Post by Sebastian Everett-Bryce on Oct 26, 2019 12:24:47 GMT -5
Of course you have – everyone has. Your mind convinces you almost immediately that there wasn’t actually anyone there. A reflection, maybe? Or you’ve just had one too many glasses of Pinot Grigio. But the truth is unsettlingly simple. One moment they were there, and the next they were gone.The same happens in reverse too – one moment that seat on the bus is empty, and a second later it’s occupied. Not possible. Out of the question. Balderdash. Your mind, however, it creates a lie with which you can be satisfied, because you would never believe the truth.
There are things that can appear and disappear at will, should they choose to.
This mental peculiarity made life so much easier for a being like Sebastian. He appeared as if from nowhere on a bench in the middle of a crowded park, and those who passed by merely rubbed their eyes, blinked, and then carried on their day explaining away what they thought they’d just seen. Sebastian was dressed in a black suit, red shirt and red tie with a pair of red trimmed aviator sunglasses. He leaned back with a nonchalance that bordered on arrogance. Well. Not just “bordered”, in fact it pirouetted across the threshold of arrogance and took a mocking bow.
He tilted his head as he watched a pair of creatures – the two had decided to remain cloaked to the human eye – stalking through the park, looking for prey. They spotted him and he nodded a greeting before he stood and buttoned his jacket – and with a click of his fingers, he found himself upon the roof of a nearby building, looking down over the park.
"Well that was a little abrupt. Hello, Sebastian." Came the female voice to his right. He didn’t answer, merely flicked his head in the direction of the gnarled and stooped duo as they continued in their quest. The female, dressed all in white, approached and peered down over the ledge at the two beings, making a sound of distaste at what she saw. "What in Heaven’s name are they doing here?" She asked in slightly concerned tones. The figures were shadowy but discernible, hunched and menacing, both of them Olympic-grade lurkers.
"They’re looking to take another soul." Sebastian said.
“Another? Well, isn’t that what you demons do? You… take souls.” Sloane shuddered delicately, her lovely white wings that she normally kept concealed from human gaze now very much on display. It was a comfort measure for her and one he didn’t take personally. She didn’t like the two below encroaching on what was their territory. Truthfully, he didn’t care for it either. It was the height of rudeness.
“No, no. This is different. Those two have souls they aren’t releasing. Three each, to be exact.”
Sloane’s blue eyes grew wide at this news, her wings ruffling in supreme agitation.
“What? Why? How? All souls we take either go on to the Almighty or... ” she lowered her voice, glancing around, “the Adversary.”
Sebastian chuckled at her reaction to speaking of the Dark Lord.
“Keeping them is wrong. There’s right, and there’s wrong, and if you do wrong when you’re told to do right you deserve to be punished whether that’s Above or… well… Below.” She said importantly, firmly cloaked in her certainty.
“Well, it’s a simple thing, really. Easier than you might think. You just - don’t give it up.” He answered her earlier questions as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a glowing orb that glinted in the sunlight. He tossed it carelessly from one hand to the next as though he were playing catch with himself. Sloane moved up beside him, resplendent in a dress of white, her platinum hair that was inexplicably pink-tinged curling past her wings and down her back.
"Sebastian! You were supposed to pass that on! Well, you are a demon, I’m not entirely sure it’s possible for you to do good, even for your own side. It’s down to your basic, you know, nature. Nothing personal, you understand."
The demon shrugged, his angel counterpart frowning at him.
“This isn’t at all how things are meant to be done.” She tutted under her breath, cocking her head to the side as she stared at the soul he held in his hand. She glanced around as if to ensure they weren’t being watched, though either of them would have known far before now if that were the case. Her teeth caught at her bottom lip and she worried at it as she tried to decide whether she should or shouldn’t do something. A guilty expression passed across her face, then returned and set up camp there before she finally reached into a fold of her dress and pulled a glowing orb from her pocket, identical to his.
"How the Hell do you have one of those?" Sebastian asked.
“Well, let me explain. Do you recall that duo, the one calling himself the Pain Lord and the Grey Lady?”
Sebastian narrowed his eyes.
“Yes, we vanquished them and took their souls a little over a month ago.” He said, his eyes growing wide as he stared at her. “You’ve kept the soul since then?” He whooped out a laugh of pure mirth as she tried to shush him to no avail.
“Well, so did you!” she said defensively.
“I’m a demon, nefarious activity is a prerequisite and in my nature as you so clearly pointed out only moments ago, but you, what’s your excuse?” he asked, licking his lips as he waited to hear what made her keep the soul.
