Fate's Design

Recruiting an Angel

"Hello?" The voice on the other end was wary.

“It's me.” He gritted his teeth, preparing for what came next.

“Abaddon! Oh my goodness! It's been absolutely ages! How are you?” The decibel level was such that Abaddon almost threw the phone on the ground. He clamped a hand over his ear in pain and grimaced.

“Hi Ariel. I unfortunately don't have time for pleasantries. I need your help.” There was a bit of a drawn out silence before a less effervescent voice responded.

“What do you need? I'm happy to help, of course, whatever it is. You've done me a few favors over the years.”

Abaddon finally allowed himself to breathe. He hadn't realized he was holding his breath, and although he didn't need it, the air felt good in his lungs. “Thank you Ariel. I need your help finding Lucifer. I'm sure you know he's back and he had been meeting some important beings and he's been gone longer than expected. He hasn't responded to any calls or messages and I need to know what's happening. I know you have no allegiance to anyone but I need you. You're the only one who can tune in and find him.”

The voice on the other end giggled excitedly. “Ooh…does this mean it is all really going to happen? Of course I can find him! This is going to be fun! Thanks for including me. I'll get on it ASAP!”

The other phone hung up. Abaddon was happy that Ariel had agreed to help so quickly and whole-heartedly. She was annoying, no doubt, but she could find anyone and anything. Her gift was such that she could track down a single snowflake in a blizzard. When she was searching for something was the only time she could focus her energy. Otherwise she had the attention span of a dog surrounded by squirrels. She was tricky and sly. She could be cunning as a fox or as bumbling and idiotic as a circus clown. When she had her mind focused on a project, however, she was thoughtful and determined. She was tenacious as a pit bull and wouldn't give up until she had completed her mission. This was why Abaddon chose to use her. Her inability to give up and let go of a given task made her an invaluable asset to him in this increasingly desperate situation.

The sound of footsteps leading to the guest bathroom broke Abaddon from his thought process. He didn't think the boy had heard anything. The footsteps sounded sleepy and not fully awake. Young boys like Kyle were sneaky though and Abaddon would make sure he spoke outside when there were things he'd rather be kept secret to discuss. He went to the kitchen and began fixing breakfast for Kyle. There was no point in worrying the boy about the father he'd not yet met. And for all he knew, Lucifer could be perfectly safe and happily lost in time with some goddess or human female companion, oblivious to the memory of his child and Abaddon.

Abaddon went about the next few days in zombie mode. He didn't let his worry come out in case he scared Kyle and the boy was actually doing quite well. He impressive control, over the Hellhounds and Abaddon was constantly amazed at his determination of will. He was definitely his father’s child. Abaddon could see that the boy would grow into a strong, charming man who could compel others to follow him. There was still something of innocence in Kyle that made him even more dangerous than Lucifer. Although the boy’s father was undoubtedly charming, it was always a manipulation. With Kyle, he didn't realize his power over other beings. He thought it was as amazing and incredible as anyone else. He assumed he was simply lovable with nothing supernatural about it. He wasn't entirely wrong either. Abaddon knew from the beginning that he would happily die to protect Kyle. There was something so pure and so many possibilities carried by the boy that he would do anything to ensure those possibilities had the chance to come into being. So Abaddon kept his worry about Lucifer to himself and he continued to help mold the boy into what he'd need to be in order to survive and thrive during the impending war and once it was finished.

“Why do we have so many Hellhounds?” Kyle was always asking why they had certain amounts of something. He was a very curious boy, especially when it came to numbers.

“We need to use them to help keep us safe from our enemies. You see, only those of us who are trained to handle them have control over Hellhounds. They are very dangerous to those who have not learned to command them.” He patted the head of the large female they had been working with.

"You can train them to attack too?" The look on Kyle’s face was mingled interest and skepticism.

“Well it's less training them to attack than it is training them when not to attack. Hellhounds are naturally aggressive and view most other living beings as threats. As Hellhound specialists, we are the ones who are responsible for ensuring they don't get out of line. We have to command their respect and also gain their trust.”

