Rise, Fallen Angel
By Kayla
Note: If it is illegal in your area to view such material or if you are under legal age to view such material, please leave. The story may prove to be very religiously controversial to some of you, so please excuse me. Thank you and enjoy.
It is very important to understand the meaning behind the names I have chosen. To understand the subtlety of the story, you must figure out what these names mean, which is rather easy, just do a bit of snooping. This story has a lot of subtle meanings and understandings, and many symbols. Without the knowledge on these things, the story will seem boring so it is crucial for you to understand them. If you really have a hard time understanding, email me.
Chapter 2: Lucifer's Tale
"Ah, I see my reputation precedes me. How do you two do?" Lucifer was more than I expected. Even in his mortal form, he was utterly beautiful. I saw his red eyes flash over mine and the tales of evil I heard of him disappeared in me as I saw nothing but compassion and caring.
"Stay away from me Lucifer. You would be burned by my light." The fear in Seth's voice was clear and pitiful as it served to sum up Seth's true nature and managed to bring only a laugh from Lucifer.
"Run along now Seth. I need to talk to Atalantos, alone. Or is it Achos now?" Lucifer gave me a smile and stepped forward. I could feel the power within him as Seth began to move away from us as he shot Lucifer and me looks.
"This won't be the last time we meet Lucifer." Seth took off with that and in a flash of white light, he was gone.
"Unfortunately, I think he's right there; we will meet again. Oh well, life moves on. Or should I say eternity? Time has taught me much Atalantos, especially of the war that shall plague the three corners of existence and nonexistence, Heaven, Hell, and Earth. Demons, angels, and mortals. Who will win? None can say, but one thing is known. It all depends on balance." At that point, Lucifer looked up at me and I could see he was analyzing me. "I dare not utter some of the words I would have to in order to explain to you the course that God has taken for you in this world. The only safe place is Heaven or Hell, and Heaven is definitely out of the question, for both of us. What say you?"
I froze as he presented me with the choice of going to Hell. I had heard so many things of it that I was rather scared at the prospect, but I realized I had nothing to lose. I had been banished.
"Don't worry, your friends shall have no idea that I have met you. And as for Him, He will know. He actually did this on purpose, hoping against hope that you would refuse." I shot him a look of surprise and he chuckled. He slowly offered me his hand, which I took tentatively. In a flash of red flame, we were gone.
The Underworld was not what I expected. True, there was fire everywhere, but it was not obstructive or obtrusive, it just was. The demons in which I had believed were not here, but in fact, angels with black, skin wings instead of our white, feather wings. Their appearance was more rugged than that of the angels' and was more suggestive and sexual.
"I see Hell has passed your judgment." At the sound of his voice, I jumped a little in surprise and I looked at him. I think I nearly fainted at the sight that met me. Lucifer was utterly handsome, robed in dark, crimson robs that hugged his body loosely. His red eyes served to blend in with his clothing but his tanned skin provided the slightest contrast and his black wings, which remained as feathers, were blatantly gorgeous. With a wingspan of at least ten feet, they were perfect.
"And I see I have passed your judgment." I blushed a deep red to which Lucifer chuckled. "Your time will come, fear not Atalantos. God has given me the honors of presenting to you your very own fate. You know of the Archangels, right?"
"Yes, the Archangels were my best friends." I smiled bitterly at their remembrance.
"Indeed, they had a soft spot for you. Each of the nine represents one of the nine elements that preside over Earth. But there are six more that exist, far more powerful than them. Omolora, the Guardian of Time; Masuyo, the Guardian of World; Fatum, the Guardian of Fate; Destinee, the Guardian of Destiny; Lucifer, me, the Guardian of Deviation; and Atalantos, the Guardian of Balance. Each of the six is paired, to counter each other's powers. Together, the six are the ultimate guardians. God created us to oversee his dominions, and separated us, so that none would learn of our powers. For when the time comes, we will be the ones to guard God from his own people, from his own creations, but mostly, his own angels."
I stood thunderstruck as the information slowly trickled in and started to make sense. He couldn't have meant me could he? I could feel his eyes gauging my reaction.
"Hard to believe, yes, but it is quite reality. The reason God banished you is so that your powers may flourish, for in Heaven, they would be sealed. That is why I was given Hell, so I may grow strong. Each of the other five are scattered in various places. I have summoned them all to meet us in a few minutes. That will give us time today to get acquainted and answer any basic questions we may have." He gave me a warm smile that melted my heart.
"Um, what are my powers?" He burst out laughing and nearly fell back before I reflexively reached out to grab him. I missed my landing and we both tumbled, but before we could reach the searing flames, Lucifer opened his wings and took the blow of the fire. But instead of burning him, they covered him and gave him an otherworldly look that made my stomach churn.
With a mighty heave, he lifted us back to the pillar on which we had been talking. Quite a few demons had gathered around as their eyes were surveying me.
"He isn't a piece of meat guys - back off." That got some disappointed sighs from some of them, and I chuckled, happy I still had some charm. I felt Lucifer's hand on my shoulder and electricity shot through my body as heat coursed through my veins.