Sloane looked down at the glowing orb, holding it gingerly, almost reverently with both hands.
“Well… I was only keeping it for a moment, just to look at it. It’s shiny, and I quite like it. Also, it’s my first soul, and well… it should be enjoyed rather than shuffled off into a vault somewhere. I’m giving it its due. Besides, it’s not like the Almighty is going to miss one soul.” She said stiffly, Sebastian struggling to hide his smirk. It seemed, at least to him, that some of his influence was rubbing off on the young angel.
“And here I thought you might have gotten distracted by kittens,” he mocked.
Sloane slipped the soul back into the confines of her dress and pressed her hands into her hips.
“Really, Sebastian, that was one time, and partially Angelica’s fault--” She stopped at the mention of the other angel’s name, her eyes narrowing. “Speaking of Angelica, I saw when you reached your next Ascendancy through her, and let me tell you--”
“What was the name of the bloke you reached your first Ascendancy through? I forget.” Sebastian interrupted, eager to change the topic as he suspected a lecture incoming from the tenacious angel.
Sloane opened her mouth to regale him with the story and then frowned.
"Well, if you must know, I’ve forgotten the demon’s name, but he smelt of bourbon. And not the good kind." She said wrinkling her nose.
Sebastian grinned. If Sloane had any vices, it was for the finer things in life, much like him in fact, though she would never admit to such a thing. She’d become quite accustomed to the simple luxuries afforded to humans.
"Ahhhh yes." He said with a satisfied smile. "One of our more satisfying partnerships."
"Partnership? You tried to stop me!" She protested..
"Obviously I didn’t try very hard, or I would have done." Sebastian said, that hint of arrogance slipping across his face again. Sloane glared at him for a moment before transferring her attention to the orb still within his hands.
"Honestly, you demons will walk through just about anything to get your hands on a soul. Why?” She asked, suddenly glancing up, her eyes scanning the crowds until she found the two skulking figures once more. “And what are they up to? Why are they holding three each?”
"Because five of them give you the power of the Antichrist." Sebastian said quietly, his tongue pushing between his teeth and his lower lip.
"You mean… Armageddon?" Said Sloane, her eyes widening in horror.
"It’s rare – it’s always assumed that Armageddon begins because… Well…" He pointed downwards towards the ground. "The Boss sends his son to Earth, the Antichrist rises up and destroys the world as we know it. That’s the story, but actually – that’s not the truth. Not really – of course, that’s one way of it happening, but there’s nothing to say that the Antichrist has to be involved at all – just… A prophet of Satan with enough power to raise the Armies of Hell."
"Well, that’s depressing and disturbing and a wealth of other adjectives." Said Sloane, watching as the pair round on a young group of friends playing near the edge of a pond.
"Usually? No demon gets close – once they get to four of these things, someone like you or me usually, gets in the way."
"Well, then why isn’t someone here now?" Sloane asked.
“Rumor has it, your side is itching for a fight, and if they think those two idiots could bring about Armageddon, they’ll let it happen just to get it. Oh, don’t look so surprised, Heaven isn’t all sunshine and daisies, and well you know it. The boredom there is almost as bad as the excitement in Hell, and you can’t get a decent drink in either. Look, for once, it’s not my side doing this. We don’t want another Somers." He said quietly. "He had no real allegiance to the Dark Lord and as such, posed a threat to him and his dominion. Satan had to come up here himself to strip him of his glory and send him back to the Pit. It was a terribly messy affair – far too much paperwork for a being who prefers sitting on a throne of bone and brimstone and laughing maniacally at all the torture."
Sloane shuddered at the thought as if just that were enough to sully her.
"Besides – Satan has a touch of…" He moved his hands in circles as if trying to find the right word. "… Ego about him. He’d much rather Armageddon come at the hands of his son. So, a demon gets to four and one side or another stops them before they can go any further."
"So, then you’ve been sent to stop them? By Satan?" Asked Sloane suspiciously. "Alone?"
"Not quite – these two only have three." He said tilting his head as they continued to circle.
"Then what’s the problem? Let them find another, and let Satan send someone to do the job properly." Said Sloane, smiling serenely as she felt she’d completely solved the entire thing. It wasn’t a problem yet, and so they needn’t worry about it, which was her favorite sort of problem. Sebastian turned to face her, his face a picture of offense taken. "I mean, a group of somebodies – a menagerie if you will." She stammered, trying to recover what she’d said to cause insult.
"No can do." Sebastian said quietly. "Phrixus – the dark one there with no visible facial features? He’s found a loophole, you see – he keeps the Infernal Journals of the Beast, but as it turns out he’s been keeping notes on the side, and he’s made a tally of every single attempt to rise that has ever happened in history."
