Gabriel's Armada

Chapter 11: Self-belief

Hell

Gabriella shut her eyes as she tried to fend off the blows landing on her face. She tripped over what looked like a root and fell on her behind. She heard the raucous laughter that seemed to emanate from a hundred demons.

Knowing what was going to happen next, Gabriella immediately hit her palm on the dusty and cracked ground thrice in quick succession.

Heckles which sounded like screeches filled Gabriella's eyes and she opened her eyes. She held her hand over her eyes to shield them from the glaring sun and after a while, she was able to make out what looked like hundreds of demons laughing at her, their garish faces twisted with amusement and satisfaction.

Her sparring partner, a demon called Helios sprang forward, performing acrobatics and preening like a peacock for his fans, who cheered him on fiercely.

Gabriella took a look around the crudely designed arena where she'd been fighting for what seemed to be a year but was actually a week. She was not surprised when she met Beelzebub's disappointed gaze. Bracing herself for what would come next, Gabriella heaved a sigh.

Immediately, two demons grabbed her arms roughly and began to drag her into the stands, towards the special seats reserved for Beelzebub and the hooded figure.

When they reached their destination, the demons threw her to the floor, bowed before Beelzebub and left hastily.

Gabriella could feel the rage coming off Beelzebub in waves, so she remained prostrate on the ground.

“Look at me,” Gabriella heard Beelzebub say, but she was scared of looking into his eyes and seeing murderous fury, so she did not obey him.

“I said, look at me!” Beelzebub shouted, and the arena quietened. Gabriella gnashed her teeth and forced herself to look up.

As she thought, Beelzebub looked ready to kill her. His eyes were spitting fire, his face was red and his teeth were bared in a vicious snarl.

“What was that?” Beelzebub asked Gabriella.

“I— I don't know. I tried my best.” Gabriella stuttered.

“What?” Beelzebub growled, “That was your best? You let Helios, that puny i***t defeat you.”

Gabriella promptly burst into tears. For a while, she'd been training day and night with various demons, and every time, she got her ass kicked publicly, leading to public humiliation, the type she'd never witnessed on earth.

“What if I'm not the one the prophecy is talking about?” Gabriella asked Beelzebub through her tears.

Beelzebub gave her a look filled with disdain, “Self-doubt? Really? What are you trying to say, Gabriella? That I am wrong?”

“No, no.” Gabriella replied hastily, raising her hands in the air.

Beelzebub took a hand mirror out of his robes and pouted at his reflection. The next moment, he threw the mirror on the ground angrily. The mirror shattered, glass shards flying in all directions.

Gabriella jumped up in fear.

“Gabriella, anger doesn't look on good on me,” Beelzebub noted, “so please, do not make angry.”

Gabriella nodded meekly and remained silent.

“Gabriella,” Beelzebub said, his voice taking up a soft tone, “You are the one the prophecy spoke of, who would bring about order in the Afterlife, who is capable of changing the course of the Celestial war, if you so please.”

Gabriella nodded.

Beelzebub smiled and continued, “But those idiots in heaven don't see that. They already have an imposter whom they are grooming to become their puppet, and they wish to kill you so he'll take your place. Do you want this to happen?”

Gabriella shook her head fiercely. While on earth, she'd been cheated out of a lot of things that were rightfully hers and there was no way she was letting that happen to her in the Afterlife too. No, she decided, the nice Gabriella was already dead, the new Gabriella would be anything but nice.

“No,” she replied Beelzebub solemnly.

“Good,” Beelzebub smiled indulgently, “Go back, practice harder than ever. We have to stage an offensive against the heavens as soon as possible, and get them out of their stupid hidey-hole.”

Gabriella bowed, “I will not let you down.”

* * *

When Gabriella left, the figure spoke up for the first time, “You actually think she can make this, you know she's actually the one who's an imposter.”

Beelzebub grinned wickedly and rubbed his his hands together, “My friend, you underestimate the power of lies, especially those told wonderfully well that the recipient believes them wholeheartedly.”

The figure snorted under his breath.

