Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 12

I was expecting a blinding light behind my eyes when I opened it. Instead, I was greeted with darkness, a weird darkness. It was not like the darkness when you closed your eyes, or when you were being covered by something, or the blackout. There were no lights in any part of this place, but I was able to see the things around me. I can clearly see the furniture and the decoration of the room.

Where am I, again? I have realized by now that I was being thrown into places that I’m not familiar with. I stood up from bed. I was in an unknown bed that had a red cover, aside from a few weird things and furniture, nothing could hint to me that I had arrived on earth. It also looked like I was inside of a cave that was being decorated with red curtains. There was also a bulb on the side that was on the brink of breaking. There was no other person there aside from me.

“Don’t you dare do that, Asmodeus. I will never let you off the hook.”

I heard a voice and footsteps echoed outside the room – if it was really a room. There was also no other exit aside from the door or the mouth of this room or cave or something.

“Oh look! She’s awake now, Belial.” I heard another voice again, this time getting near me.

Belial? Sounds familiar- wait. Before I could confirm who that name belonged to, he had already appeared in front of me. He was a few meters away from me. The man who seduced my mother and treated her like a low creature. The man who had done everything to test the faith of people, my father, Belial.

I was torn about what to feel at the moment. Fear, confusion, and rage, were scrambling on my mind. I just stood there, staring at him with all those emotions in my eyes. Now that I get to have the chance to meet him up-close, I don’t know what to do or how to react. I just know that I really despise this creature.

“I think she recognized you. Well, what can you really expect from those angels? They’re quick on their feet, unlike us.”

The man beside Belial spoke. He was… how can I describe him? He looks like a man and a woman at the same time. He was dressed like a human, a shirt and pants. He was also wearing some kind of necklace. He had a handsome and delicate face; his body was also well-built. If I did not know that this was hell, I would’ve thought that he might be an angel or archangel.

“Don’t try to look for a way out here, my daughter. You can't escape this place. We will not hurt you unless you resist.” Belial said when he caught me looking around for a way out.

My ear picked up the word daughter and I did not like it one bit. My face might not show it, but my whole body was rigid and my blood was boiling and nearly erupting from rage. My situation seemed to be a funny one because the one beside Belial was grinning at me. Belial might be oblivious to my rage, but he doesn’t. I squinted my eyes at him and all I got was a wink, a playful one.

Ugh, playboy! But then again, this is hell, the home of playboys.

“You know what, Bel. I bet she needs time for herself. To, ah, you know, take this all in,” The guy suddenly suggested. Belial looked at him intently. “Why? Are you going to just scare her away?” He threatened Belial. Who is this guy?

“I’ll take my leave now. If he does something bad, you can call me,” Belial said.

No, I'm fine. Just go and don’t come back. I wanted to answer him, but I don’t want to waste my energy and saliva on someone like him. Belial was looking at me expectantly and when it looked like I was not going to regard him soon, he took his leave. I was left in this place with this guy who, until now, I didn’t know his name. He and I were engaged in a staring contest and I'm now getting pissed.

“I bet you were probably thinking who I am. Well, let me introduce myself because your father refused to do it earlier. I'm Asmodeus, Prince of Lust. Nice to finally meet you.”

He bowed down, as if he was really at the price he was claiming to be. I was taken aback by the sudden change in his voice. He really does sound human at all. If I had just learned Xandriel before I learned all of these things, I might’ve thought that he was just joking.

“It looks like you really need some time to process all of this. I'll leave you alone.” Asmodeus turned his back and walked out of the room.

When I could no longer see his traces, I finally released the breath that I was holding for a while. A surge of relief crashed through me and my heart was beating loudly in my chest. I flopped down on the bed thinking about my situation.

I should be in my new body now. I should have met Janus already, but I'm in this hellhole, literally. There were no doors in this place and the only exit was unmanned. It's my chance to slip away! I need to get out of this place or maybe contact the archangel.

Come on, Xandy, think! What will you do now? I need to do something and quickly. I looked around once again before I decided to walk to the opening. My palm was tracing the wall of this cave as my guide.

Lord, I'll leave the rest to you. Where will this hallway lead me to, I'll entrust it to your hand. Raphael, Zadkiel and Tronus, I wish you could hear me.

I was waiting for a sign or an answer while I trudged my feet out of this place. Even though I knew there wouldn’t be any, I still hoped. I continued my walk and when I knew I had already put a great distance between the cave and me, that’s when I noticed someone following me closely from behind. I stopped in my tracks. The one behind me stopped too. Oh God! Help! I felt like I was in a horror story where I was that character that was about to die.

I quickened my pace. Whoever that is, they wouldn’t catch up to me in this place, because it was dim and the floor was uneven. The one behind me copied my pace so I broke into a full run. Lord, help me, please! Even though I'm here in hell, I know you can still hear me. Maybe now is the time to save myself?

I screamed at the top of my lungs when I felt a hand clasp my shoulder. I instantly closed my eyes and crouched down. My heart was about to burst and the corners of my eyes were watering. Sweat was dripping down my spine as I waited for my impending doom.

I guess that is it. I will never be able to step foot on earth again. I wouldn’t be able to see the sun, experience the wind, or play with some kids. Maybe this is really the end of my life. Even though the angels did so much to save me, maybe, no one can really change my fate.

+++

Janus slowly opened his eyes. The white ceiling and the monotonous sound of the monitor greeted him. He doesn’t have any idea where he was and he also can’t move his body.

“Check his vitamins every thirty minutes. Let's see if the medicine will take effect. Call me if anything happens.”

Janus heard an unfamiliar baritone voice beside him. He couldn’t see their faces clearly as his vision was blurry and in a haze. He just willed himself to listen, even though that alone was a great task. He heard a female voice coming.

“Will do, Doc.”

Minutes later, a door opened and shut quietly. Then someone approached him and inspected his face more clearly. Janus was slowly regaining his vision and the first thing he saw was the shock face of a nurse. She was staring at him wide-eyed and her hands were covering her mouth, it was as though she had seen a ghost.

“You’re awake! I knew it! I knew it, you'd soon wake up.”

The nurse said enthusiastically. She pushed something on the wall beside Janus and was quick to look at the monitor at his side too. She was smiling as she muttered about something.

“Don’t worry, your wife is also in good shape. She, too, is doing well.”

That was the last thing Janus had heard before darkness consumed him again.