"Well that sounds awfully dull and trudging--”
“Yes, well, that’s Phrixus,” Sebastian agreed.
“-- But how do you know this?" Sloane asked in an exasperated manner, a hand on her hip like a judgmental fishwife.
"I may have gotten him drunk last night." Sebastian said with a half-smile that only faintly slipped when he saw her face. "Okay, in my defence? I was trying to find out what they had on me – I’ve been less than honest with my Temptations in the last few years, and I was sure they were spying on me."
"Oh, do go on,” she said, ignoring the tales of drunken debauchery and his less than honest leanings in search of more information.
"So while he was drunk, he confessed to me that he’s found a loophole. If two demons that have three souls each pair up, then the next two they find together takes them to five."
"That… what?! That’s not how numbers work!" Sloane exclaimed, tossing her arms in the air dramatically.
"Shhh – demon maths--”
“Demon maths? You have different maths?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point. The point is, they share--”
“Demons don’t share.”
“Now that’s just rude, we do share, just not well. It’s a trust thing. Anyway, the point is, they only need one more soul each to take them both to five." Sebastian said.
Sloane carefully considered his words, pacing.
"Sebastian… What happens if an angel collects five?" She asked drawing her own orb out once more to stare at its glowing exterior. She didn’t catch the look on his face, a look of knowing something that perhaps he wished he didn’t.
"Don’t think it’s ever been done…" He said shrugging.
“Wouldn’t it be easier for them to simply take a soul from someone who… just happens to have a couple lying about?” she asked evasively, not looking at the two of theirs.
“Bingo.”
"Well – I suppose if we’re going to try to stop them, and it appears as though that’s our only choice, we should beat a hasty retreat from this place. We can regroup, have a nice meal complete with some lovely mimosas, and plan our strategy at that time.” She said, looking quite pleased with her plan. “If they can’t find us, they can’t take ours. Oh, I do love a good plan, don’t you?" Sloane asked with a beaming smile.
Sebastian slowly turned his head to face her, an apologetic look upon his face.
"No can do… Sorry…" He said as he slapped the underside of her hand sending the soul high into the air.
“Sebastian! What is the meaning of this?!” As she jumped to catch it, he held his own up in the air and performed a perfect whistle to catch their attention. Deimos and Rydell looked up to the top of the building just in time to see Sloane capture her orb and look at Sebastian with a kind of fury.
"Come and get them boys…" Sebastian said with a demonic glint in his eye.
“Oh for-- excuse my French-- God’s sake,” he muttered, drawing a gasp of indignation from the angel at his side.
“Pardon your french indeed, mind your tongue, demon,” she scolded.
He glanced down at his watch, which was designed for the kind of rich deep-sea diver who liked to know what the time was in twenty world capitals while he was scouring the bottom of the ocean. That isn’t to say Sebastian enjoyed deep-sea diving, he just happened to like the timepiece.
“We’re wasting time, it’s been done, now how do we get the orbs off them? Solutions, not problems.”
Sloane frowned.
“So we’re meant to take the orbs from them. Oh! Oh, I see! If we take the orbs from them then they can’t cause Armageddon and raise the Armies of Hell,” Sloane finished proudly and then frowned. “Wait. Won’t we then be able to raise the Armies of Hell?” But Sebastian had suddenly and quite inexplicably taken interest in particular bit of sewer grating and utterly missed her question.
Or so he claimed.
Sloane frowned again, having thought of something.
“Didn’t you say that one of them keeps journals?”
“Deimos, yes. Been on thin ice for years, but he remained in the department. Huge scandal,” Sebastian said, a touch of glee to his tone at the gossip.
“Oh? Well, do tell,” Sloane grinned, moving closer sensing Sebastian had something delicious to spill.
“Well you see, at one time Phrixus was at the head of the Infernal Journals department--” He stopped and frowned when Sloane giggled at the rhyming words, continuing once she straightened with a cough and mouthed an apology. “But he failed a testing by a Knight of Hell and several of the sacred texts were burned to ash as a result. All of those demonic accomplishments lost because he thought himself untouchable. Honestly, it’s a wonder he isn’t still being tortured for that bit of ineptitude, but the way ol’ Phrixy is, he probably has something on the Dark Lord Himself, eh?” Sebastian grinned, Sloane’s eyes narrowing.
“So he would continually be on the lookout for journals of quality to make up for what he lost, or do you demons only write in books made up of human flesh?” She asked, with the look of one who had recently swallowed an entire batch of gas-station sushi and was instantly regretting what was already a questionable decision.
