Chapter THREE: The Oracle of Darkness (or is it fate?)

Standing there surrounded by light, a young woman whose face seemed ageless and no less than beautiful,watched as the chapel angels all placed themselves into rows, then all took their ceremonial daggers, and slit their wrists, presenting them to the light, as the liquid dripped down into the design imprints that ran all over the chapel floor and combined into a huge design that was embedded in the middle of the room.

As the combined blood flowed, it started glowing and pulsing, and as soon as it touched the design, the woman smiled and closed her eyes. Slowly, a breeze formed, which swept around the room, but soon came to focus around her. As she slowly floated into the air, a whisper came forth, and then became a deeper voice, calling out. The woman answered back, in a voice that sounded calm and light.

"I have asked your guidance on a difficult matter, Sarius. Will you help me?"

"You ask a difficult matter, Saraphitia. The Council cannot always help you in your affairs." The voice was scolding, almost as if a teacher was talking to a student.

Saraphitia opened her eyes, and within the breeze, a face appeared of a being who looked almost like a human, would have passed easily for one had the eyes not been as black and cold as a winters' night.

"Sarius, this is a delicate matter, one that you have no idea of how grave the consequences could be...if no immediate actions are taken."

The High Being, Sarius, however, was far from convinced of any danger.

"We have held the void of Creation for countless millenia, Saraphitia. Who now would oppose us and bring chaos to all that we have lain foundations for?"

Saraphitia bowed her head, and spoke in a very submissive tone, addressing her mentor.

"Sarius,as long as there are forces of the Darkness left, we will never be rid of the need to defend the lesser realms. And after the great battle, we lost many servants of the greater good one who you well knew was General Hiresta, a great warrior and leader of the angel class."

She paused, waiting for Sarius' objections. To her surprise, he offered none. She continued.

"Many servants have been found in many places, across time and space. At long last, I finally have obtained knowledge that places the locations of the greater ones Hiresta amongst them."

Sarius' expressions showed that he was giving this last bit of news time to process. Finally, the eyes glowed a crimson red, and when Sarius spoke, it was clear from his tone of voice that he definitely was not to be misunderstood, especially on a situation with clearly horrible consequences such as this.

"I will address the Council of this matter. You will send a guide to her, where ever she may be. She must be protected from any potential harm."

Saraphitia supressed a smile. Long had she known Sarius, and now she was somewhat adept at predicting his decisions. She was well pleased with herself for guessing correctly what he would want done. Now all that was left was to get him to approve her strategy, and she wasted no time in telling it. After she'd finished, Sarius' nod of approval meant that his agreement with her plan was approved. Now she would be able to put everything in place. She could count on the support and the backing of the Council to grant her whatever force was deemed neccessary. She bowed her head once more, and the apparition of Sarius dimmed from sight as she was gently returned to the chapel floor.

Now was the time for decisive and well placed choices. Saraphitia was giving orders to the chapel angels before her feet even touched the floor.

"Hear me, Angels each and every one of you must be called upon to protect the higher good, which is the protection of our warrior angel Hiresta. She needs you all to go to her in the realm that she has been in since her fall in the great war."

All of the chapel angels understood her directions, and they began changing, all of them were wearing white temple robes that suddenly became white armor. Their wings grew larger and stronger, and their halos became winged helmets. This transformation always pleased Saraphitia, because as such, she was not an angel. She was a class above, a higher being herself, but of a lower standing than Sarius, and so, each time that the chapel angels set to work, the spell binding their powers would be reversed and they would be allowed to use those powers for whatever protection that they could. As the angels all bowed before Saraphitia, she also noted that their daggers had become full length swords. Amazing.

She went and stood in front of a younger angel, and he bowed even lower as her presence before him was felt. Touching his helmet, Saraphitia looked down on the young one and smiled.

"I have need of you. Remain here in the chapel so that I may request a favor of you."

The angel stood, and beat his right hand against his breastplate in salute. Saraphitia nodded her thanks. Then she looked around at all the other angels, opened her hands, and lifted her palms towards the sky.

As she looked up at the ceiling of the chapel, a small beam of light shown down, and all at once, it got larger and larger unil it turned into a portal that covered the chapel's ceiling. Saraphitia looked at all the angels around her. She slowly closed her eyes, and the portal started pulsing and twisting, an image appearing on the other side. As the image wavered, Saraphitia looked again at the angels gathered around her.

"Go. Find Hiresta and protect her. Make sure that nothing harms her. When the appointed time has passed, this portal shall open again, and all of you will return here to the chapel. Please, do everything that you can to locate her."

The angels all spread their wings in salute, and then, one after the other, flew up into and through, the portal. They would be instantaneously transported to Earth, where they would quickly locate and protect their quarry.

When the last angel had passed through the portal and it resealed itself, Saraphitia looked at the angel that she'd requested to stay behind. He stepped forward now, and she gave him a sealed scroll. As his fingers closed around the parchment, Saraphitia's gaze met his, and through it, she gave him his instructions.

"Find the Archangel Naiumus. He is the one I wish to speak with. Bring him here to the chapel, that I may inform him of some much awaited news. Please make haste in this matter, time has now begun to move against us."

The angel bowed, then spread his wings and flew off into the multicolored sky. Saraphitia watched as the angel grew smaller and smaller in the distance. Now, here at last, would her choice finally be made. As she looked at the rainbow colored hues of the sky, she sighed. In the end, when it all came down to it, she would miss this realm. The sky, and the chapel itself, which had been her dwelling place for well over three millenia.