"I doubt you'll ever lose your touch Atalantos. Come, the five will be waiting." He took my hand gently and led me to a central room, surrounded by fire, which only parted as Lucifer walked in. I followed behind quickly as the fire once more covered the entrance. It was an old room, that looked like it had been used but once before, and a long time before it was. In its center was a great silver pendant, encircling a picture of silver wings. "You are now in one of the rooms of Khalid. Hell is not as it seems. It's a mask for my home. Omalara's home rests within the sea. Masuyo rests in the air. Fatum hides in the darkness; Destinee cloaks herself in the light. As for me, I was given Hell. And you, Atalantos, your realm is within each of the other five. You are the balancing point of us all, though directly, you contrast my power; you are the balance of all six powers, including yours. That's why your part in this is so vital." Usually, I would have found this very amusing, and would have laughed my head off. But for some reason, I managed to take it in stride. Yet I doubt that's the case; I'll probably freak out when it all finally settles in. "What is the silver pendant for?" I asked Lucifer as I ran my hands over it. "It is my symbol. As Guardian of Deviation, I bear the silver wings. Each Guardian has a different colored wing set, pertaining to their certain power." I nodded in consent as I traced my finger through it. Something was nagging at my mind but I just couldn't put my finger on it. And it was honestly starting to piss me off. I closed my eyes and continued to trace along the wings. I could hear a gentle hymn throughout the entire place except in this emblem. There was no music, no happiness, no nothing. It just stood there, like a foreboding creature. "This emblem, has it always been here?" I asked Lucifer as I turned to meet his gaze. "As far as I can remember, yes, it's always been there." His eyes were questioning my own as I continued to try and pinpoint the source of my aggravation, "Is something the matter?" "It's just that something about this doesn't seem right. It's almost like it's fake or something, but I can't seem to put my finger on why or how." I closed my eyes as I rested my ears upon it. Sure enough, there was no gentle hymn. As I moved my hand across it, I felt the slightest groove ever and immediately stopped my hand. My eyes shot open as I felt the breeze of a thousand years trickle through.
"Lucifer, can you burn a hole through this emblem?" His eyes went wide as he understood what I was asking him, but my gentle face and confident voice seemed to make him think it was better to just comply. The moment his powers touched the emblem, a blinding silver lance shot through toward Lucifer.
Something in my legs immediately propelled me at speeds that should have been incapable to any but the Archangels, but then again, I guess I am one of them. I launched myself in front of Lucifer's body, as his eyes were wide with shock. The lance pierced my back and I cried out in agony as it melted into my body.
As quickly as the pain had begun, it diminished as silver light poured through me toward Lucifer as his hands were outstretched to hold me as I started to lose my footing. The moment his hands touched mine, my body erupted in silver light that shot to all reaches of Hell as Hell's demons fluttered toward the room. Lucifer's red wings were being stripped as we both watched in horror.
In but mere seconds, Lucifer's wings were gone and his eyes lost their potent red gaze followed by his red robes. And in their place rose silver garments that attached themselves to his body, searing silver pupils radiated their beauty in his eyes, and lastly, from his back, arose magnificent silver wings, that far outstretched any wingspan that I thought was possible.
The emblem on the wall shuddered as it fell off the wall, and in its place, was a doorway. And then I knew; it was the true door to Khalid. A silent hymn that had died out eras ago began once more and gathered toward Lucifer's neck as it formed into a silver pendant.
Lucifer looked down at his pendant and then back at me. All around us, demons gaped at him as his beauty had been magnified to unimaginable limits. A slow beating of feathers started to surround us as we heard voices that we couldn't quite grasp. Soon, the voices were everywhere, beseeching something, or someone. Lucifer's eyes gained recognition as he slowly turned his head around to the center of the room, right at me.
It was at that time that I recognized feathers around me. Wings were more like it. I gasped as I suddenly bolted up and turned around. Four more beauties stood before me. All of a sudden, it clicked; these were the other Four Guardians that Lucifer had told of. Each had a different colored wing set: Omalra's turquoise, Masuyo's velvet, Destinee's off-white, Fatum's grayish-black. Their robes and eyes reflected their color - their symbol of power.
One lifted its head toward Lucifer and gave him a dazzling smile.
"It is good to see you again Lucifer. We have long awaited the day that once more, you may regain your powers," spoke Omalara. The other three followed suit and nodded their heads in consent. As all four turned their gaze back to me, I tried to move back but realized I was being held. I turned my head up to see Lucifer looking back at me. He started to blush and immediately let go of my waist. That brought small chuckles from the other Four.
"Lucifer, we must all talk. Alone." At this, Lucifer waved his hand and the other demons begrudgingly left. As I started to follow them out, Lucifer grabbed my hand and looked at the other Four.
"I'm afraid he too will have to leave," spoke Masuyo.
"But that cannot be. He is destined to be one of us. You all know this." Lucifer was quickly growing angry as the others just watched both of us.