“What? Who told you that? Honestly, the things Above comes up with about us down Below is really something. Who would use just any old human flesh, obviously we only use the flesh that comes from virgins born under the light of a full moon,” he mused, noting out of the corner of his eye how Sloane’s face whitened to match her dress. “Ha, I’m only kidding! No, we stopped using human flesh centuries ago, it’s dreadfully difficult to transcribe upon,and it doesn’t hold the writings well. Part of Phrixus’ job is to transfer all of the flesh-bound tomes into more traditional paper ones. I suggested computers, but that went over like a lead balloon. Demons aren’t a particularly technologically savvy lot. I’m an exception. Now, what are you up to?”
“Well, I was just thinking, why not feed two birds with one seed?” Sloane asked brightly.
“Don’t you mean to kill two birds with one stone?”
“I most certainly do not. I said what I meant and I meant what I said. Now then, you just leave it to me, I know exactly how to lure Deimos in, and I can get my good deed for the day done as well. Cheers!” She said brightly, ignoring his look of disgust at the mention of a ‘good deed’ and wandering into what looked to be a dusty and ancient book store, leaving Sebastian outside to ponder the angel he’d somehow befriended along the way.
The bookstore was owned by none other than Mr. Floyd P. Boughton, and if that name means nothing to you, then you shouldn’t be alarmed for Mr. Boughton had never done anything even remotely remarkable in his life. He was a dull man who lived a dull life in the same dull home he’d been raised in, with his dull mother who lived with he and his dull wife and two dull children. Is it any wonder that Mr. Boughton’s business was also quite dull? It shouldn’t be. He’s a rather predictable fellow.
Perhaps Mr. Boughton’s business might have done better had his bookstore actually contained books, but as it happened, Mr. Boughton decided that supplying journals to the masses was the way to go, not at all seeing the irony of owning a bookstore where nothing within it had a written word on a page. Business was slow, and Mr. Boughton and his family’s dull lives were in jeopardy.
At least, that was the case until a certain angel wandered into his midst and he suddenly found himself the beneficiary of several crates of particularly stunning journals, the Harry Winston of daybooks,you might say. And then as he drew out these enchanting pieces of art in bewilderment, you can understand his confusion given that he’d never ordered anything of the like, Sloane was there to gush over them, her wings carefully hidden of course, prompting Mr. Boughton to immediately run an advertisement. Sloane gleefully took one of the leaflets, promised to return, and then cajoled a particularly helpful wind to blow said leaflet directly into Deimos’ face. The wind didn’t mind at all, was in fact eager for a measure of revenge seeing as Phrixus’ partner, Rydell, had recently spit into it.
Demons aren’t known for their manners.
Her work completed, she regaled Sebastian with her actions, knowing she would be saving a man and his family and preserving their dull lives for just a little while longer, as well as providing a distraction that should allow them to obtain the orbs. All they had to do was wait.
In short order, Deimos approached the shop, Sebastian using his demonic persona to cloak Sloane’s more heavenly one which would have tipped Phrixus off right away that something was amiss. Just as she’d suggested, Mr. Boughton requested that the demon leave his belongings on an old coat-rack so as not to tarnish the collection. Hearing this request made Phrixus most eager to see what was being offered, and he carelessly left his belongings behind on the metal stand.
“He never learns,” Sebastian scoffed as he began to rifle through Phrixus’ belongings. Sloane stands nearby, practically in fits, her conscience protesting this new bit of sin. “Well, are you going to help or not?”
“I set it up, what more do you want me to do?” she snapped, lifting her chin. “It’s stealing, Sebastian, and… well, I do good things, so I hardly expect you might understand, but I can’t do that.”
Sebastian leaned on the coat rack, exasperated.
“You realize it doesn’t count, right?”
“It doesn’t?”
“No, of course not. He’s a demon, and he stole it already so technically the two cancel each other out. Like in the same way two negatives make a positive. It’s simple mathematics,” he said, digging through Deimos’ overcoat.
“Is this more of your demon maths?” she asked suspiciously.
“It makes sense, doesn’t it?” he asked, and Sloane mused nervously for a moment.
“I don’t want to do the wrong thing.”
“You’re an angel, you can’t do the wrong thing.”
Sloane frowned at that bit of logic, feeling that there was something very important she could be arguing about that point, but it kept inconveniently slipping her mind. Instead, she moved closer to the items and stuck her hand in a pocket gingerly, reacting as though she’d just plunged her hand into a gathering of particularly moist slugs. Sebastian watched the dramatic action and rolled his eyes, continuing to rifle through everything.
