THE SEVEN HEAVENLY CHILDREN

8TH ACT: THE PRIMARY DEMON

GAIEL FROWNED UPON SEEING HIS REFLECTION FROM ONE OF THE HOSPITAL'S WINDOWS.

He was covered in blood. Dark and putrid blood from the ghouls he just massacred. Dark ash was also all over the place. He had to control his force to not tear the whole place down. However, restraining his powers made him tired. And the fact that he is in more terrible shape due to the ghoul poison, made his frown worse. His body is not healing properly.

"Bloody murder.", he grunted as he felt his abdomen burn with pain. He looked at his shirt and found that his wound is bleeding again. That stupid poison is getting him over the edge. He was too careless.

So many lives were lost. He gritted his teeth. As he looked up and tried to connect to his father. However, he didn't receive any response. It was probably the demonic miasma growing thicker by the moment.

Gaiel felt life energy from somewhere. When his eyes wandered to the other corner of the room, Gaiel saw a lingering soul. It was a young man. Probably two or three years older than him. He was crying as he watched a clump of ash centimeters away from him.

The soul had managed to escape the pull of the Forbidden Realm. It was rare but not impossible. This happens if a human has a soul that was too pure to get corrupted. The soul will be capable to protect itself from possession. Only a few humans possess such a soul.

Gaiel walked towards the spirit. "I'm sorry." He said as he used his ability to help get rid of the soul of the impurities trying to consume it. "You need to go now. Staying here won't be good for you." He told the spirit.

The spirit sadly nodded before speaking to him. "Tell my mother, I'm sorry. I can't protect her anymore." The man said as he glanced at the old woman from afar. Tears were flooding the soul's eyes. Then, he vanished.

"I shall take the responsibility of your untimely death." He promised.

Gaiel had managed to save fifteen persons out of so many. Humans who had been turned into ghouls must be killed. There was no saving them. Their poor souls had been thrown into the depths of the Forbidden Realm leaving their bodies possessed by demons. Gaiel had no other choice.

He gritted his teeth. This was his fault. He'll need to clean up this mess he made.

"S-sir?" One of the survivors approached him. She was one of the nurses he had managed to save. She was obviously petrified but at least she can still talk and walk. Most of the people there were neither unable to speak nor stand from the horror they experience.

He glanced at her. "What is it?" He asked. Trying to hide his bleeding wound to stop further panic towards the survivors.

"Are they gone? Are we safe now?" She asked.

He sighed. "Not yet."

He heard a collective gasp from the survivors. Gaiel could hear their thoughts and it was tiring him out even more. He had tried to block everyone earlier but the trauma of the place and the people were drowning him. Besides the fact that he needs help due to his injuries.

Gaiel sighed hard. He still hasn't killed the Primary Demon. It was still hiding somewhere. It was definitely good in concealing itself. "Stay together and don't leave the protective circle." He commanded. The demonic miasma is lethal to humans. That is why he is trying his hardest to maintain his seals, all the survivors will die without the seal's protection.

"Y-yes, Sir." The woman retreated to the room where the others stayed leaving Gaiel at the front of the door.

These humans...they'll be the end of me. He thought as the panicked thoughts and whispers rang loud in his ears. It was one of his abilities and it was not serving him good at that time. Gaiel momentarily closed his eyes and a face appeared in his mind.

A girl with sparkling doll-like eyes. Her long, wavy hair framed her small face delicately as she smiled and told him to take care of himself. She even had the guts to hug Illie like it was some human pet. Normally, those of their kind would avoid his spiritual beast.

Ollie has been with his father Gabriel and because Gaiel was his descendant, it was natural that he will also be the beast's master. It was the same with the other descendants. They were afraid he might lose control over it and have the beast wreak havoc all over the base.

Unlike Briel, she immediately trusted him and Ollie without even knowing much about them. Gaiel wasn't sure if it was safe for someone to be that trusting. Even given the situation they were in. Gaiel expected her to protest and selfishly demanded he stayed by her side. Yet the girl didn't.

Ollie was also not hesitant to be with the human. Normally, spiritual beasts avoid interacting with residents of the Physical Plane. Especially Ollie, who didn't want anything to do with anybody but him. At first, Gaiel was hesitant to summon the beast but the situation demanded it. What shocked him was instead of just keeping an eye on Briel from afar, the beast stood by her side and he had even allowed the girl to pet him.

