"Wine And Snow"
Part 10
by Beryll
There's beauty in the heart of a beast
fear behind the eyes of a thief
I know, you know we're all incomplete
let's get together and let's get some relief
--Warlock
Asmodeus woke with the uneasy feeling that something was not quite right. He still lay in Michael's arm and Michael's bright white wing was still wrapped around him, cocooning him in soft feathers. But all his senses tickled with nameless alarm.
The temptation just to snuggle back against the warm angel was almost irresistible, but he hadn't survived all the millennia of war by giving in to a false sense of security.
He tried to disentangle himself from Michael without waking him, but bright blue eyes opened the moment he tried to move and the archangel was immediately wide awake, suddenly moving with the speed of lightning, violently shoving both Asmodeus and the still sleeping Belial from the bed.
For a moment Asmodeus felt terrible pain and fear lance through his heart. Was he so repulsive to the angel, now that Michael had sated his desire?
But then he too noticed the silvery shimmering permeating the air of the room, quickly coalescing to human shapes. Bulky human shapes with sparkling wings and caring naked swords in their hands.
'NO, not now!' he thought desperately, trying to shift back to hell where he would be safe and finding the way blocked by heavenly might. Calling his own armor as well as his long staff in a vain hope that he would be able fight of the heavenly hosts, he glances over at Belial who was just sitting up at the other side of the bed. His brother was still rumpled from sleep, his eyes cloudy with barely shed dreams.
Then his eyes found Michael's, who stood at the foot of the bed, back in his shining white armor but still unarmed. There was confusion in the archangel's eyes, anger as well and maybe even a bit of fear. But most importantly there was no trace of repulsion or hatred directed at Asmodeus and the demon prince realized with shock, that he would gladly die, now that he had been back in Michael's arms at least once.
Then a clear voice cut through the turmoil and Asmodeus turned back to the battle-ready angels with dread. "You will pay for what you have done here, hell-spawn!" It was Gabriel himself and the shining silver blade in his hands looked just as deadly as Michael's flamesword. Asmodeus recoiled from the searing light that shone from the archangel's face, trying to shield his eyes.
He felt Gabriel move towards him and blindly threw himself out of the way, shouting for Belial to get moving. The world around him was awash with brilliant white light that burned him to his core and he could do nothing more than block the strikes directed at him.
Then suddenly hands grabbed him, hands with a grip too strong to break and Asmodeus screamed in fear and rage. But just as suddenly he was wrapped in warmth and the oh so familiar smell of Michael's wings and the clamor of battle was gone as quiet and darkness enveloped him.
For a long moment he leaned against Michael's slight body, trembling, seeking comfort but then one thought pierced his confusion.
"Belial!" he cried and ripped free of the archangel to realize that he was back in hell, right in front of the portal leading to Lucifer's throne room. And that his brother was not present.
He spun on Michael with rage burning in his eyes. "You abandoned my brother to them!" he screamed. "They will rip him to shreds! You... you..."
The archangel raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his eyes full of sorrow. "Ami, I had to... I had to save at least one of you... I could not reach him..."
And with his honest sorrow Asmodeus rage fled to be replaced by heart wrenching pain, tears rising to his eyes. "They will extinguish him..." he whispered helplessly and allowed Michael to draw him back into his arms. "Bell... oh Michael... they will kill my brother..."
It seemed like an eternity that Michael held him like that, again wrapping his wings around the demon prince to shield him from the curious eyes of the lesser demons that emerged from all around to find out whta this commotion was all about.
"Maybe they won't kill him right away," Michael whispered hopefully, "god has decreed his punishment and his angel's may not willfully change it, however much they may wish. Maybe Gabriel will come to his senses in time and just drag Belial up to heaven to be tried. It has happened before..."
Just as his words started to penetrate the haze of desperation that Asmodeus was drowning in, the portal to the throne room burst open, hitting the walls with a clash that reverberated trough half of hell.
It was seldom that the lord of darkness left his lair. It had not happened for many thousands of years that he did so in rage but now he was bristling with fury, his whole body wrapped in a seething aura of purest flame, that made Michael move back in fear. This was not some demon he could fight, this was the first archangel created by god. Fallen angel maybe, but still the most powerful of them all. And his hands held storms of fire, ready to be loosened on any offender.
His voice shook the foundations of hell when he spoke: "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"
Asmodeus moved just as quickly as Michael had, interposing himself between his lord and his lover, spreading his arms wide to safe the archangel from harm. "It's not his fault," he cried, "he saved me from Gabriel, don't hurt him!"
For a moment the fiery aura around Lucifer seemed ready to erupt in mayhem. Then it subsided as quickly as it had appeared, leaving a lord of hell that looked thoroughly ruffled.
"What the fucking hell is going on here?!" he demanded. "And where is your brother?! This is the second time in as many days that angel boy shows up down here and I sure as hell hope the two of you have a fucking good explanation!"
Asmodeus tried to breath deeply, collecting whatever clam he could to explain to his lord. At least Lucifer would not rip Michael's head off right away. That was something to be grateful for. But how to explain?
But before he could say anything, Michael spoke, arrogant as ever: "I have reclaimed what was always rightfully mine." he stated. "Asmodeus and Belial belong to me again." Both Lucifer and Asmodeus were speechless for a moment, Asmodeus turning around to stare at the audacious archangel in open mouthed wonder.
"You have what?" Lucifer asked, his voice dangerously quiet and this time even Michael noticed that he was on enemy territory. And he reacted quite appropriately, getting down on one knee and bowing his head.
"I love Asmodeus and Belial," he said softly, "and I beg forgiveness for all the hurt that I have caused them. And I..." he swallowed hard and then looked up at Lucifer, "...I also beg forgiveness for what I have done to you."
Hell seemed to freeze with the enormity of these words and Asmodeus almost expected gods wrath to strike Michael down for what he had just done. But nothing happened.
Lucifer drew breathe very slowly, running one hand through his unruly hair. Then he moved forward until he stood right in front of the kneeling archangel. Very gently he cupped his jaw but his expression was stern when he spoke.
"What you did to me, was done in ignorance, child. I will forgive that. But what you did to Asmodeus and Belial is not for me to forgive. You will have to earn them before you may claim them."
For a long time their eyes remained locked and Asmodeus was not quite sure what was going on between the two of them. He was more than ready to forgive Michael anything. But there seemed to be a deeper understanding between the archangel and the lord of hell, when Michael nodded slowly. "I understand." he whispered. "I will."
"Good." Lucifer smiled grimly. "Now where is Belial?"
And with that simple question all his sorrow came crashing down on Asmodeus again. "The angels have taken him." he whispered.
"Is that so...?" A crooked grin appeared on Lucifer's face. "Well, it was inevitable that there would be a confrontation sooner or later. Better now. I feel like getting rid of some long saved up aggression." He eyed Michael cheerfully who shifted uncomfortable under his gaze.
"What do you say, angel boy? Feel like starting your compensation? How about you give me a lift to heaven. There is a couple of things I need to discuss with some prissy angels and my wings seem to have gone missing..."
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 11