“A-ha!” he proclaimed with excitement, drawing first one, then another, and another glowing orb from the depths of a hat. He tossed one of the orbs to Sloane and she caught it, quickly stuffing it into an unseen pocket of her dress. It was one of the benefits to being a celestial figure, being able to create temporal pockets in dresses because as we know, there aren’t nearly enough dresses that actually have them.
“Now, quick, before he realizes we’ve taken them,” she said, already slipping out the door. Sebastian pocketed the other two orbs, but paused in the doorway long enough to send off a flume of sulfur and brimstone that was like a calling card among demons. Deimos’ head raised and he looked back toward the entryway to see Sebastian offer a mocking wink and a nod before disappearing into the night.
And so, when he’d approached Deimos with a plan to overthrow this realm, it had been met with surprise. Not that Rydell wasn’t evil or ambitious enough for such a plan, but more that it would, perhaps, damage his standing with the Beast Below. Still, Rydell was a convincing demon and had, in his time, provided many souls to the fiery pits, which is why one… or two… or three would hardly go amiss.
But Rydell was playing both sides, for he had an Ascendancy in mind. Such a discorporation that he would never again be chided for being less than the evil genius he knew himself to be. Yes, he would reach a rank hereto unbeknownst, but to reach such a lofty stature Rydell would need a noteworthy scalp to add to his collection. He needed a war, a rivalry, an opponent so pure and good that their very being would almost be enough to Ascend within the angelic ranks. He had found such a being in Angelica - the famed, tall, kitten-loving angel of near-folklore. Yes, Rydell had found his golden goose, and she was ripe for the slaying.
“Wait… So you’re saying that you didn’t actually want to Ascend? You just wanted to inconvenience Rydell?” Sloane asked, her tone rising as her arms crossed. “You discorporated Angelica just to get under Rydell’s skin?!”
“Of course not, that would be preposterous.” Sebastian replied, picking at the nail on his index finger. “I wanted to Ascend, but it would be a lie to say that irking Rydell wasn’t a happy bonus.”
“Well I can’t say I approve; Angelica was wonderful.” Sloane said a touch haughtily,
“That’s what made my Ascension all the greater.” Seb said smirking. “Rydell really was on to something.”
“So why, praytell, are we here?” Sloane asked, looking up at the sign for a bar called “The Demon’s Eye”. “Not the most original bunch, you demonic types.”
“Well, not everyone can have my style.” Sebastian said, looking up at the same sign. “Rydell is here, preparing for his Ascendancy…”
“You mean he doesn’t know? About Angelica? Oh dear.” Sloane said, looking torn between worry and amusement. “I would have thought he would have been paying careful attention to her wellbeing.”
“Well, sometimes he can get distracted and miss pertinent plot points.” Sebastian said. “Good thing for him, I’m on hand to provide the cliff notes.” Sebastian grinned broadly, and Sloane rolled her eyes. As they moved to open the door, Sebastian stopped and looked back at Sloane.
“Sorry. I think we’re going to need to… You know…” He pointed at her white attire from head to toe. She followed the direction of his gaze with a frown, realization setting in.
“Ah. Of course - would you do the honours?” She asked.
“I’d be delighted.” Sebastian said as he clicked his fingers. Sloane’s clothes were replaced by something more appropriate for the setting, jeans, a black top, leather jacket. “Much better.” Sebastian gave her a nod of approval.
“Thank you.” She said, with a touch of bashfulness.
“Now, when we get in here, I need you to leave the talking to me. If you speak, you’ll give the game away.” Sebastian said.
“Good Heavens, whatever do you mean?” Sloane asked, not swearing with the practiced ease of someone who has spent many, many years not swearing and isn’t going to start now. Sebastian shot her a look. “Ah. Point taken.”
“Right, in we go.” As they stepped inside, they immediately spotted Rydell sat at the bar with his arm draped around an unsuspecting human, about to drink what was most likely to be his one drink too many.
“... And then, at the last second, you wheel in the big trolley of kittens. Understand?” Rydell queried, looking quite pleased with himself. “She won’t be able to resist.”
“Sorry to put a damper on your plans, old friend.” Called Sebastian. Rydell slowly turned on his barstool to face his fellow demon. “But I’m afraid the angelic Angelica is unavailable for your Ascension needs.”
“Sebastian - you’re protecting angels now?” Rydell sneered, glancing at Sloane who stood half hidden behind Sebastian.