"True, but as it stands, he's not ready."
"Bullshit he's not ready. If we send him out again, he will be destroyed."
"Amusing that you would be so quick to defend him Lucifer, you haven't even told him the last part of the bargain. How do you know he will consent to it?" Destinee had spoken finally.
"How can he not? It was destined to be so. Fate foretold."
Once more, the four laughed, this time more loudly. As each quieted down, Fatum started to speak. "Lucifer, you forget. Though I govern fate, and Destinee governs destiny, our powers are useless against Atalantos. He is the balance between us all. Though we may alter each other, we cannot change balance - none of us but you Lucifer. Even then, you would need either Atalantos' blessings, or God's. And neither of them shall consent to that. He is safe, as long as the balance of the three forces remains intact. The moment it breaks though, he will have lost the protection of the three. But fear not, for when balance breaks, his powers shall awaken. His wings shall spread out, and his pendant shall shine once more."
Lucifer remained thunderstruck but he hesitantly let go of my hand. I proceeded to exit the room and then took off at a galloping run, tears covering my face. The pain in my heart once more made itself known, as Lucifer had been able to take that pain away.
I don't know how long I ran, but when I stopped, I realized I knew nothing of where I was or who was here. I yelled out to see if anyone was there, but I got no answer. Instead, I found a glistening object in a room to the left of where I stood. I slowly walked toward it, some mysterious force guiding me.
As I reached out to touch it, I heard once more the beating of wings and a voice that stood out. "No Atalantos! Don't touch the orb." Lucifer's voice was thick with worry and apprehension but it was already too late. My hand had grasped it. I felt nothing different and nothing seemed to change.
All five of them came to rest in front of me, each of their face's ghastly white. It sent chills up my spine as I tried to take cooling breaths. And then, I heard it.
"My my my! What is this? Atalantos has been unguarded. Balance plunged into the hands of darkness itself. I promised you I would have you yet my dear love."
"Seth." That was all it took for the orb to start glistening as in its place started to appear a door from which within came none other than Seth himself. His smile made my blood boil as anger seethed in me.
"So this is what Hell is like. Interesting, not bad Lucifer. And what is this? Five others who I have never seen. Your beauty even surpasses Atalantos' and I didn't think that was possible. But nevertheless, your ass isn't close to being as good as Atalantos' is. Isn't that right?"
He was tormenting me and he knew it. He was reveling in the fact that I could do no harm to him.
"But alas, time calls. Isn't that right Omalara?" Seth sneered as Omalara's face immediately stiffened as her eyes betrayed her shock.
"How do I know, you may ask Omalara? Simple really, you see, God isn't all you think him to be. I know of the war that shall come to be, the one war that will test the bonds between the original six. I should have been the sixth. It was my duty; it was supposed to be mine. But you came along Atalantos dear. You ruined it all."
My mouth once more found the ability to speak as my mind digested the information that I learned.
"So this is what it has been all along? Revenge, because I was chosen to become a Guardian and you weren't?"
"Fool. Incompetent fool. True, you stole my job, but that wasn't what angered me most. No, it was not. Was it Lucifer?"
I watched Lucifer's face contract into that of shame and sorrow as he hung his head. A small tear fell from his face as Seth continued his berating.
"Why sad now, dear Lucifer? You had none back then, why all of a sudden? I mean, I can understand why you might have wanted him for a quick fuck. But you fucking fell in love with him? What did he have that I didn't? I was so much more powerful than he was. I had more knowledge, more skill, I was even better in bed. I might not have had his looks, but I could have changed that. It wasn't written in stone that you had to have the Guardian you contrast as your lover. Look at Masuyo, he's had over hundred's of wives. Yet Omalara didn't care, did she? She moved on. True, they got back together, but that means shit. I mean, I would have let you have some sex with him, but you went and fell in love with him Lucifer?"
"Seth, what the Hell are you talking about?" My anger had gotten the better of me as I felt the pain from Lucifer as he shed silent tears.
"You didn't have his heart, Seth." Lucifer's barely audible words struck Seth in the heart as he flew off the handle.
"Heart? You're fucking telling me about a heart? You piece of shit, I loved you more than the world. I loved you more than I loved God. And you're telling me he had more heart than I did? When did he do the things I did for you?"
"Damnit Seth. Quit fucking yelling. Will someone tell me what is happening here?"
Seth suddenly smiled at me slyly as he looked back at the others. "Oh, I get it. No wonder he's been acting so stupidly. You didn't tell him did you Lucifer? No, you wouldn't, you couldn't. You see Atalantos, when you were born, you took away all that I had built. My position and my lover. But don't worry Atalantos, our mother was very happy she had you. God immediately loved you and our dad couldn't have been prouder. That's right Atalantos, I am your brother."
Closure: What do you guys think? A little twist here and there, and some subtleties I hope you have picked up on, because you're going to need them in the chapters to come. Send comments to naomi_kiyoshi@yahoo.com
Special thanks to Rebel 101 for editing this for me.