Kyle nodded his head. He was a smart boy and understood most of what Abaddon taught him the first time he heard it. “So it's like when my class had a pet snake and we all had to learn how to hold it and feed it so it liked being with us?”

Abaddon chuckled lightly. “Yes. It's kind of like that. You and I are responsible for the Hellhounds, so we have to make sure they're safe and happy for themselves and for everyone else. Some people go about it the wrong way, punishing and using fear to keep them in line. But that's a sure way to make things more dangerous because then the Hellhounds don't know who's an enemy and who isn't.”

Kyle nodded again in understanding. He looked at the Hellhounds and back at Abaddon. “So it's like we're the parents and we have to tech them what is right and what is wrong!”

Abaddon had never thought of it that way because he hadn't ever been a parent. After the past couple of weeks with Kyle, however, he finally put it into perspective. “It's exactly like that, Kyle. You're a smart boy.”

The two of them put the female away in her kennel and they fed the Hellhounds. It was getting late and Abaddon hadn't realized they'd been working with the Hellhounds for over three hours. That's a long time for a six-year-old boy to keep his attention focused. Even if that boy is half demon. Abaddon ruffled Kyle’s dark, messy hair and they headed back up to the manor. Kyle ran off ahead of him, announcing that he would find the best hiding spot and Abaddon wouldn't be able to find him for hours. As Kyle disappeared into the manor, Abaddon’s phone started vibrating in his pocket. He swiped a finger across the screen and answered.

“What do you know?” The voice on the other line was frantic.

“They've all disappeared! I locked onto a location and got there but when I showed up, the location was completely empty! There's something strange going on here. I've never sensed the power around this place. I fear there's something seriously wrong. There's a sense of innate wrongness. Like something very old and very powerful has been here. Something that shouldn't be here has shown up and I think we're all in trouble.”

Abaddon felt his gut twist. He had a feeling he knew what happened. “I need you to get out of there immediately. Can you lock on my location?”

“Yes.”

“Get here now! This could be the only place that's safe.”

“Oh…ok.”

“Now, Ariel! I'm serious!” He hung up then.

“f**k! I knew it was a bad idea to involve so many gods. The power must've awakened them!” He paced on the front porch until a gust of wind announced the arrival of someone else. Ariel looked harried and unsettled.

“Sorry it took longer than usual. I felt something following me so I had to create a diversion. What's going on Abaddon?”

Abaddon let his breath out slowly. He needed time to process but also needed to take action. “I have a feeling that the presence you felt was one or more Leviathan. Lucifer said he didn't release them, but there's a possibility they escaped when all of the gods and demons had their energies focused elsewhere. It is very possible that we have Leviathan on the loose and the Apocalypse may be the least of our worries.”

Ariel’s normally radiant, positive face fell. The weight of what Abaddon had just said fell on her like the weight of the entire universe. “What do we do? We'll have to round up everyone who we can find! The Leviathan will destroy everything! Good, bad, human, Angel, demon. Nothing is safe with those monsters loose!”

Abaddon shook his head to clear it. He knew he'd have to step up and take charge. “Ariel, you are the only one who can locate whoever is left. I need you to bring everyone safely and discretely here. I have to keep Lucifer’s son safe. I'm sorry I cannot go with you. I may, however be able to give you a Hellhound for protection.”

Ariel drew in a sharp breath. “How will that work?”

“You have to come with me. I can command one, but you need to gain its trust and respect.”

Just then, a small head poked itself out of the door. “What's going on? Why didn't you come find me?” Kyle stepped out on the porch. His hands were folded over his chest in indignation.

“Kyle, I need your help. We need to help Ariel here with a Hellhound. Maybe the two of us together can convince it to protect her while she does is some big favors.”

Kyle studied Ariel for a moment with his head c****d to one side. His eyes were steady and impassive. After that moment he grinned. “Of course I'll help! You're an angel right? Whatcha gonna help with?”