He remembered how Ollie approached the girl and leaned towards her hand.

"I think he likes me." She even beamed at him so proudly it triggered something in him. Something he was still unable to comprehend. It was as if something warm enveloped him as she smiled at him.

"Call me 'Briel.'", she muttered proudly. "Not 'Little girl', not 'ugly girl' and especially not 'stupid girl'.

"I didn't say you were ugly." Gaiel's eyes widen at his words. Unable to believe the direction his thoughts were heading. No one had ever piqued his curiosity as the girl did. "That i***t's probably sleeping right now. I can't hear-"

Gaiel was momentarily stunned. He can't hear anything from that room. He was so focused on dealing with the ghouls and protecting the survivors that he didn't notice he was no longer hearing Ollie and that girl. The floor they were into was too quiet for comfort. It was as if something was blocking the sounds from it.

"f**k!" Gaiel's vision got blurry when he stood up. No. If he loses consciousness now, Illie will disappear. That girl will get into more danger. What is worst is that the few survivors he managed to save might get exposed to demon miasma and die in an instant.

He had already requested backup earlier and was only waiting for reinforcements. Pete was furious however, Gaiel cannot blame him. He had disregarded strict orders from the organization. The repercussions of his actions were too great. He had asked Gabriel about this but his father forbade him to disclose any information about his mission. As archangel descendants, they were not allowed to disobey their fathers.

He was losing consciousness. "Briel." Gaiel bit his lip hard as a surge of pain flooded his abdomen. He can feel his insides melting due to the poison. Not only that, he had to endure the panicked thoughts of the survivors racking his brain. He sighed hard.

He closed his eyes and blocked the thoughts from coming. He had to think fast.

That's it! I can use that spell.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"I FINALLY FOUND YOU, MICHAEL'S DESCENDANT."

Those words from her mother triggered Briel's confusion. The person speaking to her was definitely her mother but at the same time, it wasn't. She was sitting on the bed with her arms and legs crossed. She looked and sound like Yelena, but Briel knew somewhere in her heart that the person in front of her was not her mother.

"W-What are you talking about, mom?" Briel was starting to tremble in confusion and fear. Her mother was not acting like herself. A horrifying thought was slowly dawning to her.

The room was enveloped in an eerie atmosphere. It was also starting to have that rotten smell. It was more putrid than the smell of the ghouls earlier. Slowly, the air grew thicker and she was having a hard time breathing. Her eyes were also starting to hurt.

"You don't like demon miasma, Briel?" The woman asked.

Demon miasma?

The woman grinned. "Oh, I see." She slightly leaned her body backward and clapped her hands. "That's why we couldn't find this wretched woman and her daughter." She had said with poison in her mouth.

Briel couldn't bring herself to admit the nagging thought inside her head. The woman in front of her was not her mother. It was no longer her mother. She had been possessed. And by the looks of it, she had seemed to be the Primary Demon that person was looking for. Why in all places does it have to be in her mother's room? And why did they not notice it earlier?

"No." Tears blurred her vision. She couldn't believe it. All those hardships she had to endure just to fight for her mother's lifeweres now wasted. Her poor, defenseless mother was attacked by those creatures. "M-mom...no..."

This is all my fault. She felt so weak and defeated.

Her mom is possessed. As soon as the thought was out Briel's legs gave out. Ollie immediately supported her. Good thing he was there to hold her up. It was still growling. Like it was warning her mother not to get close.

The woman laughed and stood up. It sounded so eerie and evil. "My lord will be so happy to see you." When she moved closer Briel could see the dark veins all over her mother's skin. Her eyes were blood red and she was bleeding from both of her eyes, ears, and mouth.

Just like those ghouls.

"I d-don't know what are you talking about but give me back my mom," Briel said in a weak voice. She held on to the weapons the guy gave her earlier. She held on to it hard. "Don't use her body to do your evil bidding."

"This empty shell?" The woman mockingly asked. "This body is mine now. If you want her back, then kill me." She dared and laughed maniacally. "After I bring you to my master, I'll come back to this plane and eat humans to my heart's content."

Briel's lips quivered at the sight. Her heart broke at the state her mother was in. Her innocent heart just couldn't take it anymore.

"Give my mother back!"

