CH. I
Present Day
Malach sensed a sinister air of foreboding. An uneasy feeling grew within him as the air directly in front of him pulsed gently; an unwelcome visitor emerged through the throng of people going about their business on the snow covered streets of London. “Samsaweel, I thought it was you. I am surprised it has taken so long for one of you to make an appearance.” The archangel stepped forward, his tall, lean figure becoming clearer through the swirling snow. His black cloak hung neatly, emblazoned with the white crest of The Fallen; a dagger through the middle of two large wings. Malach quickly drew his sword and pointed it at the chest of the dark angel as he stepped in towards the tip of the blade. Looking down at it he smiled with contempt.
“We are in no rush, protector. Time has shown the boy to be succumbing to us without any intervention,” his hypnotic voice unsettled Malach.
The protector looked down at the boy peering through the large shop window. His cheeks bright red as the cold wind funnelled its way through the chaotic business of Man’s world. Malach could see that Cameron had a small well of tears collecting in his eyes, unsure whether it was the usual inner pain that he had been suffering or the chill air. He hoped it was the latter.
“The boy is not succumbing to you. He has been through a great ordeal but his faith holds firm. He will be even stronger for this experience; you are wasting your time.”
Samsaweel laughed “Oh Malach, time is of no importance here. It is irrelevant.” He glared at Malach, his black eyes piercing the falling curtain of snow, “the outcome is the only issue.”
“Outcome? What would your interest be in a boy, Samsaweel? He has nothing which would serve your cause of despair and chaos,” Malach replied purposefully.
“We are interested in all who may show a desire to pull away from The Enlightened, Malach.” Samsaweel made to move towards Cameron. Malach shifted himself directly in the way, the tip of his sword now resting against the dark archangel’s breastplate, the blade bending slightly. The iridescent blade shimmered as it came into contact with The Fallen angel.
“Of course, if it accompanied the demise of a protector as well that would be most welcome…” Samsaweel gritted his teeth, his posture dangerous.
“Do not be a fool Malach! Stand in my way again and I promise you that I will send your Aleph into damnation!”
“Leave now Samsaweel! Or it will be you who travels towards damnation. Your interest is not wanted here. Leave the entity be!”
Samsaweel laughed. He stepped away from Malach, the heavy snow covering his retreat, until he disappeared from the protector’s sight completely.
*
Malach walked through the Gate of Arabah, gazing in awe at the huge gateway to the angel city. Set in an arch of light, the Gate of Arabah was the north gate, the main thoroughfare into the city. In the far distance, upon the horizon the protector could see The Seven Palaces representing the universal councils. The six angelic palaces; three on either side, home of the angelic councils which governed The Enlightened flanked the tallest palace, a tower of pure white. Atop the taller palace of The Collective, the rays of The Aleph radiated out across the realm, a kingdom of forever light. If extinguished, perpetual darkness would prevail throughout the cosmos.
Malach strode forcefully through the streets of the city, his white cloak flapping behind him; as a protector his wings and cloak were pure white, tipped by no other colour. He entered the market square which bustled with angels seeking goods to carry out their trades and duties, some sought that unusual piece of adornment for their personal wares or homes. Music and laughter filled the air, unnoticed by the protector. The protector’s thoughts were filled with his earlier meeting with The Fallen archangel.
Malach’s mind raced as he continued to march on through the lanes of the angel city. Quickening his pace Malach headed for the quay on the edge of The Sea of Souls. He turned down a narrow concourse. Small, rectangular shaped houses lined the marbled lane, vibrant colourful shades of greens, blues and reds of the window shutters stood out against the white walls. He could hear laughter and conversation waft down the corridor of houses from within. As he exited the lane, the protector could see the crossing control sitting at the entrance to the harbour. Quickening his step, the urgency to speak with the council drove him on.
Malach fought his way through the busy harbour. Inside the small quayside building, Malach felt claustrophobic in the cramped surroundings. He coughed, agitated at being kept waiting by the small, rotund clerk.
“Malach welcome, what can I do for you?” Kisael looked up at Malach over his small round glasses and then continued thumbing through endless reams of consort orders requesting an audience with the different councils. The counter was unseen through the jumble of paperwork, which threatened to overwhelm the small room.
“I need to speak to the Archangel Council.”
“That should be no problem. Do you know your consort order number?” Kisael stood poised, ready to produce the corresponding order at the flick of a wing.
Malach placed his hands on the desk and leant forward.
“I haven’t got a consort order, but it is imperative I speak to the council!”
Kisael became ruffled. Tutting, he removed his glasses, placing them purposefully on the marbled counter.
“You know the procedure Malach. Without a consort order you cannot cross the Sea of Souls,” he said forcefully with a flamboyant wave of his hands. “What would happen if every angel, when they liked, summoned the council?”
Kisael stood there with his head to one side looking at Malach waiting for the answer. An answer was not forthcoming. He replaced his glasses on the edge of his nose.
“Chaos! That is what would happen, seek your consort.” Kisael returned to his duties. Malach, knowing it was pointless to spend time arguing with him, left.
*
Serapiel offered Malach a chair. The cool room made the feathers on his wings tingle, he stretched them downwards and the tips of his feathers caressed the highly patterned marble floor. Onyx chimes hanging at his consort’s window tinkled their song, much like the Japanese bamboo chimes the protector had seen within the entity’s world. He always marvelled at how both worlds carried shared influences. With a deep breath Malach began to explain to his consort why he had to speak to the Archangel Council.
“The Fallen will try and undermine any entity where they can secure a weakness, Malach” said Serapiel.
Serapiel’s long blonde hair complemented her purple cloak of the consorts; the tips of her wings were also purple, the sign of angelic wisdom. Consorts were the civil servants of the councils and mentors to the angels. They were usually very old angels, not in appearance but in the passing of the years and the knowledge they had gained. Every angel within The Enlightened had a consort, although not all sought their guidance. They were the only route to an audience with any of the councils or individual council members; apart from the Highest Power where only the angels of The Collective had the authority.
“It may well be just pure coincidence that the darkness has sent a senior Fallen angel to your entity. It has happened before in the past and I have no doubt it will happen again.”
Malach frowned. “They have taken so long to make an appearance, Serapiel. They react very quickly when an entity shows any weakness, and it is normally a daemon that makes the initial move.” He untied his cloak, placing it over the backrest of the chair, “They are usually very subtle. The sudden appearance of a dark archangel is not exactly subtle!”
Serapiel saw the concern radiate from Malach’s deep green eyes, “Your entity has shown a desire to communicate up to the point of his loss, has he not? That is very unusual in one so young. How old is he now? Fourteen?”
“Yes” replied Malach, “nearly fifteen of his years.”
“Entities communicate, normally up to five of their years, then through the teachings of their world they lose the will, never the ability, they just forget how to. In time, protector, you will see how far the entities have travelled down a parallel path opposite to that of The Enlightened. Whilst the majority do not actually tread along the road towards the dark, they are subjected to a barrage of teachings which denounce any suggestions that individuals can communicate through the angelic walls as the insight of madness or childish whims.”
Serapiel paused, distracted by angels walking by her open window, their noisy chatter flooding the room. As they passed she continued.
“Few when they turn to adult years find the desire to regain the partnership they had with their protector. The majority ignore the existence of us altogether. Some go on to find The Fallen angel.”
Serapiel sat forward clasping her hands together.
“You will understand this once you have partnered more entities Malach. The boy is your first; it is perfectly...