“Oh Dark Lord, no.” Sebastian said with a scoff before pulling down the collar of his shirt to reveal the newly added line to his ranking. “Quite the opposite in fact…”
Dawning realisation crosses Rydell’s face which immediately contorts in rage.
“You stole my Ascension!” He roared.
“Let’s be clear, it was never going to be your Ascension, Angelica took a more practiced hand than yours.” Sebastian said with a touch of arrogance.
“Only, he is quite an old demon,” came Sloane’s voice from behind him.
“... To discorporate one such as Angelica, when you’re barely above a simple entry-level demon…” Sebastian continued.
Sloane snorted, drawing attention back to herself as she spoke again.
“Pish-posh, he’s definitely not entry level.” Sloane continued, ignoring the long, cool look Sebastian gave her, as though someone had just dropped a steel girder in front of his train of thought.
“... And let’s not forget the risk involved in tackling a much more skilled…” Sebastian said loudly, trying to cover her voice.
“Skilled, yes, but really her thing was mainly being very nice,” Sloane considered.
“... Focused…” Sebastian said through gritted teeth.
“Oh yes, quite focused, except if there were cats around. Wasn’t that how you managed to…” She began, but Sebastian cut her off.
“Sloane, do you recall how I said best not to speak?” Sebastian asked, only barely able to contain the urge to strangle the loquacious angel where she stood. For her part, Sloane wisely raised her finger to her lips in the universal signal for quiet.
“My point, old friend, is that I did you a favour; you’re much better off at entry-level than discorporated…” Sebastian said with a grin.
“You’re a meddling moron.” Rydell said with not a hint joviality which was most disappointing as Sebastian felt he’d done a rather good job of presenting his case. “When Deimos and I launch the Armageddon, I’ll be making sure you’re the first to return to Hell.”
Rydell grinned as from the pocket of his leather jacket, he pulled three shining balls of light, spinning them masterfully between his fingers.
“Impressive. But ah, about that as well...” Sebastian said, pulling out two golden orbs of his own and shaking them from side to side. “I went to see dearest Phrixus earlier, and suffice to say, he’s got less soul now than ever.”
Sloane let out a snicker at the pun, she was always a stickler for them, but Rydell did not seem at all amused. In fact, he quite appeared to be almost incandescent with rage. At least, until human maths kicked in.
“No matter - I’ll merely take yours, and I’ll have the five I need to begin Armageddon.” Rydell said with a sneer.
“Well, wait a moment,” Said Sebastian, suddenly realising his mistake in showing his own souls. “Let’s discuss this, demon to demon.”
“Enough talking - I’ll be needing those souls.” Rydell said, standing up and lurching towards Sebastian who quickly stepped backwards. However, instead of launching at Sebastian, Rydell merely lurched forward and keeled over before falling into an unceremonious heap, the orbs spilling into the air. Sloane moved quickest, managing to catch two of them while the final one made its way to Sebastian's hand.
Sebastian crouched down as a dazed Rydell lifted his head up from the sticky and stained tiles.
“Some things never change, Rydell. You never could get out of your own way.” Sebastian said, looking smug. “Toodle-oo”
Rydell scrambled to get to his feet and follow, but he could barely move and ended up only falling all over himself again and again as he shouted blesses after them. Sebastian and Sloane stepped out of the bar and onto the street.
“That was close…” Sebastian said as they began to walk away from the bar. “If he hadn’t tripped, he could have had five souls right there.”
“Yes, well, everything has gone to plan.” She replied briskly, not meeting Sebastian's gaze. In fact, it was her turn to find a sewer grating rather entertaining.
“I do wonder how his shoelaces became quite so knotted…” Sebastian pondered aloud with a grin.
“Well, perhaps the wind was strong. It’s entirely plausible that the so helpful wind from earlier caused his shoelaces to tie together.” She replied with a too bright smile.
“Yes..” Said Sebastian grinning. “Entirely plausible that there was a helpful wind… inside of a bar.”
Sloane quickly tried to change the subject.
“Would you mind? My usual attire is much more comfortable.” She asked.
“Right away.” Sebastian said with a click of his fingers. “You know, everytime I change your clothes, I see it happen in slow motion.”
“Wait, what? Sebastian… Sebastian!” She called after him indignantly as he stalked away from her, fondling the soul-filled orbs he held in his pocket.
“This…” Sebastian said, adjusting his aviators. “This is the Coalition Battleground. It’s here that it is prophesied that the Armies of Heaven and Hell will rise and descend for the Final Battle, the Great War, the battle which will destroy the Earth, killing millions.”
“Not the puppies and kittens…” Sloane gasped, her fingers covering her mouth as she said it. Sebastian turned to look her in the eye, his sunglasses pulled down his nose.
