[h2][center]Nightfall[/center][/h2] [h3][center]Loom and Moscow- Afternoon[/center][/h3] [i]Lazarus[/i] The blade flashed, seemed to sprout from the chest of the first one. From the outside she looked like just a punk skinhead Neo Nazi. The man could see her for what she was though. A demon in a once human shell. The others looked at her as she gasped her last. Blood bubbled from her lips and spattered the ground as she looked up in confusion. [i]What..[/i] The women's hands jerked feebly at the sword blade that protruded from her chest. Tugging feebly. It was ineffectual as she sunk to her knees her world going dark. The demon tried to wriggle free of the shell but it was pinned in place. By a mortal blade? [i]I found something[/i] The others looked around fear in their eyes. Clutching automatic weapons they turned about adrenaline kicking in as the demons tried to hunt down the essence that was moving like a shadow through their midst. [i]Can’t this wait[/i] Hands found the neck of one that had strayed too far from the group. There was a pop like the snapping of a piece of rotten wood as the neo nazi’s head was spun completely around. Incredible how this trash had survived even after Judas had risen and fallen. As his vision faded to black he stared into eyes like dead stars that moved through the shadow on the edge of the room like ink on darkness they slithered into the blackness. Swallowed up by shadows that shouldn’t be able to conceal their owner. [i]I wouldn’t be bothering you if it could[/i] The others had grown even more nervous their eyes flicking back and forth. They began to manifest signs that they were demons. One grew scales like a snake and began to flick a second set of eyelids. Another produced avian features, sinister talons and slitted eyes as feathers sprouted along its arms. The last one did nothing other than become slightly translucent. [i]I don’t have time right now[/i] The lights flickered for a second. The three remaining skinheads jumped whirling and spraying recklessly into the shadows of the warehouse. After they realized that none of their number were missing, ice began to crawl up their spine as they realized the other two bodies were gone, as well as the sword. [i]You swore you would help and I am holding you to that[/i] The three of them moved closer together back to back. With only a small space between them. As they watched the shadows suddenly something moved detaching itself from the shadow to lurch towards them. The female lunged towards the group with empty eye sockets and a snapping jaw that dripped blood and saliva as she came at them. The reptile and the avian open fired on her as she came. They emptied every single round into the lurching corpse as it slavered and staggered towards them. It collapsed to the floor and continued to crawl towards them, finally the serpent stepped forwards and with a heavy of its boot it smashed the corpses head in with three vicious stomps. Brain matter, bone and black blood spattered across the floor and more blood began to seep across the gray concrete floor in a slow pool like a disease invading a body. Slowly but steadily spreading out across the floor. It looked almost like a painting from above. As though an artist had used a brush and had not cleaned it. A single drop out of place as it spread out on the paper. [i]wait[/i] The lights flickered again. [i]I’m painting something[/i] The remaining three drew back into their triangle [i]You can’t stop[/i] An inky figure drew up silently from the floor where it hand landed silently in their midst. [i]Not until the final strokes are finished[/i] It drew a single blade, one edge was perfectly straight while the back edge had a nasty serration the whole length of the blade. [i]I understand[/i] The Lizard and the Avian were felled with two swift strokes. The reptile's head was removed from its body in a single swing. Parting the head from the body right below the third vertebra. A perfect cut. The Second was split down the middle with a single swing that perfectly bisected the Avians body from its crown to its groin from behind. The last one whirled only to be yanked from the ground by an invisible noose. [i]Almost finished, give me a minute to clean my brush and I’ll be with you[/i] The possessed human kicked and squirmed hands clawing at the invisible noose around it’s neck. The man pulled a mask made of pure midnight onyx from his face. The shadows that had clung to him fell away as he wiped the blade of his sword on a white handkerchief. he’d produced from the inside pocket of his grey two piece suit. A black duster hung to the floor as he wiped the blade, enjoying the gurgling of the strangling demon. The man touched his earpiece as he finished cleaning the blade. “Alright Alzir what is it?” The mask of Onyx hung on a cord around his neck resting on his chest casually. Lazarus started with cold eyes at the demon as it continued to choke. