Ever since we’d gained consciousness in that cage, I was the one who kept my brothers calm. Gave them reassurance that everything would work out. That our creator had a plan for us and that we just needed to show the angels we were not just power bombs. After they would visit us, I guess to make sure we were okay, and gave us no real information other than vague answers, I was the one who told them to keep their heads in the game. To prove to them that we could be trusted with that information they kept hidden from us. It wasn't until we came to the human plane that I’d learned I had been playing the role of the eldest, even though we were all born at the same time.
Then Lucifer had shown up and everything changed.
He was so different from the other angels. In one meeting he'd talked to us, teased us, gotten each of us out of our shell with any emotion he could pull out. Then he’d offered to get us out, as long as we made a deal with the devil.
At that moment, my brothers had looked to me to make a decision—even D, who had been obstinate since creation. The only thing that changed my mind from staying in that golden cage and following what had always been dictated to us was the pity in Lucifer’s eyes. It made me realize that maybe what our creator, and the angels, had planned for us was not in our best interest. So we’d made a deal with the devil.
Now, my brothers were all giving me that same look. A look filled with undying trust and loyalty, and again, I was trusting in the devil. Was it the right decision?
“This book was found in a dark witch’s family crypt. It details the four beings who are to bring about a ‘cleansing’ of the world. It states that the four powers, when used at the same time at full capacity, will release a power so massive that it will eat away at everything in their path. So it’s safe to say that if we did that to try to get Lillian over to Hell, we would bring about the apocalypse.”
Their faces dropped, losing hope by the second, and it made me wince on the inside. Do I or don’t I?
“But—”
Their heads snapped up to look at me, trusting that I had a solution, and I might. Their determined and hopeful gazes made my decision to let them know what Lucifer hinted at. Let’s hope it worked.
“This book describes a way for these four beings to channel their power through an item to combine them into one, which wouldhopefully notstart the apocalypse.” I let that all sink in for them as I sat down, leaning back in my chair in thought.
“So when do we start this whole thing?” War boomed out as he started to stretch his arms, eyes alert and jaw set, ready for anything. Con moved up next to War, folded his arms together and nodded his head in solidarity.
“What the fuck does that even mean?” D snapped, always the combative one, but also the only one who really understood the gravity of what I was saying.
“Well…” I huffed in exhaustion. “That's a great question.” I waved my hand over the pages I just opened. “The first thing we need to get is an item, preferably one that is very receptive to magic and can also hold the amount of magic we all have combined, which would be very rare and expensive.” War huffed like that was no big deal, I resisted rolling my eyes at him and continued. “Then we need to go through this ritual to transfer our magic into or through the item. I think—and, again, this is just a theory—I think we don't have to dump all our magic. Just a manageable amount that, once combined, we would be able to control to ensnare Miss. Darkstar long enough to get her into Hell.”
“What happens to the item once we do this?” D asked as he leaned on my desk, crossing his ankles.Again, my brothers have no respect for my things.
“Well, that's the thing. This item is a one time use kinda thing, so the item will burn to ash after it's been used.” I flipped through the book, finding the section I’d read that from.
“Once the power has been used for the purpose it was created for, the item you hold will immediately disintegrate, as its purpose has been fulfilled,” I cited, looking up at all of them when I finished to see their response.
D was trying to read what I was pointing at, while Con nodded. War was staring off into space, not paying attention at all.
“At least, that's what the book says.”
“I get why you’re having hesitations, Fame. Bringing about the apocalypse early is a very big deal, but I also think this is the only way we have that wouldn't take weeks, if not months, of planning. I also think that with those parting words from Lucifer, he thinks that we should do it this way. It might be the only way we can do it. I say we should try it.” Con looked at all of us for our vote.
War nodded my way as he puffed out his chest. “You know I'm down for anything to get this job off our plate and back to what matters. Winning over my little goddess.”
We all looked at D, who was staring at the book, eyes pinched, lips pressed into a thin line, and a pensive look on his face. He was trying to take this all seriously and think through all the angles and possibilities, but to be honest, we were running out of options.
“Let's do it.” D looked at me, resolve hardened in his eyes.
When he stood, excitement vibrated off his body. Even with the danger it presented, I knew in the end he would’ve inevitably agreed. He loved the risk, the long shot, the underdog idea, too much to let that stop him. He just wanted to seem like the only one who’d really thought about it, since War and Con had been on board from the start.
“Okay then, the vote stands. I will contact the best dark witches’ coven and see what materials we need to get, and what they will need for the ritual.” I pulled out my phone and took a picture of the ritual to send to my contact. Then I shut the book and put it back in my magically sealed drawer. “I also think that we all need to call our jobs and either go on sabbatical or an extra long vacation. I don’t know how fast or slow this will all go and it would be best to play this conservatively. Maybe a month or two off.” Everyone nodded easily, not even balking at what I was asking them to do, which spoke volumes about how dedicated and sure they all were.
“Great! Now that we have figured out that, we should get back to the apology list. We gotta make it epic so she can't refuse.” War turned back to Con, and they headed to the couch.
D raised his eyebrow at me in question, but I ignored him for a second as I texted the picture to the coven leader. I noticed D heading over to them.
“What about an island vacation? One where powers won’t be an issue,” I said, unable to help myself.
“Fuck yeah!” War grinned at me, happy that I’d finally chimed in. He was naturally so infectious that a small smirk cracked along my lips.
“See, that's why I wanted to keep doing this around him. I knew he would come up with something good,” Con called out as he wrote it down and underlined it.
“What the fuck?” D finally said, his voice sounding a little pissed that he wasn’t included.