"I can't. Not when I'm having this much fun." She said with a wicked grin. "Do you want to know something, Michael's descendant?" Her eyes were so wide, that Briel thought that any time those eyeballs were going to fall. "We upper-level demons have more than one heart. One heart corresponds to a hundred thousand human souls sent to the depths of the Forbidden realm. Do you have any idea how many I have now?" The demon asked as her mother's body completely blended into the dark and Briel saw four red orbs from there Briel saw how the orbs pulsated rapidly. All four were beating.

"Four."

"Bingo!" The demon clapped. Reappearing again. "That means I have sent many souls to hell already. Including your mom's. Just as we have planned." She laughed as blood continued to gush from her eyes and mouth. Her eyes were completely black now. Slowly her face morphed into the demon that she is. She saw two huge horns protruding out of her forehead. Her skin had slowly burned until she saw nothing but burnt flesh. The demon's arms grew larger and she developed long claws. She saw as the tongue elongated itself as it continued to salivate with blood. The demon looked at her as if she was food.

"I'm sure the master won't mind if I eat one or two arms, right?"

She was trembling from the sight but she couldn't bring herself to look away. "Stop it! Give her back!"

To her surprise, her mother jumped toward her but then Ollie let out a powerful caw. The force was so strong it sent the demon flying meters against them. She saw as the woman stuck herself in the ceiling. She looked like a rabid animal. She gave out an ear-piercing screech.

She had to cover her ears because of the unbearable pain the sound has caused. Briel's body crouched due to the pain. She noticed a few blood drops of blood on her knees and when she reached out to check if the blood was indeed from her face, she almost fainted when she saw both of her hands were covered with blood.

Her blood! She was bleeding! "N-no." She was losing consciousness. "Mom."

The demon was about to attack her once more when she saw Ollie release another powerful caw. This time it shone with a blinding light. Ollie had launched itself toward the demon using its claws to land another blow. However, when Ollie returned to her side, she saw a huge gash on its limb. She how deep the cut was. The limb was so close to falling off. The demon was able to counter Ollie's attack!

"O-Ollie." She worriedly approached the beast. It yielded towards her but once again. It was prepared to protect her. Briel's tears were triggered. Ollie was willing to protect her, no matter what happens. "No, Ollie."

"Give up, Gabriel's beast. You are no match for me. Soon you too will die from the poison." The demon muttered mockingly. It was as if several persons were talking to them at the same time.

Briel's hope shattered as she saw Ollie's body fall in front of her. Its body was slowly darkening due to the poison. Briel saw how Ollie's body transformed into a little puff of fur of it as it lost consciousness. "No! No, Ollie."

The demon laughed. "How hopeless, Michael's descendant. Now, now. Be sensible and surrender." It raised its large claws about to land another attack on Ollie. It was planning to land the final blow. "Come with me, Bri-"

The demon's words were cut when a sharp metal was thrown toward its eye. It roared in pain. With trembling hands, she pushed

herself up. Holding her last weapon. Briel had thrown the metal with such force and swiftness, Yelena would have been so proud to see her.

If only her mother was still there...

If only she was able to protect her mother...

With tears in her eyes, Briel looked at the demon bravely. This was no longer her mother. This was an entity that is not allowed to exist along with humans. It didn't matter if she dies trying to kill it. No way in hell would she let that demon take her anywhere.

"I'm sorry, Mom.", Briel muttered as she mustered up the courage to stand up and fight. "I won't let you succumb to such a worst fate."

She stood between the demon and Ollie. "I will protect you, Ollie." Briel was filled with a brand new determination she touched the barely breathing little version of Ollie. "I won't forgive you for killing my mother and hurting my friend!"

Briel ran towards the demon who was still hunched in pain. Using her legs she tripped the demon. Its face landed on the floor pushing the metal further into its skull. She winced in pain as the contact from the demon's body burned her leggings. Using the other metal, Briel pierced the demon from the back. Right at the spot where she saw one of the orbs earlier.

She quickly grabbed her mother's IV drop stand and hit the demon with it. She hit the spot where the second metal was pushing it out the demon's body. She pushed the IV stand through the wound. As she kicked the other metal towards Ollie's side. She'll need that weapon again. The demon roared in hate as it pulled the metal from its chest.

"Briel!!!" It was about to s***h her with its claws but she managed to do a series of backward flips to keep her body away from danger.

She looked at the discarded weapon which was slightly melted due to the heat from the demon's body. If she had grabbed that metal, her hand might get burned. "Tsk!" She was out of weapons! She has to think of something. Fast!

