May 25, 2009

Chapter 3: Monotonous Repetition (Pt.4)

Lily shifted on the ground. She brought herself up to a sitting position shakily. Her hands brushed against the ground as she supported herself. The day had ended already. Night had taken its reign in the sky; stars glimmered in the distance and the moon cast its eerie light out onto the world. In all of the years she had wandered restlessly under Surno's command, she never realized the truth.

Michael had brought it to her. In her peripheral vision lay the unconscious Michael. Muttering silent thanks, she brooded over the past century. She had been introduced to the eccentric Peter by Surno. Peter always gave an uneasy feeling to her. She felt that Surno's friend was not who he really was. This was also the time when Surno had brought the plan to full light to other Soul Angels living in town. Roles had been distributed equally to match each individual's expertise. Lily, left alone in the drawing, was taken in by Surno as a personal assistant.

Lily laughed weakly. "Personal assistant? Just a puppet..." She closed her eyes to the moonlight. Who else was being manipulated? Who else would be cast aside when the plan was done? When the Council was destroyed, who would take reign?

A revelation started in Lily. She stood up carefully, regaining her strength. She puffed out her chest and raised her head high. A silent oath was whispered between her lips. No longer would she be a pawn. No longer would she be used for the gain of someone else. She bent down next to Michael, wiping the hair out of his forehead. She kissed him gently. He stirred slightly; in the next instant, Lily was gone. Words drifted through the air where she had last been.

"Thank you."

---

Michael sprang to his feet, fists up near his face. His legs were spread apart, and he hopped on the balls of his feet. With panic gripping him, he examined his surroundings. Realizing that he was alone, his hands slowly took a space at his side. His right hand brushed the sword hanging from his waist. Taking in its detail for the first time, he brought it up to the dim light. The zigzag blade was not made of simple steel. An odd purple hue surrounded the blade itself. It was as dim as the moonlight. It was glowing.

He gripped the handle tightly. Michael swung it to the side, getting a feel for it. He thrust forward and sliced through the air which made the blade whistle. A cynical smile twisted his lips. "This will force Peter to show his face to Taylor." His eyes darted up to the sky. The moon was high up in the center. The time was around midnight. He was losing time. Every hour counted.

He flourished his wings, ready to depart. Instead, his ears caught something. He stood still, listening all the while. The distant noises of cars passing down streets was heard. Slowly, Michael reeled back to launch himself into the air. Three figures dropped out of the sky, surrounding him. Michael dropped to his knees and folded his wings to conform around his body as he raised his blade. One of the newcomers, adorned in a green shirt, chuckled.

"He's a hasty one, Ryan," he continued. "So young, too!"

"Looks like Lily persuaded him with that same shtick she used on us," Ryan replied. "Haha! I can hear her now. 'Sacrifice yourself to save your brother! Sacrifice yourself to save your mother!' I wonder what she used for this kid. Sister? Dog? Well, which was it, kid?" He stepped forward, ignoring the sword that pointed at him.

Michael stood up slowly. "She told me that I could save a friend. Turns out, a day later, some man named Peter put a Soul Rip spell on her." He drew closer to Ryan. The older Soul Angel wore a smug smile.

"Well," Ryan responded. "I can't do anything about that. So you must be Michael, eh?" Michael nodded. "Good. Greg, tell him why we're here." Michael's eyes flitted to the side, staring at the dark clothed man.

He cleared his throat. "We have come to find Surno. He told us of Lily's recent betrayal. We have come to the conclusion that she accuses Surno of using her as a puppet in the upcoming plan to overthrow the Council. Do you know of this plan, or of Lily's whereabouts?" Michael eased up, realizing these were friendlies.

"Lily knocked me out and left me here a few hours ago. I'm not sure of where she went. I was asking her about the plan, so that means I really don't know about it..."

Greg nodded. "The objective is to oust a group of Heart Angels, our counterpart that is often distinguished by white wings, who lead a whole society of other Heart Angels by a flawed judicial system. They believe that no lives should be taken for the greater good, that war should be ended to preserve life, and that political leaders should be untouched, whether or not they are corrupt, for they were elected by their own people. Do you see how contradictory those beliefs are? Those were only some of the major points out of many more. I would love to ramble on, but I must digress." He cleared his throat again. "These Heart Angels used to cooperate with us in the beginning. Now, they hunt for us, thinning out our numbers so that the fate of humanity may rest on only their shoulders. Surno rallied up the remaining Soul Angels, preaching to them of rebellion. We have to defeat the Council so that the naive Heart Angels being foolishly led will have a chance to actually affect the future of mankind in a positive way. We, the Soul Angels, have been the only guardians of fate. If all of us had been killed off, humanity would probably have descended into a state of chaos and brought about Armageddon in our absence.
"The point I present to you is simple. You, Michael, are a fabled hybrid Soul Angel. You, who were stripped of emotions by Surno, still held the roots of them in your heart. All Heart Angels still contain these roots as well. When a person is able to do such in their normal life, they become a Heart Angel. You, however, did not when your time came. Your soul was as justified as ours and even more so, allowing you to have the power and appearance of a Soul Angel. Point being made, you are neither Soul nor Heart Angel. You are the one the first Soul and Heart Angels spoke of, the one who would come in a time of corruption. You, Michael, are the Peacemaker."


Greg shuffled close to him. He pulled up his right arm's sleeve to the elbow and placed hand on his head. Michael did not stir. "I, Greg, the key of soul and heart, the lock of mind and body, unlock thy soul and lock thy heart to release the power within you. Awaken, oh fabled Peacemaker, and let destiny take you!" Smoke rose up from the spot Greg held his hand. Michael, unable to withstand the surge of power brimming within him, passed out.

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