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alzir sat calmly in a leather chair staring at the computer screen in front of him. “We have a bit of a problem.” The old man lifted a glass of vodka to his lips and took a long pull from it. “I found the person I was looking for.” Lazarus voice came through clearly “Was this the Angel you were concerned about?” Alzir nodded even though Lazarus couldn’t hear him “Yes, she is more dangerous than I feared.” “How so?” Alzir continued to scan the computer screen “Apparently she’s not just some terrorist, she’s a seraph. There was a pause before Lazarus responded “That is concerning but not impossible to deal with, there is more to it isn’t there?” Alzir smiled and tapped the scroll key on the keyboard “The russians have a full file on her, It looks like she’s been gathering followers. Claims she's a reincarnated member of the council. Say’s she can raise other Seraphims.” “I don’t believe it..wait did you say Russian’s?” Alzir ignored the question continuing to scroll “She’s not here anymore she’s moved on from Moscow to Loom, She’s our problem now.” “Alzir….where the hell are you?” “No where of consequence.” Alzir stood up and looked out the window into the snow covered city scape that stretched out around the Kremlin. “I should be home in a day or two. I trust you found what it was you were looking for?” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few hours later Lazarus finished zipping up his duffle bag. All the samples he needed had been stored for transport. Turning he started walking towards the door and with a splat the body that had been hanging in mid air fell to the ground. Looking up at the night sky Lazarus put his mask back on. A memory surfaced. The dean of Trinity college looked up from his desk “yes Thomas?” Thomas stared back “I’m headed home, Sir.” The dean nodded “Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Lazarus shook his head. It was always disconcerting to see his old friend with dead black eyes. At Least it knew better than to use Kathleen. He’d have smashed the mask to bits a long time ago had it done that. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [h2][center]The Temptress[/center][/h2] [h3][center]Loom- Afternoon[/center][/h3] Many had come, it was certainly a start. The oppressed flocked to her arms. The downtrodden, the abused, those tired of serving the humans. Those who suffered from the council’s disease. She would heal them. Metatron stirred beside her. The hulking Seraphim had been at her side since she had freed him from a Russian gulag. Her beautiful voice had called him from the depths of his depravity and self pity to be something worth while. She had raised him from those depths and then raised him to his heights by helping him to reclaim his lost selves. Metatron had always been a fighter, a follower of those great few who had gained his respect and now he followed her. Lashriel. Finally she unfolded her arms and the crowd silenced itself. “Brothers and sisters. Thank you for joining me today.” Her voice was the definition of beauty as her English was curved around a tongue that had been raised speaking Russian. Even though she had reclaimed all her past lives and really did not have the accent if she did not wish it she kept it as a reminder of how she had gotten here. “I know everyone of you came here today wondering if I am the genuine article. I would be skeptical myself in your place.” She smiled meeting their eyes like a loving mother to her children. “I know that all of you are in pain, and that it is not your doing. It those who you serve, who you bend to, who you are oppressed by.” There were murmurs of agreement but they quieted down again soon enough. “I promised you that I would help and that is exactly what I will do for everyone of you. I shall help you.” Many looked at each other skeptically. “The council ruined life for all of us. Save the privileged few.” She gestured to all of them “The rest have been left to suffer.” She narrowed her eyes “As though it were not bad enough that Judas should enslave and conquer as he did we were left to fend for ourselves and help the pathetic humans. Separated forever from Heaven. And yet the humans have their home and the demons still frolic, feed and take their base pleasures in their Hell. What is left for us?!” There was a grumble of assent at the validity of the words. “It is time to take what is ours and I can give each of you the power to do that. I can cleanse the dark angels….and I can help you to reclaim your memories...Without the risk.” The chorus of whispers rippled through the crowd. Was she serious? “Not all of you will become Seraphims. But a few will. The rest of you will remember at the least five of your past lives, which will be much more than the rest of the traitor angels remember. It is time to take back what is ours!” She looked out at them with fire in her eyes “Who’s with me?” There was silence for a moment... ...Before the empty warehouse erupted in cheers She smirked before whispering in Russian to Metatron “Tell Raziel that we have begun, and then summon Purah back from Moscow. We will need her help.”