Amongst the fires, dense smoke, and acres of ash, the dark kingdom of Car'ilal glistened in the moonlight.

Built in a land cursed by the Higher Ones, no sunlight would ever penetrate the skies that prevailed in this realm. The land was in constant darkness, and the only light that did arise came from the Castle of Hell.

The castle was the home and torture chamber of Malachian, the High Demon. His armies stretched around the castle for endless miles, and over countless centuries, the might of his armies only grew stronger as his might grew more powerful. Soon, he would be able to storm the Gates of the Celestial City, and take the riches that were sure to abound in such a place. He was a true demon, hand picked from the Mouth of Hell itself, to lead the dark forces to victory.

Sitting on his throne, eyes closed, Malachian slowly ran his hand over the scar on his face. It was a reminder, given to him by the angel who had beaten him in battle. Every so often, he would sit and reflect on that one fight- the way a warrior must, if they are to learn from others and crush them.

The sound of steps on the marble floors on the great hall did not make him open his eyes. Still, he sat there, stroking his scar. The sound stopped a few feet away. Malachian didn't even bother to look up.

"Yes? What is it?" His tone was cold.

He was in a mood, and not really wanting a disruption, but that was the price to pay for being a leader and not a follower. A childish voice answered his inquiry.

"Great care must you have now, Malachian. The Higher Ones have learned of the one that you seek."

Malachian opened his eyes and looked up. There standing before him, was a small girl, clothed in a deep red robe, with silver hair, and jet black eyes. She would have seemed almost meekish to anyone else, but not to him, since he knew her true name and incarnation.

"You would now appear before me, offering advice where I did not seek it? Yet, you had no words for me when I fought the last battle of the great war." His eyes turned red.

The girl, or it, smiled. She gave a simple bow and smiled at Malachian. But he would have none of it. Finally, the girl grew irritated by his actions.

"Seeking victory for your battles was not to be, Malachian. You grow angry because I could not give to you the victory that you so fervently seek. But that was not my doing. Your failure was already written, just as my fate is written. Ultimately, your own actions shall lead to your fate."

Malachian looked at this apparition and smiled. Then he stood up from his throne and walked slowly down the steps towards this young girl, this- being.

"Come, Ve'iaam." He said. "This charade must hardly be performed anymore. What is it that you have truly come to say to me?"

At the mention of its true name, the being known as Ve'iaam, reared back, as if slapped in the face. Now, that he had invoked its name, it was bound to answer his questions, a technicality that he had not had the pleasure of, that day on the battlefield so long ago. Ve'iaam smiled, and although it retained the illusion it was currently showing, the voice that now spoke was deep, and almost melodious, as well as cold.

"You have dreamed of victory over the City, and this may yet hold true. Your powers are strengthened again, and yet, your mind has been- even now, calculating the many directions that this battle may place you in.

You are cold hearted and a killer, excellent qualities in one who leads such a strong force." Malachian smiled.

"Then why are you telling me what I already know? Get on with it or get out, Oracle of Darkness."

Ve'iaam glared at him, disdain showing on the seemingly innocent face.

"The Forces of the Higher Realm are already moving against your own. Soon now, a battle will be waged in which the fate of all will be revealed to me, and when that happens, even I will make no move to stop it."

Now Malachian was growing mad. Ve'iaam was drawing out the suspense, something that he hated when it happened.

"The Higher Ones will choose to remove your grasp on the one you want, and have sent their forces to stop your own. You may lose everything you want in this particular matter and after that, your forces would soon fall too. Is that a rewarding thought?"

Ve'iaam smiled, and Malachian wished that he could wipe the smirk off of this thing's face. But he didn't, instead he only nodded.

"I will go back to Earth, and take control of the situation myself then."

Ve'iaam only looked at him, considered this a moment, before answering.

"Then know this: in the end your choices will be few. What you do now determines what you do then. But remember, even if you are winning, can a defeat still be inflicted to your cause."

Malachian looked over where Ve'iaam had been standing, and the apparition was gone.

Now that the damn thing had gone, Malachian summoned Anarakia. She appeared as soon as he mentioned her name. Laughing. Malachian looked at her evily. She sensed an immediate urge for killing something from him, but didn't call attention to it. That could come later.

"Yes, my love? What have you called me here for?" Her voice was rich and vibrant.

Malachian walked up to her, and suddenly, grabbed her in his arms. Looking into her eyes, he smiled. "How would you like to accompany me somewhere?"

Anarakia looked at him, intent on seeing whether he was serious or not. He was. "Where are we going?"

"Earth. To take care of matters that might concern my investment."

She smiled. So this was a business trip, eh? She'd be allowed to do all manner of nasty things to any humans who stood in her way. "And if I said no?" He relaxed his grip on her, and she smiled.

"Well you'd be the one missing out on all the fun that could be had in such a place." He'd just appealed to her sense of destroying things just for the fun of it. He had her now.

She glanced at the floor, appearing to be thinking it over, but Malachian wasn't fooled. He knew she'd say yes even if he'd not said anything.

Anarakia looked up into his eyes, finally. "Yes. I'll go. If I get too bored, I'll just end the misery for a couple of humans."

Malachian kissed her lips. He smiled at her.

"Anything else you want?"

She didn't even give that a moment's thought. Her smile said everything.