Prologue
SOMEBELIEVEANGELSONLYEXISTINHEAVEN, some claim to have met one, others think they’re nothing more than fictional fodder meant to give humans hope.
Being of the celestial, winged variety myself, I can attest to the fact that we do exist. Granted, we’re not all floating on clouds, listening to the soft strum of a harp while waiting to greet the next to pass on to their life ever after.
Nope. Then again, neither are those who protect the gates of Heaven.
As for the eternal resting place … well, it’s much like it is here on Earth. Chock-full of well-meaning folk attempting to maintain order with their policies and procedures. Yes, those are the angels you’re familiar with—robes, halos, wings—keeping a watchful eye over your loved ones who’ve moved on to claim their just reward.
For the record, my brothers and I aren’t those types of angels, nor have we stepped foot in Heaven for some fifteen hundred years or so.
I know what you’re thinking.Oh, pity, he’s a fallen angel.
Try less fall, more push.
See, we’re part of what Heaven refers to as misplaced halos, a faction of celestial warriors sent here to walk amongst the humans under the cover of darkness following the orders of our leader: the archangel Michael. You might know him as the protector of humanity, the patron saint of warriors, or even the one who sent the big bad to his rightful destination.
Yep, he’s our boss and he sent us here to watch over you. He refers to us as the Angels of Darkness.
Perhaps we were your next-door neighbors at one time or another. If so, you would remember us. We were the ones with the fast cars, loud music, and all the leather. Not your typical divine beings, no, but we get the job done.
Never to fear, we aren’t in one place for long. We’re drifters, never quite settling in because we’re needed everywhere. Small towns, big cities, bayous, mountains, deserts, we’ve experienced it all. But most importantly, if we stopped in and later disappeared, it was deemed safe for you to keep calm and carry on with your routine nine-to-five, maintaining your cute little house, raising your two-point-five kids, and throwing sticks for Fido.
That’s what we were sent here to do. Protect you.
From what, you ask?
Well, demons, of course. Those that escape Hell, working for Lucifer, performing his evil deeds in an effort to prove their worth. Stealing souls, wreaking havoc, and trashing lives with absolutely no remorse. I hate to break it to you, but there’s probably a few who’ve settled into your quaint little cookie-cutter neighborhood when you weren’t looking. And no, Shawn, the drunk guy two doors down, is not a demon. He’s just a jackass.
Like I said, that’s why we’re here. Seeking out the evil and sending them back where they belong.
Why do we do it? Well, that’s what we were created for. We gain satisfaction by fulfilling our duties, protecting those who need it.
Oh, and because we were promised one thing: a love that knows no bounds. What we refer to as anamsouelot. A single soul destined for each of us, the two halves forming the whole, completing one another.
Of course, this carefully guarded secret got out eons ago. Humans use the termsoul mate, though often the connection for them is little more than hope for a love everlasting. Often in an attempt to force the union, the human’s beliefs are steeped in exploited traditions and trivial efforts. In reality, unless the two souls were destined by the Fates, those ventures are merely a desperate need to curate a love that has little chance of survival. That’s not to say your relationship is doomed to fail. Perhaps you’re one of the lucky ones who’s found your destined love, sealed by the Fates. It does happen.
However, for angels, it’s a bit more complicated. For us, it isn’t a matter of wining, dining, and roses. We can’t use Tinder or eHarmony to track down our one true love. There is no such thing as a chance meeting. And once we do come face-to-face with the one destined for us, the interaction’s far more intense, a phenomenon that engulfs both souls, entwining them, making it impossible to keep any sort of distance, both physically and emotionally. When we mate, we do so for eternity.
Most importantly, without ouramsouelot,we would have no reason to live. In essence, we would be nothing.
Which brings me to the beginning of this story…
Sunday, June 30, 2019
RELAXINGINHISCHAIR,ACHILLEDBOTTLEof Corona in his hand, Obsidian watched his brothers as they poked at each other in their attempt to enjoy one of their few nights off as of late.
“Nowthatwas a lucky shot,” Eclipse shouted, chugging back his beer, then following with a satisfiedahhh. “I’ll drop a benji if you can do that again.”
“You’re on, brother,” Aphotic countered, snatching up his glass and tossing back the last of his favored Fireball.
While X Ambassadors crooned about the devil you know, Aphotic repositioned the cue ball, then pointed his stick at Eclipse, a shit-eating grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. “Watch and learn, son.”
Obsidian smiled to himself, grateful to be back home, even if it was only a temporary hiatus.
“They just don’t quit,” Stygian rumbled, his hand casually stroking the top of Zeus’s furry black head.
The dog had been glued to Stygian’s side since they’d returned to the mansion early that morning. As for Aphrodite … Zeus’s much younger playmate was currently sprawled out beneath the pool table sleeping soundly despite the noise.