“Especially the puppies and kittens…” Sebastian said. Sloane inhaled her breath sharply, signifying her horror at such an idea.
“So… Not a very nice place then.” She said looking around, rather decided on that fact at the very least.
“No. Not a very nice place at all.” Sebastian agreed, biting his bottom lip in thought.
“So… I have to ask… Why is it that we’re standing in the location of Armageddon? I thought we’d managed to stop it?” Sloane asked quickly. “You know, soul-stealing, enemy vanquishing and all that?”
Sebastian looked across the Battleground. In the distance, he could just make out a hazy form approaching. Sloane noticed the direction of his gaze and followed it.
“You thought they would just give up? Of course not - we’ve merely motivated them.” Sebastian said as the onrushing demonic army of two came within one hundred yards.
“Good Lord. Well, if fight we must.” She said quietly, before setting herself - wings outstretched - beside her friend. A demon as a friend, fancy that.
“Gentlemen.” Sebastian said quietly, with a smile. “Good to see you both again.”
Rydell and Deimos stopped mere feet away from Sebastian and Sloane, their combined power rippling off them.
“Sebastian.” Said Deimos quietly. “I should have known this was your plan.”
Sebastian merely smiled, while Sloane furrowed her brow.
“Sebastian’s plan? This was your plan! To raise the Armies from Below and bring about Armageddon! We merely stepped in to prevent your treachery from continuing.” Sloane said primly.
“You’ve been duped, and not for the first time, I bet.” Said Rydell silkily, his tongue working over his lips as if famished. “He’s used you, angel. Do you not see? Working together, he now has the souls he needs. Sebastian means to raise the Armies himself, to be the one to bring about the End of Days.”
“That’s preposterous.” Sloane said, her mouth curling into a smile. “Sebastian, tell them that’s preposterous.”
Sebastian didn’t answer; instead, he slowly pulled the glowing orbs from inside of his jacket and held them in his hands - the three they’d taken from Deimos and Rydell earlier - and one of the ones that he and Sloane had taken from The Pain Lord and the Grey Lady. The soul began to bubble and twist before it split apart into two.
“Sebastian…” Sloane said, a touch of heartbreak in her voice. “Tell them it’s preposterous… Please.”
“Not to worry.” Rydell said quietly. “It takes a certain amount of commitment and an absolute belief in what you want in order to harness the power of these souls. And dear Sebastian has been on Earth far too long - he doesn’t want to see this realm destroyed. He’s gone native.”
“His lack of commitment will be his downfall; the power of those souls will destroy him. And when they do? We will claim them, and then we shall claim the souls you hold in your many pockets.” Deimos added with a grin. “And then Armageddon will begin… As it should…”
“Sebastian…” Sloane said again. “Tell me it’s preposterous.”
“I can’t.” He said quietly. “I’m a demon, there’s only a certain level of honesty I’m permitted to exude. I am expected to be a naughty little boy. They’re absolutely correct, there has to be a level of commitment to the cause, but what they don’t realise is that this is the end I’ve always worked towards. I mean to use these souls for their true purpose.”
Sebastian grinned and brought his hands together, and all at once the souls began to merge, their golden glow seeming to dim to be replaced by a blood red orb. And when Sloane looked into Sebastian’s eyes, she saw them burn with the same red as the orb.
“What? No!” Protested Deimos. “This can’t be! It cannot be him!”
“You’re not worthy! You’re not enough!” Rydell fumed. “You stole my Ascension, and now you want to steal this?!”
“No! You tricked me!” Sloane shouted at him as he slowly began to rise into the air.
“Not entirely.” Sebastian said. “You and I have roamed this Earth and kept to our Agreement for some time now. We have enjoyed its delights and basked in its glow, but one thing I’ve always known for sure, without a shadow of a doubt, is that while deep down I am the very worst of my kind, you? You are the very best of yours. As things should be, Sloane, a perfect balance.” And then he winked, and realisation hit her like a ton of, erm, kittens.
“Oh…” She said her hands slipping into her own pockets, feeling the warmth of her own orbs, and her mouth curled into a smile. “Ohhhhhhhhh!”
And as she pulled them from her pockets, her one stored soul split in twain as Sebastian’s had done. And then she brought her own hands together, and her merged orb shone a brilliant white to his red.
“What are you doing?!” Rydell screamed. “This is not how it’s supposed to be!”
“STOP! STOP NO!” Deimos shouted. But there was nothing to be done, for as Sloane levitated next to Sebastian they brought their orbs together; and as the two joined, there was an explosion of light.
