Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 17

“Rabia, what are you doing? What is happening to you?”

A voice of an elderly woman can be heard at Escobal’s residence early in the morning. She was checking on her neighbor, Rabia, when she found the woman franticly looking for something at their door. She must’ve been looking for some slippers since she looked as if she was going out.

“Xandriel, my daughter. I need to go to her. Xandriel is in danger! Her father kidnaps her.”

Rabia’s face was pale as she clung on to the woman’s arm. She was also shaking and her eyes were wide and were looking everywhere endlessly. She couldn’t shake off the nervousness and worry she was feeling at the moment.

“What are you saying? Your daughter has been long dead,” the woman answered, but Rabia ignored her, “Why are you saying that her father kidnaps her? Rabia, please calm down.”

Rabia knew it. Deep inside her, she knew that Xandriel was in danger. That her demon of a father got her and probably had endangered her life just like what had happened to her before. She knew it, but she didn’t know how to save her daughter. She did not know where to go or find her. She knew it.

Rabia could feel it, she was getting restless. And it was the first time since Xandriel’s burial. She was at peace by then, accepting the fact that her daughter had died doing a good deed and was now in a better place. But just a few days before, she was visited by a nightmare.

She saw Xandriel in the clutch of the demon she knew all too well. Xandriel doesn’t look too good. She was a mess and Rabia’s heart ached for her.

“Lord, please protect my child.” Rabia slowly kneeled down on the floor. She was powerless and weak, so she could only turn to him.

+++

“You’re just all talk, angel. You want to know why? Because the one you had worshipped was the one that removed you from your powers! What kind of God does that?” Satan smirked as he dissed Miniel.

I heard Asmodeus chuckling lowly at the side. Almost all the human and demon population of the room was looking at our side. They were watching the exchange. My grip tightened around Miniel’s arm as fear crawled up my body. A while later, I felt something, some warmth crawling up my hand to my arms.

When I looked down, I saw Miniel’s hands were placed atop my mine and the heat was coming from the tip of his finger. I can clearly see a sparkle of light dance just inches above his fingertip and landed on it, it swirled through his fingers, then to his palm until it breaks into two and crawled up and down his body in a synchronized motion.

In my peripheral vision, there was a huge ball of light forming on his back. It’s weaving and forming-a- wings! I almost exclaimed out loud. Miniel’s wings are growing back.

The ball of light dispersed and in place was Miniel’s huge white wings. It fluttered, dusting off some sprinkle of light left in there. That small flutter created a huge gush of wind that made me close my eyes and when I opened them again, the ones around us were sent a dew meter away.

“○Deus lux est nobis vincere pugna c*m gratia”

Miniel kept whispering those words. Even though I didn’t understand it, I felt safer and at peace. Just like what Raphael did to the girl back at Cosmos, Miniel’s hand emitted a glow as he placed it once again on his own.

“All angels were tasked to do a certain job. For us Guardians, we are tasked with protecting our humans. You will be able to get out of this place, Xandriel. I'll make sure of it.”

Miniel placed my head in between his arms and chest as if she was hugging me and patted my hair lightly. He whispered soothing words to me that made me feel drowsy and eventually I succumbed to sleep.

+++

“When Miniel finally felt that Xandriel’s body slumped, he stopped patting her hair and released his hold. The effect would only last long and Xandriel would eventually wake up, so he needed to make a move fast before that happened. He needed to act fast.

Because of Cheryl, Miniel found a loophole in this place. It was just a small opening, but it’s still better than nothing. That much will do for him.

“Oh lookie! The brave angel had got his wings back. But look, oh look over there, it was just a replica. The last bit of his powers.” Miniel jerked his head to look at Satan, who had a mischievous smirk plastered on his lips.

He was right, definitely right. But Miniel doesn’t have the luxury of engaging in an argument with him. He had a more pressing matter to do. Minil grabbed Xandriel and took off. His aim was the small opening. He was already halfway there when he felt a chain around his ankle stopping him from going any further.

When Miniel looked back, Satan was holding the end of the chain, looking pissed. Satan pulled the chain and sent Miniel and Xandriel falling to the ground. Leviathan was quick to come near them. Miniel hugged the unconscious Xandriel protectively and moved an inch away from Leviathan. When Leviathan saw that, his once human orbs turned into cat-like eyes. It became a thin slit.

“Are you not jealous of Kuriel? He can be with the woman he loved, as for you, you didn’t even get to tell her how you feel?” Leviathan asked curiously.

His expression might be one of a curious person, but his hands were not, nor his being. He tried to touch Xandriel’s arm but Miniel shielded her. A light encircled Xandriel that sends relief to Miniel. He was afraid that he had already used up all of the powers he had and there was nothing left. Leviathan, on the other hand, was not happy about that. He tried to reach out again only to be burned by the light.

So, he changed his tactics. Instead of aiming for the girl, he grasped Miniel’s hands. Miniel was not able to react because of the sudden attack.

“I heard that this girl was prophesied to bear a nephlim. She just needed to carry a baby that had the blood of an angel. Didn’t you think that it could be you? You can be a father to her child and she can still fulfill her mission,” Leviathan offered. His hands were already on Miniel’s face, caressing it.

Something tugged on Miniel’s heart. It was aching and beating wildly. He then saw a vision in front of his brain. There was a gorgeous woman, Xandriel. She was only older than she is now, with a child and the man that was destined to be with her. It was their future. He also saw how the man became the image he was familiar with, himself.

Something grew inside of Miniel. A hope. It was different and new. There was happiness, hope and a lot more. It was surging through his body.

“No. No... this can’t be...” Miniel was struggling to say those words. Because at that moment, he was not just struggling with the words, he was also struggling with himself. He was fighting himself.

“Don’t fight it, Miniel. Embrace it. For your own happiness.” Leviathan was saying all the encouragement with malice.

Miniel quickly closed his eyes to avoid Leviathan’s gaze. He was erasing those images from his mind. He was eradicating the thoughts of ‘what if’s’ with Xandriel and masking his real emotions. Whatever happens, however possible it may be, it shouldn’t happen. He can’t fall into a fiery pit, even more than this.

He needed to save Xandriel, not endanger her more. What's more important was her happiness and her decision. He would not take it away from her. He also needed to stand at the place where he needed to be.

Miniel gathered all his strength and flapped his wings. He did not get it at first try, so he did it again. The second time, he finally broke off the chain that was hindering him from moving any further. He didn’t look back and went straight to the opening. He and Xandriel barely made it inside, but that’s not going to stop him.

When they finally got inside the tunnel, it was different from the bridge through Cosmos. When he first crossed this, he was in the form of human since he was thrown out and plucked out of his powers. That’s because he had no idea that using his powers would have any effect. It felt like his powers were being sucked away by the place and the light resembling his wings was flickering.

“So, it was not just a telltale. Angels can’t really cross this place easily.” He whispered in difficulty.

This maybe one of the reasons why they can’t kill all of the demons, because they have a place where they can run off to without angels following hot on their heels. Crossing this place may be fatal for an angel and it could kill him. But he can’t stop, not now. The demons could still follow them and thus Xandriel’s life was still in danger. Until he can’t secure Xandriel’s safety, he won’t stop. Whatever happens, he will not stop.