“I heard that,” Beelzebub c****d a perfect eyebrow, “and believe me, Gabriella will actually get better.”

“What if she doesn't?” the figure asked, folding his arms beneath his chest.

“Well, there are a lot of people bearing the name 'Gabriel' and its many variants so we can always find someone else to continue where she left off.” Beelzebub shrugged.

The figure clapped slowly, “Well, you are indeed the devil.”

“Don't I know?”

* * *

Gabriel was doodling one of his favorite cartoon characters while he was on earth on his scroll while Mikela, an angel who instructed them on Geography blabbed on about the terrains of the Outpost and those of hell.

“I am proud to inform you that these maps you see, some of them were charted by yours truly.” Mikela said with a smile. She was a slim, tall angel who was as pale as porcelain and had freckles.

“I thought pride was a sin,” Gabriel said without looking up from his doodling.

Mikela rolled her blue eyes and ignored Gabriel, as everyone was used to him and his snide remarks.

“Shut up,” a voice from beside Gabriel said.

Gabriel turned to see who'd had the impetus to tell him off.

It was a man he'd never noticed before. Like Gabriel, he was a bit older than the rest of the class.

“Who the hell are you?” Gabriel asked angrily, “Can't you mind your freaking business?”

“I'm someone who's tired of you acting like a spoilt brat, and no, I'm not going to mind my business,” the man replied, to the amusement of the whole class.

“Boys, stop it,” Mikela warned sternly, “if you must continue, then feel free to take it outside.”

Gabriel slammed his quill into his inkpot, “Yes, why don't we?”

“Why don't we what?” the man asked, looking forward.

“Take it outside, pea brain.” Gabriel taunted.

“No. Unlike you, I actually want to pass this level with very good grades.” the man said dismissively.

To Mikela, he apologized, “Sorry for interrupting your class, you can continue.”

Mikela smiled at him before she continued, “As I was saying, the terrains of the Outpost were originally rocky . . .”

Gabriel tuned out again, but this time, he did not go back to doodling. Instead, he began to fantasize about beating up the i***t who had talked to Gabriel Sinator rudely.

Immediately class let out, Gabriel left the class and stood guard in the hallway.

Some minutes later, his antagonist sauntered up to where he was, smiling kindly to the various students who waved at him. Gabriel noted with disdain that pea brain was popular, something he was yet to achieve.

Pea brain saw Gabriel and smirked, “Sinator, get out of my way.”

“How do you know my name?” Gabriel asked, ignoring his words. What he actually wanted to do was to punch pea brain's face repeatedly until his nose broke.

Pea brain laughed mirthlessly, “Who doesn't know Gabriel Sinator? The spoilt brat who throws temper tantrums, disrespects all forms of authority and believes he's too high and mighty, just because of some old prophecy.”

“Some old prophecy?” Gabriel scoffed, “Oh, wait! I see what's going on here, you're just jealous the prophecy says y'all will be wasted in the war, unless I intervene.”

Pea brain's face lost its smirk and he scowled, “Come to think of it, the more I know about you, the less I think you're actually the one the prophecy was speaking about, and more of a publicity stunt to keep our morale high.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Gabriel asked fiercely, taking a step closer to pea brain. Students stopped and began to watch, hoping earnestly for a fight to ensue.

“It means that for all we know, the real 'Gabriel the savior' is out there somewhere.” Pea brain shrugged nonchalantly.

Before Gabriel could think twice, he punched Pea brain in the face, hard. It was as satisfying as he'd imagined it would be when he saw the look of surprise on Pea brain's face as he staggered backwards.

In the twinkle of an eye, Pea brain retaliated, his large fist connecting with Gabriel's jaw.

Gabriel grabbed Pea brain by his robes and was about to give him the beating of his life when a bugle sounded, surprising him.

Pea brain took the opportunity to free himself and added a punch to Gabriel's abdomen for good measure.

Gabriel doubled over, and the bugle sounded again, this time with an announcement following, “All students, please gather at the assembly hall for an address by the general!”

The spectating students left immediately with Pea brain joining them, leaving Gabriel to try to regain his posture.