When Sebastian opened his eyes he found himself on the ground, still at the Battleground, and when Sloane opened her eyes, she too found herself in a white heap on the floor. They slowly stood.
“Are you okay?” Sebastian asked.
“Perfect.” Sloane said, looking down at the dark blackened earth upon which Deimos and Rydell had once stood. “Looks like they were no match for us after all.”
She looked up at Sebastian who had a look of concern upon his face.
“Your side wanted this war, as did mine to an extent. There will be consequences for this.” Sebastian said quietly.
“Right. You. Are.” Came a voice from behind them both. They turned to find an angel and a demon stood behind them, both looking furious.
“Gabriel,” said Sloane with a smile of greeting. “So good to…”
He cut her off with terse shake of his head and a raise of his hand.
“Beelzebub, you’re looking particularly vengeful today.” Sebastian said quietly.
“You have no idea.” Replied the demon.
“You two stopped Armageddon. On whose orders? The entire reason for your being on Earth. And you… Stopped it?” Asked Gabriel, incredulously.
“Well, yes.” Said Sloane smiling widely, not at all perturbed by his line of questioning. “I did a good thing, and I’m quite sure you can’t punish me for that.”
“You’d be surprised.” Said Gabriel, dangerously before leveling Sebastian with a look of disdain. “But you’re right. You did do a good thing, and so did he..”
“Now, I wouldn’t go that far…” Sebastian protested quickly, starting to sweat. A demon could get into a lot of trouble for doing a good thing.
“A demon doing good, I’d suggest he’ll be punished enough for the both of you.” Gabriel said quietly. “And I suppose with all six souls accounted for, I can’t quibble over your performance.” The archangel looked to Sloane.
“Exactly, all… wait... six?” Sebastian questioned, looking in Sloane’s direction. He could have sworn he saw her hand twitch in one of her pockets.
“Yes, six. I know you have demon maths, but in real maths? Three plus three? That equals six. And we’ll be taking them all.” Gabriel said, gloating. “My, but you really are going to be in trouble.”
“So, that’s it? Sloane is… exonerated?” Sebastian asked, somewhat in disbelief, surprised that Sloane was remaining quiet during all of this.
“Yes. And not only that, for her hand in discorporating both Rydell and Deimos, she is to be Ascended two levels at once. Congratulations, Sloane, you’re a Power now. You are to guard the border between Heaven and Hell here on Earth.” Gabriel said, with a nod that looked as though it pained him before turning on his heels. “Try not to mess it up.”
And then he was gone.
“Beelzebub…” Sebastian began, but the demon cut him off, his attention on Sloane as he circled her.
“A Power, well, well. You are quite the angel, it seems; an angel who steals souls and keeps them for herself. It would appear all is not as it seems, wouldn’t it?” Beelzebub questioned oilily.
Sloane shifted her feet on the spot.
“What in Heaven’s name could you mean?” Sloane asked, but she avoided eye contact when she asked the question. Sebastian’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, and Beelzebub merely grinned.
“Sebastian, it has not gone unnoticed that you prevented Armageddon, and while there are many of the demonic hierarchy calling for your head and for you to return Below immediately to await trial for your treachery, the Dark Lord is somewhat pleased that these… trespassers… did not steal the honour from his own seed. As such, you have his gratitude.”
“G… Gratitude…” Sebastian said, stifling a smile. “Well… Yes… Of course…”
“It has also not gone unnoticed that you have exerted some influence over an angel in a seat of Power within the Godly ranks. And so, you, too, will Ascend.” Beelzebub said. “Congratulations - you will guard the border between Heaven and Hell on Earth. It appears the two of you are bound to keep the balance.”
And much like Gabriel before him, Beelzebub disappeared, only in a haze of hellfire.
“Well, that was…” Sebastian said quietly, taking a deep breath.
“Unexpected?” Replied Sloane.
“Rather, yes.” Sebastian said. “You know, I think they each expect one of us to turn the other.”
“I can’t possibly imagine what might give them that impression,” said Sloane with a smile as she pulled a glowing orb from her pocket and tossed it to Sebastian. “Where, oh where, could they have gotten that idea?”
Sebastian smiled at his friend before rotating his neck to work out a crick.
“Just because I’m an angel doesn’t mean I have to be a fool,” she said with a small smile. “So, what now?” Sloane asked, looking around at the vast expanse of space.
“Lunch?” Asked Sebastian, extending his arm.
“That sounds lovely.” Said Sloane, linking with him, and together they vanished, much as they’d appeared in the first place.
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