. Both of our parents had tried to use us against each other when we were young children." Raphael agreed.
I nodded, "Yes, although we always tried to get along anyway. Even though we competed, it was usually on friendly terms."
"Yes, and I'm grateful for that much. To be blunt about all of it, I still find it amazing that Elvira was able to come to her senses and truly love her husband and children. But then, I wasn't too sure that the hold could be broken when it was worked in so deeply. The whole thing made me very wary of their marriage at first." Malakai admitted.
"You make it sound like our mother was just as influenced early on," I noted.
Malakai nodded, "You could say that she was, and it all goes back to what happened with your father and grandmother. Although I was able to stop things then, I could not stop the curse that was left on your father, and that curse extended to the woman that he fell in love with at first sight. What he always said was true. Melvin truly did love Elvira with everything he had. But unfortunately, the marriage was marred in the early years by the curse on him that twisted both of their minds." he explained.
By then, I think that we were all getting the picture.
"So all of the troubles that followed us so closely had completely been the demon's influence that was left behind?" Raphael confirmed.
"Such was the case," Malakai confirmed.
"But if that's true, then how did they break it? It must have been after what happened with Noel. Our parents really came around then and we became a complete family for a while." I pointed out.
"Well, I can't really say myself exactly how Melvin and Elvira did it after all of that time, although I believe that it was their own willpower and final understanding that there was something very wrong within them after the initial events of Noel's disappearance. Personally, this curse was something that even I was at a loss on how to break for a long time. I'll admit that I was more than grateful once Melvin was able to do so and free himself and Elvira. But unfortunately, it seems like he could not break the rivalry that the curse marred the family with, or how it twisted up the mind of a very damaged girl to control others and try to destroy sacred things. At least the gains of Aiden, Yuki, and Hayden was something good out of the entire mess there." Malakai admitted.
Raziel didn't seem that convinced, "You know, they say incest is a crime against God." he reminded him.
"We do not blame the child for the sins of the parents, and in the end, both have paid for such a thing," Malakai responded.
I glanced at Raphael as he looked away. I wondered what kind of debt Malakai was talking about. But knowing my brother, he'd probably never tell me.
So instead of probing it, I decided to find out what Malakai meant about this whole curse thing and where it all fit in with what was happening now.
"Do you believe that Noah and Sevee stopped getting along because of this curse and not Noel's influence?" I inquired.
"I do. In fact, I know that it has been getting worse with each generation. It was only natural that Sevee and Noah would rival each other. One could liken them to yin and yang with that, especially given the conflicting personalities they have. However, things spiraled with Noah declaring himself ultimately inferior. What worries me most about this aside from the sickness is that this was the result that he wanted in the first place. I'm not only desperate to save Noah's life here. I'm desperate to keep him from taking his soul." Malakai explained.
His words definitely got all of our attention. But before anything more could be asked about it, the room suddenly became cold.
"What… what is this?" Raziel asked, moving closer to Noah and looking around.
"Looks like I was right," Malakai muttered as he stood in front of them.
"What's going on?" Raphael asked him.
Both of us had come over there as well to make sure that we could guard them. There was a very ominous feeling in the air, and with Noah in such a weak state, he could be an easy target for an attack.
Malakai remained calm, although we noticed that his eyes had turned firmer. Moving a few steps in front of us, he glanced over his shoulder as he spoke.
"Just remain where you are. I will handle this."