"Stupid girl!" The demon bawled. "You'll pay for that!" It ran towards her. Definitely with intent to kill her. She tried to open the door and escape but it wasn't opening at all.

They were trapped due to the spell.

Just as it was about to reach her. Briel rolled herself out of its path. The demon landed on the wall hard. It created a huge c***k in the wall.

That's it!

That demon is definitely having a hard time seeing her properly. She just needs to use its strength against it. She only has to escape that room. The demon's bloodlust was so palpable but Briel tried her hardest to be brave. She can't give up now. She grabbed the discarded IV drop stand. It was a little bent, but it was better than nothing.

The demon ran towards her once more but she had managed to evade it. She jumped and thwacked the demon's head with the metal. Thanks to Yelena's strict training, she was able to improve her reflexes. This demon has too many openings. "Too slow." She used her previous weapon and stabbed the demon again. This time on its other eye.

She had noticed earlier how the wound in its chest has swiftly healed. However, the one its eye didn't due to the metal stuck inside it. The weapon was just enough to pierce its skull but not enough to be pulled out easily. As long as the metal is there, it won't heal.

"I'll kill you, brat!" The demon was now aiming at her blindly.

"I'm here, stupid!" She kicked the demon in the back. It fell on the floor once more. Face first. Using the IV stand she struck one of its ankles. She tried not to flinch at the sound of bones breaking.

The demon screamed in pain and wrath. "Briel!!!" It was trying to scratch her but it just can't reach her.

Briel glanced at the huge c***k on the wall. Another blow on the wall, she was sure it was going to collapse. She grabbed Ollie's body. Briel was glad to feel it was still breathing. It was faint but the heartbeat was still there.

She looked at the demon who was now stumbling around the room. "Hey, over here!"The demon angrily charged at her. Briel waited for the perfect timing but before it reached her someone appeared in front of her.

Briel's tears flowed from her eyes as she saw the familiar figure of the guy. Holding his sphere as he swiftly swung the double-edged blade against the demon, decapitating it in the process. He came back for her.

"You-"

Briel quickly ran towards his side cutting his words mid-air. She was in tears both in pain and gladness. "You came back." She said breathlessly.

He didn't say anything instead Briel felt strong arms enveloping her in a tight embrace. "i***t. I told you I'll come back for you, didn't I?" His words triggered more of her tears. She was crying unstoppably now.

"I promised you I'll get you out of here."

He retrieved Ollie from her arms. "Good work, buddy." He said as he looked at the sleeping beast. Briel looked asif the gash in his limb was now healed. Little by little, he was starting to return to his original color too.

"Is he going to be okay?" Her eyes were starting to water again. "He almost died." She said as she gently put her hand on Ollie's head and gave it a gentle rub.

"He'll heal." He looked at her reassuringly. He said as he used his power. A powerful light flashed again and Ollie was gone. "I sent him home. It's going to be a while before I see him again."

Briel nodded.

She then felt his arms around her once more as he consoled her. He pulled her frail and tired body close. It was unlike him to be so gentle but the act comforted Briel.

"I'm sorry about your mother."

She was just there crying in his arms. It was only now that she can mourn her mother. She had lost her only family and she had only had herself to blame. Her innocent heart cannot take the blow. She was all alone now.

I'm sorry, dad.

I'm sorry, Axiel.

I'm sorry, mom.

I failed all of you.

"s**t, Gaiel! Stop with the flirty atmosphere there, will 'ya?" Briel heard someone muttered not far from them. It somehow brought her out of her misery.

"Is this why you went to Cebu alone, captain?"

"All of the survivors have been retrieved, Captain. We'll take everyone in custody and have already sent the Cebu base to clean up the hospital." One reported. "Please don't mind us and continue being sweet with your newfound love interest."

"Miss, take care of our beloved Captain, please?" Another added. "He's a bit rough on the exterior, but inside is another rough exterior." The last one even dared to chuckle at his own joke.

When Briel's eyes wandered as to where the teasing voices were coming from she was shocked to find four winged figures from outside the window. She can only see their silhouettes through but she was sure they were talking at them. That is when she saw the sun was almost rising.

"Shut up, idiots.", she heard the guy mutter in a warning tone.

"Who are they?" She asked in a hoarse voice as she peeked again.

"My i***t team." He said as he frowned earning chuckles from the individuals outside.